Send Me to Hell

Chapter Ten

   He rubbed his temples as he wandered out of his office towards the kitchen. His stomach growled in agreement at the idea as he rubbed circles across his abdomen. He heard cheerful laughter as he approached the kitchen door. A smile dawned his face as he stood and watched his new wife learn to bake something with his staff. It seemed so long ago now that he had found her in his sorting office. He relished in the idea that underneath the tshirt she wore, his mark sat against her ivory skin. He watched in silence as they continued to laugh and bake. He backed out quietly, heading for his bedroom. He went over to his dresser, opening a secret door on the trim of it to reveal a small velvet box nestled in the back of the drawer. He pulled it out, closing the secret door and palming the little box in his hand. He flipped the lid open to look at the bands sitting snuggly in the dark velvet cushion. He had seen the bands in his dreams so many years ago and had them made from the purest materials that could be found. Stainless steel bands with gold plating held blood rubies. They interlocked together into one band with his mark etched into the bands. He flipped the lid closed and slid it into his pocket.
   He walked back down towards the kitchen with a purpose. He never felt so sure of something other than making her his wife. When he re-entered the kitchen, they were sitting at the table with coffee still laughing at whatever topic they were talking about. His arrival did not go unnoticed this time as the staff member got up to grab him a cup of coffee to join them at the table. He sat down in the offered chair with his cup of coffee, the little velvet box gripped tightly in his hand. Nila looked at him in question as he shifted in his seat to look at her. He smiled at her before extending his hand out with the lid open on the box. Her eyes grew to saucers as she looked at the gleaming gems set in the gold plated stainless steel. When she did not make a move to put the rings on, he pulled them free of their resting place and slid them gently onto her left ring finger. Her eyes welled with tears as she stared down at the rings he had just placed on her finger.
"When did you have time to have these made? They are beautiful."
"Truthfully, I saw them in a dream years ago and had them made. I knew they would be for someone special and I couldn't be happier to see them on your finger now. How do they fit?"
"Perfectly. In truth I have something for you as well. I had the staff help me make it with not having anything proper. I came from a time where we made our own things, weapons, jewelry, you name it we made it. It took me a while to make it but I finished it today while I was waiting for your meeting to get done."
   She pulled something from her pants pocket, grabbing his left hand, she slid a band onto his finger. He held it up to peer at it in wonder as the metal gleamed back at him. Carefully etched into the side of the band, he noted his mark was nestled into the metal with a new design added to the center. He moved it closer to peer at the center more closely, noting a print etched into the center. He marveled at the detail that had been etched, wondering when she had made time to make the ring that sat on his finger. He looked up to her smiling at his look of wonder.
"You like it yes?"
"Of course I do. When did you have time to do this?"
"The ring has been done for awhile. I had it made with the steel your legion uses for their swords and shields. I did the etching the night we were mated. I am not well practiced in etchings but I worked until I felt it looked nice. I had help polishing it afterwards though."
"What is the print etched in the middle?"
"It is my thumb print. I wanted you to have something of me when you wore it. You don't have to wear it though if you don't want to. It is not nearly as nice as the one you had made."
"It is perfect Nila and I would love to wear it. Who would have thought Lucifer himself would be wearing a ring on his finger? After my talk with that soldier, I fear you were right about them not being with her willingly. The ring reminded me of what he had to say on the matter."
"What did he say?"
"He had been unfaithful in the past during a rough time in his marriage and Seira knew of his infidelity. She used it against him to get him to join her private legion and he fears that similar tactics were used on the other men to get them to join without a fight. What say you on this?"
"I feel as if you should meet with all of them. If it is true that she used such tactics against them then I feel that they should be allowed this chance to redeem themselves. Put them on a probationary period in your guard and see if they redeem themselves. Should they show their loyalty then they can remain and if not then they finish serving their penance and no harm was done."
"Such a wise wife you are. I will set to work tomorrow and meet with them all on the matter. I will meet with the head of my guard and assign anyone that was blackmailed to a trusted guard member and go from there. My second in command assures me that sorting souls is going well these last few days and not to worry, so I will allow him to continue until this is sorted out. While I am home for the time being, I would like your opinion on a thought that I had."
"What is that?"
"My staff stay in what used to be servant quarters. I was thinking I would have cottages built on the property for the staff and their families so they had their own spaces to live in. The servant quarters had been updated into small apartments but they are in the house all the time and they are staff not servants. What say you?"
"I think they would be grateful for the thought you put into it. How many families live in the house?"
"Roughly 20 families live inside the house. There are a few who do not have families but I still want them to have their own space for a time when they do have a family. So in total we would need 25 cottages built. There is plenty of space on the back of the property. Building would take about 2 days a cottage if we use the pre-built ones and customized the insides. It would take a few days longer if we want the cottages to have basements. So we are looking at minimum of 2 months before they would all be finished. They would be tied into the sewer lines for the main house and would have their own wells drilled. What says you?"
"I think that would be a lovely idea. While you work on talking with the soldiers, I will set to work on getting the building started. Maybe with enough hands it will not take as long. If we start now they will be done in time for christmas. We could have Christmas trees put up and decorated before they are revealed."
"The project is yours love. I have faith you will have it done to perfection. Do not forget that you start training with the legion tomorrow. You could even get them involved with the cottages after training. I am sure they would not mind helping. Most have homes close by and are able to spend time at home when they are not on rotation. Maybe their wives would like to help decorate. I will leave the details to you and I will be just as surprised as the staff will be."
"What is my budget for this?"
"No budget. Spare no expense love, you have free reign. If you believe it is needed then get it. I have staff details in my office if you would like to see it to make decisions on what they will need. I have been out of touch with my staff for to long so I want this done to show them I am as loyal to them as they are to me."
"It shall be done. So what will we do with the remainder of the day?"
   He smiled at her as ideas ran through his head. He stood, hoisting her over his shoulder as he strode with long purposeful strides. She laughed as he mounted the stairs towards their shared bedroom 2 at a time, staff smiling at them as they made their way to the room like 2 young lovers sneaking off. A smile broke across his face as he kicked the door shut, feeling young and carefree for the first time in a long time.