Thank you so much for your kind reviews! Here is the third chapter and thanks again to my beta reader Sharptooth. :-)
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The catch – part one
The room where we popped into existence again was new, not a good sign, given that the only room I hadn't seen yet was his bedroom. But there was no bed. The room was completely round, all of the walls covered by heavy wooden doors – a wardrobe maybe? In the center stood a comfortable looking roman couch, covered in blue velvet and golden ornaments. Al ignored me and went straight for one door, opened it and started rummaging around for something.
Wondering, what he needed all this clothing for I sat down on the couch. Just once in a blue moon he'd worn something else beside his green coat. Then it hit me. Maybe these clothes were Ceri's? At this moment Al came and placed a dark green dress next to me on the couch.
"Get dressed, itchy witch."
Surprised and annoyed at the same time I looked at the dress. It didn't look bad, but there was no way in hell I would let Al dress me.
"I don't think so, Al. Our agreement..." I stopped, swallowing and thinking about it again. Our agreement said nothing, except I had to do what he told me to. Shit. What had I gotten me into again? "I really don't want to wear this," I tried in a soft voice but his wide grin told me there was no choice.
"This is not for my pleasure only, love. It's for your own good, believe me."
Biting my lip I picked the dress up to hold it in front of me. It looked like it'd fit.
"Well...?" My suggestive look made him raise one eyebrow.
"Yes, my itchy," then he got it and chuckled. "Since when are you a lady, Rachel?" But he turned, giving me at least a little privacy. As fast as I could I wiggled out of my jeans and my plain shirt, having one of my most uncomfortable moments with Al, standing behind him in my underwear only. The dress fit perfectly, leaving my shoulders bare and cupping what little breasts I had tightly. It ended six inches over my knees and when I turned, I found a pair of black high heels standing next to the couch.
"Fantastic. I knew it was the right color for you." When he examined me I felt his red eyes all over my body. A tall mirror appeared out of nothing right before me. Against my fear he was right. The green complimented my pale skin tone and let my hair glow.
"Just one thing missing", I heard him muttering. Then he stood behind me, showing me a black necklace in the mirror. I wanted to turn around, but one hand on my hip stopped me.
"Let me." Shivering I felt his breath on the back of my neck. I watched his hands in the mirror, bare and without their usual gloves, setting the necklace on my skin and closing it for me. His warm fingertips barely brushed my skin, but I could feel the goosebumps on my arms.
"What do you think?" Peeking in the mirror again, I realized that my hair was now falling in silky curls around my face. Should it worry me, that a demon curse managed what no charm could do properly? Nah...
"Looks great. Where are we going?" Still facing the mirror he stepped beside me and I winced. Just now I noticed that my dress matched the color of his green velvet coat to perfection. Just freaking fantastic. I looked like his wife or something.
Smiling at my reaction he reached for me, grabbing my hand, but wearing his gloves again he didn't touch my skin this time.
"Algaliarept and Miss Rachel Morgan!" a human shouted and I jerked free of Al's tight grip.
What the hell? Right before us extended a protruding staircase that led down into an exuberantly decorated hall. I saw demons and their familiars, dancing with almost weightless grace. He took me to a freaking ball?
Doubtfully I looked down the many stairs, not sure if I could get down there without a nasty accident in my high heels. Apart from that I had no desire at all to get any closer to a clutch of demons. Al stepped to my side and laid his arm around me again, the green velvet rubbing cool over my skin.
"As you can see, my love, you would have caught even more attention in your jeans", he whispered amused in my ear and with his sign the human repeated his announcement.
"Algaliarept and Miss Rachel Morgan", he shouted more clearly and this time I could observe the demons, stopping their conversations and looking up to us. Hundreds of red eye pairs examined us and triggered a very urge need to run in me. For nothing in this damn world I wanted to go down there, everything just screamed "trap". Al sensed my hesitation and leaned in to me.
"No need to be afraid, my itchy witch. You're mine and everyone knows it." Just this once it felt good to have an overly possessive demon at my side. But it wasn't enough to make me feel comfortable with a hall full of demons.
"Please, don't make me go down there," I pleaded, not caring that I sounded afraid. This situation freaked me out and my voice was heavy with fear. "Al, I don't like it."
"Just one dance, love." Great, he wanted to brag with me. When he took the first step my hand tightened around his arm, but somehow he managed to get us both down those stupid stairs without an incident. We mingled with the other demons who had returned to their conversations with each other. The other demons? What was wrong with me?
My panic rose again, when Al took a course to the dance floor. "You really want to dance?" I stopped and he looked at me, astonished.
"That's the reason you attend a ball, my dear." His familiar voice was soothing amongst all the alien demons. In the meantime I had noticed that the familiars were staring at me as well. To my surprise they were mostly women, but given the thought that there weren't any female demons left – except for Newt – this made sense. With whom were they supposed to dance? I followed this thought and winced. The ugly side of this truth just came to my mind. Though curious, I had never asked Ceri this question. Out of decency, maybe? But after I'd gotten a glance at her wardrobe I wondered if my suspicion was correct.
"Maybe you will relax a little if I get you something to drink," Al interrupted my thoughts and pulled me over to the bar. He ordered the same drink twice and handed me a glass filled with clear liquid. I eyed it suspiciously not wanting to taste burnt amber again.
"Drinks are one of the good things in the ever after," he informed me and downed his at once. I tried a sip and tasted mainly alcohol with a hint of licorice. Not that bad. The alcohol was hot in my throat and warmed my body, once it was down. Instantly I felt more relaxed. I just had to ask him.
"Are most familiars female?" Al looked at me, raising one eyebrow, but finally he nodded and his thin lips parted in a sinister smile.
"I guess you just discovered a dirty little secret. Believe me, five thousand years without sex would make everyone go crazy." His gaze got an unknown intensity and I turned away. The warmth the alcohol had left in me had vanished. I felt sick and my thoughts were with Ceri, followed by the memory of Al dragging me down the street to make me his familiar. Crap on toast. That had been close.
I know he could probably read the disgust in my face, but he didn't care. Instead of saying anything he put a hand on the small of my back and pushed me back to the dance floor.
"One dance and we can go", he promised, but I stopped again.
"I'm not that a good dancer", I confessed. And I don't want to touch you ever again, you creepy bastard.
"Don't worry, love. Your dancing skills are not the thing that matters here." Ignoring a suggestive movement with his arm, I closed my hands to fists.
"I'll not dance with you, freak!" I hissed at him and a few demons turned around. Quickly he came back for me.
"You will do what I say, itchy witch." I heard the growing anger in his words and knew I would be in deep trouble if I embarrassed him right now.
"You raped Ceri!" He didn't even wince at my accusation. Instead he came even closer, stopping me from evading with his tight grip around my wrist.
"She enjoyed every last moment of it. Just ask her, when you go back!" He silently snarled at me, sounding honest. But I couldn't believe him, I just couldn't.
"I don't care. She had no choice!"
"Neither do you, love. Dance with me or more people will get killed. You know our agreement." I stared in his goat slitted red eyes, judging my chances to end the hunt in another way, any way. Hesitantly I accepted his hand. Before I had a chance to argue again, he placed his other arm around my hip and pulled me closer. I stared at his chest, not sure if I could bear the look of his face right now. This close I smelled the scent of crushed velvet and whiff of bunt amber. Seemed like I really got used to it. Frightening.
Concentrating on his scent I followed Al over the dance floor, mirroring his movements as good as I could. Luckily he was a skilled enough dancer for the both of us. Directing me and sticking to the rhythm of the music we almost floated over the ground.
"Look at me Rachel. And pretend to enjoy yourself." His mocking tone combined with the use of my real name made me lift my chin until I met his gaze. Okay, so this was kind of fun, but he had practiced for thousands of years. Anybody would be a freaking dance god after that much time. The music slowed down a little and he pressed me tighter to his own body, caressing my back with his hands. Where are those fucking gloves again?, I asked myself when I felt his warm touch. And again he made me shiver. Not due to any energy jumping between us, just because of his pure skin touching mine. That wasn't good. I searched for fear, but there was none. Just me, wanting him to never lift his hands from my back. Luckily we were so close that he couldn't see me blushing and biting my lip at the same time.
As soon as the song ended he stepped back like a perfect gentleman. Seeing the satisfied look on his face I knew I still was kind of … excited.
"Do you care for another dance?" he asked, his voice deep and seductive. "There's also cake, if you want some...?" Blushing even more, I grabbed his arm, turning us both so we faced the staircase.
"You said one dance. Lets get out of here."
"As you wish, love. But remember, there are still some hours left before I have to bring you back. If you prefer to spend these with my company alone I will not negate your choice." This time he couldn't unsettle me. If I had the choice between him and a hall full of other demons, I would choose him. As creepy as this thought was, I felt kind of safe in his rooms.
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