Sinner's Delight

Part 2

"Your woman got herself into trouble." Dantalion raised his eyes from the book he was reading before Orias interrupted him. "Let me rephrase that. You got your woman into trouble."

One eyebrow arched in the direction of the marquis.

"What do you mean by that?" The duke's face grew harsher. Orias fiddled with his fingers, trying to find the right words. "By the gods, Orias! Speak at once."

"The humans found out that she summoned a demon to have sexual intercourse with."

The demon's features twisted with fear. He jumped to his feet, eliminating the distance between them, and grabbed his friend by the shoulders. "Tell me that by some divine force they have not taken action against her!"

The marquis shifted his golden eyes to the ground, confirming his suspicions.

Fuck.

The duke hurried out of the room, and Orias had to run to catch up with him.

"Where the hell are you going?"

Dantalion stopped in front of a colossal golden mirror that served as a portal to the human realm. He slid his claws along the intricate details as he struggled to remain calm.

"I'm bringing her home."

Before his friend could stop him, the demon stepped through it.

Blinking rapidly to adjust to the blinding sunlight streaming through the sanctuary's stained-glass windows, he looked around in search of Eleonora.

"Behold! The marks of the beast!" The man who spoke sounded furious. "This Jezebel has opened the doors for evil to walk freely in this holy place, offering her body and..."

The voice became increasingly fainter, until it disappeared completely thanks to the deafening rage that burned within him.

Sons of a one-eyed whore.

His stomach turned as he saw her completely naked, tied to a huge cross as if she were crucified. Exposed to the stares of reproach and malice.

His precious Eleonora was barely recognisable. Her pale skin was covered in bruises, her plump lips bruised as if she had been slapped several times. But what escalated his fury was the way her beautiful grey eyes stared blankly into the void, stripped of any emotion. It was as if her body was nothing more than an empty shell that her soul had abandoned.

His gaze fell on the mark of his fangs on her inner thigh, at which the priest was pointing accusingly. Dantalion growled, catching everyone's attention. He heard gasps and prayers that would avail them nothing. His eyes focused on Father Dominic.
"See! The demon has come back for his whore!"

His red eyes narrowed as he strode across the aisle.

"Let us cast him out into the depths of hell, where he belongs!" The priest put his hands together, followed by the rest of those present. "Deprecare Deum pacis, ut conterat Satanam sub pedibus nostris..."

His body burst into flames before he could finish the prayer. Horrified screams echoed through the sanctuary as the flames consumed what was left of Dominic's body.

The ropes holding Eleonora to the wooden structure disintegrated, and Dantalion scooped her up in his arms. Casting one last hate-filled glance around him, he threw into the air a small gold ring, which morphed into the mirror he had used to get there.

It disappeared as soon as he stepped through it with his beloved human in his arms, leaving the Sanctuary of Ortia burning to ashes behind them.

Appearing in his chambers, he laid her down on his bed and stroked her face, pushing a lock of strawberry blonde hair away from her eyes.

"My precious Eleonora..." He kissed her forehead gently, healing her wounds completely. He pulled away, giving her space. She had been brutally assaulted, so it would be only natural that she wouldn't want anyone to come near her. "I'm sorry, I can't heal your heart or soul… But I will be here for you, with open arms, ready to give you all my love.”

She stared at him and reached out to touch his face. A faint smile appeared on her face.

"That's the first time you've ever said my name."

He smiled, covering her small hand with his own. If only she knew how precious she was to him.

"Can you lie next to me?"

He nodded. Eleonora scooted away to give him space. Dantalion laid down and pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her.

She slid her fingers along the fabric of his black shirt.

"I didn't know you owned clothes."

He laughed heartily.

"I never needed them when I was visiting you." He arched an eyebrow suggestively, making her blush.

"Right."

The demon stroked her cheek with his thumb. Her characteristic jovial glow was slowly starting to return to her eyes, which left him relieved.

“Nora?”

She looked at him intently, holding her breath as she waited for his next words.

"Would you mind staying here, with me? I don't want to send you back to that terrible realm."

"It's not that bad a place."

"So you wish to leave?" For a moment he felt his heart break in his chest, even though he had always doubted he possessed one.
She shook her head.

"I simply can't stay away from you. I love you. I will stay, if you'll have me."

He would have been less surprised if she had slapped him. But to say she loved him...

Dantalion kissed Eleonora longingly.

"I love you, angel."

Smiling, she kissed him again. Then she looked at him with teary eyes.

"Thank you for coming to get me."

He tightened his arms around her and kissed all over her face.

"I would set the world on fire and sit back watching it be consumed by flames for you, Eleonora." He buried his fingers in the soft strands of her hair to pull her face to his and brushed his lips against hers. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Nothing?"

The mischievous smile she offered him made him raise an eyebrow. And when she straddled him, he asked the gods to have mercy on his soul.