A Deal With The Devil

Warm brown eyes

Astra's POV

My eyelids were heavy, my body glistening with sweat and my bones trembling. My heart pounded relentlessly in my chest, my ears buzzing as I lay cradled in the man’s arms. He talked, his voice muffled by my position, and I caught only fragments of his conversation. With a small whimper, I lifted my face from his chest, a difficult feat in my weakened state.

My view shifted, revealing the room. It no longer seemed like a place of power, but of fear. My eyes traced the rolls of torture weapons, the ropes, the slim, heavily-equipped table used for binding victims, and finally the chair where I’d been electrocuted. The presence of my residue on the chair sent a chill down my spine.

I averted my gaze, burying my face in the man’s neck. My breath came in shallow gasps, refusing to steady.

“Are you okay?” His hand stroked my hair, but I could only stare at him blankly.

I tried to swallow the knot in my throat, my fingers trembling against the constriction. My head spun, my stomach churned—I was suffocating, dying.

“Bambi"

The man grabbed my head, forcing me to meet his gaze. He gently lowered us to the floor, but my terror remained.

My eyes darted to the tools of torture, my heart racing. I pushed away from his embrace, my legs wobbling. I had to escape and flee from this horror.

The stench of my own fear filled my nostrils as I stumbled toward the door, hands scrabbling for the handle...

As my trembling hands grasped the doorknob, the man’s voice pierced the air: “Over turn the walls.” The sound of cautious footsteps followed, but my frantic efforts to open the door persisted. In a desperate bid for escape, I kept pulling the handle, but it remained unmoving.

Soon I was engulfed in the man’s embrace, my legs giving out beneath me. He leaned me against the wall, hastily removing his leather jacket to drape over my shoulders.

As I slumped against the wall, I caught a glimpse of the man’s muscular chest, a black round neck shirt snug against his skin. He crouched beside me pulling me on him, his fingers gently brushing my hair away from my face.

My body continued to tremble, the fluorescent lights above seemingly flickering in and out of focus. My breathing was shallow, my head heavy with fatigue.

“Bambi, look at my fingers,” the man’s voice soothed, his right hand gently tapping my cheek, his left rubbing my back. “Come on, look here.”

He kept my hand on his chest, his heart beating in time with my own. In my hazy mind, thoughts of my mother arose like wisps of smoke—her warmth, her safety, her love. In this moment, with this man, I felt the faintest echoes of that same refuge.

I forced my gaze to his hand, and he began counting in time with his breathing, each finger a deliberate rise and fall. Gradually, I found myself matching the rhythm, my head clearing, my trembling fingers beginning to still. My body became quiet, as if listening for something just out of earshot.

I traced my hand along the contours of his chest, marveling at his very taut muscles. His broad shoulders and firm build were an impressive canvas, one that I couldn’t help but admire. Lost in my inspection, it had not occurred to me that I was sitting on his lap.

My gaze traveled upward, meeting his eyes—rich brown pools of warmth, amusement sparkling in their depths. His slightly crooked nose, full lips, and dark hair only added to the beauty that radiated from his being.

I stared into his eyes, which seemed to be a portal to a world of calmness and strength. They tugged at my heartstrings, reminding me of serenity in the midst of chaos. In his gaze, I found solace and safety, much like the comfort I associated with my mother.

As I gazed upon this exquisite work of art, I realized how spellbound I had become, like a moth mesmerized by the flame.

He leaned his head backwards, resting against the wall. As his Adam's apple bobbed, I was struck by the smooth, creamy texture of his skin—and a sudden urge to kiss him.

“Bambi,” he chuckled, his words laced with amusement. “Are you done staring?”

I snapped back to reality, a familiar warmth spreading through my chest. Embarrassed, I buried my head against his chest.

In silence, he stood, my legs wrapping around his waist. One hand cradled my back, the other secured me in place, his grip on my bottom possessive.

The musky scent of cedarwood swirled around me, creating an intoxicating concoction that sent my heart racing. My body hummed with a contentment I hadn’t felt in an eternity, despite the precariousness of our situation.

His voice, once playful and warm, now held an icy calmness. “Get the car and driver ready.”

His hand rubbed soothing circles on my back, lulling me towards sleep, but my unease remained. The night’s events had spiraled beyond comprehension, each twist like a violent whiplash.

He lowered me into the car before jogging around to the other side, his movements crisp and efficient. Just as he reached the door, a shriek pierced the night air, followed by a low, guttural growl.

"Wait here for me Ria"

My mind shrouded in curiosity, I left the car and tiptoed towards the sound, my legs still trembling. The man stood a few steps from me, his gun drawn, the inky darkness enveloping him. I stopped behind him, my heart beating in time with my heavy breaths. The silence was shattered by an unearthly growl, the shadows seeming to shift around us.

And there, gazing back at us with glittering eyes, was another being.