The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (31 page)

“Please
.”
I whispered helplessly against him.

“Please indeed. Don’t worry my pet, I will keep my vow and not harm you, but I said nothing about not playing with you
.” He laughed at the shudder that wracked my body and I was glad he was still holding me up, as I felt as though my legs would have given out on me. I was scared shitless of what this body that held me captive could do to me, but more importantly, was that on a small level my own body was betraying my good sense to get away. Being held this way by such a commanding force was swamping my mind with memories of what it used to be like. To feel this need and this closeness from another being not of this world…well, it was like someone had just plugged me in.

It was as if my body craved this supernatural touch from another and it was only the utterly ashamed feeling that also flooded my fragile system
, that stopped me from climbing up his body like the damn pet he called me. I had to close my eyes tight when his hands reached up and held me by the neck gently. I knew he was taking in my responses and I felt the slow probing around the edges of my brain. He was trying to gain access to my mind and I was thankful that I still retained enough power to hold my shields in place.

Sigurd had said that my ment
al walls would not work in here which, considering the amount of Demonic faces I had seen, he had been right. So, when the fortress that surrounded my thoughts held against such a commanding presence like Jared was inflicting, I was surprised when it held him firmly on the boundaries, denying him his power.

“Now
, that is interesting and starting to make sense.” He said leaning down so the words were only heard by me. Then he surprised the Hell out of me by granting me a brush of his lips on my nose in a sweet kiss, before taking my hand in his. He pulled me from my mental anguish and on opening my eyes, I saw that he was pulling me into a chair situated next to his.

“Now
, time to enjoy the show, as I am sure you would like the time to collect the right thoughts, that you will be sharing with me soon enough.” There was no escaping the demand in that statement, so I did as he suggested and kept silent until I no longer had a choice. After all, I had come here for a meeting with the only man who could get me into Hell, so what did I expect…that he would just take me there like a tourist with a paying ticket?  Of course, there was no getting around what I would have to tell him, but then what? What would he do when he knew the truth…and more importantly, would I be regretting it once the real show began?

Anyone seeing me sat here
, being offered a drink by a waitress dressed as an evil Tinkerbell with a beanie hat on, would have thought I was in Jared’s VIP as a treasured guest. I took everything that was offered, as I had a feeling, very shortly I would be needing the alcohol. I looked to my side seeing the man himself, the Lord of his domain sat back on the most disturbing looking throne I had ever seen.

It looked like burnt wood that ha
d been carved into a design which could only be described as twisted souls trapped into the shape of a large chair. Arms out-stretched up the back as if trying to break out of Hell and reach Heaven. These limbs formed an arch with one singular hand holding a sword. The blade had hands trying to grasp it, until the highest point came above the others and could be seen clearly over Jared’s head. The sides were also carved black wood, only the flames of a hellish abyss licked at the start of the bodies trying to escape it.

You could say that if there was ever going to
be a chair made for Hell’s gatekeeper, then this fit the man down to the very last grasping finger of a damned soul.

“Her name?” I shot a look at Jared
, who was firing this question at the bubbly Smidge, whose name I still didn’t get.

“She told me it was Cathy, but she lied and not very convincingly
.” She shot me a smirk and I tried to shrink down in my seat to make myself smaller.

“No
, I expect not, I could smell her pure soul even with a field of Gorgon shit between us, no mistaking one the Gods themselves take an interest in.” He turned to look at me and I was thankful, at that moment, I had to direct my attention from his questioning gaze to take my drink from a tray.

“Look at me
, girl!” The order made me spill my drink over the rim, as I jumped. I did as I was told and met his eyes with a pair of frightened ones of my own. I waited for him to speak and when he didn’t I inhaled a premature breath of relief, only to let it all out again in a whoosh, as I was plucked from my seat.

“What are you…?
”

“Be silent!” I decided to do as I was told
, considering I was now being set in his lap, surrounded by muscle. He put me sideways so that his arm held me behind my back. My booted legs hung like limp noodles over the side of the black carved Hell of his chair and when I tried to move, his free hand held me down by resting his weight on my lap.

“Now
, time to watch the show.” He nodded towards the stage where another act was stepping into the centre. The Ringmaster was now back, but his once smart costume was now somewhat lacking, thanks to the obvious fun he had found with the girl he carted off stage. He was now missing his shirt but his ruffled tie was still in place. His trousers were on but he hadn’t bothered to do up the button and if the bulge was anything to go by, he was definitely ready for another round with the tutu girl. You could even see her waiting at the side of the stage for his return, wearing a now ripped tutu, only one breast covered in the strip of black tape, and the Steampunk goggles on top of her head, that had once been on the Ringmaster’s now missing hat.

He swung his massive stick in the air around his head and brought it crashing down to create a loud boom, silencing the room.

“Now, now you scummy bastards and listen to my words, it is time for the next show to begin, so I suggest you watch out for the birds. It’s time to smell the roses and three cheers for freak acts galore, when the acid trip hits and Russian doll man dies, be sure to tip at the door!” He swung round his spiked stick towards the edge of the stage and the room burst into applause as the acts made their way through.

The Ringmaster jumped down and landed in front of his claimed girl. He then ripped off the remaining black tape, exposing the girl
’s other breast, before whipping his scarf around her body to use it to pull her nipple to his eager mouth. She let out a squeal before he pushed her backwards out of sight, all the while still latched on to her breast.

“Now
, that is one randy bastard!” Marcus said as he stepped up to the seating area shaking his head. He stopped short and scanned up my body, which had no other option than to be sprawled out across his master’s lap, in a dominating display.

“I’m glad to
see you finding pleasure in the company of our new spunky human, Cerberus.” He commented with a sly smirk, making Smidge giggle. He winked down at her and then snapped a short,

“Up
!” Smidge rolled her eyes, before getting up and giving Marcus her seat. She was just about to sulk off when the smirking jester grabbed her around the waist and hauled her to his lap, mimicking Jared.

“Hey!”

“I thought I would give it a try, after all it looks so comfortable.” He nodded to me and then hummed as his hands started to roam over her shoulders and down her bare arms.

“And with
your delicious curves Smidgy, it feels, so
fucking good!”

“Jared!” She shouted in outrage and
I think I was the only one who heard him groan beneath me.

“Marcus
, stop scratching at her scales for fuck sake, before she bites you and I have to patch your ass up again!” Marcus’ hands flew up and he shouted,

“Fine!” And let a struggling Smidge go
, only to swear in pain as she stamped down a booted heel on his foot.

“Asshole!” She snapped
, but before she could move away quickly enough the loud crack from her behind getting slapped even made me jump. She whirled round with a pointed finger and he started laughing like the joker he looked.

“Sorry Smidgy, I just couldn’t help myself, that big beautiful bum of yours is to
o much temptation for one man to bear!”

“
Grrr! Jared I swear to the Devil, he will die by my hands one of these days… I don’t give a shit if he is your best friend!” Jared laughed and I was dumbstruck gobsmacked when she walked past him and smacked him upside the head, making him laugh harder.

“Jackasses! The both of you!” W
as her parting line, as she stormed off into the back. I couldn’t believe, after all I had heard about this guy and his famous fury, that he was acting this way. It was like a group of mates all hanging out together and laughing over beers.

“You know
, one of these days, she is right and will tear you a new hole if you keep teasing her.” Jared warned, turning his neck to shoot a warning look at his friend, one I had mistaken for his minion.

“That is a fight I look forward to J, you know that
.” He said laughing and swiping a bottle from the tray the waitress held out to him.

“Anyway, where is ‘Conan the B
lack’ tonight?” Marcus asked still full of humour.

“Laugh it up
asswipe, but that is another of my council, who won’t bother with tearing you a new hole, but will just go straight for that jolly fucking head of yours, if he catches you calling him that again.” Jared warned, making his friend laugh harder.

“Like to see him try, besides, what
’s he got…a date or something?” I looked up just in time to see the evil grin that Jared stamped down into a serious face, before giving his friend an answer.

“Not sure
, but I think Smidge wouldn’t mind a bit of Conan action.” At this Marcus choked back on his swallowed beer and shot from his seat.

“The fuck she does!” Now this was the face of a very different jester, lost and dead was all the easy going amusement that oozed from his every word. No
, now a mixture of rage and hurt was left in the wake of his face splitting grin that had turned into a harsh line.

“I will ring her bloody neck!”
He started to walk back and to, as though he didn’t know where to begin.

“And him?” Jared asked over his shoulder
, as if he wasn’t taking his threats seriously.

“Fuck him in the eye my friend, fuck him in the eye!” He said before swigging back the remainder of his beer and then smashing it on the floor before storming
away. Jared burst into raucous laughter, making me bounce up and down.

“That wasn’t very nice
.” I said in a quiet voice, which quickly brought his laughter under control. He gave me a bad boy grin and then flicked me at the end of my nose.

“No
, but it was damned entertaining… besides, my friend needs a push in the right direction every now and again.”

“And if it gets someone dead?” I couldn’t stop myself from pointing out the obvious.

“Concerned for my people…
Cathy?”
He laughed when a frown was my only response.

“Must be that pure soul of yours…” He pulled my body closer to his and lowered his head to whisper in my ear,

“So let me set your pretty little head and locked mind at ease…this is what will happen… he will storm into Smidge’s quarters, thinking of catching the two in the act and make a fool out of himself in the process, when he demands to know who she is seeing. Smidge will find the whole thing hilarious and therefore have her revenge, thanking me in the aftermath.”

“And if he sees this Conan guy along the way and gets his head ripped off?” I challenged.

“His name is Orthrus and although he does not see the appeal of having someone like Marcus as a friend, he would not kill him, hurt him yes, but not kill him.”

“And you know this because he works for you?” I said feeling braver with my questions
, but this was probably down to the soothing play of his fingers on my side, where his hand still rested.

“He works with me and no, I know this not because he is my council member
, but because he is my brother…now, you are missing the show.” He said shocking me with this bit of information. I instantly wondered that if Jared refused to help me, would his brother be able to?

I was shook out of my thoughts as Jared physically turned my head to face the show.

“You think too much.” He hummed along my neck before laying a lingering kiss there. My whole body tensed in his hold after that kiss and only relaxed again when his lips left my neck.

“I thought… you… didn’t like humans
.” I asked cautiously, hoping to remind him that by rights he should be finding me repulsive. His fingers crept up my torso and only stopped moving when they held the full length of my neck in one large hand. He placed his fingers at my pulse point and tapped twice.

“I don’t
, but you are something more.”

“What do you mean? I…I am human
.” It didn’t sound convincing, coming from my flustered whispers.