“I’m in no rush; my bride will come when the time is ready. I don’t think I’m next,” he replies.
I look at him curiously and put my hand under my chin. “Who do you think is next?”
“I’d have to say Lorenzo or Leopold. They are the most reluctant to be matched, and I saw a gleam in my dad’s eye when they voiced not wanting a bride,” he says with a chuckle.
“Why do you think Silas was chosen first?” I ask.
He lets out a small sigh. “I think it’s because he was the loneliest. You could tell he was getting tired of having everyone just fall at his feet and, when he did meet someone he liked, all they wanted was sex. He’s lust, so they were consumed by it. It’s not something he can turn off, so none of his partners ever wanted to just hang out or have conversations. They were constantly ravenous for sex whenever they got close to him. All of us could see this ability take more and more of a toll on him with every year that passed by. I think that’s why he was chosen to be first,” Jasper tells me.
I think about his words, and I feel sad for my sin. That sounds like a lonely life. It still scares me being intimate with him, but it’s starting to be less about what happened to me, and not wanting to be touched, and more about the idea that he’s had centuries of experience behind his belt. How could I compare to any of that?
What would he expect of me when it came down to it? I have no experience to speak of. I feel like I would just be a disappointment. Maybe it will turn out fine and great and everything I had ever hoped for, but I still can’t help but wonder if he will think it was a big mistake in the end.
Taking that step is a big decision. I had only begun kissing him. The kisses are wonderful and make me feel like my body is on fire, but I haven’t had the guts to move it forward to anything more than that.
I can tell Silas wants more, but he’s been so patient about the whole thing. His patience with me is making me want him more.
We will have so much time together because we will be immortal together, so there is absolutely no rush.
I think baby steps might be helpful here. I don’t have to go all in right away.
“I think dad wants to show you more of Hell; he asked all of us to be here tonight so we can take you out of the palace for a bit,” Jasper says, interrupting my thoughts.
“That would be cool. As much as I love the palace, I would like to see more. I can’t help but be curious about what’s all down here,” I tell him excitedly.
“We all have to be there, since we don’t know who is turning against us or who is after you,” he states.
“I wish we knew. I hate all this waiting around for whomever it is to make their move,” I say with a sigh.
“They will make themselves known sooner or later. Then, they will regret trying to harm you in any way,” he says in a malevolent tone.
Spending so much time with each sin, I sometimes forget that they can be very dangerous beings that no one would want to mess with.
To me, they are just like the family I never had. I love being part of a family again.
Silas
I’m really fucking nervous to show Serenity around hell, but I can tell she’s getting bored being in the palace all the time.
We all agreed that every single one of us would go with her; that way, she will have extra protection if she should need it.
It is one thing to know that Hell exists, but it is entirely another thing to experience the full depths of Hell with your own eyes.
Once all of my brothers and father have arrived, we make our way out of the palace through a portal. It’s the quickest way, and my father’s favourite way, to travel.
“I guess let’s start on the lighter side of things,” my dad says as we walk into what could look like a town square.
The lighter side would be the main community where most of the demons and beings live. A lot of them are warriors for the family, and some of them just work here. This is the place my father had deemed for the ones with sins he didn’t think people should have gotten sent here for. Sometimes a soul can be redeemed, and the ones that my father thinks have a chance stay on this level. There are stores and places to eat here. You would think it was a normal town, except there is no sun. Instead, the light is coming from the fire that’s everywhere. Really, just small differences from any town in the world.
“This is pretty cool. There is more of a hometown feel to it than I would expect; well, it if wasn’t for the beings with horns, translucent bodies, shadow figures and so forth,” Serenity says with a smile while looking around.
“Mostly we have loyal soldiers and people who have a chance at redemption here,” Lorenzo tells her.
“People can still be redeemed even though they have passed judgement?” she asks. She looks at me curiously and gives my hand a little squeeze.
I nod my head, but Gareth speaks before I can.
“Everyone has a chance, sure, but not a lot of people earn it. Very few have earned that over the years. It’s a rare occurrence,” Gareth states.