Devil's Oasis

Chapter 15

"You're still here," a voice hisses, making me leap at the breath of hot foul stench that drifts past my nose.

"And you're breathing," I remarked seeing the demon that Samael had beheaded months before. His neck now bears a thick jagged scar, evidence of the beheading. His smile is a grotesque sight, sharpened fangs, one chipped, others thin like talons.

"I figured Samael would find a slave with more than one brain cell- I can guess why he kept you," his eyes dropped over my figure and I frowned, planting my hands on my hips.

"At least I'm not the grand example; how's the neck feeling? Stiff perhaps?" I mock him, tilting my head in mockery. He snarls a terrifying sound, stepping forward, hand outreaching for my throat.

"Touch her and your body will be torn apart and left on spires for the rest of your miserable life Belial," Samael growls just as the door to his office swings shut, creating an earthquake through the floor. Belial hisses and ungodly sound, stepping back with a vicious sneer.

"She's too fair," Belial makes the statement, turning to face Samael who stares at him with a blank stare.

"Why are you here?" Samael asks, glancing at me to point behind his desk wordlessly giving an order. So bossy. Having been reminded of his ground rules once, I head behind his desk, opting to steal his chair, watching as his brow quirks up before he turns back to Belial.

"You've made a stink among the angel's," he states, making Samael arch his brow.

"I'm supposed to care?" Samael questions, crossing his arms over his chest as Belial smirks, the sight is spine tingling as he glances back at me for a moment.

"Gabriel is threatening to challenge your claim of... her," Belial smiles as if happy to bring this news before Samael. He growls, rolling his eyes at that.

"On what grounds does he think he has the right?"

"Supposedly you were naughty and courted her in his realm. He states you had no right to 'kidnap' a living soul from him- her angel is stricken to her absence," Belial shrugs with a smug smile.

"Her angel? Tien was doing a piss poor job of watching her, Gabriel should've already known what was going on. It sounds like his problem is in his house- not mine," Samael scoffs, striding past Belial.

"Tien is his favorite little minion, there was a reason he placed her on your pet," Belial points out with amusement dripping from his cold tone. Samael looks at him with a low growl in warning. Belial gives a grin, stepping back with both arms raised up, palms out as if mocking his authority. I can see why such a harsh ruler is needed around here. The more time I spend here the more I've come to understand Samael.

Or Dominic's words. His need for silence, craving the quant reprieve of the bookstore when no one was around. In all of the months of being with Samael; I can only stomach a few hours in Hellfire before it feels like my mind will explode due to the pressure. "Why did he give her Tien?" Samael asks as he lounges back on his desk, wings fluttering with distaste.

"Why of course, he knew of your... family back home. When he realized you still hung around the store he changed her angel to Tien- you oughta be proud you know," Belial snickers quietly as Samael's brow flickers out in an impatient goad forward. "Your choice is the first to escape Tien's watch," he sings jovially as if it's a prize to be proud of.

Samael smirks, shaking his head amused. "So what does Gabriel want?"

"He was making a stink of calling a trial and calling court with Cassiel," Belial states with glee.