Kiss of Temptation

Kiss of Temptation

by Dark Seraph

Summary: A beautiful angel, a powerful demon. Was he her savior, or her darkest enemy? Could she surrender to the strength found in his embrace, or would it prove to be her undoing? M/F, Angst

Disclaimer: All of the characters and storyline contained within are copyrighted by Dark Seraph.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone for the continued support!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Chapter 2. Eye of the Beholder

Calypso woke to the distinctive smell of wood burning, her cloak covering her shivering form. Her large aquamarine eyes fluttered open slowly as her body was inundated by waves of pain from her numerous injuries upon her return to consciousness. They came to rest on the muscular form of the demon, the steel of his sword glinting in the soft flickering glow of the firelight as he sat polishing it intently not far from where she lay. His wings were enshrouded in shadows, his dark hair framing his seductive features.

Feeling her gaze upon him, Dante looked up at her from where he sat, his green eyes smoldering with a fire that reflected the intensity echoed within the flames. “How are you feeling?” he asked quietly, his hand coming to rest on the blade.

In reply, Calypso pulled the cloak tighter around her, murmuring, “Cold… so cold.” She hurt all over, and just wanted to fall into a deep slumber where she was not forced to awaken until all of the pain had subsided.

“Let me carry you closer to the fire,” Dante offered, sheathing his sword into its scabbard and rising to his feet. “The wind has died down somewhat and there is no danger of the flames inadvertently scorching you.”

“No, don’t come any closer,” Calypso begged, her body tensing as her eyes widened in panic.

“If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done so already,” Dante pointed out, although he did stop walking toward her. “You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

“Three days?” the angel murmured in disbelief. “Is that really so?”

“I would not lie to you,” Dante remarked. As she quizzically raised an eyebrow at him, he affirmed, “I would have nothing to gain by doing so.” At her look of uncertainty, he continued. “What are you afraid of?”

“N-nothing,” she said boldly, the initial waver in her voice dispelled by her flashing blue eyes glaring at him.

The demon smiled in amusement, glad to see some of the fire that resided within her sparking to life. “Very well, then. If you have no further objections, I shall escort you nearer to the fire.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but never got the chance to as he moved with a predatory swiftness, ending up by her side. The planes and angles of his powerful frame were accentuated by the interplay of light and shadow cast from the fire. Even the feathers of his ebony wings portrayed the contrast as glints of a deep navy blue were drawn forth from the firelight. He spread his wings and leaned down elegantly, almost as if bowing, extending his hand to help her up. “My lady.”

The honey blonde angel looked up into his sultry green eyes, once again captivated by them. She reluctantly gave him her hand, realizing that any further argument was futile. Her pride had been compromised, but she honestly didn’t know if she had the strength to walk without falling.

Dante helped the angel to her feet, his arm wrapping around her waist to help steady her as she swayed. He liked the softness of her skin, the silky feel of her hair as it cascaded down her back and brushed against his forearm, and how she fit so perfectly in his arms when he held her. He felt a compelling urge to protect her that he could not yet explain or decipher.

Calypso cried out softly as a sharp pain shot through her body. Seconds later, she was shocked to find herself being lifted into the demon’s arms and carried. She reflexively wrapped her arms around his neck so that she would not fall, unconsciously shifting closer so that their bodies pressed together. Her tense muscles relaxed, and she closed her eyes, sighing softly. He was so warm, offering a strength and comfort that drove the chill that perpetually assailed her away. She could feel his heart beat against her chest in a steady rhythm, and held on tighter.

Dante spread his wings, the powerful muscles of his back causing them to beat strongly as he lifted her from the ground. With a glance at the fire and a murmured incantation, he extinguished it as he rose into the night.

“Where are you taking me?” Calypso asked fearfully, knowing that escape from him was impossible at this point. The angel still did not fully trust him, and her bravado was fading. Her feelings for him fluctuated. She was torn between wanting to be able to escape from her life of slavery, and admitting that she needed help from someone who truly seemed to care for her, even if he was a demon. Why couldn’t he have been a noble angel instead of the dark temptation that he was?

“You’ll see. It’s not far,” Dante replied, holding onto her tighter.

As they soared higher, she felt the wind on her face, whipping through her honey hair. The sounds of the night drifted upward to them, the stars sparkling in the velvet night all around them. She had forgotten how exhilarating it was to fly, to be free. Despite her initial hesitation, she once again felt comforted by the demon’s presence.

After a time, Dante descended to the ground and landed gracefully on the soft grass, walking over to the small lake that was nestled amidst a grove of weeping willow trees. A myriad of fireflies emerged from the meadow to greet them, a soft sparkling glow surrounding them as he set the angel gingerly on her feet, his arm never leaving her waist.

“I had thought that a bath would allow you to relax and get cleaned up a bit. If you will allow me to, I will treat your injuries.” The dark-haired demon indicated the soothing water as he removed a black pouch from his pocket. He sprinkled some healing herbs mixed with flower petals onto the lake, causing the water’s surface to be broken, as if beckoning her in.

“T-thank you,” Calypso replied quietly as she ventured nearer to the water’s edge, lifting her tattered garment and dipping her toes into the lake. “It’s cold!” she gasped accusingly as she crossed her arms over her chest and quickly pulled away.

Dante laughed heartily as he walked over to the lake and knelt down, murmuring foreign words as he held his hands over the water. Tiny tongues of flame ignited and danced upon the water, swirling and multiplying until the entire surface was shimmering with an array of interspersed golden lights. “Now, angel, the water should be warm enough for you.”

Her eyes widened in fascination as she forgot to be angry with him. “You have the gift of fire,” she whispered in admiration.

“Yes, I can command it as I wish,” he said as he rose and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “But I cannot help heal you unless you get into the water.”

Calypso walked over to the stream, hesitantly placing one foot in. She sighed in satisfaction as the warm water enveloped her, the flames parting in compliance to make room for her entrance. Her cloak fluttered to the ground as she shrugged it off, exposing her torn white garment that revealed enticing glimpses of her slender body underneath.

She stepped out of it, her soft white wings shielding the front of her body as she kept her back to him and sank beneath the surface up to her shoulders.

Dante’s breathing quickened as he watched the angel gracefully lower herself into the water, holding her hair up and tying it with her satin ribbon. She was truly a sight of beauty to behold. He frowned slightly as he noticed how her wings were bent at an odd angle. They would take much time to be mended and heal completely.

His intense green eyes drifted lower to the small of her back, and he swore under his breath. The angry black brand in the symbol of a dagger that stood out against her porcelain flesh marked her as a slave belonging to one of the most vicious and sadistic demon lords that he had fought against, Noir. He knew the cruelty that his kind was capable of. This latest revelation only fueled his desire to somehow change the way she saw him and all demons, as nothing but evil and deceptive.

She turned around, her gaze melancholy as she met his sad eyes. “So you’ve seen what I am. I can never return to my home now. I am unworthy, disgraced. I belong to neither world.” She looked up at him, her whole story pouring out as she let down some of her inhibitions with him. Maybe he could find a way to help her, or offer her protection.

“All I wanted was one day outside the gates of Elysium. I had heard stories and whispered secrets of the wonders that the other realms held. I wanted to see them for myself, but it turned out to be the biggest mistake of my life. I was captured by a band of demons and beaten and raped, before being sold to the demon lord Noir where I was used for his sadistic enjoyment, forced to be his concubine and to provide service to the warlords who held allegiance to him. A servant helped me escape after a time, but I was taken prisoner by a man and sold to a band of demons that he owed a debt to, the same ones who you encountered. My wings were broken when I tried to resist them. I am hunted even now by Noir’s soldiers, bound by the path of fate that I inadvertently set into motion. I know too many of the palace secrets and lines of defense that his soldiers possess to be allowed to live.” She trembled at the recollection of the painful memories, lowering her lashes over her beautiful eyes. “All I want is to be safe again.”

Dante lowered his head, recalling the fierce battle that he had engaged in with the powerful Noir, in which neither had come out victorious, although much damage had been rendered on both sides. It appeared that the fight was not over yet, their reckoning now inevitable if he offered her his protection and remained by her side.

Seeing the extent of how her story had affected him, Calypso quickly changed the subject of conversation, not knowing that he was recalling his own past, and touched by his seeming concern for her. “What about you? Where did you get that ruby from? Surely it was taken from no one less than the rank of a lord.”

Sensing that she did not want to talk any more about her soul-shattering experience, and not wanting to push the issue, Dante answered her, resolving to ask for more information later. “It was given to me as a token of appreciation for rescuing a demon lord’s son from an enemy. He wanted to give me his daughter’s hand in marriage instead, but I refused.”

“Why?” the angel questioned softly. Each new piece of the puzzle that she found out about this seemingly regal demon warrior only led her to uncover more questions, not answers.

“It was not that she did not want me as a husband. It was because I did not allow myself to love her,” Dante said quietly. “I am a soldier at heart, constantly engaging in battles. I did not want to put her at risk by her being associated with me and bring despair to her family lest my enemies target her. I would fear to leave her unattended without my protection and would be unable to fully focus on the fight when I was away from her. It was better this way. The lord could establish an alliance with another kingdom, and perhaps she could find love with another.”

Calypso’s heart beat faster at his words, and she sank deeper into the water, her wings shielding her body. The depth of the loyalty and devotion that he had demonstrated to her when she was unconscious was unfathomable to her. Certainly even demons would go so far as to protect their loved ones, but she was a total stranger to him. She hesitantly raised her eyes, an unanswered question weighing heavily on her mind. “Why do you protect me?”

Dante froze, his eyes lifting to meet hers. He knew that he had to choose his next words carefully, the delicate balance of trust forming between them contingent upon the truth. However, he could not yet reveal to her how he felt, lest he frighten her away from him and into another life-threatening situation with other demons or humans. His emerald gaze remained steady, unwavering. “Because no one, not even an angel, deserves to endure the aftermath of what you had to go through alone.”

The whole time that they were speaking, Calypso felt herself becoming more comfortable around the powerful demon. The healing herbs were pervading her senses, allowing her body and mind to relax as she detected no further threat from him. His last words dissipated any doubt that she had finally found an ally in this harsh, unforgiving world, and she could no longer deny the attraction that she felt for her handsome savior.

Emboldened by this revelation, she slowly got out of the water, never breaking eye contact with him, beaded droplets sliding enticingly down her body and white wings. The bath had soothed and rejuvenated her, and she was no longer in pain when she walked. Her cuts had started to heal, and the bruises were no longer so prominent on her pale skin.

Dante’s heart beat faster in his chest as she walked toward him, her wings glistening radiantly in the dying firelight as they seemed to shine with a light all their own, her body silhouetted in the dusky night as her honey hair fell forward to shield her body. All the previous traces of fear and doubt were no longer present in her sultry gaze. He knew that the attraction he felt for her was so much more than anything he had felt for anyone before, but he did not want to frighten her, knowing what he did about how the others had used her for sex for their own gratification. He wanted her, but he wanted it to be different. He wanted her to know how much he was falling for her, so that there was no doubt in her mind that it was truly her he desired.

Calypso stood before him, consumed by the blatant hunger in his eyes. The yearning that she felt for him was almost tangible between them. She hoped that he could feel it too, that she was not just imagining it as a dream, woven from a web of illusions like his magic remedies for healing that seemed to put her under their spell. She gazed up at him, her eyes softly sparkling as she reverently placed her hand upon his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. “What is your name?”

“My name is Dante, fair angel,” he replied, his perfect lips parting in a gentle smile as he placed his hands on her waist. “May I have the honor of asking yours?”

“Calypso,” she replied, leaning into his touch. “Thank you for everything that you’ve done for me.”

“No need,” he replied softly. “We’ll get through this together.” He noticed that she had started to shiver slightly, and his hands reluctantly came away from her soft skin. He picked up her cloak and wrapped her in its warmth, coaxing her to lie down in the soft grass.

“I must bid you goodnight. Wait for me here and I shall return after I bathe,” the demon said as he made his way down to the stream, making sure that she was still in his sight.

Calypso nodded reluctantly. She did not want him to leave her, but she understood that she could trust him to come to her aid if need be. A single flame appeared on the water, burning languidly, as Dante stripped out of his black leather pants and spread his majestic black wings, his well-built form outlined in the dim light as he flexed his powerful muscles and stepped into the water. He ran his fingers through strands of his ebony hair, reveling in the touch. The water caressed the planes of his flat stomach and his broad chest as he waded deeper, his graceful movements sinuous and tempting. He was the most gorgeous demon that she had ever seen.

She closed her eyes, contented, as she sighed softly. “Dante, my protector,” she murmured, before she let herself succumb to sleep’s spell. She didn’t even flinch when his strong arms wrapped around her and held her close, a pair of black wings tenderly enfolding her in the warmth of their embrace.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


~TBC~