Page 31 of The Bell’s Toll (Wanderlust Emporium Presents, Season One)

chapter twenty

Raziel

“ Don’t leave this spot,” I tell the knight standing outside of our bedroom. He dips his chin.

Even though I am suspended and legally not supposed to have any employees, everyone on my payroll offered to stay and continue to serve. That meant a lot to me. Especially when I could use all the help I could get right now.

I step into my office and sink into the chair behind my desk. Tonight was different. There was always a bond between Nasiah and I, but tonight felt as if we connected on a different level.

Before, even though she hadn’t left, it always felt as if she was still only here because she couldn’t leave. However, I finally have the feeling that she is here because she wants to be. She wants me.

I’ve lived a very long time since I was that orphaned child serving the angels in heaven, feeling left out and alone.

Many people have come in and out of my life since then, but for the first time, the emptiness that I’ve always carried is missing.

I’ve searched for family and belonging in everyone I’ve connected with, and now I’ve found it.

A waver in the void draws my attention. I sit up in my seat as Erazel appears.

“Dominus,” he bows slightly.

“Era, what are you doing here? I thought you had the night off?”

He looks down before back at me. “I did something you told me not to do?”

He doesn’t have to tell me what that something is. I already know. Pinching my brow and shaking my head, I say. “What were you thinking? I told you not to risk it.”

He lifts his chin. “I know. But you’re more than just a boss to me, Raziel. You’re my family. And I couldn’t sit around and do nothing.”

Although his words move me, it still wasn’t worth the risk.

“You’re my family too, Era. I don’t take that lightly. Which is why I told you not to go to him.”

He runs a hand over his head. “I didn’t.”

Now I’m confused. How did he talk to Gadiel without going to him?

Erazel grins. “I need you to unlock the void for just a moment.”

Not sure what the hell is going on, I still do as he says. I release the block I have on the void into my office. A thin opening appears in front of me, and out walk Tanisha and Gadiel.

I spring to my feet. “What the fuck is this?” I growl.

“You told me not to go to Gadiel,” Erazel says. “I didn’t. He came to us.”

Gadiel growls. “You fucking assholes. She tricked me.”

“You answered a summons, you perv,” Tanisha says, placing her hands on her hips.

It’s now clear to me what’s going on. Erazel did not have the rank or the clearance to approach Gadiel without my permission. However, if he answered a human’s summons, then he would be fair game.

“You human bitch,” Gadiel sneers at Tanisha. “I should—” Erazel cut off his words by popping him in the mouth. Immediately his lip splits and black blood gushes out.

He glares at Erazel but keeps his mouth shut. Rising from my seat, I make my way around my desk. I lean back against the desk, crossing my ankles and folding my hands over my chest.

“From my understanding,” Tanisha says to me. “He will only answer to me, so what questions do you want me to ask?”

Tanisha was a pretty woman. Medium-brown skin, dark brown eyes, and high cheekbones. She was taller than Nasiah, but not nearly as tall as me. She was on the thin side but had soft curves. Her long braids hung down her back. I can understand Erazel’s attraction.

“Why would you do this for me?”

Even though she only summoned him to her to get answers for me, there’s still risk when you call for one of us. If someone summons wrongly, it can have dire consequences.

Her brow lifts. “I didn’t do this for you. I’m doing this for my cousin.” She says and then shrugs. “And kind of for him.” She points to Erazel.

I look over at my bodyguard, and there is a huge grin on his face.

Standing up straight, I make my way over to Gadiel. “Ask him if he’s responsible for my portals?”

Before she can even ask Gadiel laughs. “That’s what this is about?” He shakes his head. “No. I have nothing to do with those portals. But I wish I did. I’d have destroyed you long ago.” He sneers.

I watch him closely, taking in his body language and his words.

I don’t need a demon to tell me if he’s lying or not.

He isn’t. Even though he would never admit to the shit because that would mean he’d be in trouble, there would be a bit of a gloat about him.

There would be a twinkle in his eye as he told me no.

There is only disgust looking back at me.

“It’s not him,” I say through the mind link to Erazel.

“I agree,” he replies.

“What about that death shit on my cousin?” Tanisha asks. “Are you the one behind that?”

Gadiel’s brow pinches. “What death shit?”

The three of us look at each other. Clearly, we got the wrong guy. I shake my head, my shoulders dropping. I was so sure that he was responsible for at least one of my problems. Before I could tell them to take his ass back, a scream ripped through the air. My entire body goes rigid.

“Nasiah,” I say before using the void to get from my office to my bedroom.

The moment I appear, I see the knight I left at her door trying to hold her thrashing body down. She’s lying on the bed, her limbs flailing.

“Miss Boss, please, wake up,” the knight pleads.

I quickly push him out of the way and go to her side. The covers are thankfully still covering her naked body, but there is a bloodstain near her chest. I flip the cover back and growl as I see the cut over her right breast.

“What’s happening?” Tanisha cries.

I turn to find her, Gadiel, and Erazel in my bedroom. Gadiel’s eyes widen when he spots Nasiah. I place the cover back over her body.

I turn to the knight in the room. “What happened?”

He looks at Nasiah and then at me. “I heard her whimpering. I stepped into the room to make sure she was okay and saw her tossing and turning. Then she screamed, and blood appeared on the sheets. I went over to wake her, but she won’t wake up.”

“Fuck,” I growl, placing my hands on my head and pace.

She screams again and thrashes against the bed.

“What the fuck are you waiting for?” Tanisha shouts. “Do something.”

“He can’t,” Gadiel replies. This time, I notice there is no smirk or enjoyment when he says the words. “An incubus has her.”

My hands fist in my hair, and I pull the strands. Every time she cries out, more of me seems to die.

“Why not?” Tanisha asks.

“Because the forsaken don’t sleep,” Erazel says somberly. “He can’t enter the dream world.”

That fucking demon has taken her to the only place I cannot reach. My only option is to find another incubus or succubus to help me. But I don’t have any on my payroll, and I don’t trust just anyone to go get Nasiah.

“Okay, send me,” Tanisha offers, stepping forward.

“You would be no match for that incubus. Plus, it would take you too long to fall asleep. By then…”

Erazel trails off. I shut my eyes as pain sears through me. I can feel Nasiah’s fear. It’s so heavy on me right now it feels like a weight.

“Then give me something that will knock me out,” Tanisha shouts.

Her words stop my pacing. I turn to look at her, my hands falling down to my sides.

“That’s it,” I say, walking over to Erazel. “Hit me,” I demand.

He looks confused. “What?”

“You heard me, hit me.”

His brows narrow. “I don’t think—” Gadiel’s swing interrupts him before he could finish. His fist lands on my jaw.

Me and Era turns to look at him and that soft ass punch. There is a reason I asked Erazel to do it. He is a Girder demon. Everyone hires girders as bodyguards because they are the physically strongest species of demons.

I turn back to Erazel.

“Do it.”

“Boss, I—”

“Knock me the fuck out, Era!” I shout.

His fist flies across my face. Tanisha screams. But it’s lights out for me.