Page 30 of Deliver Us from Evil

"I don't know what to do anymore," I muttered softly, turning around and heading back inside.

As soon as I crossed the open doorway, hellfire that wasn't my own spiraled in front of me, taking shape and revealing Orpheus standing on my balcony. I relaxed as soon as I saw him, knowing he wouldn't hurt me. Not when he manipulated me into helping him.

"What are you doing here?" I said, gritting my teeth.

"Aww, that's wrong, pup? Not happy to see me?"

"After what you did at dinner, why should I be? I didn't tell you about Antonia so you could taunt my master." And now because of him, Deimos now suspects someone betrayed him. In a way I did, but only because I wanted Antonia out of the way. I hated how Master's been pining for her long before we brought her down here. I wanted things to go back to where they were before Deimos discovered Antonia and her ancestry.

"And yet you did," Orpheus said, leisurely stepping inside my bedroom. "For all your talk about being loyal to Deimos, you certainly threw him under the bus, didn't you?"

I couldn't deny what I did, and now thanks to Orpheus, I could risk losing everything too.

I could lose Deimos.

"You really are as twisted as Deimos said you were," I growled, hating myself for trusting him. I knew it was a bad idea to tell him anything when he first came to me, and at first I didn't tell him shit. But Orpheus must've been keeping tabs on me too because he knew all the right things to say that would get me to tell him.

"And you're as dumb as everyone says you are. But now you're in too deep and have reached the point of no return."

"What do you want, Orpheus? I gave you the information you wanted."

"You did, and it was a marvelous discovery." Orpheus reached out and rested his hand on my cheek. The contact burning me like a branding. I wanted to swat it away, but I kept myself perfectly still. "But now I want more. I want the girl, and you're going to get her for me."

This time I did back away from his touch, outraged that he would think I'd do something like that for him. "Forget it! I'm not about do that. I may not like her, but I'll be damned before I capture her for whatever motives you have in store for her."

"No?" Orpheus began twirling a lock of his hair around his slender fingers. "That's a shame, because I would hate to let it slip to Deimos how I came to know the details about Ms. DeLuna. I'm sure you wouldn't like his reaction to his supposed loyal pet's utter betrayal either. What would he think of you, I wonder?"

My eyes glowed with hellfire as my anger brought out the volley of flames from within my core. I didn't appreciate being threatened, and I damn sure wasn't going to let Orpheus manipulate me like that.

"Come now, Xaphan. Let me ask you honestly, why defend such an unfit ruler like Deimos anyway?" Orpheus asked.

My answer came quick. "I love him."

"But does he love you?"

"He does!" My flames grew hotter.

"Does he? Then why would he need Antonia if he was so happy with you?"

I couldn't answer that, because I didn't know the answer myself.

Orpheus saw my hesitation and took advantage of it with gleam expression. "If Deimos loved you, then why would be let his other legions continue to treat you like you're nothing? The angelic looking hellhound who felt lost and alone, who found something worth holding onto when his ruler took him to bed. Sounds romantic when you think about it, but my question is why he continued to let the others bring you down long after Deimos bedded you?"

My lips were pressed firmly together, unable to give a solid answer. My flames slowly diminished when the questions came with no way for me to respond. Orpheus knew of my struggles and was now bringing it to the forefront. Making doubt creep up and stab me in the back.

"I don't need him to fight my battles for me," I muttered a weak excuse.

Orpheus chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure you don't. You see, I've been watching you, Xaphan. I see your potential to be far greater than you are, but you're so blinded by your love for my brother, that you don't realize your potential is being wasted. All my brother sees you as is a willing hole to fuck, but I see more in you."

"That's a lie!" I cried out as tears began trailing down my cheeks. Why was I crying? I didn't really believe what Orpheus was telling me, was I?

"It's not." Orpheus shook his head. "Tell me, Xaphan, has Deimos ever announced that you're his beloved?"

"Of course not," I said.

"Why not? If he loved you so much, then why would he keep it a secret? If you were his beloved, you'd be co-ruler of the Court of Wrath, would you not? It makes me wonder if Deimos thinks you're not fit to rule the court beside him."

"Th-that's..." I couldn't finish what he was saying as my breathing grew heavy. I didn't want to listen to this anymore. I didn't want to believe what he was saying. Deimos loved me. He was my master, the only one who accepted me. He would never manipulate me for his own selfish needs.

---