Angel's Curse (31 page)

“Now, now, Helena, we’re eating.”

I let go of Satan and gave Asmodeus a big grin.

Cop that arsehole!

I performed the same act for Asmodeus as I had done the night before, getting a vamp to sit down in the chair to Asmodeus’ right and straddling his — the vampire’s — lap. I kissed the vampire on the lips as my hands tore at his shirt then rubbed his chest. When I rested my hands together on the one place, my fingers melded into him. I kissed the vamp for a moment longer before my lips sought his neck.

Asmodeus was coughing, but I couldn’t see what was going on.

“Asmodeus, old friend, did something go down the wrong way?” Satan laughed.

When it was over I stood up and touched the vamp, to turn him to ash, and blew on his remains, causing them to stir and rise in the air towards Asmodeus. He instinctively drew away, but the ash disappeared before it reached him. He turned so that Satan couldn’t see his face, narrowed his eyes and gave me a look so full of rage that I knew I’d have to constantly watch my back from now on. I wondered what Satan would make of the look I’d been given, if he could see it.

There was one female vamp in the room and she was quite petite. I sat down in the chair opposite Satan and waved her over. I slapped my thighs and she sat down.

“Take off your top,” I whispered in her ear and she complied.

I rested my chin on her shoulder and smiled. Satan put down his fork and leaned back in his chair. I slid my hands around her waist. They slithered along her stomach up to her breasts and, kneading them gently, my fingers fused to them. I smiled at Satan all the while and the vamp writhed in my lap as though she were enjoying it. Satan leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair and pressed his fingers together, constantly flexing them.

When she was bone dry I simply sent her body away to the cavern, where they all ended up. She could be reduced to ash another day.

The third I made kneel beside the chair and present me with his wrist. I pulled it to me eagerly and drank, watching Satan watching me. I knew what he’d be thinking when I drank from the vamp’s wrist, what would be on his mind —
the lust.

The fourth vampire held out his wrist for me and I pushed it away. I went straight for the jugular. By the time I was done I was buzzing madly and knew I needed to work off some energy.

“Satan,” I said, rubbing my hands up and down my arms, rather like a junkie who needed a fix, though I’d just had one, “is it okay if I go
play
with Rahab?”

Asmodeus snorted and Satan ignored him.

“Helena, you are free to come and go from this place as you choose. I will not hold you against your will. The only thing I ask is that if you choose to stay, you return to me each night and each morning — mealtimes — unless I request otherwise.”

Take that, Asmodeus!

I clapped my hands gleefully and ran around to the other end of the table, throwing my arms around his neck again and kissing it.

Still doesn’t burn.

I left the room, but waited just outside the door, leaning against it, listening.

“Is it wise to let her have free rein in hell, Satan?”

“You question my judgement?” Satan said, angered.

“I question the
hold
she has over you,” Asmodeus replied.

“You don’t understand, my friend,” Satan sounded a lot mellower now, “by setting her free I draw her closer to me. She will come to me again and again, willingly. In the end she
will
give me her soul.”

“Hah!” Asmodeus laughed. “So it’s only another soul you seek.”

Satan didn’t answer and I wondered what that meant. I quickly headed towards the room where Rahab would be. Best not to be caught listening at doors.

I opened the door and peeked inside. The gymnasium side of the room was more crowded than it had been in the morning. I walked through to the training area as quietly as possible, not trying to draw attention to myself. Rahab spotted me and waved me over.

“Well, Helena, back ser soon?” he boomed.

Heads were raised to look at me, but no one stopped what they were doing.

“I came to learn,” I said.

“First thins first,” Rahab said. “Show me what yer can do.”

I performed a few gymnastic moves and summoned my old sparring partners — vampire, werewolf, varakiana and zombie — to help with my demonstration. I gestured for them to come forward and we danced a familiar routine, Death in my hand, stabbing and cutting. I hadn’t lost any of my skills. In fact the time I’d spent with Drake’s specialists had only refined them.

“Vary good, Helena,” Rahab said, “but what about ther throwin stars?”

“Do I really need to show you that? There’s not much to it.”

“Do yer see those movin targets et ther aver end arv ther gymnasium?” I nodded. “Show me if yer can hit them dead centre, from ere.”

He handed me eight throwing stars for eight targets and without even thinking I threw them, one at a time, lightning fast. A few demons ducked as the stars went whizzing past.

“I was goin ter say on ther count arv three,” Rahab said dryly, “ter allow everyone ter get out arv ther way.”

I laughed. “Sorry.”

“No harm done. Yer’ve some skill thar, no doubt bout thart,” Rahab said appreciatively. “What would yer like ter learn first, staff er sword?”

“Which is quicker to pick up?” I asked.

“Staff,” he said, producing one and holding it out to me.

I shook my head. “Then I think I’ll learn the sword first.”

“A woman after me own heart,” he chuckled. “Sword it is.”

Rahab was of the opinion that there was no place for wooden practice swords, so I found out. He was the hardest taskmaster I’d ever come across and I bled, and badly so. After five hours he put away his sword.

“Cheer up,” Rahab said. “Most don’t last this lon. Yer doin vary well.”

“Then why do I feel like I’ve just had the worst beating of my life?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t be much arv a trainer if I didn’t leave me students a little sore en sorry, would I.”

“I think I need to eat again,” I moaned.

“Arf with yer then. I expect Satan will send someone fer yer soon anyway. Yer’ll need time ter make yerself presentable.”

“Hah!” I said. “I can make myself presentable in the blink of an eye, but a nice soak in a hot bath would be good.”

I stood up and handed my sword to Rahab. I turned to leave and he whacked my butt with the flat of the blade.

“I expect yer back ere termorrow. If yer serious about learnin how ter use this, yer be ere straight after ther midday meal.”

I pressed my hands together, pointing them towards my chin and bowed to Rahab. “Yes, sensei.”

“Cheeky girl,” he muttered. “Yer’ll call me Master Rahab or mark me words yer’ll no be walkin termorrow.”

I bowed again. “Yes, Master Rahab.”

I grinned and took off at a jog — I didn’t feel strong enough for running. With the amount of blood I’d lost I would have been dead if I was still mortal. As it was I went on, weakened, but definitely not dead. Rahab was an excellent teacher and I had time to learn, for now.

I felt a tug on my jeans and stopped. It was the little nightmare creature, grinning up at me. He had no trouble looking at my face when there was no other part of my body on display.

“Master says rest then make ready. Feast tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “How long have I got?”

“Four hours.”

Enough time for a quick bath and nap before I’d have to get ready. I wondered what I’d be wearing tonight.

“Creature, or whatever your name is, I’d like you to come knock on my door in three hours, do you understand?” He nodded. “Good, because if you don’t I’ll hunt you down and gut you.”

He nodded most emphatically and scuttled off after he’d seen me safely back to my room.

Instead of using the taps I thought of the bath being full of hot water, as I’d been able to do at the La’miere, and Danny had done for me often enough at the cottage, before both — Danny and the cottage — were gone.

I soaked my weary body in the bath for half an hour before washing. I dried myself as I headed towards the bed, which was toasty, and settled down for a nap. All too soon there was a knock on the door.

“Go away,” I called.

“Wake up, time to wake up,” the little creature yelled.

I wrapped a towel around me and opened the door, kicking the creature in the shin.

“I’m awake, okay. Come back and get me when it’s time.”

I returned to the bedroom and found my outfit for the night had appeared. It was a skin tight red catsuit, not unlike the black one I’d worn to face the angels. The only difference — it was made of out of a sheer, but stretchy material, not leather. It would leave no-one in doubt of what I was wearing underneath — the black G-string and a black lacy bra. At the back of the catsuit was a pointed tail made out of the same sheer material. The tail seemed to be alive and waved from side to side, occasionally snaking around my leg or waist. No pitchfork today, only the horned headband and the same red stilettos from the night before.

When I was ready — black makeup once again — I sat in the armchair, on the tail, to stop it from feeling me up, and waited for Creature. It was as good a name as any for the hideous little thing.

I heard him scurrying along the corridor and was at the door before he had time to knock. He looked up at the 666 tattoo on my butt and clapped his hands.

“Cut it out, Creature, you’re going to give me a big head.”

The tail snaked around Creature’s body and he grabbed hold of it, stroking it lovingly as we walked. When we reached the spiked door he gave the tail a kiss before reaching out to turn the handles and push the door open. The tail patted his butt and he squealed in delight. I was in for another fun-filled night judging by the way the tail reacted.

I walked along the red carpet and sat on the top step of the dais. My tail curled around my lap and stayed there, quite still. It was only behaving because the lord and master was so close.

“I’m going to need a snack,” I whispered. “Rahab drew a lot of blood.”

Satan clicked his fingers and a female vamp stood to my side. She wore a short skirt and nothing underneath. What did Satan have in store for me tonight?

I wrapped my arms around her legs and leaned on them. My fingers dug into her flesh and my tail snaked up between her legs.

Bloody tail!
I thought angrily.
I wish I knew how to control it!

Her body quivered and she let out a moan. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us, including Satan’s. There were more guests here tonight. When she collapsed I quickly moved a hand to grab the back of her neck and with one mighty shove I threw her bodily across the room. Before her head smashed into the large double doors, her body disappeared. There was much applause — the entertainment had begun.

Satan accompanied me back to my room after our meal and I bolted the door as soon as we were inside. He was already sitting on the couch. I sat at the other end and threw the horns onto the armchair. Satan slid along the couch to sit next to me, his arm resting on the back of the couch. The tail, which I’d forgotten to sit on, snaked around his waist and up his chest.

“Quite a tail you’ve got there, very erotic,” he said.

“I don’t know how to control the stupid thing,” I sighed.

He laughed. “Perhaps I should have left an instruction booklet.”

“Well, how do I make it stop?” I asked.

“It’s controlled subconsciously, Helena,” he leaned closer and the tail rubbed one of his nipples. “It picks up on what is in your subconscious mind and acts upon whatever it finds — emotional longings and desires.”

Oh my god! I was controlling it?

“Stop it,” I hissed. “Bad tail!”

How embarrassing. The things that tail had done tonight, starting with Creature. It was sickening.

I leaned to one side, my breasts touching Satan’s chest and gave a great pull, ripping the tail from the catsuit.

“Now let’s see what you’ve got!” I yelled at the limp red thing in my hand.

I realised I was still leaning into Satan and moved away, handing him the tail.

“Here, you have it. It seems to like you.”

He grinned and I shivered.

“Why, Helena, you’re cold. I
could
warm you up.”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

“You have a question for me, don’t you?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Go on, ask.”

“Why is it that you seem to wear the same thing day in, day out, in the Pleasure Dome?”

“It’s bad enough I have to dress up and maintain an image at work. At play I like to dress down and be comfortable. Don’t you?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I said dryly. “These outfits that I’m expected to wear keep appearing.”

Satan laughed. “It’s just a little fun, Helena. If there’s nothing more I can do for you tonight,”
what was he alluding to?
“I shall take my leave and see you in the morning.”