The Devil's Mark (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty Three: Isle Morningstar

Lucifer

Four hours of sleep followed by a quick dip in the pool out on the terrace made for a quick power nap. I was feeling well rested, better than I had been in a very long time. Jason lounged out on the couch in front of the television set while I finished getting ready for our afternoon road trip to a secret location some four hundred miles away. The cufflinks were the last to go on as usual by the time I emerged from the bathroom. I walked up behind Jason and kissed him on the cheek as he reached behind him and cupped the back of my head, turning his face to kiss me as I accepted his offer with great enthusiasm.

"Ready to go?" I asked, reaching for the remote as I turned off the TV.

Jason stood up as he stretched. "Yeah. Where are we going again?"

"I'm not telling you. It's surprise."

"I think I'm beginning to hate surprises."

I smile as I lead the way to the door. "Nonsense. You love them. Admit it."

"I guess in a way I do love surprises. But I feel bad for never giving you something in return."

We step into the private elevator as the doors close behind us, jabbing the button for the main lobby with my thumb. A short ride later, we arrive outside just as our car pulls up in front of the hotel by a member of the valet team. Sleek, stylish and very sexy, the brand-new Audi S8 shimmers in the morning light as onlookers stop and stare to try and catch a glimpse. Inside, the seats feel like velvet while the electronic steering wheel activates the car as soon as I wrap my fingers around its soft, leather material.

"How do you keep finding these cars?" Jason asked as he looked around.

"What can I say? I love cars. Especially the one's that go fast."

Through city streets and narrow alleyways, we finally find ourselves driving along the Amalfi coast. With sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small, friendly beaches and colorful fishing villages. The port city of Salemo vanishes in the blink of an eye as we travel further north, away from the crowds and above all everything else civilization. But after three hours of driving non-stop I look over and see Jason with the seat leaned back, sleeping soundly like an angel. As I turn a sharp corner, the coast still remains at my side as water crashes against the jagged rocks.

At the end of the road is the ocean, a dead end, also know as a popular tourist spot to capture breathtaking sunset photographs. But that's not the way I see it. I push a button on the center console that activates a ramp as the car travels underneath the ground while a massive glass tunnel points the way to our new summer home. Clear blue water, tropical fish and sharks alike, swim freely as the headlights of the car point the way. Jason stirs in his sleep, his eyes slowly open at first, but soon become wide eyed as he stares up at a hammerhead shark. I tell him to relax that the glass is impenetrable.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"This is my gift to you. I bought it before flying out here to see you a few days ago. Think of it as your early wedding present from me."

"So you bought me a tunnel?"

I laugh hard. "No. This tunnel actually connects to our new island summer home. I hope you like it. Practically got it for a steal."

At the end of the tunnel is a massive stone and hand-carved chamber with four pillars directly placed in the center while at the base is a platform, an elevator for the car really, that will take us straight up into the castle. Another switch activates the platform as we slowly spin counterclockwise until we reach our destination. Additional cars line both sides of the room as we step out and walk inside. Gold and ivory archways along with beautiful and elegant craftsmanship, this was a castle designed for a king and his prince.

Author's Note:  Hello my lovelies, sorry this is so short. But no matter how hard I tried to write this chapter, I guess in a way I knew how this was going to end. (The chapter not the story. lol) Anyways, hope you enjoy it. Hopefully the next will be better. Love you all.