by Pia Veleno
"Finish him," Andaras yelled. The cavern echoed with cheers for the order.
"No…" Beliaz writhed from the burn of shadowfire coursing through his body. Kimi-Ari's clawed grip poisoned him. His vision swam, and with the blurring of the cavern, he saw Eden. The angel stood in a haze of holy glow, bright, but not painful, wings spread like a defensive shield against Hell's pain. Eden reached for him and Beliaz stretched out a claw, wanting his angel close one more time—
—Eden gasped. His forehead left the floor as ancient words flowed from his lips. He didn't rise willingly. He clung to an image of Bel, sending out tendrils of himself, searching and calling to his lover, and sending him prayers of safe travel.
The heat intolerable, the sudden darkness blinding, Eden had no time to question surroundings he couldn't see. He sensed Bel nearby and knew his lover needed him. Without thought of consequences, he called out for the power of his God.
In a shock of white light, Eden fell from the air and landed on the living room floor. He pushed himself up on his hands and knees. His wings drooped around him though he hadn't released them. With a dull ache deep in his muscles, he gingerly stretched them and then folded the faintly glowing wings against his back. Horrified that he so easily grew tired, falling victim to hallucinations of heat and darkness borne on waves of exhaustion, Eden scrambled back to his knees, calling forth a fond memory of Bel and—
—Bel grasped in Eden's direction, but he wasn't there. He wanted to hold his angel one more time. He couldn't die in Hell because Eden would forever wonder and worry about him. When he reached for his angel, the cavern snapped back into view. With his claw outstretched towards the exit tunnel, he caught Kimi-Ari's movement from the corner of his eye.
As his adversary raised a hand and grinned up towards her audience, basking in her win before her final blow, Beliaz struck. For Eden, for Eden's love, and for Eden's safety, Beliaz pressed his fingers together and drove his claws, like an over-sized awl, into the underside of the demon's chin. As Kimi-Ari gurgled and struggled for air, Beliaz pulled back and struck again, this time seating his claws so deep in her throat that they extended out the far side of her neck.
Kimi-Ari lost her grip on Bel and stumbled to her feet. Beliaz leaped up and grabbed her head with both hands, pushing her to her knees. As she hit the floor, he roared and, drawing on the powers of Hell through the shadowfire coursing through his veins, Beliaz ripped her head from her neck and threw it at Andaras's feet. As her body fell, Bel snatched the ring from her neck and then turned to storm up the steps, glowering at the demon still sprawled, as if bored, upon his throne.
"The angel is mine," Beliaz said. "That will not change."
"Work for me again, son of mine."
Beliaz narrowed his eyes. Cold calculation returned to his mind as if it had been just yesterday he'd stepped from Hell to prowl the Earth for blood. "State what you want. Do not play games with me."
"You have your ring. The magic is yours to command." Bel nodded and waited. Andaras continued, "But you do not have access to a portal back to the surface."
"I'll take my chances." Bel spun on his heels and stomped to the edge of the dais.
"Good luck!" Andaras laughed. His minions joined in, their endless, evil mirth chasing at his heels like nasty little puppies without manners.
Chapter Six
It could've been hours. It could've been days. Hell had no time and time refused to be Hell's mistress. Beliaz trudged through knee high lava. The only thing protecting him, a full demon transformation. He hated that he had to rely on his father's blood to survive, but it was the demon skin that resisted the heat dying to burn his flesh. The temperature of the lava was nothing compared to the burn of an angel's divine weapon.
* * * *
Human blood would've sufficed that night so many months ago. The angels had been gliding by almost soundlessly, and definitely with little effort, as if they ruled the In Between, the Earth. They had been too much of a temptation. Beliaz blinked rapidly, chasing away blind spots on his eyes. Darkness crowded his vision and his chest ached. His limbs felt like rocks, heavy and beyond his control. He'd been warned that angels could be dangerous; now he believed it.
He rolled up, tucking his legs beneath him. He listened and watched as he rose into a low crouch. His wings unfurled.
"Will you run so soon?"
Beliaz looked up and blinked at a vision he'd never before had the chance to understand. The angel stood before him, his feet planted wide and his wings stretched long and high, feathers ruffling in agitation. His long hair, only a few shades lighter than the night sky, hung straight down over his shoulders caressing a thin chest that led to a narrow waist. While fragile in appearance, Bel now knew powerful muscles existed beneath the light, translucent cloth draped over his flesh. The beast might have been dangerous, even intimidating, but the sheer outfit that barely hid its form taunted something altogether different in Beliaz. He suddenly needed to see more of this beast. It was…
"…beautiful?" Beliaz cocked his head to one side and studied the angel as if the angel gave him a new outlook on the world.
"What are you asking me?" The angel's fingers stretched along the hilt of its blade. Held at his hip, the dagger balanced in the crook of his thumb, taunting Bel with a seemingly careless grip. Its faded blue eyes, a pale shade that didn't exist in Hell, called forth old memories of a mother Bel didn't remember. Those eyes also glimmered with the distrust Beliaz knew well. Trust no one and fight anyone who challenged you; the cardinal rules of Hell. The angel failed in the latter rule; he should've cut Beliaz's head off while he still lay stunned by the divine magic of the beast.
Instead of charging, as he was trained to do, Beliaz turned a palm up and studied the bleeding cut on his forearm. Blood fascinated him —even his own— ever since his father broke him in the torture pits of his favorite circles of Hell. It didn't hold his attention as much as it used to. Beliaz's eyes drifted up again, studying the pale, smooth skin stretched over delicate, fragile features of the beast that loomed over him. Only then did Beliaz realize he still sat on his ass, his tail pinned under his weight. He didn't move. He didn't want to spook the beast and make it attack. Or worse, take to wing.
Chapter Seven
The prayer wavered on Eden's tongue. He lost count of the days after the first two weeks. Hunger gnawed at him. He still had enough divinity that lack of food would not kill him, but he needed the simple pleasure for energy just as he needed rest to rejuvenate. He allowed himself neither. He would pray for Bel, give all the light he could until his lover returned.
Forcing the words over his lips, Eden pushed his weight onto his knees and rolled first one, and then the other ankle, trying to get his blood flowing without breaking the ritual. He rocked his weight onto on knee and lifted the opposite, stretching his leg out behind him. He lost his balance and tumbled—
—stumbled and fell. Beliaz collapsed on the rough stone surface that held back the lava and gasped. He hated his demon form and the longer he remained in it the more he wanted to kill, devour, hate, and… stay where he belonged.
He heard a whisper, but no words that made sense to his ears. He lifted his head, drawing up his reserves to fight, to follow the way of his home world. Eden crouched beside him, glowing and speaking words without sound.
"Don't look at me," Beliaz hissed. "I don't want you to see me like this." He held out a hand, fingers splayed. "Eden…"
He forced his claws back and growled to prevent the scream of pain as demon flesh melted back to his human face. Horns retracted, flaking away as they returned to the bone structure of his head. When he blinked back the agony and looked up for his lover he was alone in a small cavern with a narrow tunnel leading in the direction of vicious screams.
Beliaz struggled to his feet, swaying. He shifted into full demon form, completing the transformation just as a shadowfire portal opened and Andaras stepped out, a broken grin splitting his lips to reveal jagged shark-like tee
th.
"Come work for me, son of mine, and I will give you passage home."
"No." Beliaz eyed the open portal, wondering if he could get past his father and into the portal before the demon could close it.
Andaras laughed. "Not this one. I'm not stupid, child. This portal returns to my throne room."
Beliaz snarled. Throne room. He'd normally laugh at that, but when he dragged himself from the lava crossing, he realized how hopeless his plan to escape Hell had been. He had no plan. His only intent had been to make sure Eden stayed safe, but until Bel placed the ring on his angel's finger, Andaras could, and would, summon Eden, and torment Bel with the guilt of failing his lover.
"Okay, you're strong," Andaras said. "I see that. I'm willing to negotiate. Work for me for one century." Andaras rolled his head, his neck cracking and the noise echoing in the small chamber. "One century, no strings attached, and you're home."
"No deal." Beliaz brushed past Andaras and strode towards the low-ceilinged tunnel. He'd take a bad plan over a stupid plan any day. A century would break him and they both knew it.
"A decade," Andaras called.
Beliaz ignored him and kept walking.
* * * *
"You're not fooling me, demon."
That voice! The beast had the voice of… well, an angel. Full of magic and kindness, even though it clearly had cause to be angry and distrustful of Beliaz. And with good reason, he reminded himself. He had, after all, pulled the thing out of the sky mid-flight.
"I have hunted with my father," Beliaz said. "But never did we find a beast so breath-taking."
Warmth invaded his body, completely unlike the heat of Hell that fanned through on the despair of mortal souls and demon hate. His member hardened and slid from its protective sheath within his body, standing at attention and reaching for the angel. He'd rutted in Hell. All the demons did. Down in the circles, you fucked willingly or your bore the brunt of those that wanted it. Either way, you knew how it worked and you did it often. He didn't understand why the angel brought out the urges, but he needed the angel alive.
"Stand," the angel said. "Fight or die."
Beliaz stood and then wondered why he obeyed the order of an angel. The angel's gaze stuck to his hard member, purple and thick and dripping.
"Demons don't mate with angels," the angel whispered. He shook himself, appalled that Beliaz would look upon him with such wanton, sinful desire. His fingers flexed and gripped his weapon, raising it up and out, readying himself. "Fight!"
"No." Beliaz stroked his prick and stepped towards the angel.
"Oh, no." The angel backed up. "I am not your plaything, demon. I'll cut it off." The angel gasped, offended by its own words. It shook its head and pointed the dagger at Beliaz.
Beliaz frowned. He released his hold on himself and held out a hand towards the beast. The angel stepped to the side keeping the dagger between them. Taking a deep breath, Beliaz focused on the angel and drove back his demon side. He hissed and his knees buckled as the tough leathery skin cracked away and his horns sank back into his body. His tail whipped around his hips and then with a sharp snap it vanished into the transformation, leaving behind nothing but a human man, kneeling on the rooftop without a stitch of clothing to hide a hard-on that, even in mortal form, still impressed.
"I'm…" Beliaz panted. The transformation drained him every time. "I'm not all demon."
* * * *
Beliaz slipped in the dark tunnel and fell forward, yanking him from his memories. No rocky surface broke his fall. Open air whistled past as he plummeted for a full minute before light reached his eyes. He snapped his wings free and caught an updraft of hot air, slowing his fall and giving him just enough buoyancy to glide towards solid ground. He landed with barely a stumble.
As his feet hit the ground, he spotted a whorl of a fading portal. He rushed forward, but stumbled and fell to one knee. The portal whooshed shut with a taunting pop two feet out of his reach. He cursed and gasped. Exhaustion swarmed over him, but he fought it; weakness summoned trouble in Hell better than a single bright light would gather moths on a warm summer night. No sooner had he reminded himself of this, than four cloven-hoofed demons stepped from the shadows, surrounding him.
Andaras laughed from somewhere to his right. He didn't bother to look for his father. He knew the demon wouldn't fight on his own. He had these four to do his dirty work, and he had more after that. Hell had an endless supply of grunts willing to fight for the sole right to cause pain and drink the blood of the losers.
"Bring it," Beliaz said.
The four demons attacked at once. They dragged him down quickly, throwing him to the ground before he could do more than superficial damage to any of them. He fought, kicking, punching, biting, and beating his thick, black wings against his foes. Eden appeared in his mind. His sweet, gentle angel. The one man who'd given him the chance to be who he wanted to be and now, he'd disappoint his lover and leave him behind.
* * * *
"You're still a demon," the angel said. "You still must die."
"I don't want to be a demon. I want to be human, but…"
"But you're a demon." The words said with such authority, the small whisper of hope the angel inspired began to flicker away.
"…it's so hard," Bel whispered, his physical struggle mirrored in his tone.
The angel's gaze dropped to what still demanded attention between Beliaz's legs. Beliaz laughed. It couldn't be hidden in his human form, but the angel, while acting so righteous, smelled of lust. At six feet tall with strong, wide shoulders funneling down to narrow hips, and powerful, thick thighs, Beliaz had a perfect mortal body. Combine muscles toned by demonic games with black, shaggy hair, deep violet eyes, and bow shaped lips, and he could charm with just a smile. Mortals anyway. The angel still kept the dagger between them.
Beliaz rose up on his knees and clasped his hands together. "Please, angel, show me how to be like these creatures you protect." As the words tumbled from his lips, Beliaz acknowledged a desire he'd buried so deep he'd forgotten he wanted it at all. Taken from his human mother at the age of ten, he craved the chance to go home every day. Years passed and he realized his desire was a weakness that would be preyed upon by his brethren if not buried deep within. He didn't know if he could put his demon side to rest the same way, but if anyone could help him, an angel could. It was what they did… when they weren't killing demons stupid enough to drag them out of the sky.
"You're serious?"
Beliaz nodded.
"I… I hope I don't regret this, but I believe you."
* * * *
With a bark that commanded all four demons as if their limbs were his own, Andaras ordered them back. One kicked Bel's ribs for good measure before falling in with his companions, watchful, ready to spring, but obedient to the end.
"One…" Andaras held up a single black claw. "You will not find your way out without permission. And, two…"
Beliaz didn't bother to check if he held up two fingers. He closed his eyes and thought of Eden. My Guiding Light. I have failed you.
"I can make your endless journey very, very painful." Andaras crouched beside Beliaz and grabbed one horn, twisting and lifting, inflicting as much pain as possible in wrenching Bel to his feet.
Beliaz ground his teeth, biting back the scream lodged in his throat and cutting off his breath. He narrowed his eyes and drew his fists into vicious lumps of scaled flesh and sharp knuckles. He swung an arm back and—
—Noooo!!! Eden stared in horror. His beloved Bel gushed blood from wounds too numerous to count. The demon who called himself Andaras, and also, Bel's father, stood over Bel laughing —laughing— as Bel stumbled to his knees and then dropped face first on the rocky, blood-spattered ground.
Another hallucination —it must be— but Eden couldn't hold back his instinctual reaction. He threw his arms down and out to the sides, fingers splayed. He opened up his heart and soul to his Lord, and drew down every bit of power he could s
till access. Divine light flowed through him, overloading his senses before exploding—
—Beliaz stared his father down as best as he could with his head at an awkward, twisted angle. Forgive me, Eden. I do this for you. For a moment, he could almost feel the warmth of Eden's embrace and hoped he wouldn't lose that comfort in bargaining with his father. "I'll work for you for one year in exchange for a portal home."
"One year?" The demon laughed. "Five," he countered. He released Beliaz, still chuckling, the kind of laugh that made the fine hairs on the back of human necks quiver uncontrollably and forced the fragile mortals indoors to perceived safety.
"Three." Beliaz stood up straight and met the hard, cold eyes of the demon lord. "And no harm will come to the angel. Not from the jobs done, nor from you or your demons. Nothing. Eden is off limits."
"So you think you can handle three more years, son of mine? This sounds like a challenge. I can, and will, break you, if that is what I choose." He laughed and Beliaz winced. He had to start somewhere and even ten years seemed daunting under his father's thumb.
"Nor will I live here," Beliaz added. "I will live at home."
Andaras snorted. "Why should I give a damn in Hell where you live?" He waved a clawed hand. "Fine. Three years. It's a deal." A portal opened to Bel's right, swirling with the magic of the realm and bidding him to step through.
"And the angel?"
"I don't care about your weakness for that beast."
The snarled answer sent Beliaz stumbling back before he remembered the dangers of not holding one's ground in the confines of Hell. He strode forward two steps standing closer than before.
