“That tickled.” A voice intoned. Jumping at the sudden sound I pivoted in a circle almost making myself dizzy in the process. No one. There was no one there.
Scratching the back of my head, my eyes skipped around, searching for the voice as I approached the doors again this time seeing a pair of large round balls that knocked against a metal plate when you released the ball.
Glancing behind me again I noticed the path behind me resembled almost a dull yellow road that had been heated to an almost ceramic texture as if I was on my way along the yellow brick road to Oz. As I glanced down, I saw the road led right to where I was standing to the doors.
I needed inside this castle so I picked up one of the knockers to release it, a hollow gong reverberating inside the abode.
“Ow. That hurt.” The voice complained; a petulant tone whined.
Frowning, I stood my hands planted on my hips staring at the disturbingly warm doors and slowly stuck my arm out to lightly stroke one of the doors with the pads of my fingers. A shudder rippled along the covering of the door almost as if ants walked over someone’s skin.
“That feels so strange. It’s been so long since I was touched.” The male voice whined as it cracked in the middle in despair.
“Who or what are you,” I whispered almost grossed out by the flesh I had touched.
“I’m an evil man being tortured for his sins.” His voice was matter-of-fact as he released this bit of information.
My fingers had involuntarily stroked along the material of him and a vision plastered itself to my brain for a moment. I stumbled back immediately breaking contact with his flesh but I could still see clips of what he had done to women and young girls, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that this was a perfect torture for such an evil man. To be touched and not be able to do anything about it in return.
Another step back away from the door, this time I was not about to press my fingers against that thing no matter what.
Luckily with a loud grinding, the door opened slowly and began swinging outward. My heart rose to my throat along with my hand as I waited, my breath catching, for the door to open.
After a quarter of the way a slight woman stepped out to confront me. “What are you doing here and who are you?”
“A demon brought me here as a gift to Lucifer,” my lips twisted in disgust at this, “and I want to know what the hell is going on. What does he want with me?”
My fingers curled into a fist as I rested my hand absentmindedly against the evil man’s skin and a flash of his evil deeds flashed into my mind again. I jerked my hand away as if a jolt of electricity had shocked me.
The woman standing before me was the most beautiful I had ever seen. She had long, curly red hair that swirled about her like living flames. Nodding her head at my statement as if she understood what I had said she motioned me forward through the live door ignoring the moans and groans that followed us and said, “I know who you are now. Let’s get this over with.”
As the beautiful woman shook her head slowly, she said to herself, “Lu, Lu. Why did you have to do this?”
“Who are you, by the way.” I asked curious as I slipped through the partially opened door, because she seemed to know Lucifer so well.
The difference between the granite of the walls to the slate of the floor we walked was amazing. Our footsteps echoed loud in the wide-open hallway we travelled. The coolness of the stones, so I wanted to lay flat on the stone floor contrasted to the blazing heat I had just left.
“I’m Tabitha, a fallen angel. One of Lu’s harem.” Her lips flattened into a thin line as she said the last word.
“Harem? He has a harem and wants to marry me?” I was shocked in this day someone would have a harem but, hey…if you were Lucifer. Why not?
Tabitha nodded and shrugged as if she agreed with my thoughts but couldn’t do anything about it. “All of us fallen are old fashioned. That especially includes Lu.”
“So, how would that work with a wife?” I wasn’t about to marry him but still I was curious. Didn’t a wife have rights?
Tabitha shrugged with a graceful arch of her shoulders not giving away her thoughts on the matter. I wished I had a quarter of her grace and beauty. What would Lucifer want with me when he had women like her waiting for him?
Frowning deep in thought as I considered everything, I had learned so far, my eyes settled on the slate floor as we walked, the slight unevenness made me wary of tripping and falling flat on my face. And considering my not-so-gracefulness that was a distinct possibility.
As we traversed the hallway, each with our own thoughts, mine wondering if he planned on keeping his harem even after a so-called-marriage with me. Gross.
Lifting my eyes from the floor I glanced to the walls we passed, the stones there had veins of bright colors. Pink, turquoise and emerald. From what I could observe as we walked down the long wide halls, our footsteps echoing loud, this place was a maze as I glanced into rooms with open doorways to who knew where.
Tabitha stopped before one such doorway that was wider than the others. Three men could stand together and there would still be room. The sill of the doorway was also covered in gold as well as the door that was engraved with demons and women romping together, their bodies intertwined.
Loud, affected laughter drifted through the door to our ears. Tabitha inclined her head to the side offering me entry as she pulled the heavy door open. Giving her a sideways glance, I strode forward trying to give the appearance of confidence, even if I wanted to quiver into the slate floor my arms locked over my head.
As I entered, I noticed the room was large and empty except for the half a dozen men lounging around the dais at the center of the room.
A gilt and jewel encrusted throne-a real throne-sat smack in the middle of the dais. The back of the throne rose high reaching to the ceiling with the cavorting figures of demons and screaming humans their hands raised in supplication engraved in gold.
Slouched on the throne was a man, and what a man. The black hair thick and messy with a thick lock falling into his deep blue eyes, the black lashes impossibly long and thick. His chiseled cheekbones sharp knives against his face, his mouth full. So kissable. I shook my head at that thought in shock. Where had that come from?
He threw back his head in a body shaking laugh, his eyes sharp as lasers on me. Did he know my thoughts? My brain stuttered to a halt for a moment. Did he put that thought there?
His long fingers gripping the clawed arms of the throne tightly, the only sign he wasn’t entirely as relaxed as he pretended. Those laser eyes sparked at me as he asked, “well, well, well. What have you brought me Tab? A gift?”
Lucifer’s voice boomed through the room.
“A visitor Lu. It seems a demon was sent to fetch her. You know anything about that?” Tabitha stood with one hand on a hip that was thrust out, her eyebrows raised in challenge.
He stopped laughing as suddenly as a light clicking off, giving Tabitha a hard stare. “Tabby found my missing chick. Good for you. I’ll have to think of a special gift for you.”
Lucifer licked his lips as he stared at Tabitha a dark light darkening his eyes to almost black at his thoughts. He turned that hard gaze back to me, “Now we can have a wedding. And a wedding night.”
Just that fast he turned his thoughts from Tabitha to me. Not going to happen. “Um. No wedding, thank you very much. I’m guessing you’re Lucifer. Right? No wedding. Ever. So, you can stop sending demons to me.” I sauntered forward to where Lucifer still slouched into his throne, his head resting into the palm of his hand that curled about half of his face.
I glanced to Tabitha, who had her fingers pressed to her lips as she watched Lucifer’s reaction to my denial. His lips twitched at my dialogue but when I had finished, he shot me a venomous glare. With thinned lips, his laser sharp eyes bored into mine as if ordering me. Not going to happen.
Slowly he rose to his feet and proceeded, one foot at a time, to walk done the three steps of
the dais to stand before me his hands clasped behind his back.
“Listen again. This is the last time I’m going to say this. What’s your name?” Darkness crossed his eyes as they narrowed into slits, his face hard and sharp like a shark.
My mouth gaped open and closed a couple times like a fish without air as I considered his question. “You want to marry me but you don’t know my name. I mean you send demons after me and you don’t think my name matters?”
“No, it doesn’t. But someone.” He turned a hard glare onto a man that held a glass of amber liquid in a hand as he rested a foot against one of the steps on the dais. He raised the glass first to Lucifer and then to me in salute.
“Someone refrained to give me your name.” Lucifer lowered his head into his shoulders, turning the glare still on the man beside him, pursed his lips as if trying to refrain from saying something else he’d regret.
I took another step until I stood directly before the dais facing Lucifer. “ You didn’t think it was necessary to know my name. So why is it necessary to marry me? Why am I so important?”
Lucifer stood looming over me. And I was tall, but I was not about to cower before him or show fear so I thrust my chin up to glare at him. A light of what might be approval appeared in his eyes but he wasn’t about to back down either.
“So, what is your name then?” He added with infinite patience gritted through his teeth.
“Paige.”
“So, Paige. Wedding in one hour. Tab will get you ready and bring you back here.” A full toothed smile filled his face as he planned on getting everything he wanted. But I guess if you were Lucifer you did.
I opened my mouth to protest but Tabitha grabbed my elbow shaking her head at the same time as she widened her eyes at me her back to Lucifer. “Sure Lu. I’ll get her ready and we’re going to need two.”
My eyes widened back at her, watching as she turned to Lucifer, a smile lifting her face. He lips turned down at the corners as he considered her as to truth. “You’re going to do this?” He asked skeptically. “I’m surprised. I thought you’d fight me on this Tabs.”
He canted his head to the side as he regarded her suspiciously, slipping his hands into the front pockets of his black slacks his whole demeanor relaxed.
“Nothing I could say would change anything. Would it ,Lu? You’d still go through with the wedding.” Tabitha voice was soft with sadness and regret.
“Well I’m glad then Tabs. See you in two hours here. I’ll get everything ready in the meantime.” He patted her on her shoulder pivoting to return to the throne, sliding into the seat as if he were molasses. His eyebrows lowered over his eyes as he watched us leave like a hawk.
A hand still on my elbow Tabitha dragged me out of the room before I could say anything in protest.
10
My glare at Tabitha should have made her burst into flames for agreeing with him but maybe she had something up her sleeve. She better.
We strode quickly through the hallway to a closed door as Tabitha’s gaze darted around us as if checking for danger. One hand kept pulling her hair behind an ear that shook. Her other hand was fisted as she bounced it against her outer thigh as we walked fast, her back and shoulders tight and straight. Good thing I was in good shape as we were almost running.
Stopping before the heavy closed door her eyes darted about us again as she pushed it open. The way she was acting now made me nervous and I bit my bottom lip pulling it into my mouth as my gaze darted about us. But I could see nothing. Helping her push the heavy door open we slipped inside to reveal a cavernous empty room except for a large round maybe metal object toward one end of the room. Hurrying to the object she touched one corner of the object like she flipped a switch.
A low groaning that was just beyond normal hearing. A scrapping that irritated the tiny hairs on the inside of your ears and made you want to draw your shoulders up to your ears as if that motion would protect them. Tiny bits of color began to appear like flares. Red, orange, pink, blue, green and colors in between began to swirl faster and faster.
My jaw dropped in awe as I watched not knowing what to make of the object. Eyeing it with narrowed eyes I heard Tabitha behind me saying, “it’s a dimensional gate. It’ll get you back home if the dang thing will move faster.”
Tabitha glared at the gate as if it were a living being out to stop her.
“Where did it come from? I think I saw something like this on a couple of television shows.” I was in awe how something so technology advanced could exist here.
She gave me a quick glance of derision. “Television shows? This is a multi-dimensional gate. It will take you between dimensions. Lu had the frame made to hold it in one place. This is one of the ways he travels. The portal itself pops wherever it feels like. Sometimes I almost feel like intelligence is in there somewhere.”
Tabitha stood facing the gate her hands on her hips and a curious expression on her face, her teeth biting at her bottom lip as she studied the portal. One I could not describe to myself.
“Tabitha?” I asked, hesitant.
She twirled around, her hand on her heart as if she had been in another world with her thoughts. If she had thought we were being followed we needed to get moving.
Shaking her head as if that could help her collect her scattered thoughts she stared at the swirling colors and with a sharp nod reached her hand out to me. “It’s time.”
A pounding on the door made both of us pivot in the direction of the sound and the hairs on the back of my neck raised as I imagined what could be on the other side of the door. Tabitha grabbed my hand pulling me to the gate and getting ready to thrust me through. “Paige, I hope you remain safe and get to where you belong.”
She continued the thrust and the hand on the small of my back pushed me toward the swirling lights and stumbling I placed my hands holding on shouting, “wait! What about you?”
“What about me? I can’t leave. I must try and hold off Lu and his minions. Now go!” With a great heave and banging ringing in my ears I stumbled the rest of the way into the swirling mess of bright lights.
I didn’t know if I was falling, standing up or lying sideways. I wasn’t disoriented. I wasn’t even breathing. I just was. No idea how much time passed before I was ejected from the swirling mass of bright colors. Ejected and falling to my knees gasping for breath my chest tight from lack of oxygen.
Resting on hands and knees my head falling forward to hand lose my hair hanging in front of my face so I couldn’t see. My eyes closed, my hands open flat on the soft springy grass, my arms trembled from my weight, my body relishing the cool breeze that swept over my warm skin. The fresh air clean against my starved lungs.
Finally, deciding I might be able to stand I pushed myself with my legs, tossing my head to get my hair out of my eyes and see where I had been deposited. The gate had disappeared and been replaced by the sight of the Willow Falls waterfalls as they shone in the early morning sunlight skipping with the waves as the water flowed down the boulders of granite, smooth from centuries of hard flowing water. As the water fell over the varied sizes of boulders it sparkled with an iridescent light that was almost otherworldly.
Shaking myself out of being transfixed by the relief I was feeling at the moment I sat on the dew-covered grass not caring if my jeans got wet. Exhaustion began to overtake me and lying down on my back I settled on that half-asleep state where everything appeared unreal.
I knew I needed to go home and see Mom and Ben but I didn’t have the strength or will to get back up at the moment. A deep male baritone was carried by the wind the blew over me. Not being able to quite catch what the voice was calling but I had no wish to be disturbed yet. But as the seconds passed the words from the voice and the voice itself sounded familiar and echoed as if through a tunnel.
Trying to force myself to wake up I finally heard the name. “Paige! Paige!”
But who did that voice belong to? It sounded so familiar. I tried to wake myself up. Wak
e up. Wake up. See who that is. I tried to open my mouth and answer but it was as if my lips had been sewn closed.
The voice unerringly came closer and still I couldn’t wake up. It was as if I was under some sleeping spell. Struggling I finally was able to lift me eyelids. It was as if they were being held down with heavy weights but I pulled them up and I stared unseeing for a moment, the falls a blurry blue wash of color.
My body felt like I had been beaten in the few minutes I had been lying there. Rolling over onto my stomach I pulled myself up onto my hands and knees as slow as an eighty-year-old woman while being stuck in quicksand. Leaning my forehead on the ground I panted as I rested, my breath heavy in my lungs as I struggled to breathe.
Paige!” The voice yelled in relief as a breathless tone overshadowed the deep voice.
Not even trying to move I finally recognized the voice. Caine. The man that made my heart flutter since…what? Yesterday?
Strong hands grabbed yanking me upright by my waist into strong arms. I still hadn’t seen his face so I had no idea the emotions running through Caine I could only hope he was on the same page as my feelings.
“Paige. Paige. Paige. You’re back.” A hitch in his voice made me wish I wasn’t in so much pain that I could find out his feelings. But a moan escaped my lips as I raised my head for the light cold spray from the waterfall to trickle on my upturned face. As the pain blossomed throughout my body, he enfolded me in his arms, his face pressed against my hair, nonsense words escaping his mouth.
I was confused. What had happened to Caine? Where had the obnoxious, grumpy man I had recently discovered. I had only been gone…what? A few hours? He was acting link I had been gone for years.
My hands pushed on his chest pushing him away from me so I could look into his hazel eyes that were soft and filled with an emotion I couldn’t fathom. He released me his hands lightly brushing against my skin as I pulled away.
“Why are you acting like this Caine? You’re acting like I’ve been gone for years. It’s only ben…what? A few hours?” His eyes widened at my words and he gazed deep into my face, his fingers raising to stroke against my cheek.
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