Tempted

by K. M. Liss

  “My Lord is most generous,” Uvall brushed away the reprimand over Evita instantly. He was thrilled inside, more than pleased with his potential and very unexpected bonus. Not so much the honor of a chair at the side of Bael, as his Dark Prince, but more the prospect of possessing a succubus handmaiden of his own. It was a very great honor to possess such a chattel. An honor limited to the most senior of positions. The Lord and his Princes of Darkness only. There were no other women in Hell but for the three succubi. Hell was very much a male domain. That was all down to Satan's rule in the long distant past. He would not tolerate women in Hell at all. Satan considered they were unreliable and only useful for fuel in his fires. The fact Bael had introduced the Succubi was a giant stride forward in sexual equality in Hell.

  A succubus was created from a human woman. She had to be a woman of the purest beauty and virtue. And she had to come willingly to her task - to enter the depths of Hell of her own free will and choosing. Her future, immortal beauty, and a position of high consort was guaranteed, almost for eternity, or for as long as her Lord existed. But of course, the price she would pay was living underground, in this oppressive and darkened world, and slavery to the devil's desires. As a consequence, such women were not to be found in great supply.

  His mouth watered at the thought of the wealth of enjoyment with her and the riches that lay ahead.

  “I can afford to be generous, I will soon be master of the realities.” Bael smiled, his nostrils flaring with excitement.

  A look of understanding passed between them.

  The understanding was, that they would not be forcibly tethered underground in the future, with such limited resources as they currently had at their disposal. The earth's riches would be theirs to enjoy openly and fully. Within the confines of their immortality, of course.

  A demon could spend only limited time in the realities. His power diminished rapidly over the days. Three days was maximum exposure before a long length of recuperation was needed. If a demon stayed on the earth's surface for too long, he would start to revert to human form and become a mortal being. The temptation had crossed Uvall's mind often enough, when he was weary of his existence, but what held him back from ending his confinement underground, was the end of mortal life. His mortal death. Or more to the point, what followed his mortal death.

  The demon dukes would never be allowed access to Heaven. However good a life they led in their mortal phase. They'd already been cast down. They were all fallen angels, and in truth they had no taste for Heaven anyway. It was sterile and too pure for their nature. And the alternative ending, in Hell, as a lost soul, suffering in the fires of eternity, held no appeal whatsoever.

  Being a demon duke, with open access to the realities was far more appealing and the best of a bad lot. He simply had to endure his hellish surroundings in between visits. Having a succubus to entertain himself with and to while away his time, would make that so much more pleasurable.

  Wasn't this just what he wanted? What he needed? And what he had prayed to the depths of Hell for?

  His hard heart filled with enthusiasm inside his ancient jaded chest.

  During this reign of the Seraph, which was about to come to an abrupt, and pitiful end, he was forced to sneak up to the realities through a back door. The main doors of Hell were heavily chained and barred, and guarded continuously by the Seraph. But there were other ways to the realities. The nobles were granted use of these, from time to time, to refresh their dark souls with earthly pleasures. He knew the Seraph knew of them also. But they allowed them their limited access. He also knew they were watched all the time. He could sense their eyes and their presence, but they were never approached.

  He sighed gratefully. A long drawn out breath of relief. A smile lit up his face. No more interminable imprisonment. His legion would be in command on the surface. His own Legatus would guard their right to occupy the realities soon. They would bar and chain the stairway to Heaven and lock the seraphim in their ivory tower. He'd banish the mindless do-gooders to their tedious lives of contemplation and prayer.

  That was to be his first goal.

  The first day's work.

  That and starting the seeds of discontent in higher government. He would be sending the horde, to swarm the earth, to switch the mindset of those hovering on the edge of corruption. They would easily fall into their new ways, with a small push from an impish hand, or a word of encouragement from a legionnaire’s mouth, as they passed them by, unseen.

  Uvall didn't have an inherent evil nature.

  He did not wish for the world to become awash with chaos and heinous deeds. He had the sense to realize that they needed mankind to maintain civility. Wars of mass destruction, plague and pestilence would not achieve their longer term desires. That would be a wipe out which would initially overwhelm Hell and then starve it in the future. They needed mankind to fall from grace to Hell at a controlled pace. To continue their decline steadily. All he need do was enlighten the world to the pleasures they were missing. To promote the importance of money, the root of all evil; to encourage more vice, subtly making it legal and freely and easily available. A commonplace indulgence; and to establish a more selfish society in general. One which cared for themselves, primarily, before others. That was his doctrine. The one he needed to keep focused on, in order that his kind survived. And he needed to tackle the power of the church. To take away their funding, to promote other, more enlightened religion, that of Baelzebub and the Bible of Darkness.

  Uvall had no time for God or the church. This had not always been the way. He had been devout at one time. A great believer and follower of his faith. One of God's champions on earth. But now he had longstanding issue with Gehove. And he wasn't the only one. He had only to look around him in the hall to see the numbers who had fallen from grace. Although some had simply sinned in some way, many were cast down purely for the reason they had disagreed with Gehove's doctrine.

  For the ultimate power of good, the deity he was, Gehove exhibited a distinct lack of humility.

  An overbearing force of being.

  He had resented Gehove's insistence that everyone become at one with him and adopt his mentality. Where was individuality in Heaven? Where was fun and physical closeness? Where was pleasure and the ability to feel anything more than inner peace? He questioned why they were denied pleasure of any nature. He questioned everything and that brought about his downfall. In the final stages of his frustration, he'd pointed out, to a shocked seraph audience at Gehove's meeting table, that he may as well be in the deprived and painful depths of Hell, for all he found to amuse him in Heaven.

  God had taken him at his word and sent him there not that long afterward.

  He'd accused him of causing dissent in the ranks of the Seraph. Which was in fact, true. He'd become a rebel in the ranks - a danger to God's future.

  Uvall had suggested, in open conversation with the seraph council, that it would be better if they formed their own union and managed the affairs of Heaven between them. To dispatch God to whence he came. Although no one knew where that was.

  This suggestion had been met with deeply disturbed looks and terrified expressions. Free speech was not allowed in Heaven. Along with everything else.

  The fact Uvall had questioned him, to his face and behind his back, insistently and consistently – had caused a major rift between them. Uvall had no time for Gehove and his world of 'higher consciousness'. It was nothing of the sort. It was a lie. He was placating everything and everyone with a drug of apathy, masquerading as all that was good, holy and devout.

  In fact, Uvall could quite clearly see, that Gehove didn't want anyone stepping out of line and upsetting his way of running his realm. He didn't want any form of personality in his household, but his own. He didn't want anyone challenging his form of leadership, or suggesting things could be better somehow.

  All God wanted was benign subjugation.

  Uvall much preferred to be imprisoned in Hell.


  At least the devil was honest in his corruption.

  For all its negatives, he could be himself down here.

  He could express his individuality, as did all the nobles.

  He wasn't expected to conform to standard.

  Chapter 2

  She felt a touch on her shoulder as she daydreamed in the hazy mist.

  “Lila... word has come. Finish your dew bath quickly, and join us for a special audience with Gehove,” Castilla said, excitedly.

  “Really? What does he want? Was there a speck of dust on the heavenly steps today?” Castilla opened her mouth to speak, but Lila carried on, “no... don't tell me... let me guess... someone took his name in vain? Maybe that was me, God fucking dammit,” she said giggling.

  Castilla gasped with shock in front of her.

  “You're so irreverent, honestly.”

  “I know. I'm the black angel of the family. So fucking what?”

  She stood up and faced her sister seraph, naked and smiling wickedly as she flexed her wings and fluttered the heavy glistening dew from them.

  Her black hair hung in wet strands across her perfect white breasts. Her brown eyes shone with merriment in her perfect face.

  “Only you could possibly say that word in Heaven. And twice in less than one minute,” Castilla spluttered.

  “It's just a word. A common expletive. I'm sure you must have thought a 'fuck' or two now and then. Get real.”

  Castilla huffed at her noisily and crossed her arms in front of her non existent bosom.

  “Just because your life was somewhat rich in bad language before, doesn't mean you can get away with it in Heaven. He expects higher things of you. You're young and new and he allows a generous settling in period. But be warned, it'll come to an end. He'll cast you down, to lie in Hell's dust. Gehove does not tolerate sinful traits, so be careful Lila.”

  “Oh ha ha... That is so funny. No he won't. I'm his favorite naughty seraph. He obviously needs someone like me. Who else fits in with the human race as well as I do, hmm?” Although she said these words in jest, she was in turmoil over her predicament. Unsure what God wanted her for, or why she was as she was.

  “Yes, yes... you're completely indispensable, of course. Now come on, you need to dry yourself and dress. We can't be late,” Castilla chided, frostily.

  “I think I'll go like this. As nature intended,” she said, teasing her further.

  “You will not! The Archangel won't allow you inside like that. Modesty is demanded by Gehove and Gabriel enforces that strictly.”

  “I can get away with anything, if I give old Gabe a taste of my talents.” Lila pursed her lips and made an erotic kissing sound at her, and licked her lips suggestively.

  The ancient angel gasped in shock. Her huge eyes rolling back in her head,

  “That's enough... I'm going...” she hissed through her clenched pearly white teeth, “I've heard enough filth from you, Lila.” Castilla covered her ears in horror.

  She left vertically and very abruptly in a fluffy swirl of gray wings and a flap of her silken gray gown.

  Lila wasn't really the gutter-mouth she made out. But Castilla was an old stick-in-the-mud and so easy to tease and torment. Being two thousand years old, she probably couldn't help it, but Lila was a mere twenty four human years and bored witless most of the time. She had to have some young fun with someone.

  Lila picked up her things and slipped into the adjacent sunlit fields to dry, leaning against a slender peach tree.

  Everything was perfect in her field of vision. Perfectly, perfectly, dull.

  “Boring as bloody hell,” she said out loud to herself.

  She laughed at her choice of words. She was pretty sure Hell wasn't boring at all.

  Lila craved some real excitement. It had been a few months since she was last permitted to visit the surface. Her last mission with the Order of the Celestial Seraphim.

  Her long hair shone in the sun and the glint of light caught her eye. She picked up a strand and looked at it closely. A multitude of colors were shimmering inside the ebony. She loved her angel hair. It was like the finest, sleekest silk.

  How she wished someone would feel and appreciate it. A male angel someone, who could taste all she had to offer. There were a few seraph who had caught her eye. But she never caught theirs. Sexual attraction was an unknown concept. What seraphim did to get their kicks she had no idea. Sex was not possible, as they had zero desire for it. It wasn't even discussed. The subject was banned along with everything else she had enjoyed. Drinking, smoking, loud music and raunchy dancing.

  Gehove alone knew why he had taken her to his side, as she didn't have an angelic bone in her body. Lila was truly amazed when she first realized she'd been summoned to Heaven following her sudden death eight months ago. She hadn't expected to be saved, let alone made seraphim. She'd rather expected to be sent down there. With the other lot.

  Lila felt desire, and so strongly. She had needs. Human needs. Angels could take a few months adjusting to their higher life form and their atypical character, but her adjustment was non existent. She still felt so very human. She wondered if the higher power had a deliberate hand in that. As time went on, she was beginning to suspect Gehove had forgotten to change her or he had ulterior motives, because she was so obviously out of place here. She felt like a demon in angel’s clothing at times, tearing around in a snarling, impassioned rage of boredom, dying to escape or to scream unholy obscenities from the Crest of Souls.

  Pain and damnation aside, it would probably have been best if she'd slipped down the red path to Hell. To swim in the fiery sea.

  How she'd love to see what went on down there. Have a little day trip to the hot side.

  She stepped into her backless black gown, pulling it up her slender body and fastening it behind the neck, and put her toes inside her deep-red, silky, angel slippers. She tied them with an extravagant bow at the ankle, even though she knew the ribbons should be wrapped securely around the foot, and modestly secured at the instep. She was becoming a rebel in every sense.

  Her hair was almost dry in the warm breeze that swept through the fields surrounding her. She gave it a wild shake and a flick of her head, up and down, whipping it around to loosen the clumped stands. Then she spread her black wings wide, crouched down, and sprung forwards and upwards; her wings beating fast as she flew to the highest level in the upper realm.

  To Hailen, the white, glassy domed compound which lay on the Crest of Souls.

  Lord Gehova's palace.

  It was a small gathering. Five seraph, Lila and Gehove. She took in the small table and the one unoccupied chair. She was obviously the last to arrive and Castilla gave her a look of real reprove as she sauntered in without any immediate apology for keeping God waiting.

  She hadn't expected this type of meeting. All the prior ones had been a mass of angels, standing room only. This was strange. Unusual. She wondered why she was being included in such a meeting - alongside his most trusted seraph?

  She pulled out the chair and sat down.

  “Good day,” she said pleasantly. Beaming at the gathered in a warm greeting.

  “Good day, Lila,” Gehove replied. “And thank you for your presence.”

  His dark look was clear. It said, don't keep me waiting again.

  She lay her hands on her lap, and gazed downward at them in a gesture of humility and apology.

  Gehove began to speak, welcoming them officially, beginning the meeting's address. His voice was deep and powerful, at odds with his childlike form. She raised her eyes and looked at him. She'd been shocked when she'd first met him. He was a child. No more than twelve years old. The most fair haired of innocents. Why he chose to take this form was beyond her, and she wasn't in a position to ask.

  No one addressed God. No one questioned God.

  That was made quite clear to her. He required acquiescence. She wondered why he was so unapproachable a being. He was God. All things good. The all powerful omnipotent bein
g.

  Surely he could spend a moment or two talking with his seraphim?

  They were his hand servants after all. His holy messengers.

  She'd like to ask him some personal questions. One of which was; why, apart from her physical aspects, her hair and wings, she hadn't changed into an angel? Why was she even here, in Heaven? He obviously wanted or needed her for some reason. The thought suddenly crossed her mind that it could have been a dreadful mistake. She began to fret that that was what she was about to hear, at this meeting. She could hear the words of God in her head.

  Lila, I have to admit to a cardinal error in the taking of your soul.

  Her heart beat fast in preparation for her coming fall from grace.

  “We have a situation with mortal man,” Gehove began, “he has chosen the path of evil and the balance of power has finally changed hands.”

  She sat upright, straightening her spine in reaction to this news. Her personal worries faded, as new concern flooded her being. A much greater concern than the fate of her own soul.

  What is this? Mortal man is in danger, from the devil?

  There was a loud intake of shocked breath around the table. Lila wasn't quite sure what balance of power this was. But she daren't ask. She hoped all would become clear soon.

  “We must withdraw our Watchers from the earth immediately, a Hell swarm is imminent.”

  “No...” the collective gasp sprung from several mouths.

  The Watchers were the seraphim guard. They kept Hell at bay. They manned the gates and portals to the underworld and monitored any intrusion by the demons onto the face of the earth. Lila knew about this from Castilla, during her initial tour and two short visits to the mortal world.