Page 46 of Sinful Pride
“Can you show me how to use it?” I asked instead, to deescalate the situation and channel the unexpected offer to maim someone on my behalf into something safer.
I watched as Beelzebub spun the toy between his fingers expertly, until the spider’s legs were just a blur. It could go so fast! It looked fun! You could throw it in the air, spin it at the top of your finger, do little tricks with it.
“Thank you,” I said softly when Beelzebub gave the toy back.
“I just wanted you to have something that would remind you of me.” Beelzebub winked at me and went away just in time to avoid Hellion. I hid the spider-shaped spinner under the table, not yet willing for anyone else to see my gift.
After that, there came other gifts. One time, at another event where I was quite busy and didn’t really have time to partake in any of the hors d’oeuvres prepared for the other guests, Raphael showed up with a small plate of different delicacies ready for me and gently bullied me into eating. Another time, Beelzebub presented me with a small wooden cube that rattled when I shook it that turned out to be a puzzle. It took me a good part of the day between my tasks to discover what exactly was hidden inside. The note from Beelzebub made me laugh. ‘It looked like you needed some enrichment,’ the slip of paper said. Accompanying it was a pretty little marble, colors swirling inside like a miniature nebula. It wasn’t anything useful; that marble was given to me just so I could have something small and pretty. A trinket. Until about a year ago, when my life changed so drastically, I don’t think I have ever gotten a gift that wasn’t practical. I cherished the little multicolored glass ball and carried it in my pocket next to the spider fidget spinner.
There were other gifts, other… dare I say it? Zachariel described it as acts of service; doing a task for me, helping from the sidelines, like the time Raphael got food for me while I was too busy to get it myself. The attention confounded me. Why was I a recipient of those gifts and acts? But for once in my life, I decided not to look a gifted horse in the mouth and just enjoy what was thrown my way.
That was all well and good until Beelzebub and Raphael asked me on a date.
It should be a dream come true, and it was, but unfortunately, of a nightmare kind. Raphael came into my work bright and early in the morning while I was preparing myself for the day and going over the notes Zachariel and Hellion left for me. I noticed a beautiful envelope with a spider wax seal and started to read the note inside just as Raphael approached me.
“Can I have a minute of your time?” he asked politely.
I knew he was approaching me here not to disturb my working, but because I did practically live at the Embassy and didn’t invite anyone to my private quarters upstairs. Usually, I spent the minimum time I had to in Heaven as well, just enough to recharge myself, so it wasn’t easy to catch me there. I could humor Raphael for a chat. It wasn’t like people were clamoring for my attention, nor were there any pressing matters to attend. I wasn’t an employee here anymore but a partner in this venture, so if I wanted to take a break five minutes after coming to work, then I could.
“Sure,” I nodded at the Archangel.
Raphael took a deep breath.
“I know I didn’t treat you like you deserved in our past interactions, but the truth is, I like you. And if you would be amenable, I would like to invite you on a date.”
“A date?” I blurted out, disbelieving.
“Yes, it’s a social construct to show one’s interest and get to know each other,” Raphael gave me a lopsided smile with the joke.
I knew what a date was, but I forcefully did not associate the concept with Raphael before, knowing his stance on relationships. Was it truly a date he wanted, or…
While I chewed on how to respond, my eyes wandered down to the letter from Beelzebub I held in my hand. Unwittingly, I spotted a word that made me do a double-take and read the three short sentences while Raphael waited.
‘Tirael, let’s cut to the chase. I want to date you. Meet me at this address today at 8 pm if you want to be my little slut once more,’ the letter said.
Oh. Oh no. My hands shook as I realized there were only two possibilities for what was happening.
The first one: they both wanted to return to our sex escapades. ‘Little slut’, indeed. But I couldn’t help but remember how good those debasing words made me feel, how this label became like a pet name. It was possible Beelzebub was showing affection this way and that could mean Beelzebub was serious about being interested in me, wanting to date me, wanting something more than just sex. Raphael seemed pretty earnest about dating me as well, but both of them coming after me at the same time could mean only one thing.
They were playing with me.
Chapter 17
Raphael
I was pretty excited to hear about Beelzebub’s and Tirael’s first date. I assumed the demon’s invitation was on that pretty stationary Tirael was looking at when I came by, and his hesitation to agree to my own date was because he already planned to go out with Beelzebub first. No matter, I could wait a bit longer.
“So, how was it?” I asked, sliding opposite Beelzebub at some American fast-food restaurant I didn’t care about.
“He didn’t show up,” Beelzebub said grimly.
“What?!”
“He did not show his pretty face. I stood there like an idiot with fucking flowers in my hands and he did not show up. I thought maybe he went with you instead, but I see that’s not the case. Did he reject you, then?”
Fuck, did he? This new information put the whole interaction in a different light.
“He looked a bit confused, unsure maybe, and I saw he was reading your letter, so I made my offer and told him to think about it. I didn’t want to pressure him, but maybe I should have to clear up the situation. Do you think he’s still mad at us?”