The Styles Brothers

Chapter Twenty Three: Love Beyond Attraction

Elena's POV

My father yanked me by the arm; roughly dragging me through the dimly lit hall.

Harry had transported us here; a dark, dark place to a different but just as eerie castle, lonesome and strange. While my father's throne hall was brightly lit, Lucifer's was full of shadows.

With an angered growl, I snarled in my father's face before he jerked me back into line.

"Master," Charles said reverently, coming to halt. Another harsh jolt to the ropes that bound my wrists. My father pushed down on my shoulders and I sank to my knees with a scowl. I dared not look up and meet the eyes of the devil.

"Who is she?" A low, gravelly voice demanded.

"Elena Campbell, human acquaintance of Darkwood triplets. She came to me, seeking Sansavi."

"Look at me, Elena Campbell." The voice commanded. I took a deep breath, willing to keep the trembles at bay as I lifted my head.

I almost shut my eyes at the monster before me. The devil was gruesome, with scarlet skin and black eyes. His teeth were yellow and bared in a leering grin. "Well, you are a pretty one."

My upper lip curled in disgust. "Where is Sansavi Darkwood?"

"Do not speak when you are not spoken to!" The devil thundered; the very room shaking with his anger. I shrank back. "You humans are so unintelligent, it's painful." Lucifer jabbed a long yellow talon between his teeth and wiggled it around in a very unmannered way.

"Master?" a familiar voice, the voice I'd been waiting to hear, echoed through the throne hall we'd entered. My eyes hungrily and shamefully ate up his appearance as he strolled in; he was still darkly beautiful and charming.

However, he was not the same man. He wasn't the James I had come to love and be loved by, and the very thought was daggers in my skin.

"James!" I faux-choked out in what I hoped was a desperate voice. This had been the plan all along. Charles would continue to play the Guardian role, dragging me to the feet of the devil to present as a cruel gift.

If everything went as planned, the devil would lazily hand me over to James, his newest servant, to do as he wished. It was then that I had one shot to convince James to come back to us.

Lily and Harry were stationed around the perimeter of the castle, ready in escape if all went well. Charles would join them shortly after I was taken into custody.

I made sure to keep my mind and face blank as James approached me, cautious of his telepathic talents. His glowing red eyes were terrifyingly out of place on his pale, boyish face, as was the snotty smile he wore.

I wanted to slap the ugly smirk off his face, kiss him, and then possibly slap him again. But I couldn't. At least not now.

"Sansavi, take it, will you?" Lucifer waved a careless hand. He slumped back in his throne and didn't give James and I a second glance, which I was thankful for, despite the fact that he'd just referred to me as an it. His black eyes drifted to Charles.

"Leave."

Charles was flustered, but gave a timid bow. My father's eyes made fleeting contact with mine as he turned away, in which I read the words he wished to speak aloud.

Be careful.

"Move it," James' voice was cold as he grabbed me roughly and pushed me towards a door. I complied, dragging my feet for emphasis. He led me to another all white room, complete with a barred door and an oppression lack of windows.