Gabriel's Hope

Deidre did her best to stabilize her breathing. She wiped away tears. She deserved whatever happened. If she didn't, past-Deidre did. She wasn't about to get her throat torn out before she found some way to get out of here. Gabriel would come for her, if she didn't return.

She hoped.

Her gaze traveled from the gloomy fortress to the sickly sky to the creature before her, whose fangs seemed to have grown even longer.

If Gabriel didn't come, it was because she fucked up bad making a deal with some shady creature she found wandering in the shadow world. Her life was about to enter its next phase of the nightmare.

"What are your rules?" Darkyn asked, pulling her from her mind.

"N…no running. No fighting you," she said in a hushed voice. "No pain."

"We'll see how badly you want to leave. Come here."

It took every ounce of her willpower not to flee hysterically or give in to the desire to collapse and sob. Shaking and terrified, Deidre nonetheless held his gaze as she closed the distance between them, until she stood less than a foot away.

Darkyn gripped her neck with one hand and tilted her head to the side.

She closed her eyes and prayed.

"Humans are a delicacy. Female humans in Hell with a soul unblemished by evil? I can't remember the last time I tasted one," he whispered. He nuzzled her neck.

Deidre braced her hands against his chest, tunnel-vision forming. She felt his fangs sink into her skin and heard him sucking out her lifeblood. Disgusted, she was also relieved there was no pain. From the visions he showed her, he was capable of things she'd never dreamed of. He didn't drink long, and she was too afraid of moving to wipe away the tears rolling down her face.

"Sweet," he said in a thick voice as he withdrew. "Like honey. You won't like trying to earn your way out of here, but I will."

"Is it even possible for me to leave?"

"Possible? Yes. Probability is an entirely different issue."

She opened her eyes at his response. He released her and turned away.

"Come. Wynn's magic is killing you faster than anticipated. You need to prepare."

Deidre trailed him numbly from the landing into the fortress. It was dim inside the stronghold, and the first torch they crossed that burned with black flames mesmerized her long enough for her to lose sight of Darkyn around a corner. She hurried to catch up. He led her past closed doors and through hallways carved out of black stone.

Deeper into Hell.