by Vivi Dumas
“I hope you haven’t had any trouble while you waited.” He brought his gaze back to her face.
“No. I was having a conversation with this nice gentleman until you arrived.” Angel tipped her head toward the bartender.
Jacque glared at him, prompting him to scurry to the other end of the bar.
“I see my uncle didn’t tell you about the club. I’m surprised the bartender was the only friend you made. This is a Supe bar. I’m sure the Vamps got a good whiff of you by now.”
“You mean all these people aren’t people?” Angel’s question was more to herself than him. “I hope you don’t mind me asking. What are you?”
“You already know I’m Lucifer’s nephew. I’m a Mutura Demon, a shifter. I’m a commander for the Legions of Hades or Hell, whatever you humans call it.”
Angel scanned the room. “How much more shit is out there I don’t know about?”
“Too many things to list right now. I know this is overwhelming for you. I promise to tell you all about the Supernaturals as we spend time together. It’ll be pertinent to your work.”
“What do you mean pertinent to my work? I’m just supposed to collect a few lost souls.” Angel arched a brow, waiting for his response.
“I guess Luc left out a few tidbits of info. These ‘lost souls’ of yours are Supes that avoided their judgment. They were supposed to come to Hell as humans. Somehow they eluded Death by taking on supernatural forms.” Jacque shook his head at Angel. “Humans.... You never ask enough questions when dealing with Luc.”
Angel fumed in her seat. She pressed her blood-red lips into a thin line. Her body shivered as she swallowed what remained in her glass with one gulp. Squirming in her seat, she rolled the empty glass in her hand. When she shifted on the stool, the slit of her dress exposed her leg to mid-thigh. Angel glanced his way when a low growl escaped Jacque as he admired the view she provided him.
Jacque finished the rest of the Grey Goose in his glass, squelching the fire in his eyes. “If nothing else, this’ll be interesting. You’ll have to excuse any impropriety. I’m not used to being around humans. I try to stay as far away from your kind as possible.”
Thunder clapped outside and she glared at him. “I’m sorry to inconvenience you.”
“It’s a job. I do as I’m told. We have a lot to get through tonight. I suggest we get started.” Jacque cued the bartender, and he poured him another drink. He downed the shot, hanging his head and sinking down into his seat. The look was one Angel understood immediately: exasperation. It was the same look her doctors had when she came for her appointments.
Jacque covered the training regiment with her. She was to attend Supe Warfare Boot Camp for the next six weeks. He lucked out with a class starting the same time Angel needed to be trained. The recruits were in for a treat; he rarely took the time to work with the new recruits anymore. Training began bright and early in the morning. It was time to leave.
“Mademoiselle Dias, is there anything else you would like to know before we leave?” He kept his distance as if he was afraid she might bite.
The thought made Angel giggle.
She turned her attention back to the conversation at hand. “I’m sure more questions will come up. Right now, I’m still trying to digest the info dump you already laid on me. I guess there’s no turning back, is there?” Angel propped her elbows on the bar and rested her chin in her palms, examining her reflection in the mirrored shelving behind the bar.
“I’m sorry, mon chéri. A deal is a deal. Too late to change your mind.” Jacque’s voice broke at the end. His face softened as he gazed at her. “I’ll go back to your house with you to gather your things. You should contact your family and wrap-up anything you need to handle before we head out tonight.”
“Are there many humans in Hades?” Fear caused her pulse to race.
“No. Not at this time. Occasionally, we get someone who messes up a spell and pops in. Or, like you, someone might come to train for a position they gotta fill. The magical energy’s too much for any human to stay in the Underworld for too long.” Jacque watched her as he spoke. Angel fought to maintain a neutral façade, hiding the fear overtaking her confidence. He smiled at her, slow and deliberate, as if he saw through her disguise.
“Come on. I’ll take you home.” He stood and helped her from her stool.
The air outside had cooled. It had been a long time since Jacque was Topside. The last time was the 1930’s, if he remembered correctly. Although he belonged in the Underworld, Topside had its benefits. He welcomed the differing temperatures. A black sedan waited for them in the parking lot. The driver opened the door as they approached. Jacque helped Angel into the back seat and slid in after her.
The tension throbbed in Jacque’s head. Her anxiety flipped in his stomach.
“What made you conjure the devil?” He caught the odor of regret surrounding her.
She diverted her eyes. “Problems.”
“No shit. How bad could the problems be to ask the Devil for help?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe not, but I’m curious. I always wonder what the hell you humans are thinking, messing around with Luc.” Jacque slid low in his seat, looking out the own window to resist the urge to stare at her lovely face.
“It’s really none of your business. The deal was made, and now I’m here. What brought me here is irrelevant.” Her voice rose an octave, warning him to back off.
Fire lit in his already queasy belly. He hated being around humans. They were so inefficient at guarding their emotions. His mother bore the empath gift. He inherited the ability from her bloodline. The frenzy of human emotions always caused him problems. Between experiencing every feeling, the nausea, and headaches, hanging out with top dwellers wasn’t Jacque’s favorite pastime. Angel would be with him for six weeks. He needed to find a way to block her out.
***
Staring out the car window, she watched the dark waters roll into the shoreline, creating frothy foam against the sand. A maddening silence lingered between her and Jacque. They couldn’t get to the house fast enough. Angel sunk into the plush leather of the seat, mauling over the events of the past few days. She could kick herself for being so stupid. I sold my soul to the Devil for a pretty face. My headstone will read, “Queen of Bad Choices.”
She studied his profile, wondering what training would be like with him in charge. A mixture of panic and intrigue bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Angel pushed the fear aside; she waited too long to be scared. She needed strength to survive this situation. This was something she would have to dig deep inside to find. It’s not a quality she depended on very often.
Pulling back her hand, she stopped herself from caressing his strong jaw, which carried a hint of a five o’clock shadow. Other than having issues with humans, he wasn’t so bad for a demon. Or was he? Jacque was the only demon she knew. She had no frame of reference to find out if she was correct in her assessment.
He made her so hot beads of sweat developed in the valley of her breasts. Angel knew she should stay away from Jacque. Temptation is a bitch. Did all demons pop off the pages of GQ magazine? She sank deeper in the seat and wiped her sweaty hands on the sides of her dress. He looked so delicious she could take a bite out of him. As she deliberated the outcomes, she thought better of it.
The list of her problems grew by the minute. Angel didn’t need to add sleeping with a demon to that list. She thanked the heavens when they arrived at her house. Jumping from the car as if it was headed for a cliff, she ran into the white bungalow.
Jacque followed her into the place.
“Whose house is this?” Jacque called out.
“Technically, it’s mine. I bought it for my mother. What a waste of money. She likes to talk about it more than actually come here,” she shouted from the bedroom.
Angel strolled back into the living room, dropping a couple of bags on the floor. Her toes curled from the coolness of the ceramic tile. Her
gaze darted from Jacque to the dazzling color below her feet. Approaching him, she watched him with each step. Without her heels, he stood close to a foot taller than her. Unlike many men, he made her feel petite.
“Um...can you help me?” She pointed to the back of her dress.
“Anything for you, ma chère.” The green of his eyes deepened a shade darker, highlighted by golden flecks, as they drank her in.
She turned her back to him, revealing the stuck zipper. “I need help with my dress.”
“Sure. Come here.” He grabbed the thin fabric and pulled her to him. A flash of heat overcame her as his fingers grazed her skin.
“Never mind, I’ll do it myself.” She tried to run. He caught her by the arm before she could get away.
“I don’t mind undressing you,” he whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked her into him.
Angel froze with panic, feeling the solid wall of his body against her back. She wasn’t sure what he would do. Shit. At this moment, she wasn’t sure what she would do. He held her close to him for a second. It felt like an eternity. The warmth of his breath tickled the back of her neck. The smell of musk and fire infused around her. Before letting her go, his lips brushed the crook of her shoulder, warm and moist.
Jacque couldn’t keep her that close to him without taking her right there on the living room floor. She smelled like vanilla and sex. Her skin glistened in the moonlight and held the texture of a rose petal against his lips.
He released her from him and clenched the top of the zipper. With a slight tug, the dress fell open, exposing creamy brown skin and a butterfly tattoo at the base of her back just above a perfect ass. Turning slowly, she faced him, holding the dress tight against her.
“Thank you,” she whispered and backed out of the room. Her eyes reminded him of frightened prey.
It took everything in him not to follow her into the bedroom. He resisted with every ounce of strength within him. Nothing good came from involving himself with a human. His body craved her. Probably due to inactivity. He’d been in the field too long and missed a female’s touch. Why couldn’t they make demons like her? Angel—such a fitting name. He forced himself to go outside to wait.
As he checked his watch, she appeared in the doorway dressed in a pair of form-fitting jeans and a white tank top with her bags in hand. She relaxed her stance, such a difference from a few minutes ago when she crept out the living room half-dressed.
“I’m ready when you are.” Her smile shined as bright as the full moon above.
“Let’s not waste time.” Jacque relieved Angel of her bags and headed to the car. The driver opened the trunk as they approached.
“Will it take long to get there?”
“The portal to the Underworld is outside the Night Haunt. That’s why so many Supes hang there. Don’t worry, Hell’s not going anywhere.” He flinched at the thought of taking her to the Underworld. Studying her, Jacque realized the next six weeks would present a new kind of hell for him.
Chapter Three
“Women....” She heard Jacque muttered as he carried her bags, heading to the field behind the Night Haunt. The waves crashing against the rocks at the edge of the beach were in tune with the feeling in the pit of his stomach. He trudged along as his boot laden feet sank into the sand. Not a great choice for the Caribbean. Once they rounded to the back of the Night Haunt, the rock beach transformed to lush greenery and colorful blooms.
Angel tripped over her own feet as she hurried after him. “Hey, can you slow down a bit?”
“Sorry. The portal’s gonna close soon. I don’t want to get stuck Topside.” He continued his long strides across the field.
She studied Jacque as she scurried behind him. His jeans hung low on his hips and refused to hide the strength of his legs. His thighs made her think of tree trunks wrapped in denim. Angel imagined Jacque’s long legs intertwined with hers in blissful union. Tripping, this time on a root, she snapped out of her fantasy.
A hazy fog lingered in the middle of the sand and tall grasses. Jacque murmured a few words in a language she had never heard before, causing an opening to clear in the cloud.
“That’s us. Let’s get going, babe.” Jacque picked up his pace, sliding through the portal before Angel could say anything.
Angel hopped through the circle of energy, expecting to feel different, however nothing changed except the scenery. They stepped through the other side and stood on the banks of a dark, murky river. A warm mist hugged the air around her. Despite the tepid temperature, a shiver ran down her spine. In the distance, a dark form floated toward her and Jacque. Fearful, Angel ducked behind Jacque for protection, burrowing deeper against his back as the hooded figure moored the boat toward the shore.
“Charon, old friend, what’s doing?” Jacque held up a hand to his silent companion standing on the boat. He loaded her bags in the front by the shadowy figure. Afterward, he hopped in and turned to help Angel.
Eyes wide, she reached for Jacque’s outstretched hand. He sat in the back of the small gondola, patting the bench in front of him. She accepted her cue and situated herself between his legs. His body surrounded hers, making the boat feel small. The bulk of his mass brought her a sense of safety. Charon pushed the boat along the water toward the shore on the opposite side of the river. The black water rippled with each movement of his stick.
As they approached, bright flames danced on the branches of the trees in the black forest. They stood like charred guardians, dead—permanently consumed by the fire. She leaned back into Jacque and gasped at the sight. His arms circled her, containing the tremor tearing through her body. Ingesting the visions of Hell, she covered her face with her shaking hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. I made a huge mistake.
As the boat drifted onto land, Charon remained at the bow. Jacque leaped over the side, grabbing the bags out the boat. He then picked Angel up from her seat, placing her on dry land. She clutched his arm, refusing to let go. As he guided her away from the boat, her legs threatened to fail her. She glanced over her shoulder and contemplated turning back. Angel swallowed hard, leaned in closer to Jacque, and pressed on, sealing her fate.
A chariot waited for them at the top of the embankment. He climbed into the massive black carriage embellished in gold and pulled by two pitch-black steeds. He lifted her to him.
“Hold on tight. It can be a bumpy ride. I should’ve brought something more comfortable,” Jacque mumbled to the ground.
“It’s okay. I’ll manage.” She breathed in deeply as she locked her arms around his waist. Cracking the reins, they took off into the night.
***
Looming stonewalls appeared in front of them. Two metal gates arched unwelcoming against the orange-grey of the sky. Rooftops peeked out along the top of the stone barrier. Jacque came to a halt in front of the overbearing gates, motioning to the guards in the tower. The metal creaked as the doors opened and provided them access the Kingdom of Hades.
Angel sucked in a small breath and released it. The smell of sulfur burned in the air. Her arms circled closer around his waist as they rode the dirt path to the dark castle in the horizon. The dead, tattered and torn, stalked the streets. Some labored the chains of their misused lives. Others sat in the street gutters, praying too late for undeserved redemption. Tears wet his shirt as she buried her face into his back.
“Are you okay?” He glanced at her over his shoulder.
Her fingers dug into his side. “I don’t know.”
“It’s not as bad as it looks.”
With her face still buried in his shirt, she muttered, “You’re probably right, but I don’t belong here.” She tightened her grip on him.
His large hands covered hers, minimizing the trembling. “I agree with you. Unfortunately, I can’t take you home.”
“Will you protect me?”
Jacque pulled her closer into him. “Protection isn’t my area of expertise.” He held her hand to still the shaking.
“My job is to teach you to protect yourself.”
“Now you’re outside of my expertise.” His muscles were hard and tense against her cheek.
“Maybe we can work on that while you’re here.” He cracked the reins, guiding the horses toward the castle.
Angel gave him a squeeze. “Thanks....”
“Don’t thank me, yet. Let’s see how you feel once training starts.”
The chariot entered the gated courtyard and stopped in front of the formal entry. He tried to turn around, but Angel refused to let go. As she unwrapped her arms from his waist, he stepped away from her. He spun to face her and leaned against the chariot, keeping distance between them. Jacque peered into the depths of her eyes and swept a wayward strand of hair out of her face. She graced him with a half-smile, letting him pass by her. Once on the ground, he took her hand to help her from the chariot. Angel followed close behind him as Jacque strutted into the castle with a bag under each arm.
Gargoyles guarded the grand entrance. The interior contradicted the exterior view of Hades. The castle boasted an opulent grandeur. Marble columns littered the entry foyer and brocade draperies hung from floor to ceiling. The clicking of his heels echoed as he stomped through the hall. Angel clung to him, taking in every inch of scenery.
A petite female rounded the corner down the hall. When he recognized her, he dropped his head, hoping not to be seen. He wished he could turn and run the other way. Sadly, it was too late. She saw him.
A bright and dangerous smile crawled across Isabella’s face. “Long time no see, Jacque.”
“It’s been a while. I see you’re still as lovely as ever.” He forgot how good Bell was at making men bend to her will. Her games, which had ripped his heart apart, never strayed too far from his memory.
