Good Weds Evil (Jack-O-Lanterns 5)

Good Weds Evil
Kate Hill
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2006 Kate Hill
An Authorized Excerpt

Seated on a flat black stone in the chamber of revelations, Urbane pressed his palms to the floor on either side of him. He relished the heat spreading through his hands and up his arms. Around him rose the high, craggy walls of hell's deepest cavern. Down here, not even the screams of tortured souls reached him. Except for the hiss of steam from random geysers, there was silence.

Usually occupied with violent or lustful ventures, Urbane had until recently spent little time in this place of dark fantasy. Like most demons, he preferred action to dreaming.

Then he'd set eyes on her. During a midnight stroll through that place between hell and heaven known as the Midland, he'd passed by the forbidden garden, a repulsive spot filled with flowers, green trees, and crystalline pools. Urbane always walked by as quickly as possible. This time he'd heard laughter, sickening sweet yet too alluring to resist. A glance past the alabaster gate and he'd been lost.

The chestnut-haired beauty frolicking in the lake, her tall, curvaceous body naked with its flawless skin glistening in the moonlight, sent a ripple of pure desire down his spine. His cock swelled and ached, longing to impale her lush body, feel her wet cunt pulsing around it.

He'd stepped closer to the gate and stared with unabashed desire. He grasped the white metal bars, ready to force his way inside, then a wave of disgust washed over him.

Obviously she was a good spirit, some sort of angel, most likely. Better to stay away from the likes of them. Whenever a fiend took up with one of them, he either lost himself to dreaded goodness or else faced the heaven's wrath. They didn't take well to their sweet spirits being ravaged. Not that Urbane feared them. If he wanted this alabaster beauty, he would take her.

Then she glanced toward him and gasped, her large dark eyes wide with surprise. A hint of anger shone in her expression before she turned away, long tendrils of hair clinging to her slender back. She glanced at him over her shoulder and Urbane smiled wickedly at the lust shining in her eyes. It seemed even her kind weren't immune.

He could have taken her then. Seduced and left her, but something stopped him. A tugging at his… heart? With a savage growl, he'd left the garden and traveled to earth where he immersed himself in the willing flesh of mortal whores. No indulgence, from wild sex to substances that over-stimulated body and mind, could erase the angel's image from his thoughts. He'd made it his duty to learn everything about her. Her name was Evangeline.

Because of her he found no rest, no pleasure. No matter how much blood he shed, both of others and his own, he could not forget her. He needed her, not just in body, but in soul.

The lord of evil sensed his dilemma and summoned him to the black throne where Urbane knelt, trembling not with fear but with longing. His master would obliterate him now, and he would finally be free of her.

The essence of evil is passing over. The evil lord's raspy voice grated inside Urbane's tortured mind. With him goes the dreaded essence of good. As you know, a member of our realm must join with one from the heavens so that good and evil meld and the order of the universe remains intact.

"Yes, my master," Urbane said and lifted his gaze to the evil one's lifeless white eyes. His head throbbed painfully with anticipation. His master was about to curse him with hell's worst torment and by all that was evil, Urbane wanted it.

You are already tainted by a breath of goodness, Urbane. You may deny it and remain in our realm, or surrender to your pathetic weakness and be exiled forever.

His demonic soul clung to hell, but some unfamiliar force prompted him to say, "I will carry on the order of the universe, my master, but only if I may name my bride."

A sinister smile spread over the evil lord's blood red lips. Speak her name and souls everywhere, above and below, shall hear your proposal. Think carefully before you do. Hell's doors shall close forever to your weak, repulsive soul, and heaven shall never have you.

Urbane's cold heart pounded mercilessly in his chest. He resisted the urge to moisten lips that had suddenly gone dry. The image of the chestnut-haired beauty naked in the pool made his cock throb with a need he could no longer deny.

My time is short, Urbane. What is your decision?

He drew a deep breath and as he released it spoke a single word. "Evangeline."