Forbidden Desires

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Sancto Lavelizio

Death was a welcomed companion amidst the chaos. However, he did not come alone. His faithful sidekick darkness was front and center to the grand spectacle, amplifying living senses that should have faded away upon my transcendence into the afterlife. 

Yet, there was no denying the metallic taste of iron that coated the inner linings of my cheek and reached my overly sensitive taste buds. My midriff was on fire, indicating that maybe I wasn't such a saint in my mortal life after all. There was a huge possibility that I ended up within the calderons of hell and endless flames were literally licking away at my death wound. 

At least that's what it felt like.

I hate that the stories had it all wrong, death wasn't painless. In fact, it hurt, a fucking lot. My stiff muscles twitched as I felt the nerves in my pinky spam.

 Opening my eyes seemed like an impossible task as I physically struggled to pry my lids open. I screamed internally when I managed to open one eye only to have it immediately shut again in the blinding morning sunlight. 

Now that I took a peek at my surroundings the black void behind my lids no longer existed. Instead a bright red glare took its place forcing my reluctant eyes open. It took blinking several times to adjust to the morning glare. Not hell. Sunlight.

Directly across from me there was a window with open blinds and yellow beams of light rising above large slabs of concrete. Where in the world am I? I didn't have the energy to raise any of my limbs but I forced my head to turn left as I took in the rest of my surroundings. 

I was in a bare room, resting on a mattress that was on the floor but felt like heaven on earth.  The light blue paint was chipping, in some corners, left behind wallpaper began peeling away from the creases. My eyebrows raised in surprise because despite the old paint job the place was pristine, not a speck of dust in sight. 

The ceiling fan whirled slowly above me, the metal hinges groaning softly in protest creating white noise in the silent space. Where the hell am I? I forced myself to get up as I moved the sheet that covered me back, immediately feeling my damp skin cool. I was only wearing my bra and panties but covering my midriff was thick gauze kept in place with medical tape. 

One by one memories raced through my head, my skin prickled in awareness, reminding me of the bloodshed I had witnessed. I wasn't too keen on laying in this bare room alone. I wanted to go investigate what layed beyond that door regardless of how frightening it might be. 

My side burned when I attempted to get into an upright position, but I ignored the sharp sting, grinding my back molars to keep from screaming. I was mentally preparing myself for the excruciating pain but before I could find the courage to stand up Dante came barging into the room looking like a crossbreed between a deranged man and savage beast.

"You shouldn't be up," He growled, stepping into the room still covered in yesterday's blood. My stomach churned and the emptiness raised the bitter taste of bile into my esophagus. "Don't look so disgusted sweetheart. I assure you there are far worse things in life than a little guts and blood." I was going to deny being disgusted when he cut me off.

"Lay down," He said gruffly, a translucent vial appearing in the center of his palm.

"What is that," Suspicion laced my words, last time I saw a similar vial I was drunk within minutes. I hesitated but laid down anyway staring at his swift movements wearily. He grabbed a lighter from his pocket and held the flame a few inches below the vial. I frowned at his actions, now I was concerned. It took a few minutes but the translucent liquid slowly began to boil within the small space and soon a neon green substance took its place.