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To those who’ve had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world— I’m proud of you.
Genevieve snorted. “That’s alright. I fucked his best friend on the back of the float as revenge.”
PLS my eyes got so big just now
“Ah, good girl.” Something in their tone seemed disappointed despite the praise. “You seem far cleverer than the tourists who’ve tried to sneak in here. Yet you’re out in the dark, all alone. Don’t you know what happens in the dark?”
GOOD GIRL? i sat up so quick bruh
“Go home,” the stranger advised. “A house of Devils is no place for an angel like you.”
this is salem talking?
As she trailed away, she heard one last sultry whisper. “A heart and a key would set me free,” it said. “But you should hope we do not meet again, angel.”
we shall see
Lucky guess, the Shadow Voice whispered in her mind. Don’t use up all your luck too soon…
oh hush
“Then how do you know it was me?” He lifted a brow. “All Ghosts have their own energy—like a fingerprint—and yours is even more distinct than most. I’ve never come across anything like it before.” He smirked, and her defenses raised. “I’m not crazy. I know it was you,” she snapped. “Whether you want to admit it to me or not.” “You’re not crazy,” he agreed, gaze softening. “This is clearly your first time meeting a Phantom.”
oh he in here playing
“When we met last night, what did we talk about?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts. She gave him an exasperated look. “Are you teasing me? Do you really not remember?” “My memories are… complicated.” “I asked if you were stuck here, if you needed help,” she said. “You told me to go home. That a house of Devils was no place for me.” “I see you didn’t heed my advice. Pity,” he murmured. “It was an agreeable encounter, then?”
sigh
“Do you know how to unlock this?” “Yes.” Ophelia waited for him to step forward and help, but when he didn’t move, she tapped her foot impatiently. One, two, three. When he still didn’t say anything, she finally implored, “Would you unlock this?” “No.” He smirked. “Then why did you offer to help before?” she demanded, propping one of her hands on her hip. The one still smeared with blood. His eyes immediately snagged on the crimson lines that stained her skin, but he only said, “I didn’t, actually. I simply asked if you needed help.” “That’s quite misleading.”
lol
across her shoulders and décolletage. Minimizing risks also meant no more encounters with certain green-eyed phantoms… Something about him disarmed her in a way that was concerning, and she didn’t need such a distraction. Even if he was intriguing. And handsome. And exactly the type of being she had been trained to assist. Not that he seemed to need her assistance. Even if he did, he spoke in too many circles and she couldn’t figure him out. His mouth much too smart. Oh, his mouth. She wondered what it would be like to have that mouth on her skin. Running along her clavicle, over her chest,
...more
oh?
“Missed my presence already?” the stranger drawled. She dusted herself off with shaky hands, giving him as much of an indignant look as she could manage through the shock. “Ah, so that’s the true distinction of a Phantom—an ego.” “That, and what I’m able to do with my hands,” he taunted, lips curling up at the corners.
WHAT
He lifted a crystal goblet of amber liquid to his mouth. Her forehead wrinkled at the sight. “Are you drinking?” “Would you like some? It looks like you might need it.” “No,” she deadpanned, though the idea of having another conversation with him that went round and round in circles made her think perhaps a drunken stupor would be preferable.
LMAO ok now
“Ghosts can’t eat or drink,” she noted, ignoring his question. “I’m special,” he retorted. “Now, focus. How did you get here?”
not im special lmaoo
A slow grin spread over the stranger’s face. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a Devil before?” “I don’t make it a habit to seek out trouble.” He raised a single, silvery brow. “Don’t you, though? You claim I took the time to warn you away and yet here you are.”
A beat later, a low sound of frustration came from his throat, and he moved into action. Guiding her around the chaise by her elbow, he gently steered her out of the room through its wide, arched entrance. “Where are you taking me?” she demanded. “Someplace we can have a conversation that won’t get you into more trouble,” he murmured. “Though, I’m starting to suspect that keeping you out of trouble wouldn’t be an easy task.”
His expression shifted to something like thoughtfulness. “What is your name?” She stared at him for a long time, deciding if she should risk giving it over this time. He gave a dramatic sigh. “If I give you my name first, would that help?” “Possibly,” she answered. “You can call me Blackwell. It’s nice to officially make your acquaintance…?” A long pause. Then, “Ophelia Grimm.” “Ophelia,” he repeated, tasting every syllable. Her name on his tongue sounded like a wicked prayer. “You are exactly the person I’ve been waiting for.”
he can get it oouu i swear to god he can get it
Blackwell leaned forward until their gazes were level with one another’s, the tips of their noses nearly touching. “No one has ever turned me down before.”
I WONT TURN YOU DOWN COME HERE
“Hello, cat,” she grumbled. “Did you come to plead his case? Or do you just get a kick out of watching me stumble around this wretched place?” “The latter, definitely,” Blackwell’s voice rang out behind her. Ophelia didn’t bother looking back at the Phantom as she snapped, “I thought I told you not to follow me?” “I apologize if I gave you the impression that I do what I’m told.” His tone was anything but apologetic.
hot
Before she could take another step, he blinked directly into her pathway, causing her to pull up short before she smacked right into him. “You’re going the wrong way,” he advised. “And you didn’t give me a chance to tell you what the price of the bargain was.” Ophelia couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Fine. If it’s the only way to get you to go the Hell away, I’ll bite. What is it that you’re offering?” “Don’t forget, you keep finding me.” He gave her a pointed look, and she was already regretting giving in to his antics.
“You have a response for everything, don’t you?” “Yes.” He winked, and she hated herself for thinking that the gesture was attractive.
She felt his chest vibrate with quiet laughter against her back as he leaned his mouth down to her ear and drawled, “Watch this.” Lifting a hand, he gave a sharp snap of his fingers and it all disappeared. The Ghoul, the blood, the scratches. Everything cleared in less than a second.
“And if I don’t find this key?” she asked. “What’s the price of failing?” “The blood bargain ensures I’ll get payment if you fail your task,” he told her. “If you succeed, you’ll have nothing to worry about.” “That didn’t answer my question,” she pressed. “If you fail”—one corner of his mouth lifted in a grim smile as he spoke—“one decade of your life span will be transferred to me.”
oh damn
“Angel, you have not seen even a modicum of what I am capable of,” the handsome, green-eyed bastard whispered in her ear as he pinned her back against the wall with a hand at her waist. “I could make you utter things you never thought you’d possess the will to say just to get a taste of what I have to offer…” His tongue flicked out to lick the pulse throbbing at the side of her throat to emphasize his point. She hated the way her body arched into him, of its own volition, as it searched for the friction it craved.
oh they gon be nasty
“I would get stuck with the most boring group in this place,” he muttered, mostly to himself, before announcing a bit louder, “That’s just fine. Makes it easier on me when you all inevitably drop out or get slaughtered. Don’t expect any help.” “You can’t even button your vest correctly,” Ophelia pointed out. “I doubt you were going to be anyone’s first choice for assistance anyway.”
oop
“When the Hell is this thing going to start so all of you can shut the fuck up?” the woman with the septum piercing muttered from her corner.
She braced herself and gave another hard yank. When he still wouldn’t let go, something strange happened. Her wrist slipped right through his grasp. Not because his grip loosened, but because her entire arm turned transparent. Her mouth fell open as she watched her limb return to its solid state a second later.
“Don’t tell me you’re not going to fight back, angel,” a voice drawled somewhere above her. “Careful, or I’ll have to start believing you save all your moxie just for me.” Ophelia bristled at Blackwell’s taunting words, while Cade remained oblivious of the real threat standing right over his shoulder. But Blackwell was right.
oh hey dude
“Call her a name one more time,” he threatened, his tone bored but his eyes alight with mischief. “I dare you.” Cade gawked at the sight of Blackwell’s tall frame, but his expression quickly soured as he spat, “Incredible, even Demons have whores—” Blackwell grabbed Cade’s wrist and twisted his arm until he screeched in agony. “Incredible,” Blackwell echoed. “The audacity of men worth less than dirt.”
PERIOD
A surprised laugh fell from Ophelia’s mouth, and Blackwell turned his face just enough to wink at her.
HOT BOYY
She looked down to find spiders the size of her hand skittering over her dress. “Gross.” While she began brushing the pests off her, Blackwell sent Cade flying into the far wall before blinking out of sight to reappear by her side, transparent once more. “It’s time for you to get out of here,” he urged as he flicked another of the arachnids off her shoulder. “It’s about to get much worse than a few bugs.”
Then, his mouth was right next to her ear. “Don’t. Move.” She began to ask why, but his hand clamped over her mouth to stop her from speaking. She scowled, having half a mind to bite him for such a rude gesture, but then she noticed it. Describing the creature in front of her as nightmarish would be an understatement.
oh nahh
“You’re going to slowly back away,” he instructed. “And when I say run, you run. Got it?”
“Ophie?” a familiar voice gasped behind her. “Genevieve?” Ophelia spun around. There, in the archway, was her sister’s silhouette. Ophelia staggered a step forward. “Genevieve—” “Ophie! Hurry!” Genevieve urged, her face drenched in shadows as she turned on her heel and ran from the room.
OH FINALLY bitch we been looking for you
“Over here, Ophie,” Genevieve directed, but something in her tone was off now.
oh thats not even her
Only two more steps. Before she could take them, however, she heard something thud in front of her and then a pair of arms scooped her up off her feet and carried her through the shadows. “You’re going to be such trouble,” a velvet voice whispered above her in the dark.
“Careful,” a voice warned, just as a shooting pain went through her arm. She blinked her eyes open to find Blackwell sitting in the armchair across from her bed, and Poe lying by her side.
oh hiii dear
“What happened?” she finally asked, her voice still thick. “What happened is that you’re incredibly impatient,” he answered flatly. She tried sitting up again, wincing when she put pressure on her right arm. He shot to his feet to assist.
Excuse me for not just taking the word of a Ghost who keeps stalking me.” “Stalking is a bit dramatic,” he drawled. She only glared at him.
The Devils on the other hand… they have a betting pool for each group. Don’t worry, you’re not in their loser brackets. Yet.” Her nose wrinkled. “That’s sick.”
“Partially. You did well, but I do think you underestimate how much harder the trials can get. That first one was easy compared to the others.” “That was supposed to be easy?” He smirked. “You get the picture, then.”
She had the sudden urge to stick her tongue out at him, but she resisted, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up as if he knew that was exactly what she wanted to do.
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take. Life happens. Even in death. No use worrying about things that haven’t occurred yet.”
interesting
“And if I do find this key?” She tilted her head. “I want payment for that.” Something sparked in his eyes at the request. “What would you like?” She didn’t hesitate. “My family has a debt against our home. I need money to pay it off.” “I’m a Ghost,” he deadpanned. “I don’t have access to mortal currencies.”
LMAO
“We have a deal. Make the bargain.” He disappeared abruptly and then reappeared a second later, now with an ornate onyx dagger in his hand. He held out his palm for hers, and she gave it to him, watching intently as he ran the steel blade across her delicate skin.
OH he wasted no time lol
“Whenever you need to summon me, all you must do is recite my name three times. I’ll come.”
“Whenever?” She lifted a brow. “So, if I want you at my beck and call every second of the day—?” “Yes,” he confirmed with amusement. “You can summon me any time you want. The morning. The afternoon. The middle of the night…”
oh i like that
“Are you going to need me to hold your hand while we walk through?” he taunted over his shoulder with a smirk. “Oh, bite me,” she deadpanned. His smirk grew wider. “Is that an invitation?”
“Being too compassionate in a place like this is a mistake,” he warned. “Soft hearts don’t survive here.” “What kinds of hearts do?” He leaned down until their eyes were level. “Hearts with teeth.” He reached out and gently gripped her chin in his hand, rubbing the pad of his thumb across her full, bottom lip. She was frozen in place. “C’mon, angel, show me your teeth.”
OOP
A creak echoed in front of her and then, “Ophelia.” She blinked her eyes open, and her jaw went slack as she took in the new room before them. Blackwell gave her an appraising look. “Nice job, angel. Now let’s see what else you can find.”
love me some praise
“Did you only bring me here so you could get a drink?” she accused. “Of course not,” he had told her right before knocking back an entire glass of amber liquid in two gulps. “I brought you here for the romantic ambiance.” The room had been slathered in cobwebs and grime.
lol rd smartass
