Well, hello again. For those loyal to this new series, I apologize for the lengthy gaps between the chapters. I'm not one of those gifted writers who can write a chapter a day, but I'm writing them as fast as I can. But I'd recommend giving yourself a week before checking.
Also, I had a slight problem with the detailing on this chapter, so it got rejected the first time. Hopefully I fixed whatever was wrong.
Her eyes flickered open, squinting for an instant as they adjusted to the light. She'd forgotten that wreaths of hellish flame didn't dim when she'd fallen asleep; even now they were still blazing with all their might. She blinked through her fading sleep, pushing the warm blankest aside so she could move. She pushed herself up onto her hands, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She stretched her arms up, rolling her neck to crack her spine back into place.
Being explored by three ravenous demons had worked her body into a serious kink.
An instant later, Claire winced sharply and folded her hands onto her stomach. That small handful of cherries she'd had last night didn't tide her over for long. Her insides roared painfully, demanding nourishment. Her eyes flicked to the enormous table at the far end of the room, her mouth watering at the sight of the piles of food that were still left.
Before she moved to eat, a shadow caught her eye. Seated at one end of the table, Darrow was hunched over the table, his face buried in plates of roasted pork and charred fish. Every so often he would raise his head from the platters, using one hand to lift a massive jewel-crusted goblet to his lips. Dark liquid spilled down his chin, pooling on the stone floor.
Can't say much for manners.
Swallowing silently, Claire inhaled deeply and stepped quietly onto the cold floor. Cautiously, she took silent steps towards the table, her hunger and her fear of Darrow waging war with each other. She might be starving, but the last thing she needed was Darrow turning
her
into dinner.
She stopped a foot from the table, watching him eat. His lack of manners, while understandable for a demon, still made her grimace in disgust. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her hands over her bare skin. She was still naked, though a new burst of hunger from her belly made her forget her humiliation.
She cleared her throat, trembling from nervousness. "Darrow?"
He paused, lifting his head and turning it to stare at her. Black eyes regarded her cautiously, as if waiting for her to lash out or run away screaming.
She swallowed again. "Can I...may I join you?"
He stayed motionless for a moment, and Claire wondered if he was imagining throwing her onto the table and forcing himself upon her. The though made her shiver again.
Instead, he scooted his chair to one side, offering her enough space to move into a seat of her own. She settled into the hard wood, squirming to find a comfortable place. Finally giving up on making the seat more manageable, Claire folded her hands into her lap and stared at the table. Her eyes flicked up to see Darrow still staring at her, his onyx eyes boring into her own.
"May I eat?" Her voice was quiet, filled with fear.
He cocked his head to one side. "Why are you asking me?"
She dropped her head again. "I'm afraid you'll bite my hand off."
The statement seemed to knock him off balance slightly. For barely an instant, she saw a flicker of pain and embarrassment flash through his eyes. He reached out a muscled arm and gripping the edge of a gilded plate loaded high with blackened stripes of beef and piles of rice. He shoved it towards her, stopping when the platter was an inch away from touching her chest. He pulled his arm back and settled into his chair, though his eyes never wavered from her.
She offered a faint smile. "Thank you." She reached out, instinctively pausing when she saw that the table was devoid of silverware.
Darrow barked out a laugh. "You mistake us for being refined, my dear. No forks or knives here. You use your hands."
She stared at the plate of food, unsure about how to proceed. She'd been raised to act like a lady, and that meant no eating without proper equipment. On the other hand, her hunger was now borderline starvation. She sighed and reached out her hand, picking up a slice of steak with her fingers. Sweet, heavenly juice dripped from the piece of meat, making her stomach twist in anticipation. She shrugged mentally and brought the slice to her mouth. Manners could wait, her body couldn't.
Flavors of smoke and spice burst into her mouth, making her moan at the taste. Her famished body nearly shook with delight. She chewed slowly, wanting to savor the luscious aromas for as long as she could. Claire swallowed, taking in a harsh gasp from holding her breath in for so long. Faster than her eyes could follow, her hand shot out and snatched another piece and brought it to her mouth. She hesitated an instant before it touched her lips, taking a deep breath and biting it carefully. She may be in hell, but Claire still wanted to show she was a respectable lady no matter where she was.
Darrow laughed. "You show far too much decorum here."
She looked at him, a small strip of beef hanging out of her lips.
His lips kicked up in a sly smile. "We are demons, miss Harding. What makes you think any of us were ever raised with manners or proper etiquette?"
Embarrassed, she dropped her head and looked away, a bright blush working its way onto her face. What was she thinking? Of course they were never raised that way. They didn't care whether or not she cut her food into pieces or took delicate sips. All they cared about was eating and conquering her. She groaned. She must have made a complete fool out of herself.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Darrow watching her sulk. To her surprise, he made a face of uneasy embarrassment and looked away from her.
So he does have other emotions besides angry and suspicious. Well, that's good to know.
Her heart jumped a bit. Maybe he wasn't always as vicious and angry as he portrayed himself to be. Maybe, just maybe, she had a chance of being able to work with him. Swallowing the last bit of meat, Claire cleared her throat and straightened herself, turning to look directly at him.
She inhaled deeply, centering herself and preparing fro an assault. "Thaltos told me-"
Darrow's head snapped up, his black eyes piercing hers. "He told you
what?"
Uh oh. Bad move.
She slid into her chair an inch, blushing furiously. Not a good way to start the conversation.
He leaned forward, his arm supporting his weight on the table. "He. Told. You. What?"
She whimpered and scooted back as far as he could. His eyes narrowed at her, clearly incensed that she would start off their bond this way. She swallowed loudly, her heart pounding in her chest.
"He told me...the girl you collected ran off with your friend. And that's why you're always so angry."
His eyes softened as he sat back in his chair, exhaling a deep sigh. He folded his hands across his chest and stared off into the shadows. "Elaina. I've gotten to the point of not discussing that harpy anymore."
Claire breathed a sigh of relief and scooted back into the seat of her chair. He wasn't going to eat her or kill her...yet.
His eyes flicked back to her, an unusual softness in their black depths. "But I suppose, being an oh-so-curious human, you want to know the story. Hmm?"
Nervously, she nodded her head. She wanted to lie and allow him the privacy he deserved, but her curiosity got the best of her. Besides, he'd offered.
Darrow settled into his chair, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. "It's quite a story, my girl, so I'll break it down for you. About five hundred years ago I had struck a deal with a poor couple from the squalor alleys of Paris. I promised them wealth beyond their dreams; they promised their young daughter when she came of age. With my help, they climbed the ranks of the French elite and lived in the most luxurious houses you could imagine. Castles, chariots, absurdly elaborate gardens. You name it, they purchased it. To them and their children, it was everything they could have ever wanted."
Claire inched forward and leaned her elbows on the table, nibbling at a fresh slice of beef as she listened.
"Years passed and the time came for me to collect my payment. As often happens with newfound wealth, Elaina's parents had become very distant from her, so wrapped up in their new lives that they practically shoved her out the door to me. Her parents bargained with me when she was very young, no older than five, she she'd grown up on the false wealth they'd been given. As to be expected, she grew up to be nothing more than a whiney, spoiled brat with a cheerleader body and a microscopic fuse."
Claire snorted. "Sounds like my friend Lindsey. That girl will only eat if it's served to her on a platinum spoon."
Darrow's mouth twitched. "Sadly, it's a reality for many privileged children. Elaina was no exception. I tried for months to break her in, and she did well, but her only issue was trading sex for gifts. I wanted a blowjob? She needed a new dress first. However, the longer I worked to train her, the less time she'd spend with me. Along with the extortion, Elaina was secretly running off with Tarrin, a very close friend of mine who I'd known for centuries." His eyes narrowed at the memory, showcasing his still-raging anger.
She swallowed another slice of meat. "Why is that such a problem? You, Thaltos and Silthos, share
me
."
He held up a finger. "Ah, but all three of us made the deal for you.
I
made the trade for Elaina. And it's a big deal because that violates the bartering contract. Once a deal is complete, the human prize must stay with their keeper. No exceptions. And no other demon may claim a human other than their own unless they've traded for it. Both Elaina and Tarrin broke the rules."
She nodded, scooping up a handful of rice. "Thaltos told me she was kicked out."
"Yes, and handed over to the Catholics as a witch." He smiled and winked at her. "She wasn't really, you know. But we don't treat traitors and rule-breakers too kindly here. Tarrin was disowned by everyone and exiled into your world as punishment. He's a demon, mind you. Human don't take well to demons in their realm. There's not much of a chance that he survived very long, but if he has, he can never return her. If he does, he'll be condemned as enemy and executed."
Claire swallowed her mouthful of rice and stared at him. "Why so harsh?"
"We don't want a repeat of the same thing. If he comes back, there's a general fear that he'll do the same thing again with another demon's girl. He's always had a curious affinity for luring them away, so most owners are afraid of losing their prizes to him."
She swallowed the last grains of rice and nodded. "That makes sense, I guess."
