Page 170 of Crimson Promises
Bennett
Creatures of different shapes, sizes, and colors lined the road to the castle. Many were escorted in carriages, some driven by footmen, others were pulled by horses, filled with madness, their manes tattered, and bodies transparent. Hollowing laughter and some rather intimate sounds were echoing from bouncing carriages. Lucifer’s subjects were already engaging in all types of sin and debauchery before they even walked through the castle doors.
My semi-formal attire from the date prevented me from standing out. Creatures wore ballgowns, suits, and trousers in swaths of rich velvet, silks, and gemstones. The inhabitants of Hell knew how to enjoy themselves, I’d give them that.
How long had Aurora been here?I knew how time moved differently than the mortal world. Hours there could be weeks here.
I crept amongst the shadows on foot until I came across a row of four carriages with no driver. Whoever was inside seemed to be rather busy and satiated themselves if the moan of release I just caught meant anything. I swung myself onto the second of the four carriages and mimicked the other footmen I noticed maneuvering the carriages further down the road. I stiffened my spine and kept my face as neutral as possible.
It was essential to appear inconspicuous, blending seamlessly into what awaited beyond those imposing iron bars. With a heavy creak, the gates swung open, revealing a vast courtyard bathed in an eerie glow. Guests flowed out of their transportation into a mass exodus into the castle. I hopped off the carriage and followed suit.
The entrance hall stretched before me, adorned with opulent tapestries depicting scenes of Lucifer’s last stand during The Great War. Chandeliers, glistening with crystals that cast prismatic reflections across the limestone floor, hung from the vaulted ceiling.
The sound of clinking glasses and laughter was a background soundtrack. People waited in line to be announced. That was the last thing I needed. Servants scurried about, clad in black attire, their movements silent. They were entering and exiting from a camouflaged door in the corner of the room. That was my ticket into the ballroom.
When no one was paying attention, I slipped in, walking into a labyrinth maze of winding corridors. The flickering torchlights lit my way. Black opaque, faceless servants silently passed in the halls, none taking notice of me.
After what felt like an eternity, I reached a small, inconspicuous door. The laughter and music playing from the other side signaled I had finally found what I’d been looking for.
The grand ballroom was a sight to behold. Massive candelabras dripped with black wax, casting flickering shadows across the room. Velvet drapes the color of midnight hung from the high ceilings. Haunting melodies filled the air, played by a phantom orchestra.
As my gaze swept across the room, I caught sight of Aurora standing at the center of attention—she was an ethereal figure in a fitting gown as vibrant as the sapphire stars at the peak of midnight. Her hair fell loosely around her face and spilled down the low v near her mid-back. And not too far from her stood Lucifer.
ChapterTwenty
Aurora
The grand hall of the Devil's Ball was a spectacle that fascinated and unnerved me. A flickering sea of dimly lit torches cast an eerie glow, revealing a diverse array of demonic beings, each more extravagant and sinister than the last. The air was heavy, charged with mischief and dark desires.
As I followed the crowd, each guest was announced before their arrival inside. My guard had deposited here after escorting me from my rooms. A line snaked around the room.I am actually in Hell. I don't know why it didn't settle in until this moment.My stomach twisted.Now is not the time to lose your shit Aurora.
My attention caught on a group to the left that I could only assume were succubi. Their forms were exquisitely alluring. Clad in flowing gowns of midnight silk, their attire teased and revealed, accentuating their flawless, obsidian-hued skin. Their eyes glowed with an inner fire. I made sure to give them a wide berth. I didn't need to be caught in their web. I kept my gaze focused straight ahead.
A figure clad in gleaming armor appeared at the entrance. Its voice resonated through the room, commanding attention. "Announcing the guest of honor, Aurora, the half-mortal enchantress!"
Whispers echoed through the crowd as all eyes turned toward me, their gazes filled with a mix of curiosity, desire, and hatred. I took a deep breath before beginning my descent.
Lucifer stood at the center of the room, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. The subtle glow of the fireplace highlighted the high cheekbones and the slight smirk that tugged at the corner of his full lips, adding a seductive shadow to his strong jawline. His light hair fell in elegant disarray, a stark contrast to the immaculate cut of his tailored suit that hinted at the sinewy strength beneath. The intensity in his gaze sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, awakening a dangerous curiosity about the being before me. He gave new meaning to the phrase: handsome devil. He resumed his conversation as the focus from me had lifted momentarily.
I concentrated on my surroundings with each step. Anything to keep my mind off of him. I noticed a troupe of hellish jesters, their laughter echoing through the chamber. Their motley outfits were a twisted mockery of traditional court jesters, adorned with sharp spikes and splattered with blood-red accents. Their faces were painted with grotesque grins, displaying sharp fangs that glistened with malevolence. They leaped and twirled around the other courtesans, offering commentary I could not hear.
Further down, a pack of werewolves prowled, their lupine forms towering over the other attendees. Coarse, matted fur covered their bodies, bristling with raw power. They wore tattered clothing that barely contained their muscular frames. Glowing eyes, reminiscent of an amber moon, surveyed the room with an intense hunger. I glanced away as I felt the heat of one of their stares lingering on my bare shoulders.
Lucifer wouldn't offer me to any of these creatures. Would he? I tried to shove down the panic that was threatening to claw up my throat. What I wouldn't give to have Ben here with me.
As my gaze traveled to the hall's center, I detected the elite demons, the rulers of the underworld holding court around the Devil. These regal figures commanded attention with their imposing presence and intricate attire. Clad in suits and gowns woven from wisps of shadows, their forms seemed to blur and shift. A nod to the house they served. Horns, twisted and wicked, crowned their heads. Each carried a staff or scepter encrusted with dark gems that pulsed with an ominous energy.
Once my slippered feet touched the travertine floors, Lucifer met me at the base of the staircase. He extended his hand towards me, a silent invitation to join him on the dance floor. The arch of his eyebrow suggested a quiet confidence, as though he already knew my decision to accept his hand. My heartbeat quickened, and I stepped forward, drawn to him like a moth to flame. As our eyes met, a tangle of emotions swirled between us—desire, curiosity, and a dangerous attraction that was illogical.
Lucifer's hand, cool and assured, found the small of my back, and a shiver ran unbidden up my spine.This shouldn't feel...I chastised myself. His other hand sought mine, lifting it gently, and for a moment, I was aware of every point where our skin met. For a moment, hyperaware of our connected skin, my mind whispered,Dangerous, this is dangerous.The music began to swell, its haunting melody casting an enchanting spell over the ballroom. We moved as one, our bodies entwined in a dance. My palm on his shoulder felt every ripple and shift of his muscles, the controlled power of a creature who could command the darkness.
Lucifer's touch was commanding yet surprisingly gentle, guiding me effortlessly through intricate steps and spins, his presence a magnet that pulled me deeper into his spell.How can the same hands that cast shadows weave such tenderness?I wondered, my thoughts a whirlwind. He led, I followed, and in this dance, we were enemies circling, predators learning the measure of the other. My breath hitched as he drew me closer still, and I could feel the heat of his breath against my cheek.Focus, Aurora. Don't forget who he is.
There was power here, in the tension, in the desire to pull away, to resist the pull of this dark magnetism. Yet I danced on because, for now, this was the battlefield, and I would not yield.
My gaze met Lucifer's, and I saw in his eyes a reflection of my own conflicted emotions. There was a hunger there, a craving for something deeper.What do you see? What do you want?
As the music reached its crescendo, Lucifer pulled my body flush against him, his hand dropped to my lower back, fingers splayed out. The other dropped to the middle of my back, where no material of my dress separated the contact of his skin against mine. We breathed the same breath for a tiny fraction before he dipped me. His chest heaved against mine. I could feel the evidence of his attraction to me. Heat pooled in my core.Traitorous body.
