Chapter Five: An Angel in the Devil's Bed
Lothaire stared at the sleeping Angelina. An angel sleeping on the devil's bed, how ironic, he smirked. He didn't know what to do with her yet. Just the thought of how Michael would go crazy searching for her gave him comfort. Now that he was back, he would have revenge on all those who took part in his downfall. And then... then he would carry out his initial plan.
On the bed, Angelina's brows furrowed. She was trapped in a nightmare. She was running in the woods again. She could hardly breathe, and her legs were really hurting. Her chest hurt as she took in sharp breaths. "You can't run from it!" she heard a voice say, as she met herself in a cave. Blood on the walls, gutted humans, and bones lay on the ground, making the cave look scary and mysterious.
"Who are you?!" Angelina screamed into the darkness. Evil laughter echoed, and an invisible force made her face the walls. Upon closer inspection, the walls had some carvings, a message. She couldn't quite make out what it was,her vision was all blur.
She was portaled to a field,women and children,weeping the dead, cursing her name.
"May Melione rot to death!" They cursed.
The land was now a waste, only ash remained on the ground,no sign of vegetation.
"You did this!"
A voice whispered into her ears, "So you see now, you have to die." A woman appeared in front of her, her eyes widened and completely black, her white dress was colored in blood. Her teeth were open and clenched, fangs visible to her sight.
"No!" Angelina screamed back to life, as the woman raised her bloody knife.
"I should really start taping your lips at night," said Lothaire, displeased.
Angelina was too scared to answer, her hand placed on her heavily falling chest, trying to calm down and process what she just saw. Not long after Lothaire left the room, Astra walked in, her purple eyes full of life.
"Did the lady sleep well?" she asked, a smirk on her face.
Angelina frowned, piecing it all together; that drink the maid had given her must be the cause of her nightmares. "Who are you?" she asked, clutching the duvet closely to her chest.
"Relax," Astra laughed, placing her hand on a withered black rose, making it bloom again. "You're a witch!" Angelina exclaimed; she felt like fainting. First, she was associated with the devil, and now a witch!
"Don't kill me!" Angelina felt like crying. Witches were known to be cruel and neutral, they weren't friends nor enemies to angels or the devil. They were like chameleons, only staying on the side that would benefit them the most.
"Kill you?" Astra laughed. "I'm here to instead... help you," she said.
"I...I don't need your help," Angelina stammered, wondering what a witch could possibly offer her.
"Really? You want to be a late bloomer forever? Let me tell you, princess, this is Cinderfall, where the weak crumble and only the strong can rule," she said.
Angelina thought about it deeply; Astra was right. If she had nothing to offer, it wouldn't be long before Lothaire disposed of her. And besides, it was a win-win.
Astra frowned. "Let's get me back in shape first." She recited a spell, transforming herself into a young lady. Her black hair was now longer and shiny, her skin smooth as jade, and her beauty was radiant.
Angelina's eyes widened in shock; Astra wasn't as old as she thought?
"I am old, dear, I just age really slow," she said.
After Angelina had her bath and breakfast, Astra led her to the red rose garden.
"Practicing magic is a gift, one that comes with a sacrifice. Always keep that in mind," she said.
Angelina looked around the vast rose garden; she never imagined Lothaire to be invested in flowers.
"Magic requires balance, emotional and physical. More emphasis is laid on the emotional part," Astra said, plucking two withered roses.She gave Angelina one and held the other. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Anthos antheros," she whispered, and the withered flower bloomed again.
Angelina's eyes lightened; it was impressive. Astra looked into Angelina's eyes. "Your turn."
"Wait, you can't be serious. I've tried magic before; it didn't work," she said. That day, Uriela and Celeste had mocked her.
"Just close your eyes; you can do it," Astra encouraged.
Angelina closed her eyes, "Imagine yourself in a vast field, inhaling the scent of fragrant roses. Let the wind guide you," Astra said.
Angelina placed her palm over the withered rose. "Anthos antheros."
"I did it!" She said, happiness evident.
"I told you it's not that hard, as long as your emotions are stable," said Astra.
Oblivious to them, two maids cleaning Lothaire's study were watching from the floor-to-ceiling window.
"I heard she's an angel," said Anna to the other maid, Irene.
"The devil and an angel, that's not good," said Irene.
"Poor Lilith; she loves Master to the point of obsession, only to be overshadowed twice, this time by an angel," Anna nodded.
In their distraction, Anna accidentally knocked over a vase. Hearing the commotion, Aquila rushed in.
"What have you done, idiot?!" she shouted.
Anna gulped hard; she was done for. This vase was Lothaire's favorite.
"It wasn't intentional," Anna pleaded.
"What got you so distracted?" Aquila walked over, her eyes fixed on Angelina smiling happily in the garden. Angelina disgusted her – an angel crawling into the devil's bed, how shameless.
She had to do something to get rid of her quickly. In her eyes, only Lilith was fit enough to be the devil's queen.
"I have a plan, but you have to cooperate," she said to the scared duo.
"We'll do anything," they pleaded.
Angelina was starting to sweat; the afternoon sun was too hot.
"Miss, Master needs you in his study right now," the maid said.
Angelina was reluctant to go, fear still evident regarding the prophecy in her nightmares. But she couldn't avoid him forever.
Inside the study, she was greeted by awesome architecture and several shelves filled with voluminous books. Had he read them all? She wondered.
"He'll be here shortly," the maid hurriedly left.
Angelina's gaze fell on the broken vase on the ground. Who could've broken the glass? She wondered. Just then, Lothaire walked in, surprised to see Angelina there. His gaze fell on the shards she was holding. His eyes darkened; that vase was given to him by the almighty himself – the only thing he had of home.
"What did you do?!" he asked.
"Me? I didn't break it. I met it lying on the floor when I arrived," Angelina tried explaining.
"What are you even doing here in the first place? Didn't I tell you not to wander around?" he asked.
Angelina's eyes widened; wasn't he the one who called her there? "The maid said you needed me here," she said, taking several steps back, wondering if she'd been set up.
Lothaire frowned; was she going to lie now? "A lying angel?!" he said.
"I'm not lying!" Angelina defended.
She described the maid, and soon, a few people walked in – Aquila, Anna, and Irene among them.
"She's the one," Angelina pointed to the ginger-haired maid.
"Did you call her over here?" Lothaire asked.
"No, Master. I've been cleaning rooms since daybreak," Anna defended.
"Liar!" said Angelina.
"Master, Anna isn't lying. I've been with her all day," Aquila chimed in.
"Me too," the other maids testified.
Angelina walked over to Anna's side. "Just how much were you paid to set me up?"
"I wasn't paid anything, my lady. I've been cleaning all day," Anna said again.
"Liar!" Angelina kicked her against the wall. She hated liars the most.
"Miss, picking on a maid... that should be below you. Just admit you broke Master's vase," said Aquila.
Angelina opened her lips to talk, but Lothaire interrupted.
"Shut up!"
"Now, tell me, little angel, did you break the vase or not?" he asked.
"No!" Angelina replied sharply.
Lothaire's anger grew at her stubbornness. "Get out!" He commanded the maids.
He pinned Angelina against the wooden door; they were so close they could inhale each other's breaths and scents. He pinned her hands against the door with one hand. "Don't test my patience, little angel. Did you break the vase?" he asked.
"No!" Angelina replied sharply.
Lothaire's anger grew at her stubbornness. "Your punishment will be to kneel in the sun," he said.
"What?!" Angelina was furious; if this were Arcadia, there would be a fair trial, at least. Why was he so cruel? In the end, Astra was right: Cinderfall wasn't for the weak.
Lothaire spent the rest of the day slowly torturing Helen. He didn't want to see Angelina yet, given her previous behavior. He took a deep breath as he walked out of the inferno, a wave of desire taking over him – desire to hold a woman.
He walked down the streets of Cinderfall, coming to a halt at the harem's door. "L-Lothaire?" Amelia, the owner, was shocked to see Lothaire.
"The rumors are true, then; the devil really is back," she said, but Lothaire walked past her. "The usual room, send one up," he said to the dumbfounded Amelia.
The other demons were too busy to notice his arrival. "The devil truly is handsome," Emma said as she walked into the room, completely naked.
Lothaire stared at her naked body, but why wasn't he feeling anything? Emma walked seductively towards him; she had curves in all the right places and soft skin.
Lothaire dragged her in, kissing her fiercely. He still didn't feel anything. Was it because he hadn't been with a woman in twenty-two years? He wondered.
He pulled away, pulling down his trousers; his little brother was still normal, showing no reaction. What was going on?!
"Ohhh," Emma started, smiling devilishly. "I know what to do," she said, pushing Lothaire onto the bed.
She knelt on the bed, his legs between hers. She took his dick in her palm, licking its head slowly. On the bed, Lothaire was frustrated; he clearly had desires tonight, but why wasn't he reacting to her touches?
Seeing that he still had no reaction, Emma frowned. She released his dick from her mouth, then slowly worked her lips up to his. Lothaire kissed her fiercely, sucking breath out of her lungs.
He took off his shirt, pulling her alluring body to his. "Mmm... ahhh," Emma moaned, but still, Lothaire wasn't hard or horny for her.
Lothaire gave up, pulling away from her. What was happening to him?! He closed his eyes in frustration, pictures of Angelina's naked body emerging in his mind.
Angelina? Why was he thinking about her erotically? He wondered. Just then, it occurred to him: he had bitten her neck in the cave.
His anger grew as he looked at the confused Emma. "Get out!" he said to her before putting on his clothes and leaving the harem, unsatisfied.
Back in the harem, Amelia ordered Emma to kneel; an angry Lothaire meant bad business. "You couldn't even satisfy a man!" she said.
"It's not me, Amelia; the devil is... impotent, I think..." Emma said.
"Shut up! What nonsense are you saying?" Amelia had none of it.
Lothaire walked into the room in anger, flinging aside the duvet covering Angelina, who was fast asleep.
"Ugh!" She groaned, her eyes widening as he tore open her nightwear.
"What are you doing?!" She tried to kick him away.
Wasn't her punishment satisfactory enough?!
Seeing him relentless, she kicked him between the legs; her eyes widened again as she saw his hardness.
Lothaire smiled evilly at her realization. His dick had risen as he kept thinking of Angelina being naked, moaning, and melting under his touch.
Sure enough, her body was just as he had imagined. His eyes had a glow of red as his teeth elongated into fangs.