Pisachas

Chapter Eleven

A slithering of icy chill rose from her feet through her boots all the way up to the crest of her head. Light prickles of goose flesh ran up and down her arms. She lay on something soft and velvety, a bed perhaps. But she didn't want to open her eyes in fear of what she'd find. A crackling started and the scent of smoke filled the air. Her heart was pounding. Were they going to burn her alive or something?

She couldn't resist opening her eyes, particularly when someone started poking her shoulder. Gilia expected to see that Balan guy, but instead focused on a much smaller face…a child's. What was a child doing here?

The little girl's skin was pale to the point it was almost blue. Her eyes were droopy and sad with dark circles underneath. Her faded pink dress had tears and holes all in it. She held a ratted stuffed raccoon with matching dark rings around its eyes. She stood there staring at Gilia for a few minutes and then turned to skip out of the room.

Gilia shook her head trying to clear it. Maybe the images were all in her mind. Or not.

Gilia noticed a fire burning wildly now in the center of the room in a circular stone pit, absorbing some of its chill. Red curtains hung from the ceilings all throughout the room. There were no windows. Just the fire pit surrounded by cushions to sit near it, a lounge chair on the other side and the huge crimson bed that bounced when she moved like a moonwalk. It was facing the doorway, so Gilia could see when a man walked into the room. It wasn't Balan, which she was relieved about, but it wasn't Sach either coming to rescue her. It was a different person all together.

Nose long and pointed, high sharp cheek bones, strong brow, dark hair like Sach's only stopping just above his shoulders; this man was young, vibrant, attractive in every sense of the word, but had an essence of power about him. Gilia coward into the blood red pillows as he floated around the pit. He didn't wear normal clothing like the others she'd met, but a long black robe covering everything except his bare feet. It was pretty obvious the man was naked underneath. His neck line was tanned and skin smooth. The smoothest she'd ever seen before as if she touched it, it would feel like silk under her fingers. Gilia gritted her teeth; hating herself for having such a bizarre reaction to someone she didn't know and radiated danger.

"Don't be troubled, child. I will not harm you," he whispered in a deep and rich intoxicating voice that forced a tugging sensation inside her stomach. Gilia had to grip the sheets to remain on the bed.

"Oh yeah? That's what the last guy said." She lowered her head, breaking their eye contact. The golden flakes in his were starting to feel like invisible chains pulling her towards him. What was with this guy?

"I apologize for Balan. I've yet to teach him proper etiquette on how to treat my guests." He stood there statuesque and gorgeous, watching her. A burning deep inside made her want to jump from the bed and throw herself into his arms. The pool of heat between her legs had Gilia wincing and biting the inside of her mouth. She held her self still, as the man's head tilted. "My, you are much stronger than I anticipated. I can see why Sach has such a hard time resisting you."

Gilia inhaled a slow steady breath, "Who are you? And who was that girl?" She was getting tired of asking questions lately, to be honest. And home seemed to be getting further and further away every second.

He glanced behind to the doorway where the small child had skipped through earlier. "Don't be fooled by her innocent appearance. That child was sent here for murdering her parents in their sleep I'm afraid. Very disturbed."

Gilia didn't know how to respond, except cringe at the fact she must really be in hell to be stuck with all these horrible, strange people.

"But I, on the other hand," he continued. "Have many names."

"Like Santa Clause," she snapped forcing herself to resist even looking at him. It was getting difficult to remain still. Her body continued to fidget and she feared if Gilia were to touch her own skin, she'd feel fire. And if he were to touch her, surely she'd combust.

He hadn't liked that comment. At all. "I'm not some fictional character made for the selfish spoils of humans." His eyes took on a red glow mixing into the disconcerting creamy gold. "I'm the Master of the Underworld. I've been called Hades for many centuries from the mythological period, but you could also refer to the Underworld more so as Hades. I've had other names like Devil, Beelzebub, Mephistopheles, Lucifer, Samael, Leviathan, Satan and others. I prefer to be called Belial though, which means 'without a master'." His wicked grin made Gilia uncomfortable, like she was a fish about to be caught in the net.

"I am the epitome of true independence and take pleasure in dealing with more of the carnal side of man. Shall we say, my interests have more to do with lust than any other drives of the human body."

A flash of raw need stormed Gilia's flesh, overwhelming her to the point she'd actually moaned aloud and fell back against the soft mattress. Her back arched as searing pleasure raced from her core spreading across her skin like wildfire. "Please stop," she cried.

"Stop? And miss seeing your lovely figure buck under my lustful persuasion. Mmm, I don't think so, cheré."

"I think so," came a dark voice from the shadows of the doorway.

"Sach!" Gilia yelled sitting up, ignoring the lusting storm whipping inside her. She'd recognize that voice anywhere.

He shuffled through the door a little slower than usual. His cheek had a gash straight across oozing blood. A dark bruise on the left side of his chin seemed to be expanding even as she sat there staring at him. Sach held his rib cage and winced as he moved around the pit on the other side and stopped before the bed, holding out his hand. "Come little one, we're going home."

Despite her attempt to escape Sach to begin with, she eagerly pressed her hand into his and the moment they touched was as if a switch had been flipped. Gilia no longer felt the tug towards the man who claimed to be Satan. But a different sensation urged her towards Sach instead, less potent, but equally intoxicating. She saw his brow flinch and knew he'd felt it too. It must be torturous for him to stand, she mused feeling sorry for him.

"Yes." He helped her gain her balance, which was surprisingly unsteady. Gilia felt as though she'd lived through a tornado tossing her around like debris from an old barn. As much lust and heat that'd been thrown her way as if it were palpable, it was no wonder.

"You do realize even after you've reclaimed your soul, I still can overpower you." Belial addressed Sach trying to stop them.

They paused just before the door. The man looked desperate. "Yes, but when I do…you will only be able to influence me, not control me. I will have free will remember."

"Not if I can help it." Belial exclaimed highly pissed off. He'd flung his robe around him and disappeared like some cheesy Dracula move.

Sach had apparently had him at the throat so to speak. Gilia didn't exactly know what they were talking about, but she had every intention of finding out. As soon as they were away from this place. She pressed close to Sach's arm, not giving an inch, nor caring how his touch affected her. Whenever he was near…somehow Gilia had begun to feel safe. Shockingly.

When she asked why Sach looked as though he'd been hit by a bus; he'd snapped he would tell her later.

"Let me just get you out of here alive and then we'll have a nice, long discussion."

Gilia made an uneasy gulp, realizing Sach was just as pissed off as Belial. She hoped he didn't intend to hurt her, but after what she'd gotten them into…and what he'd obviously gone through to get her back, Gilia wouldn't be surprised if Sach started spitting nails. Although the gentle, but possessive grip he had on her arm, told her a different tale.

AN/Thanks for the reviews! Mint, Amanda88, Porcelain_Punk, Nuki, Onihime and ginstar3. It means a lot! I couldn't help myself going on to the next chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed.