Bound| Fantasmical 2023

WattpadDarkFantasy: Interdimensional Underworld Boyband

The party of angels takes place in a penthouse. The biggest I've ever seen, overlooking the glitz and glam that is Manhattan. My partner and I are scandalous; the Devil, handsome as ever, his feathery brown hair slicked back and hidden by his dark hat, his red mask and tie glimmery against the dark backdrop of his slouchy suit. When we enter the room, his hand moves from my shoulder to the back of my neck, catching my gold choker. I shiver.

And me? I'm not much of a gown guy, but the all-white mermaid dress really gives me a Persephone air. The flowers pinned in my short hair, was, well, an attempt. I let my eyes dart around innocently.

There's a hush that falls over the room, all these wealthy-looking men in vintage suits and drawn hats.

Then an angel clears his throat. "What are you doing here?"

The Devil saunters forward, pulling me along. "You forget I am an angel, too. And please, Clarence, last time I checked, there was dancing at balls. I brought my partner for a spin."

I give the angel wide eyes. He glares at the Devil and bends down to meet my gaze. All these dudes are at least six feet tall.

"And what's your name, little lady?"

I bite a seam into my cheek. "Persephone, sir." I give a curtesy--or at least an attempt; I haven't curtseyed since elementary school.

He looks up at the Devil wordless. Murmurs rush through the crowd of men.

"Now, if you won't dance, I will." The Devil spins me out into the middle of the floor. I make a theatrical stumble before he hooks his fingers into my necklace and pulls me into his chest. Even musicless, my feet find the steps of this dance easy. It's a deception; me, demure, frightened, him, cruel and evil. The angels are shocked. Me and the devil share conspiratorial looks between exaggerated faces. It's working. Maybe they'll spill their secrets to sweet and innocent Persephone. All we have to do is sell it...

And then the windows blow in. Glass slashes the immortal beings. The Devil shoves me to the ground, shielding me with his impervious body.

Angels, devils, gods of every kind. Winged, horned, hooved. Wheels with eyes, roaring ethereal clouds. Chariots in astounding colors, from luscious golds to glittering onyxs. And beautiful women in long white dresses with flowers wound in their hair. Persephones. They all slam their way into the party.

The Devil drops down beside me and rolls against the couch. His eyes are entirely unreadable. They look almost afraid.

"Louie," he says, "can you forgive me for everything I've done to you?"

I look around at the broken glass on the floor and the costumed individuals stomping around the penthouse. "Yeah, I dunno, maybe."

"Can you believe a beast like me can love a mortal?"

This time I look him in the eyes. "Yes. If the mortal loves him back."

He leans forward and he kisses me. Like, actually. Like on the lips. And it's wow. Wow wow wow. Sugar and sweet and spice and heat. Like my hands grip his shoulders and pull him into me, because it's a satisfaction that some part of me knew I wanted, but now all of me demands. Fireworks, baby. Melting candy.

I'm a thirsty motherfucker.

And there's a million questions screeching in my head, a million quips, but I don't have time. I recognize the dark things approaching us, I feel the Devil's form change into something smoky and malevolent. But I ask him a question: "Why are you so afraid?"

"Who's to say if our dimension wins or if ours is even the real one."

Men in suits take on giant winged creatures, losing. Persephones run around the room, chased, screaming, by big laughing men. My Devil crashes into an all-red version of himself, with large horns and a forked tail. They bowl each other to the ground.

I stand up shakily, working my way through the brawling crowd, searching for something close to mortal I might be able to win against. A Persephone rushes past me and I step into her place, my hands thrown into a fighting guard. Maybe I can buy her some time.

Rough hands seize my shoulders so harshly, the glasses fly off my face. I swing and hit muscle so hard it hurts my hand. I look up into a bearded face, and I feel myself shake. He is majestic, wide and broad, every muscle on display, his orange eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Well, aren't you a different one?"

"I-I-I'm not Persephone, I'm just serving Persephone realness."

He laughs, even lower than my devil's, and I feel a presence closing in around me. Something is drooling on my foot. He lifts a hand off me and smooths his toga; I'm paralyzed with fear.

 "My group has traveled through dimensions with other devils and underworld kings, searching for universes to conquer and women to take to our underworlds. We have left...several dimensions broken in our wake, and I apologize for our crudeness. Dragons like to pour in when we break the Space and Time barrier, but they're more a confusion than a help."

"I-I'm not Persephone." My whole body will not stop shaking. "I'm not even a woman."

"You see, something happened to our worlds. Certain characters are missing, and we've helped each other find them. Do you know who I am?"

I shake my head wordlessly.

He leans his face in, exposing a row of perfect teeth. "In my dimension, Demeter saves Persephone. So, naturally, I need my own, and I would like an odd one."

"P-p-please, I don't want to join your interdimensional underworld boyband."

He scrunches his face. And then he laughs.

"You. You're the Persephone to my Hades."

I kick. I scream. I aim right for the nads. It does not help. He slings me over his shoulder, and on what feels like a whim, we're careening through the darkness.