Page 22 of Mortal Desires

She looked around like Vicious was hiding in the shadows, just waiting to catch us. When she finally accepted we were alone, she stared into my eyes.

“They even say he was the snake who tempted Eve.”

I scoffed. She blanched, and I winced from my lack of tact. “I’m sorry, Bessie. It’s just hard to—”

“It’s not like he physically did those things.” She tsked, moving to fix my hair again and break eye contact. “But every belief materialized into him.”

“So you’re saying people don’t believe in things because they exist, but they exist because someone believes in them?”

“The mind is powerful, isn’t it?” she said like it was nothing.

“Bessie, wait.” I turned again, removing her hands from my hair. “You’re saying Vicious is just a figure of our collective imagination?”

What? Was I marrying someone’s imaginary friend?

Bessie chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m saying everything humanity imagined to be bad and evil somehow manifested in one being.”

I gulped, liking my version of things much better. Before I could learn any more terrifying truths, the door opened on its own.

“It’s time,” Bessie whispered.

I stepped toward the door, my heart hammering inside my chest. “Anything else I need to know?” I asked, without looking at her.

“The marriage ceremony will take weeks,” she said in a rushed tone. “You’ll be bound to him, but don’t forget, so him to you.”

A Bruma appeared at the door, a silent command for me to hurry up. I nodded and followed it, leaving Bessie behind.

“You sure?” I eyed the old man, but even under my stare, he nodded.

“For the marriage to be valid and for her to remain in the underworld, all rituals need to be completed.”

“Someone fetch my bride.” I flipped my wrist to one of the Brumas. “Let’s begin.”

I scanned the throne room. It was full now, eager spirits ready to be part of a society that shouldn’t exist. Humans liked to keep their human traditions even after death. It was ironic, if not idiotic to think they elected themselves as royals and ranked one another to satisfy their silly ambitions.

To me, they all looked the same. Caring about appearances even after the very air of their lungs turned into dust. I let them create their hierarchy, and chat amongst themselves with their bellies full of wine. I didn’t care enough to put a stop to it.

Their smiles were fake, I was sure. Their friendships breakable. I never liked to be around humans, and yet I was marrying one today.

But this wasn’t about marriage. It was about punishment.

In a land of punishment, I could never really apply my own brand. I was created here, made for the stone walls that limited my territory. I didn’t care for human affairs as I thought they all deserved torture for one reason or another.

Humans were obsessed with their earthly bounds. Their souls always lingered longer than they should, worrying about things that didn’t matter. Eventually, they all came to me, falling into their own traps.

Until Pilar Morales.

The light of the dead. That’s what they called her.

The girl’s entire existence defied mine, she took what I was due from between my fingers. I never hated a human before her.

Of course, I wanted to see her tortured for that. I couldn’t wait for her death, but the truth was, the witch knew too much about the afterlife. She’d ascend the same second her spirit untangled from her body.

I had to catch her before that could happen.

A smile threatened to split my face when I saw her approaching.

I didn’t expect bravery, but it wasn’t going to do her any good. The little witch stuck her chin up, but her hands trembled holding the flower bouquet as she marched my way. Spine rigid, she gulped as she watched me with those brown eyes.

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