They left the chains off me that night, and I had fallen asleep curled up between the two of them, with Ramel’s fingers in my hair and a smile on my face.
The next few days followed the same pattern. Shem still had a split personality though, which was unnerving and scary. However, I started to realize that if I just did what I was told in the mornings when we were doing ‘obedience training,’ I would get the version of Shem that was my friend in the afternoon, and we could just hang out.
I had expected the training to be sexual, and some of it was, but most of it was rehearsing what I would say if an archangel tried to ‘save’ me from Hell. The cattleprodder always loomed as a threat over my head, but so far, he hadn’t needed to use it on me.
Ramel would return in the evenings from whatever he was doing all day, and Shem would have me show him what I learned; then, we would either go to dinner or have food brought to the room.
After dinner, we would typically return to the room, and Ramel would fuck me. Sometimes Shem joined, sometimes he didn’t. As insane as it was, I found myself starting to look forward to the sex. Ramel knew exactly where to touch me, how long to touch me for, and how much to tease me. It was always kinky and depraved, but I always came so hard and slept so well after that I found it hard to complain.
By the fourth day, Shem stopped leashing me when we left the room, and I no longer had to sleep with chains on my wrists. Everything had been going so well that I was starting to wonder if they were still going to punish me for trying to run on my wedding day.
The day of the meeting, Shem was cruising through the menu on the TV, trying to find something to watch, when I finally asked him about my punishment.
“I hate to ask, but… does this mean you’re not going to punish me anymore for trying to run?” I had been toying with the idea of asking, as I didn’t want to remind them if they had forgotten, but the suspense was killing me.
Shem gave me a mischievous look. “You will still be punished, but it will happen when you least expect it.”
I made a face. Fucking great.
Just then, the door flew open, and Ramel swept into the room. He dropped ‘Mesopotamian Origins’on the table by the fireplace and ran a hand through his hair. He spun to face us, his eyes wild, and Shem pursed his lips.
“You found it.”
Ramel nodded, looking furious.
“Do you remember now?” Shem asked, sounding somehow both sad and nervous at the same time. Ramel’s eyes were blazing with pain and rage.
To my surprise, he stalked toward Shem and wrapped his arms around his friend, crushing him into his chest.
“Shemhazai…” He choked on the words, and my heart flooded with warmth at the rare display of tender emotion. “I missed you.”
Shem hugged him back tightly, and if I didn’t know any better, I would say the cat demon’s green eyes were glassy with tears.
“Missed you too, asshole.” He replied gruffly.
“Found what?” I asked, eyeing up the massive book. Had Ramel read that whole thing? No wonder he had been gone all week. Ramel’s eyes snapped to me, and it was as if he were seeing me for the first time.
Turning away from Shem, he stalked toward me and grabbed my ankles. I squeaked as he dragged me across the bed until I was sitting on the edge. He knelton the floor between my knees and reached up to cup my face, forcing me to look down and meet his gaze.
“Lilith…”
He searched my eyes, and before I knew it, he was showering me with gentle kisses. He ran his fingers through my hair and kissed every inch of me as if I were some holy vessel that needed worshiping.
“Ramel, wh?—”
“Shh, shh. Please, Lilith, just let me hold you,” he begged, and his voice cracked. I realized suddenly that his cheeks were wet with tears. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered against my lips in between kisses. “I’m so, so sorry.”
I wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for. He had done so many fucked up things to me and had never shown any remorse. This sudden, heartfelt, and sincere apology felt out of place.
I pulled back and searched his eyes, frowning. I couldn’t understand the expression on his face. It was full of sadness, heartache, anger, and… fear?
“What’s happening? What did you find?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He swallowed and rubbed his thumb over my cheek softly. “I found out why you were put in purgatory. It wasmyfault.” His voice was rough, and there was a small tremor in his hands.
“Lilith… Hazai and I need to leave for this meeting. You have to promise me that if someone offers to help you escape, you will say no. I can’t protect you if you leave here.”
“Isn’t that what Shem has been trying to brainwash me to do all week?” I asked incredulously.
