Page 63 of Prayer of the Damned
“What?” he finally looks at me.
“My name is Belle. Not Lilith, not Bella, not anything else. Belle. How hard is it to remember such a short name?” I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Whatever you say.” He returns his gaze to the skies.
“You’re driving me crazy! You’re so annoying it’s just driving me nuts! What are you even looking for there anyway?” I fling my hands in the air for dramatic purposes.
He looks right at me and smiles satisfactorily. “That.”
He takes a few steps back. Before I can raise my eyes, a huge shockwave knocks me over, and I sprawl onto the ground.
“Damn.” I look up to find a face too sculpted to be real.
“So this is the Queen of the Damned, eh?” The idiot smiles too close to my face, and inhales my scent. “She’s dripping with sex, but she seems harmless enough.” Now he’s crossed the line. My brow rises in annoyance and I send a fist directly into his jaw.
He’s hurled backwards onto his back. I see his white wings and pull back in amazement. Behind him are other winged men. Bar bursts out laughing next to the idiot lying prone on the ground, and I stand up and cross my arms over my chest. “What the hell is so funny?”
“For fuck’s sake,” the idiot grips his jaw. I hope I broke it. I’m sick of being disrespected, and it’s time to fight back.
“So you still think you’re the better man for this mission?” Bar asks him, and the other one frowns and refuses Bar’s outstretched hand.
“Will you admit you’ve failed before continuing on with your empty arrogance?” My arms tighten their grip and I smile in satisfaction.
This time it’s the idiot’s turn to laugh. He drops back down and clutches his stomach, laughing out loud. “Oh God,” I let out a frustrated sigh and roll my eyes.
“I like her,” he says. “It’s a pity we have to get rid of her, she could’ve been a wonderful addition to our platoon.”
“In your dreams.”
“Been there, done that, sweetheart.” He gets to his feet and holds a hand out to me. His perfectly chiseled face breaks into a radiant smile. “I’m Ellis, guardian angel. Pleased to meet you.”
He waits patiently for my reaction. Is this guy for real? When it doesn’t seem like he’s planning to drop his hand, I relax my crossed arms and shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Belle, just Belle.” I look into his blue eyes. Who would’ve believed the only one to treat me fairly would be a guardian angel of all people?
“Sorry to cut the moment short, but we need a solution to our problem.” Bar clears his throat and states the obvious.
“The Dean is going to kill me… for fuck’s sake, Libretto is going to kill me!” There’s no way he’ll let me out of the castle after what happened. I broke a rule again, and there’s no way to cover my tracks.
“We’ll have to take her with us,” Ellis says.
“No!” I immediately answer, and all eyes turn to me.
“I… I need to talk to Bar in private.” I suddenly blush, and I don’t know why. I was about to put my plan into action in this club, and didn’t hesitate for a moment. So what the hell is it about this Bar that’s so awkward?
“Ellis can hear everything you say to me.”
“Not about this,” I whisper, sneaking a look at Ellis.
“Damn it, Belle, do I need to drag it out of you? Speak up already, or you’ll be spilling everything to a hundred and twenty Cardinals and the Pope himself!”
I take a step back. “You’re planning to take me to the Vatican? Oh God, no!” I plead with him.
“So say your piece, or I’ll take you there right now!” He takes a step towards me.
“I’ve found a way to… you know,” I say with embarrassment.
“Well?” He’s waiting for me to continue. Damn, I might as well just blurt it out. If the Devil has mercy, maybe I’ll die of shame and be spared this whole mess.
