Page 2 of Princess of Hell

I said my name was Vi because everyone in Hell knew my real name, Silver. I’m the daughter of Lucifer, a name that strikes fear into the hearts of my father’s worshipers and his enemies in equal measure.

Why was I thinking about my virginity as I fought this Burlo? Sometimes my mind makes no sense to me, probably because I hoped to lose that Virgo card before my first death.

“Snap out of it, Silver!” Snap was the right word. The Burlo kept snapping its teeth in my direction but wasn’t biting. It learned its lesson after getting its tongue and gums burned. The acidic drool stuck to my skin but didn’t hurt me. It stinks, though. Yuck!

If only I could get my glove off.

In a desperate attempt to free myself from this creature, I touched my lips with my fingers. My gloves are made to fit me perfectly because I never take them off, not when I’m around others. I wear Hell Eel leather gloves. I didn’t want to burn someone by accident before. Only now, I want to do it on purpose.

My black, shiny glove is dirty and sticky from the Burlo’s hide. I push away my disgust and reach for the pressure button that keeps the gloves on my small hands. The taste of leather, metal, and Burlo fills my mouth. I almost gag, knowing the job isn’t over. My teeth grab onto the leather at the tips of my fingers, and I pull. This sounds so much easier than it is. Eventually, I free my hand from the glove. Now I can try to get away from the stinking drool monster.

The chastity shield was meant to be my protection. For years, I only saw it as my curse. I promised myself that if, and only if, this damn thing was going to become my salvation today, I would stop bitching about it.

Well, maybe. I still hate being a Virgo Demon. The shield was a punishment for kissing the boy. I know it. Dad said it wasn’t a punishment, but he yelled at me in Aramaic and told me it was for my own good, that a creature that could get so close to me could seriously harm me. That I have no idea how important I am. That I’m his only daughter and the only heir to Hell and blah blah. The same bullshit he threw at me every time he was mad at me. I had tried to convince him that the shield was a bad idea, that I’m a modern woman… Demon… whatever and that I’m old enough to make my own decisions. The only agreement we ever reached was that he would drop the shield for my wedding night

Thinking of my potential future wedding was another unsavory subject I’d rather not touch. Same as the Burlo Demon. Royals marry out of political reasons. I would have to marry some prince, some son of Behemoth. I mean, even as I fought the Burlo, I preferred to be here than under my future husband during our wedding night. I never met Behemoth, but the stories about him had me shiver, and not in a good way.

Why would I want to marry his son? Why would he be willing to leave his father’s realm to come live in my crazy father’s palace? None of this made any sense. Not a bit. Not one iota. I did my best to stay away from politics over the years, just to spite my father and show him that the more he tries to restrain me, the less control he has. Uncle Chris, who isn’t my uncle but Dad’s best friend and advisor, is a constant help in that area. He covers up for me and helps me get as much freedom as possible. I wish Uncle Chris were here now. He’d get this thing off me.

The creature acted more and more enraged. Now that it noticed it couldn’t bite me to death, it decided to squeeze me until every bone in my body broke. Its weight made my ribs crack. Blood filled my mouth as my lungs punctured. I can’t die in the human realm. Uncle Chris was very clear about that. The moment I die in the human realm, I will return home. Dad would know I wasn’t in a pre-wedding retreat and everything I was trying to accomplish was doomed.

“Doomed is my middle name,” I whispered as I sensed the blood pooling inside my mouth, blocking my throat and choking me. Choking on my blood was not the way I wanted to die, even if my death would not be final the way it was for humans. Demons land in Hell when they die. It’s like a ticket back home.

Wiggling around, I pulled the glove off my pinky and ring fingers. My hand was finally free, my glove discarded and on the floor. I felt the need to cough, to free my lungs of the enormous pressure, but I had no time for that. Coughing would make things worse, and I had the solution literally in my hand. My body would heal. I needed to get this demon off me first.

The silver hue danced on my skin, glowing under the pale light of the moon. The shield constantly pulsates when I’m scared or in danger. It knew me already, knew how to read my moods and my feelings.

I reached towards my aggressor and pressed my palm on its face. Why not melt its ugly maw away? A loud scream escaped its mouth. It jumped off me, eager to put as much distance between itself and me as he could. My touch caused it agony. For the first time since my father cursed me with this gift, I was thankful to have it.

I pushed my other hand on the ground, happy that my glove was still on. It spared me from the disgusting stuff that covered the cracked cement.

Loud music from the biker bar covered the sound of the fight. Demons have mixed with humans since the beginning of time. I could sense many of my kind and crossbreeds inside the bar. However, I wasn’t sure who was hunting me, so I tried not to attract too much attention.

Even after the Burlo jumped away from me, it was not satisfied. It circled me, ready to pounce again. It flashed its long fangs, two rows of sharp teeth, ready to sink into flesh, rip it apart, and break bones. The Demon jumped fast. I was too slow to dodge to the side. It landed on top of me again. Hard.

“Haven’t you had enough? I’m fucking exhausted.”

I tried to sound cool, but it came out like a lame plea for my life. I couldn’t go back to Hell. Not yet. Not before I got what was stolen from me.

As the daughter of Lucifer, I may have a bit of an ego and a lot of anger issues. My father promised me more freedom. If I wind up dead in the Pit of Souls, he’ll change his mind so fast it won’t even make sense to ask. Dead means he would know that I lied to him. Again.

The Ruler of Hell doesn’t appreciate being lied to. Who would believe that? Then I won’t get a chance to do any of the things I’ve always wanted.

My mind drifted off. My bones stuck out at weird angles, pushing against my Hell Eel corset. Looking at my ravaged torso made me want to vomit, and the feeling of vomiting made me hurt again. Distract yourself, Silver. Look up.

The sky looks so pretty. The World contracted and vibrated in so many beautiful colors that I lost my grasp on reality. I knew there was no way out. I had nothing to hang on to. I’ll be in a world of hurt as soon as I get to the other side, and I’ll get Uncle Chris into trouble, too. I hated it, but there had to be someone who had my back. Uncle Chris was the only one who hugged me. I was always careful not to touch his face or hands with my face or hair, but he never shrugged away from me. I hate upsetting him. He risks my father’s wrath if my Dad ever found out he helped me escape and allowed me to go to the human dimension.

Does dying hurt? Even it did, in my case, it would only be temporary. But not even Uncle Chris will be able to hide my escape.

“I don’t want to die.” It was only a whisper.

The Burlo moved over me. It had healed its wounds and was ready to crush me. It would squeeze me like a tube of toothpaste!

In my mind, I imagined my body like in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, getting flat and all my organs being liquefied and pushed out of my open mouth in a disgusting jet of gore. Okay, Silver, no more cartoons for you! Who would consider that watching cartoons would have such a dark influence on my demon mind?

Leather covered my entire body. I was hurt too badly to open my corset and try to fight naked and burn this Burlo Demon. I’ll die, very unceremoniously, in the middle of a parking lot. I’ll be the laughingstock of Hell. Not that they would dare to laugh into my face. But rumors reach even my ear.

My face is going to be dirty and stained with blood. I took so much care with the makeup this morning. I tried this human contour technique and even painted my lips in deep red so they looked as if I had painted them with warm blood.

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