Page 29

TWENTY-NINE

Ashley

My chest felt like it was splitting open and heaving out my insides. He’d lied to me. Lied, and tricked me, taking advantage of my vulnerability and my attempt to start a brand new life.

I knew, I knew , Isaac had seemed too familiar. His mannerisms, the things he said, his obsession with cleanliness and appearance. Micha had stolen and slipped on someone else’s identity and inserted himself straight into my life after soundly throwing me away and pretending I’d never existed. I’d stood there crying in the restaurant, heartbroken and pathetic, and he’d let me suffer.

And of all things he had the nerve to buy me. He’d purchased me—a human being. Who does that? While yes, I’d volunteered, it just felt wrong when it came to Micha.

How could I have been so blind. How could he?

I ran as fast as I could in my heels before I ripped them from my feet and tossed them to the side. The dress was long enough no one should notice, and the floor clean enough that as long as Micha didn’t kill too many people, my feet should be safe.

Kill .

I’d stabbed him right in the heart. What would Josiah do to me? I’d be hunted by every supernatural creature in the area, and possibly beyond. I’d killed one of their elites. Or, at least, gravely injured one. I knew the amount of blood that ran down his chest was too much to endure. My medical knowledge was pretty close to zero, but I knew he’d be lucky to survive the wound.

Taking deep, measured breaths, I perused the crowd and darted toward the center, hoping I’d blend in with the others. There was nowhere for me to hide, no where I could go they wouldn’t find me. I was at a total loss and had none of my support system.

Andy was out of the question; he’d be killed or try to involve others and still end up dying. Karissa couldn’t help me, and I wasn’t positive we were close enough friends to ask her for help in this type of situation. How would I explain vampires and demons were real to her?

I spun around, considering my nonexistent options and then I pulled out my phone. I had to tell someone, let somebody know what happened.

Micha disguised himself as someone named Isaac and bought me for several million dollars. Then I stabbed him in the heart. I don’t know if he’s alive.

He finally listened to me about what really happened and how I never stole anything or ever intended to, but it was too late.

I’m leaving, but I don’t know where I’m going. Love you.

After I hit send on the texts to Della, I spotted Samuel. He was across the way, and he hurried toward me.

“What are you doing? You look like your favorite person died,” Samuel said. “Come.”

He led me to the side of the room. “I can’t be here; something happened. Can you get me out of here and take me to that place? I don’t know where else to go,” I begged, not knowing what else to ask for. “I need somewhere safe.”

“Of course, sweetheart. Take my hands.”

I placed my hands in his, my chest still aching. I wanted to be back with Isaac. I wanted to punch Micha in the face.

I wanted none of this to have happened.

How could Micha do this to me? How could he live with himself? Clearly, it was easy. As easy as doing whatever the hell he wanted to do, whenever he wanted to do it. It was too late to forgive him now, and too late for him to forgive me. There was no coming back from stabbing someone like him directly in the heart. If these men would kill an employee for stealing, how would they react to attempted murder?

The only reason I’d texted Della the truth was because she was my best friend and deserved to know. She’d find out eventually anyway, but it was better she heard it from me. I wanted her to know my side of the story.

My anger over the whole situation sat burning bright and hot in my chest. My feelings for Micha were complicated but they were intense. I’d never met a man before that I could both hate and love in equal measure. How could a man be so remarkable and thoughtful, and yet be the biggest asshole you’ve ever met in your life? If he wasn’t dead, I wanted to stab him again, so he knew how I felt.

The disoriented feeling I remembered from the last time swept over me when I felt the floor change beneath my feet. This time, we were in a building rather than the woods or the mansion.

“What is this place?” I asked as Samuel let go of me.

“My home. You’ll be safe here while you figure out what you want to do.” He beckoned me with his hand to follow.

We were in a living room with walls made of granite brick, reminding me of a castle. The ceiling was tall, and I guessed about twenty feet high. A ten-foot fireplace was roaring in a corner with a black wrought iron gate guarding it. A pleasant warmth emanated across the room, curling around my bare feet as I padded across a plush, woven rug. A wood-trimmed sofa sat against one wall with two matching armchairs facing it.

A full suit of armor stood sentinel over the space, the style one I wasn’t familiar with. The helmet bore jagged vertical spikes jutting up into a crown and the shoulders, knees, and elbows featured similar aspects. “Is this yours? Did you wear it?” I pointed at the costume.

“An ancestor did though today’s uniforms are much the same.” He strode over to the exhibit. “The sword isn’t ceremonial.”

He held it out for me, and I grasped it, promptly dropping the tip to the floor and barely hanging on. “Oh my God, I had no idea. This is heavy.” I struggled to lift it and hand it back and laughed. “Help a girl out?”

Samuel grinned and easily lifted the blade, slotting it back into the armor. “You need to exercise.”

“I know,” I groaned. “Just don’t ask me to lift anything heavy.”

His white-blond hair spilled over his shoulder as he turned to me. “I know your heart is heavy. Let me relieve some of your burden. Tell me what happened tonight.”

A woman wearing a black dress with a white collar entered the room. “Get her a pair of shoes,” he ordered.

The woman glanced at my feet before disappearing down a corridor. “Someone broke my trust,” I answered. The weight of the events felt much heavier than my simple words as it all began to come to a head.

Micha and I had never been in a relationship but the pain I felt was so much worse than anything I went through with my ex and all his mind games, cheating, the lies. I hadn’t realized just how much I’d come to rely on Micha, though his constant hovering and judgment had driven me up the wall. There’d been security in knowing he was there, just around the corner. I’d known, should I need him, I could rely on his presence. He’d always been right around a corner, just over my shoulder, lurking at the end of a hall.

As furious as I’d been over many of his actions, I couldn’t say I hadn’t been secretly thrilled the moment he’d forced me under his desk and shoved his dick in my mouth. How many nights had I fantasized about that exact scenario? He filled a dark hunger deep inside me and we’d both ruined it through our actions.

Between the vicious way he’d cut me out of his life and then his disguise as Isaac, I couldn’t trust him. Not with my heart. He treated me like a plaything.

Wincing, I remembered what I did to his heart.

“I killed a vampire,” I whispered.

Samuel’s gaze snapped to mine. “Who?”

“I don’t want to say,” I shook my head. “I didn’t really mean to. He just hurt me. Badly.”

He tsk’d me before he said, “You can’t lift a sword, I don’t see how you could kill a vampire.”

“I stabbed him straight through the heart.” I stared at my feet. “There was blood. A lot, a lot of blood. He didn’t come after me.” I glanced up at him. “He would’ve chased me if he could and he didn’t. I wouldn’t be here with you right now.”

A pair of slippers were deposited beside my feet by the woman. “Thank you, Mandy,” Samuel addressed her.

She nodded and hurried away, and I gratefully tucked my feet into the cozy shoes. “Thank you,” I said.

“You’re welcome. And you’re welcome to stay here as long as you feel the need.” He placed an arm around my lower back, just like Isaac—I mean Micha , used to. I tried to casually put more space between us. I could’ve sworn I sensed his amusement, but I brushed it off. I was heartbroken, emotional, and I’d just killed a vampire.

I’d thrust myself into a whole new world, literally. The Second Realm was foreign to me; I didn’t know where anything was, or what to expect, and I’d committed my first homicide. I murdered a supernatural creature who was strong enough to rip someone’s still beating heart out of their chest and flawlessly disguise themselves as a completely different person.

I was in so far over my head the foundation of my entire life was crumbled beyond repair. “Do you have somewhere I can rest? I have no idea what to do. Do humans even live in this Realm? I’m so lost right now.”

Samuel pushed through a door, and I followed him down a hallway passing windows and rooms I was too exhausted to investigate. My adrenaline had faded quickly, and a severe drowsiness was edging in. It wouldn’t be long before I collapsed.

Eventually, we stopped by a door. “You can stay in here, for now. Humans tend to shy away from this Realm for multiple reasons; I’ve told you a little bit about it in the past. They’re here, mostly in servitude. That’s why it earned the moniker of Hell.”

Hell? I’d seen no fiery pits or anyone who’d be mistaken for the Devil. No horns or tails and all that. “Where’s Satan?” I asked with a laugh.

“Missing,” Samuel stated, pushing open the door. “Him and his wife disappeared a while ago. Though, I fear the rumors of his death are exaggerated.”

How could Satan be missing? He has a wife. “Wow. Yeah. Okay, I have a lot to learn.” I stepped inside. “This is nice.”

The room was larger than mine at home and appeared very comfortable. The bed was plush and there was a bathroom through the door across the room. “I’m going to have to get a job. I don’t have any clothes or anything,” I said, grabbing the edge of my dress, “just this.”

“We can discuss compensation later. Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll have Mandy bring you some food.”

I turned to my host. “Thank you. I really appreciate this. I know you didn’t have to do any of it, and I feel bad getting you involved.”

He scoffed. “If you felt that bad, you wouldn’t have. I’m happy to help and glad you came to me. We’ll get everything straightened out. Do you need anything else? Feel free to dig through the closet and dressers, you might find something you can use in the meantime.”

“Okay, thank you,” I said, doing my best to give him a smile. I know it didn’t reach my eyes. His eyes trailed up and down my body before he turned and walked away, closing the door behind him.

I was well aware of the risk I took, despite my panicked state, when I asked him for help back at the gala. After all, he’d tried to kiss me only days before. He was attracted to me and now I was in his house, and no one knew where I was. I was being much too trusting, and I knew it.

As much as I wanted to berate myself, I couldn’t do it. My friends could offer no safe harbor, and there was no way I’d involve my parents. While I was close with them, we’d never had the same level of a relationship many other people my age did. I was independent, and so were they. I didn’t call my mother to bitch and moan about my life or to ask to borrow anything. It was just how it was.

Samuel was a demon. He was big, and I’d assumed powerful—and friendly enough. Out of everyone I could’ve gone to, he’d seemed like the best choice and only option. Belatedly, it dawned on me I could’ve asked Kayla or Lily if they knew anyone but that would involve Matthew, who didn’t want anything to do with anyone. I’d overheard him call himself “neutral” more than once and there was no way he wouldn’t be pissed I’d turned one of his clients into a kabob. There was no doubt he wouldn’t have tried to end me himself to get rid of a “problem”.

All I could do was hope Samuel wouldn’t make another pass at me and try to figure out how to survive the Second Realm.

As much as I hurt, the deep sweltering pain in my soul nearly taking my breath away, I tried to concentrate on the adventure of exploring a whole new world. All kinds of amazing things awaited me, I was certain, and if they didn’t help me heal, they’d help me grow.

* * *

Bright light had me blinking as I shoved the covers from my shoulders. It took me several seconds to remember where I was. While I was adjusting, a black shadow out of the corner of my swooped in, blocking my vision, before quickly darting away. When I flung my arm out, I was met with dead air.

I sat up, swiveling my head but I didn’t see a thing. Shadow people, echoed in my head. The things you thought you caught sight of but could never pinpoint as you spaced out while going about your day. Supposedly, they were demonic entities, and I’d never had one so close to me though I wasn’t unfamiliar with thinking I saw something and nothing being there.

I’d just woken up and my heart was racing already.

Oh yeah, that’s right—I’m in Hell.

“Fuck,” I said out loud, dragging my hands down my face and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

My feet found my slippers and I padded around the bed when I felt my hair stir. It was as if someone had lifted a clump of my hair. I whirled around and was faced with empty space. My skin prickled, the feeling of being observed trickling down my spine.

“Hello?” I called out.

No answer.

My hair billowed around my neck, and I ran for the bathroom, locking the door behind me before I backed away. Something brushed against the wood, and I knew then, it wasn’t my imagination.

There’d been something in the room with me.

“Ashley?” I heard Samuel’s voice, and my shoulders slumped in relief. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” I raised my voice. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Mandy will bring you to the dining room when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.”

After I showered and prepared myself for the day, I dressed in the Second Realm’s version of leggings and a shirt. They were a thicker material than I was used to, but also softer. The fabric felt like suede, but I had the distinct feeling it wasn’t. I wasn’t sure why I thought that; it couldn’t be explained. Maybe the extra elasticity?

Mandy was waiting for me outside the bedroom, with her hands clasped at her waist.

“Good morning,” I greeted her. When I closed the door behind me, I heard something fall to the floor on the other side and quickly glanced backward. “What was that?”

“Don't bother,” Mandy said. I let go of the knob reluctantly, unconvinced.

I really wanted to know who my roommate—or roommates, were. “I swear someone was in my room.”

“Wraiths. They’re everywhere. Behave yourself and you don’t have to worry. They’re just curious,” she stated, all business. She was not going to go out of her way to make me comfortable, that was for sure.

Wringing my hands, I asked, “What do you mean? It's not like I’m going to trash the room, and I’d like some privacy if I’m going to be staying in there.”

“This is all temporary. Stop dawdling. You don’t keep Lord Samuel waiting.”

“Lord?”

I’d thought the shadow in the guest room was my imagination but the eyes that tracked my movements from the paintings on the wall most certainly were not. Scurrying after Mandy, I was practically breathing down her neck.

A hand reached out of the painting, snatching one of my curls. “Ahh,” I gasped, tearing it away.

Mandy chuckled under her breath. “Yes, Lord . Stay away from the walls.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. “Lord of what?”

“Have some respect,” she snapped, grabbing me by the shoulders and positioning me behind her, slightly to the side.

Mandy grabbed the dual handles in front of us and slid the panels into the wall revealing the dining room.

The space was another masterpiece of dark granite and severe lines, accented with black iron metal work, like the room I’d decided was the living area last night. A gloved waiter was pouring a beverage for Samuel, who smiled when he saw me.

“Come in,” he beckoned. Mandy bowed hard at the waist and closed the doors behind me, leaving us. “Coffee? Tea? Something else?”

“Coffee would be fine, thank you.” I glanced around, trying to decide where to sit when a man materialized, seemingly out of thin air, to pull a seat out for me.

As I lowered myself to the chair, I said, “This is going to take some getting used to.”

I hadn’t batted an eye when Micha ate someone’s heart right in front of me, but the ghostly figures were pushing me over the edge. I let out a small laugh as the waiter served coffee.

Samuel arched a brow, not missing a thing. “I was just remembering something,” I offered, shaking my head. I’d wanted some excitement in my life and the universe had definitely answered. I just wasn’t positive it was the type I was looking for.

Be careful what you wish for , my mother had always said.

“Yes?” Samuel asked, encouraging me to divulge.

Again, I shook my head. “This is a lot to wrap my mind around, but it's all good.” I was totally lying to the man. “I don’t want to be a squatter. Are we far from that town you took me to? I can go try to find work today.” The sooner I settled into my new life, the better. I didn’t want to waste any time.

The waiter rolled a tray alongside the table bearing silver platters with covers. Billows of steam wafted into the air as he uncovered them and placed plates before us. Heaps of scrambled eggs, bacon, and butter-soaked toast set my mouth to drooling.

“Ashley, my dear, that is unnecessary. I’d never allow it. You are in service to me, and I don’t allow my belongings to work outside of the home.”

Bile quickly smothered my appetite. “But yesterday you said?—”

“You heard only what you wanted to hear. The first thing you’ll learn is how very important one’s words are.”

“I can’t stay here; you know that.”

Samuel set down his cup, eyes gleaming, as his low, cruel laughter echoed.

“Welcome to Hell, love.”