Lust (7 page)

“Did that hurt Father? I sincerely hope so.” At least he could command sarcasm.

At his feet, Paul struggled to move. “You will get nothing from me demon.”

“We shall see.” Once again he lifted him, slamming his age-old body against even older stone. Again, he dropped and bones cracked.

“Let him be, evil demon.” A voice spoke from behind.

“Oh look, company. We can have a party and cocktails, even hors d'oeuvres. Let me think─oh yes, Father Tomasso. Or can I call you Tommy?”

“You may call me nothing. Your tongue speaks nothing of relevance in this world. You do not belong here. You are the damned, the unblessed, the outcast of hell. Be gone, demon.”

“Oh, nice speech. Do you know where my betrothed is?”

“She is not your betrothed, nor yours by free will. I will not tell you. You took her by devious means, of deception, of mischief. None of these are recognized by God.”

Asmodeus shook his head. “Would you see your precious friend here suffer?”

“There is no suffering here.”

“Really? Let me test that.” The huge cross behind the altar, naked wood, reminded Asmodeus of a St Andrews cross, perfect for his needs. He raised Father Paul in the air, twisting his contorted body hard with its back to the cross.

“Stop it. Leave him be.”

“You stop me. Tell me where the bitch is.”

“Never.”

Asmodeus raised his brow and with another twist of his open hand ripped the clothes from the broken monk. Twisting his fingers, he flayed the old man from head to toe. Muscle and flesh covered broken bone. The aging heart pumped from behind cracked ribs. Old eyes opened, now lidless, and looked back at him. The walls were sprayed in blood. Skin lay in ribbons on the floor. Two hands pulled at his shoulders as Tomasso tried to yank him away.

“Tell me where she is.”

“She does not belong to you. She is only a toy, a plaything to you.”

Asmodeus turned to face him. “Yes she is. I can see your thoughts, Tomasso. You dreamt of her, of being in her room, sliding off her clothes. You wanted her, to corrupt her with your wrinkly old cock. You’re just a dirty old man.”

“I am loyal to my lord, and my beliefs. I thought no such things. I have no desires but to serve. No sins pass through my thoughts. You are nothing and your words go over my head.”

“Very well.” With a flick of his wrist, Tomasso flew at him, stopping with such ferocity, that every bone in the old man’s body would hurt like hell. Asmodeus lay his hand on the monks forehead. “Show me.” He knew that three old men with such a friendship would have some form of link. Indeed they did. Images moved slowly through his mind. Some were blurry, some more clear. He saw through old eyes, looking around. There were crowds, tourists everywhere. A clue, come on, a clue Josef, where are you? Birds, pigeons, flew into the air. Around him the buildings were old too. Old time architecture of such beauty filled his gaze. A woman appeared with her back to him. It was Elizabeth, sat on a low wall, hand in hand with the boy, Jared. Around her neck was the damn celestite charm. Over her shoulder he saw the water, the unmistakable gondolas.

“So, Tommy, they are in Venice. Thank you.” Asmodeus squeezed his hand and pulled off the monk’s head. “Obstinate bastard.” The body crumpled to the floor. Carrying the head in his hand, he walked to Father Paul and held Tomasso’s dead face towards him.

Mocking Father Tomasso, he spoke to Paul. “Tell him where Josef is my brother, or he will make you suffer.”

Paul’s parched bloody lips tried to move. The head twisted near his face.

“What, what was that, brother?” Again the old man tried to lick his lips. “Here, let me kiss you.” Asmodeus put Tomasso’s lips to Paul’s and twisted them in a bizarre, morose kiss.

Paul almost choked as the head was pulled back. Tears fell from lidless ducts. The devil leaned in.

“Say it, or I will make your brother suck your skinless cock.”

“
Corte Del Forno Vecchio
,” he said in slow low tones.

“See, good man.” With a quick movement he bashed the two heads together. Bones cracked and shattered and Father Paul slumped on the cross, dead. Asmodeus threw Tomasso's head away, walked to the font and washed his hands, flicking the mess of blood and water off his fingers as he collected his jacket and walked outside into the sweet Italian weather. With a smile on his face, he started down the hill.

––––––––

E
lizabeth clenched her teeth against the wave of pain that gripped her uterus. She tried to ease her body from Jared's, but he unconsciously clutched her that much tighter.

He got super possessive when she was on her period. As if the devil could smell her crimson wave all the way from hell and she needed to be protected that much more. Josef acted strange around her too. It didn't make her feel comfortable that they didn't allow her to go anywhere alone, therefore she relied on them for her feminine hygiene products.

She guessed it was a good thing Jared was willing to take one for the team and get her tampons. Not many men would take that plunge.

Yet the last three months hadn't been a full picnic.

Elizabeth had nearly had a breakdown when they first arrived. She went into her room. She did nothing but sleep, while Jared forced her to eat anything she would choke down. Took a good week for her to bathe the first time. Finally, it seemed Jared had had enough and carried her to his room, commencing a very sweet display of seduction that included reading, chocolate, and kissing. God, lots and lots of kissing.

Being with Jared was the polar opposite of Asmodeus. Yes, Asmodeus did things to her, had moments. Yet Elizabeth couldn't help but feel those moments were fake, his infamous illusions that made her nearly swoon into his horrific life.

Jared complimented her, made her feel beautiful, got her re-enrolled in school, and helped her find a damned out to this bullshit. All they'd come across so far was information that led them to believe a very real diamond existed in this deal, and perhaps they would be going all the way back to Louisiana to find said diamond. Or even confronting her shitty parents.

Just the thought flared heat into her veins and she attempted to squirm from Jared.

His face nuzzled into the curve of her neck and, God bless it, she was getting aroused.

That was another thing.

Aside from the God-awful cramps and the crime scene in her pants, she was also hyper horny during her periods since she grew horns. Even now they seemed to pulse on her head like a beacon telling men she was in heat. Josef made himself scarce but Jared couldn't keep his hands off her.

They'd yet to make love. Maybe that was what it was. God knew
she
was impatient.

"Trying to fly away, my little bird?" he mumbled against her neck. He seemed to growl as he took a deep breath and tugged her until she was astride his lap.

"Fuck, you smell so good." He laid her down gently, her legs still over his, as he leaned with her body and took her mouth in a possessive kiss. Their tongues mated, her horns throbbing by this point, and she knew that if she didn't make an escape, this was going to be one very messy first time.

"Jared," she whimpered. Her fingers fisted his hair.

His hands teased the hem of the shirt she was wearing. slipping under and making fast work of cupping her breast. Elizabeth let out a sigh and arched against him.

"I want to take a bath," she pleaded. Elizabeth knew she lacked the strength to walk away. Something was happening to her, making her weak and needy of male touch, and she knew it had everything to do with her fucking horns.

He did that sexy growl against her throat, that shot straight to the part of her that was supposed to be out of order for the next six days. She arched against him and clung to his back.

"One of us has to stop," she tried to reason with them.

"Who says?"

Elizabeth laughed as he yanked down her bra, lifted her shirt, and with a smirk set about tormenting her breasts.

She was panting, clawing at him. All she knew was his body. He even drew out little squeals as he bit at her hardened nipples.

"Fuck, God, Jared. Not now, not the right time," she cried out as he bit down hard on her right nipple and then blew on it, while twisting the other between his fingers.

She shattered.

No warning, no rise to the top of Orgasm Peak. She just came, jerking and clinging to him for dear life until the stars behind her eyes started to fade.

Elizabeth was breathing hard. She watched him through slitted eyes and his were doing that silver swirl thing. He had a smug grin on his lips.

"Go get that bath. I'll clean up all these books and get us some food."

She just lay there as he tucked her breasts back into her bra and slowly lowered her shirt.

"When this passes, I am going to eat your pussy so thoroughly you will beg for it every night." He winked and helped her to her feet. He guided her to the bathroom and shut the door.

Elizabeth turned to look at herself in the mirror, and she sucked in a breath. Her skin was glowing, and her horns looked like they had veins of lava flowing through them. They almost looked—beautiful. Her eyes had taken on an amber hue. Like two glowing embers. She took a step back and tried to get control.

Why was Jared acting so—hot?

Why did she look positively stunning while on her damned period?

And what the fuck had just happened?

She shook off her thoughts, and decided a bath was just what she needed.

Elizabeth turned the taps until she felt the warm water streaming out just like she liked it. The steam filling the room seemed to clear her head and ease the tension in her body. The ache in her lower belly was still there but she felt calmer, lighter.

That was until she felt arms slither around her waist. The familiar scent of fire and brimstone assaulted her nostrils and she cried out.  She fought and struggled with the arms around her until she was pulled flush against that chest. The lying chest. A chest that screamed of security, class, and wealth, but only meant anguish and pain.

His palm flattened over her stomach and started to trail down. She shivered. Her horns throbbing again, her body sang and reached for him as she arched into his touch. Elizabeth's brain seemed to be the only one rational.

"'No," she whimpered.

"But you are so fucking ripe, my sweet," he purred against her ear. He trailed kisses up her cheek, into her hair, and she knew what was coming a second before he did it.

She jerked against him, frantic to escape just as his mouth sucked in one of those throbbing horns. Elizabeth screamed and melted against him. Her knees going out, she thrust her mound into his hand that now cupped her.

"I knew you would be so beautifully wanton during this time. So sweet and willing. See, it is so easy. Just give in, say it, come with me, my love. Together we can rule everything."

He ground the heel of his hand into her mound just right, hitting her clit, and she felt a wave of heat followed by a pounding of arousal. She was climbing that hill, ready to spill over, her lips parted. She wanted this, she needed him. Asmodeus needed her, wanted her; she just had to let go...

The sound of splintering wood, a blinding flash of light, and her body falling to the ground knocked her out of her stupor. Strong arms scooped her up before she hit the ground, and she reeled back at the touch. Her body was too sensitive still and she tried to leap from Jared's arms.

"He's here! You need to run! You need to go!"

Jared set her down gently on the couch. The sound of pounding feet brought Josef, a phone in his hand. Jared and Josef just stared at one another while Elizabeth trembled on the couch. Josef did a whole lot of answering phones, getting ridiculously valuable information and not actually talking back to anyone. He would make barely audible sounds then hang up.

This was one of those odd times.

"The other monks are dead. They are finding us through normal channels now. We need to go." Jared pinned her with those swirling silver eyes.

"I am so sorry, Bethy, but can you get packed? I have a new plan, hopefully our last movement until we find a solution."

All Elizabeth could do was nod. She curled up in a tight ball and buried her face in her knees. She felt vulnerable at the moment. Somehow she felt anytime she was on her period she was going to be vulnerable. Apparently she was now like a cat, attracting all manner of males to her like fly paper while she bled. She groaned and looked up. Jared was gone and Josef stood over her. That look was unmistakable—
fear
.

She dropped her feet to the ground and, dragging her way to her room, she grabbed the duffle underneath and threw it on the bed.

There would come a point very soon where, Elizabeth knew, she would stop allowing Jared and Josef to sacrifice for her, and she would accept her fate.

Jared came in. "Paris. How does that sound?"

Elizabeth gave him a pained smile which no doubt looked horrible.

"Sounds perfect."

––––––––

J
ared stood at the window, looking out over the courtyard. Celestite stones were set into the corner of every window and door frame of the house. Josef at least was taking no chances. The trip to the city had been enjoyable until Josef had ushered them home, complaining of a bad headache. Jared was concerned; the old monk had seemed distressed over the past hour, shuffling about, keeping busy checking the gems. He gave a deep sigh. Three months had passed without a single occurrence, yet now something licked at the sea air and made it bitter. A feeling of trepidation was creeping through his bones. A sharp pain settled behind both eyes. He needed an hour to himself, time to think and gather his senses.

Elizabeth moved on the bed and he turned to look at her. It was too risky to leave her feeling as he did. Walking softly so as not to wake her, he checked her. The necklace hung below her top, resting against her heart. She was sleeping so soundly, surely he could leave her awhile.