Smoldered Flames: Part I of the Edonia Series

Valeri

Right then, the waitress Katya brings our sloshing drinks. She passes one drink to Eros with a wink and practically slams mine over. I glance up and frown. Her eyes were aglow with gold and her eyes slit a fraction. A growl erupts from my lips, I can feel my own eye smoldering.

Eros reaches across the table and caresses my hand. “I think it’s best you leave, Katya.” his tone lowered in warning. She storms off.

I yanked my hand away from his.“I didn’t need any help from you. What’s her deal, anyway?”

He smirks. “Katya is addicted to Vampire’s Kiss. Many of them are.”

“What is a Vampire’s Kiss? Who are “they”?”

Eros scoots my way. He is centimeters from me, and I can feel his warm breath on my neck. “There are those who love the slight sting of a vampire’s fang. But there are those who simply like the after effects. Both humans and werecats fall under Vampire’s Kiss easily.”

A slight haze overcomes my sight and I become visibly nauseous. Eros leans back to observe me.

“Are you unwell, love?”

“Is that an effect that sex demons have?”

He leans back in, his eyes taking on a darker shade of scarlett. “Describe this… effect.”

“Whenever you come close to using your flirting charm, I feel as if my stomach is being turned inside out. I don’t like it and would like for you to stop.”

Eros stared at me with his mouth slightly agape. I narrowed my eye slightly. I was beginning to regret my choice to come here.

He scoots back across from me. “I must apologize. My inner demon craves beautiful things. And you, Miss Valeri, are absolutely stunning.”

I frown as I get up. “Look, perhaps it was a mistake coming here. You’re obviously on the hunt. I won’t fall prey to your whims.”

What was I thinking? I could’ve gone to the library for answers. Now I’m jeopardizing the life of children because of some fancy notion.

Eros rises slightly, holding my wrist. “Don’t be so quick to judge. You have your own agenda, tigress.” I still at his words. Turning, I see that his bright cherry orbs were pleading for me to stay.

I sit back down. “None of that flirting juju, or I’m done.”

He holds up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

I roll my eyes.

“Now to answer your question. Seven sons were born to the god Adramalach. Not much is learned about how they were conceived. They represent the seven deadly sins.”

He leans back and grabs his drink before continuing. “Lord Garvish, Ruler of Pride. Lord Valdo, Ruler of Greed. Lord Dracul, Ruler of Envy. Lord Gulliver, Ruler of Gluttony. Lord Selim, Ruler of Sloth. And lastly, the Demon King, Asmodeus Phosphoros.”

I was perplexed. “That’s only six. What’s the seventh?”

He hesitates. “He is known as… the Seven-Headed King, Ruler of Wrath. There isn’t a name given to such a being.”

Chills run down my arms. “And what exactly is this Seven-Headed King?”

“The Seven-Headed King is said to be a combined force of the seven sons. The being is so strong that it is said that they could cause calamities across nations.”

“What happened to the rest of the Demon King’s brothers?”

“When Adramalach was placed under a great slumber, the sons warred within themselves. They each thought they were the rightful Ruler of Hel.”

“Let me guess, Asmodeus used his charming skills to off them one by one.” I said sardonically.

Eros laughs heartily. “Actually, yes. Hel is formed like the Earth’s layers. The Demon King lured each brother to a core of the Earth and placed them under a deep slumber. The Seven-Headed King proved a challenge though.”

“And why is that?”

“He’s a conduit. He is able to access the powers of his brothers.”

“And that makes him Wrath, because?”

Eros places his elbows on the table with fingers crossed. “The Seven-Headed King was the last born and a disappointment. He was mistaken for a dud. Someone born without powers.”

I lean forward in earnest. “So the poor bastard was abused by his older brothers? The ultimate story for a villain.”

“Yes, to put it bluntly.”

“You said that the six brothers were placed under a deep slumber. That is six layers of the Earth. Where is the… Ohhhh.”

He gives a charming wink. “You’re a smart cookie.”

“So Hel is literally on Earth?”

“Just like a True Incubus, The Earth wears an allure of paradise. But when you remove the lens that blind you, you’ll see the true meaning of Hel.”

I nod slightly. “Does he ever travel to another dimension?”

Eros squints his eyes. “What do you mean? He stays on the Earthen plane. That was a part of the Clause of the Peace Treaty signed in 2016.”

“And what does that Clause entail?”

“ “Any demonic entity, whether it be physical or ethereal, is bound by Earth. None shall have access to Hel.” Those that were left on Earth after the Apocalyptic War were given a choice: either live peacefully like civilized beings or be massacred.” His eyes glow brightly. “What do you think we chose?”

“Tell me about werecats.”

“There are multiple species of werecats. From weretigers to werejaguars, from werelynxes to the common werecats.”

My mind races to the mental image I have of my alter ego. “Are there any others?” I ask quietly.

He studies me carefully. “Yes. Wereleopards are the most elusive, followed by hellcats.”

My pulse spikes. “What are hellcats?”

“Hellcats are like fallen angels. They are darkened souls sent to Earth for redemption.”

“Sooo, like nephilim?”

“Yes and no. Nephilim are angels tempted by sin and have literally fallen, or kicked out of Heaven. Hellcats are werecats who have done unspeakable things and are sent to Hel. Some have a chance at redemption. They are usually ethereal in appearance.”

Eros hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but thought better of it.

I decided to push. “Usually? How else would they appear?”

“Werecats have a unique way of sharing a soul. Far different from werewolves.”

I wave my hand for him to continue.

“Before a mother births her child, each young soul is assigned a cat’s soul to unite within one body. Don’t ask me how that happens.”

“Interesting… How was I found? Before I woke up in the cell?”

Eros gives me a keen gaze. “The reports say you evaded the Hunters in Central City by vehicle.”

I gasp. “Really? What was I doing there?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Only you have the answers to that.”

“It doesn’t like it’ll be anytime soon.”

After this, we conversed about unimportant topics. Such as his upbringing in the Broderick household, how Sanomalis was founded, his hobbies, his likes and dislikes. The more we conversed, the more I became enraptured by him. The smooth tenor of his voice rattled my core. When it raises an octave in excitement about a childhood pastime, my body quivers in anticipation. And now he’s sliding over, my heart leaps in my throat.

Eros’ eyes are ablaze. “You know the Winter Solstice is coming up, right?”

My stomach roiled with tension. “Yes…?” I ended it with a question.

His eyes twinkle. “Who’s your date?”

I lean forward smiling. “Who said that I was going?

“Too bad, tigress. It’s mandatory that all mateless beings make an appearance.” Eros leans towards my neck, his nose nuzzling my neck. “Unless, you are already mated?”

I let out a chuckle with effort. “If I had a mate, I wouldn’t be here with you now would I?” I turn fully to him. “And to answer your question: Me. Myself. And I.”

Eros lays a hand on my thigh and it goes into the slit of my dress, slowly moves upwards. “Are you sure about that?” he murmurs.

I hold back a moan, his hand lights a fire in my veins. “I’m quite sure.”

His hand reaches the apex of my womanhood. “How about now?”

“No…”

“No?”

“I mean yes..”

He wears a satisfied grin. “If you insist…”

Eros nibbles my neck while his fingers delve deep into my cunt. I moan lightly as he fingerfucks me. A haze forms in my mind as his teeth graze my neck.

“I wish to taste you, tigress. Don’t you want to feel my fangs sink into you?”

“Mmmhhmmm…”

Suddenly, I feel two pin pricks in my jugular. Alarm bells sound in my mind, but a fog forms, numbing the temporary pain. Cold shoots through my veins like a drug. I close my eye at the glorious feeling of surrender. As if all of my worries were gone. I was free to float in everlasting bliss.

You fool! Snap out of it! A voice shouts.

Uh? I say, my voice faint.

You need to wake from this hold. He will have you under his spell otherwise! Wake, damn you!

The fog clears and I jerk myself away from Eros. He stares at me with a dazed smile. My eyebrows knit in a frown and I slap the hell out of him.

“You fucking asshole!” I shriek.

Eros looked stunned. “I thought… I thought you…”

“You thought what? That I’d want to be your little blood bank for the night? What do you take me for?!”

I quickly stand up from my seat and make my way to an exit. Any exit would do. I had to get out of here.

Eros runs after me. “Valeri, wait!”

He grabs my arm and I try to fight him off. He had an iron grip, despite his lithe build.

“Listen, I’m sorry. I thought you learned our customs.”

“What customs?”

“Nothing is ever free. If someone seeks information from a demon, they must pay. Whether it is by V-dols, through exchange, or their body. I assumed since you didn’t have a way to pay through currency, that your body would.”

I slapped him again. “Do you have any idea how idiotic that sounds?”

I scoffed as I turned to go. Eros pulls me in again. “Valeri…”

“Take me home, Eros.”

“Val…”

“NOW.” I commanded.

********************************

The way back was longer than I’d have liked. Eros decided to ride Tonitru back to SU. I was still fuming. I couldn’t believe I allowed myself to think he even liked me. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I felt humiliated. I felt ashamed. Eros knew I didn’t have any memories. But like a predator he preyed on my weakness. Are all vampires and werewolves like this? Using someone up until there is nothing left? Consuming a person’s essence until they are shriveled up?

I barely knew the man, but my undead heart ached terribly. I rubbed at my chest thinking it could take away the pain, but it was no use. First was Cassius, who hates me because he thinks I’m blocking him from his potential goals to be Alpha. Then there’s Adeyemi, who loathes me with his entire being. Why? I couldn’t tell you. Maybe it has something to do with the Hunters who were killed? Perhaps they were fellow comrades of his?

I’m soon back at the Keep. I wanted to undress and unwind. My mission to take a shower was soon disrupted by the thin frame of Stanley. He sifts through the refrigerator and my blood boils.

I zoom across the living room and slam him against the kitchen wall. Pieces of the wall crumble to the ground as I growl in rage. Stanley’s dark brown eyes widened. I could feel his pulse skyrocket as he reeked with fear.

“You have about ten seconds to tell me where the hell you’ve been.” I snarled.