Page 172 of Crimson Promises
"You, my little star, know how to captivate even the most notorious of devils," he replied, his eyes dancing with mischief and desire.
I understood that this connection, this intensity, would take me down a treacherous path. Would I sacrifice pieces of myself trying to get out of this place?
I turned my back to Lucifer leaning against the railing once more. He brought his body flush against mine, so my back was to his chest. The remnants of his desire pulsed against my behind. As I gazed up at the twilight sky, searching for the stars, a question burned within me. "Lucifer," I began, my voice tinged with curiosity, "why are there no stars in this realm? Do they not exist here?" I turned my head to see his response.
"Ah, the stars," he sighed, turning his gaze towards the dark expanse above. "In the depths of Hell, where darkness reigns supreme, the stars have no place. They belong to realms of light and purity, far beyond our reach." A wistful smile danced upon his lips as he continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But perhaps it is for the best. Stars are symbols of hope, dreams, and aspirations. In this realm, hope is a rare and fleeting commodity. It is replaced by a different kind of beauty, one born from the depths of desire and the flames of passion."
As I pondered his words, I didn’t realize I had leaned deeper into his embrace.
The Price of Hell leaned closer, his voice a sinister whisper against my ear. " You will learn what it means to be truly mine."
My face flamed at his words.
He tightened his hold on my waist, a twisted promise lingering in his gaze.
As if reading my earlier thoughts on my nefarious plans, Lucifer's voice dripped like venom in my ear, “There is nothing that happens in my realm that I don’t know about. You’d do wise to remember that.”
Whatever appealing traits I had thought existed amongst his hardened heart cut through the illusion like diamonds. All he did was remind me that underneath an albeit attractive exterior, Lucifer Morningstar was dangerous and would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
The ball continued around us, a masquerade of debauchery and decadence. I was trapped, caught in Lucifer's clutches. No one was coming to rescue me.
A noise from the castle's shadows interrupted our conversation, drawing my attention away. The bond that had been hibernating flared to life within me. My heart skipped a beat as I turned, my eyes widening in disbelief. Emerging from the darkness was a figure I knew all too well—Ben.
ChapterTwenty-One
Bennett
It took me some time to slip onto the balcony unnoticed. A blush-colored demon dripping in emeralds tried to convince me to become her concubine. Placating words to find her later and seriously consider her offer was the only way I could get her to release me without causing a scene. I had to endure her taloned nails sinking into my skin. She narrowly avoided the brand at my wrist. Maintaining my cover was paramount to successfully getting Aurora out of Lucifer’s clutches. Though, the way I saw her dancing with him earlier, I couldn’t help but wonder if she wouldn’t want to leave.
The open terrace was speckled with a few couples entwined in intimate embraces. It didn’t take me long to find Aurora’s blue dress. She had come out here alone, but now she was with him. Again.
I stood shrouded in the shadows, a gnarled mixture of fury and hurt bubbling within me. The sight of her leaning so intimately against Lucifer struck me with profound, searing pain.
I stepped into the purple and blue hues of Hell’s twilight.
My entrance was met with a gasp, Aurora's eyes widening in surprise, a tangible manifestation of guilt clouding her irises. Lucifer, on the other hand, regarded me with cool composure, a triumphant smirk painting his face. His crimson gaze lingered on me, a predator basking in the moment before the kill.
“Ah, Bennett Caelum," his voice echoed throughout the quiet of the balcony, each syllable coated with enough mockery to turn a saint's prayer into a curse. "Great of you to join us."
I felt a haunting echo of an old fear creeping upon me, a dark shadow always lurking at the periphery of my existence. Had I done this to her? Was my presence in anyone's life so poisonous that it pushed those I cared for into the arms of danger? The thought gnawed at me, an insidious worm burrowing into my heart.
"Aurora," I whispered, my voice rough with betrayal. The words tumbled from my lips, their edges uneven, laced with the hurt that swelled within me. "I thought..." I trailed off, unable to finish. The enormity of the situation constricted my throat. It was like trying to swallow shattered glass, each fragment tearing further into my resolve.
But the sight of her settled comfortably between the Prince of Hell and the railing was a devastating display that hammered a painful truth into my consciousness. Aurora wasn't a damsel in distress.
My thoughts spiraled, a whirlwind of confusion and heartache, their ferocity threatening to tear me asunder. I was no stranger to loss, the sensation all too familiar, an old foe that dogged my steps. But this—this was different. The betrayal was a cruel, unanticipated knife that cut deeper than any I'd ever felt before.
She called out, her voice trembling as it cut through the eerie silence. "Ben! You're here! Please, you need to listen. This isn't what it looks like," the rest of her words warbled heavily in the air.
The searing pain in my chest morphed into a cold, brutal fury, turning my blood to ice as it coursed through my veins. "I guess you didn't need rescuing after all," I spat, bitterness seeping into every word. "It seems you've made yourself right at home."
My heart clenched as I saw the shock register on Aurora's face. She looked as if I'd struck her, her beautiful eyes beseeching. This was not my Aurora—the woman who met every challenge head-on, whose spirit was an unyielding flame. This was a mere shadow, a broken reflection.
With a grin that would've made even the most bloodthirsty demon flinch, Lucifer swiveled back to me, a sardonic tilt to his head. "Enjoy the ball, Bennett Caelum," he called out, reverberating with amusement. "It's a shame you won't be able to dance with the guest of honor."
Every syllable slithered through the air, cutting deeper into the open wound their betrayal had carved. The icy tendrils of dread began to take a more corporeal form as two hulking figures emerged from the thrumming crowd and advanced toward me. Their grips were ironclad as they ensnared me.
As they dragged me away, the noise of the crowd rose to a crescendo: their laughter, their jeers, and their cheers all melded into one peak note that hammered against my skull.
