Chapter 8: Strong

**Nerina**

To my surprise, the beautiful red dress is waiting for me in the closet when I get home. I hesitate for just a second before taking off my suit and putting it on, not even bothering to wash the day of work off my skin. If tonight is anything like last night, then I won’t make any effort to prepare. All I care about is showing up and letting Zachiel do whatever he wants with me so that I can start to figure out what he wants from me. He wouldn’t have pulled me out of my fire cell without a reason, surely, and for the love of all profane things, it can’t just be for a quick fuck.

As expected, once the dress and shoes are in place and I fix my hair—this time, twisted into a tight bun—I dematerialize and end up right in the dining hall.

Alone.

I blink a few times to adjust my eyes to the dimness of the candlelit room. Then I shrug and take my place where I sat last night, waiting.

I’m drumming my fingers on the table, expecting something to happen, when suddenly, Zachiel appears from the other side looking a bit confused.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. “I got held up.”

“Don’t worry,” I murmur back, avoiding his gaze, suddenly feeling shy after yesterday’s strangeness.

Zachiel sits down and picks up his glass, looking at me the whole time. “Are you hungry?” he asks.

I nod, and a plate of food appears in front of me, this time a piece of salmon. Where does all this food come from? Not down here, that’s for sure.

“Aren’t there twins?” I murmur with my mouth full, eager to say something in the awkward silence.

“Not right now,” Zachiel replies. “I want you alone.”

“Why?” I ask, dropping my fork. I’m desperate to keep stuffing food into my mouth, but the chance to find out something has just come up.

“You're special, Nerina. Strong,” Zachiel says.

“That doesn’t help much,” I comment, irritated. “I already know how strong I am.”

“Arrogant too,” Zachiel murmurs. “I have a great plan for you, Nerina, but you need to show me you’re ready for the challenge. I need to know you have what it takes.”

“To do what?” I ask, intrigued. I knew he was plotting something. Maybe I’m not destined to be an administrative slut for much longer.

“I can’t reveal that to you yet,” Zachiel says, taking a sip of his wine. “I don’t want your head filled with those thoughts until you show me what you’re made of.”

“I already did,” I reply. “I crawled out of this hole after I was sent back. Tell me how many others did that, Zachiel?”

His eyes gleam with a warning, and I grab the fork again to fill my mouth with food instead of my foot.

“A tremendous feat, of course,” he says in a dark tone that doesn’t please me. “But all it shows me is a lack of respect for authority and the rules.”

“Hm,” I murmur, pondering his words. “Are you looking for my respect, Zachiel?” I add cheekily.

“The last Demon who disrespected me isn’t around to tell his story,” Zachiel points out gently, but the threat is implied. “You would do well to learn from their mistake.”

“Show me who you really are and maybe I’ll start to respect you,” I challenge him, holding the handle of my fork in case I need to try to gouge his eyes out if he attacks me.

Zachiel just laughs. “You’re not ready,” he says and stands up. He walks to the door we passed through last night and opens it. He waits for me to rise and walk to him.

“Does that mean I’ll see your true form one day?” I ask softly as I pass him and step into the room.

“If you prove you’re worthy enough,” he replies calmly, making me shudder.

“All I needed was a little incentive,” I say, throwing him my most seductive look that has influenced thousands of men before. “Tell me how to prove my worth.”

“That’s showing, not telling,” he reprimands and pushes me toward the chaise lounge where twin number two is already waiting for me.

I sigh. It seems we’re going through the same process as yesterday. I take off my clothes before the woman can touch me and sit on the chaise lounge. I spread my legs, fixing Zachiel with a firm gaze.

He laughs at me again. “You’re learning,” he says as ‘your’ twin begins to undress.

“I’ll never let it be said that I’m slow to comprehend,” I say slowly, lowering my gaze to Zachiel’s penis, which is being placed in the mouth of the twin. I lick my lips and return my eyes to his. I see a quick flash of lust in his eyes before he looks down at “my” twin.

“Prepare her,” he growls and turns his head away from me.

I narrow my eyes at his change of attitude. Suddenly, it’s cold in here, making my nipples respond to the chill in the air. I adjust them while the twin focuses her efforts lower, and after a few minutes of intense tongue-fucking, I feel my orgasm pump through me. I close my lips and make no sound, deciding not to reveal anything to Zachiel just now. The only sound in the room is the first twin swallowing, and then the sound of my heels on the floor as I’m escorted to the bed.

I crawl onto the huge bed and hold my position on my hands and knees. If Zachiel wants me, he can take me like this tonight.

I feel a sharp sting as my ass gets a hard slap, and I move in ecstasy. Oh yes! Now this is more like it.

“Turn over,” says ‘my’ twin.

I look over my shoulder and see it wasn’t Zachiel who slapped me, but the woman. Zachiel is watching impatiently for me to obey, casting me a threatening glance.

I briefly think about saying “no” to them, but the air of danger is currently too high, and deep down, I’m a survivor. I’ve seen my way out of trouble. Reluctantly, I turn over and fall back onto the bed, preparing myself. I feel Zachiel enter and exit me, but this time the twins hold my ankles, and Zachiel keeps his hands loosely at my sides. He couldn’t be touching me less if he tried.

This is getting weirder.

Before I can warm up, Zachiel is pulling out of me and spraying his black cum on my belly before putting on his robe and leaving the room.

“What the hell?” I demand as I sit up. “Why is he doing this to me?” I feel used tonight, and that’s a feeling I’m not used to. I’m the user. I use men to satisfy my depraved appetite, delighting in their weakness. Now I’m the weak one, my body being used to serve another.

The twin simply ignores me as she cleans me up, and as soon as she leaves, I put the dress back on. Struggling against my frustration, I return to my apartment even more confused than last night. So much for figuring anything out. The mystery of Zachiel and his actions has just doubled, and now I wish I were back in my prison cell, where at least I know my place.