9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The soul I’d prepared in place of my kitten’s was pure, but sweet and lacking her fire. This one was no brave human ready to stick to her morals and place herself in harm’s way for others, but none of them had been. I could only hope the extra time I’d given this one on the hot plate would add enough smokiness to disguise the taste.

A delicate sniff of the unstoppered bottle tottering on my red velvet-lined tray made me think I just might pull this off. The smokey scent was strong, but would it be enough? I would much rather take a reprimand for spoiling Kitten’s flavor with a bit too much time on the hot plate than have him discover I’d switched her for another. With a deep breath, I walked down the short hallway, pleased with the confident way my heels tapped against the stone, and approached the mahogany double doors leading to The Devil’s home away from Hell.

The doors opened with a painfully loud creak that must have drawn his attention, and sure enough, I found him lounging on the four-poster bed that dominated the room, gaze already on me. Carved from dark wood, the frame contrasted well against the tent canvas around us. A table of matching material sat against the opposite side, and I placed the tray holding the precious liquid there, hoping to buy some time before my King demanded his taste. One skull-shaped crystal glass glistened beside the elegant bottle, waiting to be filled.

Knowing my gaze couldn’t linger too long on the bottle or he would suspect something, I turned to face The Devil. He sat against the headboard, his chest bare, one muscular arm resting on a fur-covered knee. His other leg stretched out, the smooth black hoof reflecting the amber light from the candles lit around the room. He tilted his head, the imposing set of horns perfectly accentuating his sharp face. Those eyes. The way they studied me made my pulse quicken.

“Isra.” I loved the way his lips moved when he said my name.

“Yes, my King?”

“Crawl to me,” he ordered.

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees. My leather skirt was intentionally short today, and it did its job raising to reveal my ass and dripping cunt. Hopefully, he’d take advantage of the easy access at some point. Knowing my place, I kept my eyes low, determined not to disappoint him. The weight of his gaze grew heavier as I neared the bed.

“Stand.”

With a shudder of excitement, I did so.

“Get on the bed.”

The mattress dipped as I climbed on.

Instead of speaking, he curled a finger in silent order. I crawled over him, coming to a stop when his finger did. He reached out and grabbed my hair, using it to guide my back against the mattress so he could cage me beneath his broad chest. He tightened his grip on my hair to the point strands popped free. He craned my neck, tilting his head to trail his seductive tongue over the sensitive skin there, leaving behind a trail of pain and pleasure. Closing my eyes, I savored the warm sensation and clenched my thighs together. His tongue feathered the pulse. His free hand parted my legs, his nails dimpling the flesh there.

Releasing my hair, he moved his hand to my throat, easily taking hold. A reminder that I belonged to him, and he had absolute control over me. As thrilling as it was terrifying, there was electricity between us tonight. Something that felt alive around us. My senses were in overdrive as I anticipated his next move.

His tongue traced my cleavage, only stopping when he paused to pull my corset down, freeing one breast. Maybe tonight he’d undress me all the way. It wasn’t often he viewed me completely naked, but when he did, I savored every second his eyes roamed my flesh. His sharp teeth bit into my cleavage, soliciting a moan. Only after tasting the blood did he move down to my spread legs. His hot tongue traced my core before pushing inside for a taste. Then he pulled out enough to curl around my clit.

When I squirmed, his fingers tightened around my throat. Just enough to prove his absolute control over me. I gripped the sheets, struggling to hold still as he began to work me. A fire grew between my legs, and he fanned those flames with his mouth.

The Devil devoured me in all the right ways, his teeth catching the skin occasionally when I squirmed too much. All too soon, my muscles clenched, and I cried out, holding the sheets tighter. I wanted to grab his horns in a desperate attempt to keep him between my thighs longer, but I knew better. Thankfully, he sucked on my clit, prolonging the intense waves of pleasure for a few tantalizing moments. In one swift movement, he repositioned, holding me in place as he pressed the tip of his cock against my pussy. He entered quickly, filling me with every inch and stretching me.

This moment wasn’t for me, though, and he made that clear as he thrust at an impossible pace. Giving me no time to catch my breath as he worked towards his climax. Pleasure glinted in his glowing red eyes. It thrilled me, knowing I could provide this for him. All of this, everything I did, was for him.

“My King.” I moaned. It took everything I had not to reach for him. I wanted to dig my nails into his back as he slammed into me. His body tensed. The sound of slickness between us increased as his hot seed filled me. Just knowing I made him cum brought another orgasm, and I rode the wave gratefully. Until, all at once, The Devil released my throat and rolled off me to sit against the pillows once more.

I lay there, working to catch my breath as he got comfortable.

“Bring me the essence, Isra.” A simple order. One that my body protested as I pushed off the bed to walk to the table on shaky legs. I could only hope he thought my trembling was solely due to my body reeling from our encounter. With a deep breath, I picked up the tray and carried it to the bed. His seed dripped down my leg. Setting the tray on the mattress, I opened the bottle and poured the drink into the glass. He took it, holding it up with scrutiny. He swirled it, watching closely as it shimmered in the candlelight. Every second of examination chased the pleasure away, replacing it with fear and anticipation.

He inhaled the aroma, taking a sip and moving it around his mouth before swallowing. He held my gaze as he took another.

“Isra.”

Dropping to my knees beside the bed, I said, “Yes, my King?”

When he extended his arm with an open palm, I crawled forward to rest my cheek against it.

“I just have one question for you.” He smiled, and I relaxed into his palm, awaiting his praise.

“What is it, my King?” I pressed myself against him like a feline in heat, already craving more of him.

“Did you really think you could fool me?”

“Hmm?” Opening my groggy eyes, I made to lift my head, but his fingers curled around one of my horns, holding me in place.

“You heard me.”

Swallowing, I tried to plaster a look of innocence on my face. “I don’t know what you mean. This is the girl you tasted, my King. The kitten.” I hated how my tone rose at the end, as did my heart rate. Something sparkled in his eye. I wanted to believe it was approval or humor, and maybe it was, but not for the reasons I hoped.

“It’s not and you are in an awful lot of trouble.”

Fire flashed in his red-rimmed eyes. Pain ripped through my neck as he wrenched my head to the side. I fought back the panic in my gut. I messed up, sure, but maybe I could talk my way out of it. Certainly, I’d been too useful to just get rid of, right? Didn’t this carnival prove that?

“My King—”

“Silence.” In one word, he stole the voice from my throat and the air from my lungs.

With a gasp, I reached up to rub my neck reflexively, trying to coax the muscles to work again .

“You dare to try and hide the one I chose from me? Maybe you took her for yourself, hm?”

When my apology came as a garbled gasp for breath, he leaned closer, tilting his head to bring one ear near my lips even as he gripped my hair harder. “Hmm? What are you saying?”

Remaining calm, I tried to silently ask him to release me. He tsk ed, his forked tongue slipping between red lips. “When did you become such a festering pustule of disappointment?”

His words cut like a knife. All I’d ever done was try to please him. Were all those years truly meaningless?

While he continued to hold me with one arm, his other took hold of my chin and wrenched my jaw open.

Surely, he wouldn’t. Would he?

Could he?

I was a demon. Our souls were an inferior sort, bitter and gritty on the tongue, but there was a certainty in his eyes as his forked tongue flickered into my mouth.

I couldn’t look away from his evil eyes. I shoved at his chest, trying desperately to push him away, but it was like moving a boulder. As a demon, my strength was enough to crush humans, but I was nothing compared to the King of Hell. To him, I was little more than an insignificant bug.

With all my strength, I fought against him, but he didn’t flinch in the least, his grip unrelenting.

A crimson light swirled in his eyes as he stared back at me.

My light.

Self-preservation became my only concern, but fighting was pointless. My vision blurred, white and red fighting for dominance as searing pain exploded like fireworks in my mind. My strength faded until every muscle went limp. Shadows ebbed in the corners of my vision, tendrils of darkness growing until there was nothing left.

Icy cold seeped into my bones, weighing them down as every particle that was once me tumbled into the darkness of my King.

“Really, Isra, you shouldn’t have tried to fool the King of Trickery.” Of course, I knew what had happened to the soul of my prize, but I’d waited to see how Isra would deal with the situation.

My mouth was still dry and there had been an unpleasant graininess to Isra’s soul that spoke of her quest for power, but my underlings needed the occasional lesson and Isra’s attempts at deception could not go unpunished. With a grumble, I used my long black nails to pick a piece of something out of my incisor and examined it.

A blackened crumb wriggled pitifully on the edge of my nail, and I laughed as it fought to escape with all its might.

“Are you still trying to get away, Isra?” With a low growl, I licked the last bit of her soul up, reveling in her scream as I sucked her to the back of my mouth and swallowed hard. Casting her down to the endless darkness of my stomach where her being would slowly be broken down and consumed over the next two thousand years.

A presence hovered by the door.

“You, there.” My booming voice echoed in the cavernous room. “What is your name?”

A bold one to come so close without being summoned.

But I did like a bit of boldness in my generals.

“It is I, my King, Ta–Ta– Talsine.” Her fear was palpable.

I eyed the demon. The flesh she wore was a deep red. Only demons of high caste could influence a body that way, but the clothes she wore over her skeletal frame were torn and ratty.

How much of Isra’s demise had she watched?

Standing, I walked slowly over to the demon, knowing the steadiness of my approach would heighten her fear. Her eyes remained lowered even as I stood in front of her.

With a hand firmly holding her jaw, I tilted her face up and met her eyes.

Mmm, yes. There was a fire there, and a desire to prove herself. Which meant the clothes were a front. A high demon wearing rags trying to appear lesser so others would lower their guard.

She’d do.

“What did you see, Talsine?” I waited, before watching her jaw work and realizing I held it too tightly. I released the pressure, but not my hold on her.

“I saw a traitorous beast who dared to cross her master get put down like she deserved.” A note of anger danced on the edge of her otherwise flat voice.

“Good girl.” I purred, flickering my tongue across her cheek to taste her essence. She stood still as I explored her face, my tongue dipping into her mouth. Talsine shuddered at the bitter taste of my venom, but she didn’t pull away.

Slowly, I turned away before speaking to her over my shoulder.

“You’re in charge of my carnival now, Talsine. My shelves have been restocked. You have one hundred years before I visit again.”

“Yes, my King.”

“And Talsine?”

“Yes.”

My mouth was dry, the taste unpleasant.

“Bring me the soul of a child. A plump one who has never known a day of suffering. I need something sweet to wash down the demon.”

“Yes, my King.”

With a sigh, I waited until I heard the click of Talsine closing the double doors before stabbing at the fabric of the realm with my nail and tearing open a hole through which I could view my domain .

Between the jagged edges of reality, a flat stone pathway stretched before me. Familiar obsidian pieces, broken apart by the reddish glow of fire beneath, led into darkness. One has to step through to see the true beauty of my home. The colors were impossibly deep for this world, and I hated how muted everything looked through the window I’d created. Fire and brimstone, as the humans liked to call it, but the description did very little to represent the wicked beauty bound in chains and flame. A true reprieve from the fleshy world of Earth.

The screams of the damned soothed my irritation.

I left the portal open so I could hear them as I went to Isra’s corpse and plucked out an eye. Onyx rimmed storms of red, orange, and yellow. Intelligence and a quest for glory still gleamed, even with her acidic soul no longer residing behind them, her last look frozen forever in the still-dead eyes. More than anything, I admired the way she looked up to me with absolute desire even as I’d prepared to consume her.

She did have beautiful eyes, I’d give her that, and now they belonged to me. They would look good on my mantle.

Another hundred years before I would visit this place again, and I couldn’t wait to see what Talsine did with it. What new essences she would secure. What new ways she would find to please me.

This carnival really was a hell of a thing .

The End