Page 75 of An Unexpected Ascension
Shivers run ramped over my skin, my stomach churning at the fear.
“I can smell you from here,” Hermes mutters in my ear from behind me.
“I showered before we left,” I growl, offended.
“No, I meant your fear. You reek.”
At that I straighten my spine, pulling my shoulders back. Maybe if I pretend I’m not about to piss myself, it won’t be so obvious.
We’re escorted down the stairs, the light from the entryway darkening as we descend.
“What are we doing here?”
“Meeting an acquaintance.” He shoves me forward into a crowd.
The room is cast in a moody blue, the walls vibrating with the bass from a DJ on stage. I realize we’re at a club. At the other end of the DJ booth is a bar, just like you would find on Earth. He drags me in that direction, motioning to a man behind the counter. He drops two shot glasses in front of us and fills them with a clear liquor.
Hermes picks them both up, handing one over and clinks the glasses together.
“Might as well enjoy our last night of freedom,” he shouts over the thumping of music.
His Adam’s apple bobs as he gulps the liquor down in one go. The ink whirling along his neck, disappearing into the V of his shirt.
“Too hungover from last night?” He nudges his head towards my untouched shot.
In answer, I toss it back, handing him the glass.
“Nope.”
For the first time since I’ve met the demon, he smiles. A real, genuine smile. Heat burns along my insides, and I blame it on the liquor.
“Well, then. Let’s have some fun.”
A part of me doesn’t want to let loose with this demon, but an even larger part desperately wants to remember what it feels like to live again. To get fucked up and dance until every muscle in my body is screaming at me.
And so, I do.
Hermes feeds me shot after shot, then lets me push into the crowd. While he disappears, I sway and jump and move. Bodies gyrating against one another, a thin layer of sweat coating skin, hearts thumping to the beat as if we were once again alive. My calves burn and my thighs ache, but my lungs... they feel so full. Even my head, once cluttered with unclear thoughts, now overtaken by the night. There’s no room left for blurry images of my past, flashes of memories that haunt me, the unknown clawing its way inside. It’s all just dancing, sweating, and music. It’s bliss.
Hell is bliss.
My body jolts sideways, a grip on my wrist tugging me out from the center of the crowd. The music grows distant as we ascend the stairs and back out into the streets. It’s grown darker and though the air is still hot, it’s at least a bit less stuffy than inside the club.
“Looks like someone enjoyed themselves.” Hermes throws an arm over my shoulder as we saunter across town.
Shoving him off, I stumble, the liquor infecting every inch of my body.
“I don’t get it.”
“What?”
“How can Hell feel so good?” I wonder.
Our pace is slow as we continue, his shoulder bumping into mine every now and then.
“Because Hell allows you to feel. Tomorrow might be a different story. What usually follows a night of overindulgence?”
I nod. “Then perhaps we need some water. Maybe food? Will that even help?”
