+1+
Happy Fucking Birthday Helios.
The Metronome NYC Hotel is a shiny pedestal to modern New York architecture. The face is sleek, cubic and metal. When I stepped through the oversized doors I felt like I was in a moody blue and purple tinted future.
“Olympia room ? Thantos party”, I ask the woman working the front desk flashing the invitation.
Send a nice gift, Seraphina had said. Now here I was invited to Helio's Birthday party with what I assume would have the theme of Helios' ego.
The front desk woman pointed down a set of spiral stairs. I kept my eyes about me as I walked down the stairs. From the other side of the door I could hear shouting, pounding music and laughing. Helios laughing.
I hated my little circle of Brothers for bailing on me, the only one with an excuse was Lysander, he was still recovering from the blast. They knew we were doing this to keep up appearances and yet I was on my own. I didn't want to be here, but I was now at Helios beck and call. . . so here I was.
A hefty SGI Angel stood at the door.
"No weapons", he said
"Seriously ?", I held out my arms and he patted me down. Twice.
Inside the bar was ablaze with champagne bottles with sparklers and flashing lights, a dazed D.J was situated in the corner and there was plenty of adoration for Helios to go around. The multi-level room seemed to blur and spin with activity.
There were some humans, a few I picked up may have been people Helios worked for, more criminals or terrorist ? Some of the people. .. just looked off. In human almost. Almost.
Helios was sitting at the bar, a pack of men off to his left looked particularly alarming. Something about all the men made them seem oddly similar, they all had long hair and fierce looking eyes. They even had variation of the same neck tattoo. One smiled at me, he had very sharp teeth.
I could easily pick out a few rebel Angels among the crowd,.A few were to drunk to stand or dancing provocatively, the others threw themselves at Helios like he was a god.
“My guest of honor”, Helios said slowly bowing to me, “Come in . . .have fun for once, don’t be so pious little prince. All that is mine is yours . . .well that's not true but. . . all that is yours is mine”
“That's only because you have your own mini militia." , I remind him, "I just thought I’d make a quick appearance, in my mind you are still a murderous bastard. This whole Sodom and Gomorrah routine is quite nice.”
He laughed.
He didn't seem to think for a moment that this was all a lie or that we were plotting behind his back. That when I signed that exit agreement ordering us to fall under Helios' rule and leave the city that it was all to buy time.
Seraphina.
I hadn't seen her in a week. She'd contacted me once via bike messenger to make sure I was coming. THen again to make sure I still wanted to take down Helios.
“Come alone ?”, he asked.
“No one else should have to suffer this spectacle.”, I said with a smile.
I stood at the bar, waiting to catch the bartender’s attention. Helios doesn’t stop talking the whole time. He always has something interesting to say to someone.
I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen him without Seraphina by his side. Leon was hovering close by but tried to look discreet. I wonder if Helios was getting suspicious of her.
I surveyed the room carefully. On the raised second floor I see Seraphina with an Angel I don't know by name.They are both listening and watching intently as two male Angels teach them out how to play pool.
Her gold five inch heels make her stand inches above the crowd, which left little to the imagination when it came to the dangerously short little white dress that barley covered her long tanned legs, the thin straps on the sweetheart neckline are digging into her shoulder and loo like they might snap at any minute. I'd never seen her in public with so much skin bared. There wasn't an inch of her not taut with hard muscles.
She was not my type. . . and yet.
I also notice a young blonde Angel sitting in the corner on the floor. Ariel. I remember her from last year. She seems to young and very put out to be at this soiree.
I knew how to play pool. It wouldn’t seem out of the ordinary if I joined them ? After all it was a party and I wanted I really wanted a closer look at that dress--
“Again with this ?”, Helios said from behind me. He sways a little on his feet.
“W-wwhat ?”
“I know Demon women are hard to come by but this is the second time I’ve caught you staring at my Angel.”
Only the second time
My ?
“I don’t know what you mean, Helios. Who are those men over there. Something about them seems--”
“250”
“What ?”
“I’ll be fair. 250”
“What ?”, I repeat.
“I’ll bet you 250 dollars you can’t steal a kiss from my little Seraph. ”
“I--”, I think about this because I could really use the money, “I”ll take that bet.”
Maybe if I played this right I could win the bet and humiliate Helios.
Helios lets out a low quick whistle and Sera turns to him. He reaches out a hand to assist her down the small set of stairs She wraps her arm around his shoulders and picks up a drink from a tray and gives it to him. Clearly she wasn’t here as his sentry tonight.
“Seraphina, the little prince has a request.”
She turns to look down me and I wait for a hint of anything in her expression. I go up three (okay four) steps so I’m an eye level with her.
“I--”, No talking. why am I talking. Just kiss her and get that bastard to eat his own words. What if she hits me for kissing her in public. What if Helios hits me. Wasn’t I practically their punching bag anyway--
“He”, she says then turns to Helios, “He has a weapon, Helios”
“What ?” I’m baffled because I don’t, “No I--”
She grabs my arm and sweeps me off my feet, pushing me face down into the sticky tile. Her hand goes under my jacket and then she lets go. I turn to see her placing a small knife into Helios’ hand.
"What ? That's not mine--"
“Can’t play well with others, Prince”, Helios mock scolds me, “Seraphina, Be a dear and teach the prince what happens when you don’t follow my rules. ”
“Yes, Helios”, she says pulling me up with hard yank. She takes out my wallet and tosses some cash to Helios. It’s 250 dollars.
She heard Helios make that bet and she let me lose.
“Don’t hold back, I really want to get the point across ”, he whispers but he is slurring his words.
She closes her eyes and nods, playfully running a finger under his jaw.
She leads me out of the Olympia room and pushes me into the staircase and locks the door behind her. She stretches her arms across her chest, I see that one vein on her bicep pulse. She doesn’t even bother to take off her assortment rings and bangles. I close my eyes and brace myself because she has to hit me or Helios will notice I’m not sporting any new bruises.
“Sera, that knife wasn’t mine. You know that right ? Helios must have planted it on me he--”
“I know”, she says
“You know ?”
“It was mine.”
“You set me up ? Why did you--”
I stop talking when she kisses me, because that is the only answer I really need. Suddenly the stairwell seemed a lot less ominous and she starts playing with the buttons on my shirt
“Sera”, I move her hand away, “We can’t keep doing this. I just need more and considering everything with Helios I know now isn't a good time to even think of it.”
She relaxes a little and kisses me again, moving my hand down to the small of her back.
"Then don't think of it."
"Sera, I want--"
"Don't think", she orders me.
Her cold lips catch my neck and I keep my eyes on the stairwell door, her soft hair falling into my face. I hold in my reaction when she sweeps her hair back, that is just so damn sexy.
“Do you know my sweet prince”, she breathes every other word, “What I want now ?”
“N-no”, I stammer while her tongue slips into my mouth.
“You”, she answers, moving my hand down lower.
“Me ?”, I smile against her lips.
“Yes.”
I wrap my other arm around her back and pull her closer. I decide after how she humiliated me in front of Helios, I’m gonna make her work for what comes next. She looks down at me a little put off at my lack of attention
“What you want from me Sera ? ”, I tease her.
She brings her forehead down to mine, she sways a little not in the mood for pretense. Never in the mood for pretense.
“Say it, my sweet. . . beautiful. . . angel ”, I managed, “You're so fucking goregous.. . and sexy as hell. Tell me what you want."
She pushes her hair back again. I try to resist giving into her then and there.
She tilts my chin up, her blue eyes dead set on me, but my eyes wonder to her mouth as she forms the words.
“Paris Prince I . . .want you to fuck me .”
She reaches into her pocket, slips a room key into my hand and pulls me up the stairs.
So much for a quick appearance.
+2+
Feathers
White feathers drift from the ceiling and coat my slick skin. I squint realizing a pillow had caught on the ceiling fan, causing the soft contents to rain down on the bed.
I feel dizzy so I grab the expensive bottle of Helio’s champagne off the nightstand and tilt it over my mouth.The sweet champagne spills past my cold lips and soaks my undershirt and chest. I toss the empty bottle aside and laugh when I hear it break. Sorry, Helios.
It’s the last bottle in the crate of expensive champagne and wine Helios ordered for his birthday. I don’t question how Sera stole it from his hotel room, or how he will react when he notices it’s missing.From the window Sera seems content with herself, as she buttons my shirt over her body. it's tight and very short on her. She looked fucking beautiful in my shirt, that was going to be my favorite shirt from now on.She takes a swig from the bottle of dark wine in her hand and beckons me over with the other. I can’t read the look on her face. It’s either “I want to kill you” or I want to .. . it doesn’t matter because in a matter of seconds I’m entangled in her cold embrace.
With some prompting I turn and press her hard against the floor to ceiling glass window that has a perfect view of Downtown and the Brooklyn Bridge. My smile rest against her soft and silky hair. Gently I push the the honey brown curls over her shoulder, covering the SGI tattoos on her back..
I slide down bringing us both down to our knees. She brings her arm back and pulls tight on my hair pressing my mouth into the curve of her neck. My fingers and chest become intimately familiar with the cold hard muscles of her back.
My palm strains against the glass as I settle between her legs. Pushing up the fabric of the shirt I'm not ready to take back. I grit my teeth taking in the still intense pleasure of being with her.
I bring my hands to the glass taking this slowly, quietly, intimately.
I close my eyes and listen to the sound of our hearts pounding. I allow myself to forget the she maybe doesn’t love me, that I am a fool. I focus on the single moment of knowing that I have something that is his. . . That I want her more than I ever have.
I'm vaguely aware the window is rattling and I'm afraid it's going to break. I tempt it by pressing her harder against it.
“Isn't it beautiful”, I say into her neck, her palms are sweating and sliding down the glass window, “This city is so fucking beautiful. . .We are going to take every bit of this city from him.”
She opens her mouth but I know she has no idea how to respond to that comment. Eloquent beautiful words and sentiments don’t come from her vicious mouth. Which is fine because the next sound I need to her from her don’t need to be words.
My fingers entwine with her cold ones. The hiss of fire and ice encourage this awful little affair. I catch a glimmer of myself in the glass. my mussed hair, hooded eyes and primal expression. All behind a woman whose perfect tact refused to be thrown.. I savor the taste of wine and champagne in my mouth as the glass rattles.
“You”, I manage fighting against losing it, “ Are so beautiful. The kind of beauty that starts war. ”
“I don’t want to starts wars.”, her voice is even and calm despite the fact she is shaking. Her eyes will close but her expression will never break.
“No ?”, I say as more of a question.
“I want to the win them.”
“You may win the war, my Angel, but this is one battle you are about to lose.”
+3+
The clock blinks 4 am and I realize I must have fallen asleep, I sink back into the feather comforter and soft sheets and realize I'm naked.There is a weight near my feet and I sit up and see the source of the smoke. Seraphina is lying horizontal across the bed, Her hair has fallen straight, she is dressed and blowing smoke into the air from a menthol cigarette.
"That good ?", I say hoping she catches my light tone.
She says nothing, she just slightly rolls her shoulder. Nonplussed as always.
"I can get better, I swear." , Sitting up I reach over and when my hand touches her thigh she very slightly shakes her head. I back away and after a moment she blows a slow stream of smoke into the air.
"I--uh.. . didn't know you smoked."
She looks over to me when I speak, but turns away content with not answering any questions. I roll my eyes because I know it's this kind of attitude that makes her seem like a bitch. Maybe she is a bitch. . . what the hell am I doing ?
"What about Helios' assets", she says, then takes another drag.
"I wish you wouldn't do that", I sit up and start getting dressed. I'm glad she doesn't bother to watch me, I know I'm pale skin and bones compared to Helios, not something I want on full display.
She looks at the cigarette then back at me.
"No. not that", I say indicating the cigarette," I mean the way you turn it on and off, go from intimate to business in less than a second."
She sits up and follows me with her eyes while I track down my shoes.
"Paris, you know what this is. Don't complicate things."
I sit down in the desk chair next to the window, the view is still breathtaking. We are at the top of the world.
"Don't act like you don't know how I feel, Seraphina"
"Paris.", she's practically scolding me, "We have more important things to worry--"
"about than my love life. Yeah, I know. Forget it. Whatever", I pretend to let it go, "I'll meet with my Brothers, but I think once we take Helios down. His assets . . .everything should go to the Brotherhood"
"Everything ?"
"The Brotherhood is barley holding on.That settlement with the explosion victims cost us millions of dollars and that doesn't even include attorney fees. Customers are to afraid come in anymore and we lost three stores. . . not to mention the money I gave to Callum for his operation. Reparations will be paid."
Her expression darkened at the mention of Callum and his bullet manufacturing operation. It made her not like Callum even though she had yet to meet him. Well, officially anyway.
"SGI are Angels, what they have is ours. What about those SGI who will turn against Helios.. . or the children they may have between now and the end of Helio's reign."
My shirt has been ironed and is hanging on the door, I slip it on , tying my tie so tight I nearly choke myself.
"I don't know, maybe Anne should up and get a job. Without Helios' assets I don't know how long my people can hold on. No one is taking a salary anymore. Callum had to get real creative with his kitchen supply and you just gave Helios 250 dollars out of my wallet. I literally came here for the free food."
"You can't just take everything.", she says back.
"Look", I tell her pointing to the knives on the floor, "Those are yours. You are muscle . You are poison . You are death. You worry about how to kill people and getting information from Helios. Leave all other negotiations to Anne and I when the time comes"
"Anne will have me killed if you let her take charge again. She'll punish anyone who supported Helios. She'll torture me."
"You don't know that Seraphina.", since when was she so damn paranoid. Like anyone could kill her after Helios turned her into his perfect solider.
She puts the cigarette out and folds her arms. I just couldn't trust someone as impulsive and unstable as her handle diplomacy of any kind. As if reading my thoughts she gets up to leave.
"Wait", I stop her, "You know what I mean Seraphina."
"I know exactly what you mean. Be careful. Helios and his men are staying on the 5th floor."
"When will I see you again."
She opens the door a little and peers out.
"I think it's best I deal with your little circle of Brothers . . . I want to make sure I can trust them. I want to meet them."
I nod my head. I'd told Damien, Ashe, Jonah, Lysander, Callum (and by default Dante) about Seraphina's allegiance but they had yet to met with her. Everyone else was still in the dark, thinking I had just given up.
"Where ? It has to be someplace discreet."
She points upward and I look at the ceiling
"The Spindle", she says, "The top floor dining room. The Metronome Hotel is perfect for keeping secrets."
She checks herself in the mirror and heads for the door.
"So. . . will I see you again ?"
She turns, realizing I am asking the same question again. This time with a different emphasis.
She approaches me slowly and kisses me, I could kiss her forever it felt so good to warm her cold full lips. That kiss felt like a yes and no at the same time.
"I am oh so very fucking confused", I say.
She of course doesn't respond, but slams the door on her way out.
+++
Ariel
Sia had warned me not to sit on the floor, but I hated high heels they made my feet red and painful. I was now certain most of Seraphina’s attitude came from the fact that she always wore heels..
I hadn't even wanted to come, but Helios has personally invited me along with a handful other girls. Calliope had given me a hard look when she helped me get ready and I complained. Calliope hadn't been invited and I assured her I was only invited because I was close to Seraphina, Helios probably didn't realize we were barley on speaking terms.
Even though she ignored me, I stayed by her the entire night, but I was so bored I ended up sitting on the floor while she played pool with Sia. Sia said I was acting like a child. I didn't care. When I finally stood up there was a stain on my dress and Seraphina was gone.
I just needed to find the hotel room with Helio’s alcohol and there should be some club soda to get whatever was on the floor off my dress. Leon had told me Helios' room for the night was on the top floor, so I went there.
Once I reached the floor, stopped when I heard a soft sound like music coming from the hall. It sounded so familiar . . . but it couldn't be.
I heard a door open and close then looked up to see Seraphina ahead of me. She was holding her shoes and the curls had fallen out of her hair and part of it was clipped back in that hair clip that wasn't a hair clip.
The odd part was that the sound was her humming. I didn't immediately recognize the tune but it sounded like that Smiling Prince Song some of the girls sang when jumping rope. It was so pretty the way she hummed it. She never hummed.
“Where did you go ? Sia kept trying to get me to take shots. "
Seraphina seemed distracted as she put her shoes on.
“Seraphina . . .?”
"What ?", she says in a clipped tone.
She doesn't look me in the eye. . . hasn't looked me in the eye since Hippolyta's death. If she had looked me in the eye, she might have noticed that I barley slept. That the guilt was driving me crazy.
“You looked tired. . .are you drunk, Seraphina."
“No”, more one word answers. Then she started hummming again. I don't think she knew she was doing it.
“Helios is still partying. Were you in his room ?”
“No--I mean yes.”, she says getting into the elevator to get back to the party.
I don't get in, I know where I'm not wanted.
When the doors close I sigh. I think about her humming as she heads down to see him and I'm jealous . . . I'm so jealous of her and Helios.
I watch the elevator doors close and when I turn around I scream when a man with a warped face appear out of the shadows. I scream and almost runaway. Then I relax recognizing him.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Prince. you surprised me. So. . . so. . . sorry.”
The Demon Prince's eyes are wide and I realized I just screamed at him like he was a monster, I blush immediately. He notices.
“Oh, yes. . . Ariel, right ? Hello. Um, you can call me Paris”
"Really ?"
"Or Your Royal Highness The Dark Lord Lucifer, choice is yours." He pushes the elevator button quickly and smiles nervously at me, his twisted scared lips reveal perfectly white teeth. The dark ragged lines on his mouth make it look like he is grinning.
"I was joking about the last one." He says. He laughs but it's nervous.
“What are you doing up here--”
“I got lost and I.. . I should go. Hey, Ariel Please don't mention you saw me.”
He smiles again, his eyes looking for the stairs and head towards them.
"Good Night", he says and disappears down the stairs
"Good. . . Night ?", I reply once the door is closed and I know he can no longer hear me.
I finally find Helios' room. The place is a mess. Packed with watch-sized gift boxes and bags. Helios' and Seraphina's clothes are spread all over the floor, in the corner I find the remaining boxes of wine and club soda. In one of the boxes is a forgotten bottle of vodka.
It's in such a pretty bottle but smells vile, Caden told me he used to drink this from his Father's liquor cabinet. I bought it to my lips, I'd had alcohol before but never liquor. It felt. . . warm. I took another sip and then another. The more I drank the more It made me feel sleepy and silly at the same time.
It made me feel good. Suddenly Caden dying and Seraphina not talking to me . . . well, suddenly it seemed quite funny.
I liked that.
I liked that a lot.
Author's Note
Thank you for enjoying the smexy portion of our serial. I promise we will return to the actually plot line
Challenge Accepted
So, somewhere after this chapter of Nightmare. Someone told me the lyrics to Keri Hilson's The Way You Love me, should be in Luxe. As you can imagine it fit perfectly in the staircase section ! I can't find this comment though. Grrr.
SV-LILE PARADOX
I was working on this when Chapter 9 of Vice went up. I was leaning towards Do What U Want but also liked Gorilla. So I was so glad when SV went with Gorilla !
Also I used the Metronome Hotel as a place holder until i came up with something else. . . I didn't come up with something else. I put the part about the "moody future" look as a place holder to. . .but I didn't come up with anything else.
You : LiLe are you insinuating there are other supernatural things in the world of this serial?
Me : Yes, but it's never going to get explored. I like to do this for some reason . . .
So remember how Sera and Helio’s introduction was the first thing I worte? Well, the Do What U Want section was what I wrote second. It originally takes place in the same glass enclosed office ( as an Ironic Echo) which is why I wrote them at the same time. Then I realized it didn't make sense for Sera and Paris to be alone in Helios' mansion. So I decided to make it a hotel and I was like "why are they in a hotel. . . they wouldn't be able to afford it" Then Helio's birthday happened.