Page 117 of Crimson Promises
I fixed him with a pointed stare. "When Jean left the room to go to the ‘loo,’ I took advantage of the opportunity. I examined the book again. It was stunning, yes, but nothing about it seemed unusual. As you know, Jean forces us to wear gloves when working with any of the rare texts that come through Canmore. So, I tried touching it without my gloves.”
“That was mistake number three.”
I clamped my mouth down at a rude retort.Ben isn’t exactly wrong. I continued, “While I was examining the intricate swirls on the spine, some sort of needle hidden within the design pricked my finger, like the spindle from Sleeping Beauty.”
“I can’t say I’m familiar with that film,” he responded drily.
My hands trembled slightly, betraying the calm facade I attempted to maintain. "I didn't... I mean, it was just an old book, right? Things fall apart," I said, my voice a mere whisper, as if the words themselves were fragile. I hugged my arms tightly around herself, a subconscious attempt to steady my shaking body. "But then," I paused, I relived the memory, "the entire book just... changed, right in front of me. It was magic — real magic," my voice grew fainter, awed and edged with fear. "And that pull, that... that lure," I gestured vaguely with my hands, reaching out before quickly pulling back as if the very air around me might draw me in once more. "It was there again, so strong. I couldn't resist it. My hand, it just moved on its own, reaching for it once more." My fingers curled into a helpless gesture, illustrating the irresistible draw I had felt.
His brows are furrowed into a deep, angry V, accentuating the lines on his forehead.
I swallowed past the painful memory of what happened next. “Ben, the bookspoketo me. Not out loud, but I could hear its voice in my mind. It said, ‘Dimidium, I see you. Soon you will join us. Power calls to power.’ Then, in an endless loop: flashes of fire, a branding iron, shadows and towers as black as night, and crimson eyes. The same red eyes that I dream about.” My body shuddered at the recollection.
Ben pushed himself off the counter and began rounding the island.
“No, wait, I’m not finished yet.”
“There’s more?” His eyes smoldered with irritation like storm clouds ready to burst.
“Yes. While those thoughts were playing in my mind, my hands became stuck to the book. Nothing I did could pull them away. It felt like it was draining the essence of life out of me. Only when I was losing consciousness did a golden light in the form of lightning flash across the room, and I felt that release.”
“Fuck Aurora. Are you okay?” His lips were tightly pursed, and the muscle in his jaw jumped.
Any warnings for him to maintain his distance fell by the wayside as his hands delicately roved the edges of my body. He grabbed my hands, flipped my palms until they were facing upward, and traced the unusually unmarred lines of my palm.
“There aren’t any burns.”
“No, there aren’t. But I was injured on the way home, and my body still hasn’t healed.” My chest heaved. “I don’t know how to verbalize this. Since I touched that book, there is something wrong running under my skin.”
He tenderly kissed both palms and clasped them against his chest.
Swoon.
“What do you think?” I asked. I was eager to hear his thoughts or to find out if he had any answers.
“No wonder you made me promise not to get mad.” His hands fell to his sides. I immediately missed the warmth and security I felt when his hands were wrapped around mine.
“Someone wise once said it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission. I am taking that to heart in this specific case of events," I said.
"I suspect that Lucifer’s reach extends further than I originally thought. Demons are only one road he is using to ensure he can capture you. I don’t know how, but he is pulling you towards demonic objects.”
I let out a tiny gasp. “It was abook. It wasn’t some old-school medieval weapon. How is that a demonic object?"
“Slivers of demonic essence bind themselves to ordinary objects. Slowly, it corrupts the thing, bending it to the will of the demon, or in this case—its master,” Ben explained.
“Shit.”
“Shit is right. It explains why the book seemed to have a mind of its own. I think the images you saw on that endless cycle were images of Hell. A few demons I’ve encountered over the years liked to brag about their depressing realm. What you described matches their descriptions. The singular and most dangerous piece of everything you told me is if it’s true that Lucifer suspects you are adimidium, then what we have seen so far is tame. Lucifer will stop at nothing to have you. Somehow, you are essential to whatever mad plans he has concocted.”
I groaned. I didn't know how much more of this I could take.
"Once the book realized you were adimidium, it wanted to devour you until you were willing and pliant and deliver you to its ruler. Aurora, this changes everything."
“What do you mean, this changes everything?” My voice came out shakier than I had intended.
He spread his arms wide. “Arch Cape isn’t safe for you any longer. Must I remind you of the several attacks you’ve sustained in the last few weeks and now this? Staying is tempting fate, and I’ve done that before and paid the price. Trust me when I tell you, it is not a price you want to pay.”
“Listen, Ben.” I slid off the stool, stepped towards him, and placed both palms around his wrists. I could feel the hammering of his heart there.I guess angels aren’t built entirely differently from us.“I appreciate that my safety is your top priority because of your job.” His eyes immediately slashed down to mine, murky and stormy.
