Slinking out the door, I find myself in a long-polished marble corridor. Passing the closed doorways, I don’t linger to peek inside. I’m focused on my objective. Nothing is going to stop me. I’m the predator and he’s my prey. A coldness I experience when I’m ready to kill envelopes me.

An opulent grand staircase leads down onto the main floor.

The place is eerily silent. Not a soul can be seen.

Scanning below, I keep my pistol ready.

“Master has ordered you to stay inside.” The high whiny voice speaks the second my foot hits the last step.

Swinging around, red eyes regard me coldly. Lips curled back over sharp fangs, I’m not sure if he’s leering or grinning.

Barrel of the gun trained on the demon’s forehead, I crowd his space with intent. “Your Master can go fuck himself.”

Cringing hands covering his head for protection he attempts to scurry away.

Taking an arm prisoner, I drag him back.

“No, no, it burns! Don’t touch me.” He squeals, clawing to get loose.

His words jar inside my head. They’re so fucking familiar I can’t get the image of Caesar’s similar reaction out of my mind. Before I have time to analyze it an explosion rocks the walls.

“What’s that?”

“The battle.” Thin, long tongue flicking out, he hisses the words. Still scrambling at my hold, he’s desperate to get free.

Throwing him aside, I jog towards the front doors that have been left cracked ajar. The dark skyline I had witnessed from the bedroom window has softened to a darker hue of blue with the approach of dawn.

Hurrying into the courtyard I look over my shoulder. I take in the black looking fortress I’ve just escaped. The same marble that makes up the floors inside glitters like starlight. It’s surface is pitted and scarred from numerous bombardments it’s endured over time. Perched on top of the hill, it looms like a shadow. This place had been designed with defence in mind.

Not slowing my pace, I see the mass of slaughter raging at the bottom of the hill.

The clang of swords and deafening roars reach me even at this distance.

It’s a perfect chaos.

Pausing, my gaze fixes on the bodies littering the scene, heads drawn back in the throes of death. Slack faces twisted in their last drawn out breathes. There’s every type of demon in every shape and form.

Searching the battlefield, I look for Max.

Lethal and powerful, I see him standing among a bloodbath. The shadows which encase his body whip around his form as he fights. Wielding a katana, he cuts a path through his foes with the sword, his eyes burning red with an unholy light.

It doesn’t look like I’m going to get lucky and have someone do my dirty work.

Plotting a course with my eyes, I gauge the best route to reach him.

He’s near the edge of the mayhem. Most of the soldiers are clever enough to avoid him.

I could wait, but this battle keeps him distracted. Face to face, he’s far stronger. If I’m careful I can avoid getting crushed in the sea of violence.

Quickly, I hike down the red stained dirt path.

Sky growing lighter, I feel the first warm rays of the alien sun brush my skin. Pure scattered light, it decorates everything it touches in orange and gold.

Taking aim, I take out the first three demons foolish enough to think me a target. I’m far from prey.

Without mercy, I eliminate another two.

The sound of wings beat the air. Scanning the horizon, I spot the source of the sound. A man. Black wings stretched wide, he’s soaring like a giant black crow. Lucifer. It must be. So much for it being one of the other commanders attacking.

Mouth suddenly dry, I falter.

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to leave the castle. I don’t stand a chance against him. If I get caught I’ll face an eternity of torture. I pray he doesn’t spot me.

Edging around, I gingerly stalk my mark.

When I’m closer enough I take aim.

Max is unaware of my presence. To wrapped up in disembowelling another assailant. Spilling the demons guts out before lopping off its limbs.

He doesn’t have to see me.

It’s better this way.

The thought of looking into his eyes while I execute him sets my stomach churning. Palms clammy, I release a breath through my teeth.

Dark head snapping up perceptively, he circles around.

He doesn’t look surprised. Irises dilated, his nostrils flare as he pants from his gruesome toil.

“Pull the trigger, Mavi.” Arms outstretched, he leaves himself an open target. “If that’s what you really want to do.”

Darkness swirls inside my head. The beast I keep caged behind my youthful eyes rattles to escape it chains. Blood. The metallic smell is overpowering around me. It drives the urges inside me higher. Clarity begins to slip away. The beast calls through my veins.

If I shoot him I get my freedom. Fritz will take me home.

A demon is on me before I even realise. Ploughing into me, he takes me down hard. Gun clattering to the floor, I bring my knee up between his legs, catching him in the balls.

Howling in agony, he retaliates, fist smashing into my face.

With adrenaline pumping through me I barely feel it.

Heart thumping wildly, an unfamiliar energy tingles through every nerve ending. It quickens my pulse. Everything inside me reaches fever pitch.

I clamp my hands around my attacker’s head.

Palms searing with a power I can’t control they burn with a rhythmic white light. Shrieking, the berserker tries to back track. Beneath my touch it’s green skin bubbles. Squeezing harder, I push down, watching in fascination at its flesh peels away. Using my thumbs, I gouge out its eyes.

A sick thrill races through me as they pop easily from the sockets. Rolling away, I leave him to scream and writhe.

I want to play. I’ve never felt freer.

Embrace it. That’s what I do. Glory in the feeling. I am a force to be reckoned with. Anyone foolish enough to stand in my way will cease to breathe. I was born for this. Max has set something free in me. Something darker, stronger.

Rescuing a sword out of the cold dead hand of a fallen solider, I hack and slash my way through the heaving throng. There’s no sign of the Devil. No ominous shadow in the sky.

Demons scurry, fleeing from my fury. Limbs thud to the blood-soaked ground.

A hand catches my arm, halting my destruction. “You’re blossoming, my Flower. Flourishing as I knew you would. This is what you were born for.”

My body instantly becomes aware of Max’s proximity.

Expression intent, he pulls me into the haven of his chest, twisting the sword from my grasp.

Our lips fusing, we kiss with ferocity, carnage all around us. He tastes of corruption and lies. Instead of being repulsed by his touch, I crave it. With Max I have no control.

I want him to hurt me. Use me in the filthiest ways. I desire the pain. Need it to know I’m alive. That my heart has never stopped beating even though I’m trapped in Hell.

Each delicious kiss of his heat sizzles through me. I want him so much it’s like the need to breathe. Without it, I know I will die.

Sinking into the bliss, his fiery touch scorches through my skin. I lust for this. For him.

“Yes, that’s it. Submit to me. You know you want to. Trust me to give you what you need.”

Dragging me down to the ground, he lays me on my back. Quickly he unbuckles my gun belt ridding me of it. Movements frenzied, he parts his robes, freeing his cock.

With shaking hands, he fists the shirt, popping the buttons free, bearing my breasts to his hungry gaze. Tearing the boxers from my hips, he discards the material.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I welcome him. Thrusting roughly into me, he pins my wrists above my head. A high, needy, keening sound breaks from my throat.

We’re fucking on the middle of a battlefield. Bathed in the blood of the fallen. The enemy is in retreat and Max’s forces are in pursuit, but none of that matters.

An animal instinct takes over. Sinking my teeth into his shoulder, I bite down until I taste blood. Growling, Max unleashes himself, driving into me. I feel my vaginal walls clenching around his length in eager response.

The sheer savagery of our coupling makes me cry out, over and over.

He devours me. Consumes me.

Riding out orgasm after orgasm, I yield to him. The light. The dark. My damaged twisted soul. Falling from grace for this devil, I bare everything for him. It’s his. Given in this moment, because nothing else matters.

Still buried deep, he shudders to a climax, flooding me with his release.

Lungs heavy from exertion, I lay limply beneath him. Each time he fucks me it leaves me wanting more. He is master of my desires.

Lips brush mine. It’s a gentle kiss. Tender, which surprises me after what we’ve just shared. “You please me, Mavi. Very much,” Max murmurs.

Eyes still closed, I don’t answer.

Freedom lays in destroying him. The salvation of my soul depends on a killing blow, but I can’t do it.

I’m damning myself.

Somehow, Max has completely breached my walls. Found a way into my heart like a parasite and all I know is he’s bound to betray me again.