Bedeviled

by J. Ashburn

  “I am wonderful…wonderful with you.”

  “Good.” He kissed Caleb then rested his head on his chest. A host of sounds reverberated beneath his heaving chest. “Wow, a lot going on in there.”

  “What?”

  “You tell me, you’re heart and you’re breathing seems different to me. I don’t think I’ve heard it before in anyone else.”

  “Are not the people you help on the verge of dying?”

  Micah chuckled. “That is true. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I have never felt so alive. I have never felt so whole, so revived.”

  “That’s awesome. Yeah, that’s sort of what I hear. It’s like a fully charged engine in there.”

  “You have that affect on me.” Caleb kissed him back.

  “Cool. I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

  Micah hopped out of bed and slipped his underwear on. He exited the bedroom and headed for the bathroom when its door swung open.

  Jake stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist, his blonde hair damp from a recent shower. The scent of citrus shampoo and deodorant wafted in the air.

  “Oh hey, Micah.”

  “Jake? I didn’t know you were here. You with Nick?”

  “Yes, I hope it’s okay that I used your shower. I promise I didn’t use all of the hot water.”

  “Sure, it’s fine. Nick still in bed?”

  Jake nodded then smiled. “He’s insatiable. Once last night then once this morning. Holy moly. I might be going for three right now. You should join us.” He ran a wet finger down Micah’s chest.

  Micah stopped Jake’s hand. “No… thank you…”

  “Are you sure? You ever try a threesome. They’re tons of fun.”

  “I’m with someone. Anyway, Nick’s my best friend. He’s like a brother to me. You shouldn’t even be asking. What would Nick think?”

  Jake pulled back and put up both of his hands. “Relax. I was just kidding.”

  “Right.”

  “Seriously. Please, don’t tell Nick. It’s just… that…I think you’re really attractive. It’s just my way of complimenting you.”

  “Well, that’s flattering but we’re all involved so let’s keep it to just friends, okay?”

  “Of course. I should get back to Nick before he horsewhips me. How about breakfast for everyone? I’m buying.”

  “Sorry, I can’t I have to be at my brother’s soon. Rain check?”

  “You got it.” Jake flashed his trademarked shiny smiled and headed back to Nick’s room.

  Micah waited for him to leave, then shook his head as he entered the bathroom to clean up.

  ###

  The door to the colonial home opened and Micah’s brother Cole greeted them, his smile warm and his eyes bright with excitement. He and his wife Sondra lived in the historic part of Blackstone and they were so excited to be welcoming their first child to the city they grew up in.

  “Micah,” Cole beamed. “I’m so glad you could make it… and Nicki!”

  “I told you I’d be here…you’re so paranoid.”

  “Well do you blame me? Missed my anniversary party, all those Christmases you were invited to, and should I mention…”

  “Okay, okay I get it. I’m turning over a new leaf. Here I am. This is Caleb.”

  Caleb stepped forward and put out his hand, the ritual he’d seen all the others perform and had now memorized it himself.

  “Nice to meet you, Caleb.” Cole shook his hand firmly.

  Caleb offered a half-smile and nodded. “You too.”

  Cole embraced Micah, wrapping his arms around him and hugging tightly. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “Thanks and now it’s my turn… you and Sondra got the tickets to the fireman’s ball, right? You are coming… right?”

  “Yes, yes. We’re coming. Wouldn’t miss it. Now, C’mon in guys!”

  Micah, Caleb and Nicki followed Cole into the kitchen and to the dining room where all the guests mingled, chatted and laughed. A huge table was filled with all kinds of food from chips and dip to Cornish hens, salad and a variety of cakes and pies.

  Cole fetched his wife Sondra from a circle of friends and walked her over to Micah and the others. She was only a few weeks from her due date but was as cheery and vivacious as ever.

  “Micah, Nicki! I’m so happy to see you guys.” Sondra embraced both of them.

  “You look gorgeous,” Nicki said. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel great, but I’m ready. Totally ready.”

  “That’s so awesome,” Micah said. “Congratulations. The due dates is soon isn’t it?”

  “Less than three weeks, most likely.”

  “I can’t wait to meet him or her.”

  “You can’t?”

  The group laughed then Micah turned to Caleb. “Sondra, I want you to meet my friend, Caleb.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Sondra said as Caleb was already putting out his hand for her to shake it. He stared down at her stomach.

  “The child is a boy,” Caleb said.

  “I do look like I might be a carrying one,” Sondra replied graciously. “But we want to be surprised so we didn’t ask.”

  “You do not have to guess. It is indeed a boy.”

  “Okay…” Sondra cocked her head and stared at him quizzically.

  “It’s okay, Caleb.” Micah put his arm around him. “They’ll find out in a few weeks.”

  “It would help them prepare to know the truth.”

  “Sondra,” Nicki interjected. “Do you have any names picked out?”

  “Oh so many.” A big smile returned to her face as Micah walked Caleb outside.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Caleb asked as he and Micah stepped out onto the back deck.

  “No, not exactly. You just were so insistent. They don’t know the sex of the baby yet.”

  “But I do. I spoke the truth.”

  “You couldn’t possibly know, Caleb.”

  “I do know. I was close enough to the mother and I could feel him.”

  “Caleb, you’re scaring me a little. Are you saying your psychic?”

  “No, not psychic. Please do not be afraid of me.” He put his hand up to Micah’s cheek. “I mean no harm… I am here to help…I…”

  “It’s okay. No big deal. You’re quirky, that’s all. All good. Let’s go back inside.”

  Caleb began to turn when something caught his eye—a shape, a movement, a shadow. “I would like another moment. The air is nice.”

  “Are you okay? I’m not mad I swear.”

  “I know. I am well. I will join you in a moment.”

  “All right.”

  He waited for Micah to return inside then walked down the deck steps to the backyard. Caleb drew toward the tool shed in the far corner. There was a tall tree on one side of it and he could see her standing behind it.

  “Angelique?”

  A woman, half dressed in sheer clothing, horns peeking through blazing red hair, stepped from behind the tree, her form hidden in mostly shadow.

  “Cal,” she whispered. “You need to come back. Please, come back to Hell with me.”

  “What are you doing here? You are risking oblivion.”

  “I’m here for you. I’m bringing you back with me, Cal.”

  “No.” Caleb shook his head. “I cannot. I won’t. I want forgiveness and this is the way.”

  “Father has turned his eyes from all of us. How can you…”

  “HE will see me. I am helping his children.”

  “This is futile. Come back with me. It’s dangerous here for you. Lucifer knows… he knows everything.”

  “I won’t go back. I cannot… not now. I-I-I love someone—A good man. I saved his life and now he can go on saving others. I cannot leave him. We belong together.”

  “I can get you any man you want,” replied Angelique. “There are plenty of incubi in Hell. There’s Valefar, Belial, Balthazar. They can look like any man you want. You can
be happy with them. You can have multiple men.”

  “I only want one.”

  “He’s a human, you can’t be with him. What will he think when he finds out who you really are?”

  Caleb was silent. He stared at her with concern then began to turn back to the house. “Leave me alone. You were my only friend there but you do not understand.”

  “Lucifer has sent Sebastian after you.”

  “Sebastian?” Caleb’s voice cracked with terror.

  “He will tear you from your human shell and drag you back to Hell. Oh Cal, he will not rest until he finds you. I have been messing with your trail, throwing him off but he will find you. Please…come with me.”

  Caleb shook his head. “No. I will deal with Sebastian. Please go.”

  He turned away finally and made his way back inside.

  “Caleb… Caleb…”

  Angelique’s calls fell on deaf ears, instead Caleb searched for the man he loved inside of his brother’s house.

  “Hey Caleb,” Micah called. “C’mon we’re eating.”

  He joined his lover’s side, remaining solemn and distracted.

  “Are you okay? I told you it’s all right. Forget about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I am not upset. Not with you, Micah.”

  “Okay, let’s get something to eat.” Micah led Caleb to the dining room where he dished him up a plate of food.

  Nicki made her way over to the boys. “I was wondering where you two went. You know how I hate to eat alone.”

  “Oh,” Micah said. “I forgot to tell you. Guess who I found at my place this morning?”

  Nicki’s eyes widened and so did her smile. “Who? Besides Caleb of course.”

  “Doctor Jake.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  Micah shook his head.

  “That man sure moves fast.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw him the other night when I was on my date, at the Italian café downtown. And he wasn’t with Nick.”

  “The man’s a player. He even made a move on me while Nick was just across the hall sleeping.”

  “Eww.” Nicki wrinkled her nose and furrowed her brow. “What a dick.”

  “Right.”

  “He makes you uncomfortable?” Caleb asked Micah. “I sensed something troublesome when I met him. I could strike night terrors in him to leave you alone.”

  “Night terrors?” Micah laughed. “No, you don’t have to scare him or strong arm him. I can handle him.”

  “Too bad,” Nicki sighed. “He’s so gorgeous.”

  “Not my type.” Micah put his arm around Caleb.

  Caleb smiled but all he could hear were Angelique’s words. What will he think when he finds out who you really are?

  ###

  Caleb lay in bed, wide-awake, with Micah in his arms. He listened to Micah snore slightly, more like a kitten purring. Caleb felt his lover’s heartbeat and enjoyed its rhythm, music to his ears. Moonlight streamed through the half-open window. It bathed them in a pale almost ethereal glow. Terrifying thoughts crossed his mind.

  What would he do if Micah found out about the real him? There was no way he would love him then. His true self was hideous, blighted, banished and shunned from the light. He spent most of his existence in darkness and cold…how could he now offer warmth to someone as special as Micah?

  Not to mention Sebastian was on Earth…looking for him. It was no secret now, Lucifer knew he’d gone AWOL and the dark prince was none too happy. After all, he’s sent his highest arch-demon to bring him back and most likely punish him for more than a thousand years.

  His thoughts drifted to Angelique. She was the only friend he found in the foreboding underworld they called home. For thousands of years they kept each other company, confided in one another, protected each other. They spoke of the fleeting days they spent in Heaven in secret, lamenting their decision to join Lucifer and the consequences of that choice. She treated him like he was more than just a demon within a legion of thousands.

  Angelique, a succubus, excelled at seducing mortal men, she entered their dreams and drew the lust from them. They’d commit adultery, or become addicted to sex, so addicted that nothing else mattered. She’d visit the same ones over and over until their life force weakened and they succumbed to debauchery and ruin. Their souls would wither and they’d seal their fates in hell…where Caleb and his brothers would take over.

  It all seemed like the perfect arrangement, the perfect agreement between them and Lucifer. He reigned in the pit and they served him happily, their reward—the plundering of Father’s most wonderful creation. They would hate them for being his chosen ones and turn as many away from His blessed love as possible.

  Except that they didn’t hate them. Both Caleb and Angelique bore the weight of guilt inside of their dark souls. They wanted to be one of them, one of the chosen. They were weary of the torture, the sin, the war against Heaven. It was futile and fruitless. In all of the millennia never nothing had changed… nothing. No paradise, no victory, no peace or love. All of things Lucifer had promised never came to pass. They were no more than the dust in the bowels of purgatory, a place he had come to revile, a place he couldn’t wait to escape and now that he had… he was never going back.

  She showed such bravery in coming to Earth to warn him. She risked her very existence and the wrath of the Dark Lord himself. This was how much she cared for him and he spurned her, turned his back on her. She just didn’t understand how he felt about Micah. This man touched his soul and he felt the good that slowly found its way inside of him. He knew it was because of Micah.

  Caleb hoped she was all right. Hoped she hadn’t been discovered like he had. He wanted to offer her shelter too, keep her hidden so she’d escape Sebastian’s notice. She was clever and resilient but still, he couldn’t help but worry. He felt bad that he pushed her away at the party. Should he go and find her? Convince her to return home? Perhaps she too could find happiness here on Earth… perhaps she could escape the darkness and the cold and live in the light as he now did. She deserved that too. She could repent, just like him. If he could so could she.

  The only thing that stood in their way was Sebastian. Caleb’s heart sped up. Micah stirred. The moon vanished behind some clouds. The arch-demon was more powerful than anything Caleb had ever crossed paths with, one of the most feared in all of Hell. But Caleb wasn’t about to let anything take him away from his love.

  10

  The temperature dropped overnight. Damp, thick fog settled over Blackstone. It wafted in the streets and swallowed the city lights. Sebastian relished it. He basked in it. It was like the fog of war he’d experienced so many times upon the Earth.

  Sebastian served in many wars. He led Roman soldiers into battle, inspired many horrors at the Nazi death camps and danced in the jungles of Vietnam. He whispered into the ears of terrorists and drove men to insanity and the fall of cities.

  Yet nothing compared to the war with Heaven. He led many of Lucifer’s legions against the angels. Not even the Archangels could take him down. The infighting between angels seemed to empower Sebastian. He had an appetite for slaughter and destruction and adored the darkness. In the midst of the war in Heaven, Lucifer crafted a fog to blind the angels and aid his legions but it had failed when the Light of the Lord entered the Archangel Michael. Michael banished the trick and Lucifer’s legions fell.

  Tonight reminded Sebastian of that battle and it brought a smile to his face. Truthfully, he didn’t care who’d won the war he just enjoyed the carnage. Fighting in the fog and the dark was invigorating, intoxicating and the only thing that had struck fear into him was the Light of the Lord. That was why even now when he walked the Earth, he preferred to do it by night for the sun was the memory of that light and the day weakened him.

  Sebastian smiled as he let the fog whirl around him. His steps echoed in the silence of the city, as if it retreated for the night, humans trembling
like children all while the hellhounds searched for Caleb the deserter.

  It surprised him that anyone would want to escape or flee from Hell. It was the kingdom of desires and freewill. Boundaries were non-existent. Pain, suffering, and punishment tasted like candy. Indulgence ruled and one never knew the anchors of time for time had no meaning in Hell.

  Even better, the Father’s children were punished. Punished for being considered perfect, punished for their flaws and their downfalls. Their evil and sins had consequences and Lucifer made sure they paid for their crimes. He performed a service that no one else in Heaven could, so really, he was helping Father out and making sure the undesirables didn’t find their way into those pearly gates. It didn’t matter how or why they came to commit their crimes—-only that they did.

  What a glorious and grand leader Lucifer was, a reign that was fair and with purpose. Sebastian was only too happy to serve and was honored by his station. Why anyone would want to leave was beyond comprehension. To flee to this chaotic, unruly, infantile Earth world filled with low-level primates was just plain madness.

  He couldn’t wait to find the traitor and leave this place. If he wasn’t orchestrating a side of a war, this world lost its luster. Many of his brothers would love to roam the Earth the way he was able to. He was not one of them. He deplored this place. Built on filth and masquerading with light, and green trees and roaring oceans hiding the fact that all the while its animal population shit on what they were given and sucked it dry. Sickening. Just walking on the land made his skin crawl and that light… that blasted golden radiance that reminded him so much of Heaven made him want to scream.

  His anger at Caleb grew with every passing moment. It was his fault he was here and stuck here until he finished his task. Thanks to Lucifer for the small things, like this fog and for the approval of committing any act he wanted on the primates.

  Sebastian rested on the side of a bridge, the hellhounds sniffing at his feet. Out over the bridge it looked like nothing but oblivion, thick, whirling mist and inky darkness. It reminded him of home. He sighed, missing it already. A moment later and he noticed light attempting to cut through the fog.