Chapter 12: Le Vin de Merde
What the hell is going on? Kim was in danger. That much was clear to Alan. And Joan and even Dante were there with her, but they were in trouble too. And those two were strong. Gilebert had also claimed he was a demon. Perhaps, that would explain the icky feeling Alan had had when he’d first laid his eyes upon Gilebert at the café. A man who could subdue Dante though - who was an angel - had to be a real demon. His friends were in trouble…but what should he do? What could he do?
Alan would go of course but…would that even do any good? He’d probably be beaten up and held hostage like the others. Should he call the cops? If Gilebert really was a demon…he’d just be putting more innocent people in danger. And when Gilebert had said that he was a demon - Alan believed him.
I’m a demon. Gilebert’s words rang through Alan’s mind and he sunk to his knees. Joan and Dante had tried to save Kim on their own, but had failed, and could possibly be hurt. Kim could be hurt too. Alan was still having a hard time believing that Dante had been defeated so easily. There’s just no way Gilebert defeated him. Dante’s an angel. What kind of a demon is he? A powerful one, that’s what. Crap.
Alan considered his options. Well, not going - was not an option. Most probably would have stayed away, but Alan was going to try to help his friends. No matter what. Joan, Kim, and Dante…they were his family now. The Dullahan Family. Dullahan…the wheels in Alan’s mind began to turn.
Alan knew that if he went he’d be no match for Gilebert. He’d probably get the crap beaten out of him. Maybe even piss in his pants. But…he didn’t care. Even if he served a purpose by acting as a distraction to give Dante a chance to fight back then his objective would be fulfilled.
But…was there anything Alan could do to actually help? Alan turned to look down the hall that led to the basement door. Alan stood up and slowly began to make his way towards the basement. He reached the door, opened it, and made his way down the stairs. He flipped on a light and the makeshift gym and training room was revealed. His gaze focused upon the red door.
Alan gulped. Just looking at the door he felt like someone - something - was watching him. He spotted an oil lamp, lit it, and picked it up. Alan made his way towards the door and opened it. He held up the oil lamp and illuminated the inside of the chamber. The air inside of the chamber was still moist and humid. It also still smelled of decay and mold.
Alan looked at the circle on the floor that had a six-pointed star inside of it as well as various runes and symbols. He knew what it was now. After Dante had dragged him out of the chamber, Alan had returned hours later to study the books that were on the shelves. Yea, he knew that had been pretty stupid but he’d been curious. The books were all about demons. The most interesting book that Alan had come across was titled: ‘The Lesser Key of Solomon’. The book was divided into five parts: The Ars Goetia, The Ars Theurgia-Goetia, The Ars Paulina, The Ars Almadel and The Ars Notoria. The book was a grimoire focused on demonology. It followed the story of King Solomon as he captured seventy-two demons using his magic ring, and forced them to explain themselves. The other books on the shelves had been about magic and sorcery.
The circle on the floor was apparently a magical circle - a demon-summoning circle - drawn in blood, which meant the demon being summoned had some kind of a blood pact with the summoner. This also meant that Alan might be able to summon and control the demon by using his own blood. If he managed to do that he could command the demon to help him save his friends.
Alan could have tried to summon any number of demons now that he had a list of names, but he knew just whom he wanted to try and summon. The mysterious woman who’d haunted his dreams since forever - the headless horsewoman. The name of which he’d learned in his nightmares: Arienh Dullahan. Apparently, she was his ancestor. And that’s all the information he needed to summon her really, just the demoness’ name.
Alan made his way over to the altar and set down the oil lamp. It cast flickering shadows upon the wall. He picked up the athame and approached the circle. He slashed the palm of his hand with the athame and a streak of bright red blood formed on his palm.
He crouched in front of the circle and slammed his hand down upon the demon summoning circle. “I summon thee…Arienh Dullahan! The headless horsewoman!”
The circle began to glow. Red light flooded the lines of blood that made up the circle, the six-pointed star, and the magical runes, glyphs, and symbols. The light increased in strength blinding Alan and an invisible force pushed him away from the circle.
At that moment, rising up out of the floor was the headless body of a woman. Her body was dressed in a dark green, velvet gown. The gown was low-cut enough that it revealed the freckles sprinkled at her cleavage. Freckles that Alan recognized. It’s really her. The headless horsewoman who haunted his dreams every night.
The light faded and the headless horsewoman walked out of the circle. Alan scrambled backwards across the dirt floor. He was terrified, his entire body was trembling, and his eyes were wide like saucers.
The headless horsewoman strode forward a few steps before she knelt before Alan. “You who have summoned me. How may I serve thee, Master?” As she spoke green mist billowed out of her severed neck. Alan blinked and wondered how she was able to speak without a head! “Y-You’re A-Arienh?”
“Yes.” Wow. Her voice was melodic. Almost ‘pretty’. Definitely not the way he’d imagined it.
Alan suddenly laughed. He couldn’t believe it. He’d done it! He actually managed to summon the dullahan. He put his face in his hand as he tried to get himself under control. He smiled and staggered to his feet. “Arienh, I need your help. My friends…Kim, Joan and Dante are in grave danger and I must help them. A demon has them held captive at this address-” Alan showed the dullahan the piece of paper he’d scribbled the address upon. “Er, can you see it? I can read it to you-”
“I can read it.” Her voice was silky, whimsical.
“Oh, well, good, I - we - need to go there immediately. I…we need to save them.” Alan fumbled with his words, not knowing the best way to ask Arienh to help him save his friends.
“Alright, Master Alan.” Arienh agreed as she began to head for the stairs.
Alan gawked after her. Wait, it was that easy? “Hey, wait up!” Alan took off after Arienh as she ascended the steps. Arienh silently made her way through the pub and exited. She stood out on the sidewalk and waited for Alan patiently. Then she began to chant and wave her hand through the air. A portal of swirling red energy formed on the asphalt and a gigantic black horse with glowing, red eyes leapt out of the hole.
Alan skidded to a halt next to Arienh, and gawked at the demonic looking horse…and then at Arienh. There was no way they would make it to the address without attracting unwanted attention. There was practically a cop car for every block in New York City. Alan frowned at the dilemma.
Arienh was grabbing the reins of the horse and about to mount when Alan called out to her. “Arienh. Wait. Er…isn’t there a way you can disguise yourself? You kind of stand out.”
Arienh took her foot out of the stirrup and paused. “Disguise?”
Alan ran a hand back through his hair. “You know, to like, uh, blend in with…normal people. Argh…I dunno…this horse is going to get the cops chasing us in no time. Too bad you couldn’t have summoned a motorcycle or something, huh?” Alan laughed at his own joke.
“Motorcycle?” Arienh repeated and waved her hand at her demonic horse. It became engulfed in red light and then transformed almost instantly from a black horse into a shiny, black Harley Davidson.
Alan’s jaw dropped as he looked at the Harley Davidson that had hot pink designs on it. Hot pink? Figures. Alan’s mouth twitched. Arienh was a woman after all - even if she was headless. “It’s too bad we don’t have more time…I could make you a black and pink biker girl outfit.” Alan joked with a lopsided smile on his face.
“Like this?” Arienh asked as she r
an her hands over her voluptuous body and transformed her clothes in seconds. The velvet gown transformed into a black leather bodysuit with hot pink racing stripes running up the sides.
Alan’s blue eyes sparkled with awe. “Neat. I don’t suppose you could make yourself a matching biker helmet? That way no one will know you’re headless.”
Arienh opened the palm of her hand and a full biker helmet appeared which she stuck onto her neck.
Alan grinned, now Arienh looked like a normal biker girl. This could work. “Perfect. Well done, Arienh.”
“Thank you, Master Alan,” Arienh said as she mounted the Harley Davidson. “Get on behind me.”
Alan gulped, got on behind Arienh, and hesitated before wrapping his arms around her waist. He expected her body to be as cold as ice, but was surprised to discover that her body was warm. “You’re warm.” Alan breathed in surprise.
“Hold on.” Arienh said before she willed the Harley’s engine to start and then tore off down the road at top speed.
“Ack.” Alan wrapped his arms more tightly around Arienh’s waist. This woman was his great great (how many greats, he didn’t really know) grandmother. He wasn’t afraid of her.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the luxury apartment building. Instead of dismounting the bike Arienh turned the Harley to face the front door of the building and headed straight for it.
“A-Arienh, what are you doing?” Alan asked as Arienh sped right towards the front door, which was made of glass.
“Entering the building.” Arienh replied dryly and was Alan imagining it or was there a hint of amusement in her sultry voice.
“Ah! I’m going to die!” Alan cried as he shut his eyes and buried his head in Arienh’s back.
Crash. The front tire of the Harley hit the front door and shattered it instantly. Arienh rode through the apartment building lobby and right into an open elevator. The elevator doors closed behind them.
“Press the button for the top floor, Master.” Arienh directed.
“R-Right.” Alan reached out with a trembling finger and pressed the button for the top floor. Elevator music began to play and Alan couldn’t help but think about how surreal this whole situation was. I can’t believe this is really happening.
The elevator door opened with a ding and they rode down the hall. Arienh stopped the bike outside of the apartment door they wanted, and revved the Harley Davidson’s engine loudly. Vroom! Vroom!
“Hey, wait, maybe we should knock?” Alan suggested over the roar of the engine.
“We’ve already announced our presence.” Arienh drawled, before they rode towards the front door and crashed through it. The door splintered to pieces, chunks of wood flying through the air. The Harley soared through the front door dramatically and into the center of the living room, leaving skid marks on the carpet.
A handsome demon was reclining on one of the couches, a glass of red wine in his hand, and a look of astonishment now on his face. On the table Alan’s eyes were drawn to the bottle of wine that had a fly on its label and which read: ‘Le vin de merde’. Alan blinked as he translated that in his mind. Poop wine? O-kay.
The glass of wine fell from Gilebert’s limp fingers. “What the hell?”
Alan peered over Arienh’s shoulder and recognized the demon as being Gilebert, but he had horns and a long, red-skinned tail swishing behind him now. Oh my God, Gilebert is a demon. But I’ll freak out about that later. “Gilebert! Where’s Kim, you jerk?” Alan demanded as his eyes rapidly searched the room for any sign of her.
That’s when Alan spotted four figures suspended on the wall. Figures that he recognized with a sinking feeling in his stomach. Kim, Joan, Dante and a golden retriever that must have been Joan’s dog were hanging on the wall. Their bodies were draped over wooden pegs that had been hammered into the walls. Alan was relieved to see that the pegs weren’t piercing through anyone’s body. Kim was unconscious, and dressed in only a lacy, red bra and matching panties. Her body was covered in horrible bruises that made bile rise up in Alan’s throat.
Joan was hanging next to her, and was dressed in only a plain, white bra and matching panties. A bruise was forming on the left side of her face.
Next to Joan was Dante. He was dressed in only his black boxers and there was a gaping wound on his stomach. Blood was pouring down his abs and he appeared to be unconscious. Dante was deathly pale. Alan couldn’t help but note the many scars that were on Dante’s torso. Holy crap.
My friends. Alan thought as he made an effort to swallow the bile in his mouth. “Kim!” Alan leapt off the back of the bike and ran towards Kim and the others. He was so worried about his friends that he momentarily forgot all about Gilebert’s presence. “Joan! Dante!”
Gilebert’s eyes widened at Alan’s unexpected appearance. “Alan Dullahan…you actually came.”
Alan continued to ignore Gilebert and ran over to Kim first. He reached out and cupped Kim’s cheeks with his two hands. “Kim! Wake up! Kim!” Alan gently patted her cheeks.
“Mmm.” Kim groaned as she stirred awake and blinked down at Alan. “A-Alan?”
“I’m going to get you out of here.” Alan proclaimed as he began to lift Kim carefully off the wall.
Kim’s eyes widened as she became more awake, “Alan! You’re really here…what the hell are you doing here? You have to get out of here! Gilebert…he’s a real demon! He’ll kill you.”
Alan gently removed Kim from the wall, and she sunk down to her knees, trembling in fear. Alan smiled down at Kim confidently, and took his jacket off to set it around her shoulders. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“Well, you should be!” Came Gilebert’s angry voice from behind him.
“Alan! Look out!” Kim cried, eyes wide in horror as she watched Gilebert lunge at Alan with his medieval sword in hand - about to take Alan’s head from his shoulders.
Alan didn’t even bother to turn his head. He just kept smiling at Kim. “It’s okay Kim because I didn’t come alone. I brought…a friend.” Clash.
Kim’s eyes widened as she watched a figure appear directly in front of Alan with a gigantic black scythe raised in her hands. The scythe clashed against Gilebert’s sword - stopping his attack from harming Alan.
Kim looked at the mysterious woman in a mixture of shock and awe. She was dressed in a black and pink leather bodysuit and biker helmet. She looked normal enough if it weren’t for that gigantic scythe in her hands! Was she the Grim Reaper? Death herself? Kim wondered frantically.
A thrill of fear traveled down Kim’s spine.
Dante’s finger twitched.
Alan turned his attention towards Joan and Dante next. “Joan!” Alan went over to her and patted her cheek. “Wake up!”
Joan’s green eyes opened and she stared at Alan for a moment before her eyes widened in recognition. “Alan? No way!”
Alan smiled ruefully at Joan’s exclamation, and nodded. “Yep.” He helped Joan off the wall, and she somehow managed to remain standing.
“You actually came. You-” Joan cut herself off as she noticed that Gilebert was fighting against a woman wielding a gigantic scythe. “Who the hell is that?”
“A friend.” Alan said as he went to wake up Dante next. Alan slapped his friend’s cheek a little more roughly than he had the girls. “Dante! Wake up, bud!”
But Dante still wouldn’t stir. Crap. Behind them Gilebert was still fighting fiercely against Arienh. “Who the hell are you, she-demon?” Gilebert demanded. “And why are you helping a lowly human?”
“He is my Master. And you are his enemy.” Arienh replied in her voice that was full of haunting shadows. “I will take your head.”
“Witch! Not if I take yours first!” Gilebert roared as he swung his sword at Arienh’s neck.
Slash. Gilebert’s sword knocked into Arienh’s helmet and knocked it off her neck. Kim screamed and gripped her hair in abject terror. Gilebert had just decapitated that poor woman!
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Dante’s eyes snapped open. He could feel his power returning. There was a very frightened human in this room. Already he could feel demonic power coursing through his veins like fire. His wound was already beginning to close.
“Dante!” Alan exclaimed in relief.
Dante blinked at Alan. “Alan?” He turned to see the half-naked Joan. “Joan.” The bartender pulled himself down from the wall. Joan had obviously been hung up on the wall next to him…like a bloody decoration.
Gilebert had done this. The Incubus had touched Joan, undressed her, and put her on the wall. Dante growled low in his throat at the thought. A series of strange emotions were passing through Dante: anger, hate, possessiveness, worry, fear. He didn’t like that Gilebert had dared to touch what was his. Mine. He thought to himself. No, Joan is not mine. Dante had to remind himself with a shake of his head. We’re enemies. But even so, Dante’s blood was boiling with anger at the thought of Gilebert having touched Joan. He will pay. He was in front of Joan in the blink of an eye, cupping her cheeks and staring into Joan’s eyes concernedly. “Joan…did that scum touch you?”
Joan stared at Dante in surprise and tried to shake her head. Joan knew what Dante was really asking. She’d never seen him look so furious before. He was obviously asking if Gilebert had raped her. “No…he just…punched me and took my clothes off. That’s all.”
Dante let his hands fall away from her, but he was still enraged. He clenched his hands into fists at his sides. He really felt like killing someone. Gilebert would pay! He spotted his jacket, went to fetch it, and quickly brought it over to Joan. He handed it to her and she put it on without a fuss, surprisingly enough.
Only then did Dante turn his attention to the battle that was going on behind him. He blinked. A headless biker chick was fighting against Gilebert and wielding a gigantic black scythe. The blade of that weapon was almost four feet long, but the size of the weapon seemed to fluctuate. Bloody hell!
Kim was absolutely terrified and her body had begun to shake violently. “That biker chick should be dead, but she’s still moving…”
Alan was suddenly kneeling by her side and trying to calm the supermodel. “Shhh, Kim, it’s alright…everything will be okay.”
“No…you don’t understand, Alan.” Kim shook her head. “That woman…she just had her head cut off!”
“She had no head to begin with.” Alan wondered how he was able to say something so calmly. He also wondered why he wasn’t as freaked out as Kim seemed to be by everything that was happening. Come on, there was a demon and a headless horsewoman fighting to the death in the living room. But Alan’s dreams and nightmares were filled with demons and headless women every night, so perhaps that is why he’d so easily accepted what was going on. “Kim, that is Arienh Dullahan, my ancestor, and a headless horsewoman. I summoned her here to help save you. She is the woman I see in my nightmares every night…the woman on the sign at Dullahan’s.” Alan explained.
“She’s…?” Kim thought back to the woman on the sign…the headless horsewoman. Kim even had a t-shirt with the woman on it that Alan had given her. “The headless horsewoman? She’s real?” Not able to handle more, Kim fainted.
“Aw crap.” Alan said as he held Kim’s limp body in his arms.
Meanwhile, Joan and Dante had listened in on Alan’s revelation, and weren’t sure what they should do. Joan couldn’t transform without using her enchanted cross. And Dante was still healing…
“I should help.” Dante said taking a step forward. He still wanted to punish Gilebert for touching Joan.
“Wait.” Joan said in a low voice as she put her hand on Dante’s arm to stop him. “If you fight now…you’ll be revealing your true identity to Alan. That could put Alan in danger, Dante.”
Dante paused, unsure of what he should do. Joan had a point.
“Do not interfere.” The female dullahan spoke up as she swung her scythe at Gilebert’s sword. The blades clashed and then the scythe was slicing through Gilebert’s sword!
Gilebert leapt backwards, the shock evident on his face. “Impossible! That blade was forged in Hell!”
“So was mine.” Arienh countered and swung her scythe at Gilebert’s head next.
“No, please, wait!” Gilebert put his hands up in a surrendering gesture and offered the dullahan a charming smile. After all, no woman could resist his charms. Right? But his effort was to no avail.
“Arienh’s scythe sliced through Gilebert’s left wrist, after that his neck, and finally his right wrist. Blood splattered through the air and Gilebert’s lifeless body toppled over onto the floor. Joan covered her mouth with her hand…such brutality. Kim was lucky she’d fainted.
Arienh willed her scythe to disappear and it disintegrated into shadows. After that she walked over to pick up Gilebert’s body and carried him over to the wall. She held Gilebert against the wall and used her power to cause several of the wooden pegs to slide out of the wall and hover in front of the corpse. With a flick of her other hand the pegs were sent flying into Gilebert’s body, effectively pinning him to the wall. Arienh let go and stood back to gaze upon her gruesome handiwork. “An eye for an eye.” She intoned in a grim, deadly tone.
“Who’s the decoration now? Jerk!” Joan couldn’t help but say as she fist pumped.
Dante raised an eyebrow at the waitress.
“What?” Joan snapped in a defensive tone as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Dante’s lip twitched in amusement. Feisty.
Somehow Gilebert had been defeated, and Dante and Joan hadn’t needed to fight. Joan quickly made her way to Michael’s side now that the fight was finally over. She carefully lifted him off the wall and set him down on the floor gently. Her guardian angel was still unconscious.
Dante walked over to Gilebert’s body and found Joan’s cross in the pocket of the man’s red leather pants. He tossed it to her and she caught it one-handed. “Thanks.” There was a note of surprise in Joan’s voice. If Dante had wanted to kill her, now would have been the perfect opportunity. She had been practically defenseless without her cross. Or maybe he just wanted to kill her in a fair fight. Joan’s lips pursed at the thought.
Alan scooped the unconscious Kim into his arms. “Hey guys, I’m going to take Kim back to her apartment. Some familiarity will do her good when she wakes up. Dante…I leave Joan in your care.”
“Understood, Boss.” Dante nodded, with a small smirk on his face. The demon reached out to ruffle Alan’s hair, and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “You protected the woman you love, Alan. Well done.” I couldn’t even do as much…I let Jeanne d’Arc get burned at the stake because I was attached to some effing tree. Not that I love Joan Simone. But I still failed to protect what is mine. Mine? Joan is not mine. Dante shook his head from his strange and conflicting thoughts.
Alan flushed with pride. He nodded to Dante and walked towards the front door. “Come on, Arienh. We’re outta here.”
Arienh made her way over to her fallen helmet, picked it up and stuck it back on her neck. The dullahan then went over to pick up Gilebert’s head, which she placed inside of a velvet sack. “Coming, Master.” Her voice was singsong. The evil she-demon sounded almost…happy. Arienh mounted the Harley and Alan got on behind her with Kim cradled protectively against his chest. “I exist in this plane only until sunrise, Master.”
“Then let’s get the hell out of here.” Alan said. “Take care of Joan, Dante.” He said again. There had been some odd tension between Joan and Dante, but ultimately Alan trusted the bartender.
“Don’t worry, Boss. I will.” Dante assured again and Alan’s expression turned relieved.
Joan was fuming. Dante and Alan were talking about her as if she weren’t there. “I don’t need him to ‘take care’ of me! Hmph!”
Joan and Dante watched as the headless horsewoman sped out of the apartment and into the hallway. The Harley had left flaming scorch marks on the rug in its wake. Joan
shook her head with a bemused expression on her face before returning to Michael’s side. The poor dog was bleeding all over the floor. She was about to go try to find some bandages or something when Dante handed her a towel. She looked up at him in surprise. “Thanks.” Joan wrapped the towel tightly around Michael’s torso and tied the towel tight. She then reached out to shake him awake. “Michael, wake up.”
Michael stirred awake. “Joan?” The Archangel looked around the living room and his eyes widened when he spotted Gilebert’s now headless body pinned to the wall. “Dante? Did you do this? Where is Kim?”
“Alan came…with an ally and saved us.” Joan explained vaguely. Summoning demons from Hell was a sin, and if Michael found out that Alan had summoned a dullahan he might have to punish Alan for it.
Michael raised a dog brow at Joan. “An ally? Who?”
“We’ll talk about it later. Right now…I have more important matters to attend to.” Joan looked over at Dante.
While Michael and Joan were speaking to each other Dante had been getting re-dressed. He put on his black pants, white shirt, vest, bowtie, and shoes. Joan was still wearing his jacket.
“Dante.” Joan spoke up to get Dante’s attention as he was straightening his bowtie.
Dante turned to face her with an emotionally shuttered expression on his face.
“It’s time. We need to…talk. But not here…Central Park.” Joan declared and concentrated on not letting her voice waver.
Dante’s expression turned grim. He’d been hoping that Joan would no longer see their confrontation as necessary. But he supposed things couldn’t always go his way. “Indeed we do. Alright. I’ll meet you in Central Park.” Dante agreed before he headed for the bedroom, stalked through it, and made his way out onto the balcony. From there he summoned his wings before taking flight and heading towards Central Park.
***
Michael and Joan made their way to the balcony next. As soon as they were outside Michael transformed into his larger form, and his white, feathery wings emerged from his back. “Are you finally going to kill him, Joan? Five hundred and eighty-four years ago, God ordered you to kill Dantalion…and you refused. I was forced to put him into an enchanted sleep. Obviously, someone broke my spell and unsealed him. And that someone had to have been a demon. You were already punished for your sins in your past life. Now, you have a second chance, Joan. Kill Dante and you will be redeemed in the eyes of God. You could earn your proper place in Heaven. When you die you can go straight to Heaven instead of being reborn. We could be together then, Joan.”
“I…” Joan started, as Michael’s words began to sink in. So, it was over. It was all over. The whole ‘we’re friends’ act that she and Dante had been performing. A sense of loss almost overwhelmed her and the ground felt like it was crumbling beneath her feet. Dante now knew who Joan really was - the reincarnation of Jeanne d’Arc. Dante now knew that Joan was his hated enemy, and he would betray her again. He would try and kill her.
That’s why Joan had to kill Dante first.
She couldn’t make the same mistake twice. She couldn’t fall in love with him, only for him to betray her. Since she’d been unable to kill him the last time she’d been punished by God, abandoned by him, forsaken, and ended up getting burned at the stake. She’d used her holy sword to seal Dante to that fig tree. That sword had been the very sword she’d had the visions about. She’d had dreams that it was buried behind the altar at the church of St. Catherine of Fierbois. The sword had been covered in rust but that rust had simply been wiped away to reveal a beautiful double-edged sword. The sword had had five crosses on it.
But…after she’d used that sword to seal Dante to that tree, God had refused to give her a new sword and she’d had to use normal swords after that. One of those swords she’d gotten from Sir Robert and another sword she’s stolen from a Burgundian soldier. But neither of those swords had any supernatural power and that’s probably why things went sour for her in the end.
She’d been punished for loving a demon. And Joan’s mind and heart and soul were in turmoil because of it. She didn’t want to kill Dante, but now that he knew her identity? Well, that changed everything. They were suddenly mortal enemies. That meant that they would fight each other sooner or later so…why not get it over with? Their inevitable battle, their destined battle to the death.
I fell in love with the Demon Duke Dantalion five hundred and eighty-four years ago…and I was unable to kill him…even after his betrayal. I can’t let that happen again. I have to kill him now before I fall in love with him again. Before I fall into temptation. Dante is my temptation. My sin. I must resist him this time and kill him, kill my temptation and avoid falling into sin.
I must kill him.
“I will kill him.” Joan finished determinedly.
***
Dante flew towards Central Park and it soon came into view. He could see the great lawn and dark treetops. He swooped down into the deserted park. This was where Joan wanted to ‘talk’. He knew there would probably be no ‘talking’ involved in what was to come. They were going to fight and probably to the death, but…Dante found himself asking: why? Why did they have to fight each other and to the death?
Sure, Dante now knew that Joan Simone was the reincarnation of Jeanne d’Arc. And sure he now knew that she was the female who’d betrayed him. Jeanne had taken advantage of his lowered guard and attacked him those centuries ago in that field of flowers. She’d stabbed him and pinned him to that fig tree with her holy sword, effectively sealing him to it. She’d defeated him. But she hadn’t finished him off. She hadn’t killed him. And she’d been crying.
Those tears. Those tear-filled green eyes had haunted him for centuries.
He would never forget those eyes.
He should be filled with hate for Jeanne. He should want to kill her. He should hate her for her betrayal.
But…Dante didn’t feel hate towards Joan - only confusion. Why?
Why had Jeanne betrayed him?
Why had she been crying? These questions had plagued him for centuries while he’d been trapped in a world of nightmares, unable to wake up, and finally he would be able to get some answers because Joan was the reincarnation of Jeanne d’Arc. He almost felt giddy with the thought.
Finally, he would know the truth.
So instead of his blood boiling with anger, the blood in his veins was thrumming with anticipation. But he couldn’t let Joan kill him before he’d gotten to ask his questions. Joan was no pushover either, and so Dante summoned his demonic power and transformed. Horns sprouted out of his head, his incisors lengthened, his eyes glowed red, a red aura flared around him, and thanks to Kim and her abject terror he had enough power to finally summon his faithful sword. Dante’s double-edged, black iron, medieval sword materialized in his outstretched hand. The hilt of the sword was a dragon’s outstretched wings and the round pommel of the sword was a series of skulls. A beautiful, sinister, demonic sword. With a thought Dante also caused his battle armor to materialize onto his body.
Minutes passed before he spotted Joan and Michael overhead. The gray night sky was a dramatic backdrop behind the warrior maiden riding the winged dog. Michael flew down and landed several feet away from Dante. Joan hopped off of Michael’s back, and the demon noted that she’d once again transformed. She was wearing the sexy golden armor once again, and held the golden sword in her hand. That sword was different from the one that she’d sealed him to the tree with, but it also had the design of five crosses on it.
Beautiful. Powerful. Deadly.
Dante resisted the urge to drool. His blood heated slightly at the irresistible sight of her. But he forced himself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. The last thing he wanted was to be aroused while he was fighting her.
Joan’s lips were a thin line as she approached Dante and took in the sight of his demonic appearance, battle armor and sword. Her expression was grim, resigned. “I see y
ou’re finally taking this seriously, Dantalion.” Joan pointed her sword at the demon. “It’s time we finally ended this, Dantalion. I will kill you.”
Dante tilted his head at Joan. He could feel the hatred pouring off of her in waves. “Why?” Dante asked as he reigned in his own emotions. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to blow up in anger.
Joan blinked. What the hell? “What do you mean ‘why’? You know why, you untrustworthy, lying demon!” Joan snarled as she rushed forward in attack. “Ah!” She swung her sword at Dante.
He raised his sword to block her attack. “Enlighten me.” He drawled, off-handedly, as if he didn’t really care but deep down he was dying to finally know the truth.
“We’re enemies!” Joan spat, “You…betrayed me! I can’t believe I fell for you and your lies five hundred and eighty-four years ago, Dantalion. But I won’t make the same mistake twice. I will not be fooled by you again!”
Dante raised an eyebrow at Joan as their swords clashed in deadly jabs, blocks and blows. “I betrayed you? Did Gilebert’s blow affect your memory, Jeanne? You betrayed me!”
Joan gawked at Dante. “No, you betrayed me first! You said you would hold off your army and that you were going to go to Hell to speak to Lucifer about ending the war. But you lied. Your army attacked the village and killed everyone in it. Even the women and children!”
What the hell? “The village? I did not approve such an attack…” Dante scowled in thought. Had his army acted on their own? No. They would never disobey him.
“Don’t lie! Your fiancée Lilith was there in charge of your army! She said that you had asked her to attack the village for you because of your creed: No women. No kids. That you even asked her to kill me!”
“What?” Dante roared, suddenly enraged. Lilith…had taken control of his army, had attacked the village, and had even attacked Joan? “Did she harm you?” He demanded fiercely as waves of anger began to roll off of him.
Joan blinked. She somehow knew that that anger wasn’t directed towards her. “No…I…I killed her Dante.” Her tone was regretful, even apologetic. He’s going to hate me now. I killed his love.
But Dante was oddly relieved that Joan hadn’t been hurt by his fiancée. He should have been angry that Joan had killed Lilith but…Lilith was pure evil. He’d never even loved Lilith. He’d respected the powerful she-demon and had even had sex with her, but he didn’t love her. The marriage had been Lucifer’s idea and probably to have someone to keep tabs on Dante. Instead, he was glad that Joan had won the fight. And he said so. “I’m glad.”
A muscle ticked beneath Joan’s eye. “No you’re not! You liar! How could you be…you…you…loved her!” Why did it hurt so much for her to say that?
Dante shook his head, “No, I didn’t love her. I…respected her - yes. But Lucifer arranged our engagement. I was just going along with it. But I did not love her. I didn’t know what love - real love - even was until I met you, Jeanne.”
Joan sucked in a breath before she burst out: “Lies!”
Dante stared into her eyes with an emotional look on his face. “I’m glad she did not harm you. Lilith could be quite vicious, merciless…”
Joan was shaking her head. No! No, no, no. She couldn’t believe what Dante was saying because if she did…! “I don’t believe you! You didn’t love me! You lied to me! You betrayed me!”
“I did not.” Dante said firmly, “I told my army to await further orders and that I needed to return to Hell to speak with Lucifer. I returned to Hell and went to Lucifer’s palace. I voiced my opinion about how I felt the Apocalypse was a foolish endeavor. I told him to stop the war…but he didn’t listen to me. He told me that the war was about his revenge against God.” The demon let out a sigh.
Joan blinked at Dante. “You really went to Hell?”
Dante nodded. “However, I urged him to reconsider. That’s when he made me a deal. If I were able to beat him in a duel he would stop the war. And so I fought him Joan - a man I loved like a brother. I fought him and risked my life. For you. And…I won. But Lucifer made me repair his throne room before I was allowed to return to Earth. I had made a mess of it during our duel, you see. This took me several days, and when I returned I immediately went in search of you. I found you in that field of flowers. I was happy to see you alive and well, Joan. I was filled with love for you. I wanted to sweep you up into my arms and kiss you and never let go. But then you attacked me. You stabbed me with your holy sword and sealed me to that tree.” This time Dante was unable to keep the anger and hurt from his voice.
Joan’s body began to shake as she remembered how she’d stabbed Dante through his chest mercilessly.
“You betrayed me. You said you never loved me. That you had fooled me…and I would have believed it - if not for your tears, Jeanne. So tell me what is the truth? Now that you know that I did not betray you, tell me. Was your love for me a lie? What is the truth?” Dante gazed into Joan’s green eyes searchingly.
No…it can’t be true. If what Dante is saying is true then…I’m the one who betrayed him! Dante must be the reason why Lucifer no longer had the strength to keep the portal to Earth open. Dante truly did stop the Apocalypse five hundred and eighty-four years ago.
If what Dante is saying is true then…I have no reason to hate him. And if I don’t hate him I…will fall into temptation again. I will fall in love with him and be punished by God, forsaken by my Creator again…
Again and again and again…
Flames licking at her flesh.
Joan remembered in that instant how horrible it had felt being burned alive at the stake. The pain had been excruciating. Dante is my temptation. I cannot fall for him again…I must kill him!
Joan let out a broken cry and continued to attack Dante. But tears filled her eyes and began to stream down her face. Her fear was trying to drown her, consume her. If she didn’t kill Dante…God would punish her and that thought was terrifying. She couldn’t be burned alive again. She had to kill Dante.
Joan lunged at Dante and he was knocked to the ground. She leapt on top of him, straddled his hips, and swung her sword at his neck. Instead of trying to fight back Dante just lay there and looked up at her. His right hand was still gripping his sword but it was out at his side.
Joan stopped her sword a mere inch from Dante’s throat. Her hand was trembling violently. She looked down into Dante’s gorgeous, molten gold eyes that were looking up at her and shinning with trust and…desire?
As Joan stared down at him her tears began to drip down onto Dante’s pale cheeks. She blinked as she watched one of her tears slide down Dante’s face. Tears. She was crying and she hadn’t even realized it. That’s when she felt that besides the fear she was filled with, some other emotion was also trying to drown and consume her: love.
Joan cried out as she tried to move her sword forward but to no avail. She just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t kill him. She loved him too much.
Dante smirked up at her knowingly, and tossed his own sword aside. “Jeanne…Joan…I forgive you. Do you forgive me?” Hope shinned in his eyes and a smile tugged at his lips.
Joan looked down at Dante in astonishment. She couldn’t believe that Dante had forgiven her so easily. She didn’t deserve to be forgiven. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she couldn’t help but smile. He forgives me. “Yes…oh God, yes…!” She tossed her holy sword aside, grabbed Dante’s face with her two hands, and smashed her lips against his.
Dante’s eyes widened with surprise but then he shut his eyes before leaning into the kiss. Aggressive little firecracker, isn’t she?
Joan aggressively parted his mouth open with her tongue and plunged her tongue into the hot, wet cavern of his mouth. She moaned in delight. He tasted like whiskey and spices. His kiss burned and tingled like putting an entire box of Red Hots in one’s mouth all at once.
Dante groaned at the sensation of Joan’s tongue twirling, dancing with his own. The demon put his
hands on Joan’s hips, and she purred at the feeling of his large calloused hands on her. She gasped and kissed Dante even more fervidly. This demon man desired her. Wanted her. That knowledge filled her with pleasure and delight.
In the back of her mind, a small voice reminded Joan that Michael was watching them close by, and so she’d only be able to kiss Dante for now. She was surprised that she felt disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to take things further. But she planned to enjoy this kiss to the max.
Joan tangled her hands in Dante’s silky black hair as she deepened their kiss. Dante wasn’t one to be outdone, however, and began to thrust his tongue in and out of Joan’s mouth. The action pulled another needy moan from Joan’s lips.
The demon looked up at Joan and noticed that the moon’s rays were causing golden highlights to appear in Joan’s short bob of brown hair. He reached up and ran his hands through her hair and reveled in the softness of it. So beautiful. He ran his hand down her back, over her spine, and she shivered in delight.
His mere touch felt so freakin good. And his taste was…intoxicating. A demon bartender as intoxicating as a cocktail. Yum. The waitress smiled to herself at the thought.
Oh no, I think I’m falling in love with a demon. Joan thought to herself through the haze of her passion.
Bloody hell, I think I’m falling in love with a human female. Dante thought to himself.
And they both thought this single word at exactly the same time: Again.
***
Meanwhile, Michael was not a happy camper. No, no, no! Joan and Dante were kissing! And not only that, they were inappropriately grinding against each other like a couple of dogs in heat. The irony of that thought was not lost on the Archangel, who was currently trapped inside of the form of a golden retriever. History was repeating itself. Joan was falling in love with Dante again. Unless, she was already in love with the demon. She was giving into temptation and sin, and would be forsaken by God again. Punished. Maybe even by him. Michael shuddered at the sobering thought.
She’d failed to kill Dantalion. Again. She’d spared the demon’s life. Again.
Michael’s temple throbbed. He contemplated summoning his fiery sword and slaying Dante where he was, but knew that if he died Joan would never forgive him.
And he loved Joan…he’d given up everything for her. He wanted to be her protector. He’d given up his human form and was now living in the body of a dog for heaven’s sake just so he could stay by her side and protect her.
If only his predecessors hadn’t rebelled against God and come to Earth during the time of Noah. A group of angels had been enamored by the daughters of man because they were beautiful and decided to come to Earth and choose wives for themselves. Their unions had spawned an unholy race of giants known as the Nephilim. Because of this God had punished the angels and they were no longer able to materialize on the Earth as freely as before. Now God monitored whenever an angel materialized on the Earth in order to deliver one of his messages.
Because of all this Michael was unable to materialize in human form upon the Earth unless he was delivering a message to a mortal and then only briefly. That’s why when he requested to God that he have permission to stay by Joan’s side in order to protect her, God had agreed, but on the condition that Michael give up his ‘human form’. God would not risk the union between an angel and a daughter of man again apparently. God’s distrust in Michael, stung, but he supposed his creator was right. Maybe God already saw into Michael’s heart and had seen his desire for Joan there and sought to keep them apart.
Michael recalled the biblical passage that recounted the tale that had changed his destiny. Genesis 6:1-4 Now it came about that when men started to grow in numbers on the surface of the ground and daughters were born to them, then the sons of the true God began to notice the daughters of men, that they were good-looking; and they went taking wives for themselves, namely, all whom they chose. After that God said: “My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.
The Nephilim proved to be on the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of the true God continued to have relations with the daughters of men and they bore sons to them, they were the mighty ones who were of old, the men of fame.
Michael wished he had fists so that he could punch the tree that was next to him instead of a pair of paws. If Michael didn’t kill Dante, some other Archangel would be assigned to the task. Some other Archangel would be sent to kill Dante and perhaps punish Joan. Hellfire! Michael swore in his mind, feeling like he was being torn in two. Loyalty to his Creator and the love for a woman warring in his body, mind, heart and soul.
Michael decided that he would leave the Archangel that was sent to kill Dante alone, but if he or she tried to touch a single hair on Joan’s head Michael would not allow it. Even if that meant that he had to fight in human form, disobey God’s order, and become fallen.
And this was because Joan was his temptation after all.
Dantalion: “About Le vin de merde. This is actually an excellent wine despite its name. Tired of constant criticism aimed at the wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region, specifically that the wines were ‘crap’, an independent vintner responded with the rebellious idea to create ‘Le vin de merde’ or ‘poop wine’. The label is hard to miss with the big fly on it as if it were sitting on a pile of poop. I think it was a brilliant and funny publicity stunt, for a lowly human.”
###
Final note:
Other works by the author:
Rockstar Ghost PG-13 Ver
Rockstar Ghost Resurrection PG-13 Ver
His Heavy Metal Heart
Bitch Heiress X Samurai Butler
Bitch Heiress X2 Samurai Butler
Samurai Superheroes Saga:
Cowboy Samurai X Badass Android
Geisha Assassin X Smartass Hacker
Foxy Yokai X Punkass Cyborg
Sir Genkaku Host Club
(Books 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Sanky Panky Pirate
Sanky Panky Pirate Part II
Wicked Bartender PG-13 Ver
Wicked Bartender Redemption PG-13 Ver
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Wicked Bartender PG-13 Version Page 18
