Michael left us, and I followed Lou out of his ridiculous throne room. We entered a long hall with demon maids dusting every inch of every frame, weapon, and sculpture that adorned the walls.
If I thought his throne room was overdone, the maids, with their overendowed breasts and perky rears barely covered in tight frilly bloomers, could make any teenage boy walk around with a permanent hard on.
"Seriously, Lou? I don't remember you having maids this endowed."
He turned back towards me, his long golden hair catching the air, "Well, I wouldn't need them if I had a queen at my side, but, alas, I am left with mediocre eye candy."
I rolled my eyes dramatically, "Whatever you say, your majesty."
His smile widened, and he turned and kept walking as each maid would turn and bow, their chests threatening to break free.
"Wonderful job, ladies, if I do say so. When you are done here, how about meeting me for some late-night...snacking? In the hot tub?"
The maids all giggled, and Lou smiled at them. I could see his slightly pointy incisors glisten as he turned toward them.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
He nodded, looking at me, "Oh yes, Ayda. Very much so, and you know you are more than welcome to join me tonight. Us, alone, warm bubbles and champagne. Whatever you want."
He raised his hand to cup my chin, and I smacked it away, "What I want is some sleep. Lou, can you please just show me where I'm sleeping?"
We got to the end of the hallway and turned right to see a large door portraying half naked demonic male cherubs and women in an embrace. It was the door to his room. I knew it all too well. He had removed the blindfold right before we entered it last time I ended up here, stuck for a short stay as his prisoner.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?"
I backed up, shaking my head, "Oh no, not happening. I am not sleeping in there again! I'd rather sleep in your dungeon."
He laughed, and I scowled at him, "I'm serious, Lou. I won't do it. Instead, I'll call Michael and return to fulfill my broken promise to Zin."
Stepping towards me, he gently placed a lock of hair behind one ear, allowing the rest to fall forward, giving him almost an elfish look, "Please don't mention that creature's name in my presence. It hurts me, Ayda, for you to think that you'd enjoy his company more than mine."
I stood my ground and pointed at him, "Understand, Lou, you aren't going to guilt me into bed this time either. Choose somewhere else, any place but there."
Standing up straight, he dropped the façade and nodded in the direction of the plain wooden door next to his, "You're staying in there, it's a servant's quarters, but you should find it suitable. I wanted to keep you close, just in case you changed your mind in the middle of the night."
Lou knew I couldn't tell night from day in Hell. There was always a constant red glow in the sky coming through the windows. I didn't think demons slept, but they, for some reason, like to mimic normal human behaviors.
"Great," I responded, pushing past him and opening the simple door.
Walking in, I could see the room was not as simple. The blood red and black paint job and the matching satin sheets on the canopy bed were a bit dramatic. I walked over and sat, bouncing slightly. It felt perfect, not too firm, not too soft.
"Well, Lou, thanks for the hospitality. Wake me at dawn, whenever that is. Goodnight," I said quickly, getting up from the bed to avoid protests and pushing him out the door.
Lou's begging me to stay in his bedroom was silenced when the door was closed. I took a deep breath and leaned against it. Hell was not a place I wanted to be, be here I was, against my better judgment.
The room was already prepared for me with clothes, bathroom essentials, and lingerie that would never touch my body. I opted for an oversized t-shirt and sweats. The uglier, the better.
I couldn't use my phone in Hell, and my aura wouldn't work here either, so I decided sleep was best.
Snuggled in the oversized bed and under the heavy satin comforter, I closed my eyes. I had kept the bathroom light on just for my peace of mind. Sleep came easy because I was still exhausted and mentally worn out from the capture of Nybbas.
I woke up to the assault of chatter and bustling about from Lou's maids.
Sitting up, I realized my hair had wrapped around my face like a mummy. I could barely see the handful of maids running around, opening the curtain to expose the red glow from outside and pulling clothes out in preparation for me to wear. Two maids tended a breakfast cart next to the bed while one straightened the covers for me.
"Whoa, what's going on?"
All the maids eerily looked alike in their outfits as they turned to me and the one by the food cart responded, "Good morning Ms. Ayda! Our Lord has asked that you be attended to and not need lifting a finger to do a single thing today."
I looked at her, "What's your name?"
She smiled, a mouth full of delicate pointy teeth, "A, ma'am."
"Amam? Cute, look, I just," I was starting to respond when she quickly said, "No, just A. I was named A."
I stared at her and tried not to laugh before asking, "So, your name is the letter A?" I asked, and she nodded enthusiastically.
"And yours?"
The maid responded, "D," and bowed slightly.
I pointed at each one in the room, asking their name, and by the time I was done, I discovered that A, B, D, F, and R were all staring at me.
"Damn, he really does have a sense of humor," I mused, throwing my legs over the side of the bed and wiggling my toes in a stretch.
"Miss, will you be eating your breakfast?"
I looked at D and shook my head, "No thanks, I'm going to the kitchen in a minute and get some coffee. Do you know where Lou is?"
A answered, sounding a bit disappointed, "Our handsome Lord is more than likely still resting in his chambers. He'd fallen asleep late last night."
I looked at A with an assuming smile, "Oh, and I suppose you all helped him to fall asleep?"
Some of the other letter maids scoffed, but then A huffed, "Well yes, ma'am, but," she hesitated for a moment, so I said, "Go ahead, you can say whatever you want around me, I don't judge, and it won't go beyond these walls."
The maid named A glanced at all the other letters, and then they all started sobbing, rushing over by me while some sat on the bed.
"What the, what's wrong?"
One by one, they spoke, explaining all Lou did was pout and then drink and then sob, followed by making them sing karaoke in the party room before he passed out, and they put him to bed.
"That bad, huh?" I said, slightly feeling sorry for them.