Chapter Twenty (Sin)

The meeting with the oracle was eye opening and infuriating, why would Lazarus and I both have the same fated mate? How is that even possible?

Angry I mounted my nightmare Amdis, as Rook mounted his nightmare, he asked, “Why did you take her to the future?”

“That is my business.” I bit out.

“Fair enough, was just wondering how you two are connected before this, I thought you found her at random.”

Ignoring him, I thought about that day. The baby I dropped into the future hadn’t even crossed my mind at all. At the request of a friend, I agreed to transport her daughter to somewhere that was safe. I was there all of five minutes, placing the basket in a safe spot for the fire station manager to find. I left and didn’t look back. So how was it that by complete chance I travelled back and found her as an adult and felt pulled to get her of all the people to help me repay my debt, and carry out my plan? How was it I chose her?

We rode back in silence as my mind wandered back to that day. The tear-streaked face of her mother handing her daughter to me a demon, and yet I was the only other being she could trust with such precious cargo. Her mother was devastated, but knew it was the only way to keep her safe, and maybe the fate of all witches safe.

I sighed as I pushed a black branch out of my way continuing down the path, did her mother already know she was back or was this all really a coincidence?

“So, what are you going to do about Lazarus isn’t he tricking her right now?” Rook asked as he moved to avoid low-hanging branches.

“Yes, he is. She thinks he is injured when he can heal himself and I don’t know what I am going to do yet, I have to think on it.” The problem was I actually cared about her and if I tried to get between her and Lazarus, I could end up pushing them together and that wouldn’t be helpful for anyone.

I was rarely stumped, but this situation was new to me. Usually, I took in random woman and didn’t care if I saw them again, but this was different. I would have to trust that my plan would work.

Once we got back to our meeting spot, I dismounted and handed the reins to Rook, who would return Amdis to the stables. I went to the entrance of the secret tunnel and made my way back to my quarters.

Heading to the bathroom, I showered and laid down to sleep. Someone opened my door and closed it, I sat up, annoyed that someone had just waltzed into my space like they owned the place.

Akuji waltzed around the corner, stopping. She smiled at me as she slowly took her robe off. She was barely covered, leaving nothing to the imagination.
I frowned, “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you; you’ve been so busy lately.” She pouted as she adjusted one of the many thin straps that made up her outfit.

If she knew me at all, she’d know that I tended to like a mystery. It didn’t help that the woman in my room was the wrong one. If it was Amaya, I probably would react differently.

The minute I pictured Amaya in the outfit Akuji wore, my body reacted, giving her the wrong impression as she smiled and sauntered over.

“I told you it wasn’t anything serious. It was a onetime thing, nothing more.” I scolded her, holding her shoulders so she wouldn’t come closer to me.

“I thought I could maybe change your mind.” She frowned as she looked up at me through thick lashes.”

“I’m sorry, but my mind is not going to change.”

Her face contorted to one of anger as she moved to slap me. Grabbing her wrist, I bit out, “You want to be executed for treason.” in warning.

She gulped, “Sorry… sire.” As she bowed, tears fell from her eyes. She turned from me, grabbed her robe, and ran from my room.

Irritated, I got up and poured myself a drink.

The most popular drink in hell was called Spirits, which was created by harvesting the blood of a sinner and distilling it, making it into alcohol. The stronger the sinner, the more concentrated the blood, which affected how fast a demon would become intoxicated. Especially if the sinner was a priest or a holy man. The sin would be more damning, making the blood a vintage blend.

It was highly sought after in hell and vampires paid a lot of money for our blends, mixing them with drugs and alcohol in the human plane. They knew how to make the perfect mix for the desired effect, whether it was hallucinations, heightened sexual desire, or just forgetting your troubles for a while.

There was a downside to using sinners' blood, there were rare cases that a soul would be sent to hell and lower-class demons would go to the surface and possess the dead body, collect the blood, and bring it back to hell and later we find out they hadn't sinned at all. In those cases, their blood becomes a deadly poison, killing whoever drinks it. We tested each batch using prisoners making them drink the blood to ensure it was safe for consumption.

Downing the glass, I poured another, as I paced the length of my room, debating if I should go and visit Amaya. The longer I was around her, the harder it was to leave. I needed to stay away from her for my plan to work.

For my plan to work, I needed her to summon me because once she did that; In essence, I would be hers, I would be bound to her and if my plan worked and she made a deal with me, she would be bound to me. Not much Lazarus could do about it then. Although if he was there, he could stop my plan from being put into action.

I would have to get him to come back here somehow or get Amaya to send him away. Maybe Abigail will convince her to reject him.

If I stay away, he could move in and take what is mine, I don’t care what the oracle says. She is wrong; she does not belong to him.

Disgusted by my inner monologue, I shook my head; I was never one to self reflect. I was impulsive, not someone who sat and thought about pros and cons. My favorite saying growing up was fuck the consequences, then again, that is how I got into this mess to begin with.

“Fuck it.” I muttered as I downed another glass and slammed the cup on the table, shattering it as my flames transported me to my destiny.