by K L Rymer
Misaki told me to punch him, but I will do so much more. So, so much more. Get him where it really hurts.
I turn to the clock. Seven thirty.
I sigh when I realise what day it is.
The day of the masquerade ball.
I STAY UP IN MY ROOM all day.
The maids had come around to change the sheets, and I had to act dumb once again when they spied my tell-tale wet patch.
Lucky for me, they pretended not to notice, and continued with their household duties.
I decided not to go to the ball. Even when Misaki brought up a beautiful red dress and matching mask, I declined. Red’s not really my colour, anyway.
I couldn’t stomach seeing anyone tonight, wanting to bury myself away.
Eli’s confession still swirls through my mind, breaking my heart.
My father... he’d killed Eli’s mother. It was still hard to believe.
But I know he wouldn’t lie about this. Even though he had lied about many other things, I just knew deep in my heart Eli wouldn’t stoop so low.
So it’s either that he was led to believe that my father had killed his mother, or it was the cold-hard truth.
When the guests arrive up the drive, I wonder which of them may know my father, which one could save me tonight.
But I’m not even sure if I still want to be saved.
Eli’s father comes back off his business trip tomorrow evening. After tonight, I will lose my chance.
Someone knocks at the door, and I sit up in bed, holding Sparkles close.
“Who... who is it?” I ask, expecting to hear Misaki.
“Crystal...”
My gut clenches at the sound of Eli’s familiar, husky voice, and I hold Sparkles even closer. “Go away, Eli!”
“Open the door. I just want to talk.”
I squeeze my eyes, covering my ears. “Please... just go. I... I just want to be alone...”
He sighs then yanks on the handle, and the lock snaps. I stare horrified, my heart banging against my chest.
The door creaks open, and I shriek, throwing pillows at the intruder. “Stay out!”
Eli enters the room, and my breath catches in my throat. He wears a long black cape, a renaissance style three-piece suit, and a ruffled cravat, and I can’t take my eyes off him.
He looks like something out of a storybook, the prince more specifically, and my blood pumps as red hot as the dress in my closet.
His grey eyes smoulder me from beneath a midnight black mask, and I release a long, shuddery breath, remembering my latest dream.
That same strong hand that just broke the lock had buried deep inside my core, rubbing and yanking on the roots of my clitoris, and I feel that tell-tale dripping in my panties again.
I’m going to have to buy some new underwear at this rate.
“So, I presume you’re not going to the ball?” he says, his eyes burning holes into my soul.
I blink, drawing a breath. “No. I don’t feel like going.”
He gives a mock sigh. “Well, what a shame. I was going to ask you to be my date.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
“Well, this ball is technically for us. We may as well act the part.”
My face pulls up in disgust. “I wouldn’t go on a date with you if you were the last man on earth!”
He raises a brow. “Suit yourself. But I, on the other hand, have no choice. Misaki made me go in the end because I upset you.”
“And you thought asking me out would make me feel better?”
Eli falters. “W-well... when you put it like that...”
I grab a pillow, throwing it at his face. “Oh, you are so full of yourself! Leave, I don’t want to look at you.”
It was a lie. I do want to look at him. I want to gaze up into his sexy, masked face all night long, and bury myself beneath his cape while he sweeps me away like a princess. But I keep my womanly urges to myself, lest he gets the better of me again.
Eli chuckles, just low enough for me to hear, and I peer back up. His grey eyes have vanished, replaced by his demonic black crimson, and I watch with a mixture of awe and fear.
How could someone be so beautiful and terrifying at the same time?
“Admit it. You’re a little turned on by me right now, aren’t you, Crystal?”
I gasp, holding onto Sparkles. “How dare you!”
Eli smirks, stepping closer, and I shuffle back on the bed. “Stay away from me!”
“Or what? You’ll whack me with your horse?”
“Um... unicorn, and no. I would never do that to Sparkles.”
He freezes then, closing that full mouth into a tight, thin line. I stare, aghast. The expression looks so foreign on his face, it takes me a moment to realise he’s... laughing.
“You... you gave it a name?” he says, stifling a snort.
I roll my eyes. “I think you mean she and yes. Princess Sparkles to be precise.”
Eli’s mouth presses even tighter, his face turning a bright shade of red, and then he finally loses it. His laugh bursts through the room, bouncing off the walls, and I stare in shock.
It’s loud and colourful and fills my heart with joy, but all I can do is watch.
I’d once promised him I would make him laugh, laugh so hard it exposed his teeth and made him wet himself. So I guess I should be thankful. I just wish it wasn’t at poor Sparkles’ expense though.
His teeth shine as much as Sparkles’ mane, and they’re so straight and white, I brush my tongue over my own teeth, self-conscious.
Screw these Blacks and they’re perfect smiles (evil people always have the best smiles).
“Stop laughing!” I snap, hugging Sparkles to my chest.
Eli wipes his eyes, which have returned to their normal grey, and now he gazes down at me with a mixture of warmth and amusement. I can’t look away.
His pupils encompass his whole eyes, making him look cute and doe-eyed, and I’d never thought I would see him look so... sweet.
Yes, Eli Black, sweet.
“You’re too adorable, Crystal,” he says, moving closer. “But despite that sweet, childish demeanour, I know there’s a little goddess inside you, yearning to be set free...”
I narrow my eyes. “You know nothing about me.”
Eli leans forward, placing a hand over the bedrail and another against the wall, and now he has me trapped. I hold Sparkles up for protection, hoping her horn really was stuffed with magic and she could blast him away.
His scent completely envelopes me now, and I gulp, drowning in his musk.
No one evil should smell this good...
His mouth pulls up with a grin, showing off his perfect teeth, and I see those dimples at last.
The blood pumps in my veins as I gaze at his beautiful smile. The dimples are as pronounced as I imagined, and I’m tempted to reach across and place my finger against one, but I keep my hands to myself.
Instead, I focus on the rest of his face. The black mask really accentuates his jawline, and my breath picks up as he locks me in place with those vivid greys.
“Come again?” he whispers hot against my face.
I hold my face away, trying not to be tempted by his devilish charms, but his scent won’t leave me. “I said, you... you know nothing about me...”
“Well, I know enough to know you like blindfolds.”
I peer up, my mouth agape. “Wh-what?”
How could he know that?
Eli leans even closer, placing his mouth inches from mine. Our breath mingles, and I close my eyes in pure ecstasy. Fudge... I can taste him on my tongue now.
“Don’t worry. I like blindfolds too... and lingerie... sexy white lingerie that clips at the front...”
I open my eyes in horror as his dark chuckle seeps through my veins, and instinctively, I ball my fist, swinging it towards his stupid, handsome face.
It collides with his nose, and for the second time in my life, I make Eli Black bleed.
23. Eli
“What the fuck, Crystal!”
I cover my gushing nose as the blood drips down my hand and onto my clean, white shirt, and grit my teeth.
The little blonde stares up at me fiercely, her blue eyes ablaze as she rubs her fist and no shit. That was a solid dig.
Who knew she could punch like that?
Next, I see her palm glow, and I stare in disbelief as she heals her broken knuckles.
I give a dry laugh. “Oh, as long as you’re fucking all right then!”
She shoots me a toxic look. “It’s not like I would have healed you anyway, pervert. Stay out of my dreams!”
I have to use my cravat now to cover my nose, and I rue the day she ever drew breath.
No one messes with the cravat.
“They’re not your dreams, Crystal. They’re ours, and besides, you started it. Dripping wet for me every night in your fucking sleep!”
She squeals, rushing forward to throw more punches at my chest. She pushes me towards the door. “You are vile, wicked, and I wish I never met you! Leave, now!”
Crystal continues her attacks on my chest, and I would have let her finish if her tiny fists didn’t actually start to hurt.
Yeah, I’m getting beat up by a little girl.
My back hits the door and I sigh, closing my hands around her wrists. My blood-soaked hands mar her skin, and she grimaces, squirming out of my grip. “Get off!”
The blood continues to drip from my nose, and a little bit even speckles her pretty face. She gasps in horror.
“Fix it...” I growl, glaring deep into her blazing eyes. I know mine are black crimson, but the girl barely flinches in their presence now.
She’s getting bold and I finally start to see a hint of that legendary angel power that I’ve heard so much about. Heck, I’ve even seen it first-hand in her father.
I yank her hand up, pressing it to my nose. “Fix my nose, or yours breaks...”
I hate to threaten her but I have a ball to attend. I couldn’t very well go down with a busted, bloodied nose, could I?
She grinds her teeth, burning me with those deadly blue eyes again.
It’s the same bright sapphire shade her eyes take on in my, I mean, our dreams, and I wonder if this is some of her hidden powers coming to the surface.
Her 21st is so close, just two weeks away. My own body went through a lot of similar changes too, so it must be the same for angel born.
Would she have the big, fluffy eagle wings as opposed to my leathery bat ones?
“Crystal...” I warn, watching my red eyes burn as they reflect off hers.
She sighs, never taking her scorching gaze off me. “Fine. But you still deserved it.”
I tense as she presses her warm, healing hand on my nose, and now I draw a long breath as my nasal passages clear once again
Yet I’m still covered in blood. I grab my cravat, giving her a stern look. “This was silk.”
Her face contorts, and then her eyes flash bright sapphire. “Get out!”
She opens the door and pushes me out into the hall. Then she slams it in my face, and I see her fiddle with the locks a few times on the other side before giving up, pushing one of the heavy dressers in front to keep me out instead.
My blood boils as I clench my teeth. “Yeah... well... you’ve just lost yourself a date!”
Wow... I sure told her.
I growl and sweep away down the hall, and my cape billows in the breeze behind me. At least I’ve got the whole dramatic villain’s flare going on.
She’s turning me into some bumbling buffoon. This must be what ordinary men feel like.
I used to be cool...
Well, I’m still going to have a good time without her. Forget her.
I find the washroom and clean up my bloodied face. Then I put on a new cravat and slip downstairs.
Let the partying begin.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE, the party’s shit.
But a number of people still turned up, people in their mid to late twenties with nothing better to do than go to a last minute party at the Black Estate.
Though they can all make their own way home after tonight’s over. We’re not a fucking hotel.
Everyone’s in a mask so I can’t tell tit for tat, but that’s a good thing. At least I can avoid being talked to if I don’t look like myself either.
Unfortunately, I still get recognised by all the female guests. Probably because they see my eyes every time they make love to their boyfriends/ husbands...
Once you have sex with Eli Black, no other man compares, and I’m not being smug. I’m just stating a fact; I’m a demon, I’ve warped their minds.
Yet there’s only one woman’s mind I can’t warp, and it eats away at my brain every second of the day.
But by some miracle, she still fell in love with me, and I can’t figure out why. A handsome face can only get you so far if your heart’s as rotten as mine.
I just wished I hadn’t revealed the truth about our shared sex dreams; I could have had a little bit more fun with her for much, much longer.
But did she really not realise it was me all along? She really is gullibly sweet. Though she did come close before I threw her down and fucked her with my finger.
I tried to be gentle, but the girl just keeps giving me all the signals. She wants it rough.
Fudge... just the memory of her sweet, angelic moan turns me on, and I hide away in the corner lest some of my fellow Bottingtons alumni notice my hard-on.
Speaking of Bottingtons, I roll my eyes as Fredrick Coltson waves me over.
I hate that pompous, horse-faced cunt. Typical posh boy who shoots pheasants, and runs his own country club.
As you can imagine, I don’t have an awful lot of guy friends.
I hang out at the edge of the party like a wallflower, watching Misaki make small talk with every guest.
Bless her. She really does make an effort.
She wears a black feather mask and matching dress that pushes her boobs way too high, and I avert my eyes. No man needs to see that much of their cousin (I’m no hillbilly).
I catch men ogling her. It should bother me as Misaki was more like my little sister growing up, but the girl can take care of herself.
Any man would be a fool to cross her.
She finishes kissing the cheek of some posh fuckboy I don’t recognise, then walks over.
“So... did you talk to Crystal?” she says, her tone condescending.
Misaki’s still mad at me for making Crystal cry, but I only told her the truth.
Unlike Misaki, the lying bitch.
I sip my champagne. “Yes.”
She glances around, most likely in search of the petite blonde, then focuses her dark eyes on me again. “Well, where is she?”
“She... didn’t want to come...”
Misaki shakes her head, pressing her lips together. “Why am I not surprised? After what you did to her. You really are an arse, Eli.”
I meet her catlike eyes through the crystal-studded mask. “And what about yourself? Pretending like you actually give a shit about her.”
Her eyes burn gold through the mask, and then she rips my drink from my hand and storms off, taking a sip.
I watch her stalk away to her group of bitches and sigh, rubbing my face. Fuck. Why did I even agree to come? I hate this pretentious bullshit, and Misaki knows it.
I just wish Crystal were here. She would have made this whole party worth it. I was actually looking forward to seeing her in her dress. I bet she would have been the most beautiful girl at the party.
Oh well.
It’s still four hours till midnight when they remove the masks, so I head out into the foyer, aiming straight for the drawing room.
I plan to brood in my father’s chair while drinking his scotch and smoking his cigars, but then I hear a set of feet clicking across the granite behind me.
“Misaki... will you just please...”
“It’s not Misaki.
..”
I turn around.
Penelope stands before me, looking all divine and exotic in a skin-tight forest green dress. She has on a matching mask, which makes her vivid eyes pop all the more.
She looks spectacular, and a few weeks ago I would have had her right there in the foyer, but my mind’s only on Crystal. No other woman could compare to the tiny, squeaky blonde, not even a husky-voiced goddess like Penelope.
Penelope’s long auburn hair is brushed off to one side like a flaming waterfall, showing off her porcelain-skinned shoulder, and I stare a moment.
Hey, I’m still a man, and it’s been a while since I got some. Well, in the real world.
In my dreams, however...
But those lips... they’re too distracting. Bright red and luscious, and I shake my head, rubbing my eyes.
“So, Eli...” Penelope whispers with those sensuous red lips. “Where’s your adorable little fiancée tonight?”
My vision blurs, and I thank Misaki for taking my drink. It had been my sixth glass. Anything to get through this boring arse party.
“She’s... erm... n-not well,” I reply, massaging my temples.
I can’t stop staring at her lips, and I’m tempted to slip my tongue inside and have a little fun for a while, but something stops me.
It’s guilt.
Fuck.
I never would have thought I’d be so loyal to one woman...
A sigh leaves my lips, and then I meet Penelope’s bright green eyes. “Look, Penelope, I know what you’re looking for, but you won’t find—”
She cuts me off, throwing her sexy red lips against my mouth. She shoves her tongue inside, and it goes right down my oesophagus.
I try to pull free, but I’m frozen.
God... Penelope’s a good kisser, even when she’s drunk. With Sophia, it was like kissing a washing machine on constant rinse cycle, and it made me sick.
In fact, I don’t think that girl was ever sober when we made out, so I can’t vouch for her kissing abilities on a good day.
But this one still knows how to use her tongue, curling it around my mouth like a playful little snake, and I reach my hands up, threading my fingers through her luxurious hair.
