The Sentinel’s Bride (A short story I wrote for Friday Frights Grotesque Love and Knives)

The Sentinel’s Bride

Awakened out of a sound sleep, Jade struggled to see through the veil of sleepy haze impairing her vision. Her mind, working against her confusion, kicked into overdrive. Narrow-eyed she peered around the seemingly empty chamber. “Where am I?” She uttered. But no sooner had the words slipped past her lips, the blood in her veins turned to ice water as the realization of her circumstance became clear. “No, this cannot be happening, not again. I can’t endure the pain any longer, I can’t. Please don’t do this to me again,” she implored, hoping with all of her heart he would hear her plea. Despite her vocal outcry, deep down Jade knew it wouldn’t matter. She had been in this situation many times before and she knew all too well exactly what to expect. He would come for her, he always did.

Once again Jade found herself in an alternate spatial dimension. How could she possibly subsist in two worlds simultaneously? Jade did not understand the phenomena, but she knew with unquestionable certainty that she in fact at that moment inhabited them both, this realm and the one she perceived to be her home. She believed this because, although vague, she felt a psychic connection to her own mind; a window into her own thoughts. But they differed from the thoughts that she, the part of her that took up space here in this unknown territory was thinking. And she could see herself back home, asleep safe in her bed. By some unknown power, as if she was somehow two entities, two separate souls residing within one physical body, a part of her had been transported into this parallel universe, a place inhabited by hidden evil creatures and Darius.

Other than Darius, there were few things of enjoyment in this place. Jade came to the conclusion long ago that pleasures experienced here, wherever here was, were always punishable by pain and injury. She had never seen the evil creatures but she bore the consequences of their brutal attacks. She stared down at her legs. Nearly all the bruises were gone, only a few small purple smudges remained. The deep lacerations were healing as well but her journey toward complete recovery was again about to be interrupted. Soon there would be fresh wounds to tend to due to her inability to refuse him.

“I know you’re here, who are you? Please tell me.” Jade paused awaiting his answer, but there was only silence. “Answer me you coward!” She shouted.

When yet again he didn’t answer, annoyed Jade lay back down on the cold hard surface beneath her and closed her eyes. Even though her eyes were shut she could still see him. In her mind’s eye, as he had appeared to her so many times, he stood naked before her. A temptation she had yet to deny. She remembered their last encounter. Making love to him was nice, more than nice. The thought made her smile. But the happy reflection vanished as quickly as it had materialized. Replacing the blissful memories were thoughts of the evil creatures and…the pain. They would no doubt attack again.

Never had Jade considered fleeing this unknown dimension but after countless intimate encounters, Darius’s refusal to divulge his identity and the idea of the impending attack was more than she could handle. Determined, she sat up, took a deep breath and pushed off the stone perch she occupied. But it was too late. As her feet landed on the floor a soft breeze announced his presence. As his personal aura entered the atmosphere, he took on his human form. It would be useless to try to leave now. He had come for her and would not stop until he had taken from her all that which he desired. An imposing presence, Jade stared up at the muscular man. He was gorgeous and as she envisioned him earlier-naked.

Darius reached out and stroked Jade’s cheek. “Why the sad face sweetness? I watched you as a tender smile graced your face but as fast as it had appeared, it vanished. What’s wrong?”

Near tears, Jade shrugged, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You can tell me,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “I will do all that’s within my power to help you, to make you happy. Even move heaven and earth.” He laughed.

Jade, not as naive as Darius assumed, questioned his sincerity. If willing to do whatever he could for her why did he keep putting her through this? And why not tell her who he was? Everything about Darius and this strange place confused her.

One of Lucifer’s most trusted Sentinel’s, charged with protecting the gateway to the underworld from infiltration of angelic forces, the ones (and there were many) brave enough to venture into Lucifer’s domain in an attempt to eradicate him, Darius was strictly forbidden to interact with mortals. And although an otherworldly entity, Darius was not entirely immortal. If Lucifer chose death for him, Darius could be killed, or neutralized so to speak, for he was not of flesh and blood. But only Lucifer had the power to execute such a judgment. Despite orders not to make himself known to mortals, his need to satisfy his carnal lust outweighing the risk, Darius frequently materialized before Jade, repeatedly having his way with her. If discovered, this act was grounds for execution. But no matter the consequence, obsessed with Jade beyond rational thought, Darius could not now nor ever stop. Because of his extreme need for her, Darius placed not only himself in danger but Jade as well. Even more so in fact. In the eyes of Lucifer’s evil underlings, Jade was a threat to the security of their abode and determined to eliminate that threat they attacked her at will. She would surely one day sub come to her wounds and be condemned to exist in the underworld. But Darius, not capable of seeing beyond satisfying his incessant need, continued to ravish the mortal woman of his dreams.

Breathtakingly gorgeous, Darius stood by her side. Jade could not take her eyes off him. Using one hand, he started to remove her clothing. The other hand trailed behind, caressing her skin. Her body responding immediately, Jade was exactly as Darius wanted her; at the mercy of his touch. A skilled lover, she wanted nothing more than to make love to him but terrified of the consequences, Jade grabbed Darius by his wrists. “Please stop. I cannot resist you. You know what will happen to me if we do this and yet you persist.”

Feeling guilty, Darius hung his head low. Several minutes later when he finally gazed at her, Jade was surprised to see glistening tear drops cascading from the corners of his eyes.

“If I could stop I would, but I cannot resist you as you cannot refuse me.”

Wriggling out of her grasp he returned to the task of pleasuring her. Jade melting into the mattress as he brought her closer to climax attempted to speak, to beg him to stop. But whenever she opened her mouth, he silenced her with a kiss. Suddenly Jade sat upright. She reached for her ankle. A warm thick substance seeped out from between her fingers as they in turn disappeared inside the deep gash inflicted by Lucifer’s underlings. Her eyes darted back and forth searching for the source of her pain. Unable to see anyone, she began to sob hysterically. “Why are you doing this to me?” She cried, and then suddenly another deep wound appeared across her cheek. The pain was excruciating and when she heard the knife make contact with the bone in her face, she fainted. When she awoke, her facial injury bandaged, Darius was tending to the wound on her ankle.

Realizing she was conscious he whispered, “I’m sorry sweetness, I am truly sorry. I will find a way to stop them.”

“Do you know who is doing this to me? Can you see them?”

Darius nodded.

Jade pulled away from him. Beside herself, she felt like she was losing her mind. “Who are they? Why are they hurting me? Darius, please help me. Tell me what to do. How can I get them to stop?”

Darius finished putting the bandage over her ankle. “You can’t stop them.”

“Then I will kill them!” She shouted, hysterical.

“They can’t be killed.”

Curling up on the flat stone Darius had laid her upon, Jade wished she could disappear down a rabbit hole or something to that effect. Instead, she sat there, out in the open with nowhere to run if the evil creatures decided to hurt her again. “I don’t understand.”

A slight tremble could be felt throughout the parallel universe. Darius, though forbidden, was about to divulge long kept secrets about his master and this place. He began to pace. Suddenly, appearing out of nowhere, a fog hovered above the floor. It parted like the red sea as Darius walked through it. “They are already dead.” The universe trembled again, violently this time.

Jade strained to see him through the fog. “What did you say?”

He turned toward her. “Yes, you heard right. They are already dead. You’ve asked me several times to tell you who I am. I’m the Sentinel of the gateway to the underworld. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” After a long silence Jade looked deep into his eyes. “Do you know why, whoever it is, keeps hurting me?”

Darius hesitated, finally admitting, “Yes.”

“Tell me!”

“It is because of me that they are trying to kill you.”

Jade’s face contorted with confusion. “Why because of you?”

“They fear for their safety. No one is to know about our existence yet I bring you here, so close to our home.”

“But I don’t even know where I am and I can’t possibly hurt them.”

“They don’t know that.” Darius said, searching the outer chamber to the gateway. He wrapped a blanket he found around Jade and lifted her into his embrace.”It’s time I took you home.”

Darius fell, landing hard on the floor he lost his grip and Jade fell out of his arms. He tried to dash after her but something, or someone, held him back. He spun around and came face to face with a massive gathering of Lucifer’s minion’s advancing toward him. That’s when he noticed a faint hum in the room. As it grew louder Darius could make out the words, “She is ours now. She will no longer be a threat, Master promised.”

Restrained in the midst of Lucifer’s followers, Darius scanned the room in search of Jade. Upon finding her, he stood motionless staring at her. A large pool of blood was forming on the floor below her. He could only imagine the pain she felt. Her arms stretched out from her sides and her legs straight down with one foot above the other she resembled Jesus on the cross. Holding her in place, embedded in the wall, a dozen or so daggers pierced her limbs and there were deep gashes all over her body. She had a look of terror on her face.

“I can see him Darius. Oh my God, I can see him.”

In the forefront of the demon-like creatures advancing toward her was Lucifer himself. “They are going to kill me now, he told me so.” She whimpered.

“Close your eyes Jade, now!” The odds stacked against him, Darius did not want Jade to witness his death as he attempted to free her.

“No, Darius don’t! I welcome death. I can’t take any more pain. Just leave it alone.”

But Darius did not listen. He hunched down and when he burst out of the crowd, a larger mutated version of his former self unfurled before Jade. Oversized muscles covered his enlarged frame. Although his hands appeared normal, hoofs replaced his feet. Protruding from his head were large horns and he had red glaring eyes.

“No Darius.” Jade uttered softly, knowing her pleas were in vain.

Prepared to fight to his death, Darius gazed upon Jade for what he believed would be the last time. No longer held to the wall, Jade was now a mass of condemned remains at Lucifer’s feet. Lucifer’s minions, her blood dripping from their knives, circled Lucifer and Jade, satisfied with the completion of their task.

“Come and get her Darius, your bride awaits.” Lucifer mocked.

Enraged, Darius bolted toward his master but before he could attack, Jade stood between the two enormous satanic creatures. More beautiful than ever, Darius merely stared at her perfection. Jade took a step toward Darius and grasped his hand.

“Did you honestly think I would destroy that which my most loyal subject held so dear? You’ve earned her my friend.” Upon uttering those words, Lucifer and his minions vanished.

Saddened, Darius looked down upon Jade. “But you’re angelic, you deserve better than this.” He protested.

“In your mind Darius, not mine. No matter the dimension, I’m yours forever more.” Jade whispered. Suddenly she smiled at Darius. Her eyes filled with love and desire for him, she reassured him. “The bond has been broken. I no longer have a connection to my other self. But it’s okay you know, because a part of me continues to exist in that world. No one will ever know what has happened or about this place and its inhabitants.”

Proud and relieved that Jade had so easily accepted her fate; Darius lifted her into his massive arms. Hoofs clanking against the stone surface, he and Jade crossed over the threshold of the gateway to the underworld. Descending farther into the abyss, his home was now her home as well.

By Quinn Cullen