His grin widened, and he shook his head. “No, Lilith. If you don’t like the dress I’ve put you in, you can always sleep naked. I’ll leave it up to you.”
I scowled at him. Fine, I guess I was sleeping in the damn dress. He stalked over to the bed and pulled back the covers, indicating that he wanted me to get in. I obeyed, and he tucked the blankets around me before kissing me on the head. Shem nudged the bedroom door open and trotted in, still in his cat form. He hopped up on the bed as well. I frowned at him, but he just began purring and kneading his paws into my side before curling up next to me. Ramel tugged on my collar gently, leaning forward to give me another tender kiss.
“Be good and rest, Lilith. I’ll see you when you wake up.”
I wokeup several hours later to find myself alone. Shem was no longer curled up next to me, and Ramel’s books were abandoned by the fire. I frowned, glancing down at my wrists. I was still unbound.
“Ramel?” I called out.
Nothing.
The only sound was the crackling from the green fire.
Something was off. Why would they just leave me here?
I slipped out of bed and checked the bathroom. That was empty too. I padded over to the door to the room and found it had been left unlocked. I narrowed my eyes.
This had to be a test. It was a trap. If they thought they could trick me, they were fucking idiots. I crawled back into bed and crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for one of them to come back in and say ‘got ya!’
Nobody came. After what felt like forever, there was finally a soft knock on the door.
“Come in,” I said, feeling even more confused when Art poked his head in. He gave me a friendly smile.
“Hi, Lilith, may I come in?” he asked, and I nodded, still feeling confused.
He opened the door all the way, and I could see he was holding a plate of what looked like some delicious roast beef and gravy-smothered mashed potatoes.
I beamed at him. “Are you the food fairy? I feel like every time I see you, you’re bringing me something to eat.” I laughed as he handed me the plate.
He smiled at me sheepishly. “I’m a big foodie. If I wasn’t so good on the battlefield, I may have run Hell’s kitchen in another life.”
I accepted the food gratefully. Considering how little I had been able to eat at breakfast, I found I was starving. Art handed me a roll of cutlery, and his eyes fell on the chains attached to the posts on the bed. I didn’t miss the way his face fell at the sight of them.
He cleared his throat and gave me another, more cautious smile.
“What brings you to Hell?” he asked, his gentle tone making me pause.
“Ramel brought me here,” I said quietly, taking a bite of the roast beef. It wasdelicious.I scooped up some potatoes next.
“I see,” Art said, his tone dark. “How are you liking Hell so far?” His eyes darted back to the restraints. It was clear he was uncomfortable with the fact that I was being held here against my will.
“Does it matter?” I asked. “I don’t have a choice. I’m stuck here whether I like it or not.” I didn’t need to play up the sadness in my voice; it was real.
Art looked like he was in physical pain at my admission. “Has Ramel… hurt you?” he asked, and my eyes welled with tears at the way he had phrased it.
“Ramel has hurt me more than anyone I’ve ever known,” I whispered.
I stared down at my half-eaten plate of food and suddenly didn’t have an appetite anymore. Art looked conflicted for a minute. He tossed a look over his shoulder at the door and pursed his lips before looking back at me.
“Lilith,” he said, and I glanced at him, frowning. “Maybe I can help you.”
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?”
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and glanced at the door again. I suddenly felt anxious too. I remembered how Ramel had shown me the souls of my foster parents and how he had tormented them.
I didn’t want to get Art in trouble. Ramel hurt me, yes, but I had a feeling he would hurt Art more if he helped me and we were caught.
