Lust by Bonnie Bliss Page A

you serious? This isn’t a lie?”
    “No, my lord. I have everything ready, your car awaits.”
    Asmodeus dropped and pounded the earth.
    A few minutes later he stepped into the Maybach, dressed immaculate, sitting opposite Mammon.
    “Where are they?”
    “In the Italian town of Polignano A Mare . They shrouded themselves from evil glances. Only the locals, loyal to them, could see their home and tiny chapel. I also found out something interesting in the archives.”
    “Such as?”
    “A gemstone called celestite, a blue stone. It is renowned in ancient circles as being a protection against evil. So strong, in fact, that it can ward off the connection between the strongest of demon and the strongest of females. It is said an angel guards every stone. The bigger the stone is, the greater the protection, and the more powerful the guardian.”
    “I need to start reading this shit, Mammon. I know nothing. I bet Lucifer knew this. I am letting myself down. Is there a way of counteracting the stone?”
    “Not without removing it from her. As far as I could make out, celestite was created when God created Elysium, so that the demonic realm couldn’t taint its pastures once we were banished. It is a monument to the war and our defeat.”
    “Take me to Polignano A Mare . I will show these monks my wrath. There are three?”
    “Two. The third, a monk named Josef, apparently left with the girl and her friend. But no doubt you can extract their location from them.”
    “Why did this Josef go with them?”
    “I looked into that too. There are no written words about him, but there is a rumor.”
    “What rumor?”
    “That he broke a deal with the devil, Lucifer himself, and he in turn removed his tongue for his trouble.”
    “Well, that is interesting.”
    They drove for another hour before stopping in the small town.
    “The vineyard is up the hill.”
    Asmodeus looked around. “There’s nothing there.”
    “Walk up the hill. Once you pass a certain point the shroud will disappear and you will see the vines growing. You will see a small chapel to your left and a house behind.”
    Asmodeus was pissed that these men, ordinary men, could deceive him, the devil, like this with such simple magic. Without another word he climbed out of the car. He breathed in the cool air and slipped off his jacket, hooking it in his thumb as he tossed it over his shoulder. The sun beat down on his mocked brow. The town seemed quiet. No doubt the locals were in the fields or by the sea, enjoying a lazy afternoon. Slowly he set off up the hill. The gravel beneath his shoes acted like a warning. Did the monks hear him? Right now, he didn’t care. The further he walked, the less the influence of the shroud acted upon his gaze. Vineyards slowly appeared. Rows and rows of grapevines led towards the hilltop where the spire of a chapel dominated the summit. A large cross overlooked the land and he felt its influence spreading out over the surrounding landscape. Behind it he saw the house. This was where he had snatched her from in her celestite-free state. Even though she had apparently taken it off, it had hurt him when he grabbed her and its influence had drawn her back somehow.
    On reaching the door of the chapel, he listened intently. Two old monks wouldn’t make much noise. He’d go in search of them. He didn’t have to look far. Scrubbing the altar was one of the monks, kneeling on the bottom step. Walking closer, he saw the old man had his sleeves rolled up and was wearing a white cassock. A name came into his mind. ‘Paul’. How apt, he thought.
    “I wondered when you would come, demon.” The monk slowly rose to his feet, almost surprising Asmodeus.
    “I’m just sorry it took so long.”
    “Things happen for a reason. Some happen when the time is right. Others never happen at all. If you are here, then you are meant to be here.”
    “Is this a religious philosophy, Father?”
    “No, just age-old wisdom. Your power allows you inside