Chapter 10
The car thundered down the woodland roads and I gripped on to my seat as my mind began to return to normal and I found myself being able to get a better hold on reality.
“What the hell was that place?” I asked him.
The engine was so loud and it screeched with each turn. Lucifer was in perfect control, it was as if the car was an extension of him, and as he took each bend he flashed his eyes down to me and smiled.
“Gets the adrenaline going,” he laughed manically. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
He was talking about the Ferrari and the fact that he easily could have been doing well over a hundred, but I couldn’t help but relate it back to The Underworld.
I ignored him and dug my heels into the foot well. It was the first time I had been with him when I hadn’t felt completely safe.
He sensed my distaste and slowed right down.
“I’m sorry,” he said seriously, “I know you’re better than all of this… a fast car is hardly going to impress you.”
I rolled my eyes. He was, of course, right.
“Tell me…” I asked again, “The Underworld?”
He smiled and nodded.
“It’s mine,” he said. “I own it.”
I exhaled and let my tight grip on the leather seat loosen.
“Is it a club?”
He nodded. “A very exclusive one.”
“Where do those people come from?” I asked him in disbelief. “I can’t imagine many of the residents of Valport clamoring to get in there.”
“You’d be surprised,” he said with a raised brow. “But mostly, they are very wealthy clients from all over the country. Some of them are the summer people, why else do you think the town is so popular?”
I thought about it for a moment and then I shook my head.
“There’s no way all of the vacationers just come here for that,” I said. “Most of these people have families! They come to spend a relaxing time at the lake.”
“Mostly…” he smiled, “But as I say… you’d be surprised.”
He laughed and reached down and squeezed my hand. He was red hot to the touch and it made my skin tighten.
“What are you?” I asked as I looked up at him with serious eyes and a wild heart. “Please, I have to know?”
He stopped the car and I realized we were at the iron gates at the foot of the entrance to Woodmont.
“I’m everything,” he whispered, “I’m that little piece of hell you need… I’m your own personal Devil.”
“You are The Devil,” I tell him, “Even your name would suggest it.”
He winked at me and then he pulled me close to him by the neck and brushed his lips up against mine.
“Come to me tomorrow,” he said, “So we can be alone.”
“What will you do to me?” I asked him, my heart racing.
“Nothing you don’t want more than I do…” he trailed off before his lips pressed up against mine and his tongue slipped inside my mouth. As he kissed me deep and hard I felt as if all of the air had been spirited from my body.
“My aunt says I should stay away from you,” I said. “She says you’re no good for me.”
“I’m not,” he said with a wicked smile, “But doesn’t that make it all the more fun?”
I bit my bottom lip and he kissed me again. Each time our bodies connected something deeper was sealed between us.
“Where will I find you?” I whispered.
“Valmont,” he said, “The biggest estate here.”
I locked my fingers with his and he squeezed my hand.
“You’ll know where to go,” he told me, “You’ll sense it… I have every faith in you.”
He kissed me once more and even though I didn’t want it to be over, I knew I had to pull myself away.
“Until tomorrow, my Witch Queen,” he smiled as I opened the door and climbed out to stand in front of the gates.
“Until tomorrow…” I said as I turned on my heel, slammed the door lightly and walked up to the entrance of Woodmont.
The gates only opened for Marianne’s car, but as I approached them that night, I willed them to and they juddered before they slid smoothly open. I turned and smiled at him, his wicked eyes glinting out at me as he gripped on to the wheel.
I was getting stronger.
“Until tomorrow, my Devil,” I whispered as I raised my hand.
He floored the Ferrari and it screamed off into the night.
When he was gone I exhaled and looked up to the moon and stars. I still didn’t know what he was or why he was so taken with me… but there was something beyond reasonable explanation drawing us together. It was as if our souls were always meant to find each other’s, and now we were both in a lot of trouble.
I slipped off my shoes and gathered them into my hands. I walked back up the winding driveway underneath the heavy canopy of trees and I remembered the way he had felt, the way he had tasted… the way he touched me. It was all so new and exciting, I didn’t know how I would ever be able to tear myself away.
“Because you’re not supposed to,” I said aloud. “You’re meant to fall into whatever trap he has waiting.”
I smiled to myself as I continued walking.
Woodmont was up ahead, the lights were on and illuminated down and around the driveway. I knew Marianne would still be up, even though it was late, but after everything that had happened, I didn’t want to speak to her. She would only drag me down and make me wish that none of it had happened.
I snuck into the house and tiptoed up the stairs. When I got to the top of the galleried landing I could hear her singing in the kitchen and the sweet smell of liquor was drifting up right through the house.
I wanted to go and wrap my arms around her and for her to tell me that everything would be okay. But after I had met Lucifer, I knew it was unlikely that Marianne and I would ever be on the same page again.