Hell's Belle - Eve Newton Page 0,22

from inside me.

“Go, I’m fine,” I mutter and head into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly and then leaning against it. I hold my hand out and bring the fire of Hell to my palm. I feel better instantly, reassured and ready to face this. Those assholes who dared to touch me against my will are going to face my wrath.

Just as soon as I’ve disinfected my whole body.

11

Annabelle

I didn’t sleep.

I stayed in bed, trying to get rest but there was no way that I was falling back asleep for that creepy Night Mare to return and force a powerless me out of my body.

Ugh.

I shudder again as I crawl out of bed and get dressed.

It’s early so I’m going to get a jump on this day. I usually come to around noon after a night of sex and booze.

Not last night.

I wasn’t even feeling it before the weird rape-y situation downstairs, and definitely not afterwards. Poor Drescal. I’ll have to find him later and make it up to him. I don’t think I’ve ever refused his advances before.

As I open my closet, I reflect back on what Creepy said to me about Lucifer being my only fear. He is not wrong, but he’s not really right either. I mean, if someone let him out, I’d fight him for what’s rightfully mine regardless of who the fuck he thinks he is. I don’t fear him exactly, more the thought of losing everything that I’ve worked to gain down here. I wasn’t well received by the minions when my father presented me to Hell, so I’ve heard. Clawing my way to garner their respect and fear has been a difficult job and one that Dad had to help me with by letting me be ruthless and cruel in a public setting. He organized the Daily Dealings for me to exert my power, my strength and to show those bastards that I’m their true Ruler, even if I am a female.

Not overlooking the fact that Creepy has been in my head and dredged this information up, which is worrying. If he tells anyone he knows that Lucifer isn’t really dead, then trouble could start for me, big time. It’ll be a pain in my ass that I’d like to avoid if at all possible. Plus, the whole him being in my head, worming around my thoughts, picking out weaknesses. I don’t like it and I’d thought I was immune to such parlor tricks. For some reason, he has a power that works on me. It needs addressing. Pronto.

I pull out a purple leather dress with a zipper down the front from top to bottom. The dress is about knee length, but that’s okay because I can show off my cleavage instead of my ass. Not both. See how the Doc likes this attire.

Slipping on my black heels, I open the bedroom door and nearly trip over Mouse. She is curled up after a night of whatever she was doing, tired out. I step over her and barge into Shax’s room unannounced.

He is asleep in the darkened room.

“What do you know about Night Mares?” I ask him, folding my arms and tapping my foot.

He groans and cracks an eye open. He is alone with the soft growl of Death Metal coming from unseen speakers.

I snort as I recognize the band. Morbid Angel.

Well, it suits him. He fucking well is one.

“Who?” he asks, not moving.

“Night Mares,” I repeat.

If anyone, Shax will know. There aren’t any creatures down here that he isn’t well informed on. He has an active brain and little to do, so he learns. Fucking nerd.

He sits up and gives me the evil eye. “Night Mares. Ancient creatures that enter your subconscious while you’re sleeping and give you, well, nightmares,” he says. “Why?”

“How many do we have here?”

“One,” he answers to my surprise. “They are super rare and practically extinct. He is locked up in the prison in the center of Hell though. Got a little full on with the Demons’ fears a while back, caused chaos.”

“How much of a while back?” I venture.

“Couple of hundred years, I think.”

“Hm, thanks,” I mutter and leave his room, slamming the door behind me. If there is only one down here, I’m pretty sure he isn’t locked away anymore. Someone has let him out, but who and the bigger question why. To mess with me or to mess with everyone?

With this new worry hanging over my head, I make my way down to Gregory’s office.