Page 43 of Beneath the Watching

I stopped several feet in front of the grisly spectacle and his personal guards closed their ranks in a move of protection. A hand dropped on my shoulder suddenly, shoving me down before I felt a boot hit my back. I was pushed face-first against the cold marble.

“Bow down before your Lord,” Josiah hissed.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I’d let myself get too comfortable, lulled by Josiah’s friendly conversation, and distracted by the gory scene. Anger rankled me, yet I remained prone while the shoe pinned me to the floor.

“Stay,” he ordered as if I were a dog.

“We’ve never met in person and yet you dare to defy me,” Sem remarked, commenting on my seeming lack of reverence.

I heard rather than saw the body be tossed to the floor. A swish of fabric then indicated that perhaps the man had risen from his seat. As much as I wanted to look, I didn’t, for fear of instigating anyone further. A thin trickle of blood running along the ground entered my vision and I squirmed, earning more force between my shoulder blades.

“He may rise to a kneel,” Sem announced.

The weight lifted from my back, and I placed my palms down to move to the allowed position. Glancing up, I saw Josiah glaring at me, arrogance dancing across his features. A lock of his hair had fallen across his brow, and he pushed it back before stepping to the side.

Sem circled and I tracked the progress of his robes until he came to a stop. “Stefan, the ever-useful half breed.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll never tell. So, I understand you have a human ward.”

Sensing he wasn’t done, I remained silent.

He paused. “Mabel? I believe that’s her name.”

I flicked my eyes up, my hackles raised and my heart pounding as I tried to counter an emotional response. “Yes, my Lord.”

“Eyes on me,” he snarled. I’d swiveled my head to watch Josiah. It’d felt like he’d moved, but he was still in the last place I’d seen him. When I complied, Sem said, “You care for her.”

Unsure how to reply without placing her in even further danger than she may already be, I stayed silent again.

“You don’t need to say a word for me to know,” he said, his voice low. I felt an invisible hand grip my chin, forcing my head back to meet his gaze. He sucked air between his teeth, his razor-sharp canines on full display. “Your Third Realm Satan wants her, but you will bring her to me.”

Bile filled the back of my throat thinking of Julian getting his hands on her and the already present twist of anger expanded in my belly. I knew the red tinge of my aura was on full display with my malice gathering in the atmosphere.

If I had been a smarter demon, I’d have drained countless corpses of their essence before I’d arrived and had more strength to fight. As it were, I wasn’t and so I didn’t, being much too prideful a man to take the necessary precautions.

If I made it out of here, I’d have to lower myself and give in to that animalistic side of my nature. I wouldn’t make the mistake twice. I’d have to occasionally leave Mabel behind and in the dark, and travel to the Third Realm for food. Her being exposed to that necessary side of me was nothing I’d ever want her to witness.

“You mean to keep the oracle from me?” Sem innocently leaned his head to the side, raising a hand to his chin. Some of the blood on his face transferred to the back of his hand.

It rankled me these beings seemed to know more than I did; I hadn’t the chance to dive deeply into Mabel’s phenomenon. “Are we certain she’s an oracle?” I asked, fighting my building alarm.

Sem appeared deep in thought for a moment before he replied. “It seems you need to get back to your roots, my dear Stefan.”

He glanced at a uniformed man hovering on the sidelines, who then took off through hall. “You’ll stay here tonight and have dinner and fellowship with us, perhaps even entertain us with one of your rousing sermons. I do enjoy the cries of the saints.” He let out a guffaw. “Brilliant work, pastoring.”

I remained quiet as I awaited my fate. “Josiah, lead him to our guest quarters,” Sem ordered.

The man replied, “Yes, my Lord.”

Struggling to get my breathing under control, I replied, “Thank you for the honor.”

I followed my chaperone down the same hallway the uniformed man had traversed, and we found him standing outside the entrance. He bowed his head and announced, “It is prepared, Sir.”

“Thank you, you may leave.” Josiah waited for the servant to go before he turned to me. “You’ll be retrieved in three hours.” He left without another word or backward glance, his tall form confidently striding away.

Opening the door, I walked into the sumptuously appointed room. Deep, thick cushions lined the furniture and bed, racks were stocked with books and various skulls and crystals were displayed along shelves between lit candles. Soft mood-enhancing music streamed in from somewhere and I approached the bed, moving a heavy brocade curtain out of the way.

When I shoved the material to the side, it revealed the woman from the front desk pleasuring herself with a large, barbed dildo. Her back was arched off the bed as she thrust the silicone between her thighs. My cock instantly sprung to attention, pressing painfully against the zipper of my slacks while my mouth filled with saliva.

I squeezed my eyes shut, seeing Mabel’s luscious form in the throes of ecstasy. Whipping out an arm I grabbed the woman’s arm and dragged her off the blankets. “Get out of here,” I snarled at her. Josiah and Sem knew exactly what they were doing, and I wouldn’t stand for it.

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