Page 26 of The Arbiter

I suck a deep breath and let it out again. Damn, I love that woman. Of course, the point is moot considering the hole I’ve dug myself into, so the farther I stay away from her, the better. She’ll get hurt less in the end. My chest burns at the thought of leaving her again, but I’m not exactly in the position where I could even stay, let alone protect her.

“Fuck,” I grind out as I make my way down the stairs.

Just as I make it to the bottom, a sharp tug pulls at my gut. “Double fuck,” I growl.

My soul’s owner is calling me. Out of all of the shit that I’ve done in my existence, that is the one thing that I don’t regret. Even when the stupid bitch calls at the most inconvenient of times. I’d sell my soul to her to save Nocturna a thousand times over.

At the bottom of the stairs, I look around to make sure that no humans are watching as I switch to my second form and take off running. This form isn't necessary, but it's the only way that I can stomach being around Marilith. At least this way, she remembers that even though she may have my soul, she will never rule over me.

My steps falter as the tug becomes a sick feeling that makes me want to puke. I walk into the tree line in the middle of nowhere.

"About time you showed up," she says in a sultry tone as she walks out of the trees in front of me. Any normal man, human or not, would literally sell his soul to have a piece of the dark beauty in front of me. Her long black hair hangs down past her waist, looking like pure silk. The red dress she’s wearing clings to every curve and leaves nothing to the imagination as a slit runs all the way up to her hip on one side. "I was beginning to wonder if you let the Arbiter distract you long enough to forget who you truly belong to."

"Can we just stop with the games now?" I growl.

"Aw," she says, running a finger down my chest, "someone's in a grumpy mood tonight. Did she not ease some of your worries away? I can do that for you now if you’d like.” She cradles my dick in her hands, but neither the feel or her words do anything for me.

I shove her arm away from me. “No thanks. I’m good.” There are two reactions that it would normally entice from her, anger or amusement, and I wait to see which it will be tonight.

She tilts her head back and laughs. It’s an evil sound that echoes in the trees around us. Cutting it off abruptly, she grabs me again and squeezes. “I’ve let you get away with your futile desire to keep me at arm’s length, but you will do well to remember who owns you. If I say fuck me, you will. No matter where we are or who’s around.”

Releasing me before I can answer, she continues, “You bore me sometimes, Enoch. We could have so much fun together if you weren’t still hung up on that halfie. She’ll never forgive you for just ditching her last time anyway. Just think of the havoc we could cause together. It would be beautiful.”

I only gave this bitch my soul so Nocturna could live; I owe her nothing else.

When I don’t say anything in return to her, she shoves me away. “Whatever, you’ll see the error of your ways soon enough. Do you have anything to report? The boss is getting a little antsy at how long it’s taking. And we don’t want the boss getting antsy, do we?” The last bit is said with a short slap to my face.

“I have nothing for you tonight,” I say with finality, just wanting her to leave.

Unfortunately, she rushes me again and molds her lips to mine. The sulfur smell that leaks into my mouth makes me want to gag even though I should be used to it by now. I don’t think I’ll ever be, and I can’t help but compare it to Nocturna. Just the mere scent, which to me is a sort of burnt marshmallow, and taste of her is enough to drive the sanest man mad. She ensnared me all those years ago. If only her life wouldn’t have been threatened by the very demon with her tongue down my throat, I never would have missed so much time with her.

For the millionth time, I think of running my fist through Marilith’s chest and yanking out that cold, black heart. I couldn’t do it then, and I won’t do it now. Cain will tear the realms to shreds if something happens to his prized child in front of me. Then he’ll come for Nocturna.

Marilith finally gets her fill and pulls away. “See you soon, lover. Be sure to have something better to report next time, and don’t keep me waiting so long. Otherwise, I might be forced to come find you.”

At that, she disappears. I run a hand through my hair and let out a sigh of relief, but it only lasts for a few seconds as I think about what they’re asking me to do. Were it any other person, I would have no qualms in trying to tip the Arbiter’s scales. Hell, I came close with Cassia. She just wasn’t strong enough for what Cain has planned. I’m leaning toward the conclusion that the Creator gave this new position to Nocturna to torture me. Maybe I’m finally paying for my sins.

Either way, there’s no backing out on a soul deal with Marilith. I’m stuck until she’s dead or decides to let me free, which will be never. I rub a hand up and down my face as I try to forget the stench that rolled off Marilith, but it’s going to take more than that. I turn on my heel and head back toward the club. Even though she kicked me out, just being close to Nocturna makes me feel like who I used to be before. I stayed away to keep her safe in the beginning, but it’s starting to look like my staying close will be the only way to truly protect her. Who knows, maybe I’ll get a chance to rile her up again while I’m there. She’s so fucking sexy when she’s pissed. My lips turn up into a smile as the bottom drops out of the sky and soaks me to the bone, each step I take bringing me closer to her.

Larkan

Nocturna had told me to leave earlier, but I still had one thing I needed her to do with me, so I stayed behind until the others left and went back, coaxing her into leaving by telling her it was important.

“Where exactly is this place we’re going?” Nocturna asks me from the passenger seat.

I flip the windshield wipers on as the rain pours harder, silently cursing the change in weather tonight. With the visibility so slim, I’m not sure she’ll be able to see Enoch if or when he’s finished with this little meeting he had planned.

“It’s about two miles down the old industrial road out by Harper Road,” I explain.

She snorts. “That doesn’t exactly answer my question. You pulled me out here after I asked for alone time. But for real, who does a stakeout when you can barely even see through the windshield? Even my eyesight isn’t that awesome.”

“It’s an old warehouse that’s used as a sort of lounge hangout for some Damned. My informant said there’s a meeting going on there tonight between two people who are suspected of being involved with the missing Damned.” Then I sigh. “And stakeouts aren’t always planned ahead of time. Sometimes, you have to tough out the shit weather and do the job.”

“How are we going to figure out who we’re looking for if it’s a hangout place? Won’t there be a lot of people there?” she asks.

I nod and lie. “Possibly. He said we’d know them when we saw them.” What else can I say? If I told her the real reason we were here, she’d charge right in looking for Enoch, and he’d know it was me who told her.

“So, we’ve got basically nothing to go on. Awesome.”

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