The letter maid, F, nodded and started on again between sobbing, saying, "He's not been himself in over a week, Miss Ayda, but when you and that heavenly being showed up in the throne room, we thought he snapped out of it, but he didn't. I just don't understand, we tried everything to cheer him up, but he even plucked the leaves from the oleander flowers in the garden, saying, 'She despises me, she despises me not.' Then he ordered us to clean up all the petals!"
The overly feminine sobs continued, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, okay, I'll talk to him. "Stop crying, please," I said, getting up from the bed, "He and I need to have a little talk anyway."
I marched out of the bedroom before even changing and knocked on his bedroom door. He didn't answer, so I opened it slowly, peeking in.
"Lou, you awake?"
There was no answer. Stepping into the room, I noticed it hadn't changed since I'd last seen it, and I crept over to his bed. It was an elaborate canopy with heavy privacy curtains made of velvet.
"Hey, you awake?" I said, listening.
The King of Hell didn't respond, so I gently pulled aside one of the curtains and got more than I bargained for. I had forgotten Lou liked to sleep naked.
He was sprawled out, empty wine bottle still in hand, lying on his stomach. I quickly turned away, closing the curtain, trying to delete the image of his naked succulent bottom from my mind.
Suddenly his hands came through the curtains, pulling me back into his arms on the bed.
"Hey, let me go. You're naked, Lou!"
My yelp didn't matter, he only laughed softly in my ear, and I could smell the wine still fresh on his breath.
"Indeed, I am, so don't move, or you may end up naked as well," he whispered.
I froze. I could feel what he hid between his legs. It pressed against my butt.
"Lou, let me go and get dressed. If you don't, I promise I will change how you use the toilet," I said calmly, pulling at his hand with mine.
"Shh... If you stay still, I promise I won't do anything. Just lay with me here, Ayda, for just a minute, please?"
The King of Hell was asking me, "Please." He must really be desperate.
"One minute Lou, starting ten seconds ago," I said, giving up.
I was there for business, not his pleasure, but my life wouldn't end from laying there a moment to appease him.
Lou's face nuzzled my hair as he took a deep breath and said softly, "So nice. I think I can really get some sleep now."
I shook my head no, "You can't! We have things to do today! Oh, and why the Hell did you name your maids that way? It's kinda creepy and twisted."
I felt him shrug, "I thought it was amusing. Each one has a specialty, and their letter stands for that specialty. Shall I tell you, starting with F?"
He distracted me for more time by making me think, but it didn't work for long. I knew Lou all too well.
"Okay, times up!"
I couldn't pull some power from my aura, but I could still use my teeth!
Pulling his hands up with mine, I bit down, not hard, but enough for him to know I meant business.
"Oh, Ayda, no biting unless I can bite you back!"
I felt him move his mouth to my shoulder, but his hands loosened enough so I could break free.
Practically flying out of bed, I turned and shut the curtain quickly.
"Enough playing around, Lou! Your maids are in my room sobbing because you've been like a sack of weeping potatoes. You're the King of Hell, for the Almighty's sake! What happened to that cocky, sure of himself Devil I got a glimpse of when you saved me from the water?"
The Devil behind the curtain didn't say anything.
"Lou, you're about to lose everything if you don't do something," I said gently, knowing it was the truth.
Suddenly the curtains behind me flew open, and I turned to face Lou's prominent, flopping member in my face as he yelled, standing on the bed, "You're right! I am the King of Hell! I won't sit around like a flaccid old codger! They will NOT dethrone me!"
I yelped, covering my eyes, and ran for the door. I didn't need to see that! But I was glad he reacted, and maybe Lou would finally see the reality of the situation.
I waited almost an hour, sipping through several cups of coffee, after sending several letter maids from my room into Lou's. The noises I heard, giggling, moaning, and wet slapping, told me Lou had regained his libido on top of his ego.
One by one, they came out, clothes disheveled, faces flushed, and I just rolled my eyes. That's why I could never have a serious relationship, of some sort, with Lou. His sexual appetite was too much and too freely fed.
I was already changed into black boots, tight leather pants, and a hoodie. He at least remembered my clothing choices.
Knocking on the door after the last maid left, barely dressed and her breasts covered by one arm because the top was ripped to shreds, I yelled, "Come on, Lou, I haven't got all day!"
The door opened, and he stepped out with a look of hunger still on his face, "If your next, I probably will take all day," he said, grinning and licking his lips.
I lightly punched him in the gut and started down the hallway, saying, "Fat chance that'd EVER happen!"
Letting out an "Oomph," he followed me and then laughed, "Oh come on, they wanted to put on a show for me, to cheer me up. So what was I supposed to do? Say 'No, don't lick her there, wait, don't stop, what are you doing to her pus'... uh, sorry love, TMI?" Lou knew he was pushing me too far when I looked back at him with a glare.
I didn't care what they did or what he did. Of course, this wasn't about me, but saving the King of Hell was my job this time, apparently, so I took it seriously.
"I don't care about that, Lou. What I am worried about is you think this is some big joke. If that auditor comes, and your numbers aren't up to par, you could end up in the abyss while I am looked at as failing my job, once again." Okay, maybe it was a little about me.
He caught up to my fast walk, snapping his fingers before a robe appeared in his hand.
"Okay, you're right, my love. I will stop. So, what's the first order of business?"
I grinned, happy he asked.
"To fire your secretary," I replied to Lou, my voice low and determined,