“Honey! I’m home!” Cole shouted as he closed the front door of his house. The sweet aroma of freshly baked brownies entered his nostrils as he sat his portfolio and laptop down on the couch. He entered the empty kitchen and opened the oven to salivate over the delicious dish.

“Honey! The brownies are done!” he shouted again.

He grabbed an oven mitten, pulled the pan of brownies from the oven, and set them on the kitchen counter. They smelled so delicious! He could not wait. He cut a small piece from the corner of the pan and took a bite.

“Ow! Shit! That’s hot!” Cole yelled. The brownie’s heat did not stop him from finishing it.

“Honey? Where are you?” Cole shouted into the house for the third time. It was not like her to not greet him when he came home, let alone leave the oven unattended.

Cole walked to the staircase by the front door. “Maria?” he called up the stairs. Cole only heard the silence of a seemingly empty house. She should be home. The car was in the driveway. The silence was unnerving.

As Cole went up the stairs, an overpowering sense of deja vu swept over him. It was as if he had been here before. If only he could remember how, or when… This strange feeling added to Cole’s increasing paranoia. He knew in his gut that something was horribly wrong.

“Maria?” Cole called out once again as he reached the top of the stairs. Again, no answer. He checked the bathroom; it was empty. Then he poked his head into the guest bedroom; empty as well.

All that remained was the master bedroom. Cole held his ear to the closed door; nothing. Was she asleep? “No,” he thought. She would not have left the oven on.

A voice in the back of his mind told him something terrifying awaited him on the other side. A cold chill ran all down his spine. He could not shake the weird feeling that this happened somewhere before. Cole summoned his courage, turned the doorknob, and stepped inside.

Nothing could have prepared Cole for what he saw as he flipped on the lights. He had finally found Maria in bed… sitting serenely, smiling at him. Cole released a deep sigh of relief as he beheld her beauty, her bright blue eyes, and long blonde hair that draped over the top of her white silk nightgown.

“Hi Cole, I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home,” Maria said with a suggestive smile.

Cole’s brain switched gears. The fear of something terrible happening morphed into an overwhelming sexual desire as he stared at her.

“I called for you, but you didn’t answer,” Cole started. “You had me worried there for a second.”

“I wanted to surprise you. I wanted us to celebrate having a baby. So, I made your favorite dessert.”

“Well, call me surprised!” Cole said enthusiastically.

Maria smiled bashfully. “But that isn’t the real surprise, sweetie.”

Cole looked at her curiously. “What is, then?”

Maria stood. She slid the nightgown off her shoulders, letting it pile at her feet. Cole’s jaw dropped and eyes widened when he saw his wife wearing a white teddy that covered very little of her body. The tight sheer fabric enhanced the curves of her C-cup breasts. Her excited nipples stuck out like two pink daggers under the see-through fabric. The garment also increased the allure of her lovely pussy, barely visible through the thin material. The white thigh high stockings completed her sexy image by drawing attention to her athletic legs, and to what lurked between them. A cutout in the lingerie tauntingly displayed her bare flat stomach and sparkling diamond jewelry that dangled from her navel.

“Do you like what you see?” she asked as she shimmied side-to-side.

Cole smiled. “To say ‘yes’ would be an understatement and wouldn’t do you justice.”

“Always the sweet talker,” Maria giggled.

Cole walked to Maria and rested his hands on her hips. She put her arms around his neck and gave him a soft kiss.

“I missed you so much today,” Cole said. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in years.”

“I missed you too, Cole,” Maria said sincerely. “You’re always so busy with work — we rarely have a chance to be together like this.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’m so close to breaking this case! It’s going to be a complete shit storm once I get the evidence I need. I have to play my cards right though, and I’m sorry you have to suffer for it.”

“Shhh. Let’s leave your ‘work’ at work tonight. We have all the time in the world.”

“It sure didn’t feel that way today”, Cole sighed. “I kept having this feeling that some horrible thing was about to happen. That’s why I panicked when I came home and I couldn’t find you.”

“Aww, I’m sorry!” Maria said, stroking Cole’s cheeks. “I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’m okay and the baby is okay. I’ll always be here for you and you’re going to be the best daddy a child could ask for.”

Cole smiled, gazing into Maria’s sapphire eyes. They leaned into each other. Their lips met halfway; they locked in a lover’s embrace. As they kissed, Cole’s hands excitedly glided across the small of her back and into her long hair. The kissing became more intense. His hands rubbed up and down her back, over her outfit’s lace backing.

Cole hungered for more. He raised Maria off the floor from behind her knees, never breaking their intimate kiss. He laid her gently on the bed and climbed atop her. Both lusted for each other with anxious energy. Their tongues molded together in their mouths as Cole shed his tie and button-down shirt. Maria’s hands gripped Cole’s marvelous pectorals, his handsome chest making her moist. Cole, in turn, nuzzled his face into her neck. Maria cooed as his stubbly kisses sent goose bumps all down her legs. Her hands left his chest and trailed downward, undoing his belt and the fly of his trousers. Cole’s rock hard cock sprang to life to her touch.

Cole stood and quickly disposed of his trousers and boxers. He hungrily leered at her body. “It’s a shame I have to strip that off you now.”

“Don’t worry, I thought ahead,” Maria grinned mischievously.

Maria spread her legs wide, her feet flat on the bed. Her left hand pulled the bust of the teddy down and exposed her wonderful tits as her right hand touched her sexy mound. She pulled aside the thin fabric covering her soaked pussy, revealing the hidden slit in the garment to her secret cave. The stretchy material settled on the outer sides of her labia. Maria inserted a finger inside herself, and then another.

“I love how you think,” Cole said approvingly.

Cole climbed back atop Maria; their lips melted together. He carefully positioned himself above her. With Maria’s helping hand, Cole drove inside her, sinking himself deep into her core. Maria gasped rapturously as her pussy stretched to accommodate his thickness.

“I missed being inside you,” Cole groaned.

“I missed you too,” Maria whispered.

Cole withdrew and then thrust into her again slowly, passionately, blissfully. He savored the tingly sensation on every slick inch of his cock as he penetrated her. He kept up this slow, tender pace, enjoying how tight her pussy clenched him. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deep into her with every thrust. He took her subtle hint and quickened his pace while tenderly suckling her exposed nipple. She tangled her fingers into his hair, pulling his face harder into her bosom.

They fucked passionately, their breathing heavy, their bodies sweating. The room was filled with the echoing sounds of two lovers having the best sex of their lives.

Maria felt Cole twitch. “Stop!” she said abruptly.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“It’s my turn,” she said with a seductive smile.

Cole rolled onto his back. Maria knelt above and beside him and grasped the base of his cock in her hand. Without hesitation, she took him into her mouth, humming happily as she sucked him clean of her juices.

“Oh my God, Maria!” Cole raved, “you’ve never tasted yourself on my dick before. That’s so fucking hot!”

Maria lifted her head off his cock with a loud ‘pop’. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m feeling frisky tonight.”

Maria then mounted Cole, stuffing his manhood between her pussy lips. Cole sighed heavily as he sheathed inside her. Maria bounced on Cole’s thick cock, rocking her hips, her hair swinging wildly, boobs bobbing and swaying with every movement. Cole took one of her breasts into his mouth and tightly gripped her round ass. They ground into each other in perfect harmony, their pleasure about to boil over.

“Maria! I’m about to-”

“Me too! I want us to cum together!”

As Cole reached the point of no return, the odd sensation he felt earlier in the house returned, triggered by the thick, cloying aroma in the room. It smelled like a mix of lavender, cherry blossom, and cotton candy. He knew this scent from somewhere — but where?

“Fill me with your cum-”

Cole started to erupt inside her when he realized where he knew that scent. It was the pheromone of a succubus, a demon. Oh, shit!

“And your soul,” Maria finished as two horns grew from the top of her head and two large white bat-like wings unfolded behind her. Her eyes glowed red; she was ready to claim her prey.

“No! Ahh!” Cole yelled, sending his cum as well as his soul inside her. He felt is body implode, quickly shriveling into nothingness.

xxxxx

“Ahh!” Cole shouted as he sat up. He hyperventilated — his heart beating out of his chest, his body drenched in a cold sweat. He observed his surroundings. He was back in his apartment, lying in his regular bed.

Cole took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. It was all only a dream. He had relived the horrific night of Maria’s death in his dreams for years now. The dream normally ended with Cole finding Maria brutally murdered in the bed when he opened the door. This new wickedly twisted ending left Cole missing Maria more than ever before. Holding her had felt so real. Damn.

Cole dropped his head to the pillow and looked to the side. To his surprise, Zafira lay beside him in bed, staring back at his face.

“Good morning!”

Startled, Cole let out a loud yelp as he tumbled from bed and to the floor below. Zafira laughed hysterically at his clumsiness.

Cole climbed off the floor. “Don’t ever do that again!” he yelled at her.

“I’m sorry,” she snickered. “I forget you’re easily startled.”

“I don’t care about that,” Cole grumbled. “I’m talking about my dreams. You stay the hell out them!”

Zafira raised an eyebrow. “Whatever are you talking about?”

“That dream — it was your doing, wasn’t it?”

Zafira scowled at him. “I’m beginning to think you never listen when I speak. I told you before; I cannot alter a pure soul’s mind. That dream was entirely your doing. I can, however, still view your dreams.”

“Is that why you like watching me sleep? So you can watch me suffer over and over again?”

Zafira rolled her eyes. “I’m a demon. I could not care less about your emotional torment. In dreams, I get to see a mortal human’s deepest darkest desires, the type of desires they won’t even admit to themselves. These are not simply plucked from their brains when I read their thoughts. In their mind, these desires do not exist, buried under layers of denial. But not in dreams. As a bonus, I get to view these desires in full motion, as if I were a stranger peeking through a window.”

Zafira shucked the covers off the bed, revealing her perfect naked body as well as a small wet spot on the mattress where Cole had slept. “I do like this new ending to your dream; it would appear you do, as well.”

Cole looked at the mattress and then at his underwear. There was a sticky wet spot on the front of his boxers. He had in fact cum, just like in his dream. He watched as Zafira ran her index finger through the wet spot on the mattress, gathering a dollop of his semen and then licking it off her finger like sweet icing.

“What was she like?” Zafira asked.

Cole looked at Zafira with a confused expression. “Who? Maria? Why do you want to know?”

“Curiosity. I wonder what is so special about her that you’re willing to go through with the ritual.”

Cole sat down on the bed. “You saw how beautiful she was, right?”

“Yes, but beautiful women are a dime a dozen in this world.”

Cole nodded, “You’re right. But her good looks didn’t compare to her inner beauty. We had this… connection, something special I can’t really explain. We knew what the other was thinking without saying a word. She had a heart of pure gold, helping anyone who asked. She always put others before herself, especially me.” He sighed, remembering.

“In the early years of our marriage, she put up with me going through college, and then me working long hours as a street cop. It must have been lonely for her at times, but she was the one encouraging me to keep working hard. Honestly, I don’t think I would have made detective without her support. I’d come home and she’d have dinner ready with a smile on her face. I never met anyone who I could love as much as she loved me.”

Cole hung his head low. A tear fell. “She deserved better. Despite all my training and duty to ‘serve and protect’ I couldn’t protect the most important person in my life. The only thing she ever wanted was a family, and her dream was stolen the moment she realized she was pregnant.”

Cole turned to Zafira, sobbing. “That’s why I want to catch the motherfucker who did this to her and my unborn child. To bring them to justice.”

“Don’t you mean, avenge their deaths?” Zafira suggested.

“Call it whatever you want.”

Frustrated, Cole dressed himself. “I assume you’re here because I still owe you ‘dinner’. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if you were coming back. You were pretty pissed last I saw you. It’s been over a week now.”

Zafira smiled wickedly as she got off the bed. “If I were ‘pissed’, you or your friend wouldn’t be alive. I was mildly irritated. I’m over it now, though. I had a gang bang with some gang bangers; then I fed their remains to Stacy to relieve my frustration. So, I’m sated for the time being.”

Note to self, Cole thought: Do not do anything else to irritate Zafira. “So what brings you here then?”

“As per our agreement, I thought that we’d obtain the last thing needed for the ritual. You still want to see this through to the end, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Cole assured her.

“Good. Once this Maria stuff is out of the way, you can better focus on your end of our deal.”

“Fair enough. So what are we after?”

Zafira paced about the room, “Like I said before, this item will be tricky. We need an angel’s feather.”

“An angel’s feather?!” Cole protested. “How the hell are we supposed to get that? You said yourself that you can’t kill one, and I doubt an angel will just hand one over.”

“You’re right on both counts. I do have a plan, but I need your help.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes,” Zafira smiled. “We have to go to Purgatory, and you are to be my date.”

“Purgatory? You mean that place between Heaven and Hell?”

“Not that Purgatory,” Zafira laughed. “It’s a bar, a special bar, a safe haven for those who rise and those who fall.”

“I’m not sure what that means.”

“You’ll understand when we get there. Meet me at my place in an hour.”

“Should I wear anything special?”

Zafira looked him up and down. “I don’t think it will matter. You’re not going to get the best of welcomes, no matter how you’re dressed.”

“Wonderful,” Cole said sarcastically.

xxxxx

Cole collected Zafira on time and motored to their destination. “Over there!” Zafira pointed to a driveway off the side of the road.

Cole rolled up to what appeared to be an abandoned, condemned factory, festooned with yellow caution tape and “No Trespassing!” signs.

“This place?” Cole wondered.

“Yep, this is it,” Zafira said, stepping from the car.

Cole walked around to her side. He looked at her, marveling at her beauty that never failed to impress. He wondered why she had bothered to dress up in her signature red summer dress and black stiletto heels to come to a place like this.

“Seems you’re a bit overdressed for this place; not that I mind,” Cole said.

Zafira smiled, hooking her arm into his. “Come along,” she said, and led them onward.

They ducked under the yellow tape and proceeded inside through a rusty door. It was pitch-black inside; Cole pulled out his cell phone to use as a makeshift flashlight.

“I forgot — humans can’t see in the dark,” Zafira chuckled.

The building interior looked like it had not been touched in ages. The faint light of Cole’s cellphone illuminated inches of dust on every surface. The crackling of broken glass echoed down the corridors with each step they took into the darkness. Cole could barely discern the shapes of old machinery, broken crates, conveyor belts, and chains hanging from the ceiling. He might have stumbled on the set of a horror movie.

They walked toward an open space deep within the building. “Here,” Zafira said, pointing, to the floor.

“Here what?” Cole asked.

Zafira waved her hands. The dust gently blew off the floor, revealing some kind of large symbol. It was a huge circle, filled with all manner of characters from a fey language Cole did not recognize.

Zafira held her arm out; her clenched fist radiated a purple light and the writing on the floor responded with a similar luminescence. The symbol suddenly vanished. The floor descended, groaning a mad cacophony of mechanical noises and eventually contorting into stairs.

“Let’s go,” Zafira said, descending the newly formed stairway.

Cole caught up with Zafira. The dark stairway seemed to go on forever. Unlike the rest of the building, the stairway was free of dust and debris. A chill ran down his spine. He knew in his gut he was in a place he was never meant to be, as if he was descending to Hell itself.

They finally reached the bottom. As soon as Zafira’s spectacular feet left the dark stairs, torches hanging on the walls sprang to life, illumining a long narrow hallway. A dark figure slowly entered Cole’s view as they walked down the cramped space. When they reached the end, a tall black man in a black business suit stood in their way, blocking their path.

“Mortals do not belong here!” the towering brute of a man said in a commandingly deep voice. “And you, succubus, know that you have been banned from entering. Indefinitely.”

“Was this what you meant by ‘not the best of welcomes’?” Cole whispered.

Zafira nudged him in the ribs, signaling that he had best stay silent. “I seek an audience with Anariel,” she said.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled forth a cellular phone. He dialed a number and held it outward; he obviously had put the phone on speaker. “Hmph. Phones,” Zafira scoffed. Cole heard the phone ring three times before someone answered.

“Speak,” a female voice said through the phone.

“This is Chicago district,” the man said. “A succubus wishes to speak with you.”

“A succubus, huh? Is it Zafira?”

“Affirmative.”

“Tell her rules are rules and I’m not bending them, not even for her.”

“Not even for a cure for your affliction?” Zafira yelled into the phone.

There was a long pause. “Send her in.”

“She also has a mortal with her, a male,” the man added.

The female voice growled into the phone. “Let him in too, but I’m not responsible if one of the patrons decides to eat him.”

Cole looked at Zafira. “Eat me? Just where are you trying to take me?!”

“Calm down,” she said. “When we go in, keep your eyes forward, don’t stare at anyone, and never let go of my arm.”

“O-okay,” Cole said. He tightened his grip on the demoness’ arm.

“Very well. You may proceed,” the man said.

The brick wall behind the large man rippled like a huge stone dropping into a pond. The wall suddenly swirled in a vortex glowing in purple light. It was a gateway. Cole had no clue what was on the other side, but he was about to find out. Zafira strode forward; Cole walked at her side.

They stepped into the portal and Cole felt himself jerked forward at high speed, like a rocket boosting into space. Only a few seconds passed before Cole found himself in a small square room. The room was empty, save for Zafira, himself, and a single red door. Their gateway was gone.

Zafira hunched over. “Urk!” she grunted. Her horns, wings and tail all came into full view.

“Are you okay?” Cole asked, concerned. “You look like you’re in pain.”

“It’s nothing,” she grumbled. “Purgatory has only one rule: no violence. As a way to keep the peace, Anariel created an anti-magic barrier. This barrier makes all magic useless once inside, including that which keeps my true appearance hidden.”

“This ‘Anariel’ sounds very powerful,” Cole said. He helped Zafira stand.

The succubus regained her composure and stood upright. “She is very gifted in the arts of magic, even rivaling that of an Aspect.”

An Aspect. A powerful demon that governs a Sin, or a powerful angel that governs a Virtue. Just who, or what, was Zafira dealing with?

Zafira pushed open the door. “Remember: eyes forward; stay with me.”

Cole followed her orders as they stepped inside. Sure enough, Purgatory was a bar, a bar like any other. There was, however, one glaring difference: the patrons were clearly not human. Cole caught glimpses of all manner of creatures in his peripheral vision. Some were huge hulking beasts with large teeth; others were only waist high, bearing sharp claws and several sets of beady eyes.

Fearsome creatures were not the only patrons. The premises were shared by less intimidating beings that looked almost human, save for their long pointed ears and birdlike wings. Some wings were covered in glossy bright white feathers; others were as flat-black as soft coal.

Regardless of whether they looked intimidating or peaceful, all appeared to be consorting peacefully. Some mingled at the bar. Some shuffled cards or threw dice and wagered at distant tables. All seemed to be enjoying themselves.

That is, until they took notice of Cole and Zafira. Cole felt many piercing eyes as Zafira lead him through the tavern. To them, Cole was the weird one. Zafira led Cole to an isolated table in a corner where they sat with their backs against the wall.

The bar was momentarily quiet. Growls, hisses, and cold stares were tossed in Cole’s direction. One particular brute with large tusks approached their table, salivating like he was about to dine on the finest delicacy.

Zafira shook her head intimidatingly. Her silent warning was heard and the brute returned to his stool by the bar. The music, chatter, and card games resumed. “So who are all these, uh, people?” Cole asked.

“Some are demons and some are angels,” Zafira replied.

“I thought demons and angels hated each other?”

“Under normal circumstances, they do,” Zafira said. “But few choose their own paths, and even fewer manage to survive being punished for their choices by their respective factions. They gather here for a safe place to relax and exchange information. There are even a few demons who uphold virtues and some angels sunken in sin.”

“So, that’s what you meant by this place being a haven for those who rise and those who fall, right? Do the forces of Heaven and Hell know of this place?”

“They do, but no one except Anariel knows where Purgatory exists physically. She created several magic gateways around the world that lead here. But, where ‘here’ actually is? That’s anyone’s guess.”

“What’s stopping them from just barging through the gateways, then?”

“Anariel’s golems, beings created from her magic. You saw one before we went through the gateway. They are her peace keepers, and are a force to be reckoned with.”

Cole quickly glanced about the bar. He saw the same huge black man in the suit standing behind the bar, as well as by the card tables, the door, and several other locations.

“There’s so many of them,” Cole stated.

Zafira chuckled, “Anariel has an animated army to safeguard this place, to protect the patrons from Heaven and Hell. She could give both sides a run for their money if one of them decided to attack. But this place would eventually fall if one or both sides decided to go all out. The catch is that casualties would be massive, which would allow Heaven or Hell to attack and overwhelm the other. Because of this, Purgatory remains relatively safe due to this stalemate. It’s a classic Mexican standoff.”

“Why are humans not welcome here?”

“Several reasons. Your kind tends to destroy everything you touch. There’s also the Crusaders, who wouldn’t hesitate to kill any demon or fallen angel. But I think the main reason is that most demons and angels spend centuries influencing humans — and after all that time, that close association, they’ve finally gotten tired of your misbegotten race.”

A golem approached Cole and Zafira’s table. “Anariel will see you now,” he intoned with the same deep voice as the last guardian.

“Well, it’s about time!” Zafira said impatiently.

The midnight golem escorted Cole and Zafira up a flight of stairs to a balcony overlooking the bar and stopped at another red door.

“Anariel awaits you inside.”

Zafira nodded at Cole and opened the door. He stepped through and stopped short. In his awe-struck eyes, they appeared to be outdoors in a luxuriant flower garden. The red door vanished behind them. Cole was breathless at the shear beauty of this new world. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky; white birds chirped and soared overhead. A large fountain arose in the distance. Cole looked on at this marvel of nature full of colorful flowers and fruit trees.

“Where are we?” Cole breathed.

Zafira shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not entirely sure.”

They followed a narrow walkway of ivory-toned marble through the garden toward the fountain. A woman with mid-length fire-engine-red hair, wearing a long white silk robe, came into view as they moved forward. She sat on a small bench, basking in her surroundings. As they neared, Cole noted the woman had long pointed ears and wings with black feathers. Anariel was an angel.

“Hello, Ana,” Zafira said.

“Zafira,” Anariel said. “I believe I told you never to come back to Purgatory, much like I told you to never call me Ana.”

“I feel your pain,” Cole joked. “She’s not one for adhering to people’s requests.”

Anariel gazed upon Cole with contempt. “Silence, mortal!” She turned to Zafira. “I would like to know why you brought this mortal here. They are strictly forbidden from entering Purgatory.”

Zafira laughed. “For someone who went against the rules of Heaven, you sure have many rules of your own.”

“Many? I have but two: no violence, and no mortals. Now, you have broken both!”

“Those rogue angels had it coming!” Zafira argued. “They thought they could buy their way back into Heaven’s good graces by killing me. I had to prove them wrong.”

“If you were anyone else I would have had my golems pulverize you into dust!”

“Why didn’t you, then?!” Zafira yelled.

Anariel paused and calmed herself. “Because, if not for you, I would never have created Purgatory in the first place.”

Zafira rolled her eyes. “You have a funny way of showing your gratitude. Instead of erecting statues in my honor, you banish me.”

Anariel shook her head. “Your vanity knows no limits. I have no regrets for any of my decisions.”

“Wait,” Cole interrupted, looking at Zafira. “What is your history with Anariel?”

Zafira flashed her signature cocky smirk. “I showed her exactly what the pleasures of the flesh were like.”

“You mean, you two were a… thing?” Cole asked curiously.

“If by ‘thing’ you mean lovers, then absolutely not!”  Anariel declared.

“But we did fuck,” Zafira said smugly.

Anariel snarled. “Your vanity is only surpassed by your vulgarity!”

Cole was puzzled. “So, you committed lust. But I thought demons and angels don’t have souls. Why would it matter?”

“Not that it is any mortal’s business, but I once served as the lieutenant of Sofia, the Aspect of Love. For many millennia, I was charged with influencing mortals so they may find love and eventually procreate. For untold centuries, I watched humans engage in this blissful pleasure, but I was forbidden to ever experience it for myself. It wasn’t fair.”

“When an angel commits a sin,” Zafira added, “they fall from grace. A fallen angel’s feathers turn from white glory to dead black. Because of this, no angel can hide what they’ve done from those in Heaven.”

Anariel spread her wings, displaying her dingy, dark feathers. “In addition to being cast out and ostracized, fallen angels are cursed with mortality. Their lifespan is longer than humans, but is no longer infinite.”

Zafira put her hand on Anariel’s shoulder. “And we are here to fix that curse.”

“I’m curious how you plan to do that,” Anariel huffed. “All my attempts to raise the curse with magic have failed.”

Zafira reached into Cole’s coat pocket. She pulled out one of the vials of virgin’s essence they had collected from Penny.

“Where magic fails, alchemy prevails,” Zafira said.

“Hey!” Cole interjected, “I thought we needed that for the ritual?”

“Shhh!” Zafira scolded. “Why do you think I had you get two vials?”

Anariel looked at the small vial curiously. “Virgin’s essence? While it does have purifying qualities, it’s not enough for the curse of a fallen angel.”

Zafira looked at Cole suggestively. “That’s where he comes in.”

“Me?” Cole asked blankly.

“The sperm of a pure soul can amplify any magical property,” Zafira explained. “Mix the two, plus a few curative spells from yourself, and viola! No more black feathers.”

Anariel stood; the front of her robe draped open. Cole inhaled sharply at the pleasant view of Anariel’s cleavage and a line of bare skin stretching all the way down to the stubbly bright red hair between her thighs.

“Is something the matter, mortal?” Anariel asked. “Is my appearance not to your liking?”

Cole swallowed hard, chagrined to be caught peering at her trimmed pussy. He felt his balls swell. He was unable to look away.

“Quite the opposite, actually,” Cole said.

Anariel considered what Zafira said. “I don’t suppose you’re doing this out of the kindness of your black heart?”

“How right you are,” Zafira smiled.

Anariel scoffed. “So what is it you want?”

Cole approached Anariel. “I need one of your feathers.”

“Ha!” Anariel boasted. “You, a mortal, want one of my feathers? What do you want it for?”

“Zafira and I have an arrangement. I seek only to know who killed my wife. Zafira claims a ritual would reveal the truth and an angel’s feather is required for it.”

Anarial hummed, understanding the situation. “So that is what this is all about. To use one of my feathers for such a petty reason is unthinkable!”

“Please!” Cole begged. “You’re an angel of love. You’ve seen how happy humans are when they are truly in love. Do you know what it’s like to have that love taken from you?”

Anariel stood in front of Cole, putting her hand on his cheek. “As a matter of fact, yes, I do. I was in love once too — with a mortal, of all things!”

Zafira looked at Anariel in complete shock. “Really? You?”

“Yes. I loved him with every fiber of my being. Somehow, through some miracle I still don’t understand, I was even able to give birth to my son.”

“You have a child? That’s impossible!” Zafira proclaimed.

“It is impossible.” Anarial explained. “Beings with no souls do not give birth. Yet it still happened. I was then forced to watch my lover slowly succumb to his old age. It was painful to watch, but he insisted I let him die as a human, not be kept alive through inhuman magic. Though he may be gone, I still have my son. I seek this cure, not to preserve my life for my own benefit, but rather to protect my son. With him being half human and half angel, he is bound to attract the attention of both Heaven and Hell. Neither of which, I’m sure, would be happy with his existence.”

Cole shed a small tear. “I’m happy for you and your son. But that too was taken from me. My wife was pregnant when she was murdered.”

Anariel slowly leaned in and opened her arms, hugging Cole. Despite her distrust of humans, she sympathized with him. She understood his pain of love lost.

“I require a reading,” Anariel demanded as she released him from her arms.

“A reading?” Cole asked.

“She wishes to peer into your future,” Zafira said. “While your fate isn’t predetermined, angels have the ability to see all the possibilities. She wants to be sure her feather isn’t going to be used for some other malicious purpose. Angels… no trust at all.”

“When it comes to using one of my feathers for a demonic ritual, of course I have no trust.”

Cole nodded. “Do whatever you need.”

Anariel put both hands on Cole’s cheeks and looked intensely into his eyes. Her pupils turned white and cloudy. The longer her eyes remained locked on his, the more Cole’s head hurt, as if his brain was melting. Her hands shook fiercely. His nose bled. He felt his head might explode if she did not stop.

She finally released her grip. Cole fell to the ground, completely dazed and disoriented. He wiped blood from his nose with his coat sleeve. He looked up at Anariel with blurred vision.

“Are you… satisfied?” Cole asked, his breathing rapid.

Anariel nodded. “That was sufficient, yes. Of all the hundreds of possibilities, none leads to misuse of my feather.”

“What took you so long?” Zafira asked. “It only takes a second to do a reading. You damn near killed him!”

“There was a single thread I could not read.”

“What does that mean?” Cole asked as he got back on his feet.

“I do not know for certain. However, I will take my chances and give you the feather.”

“Thank you!” Cole said appreciatively.

“But know this, mortal: of all the hundreds of threads I read, none of them lead to a happy ending for you. If you proceed with this, you do so knowing this.”

Cole nodded. “I understand. This was never about my happiness. It’s about justice.”

“Very well,” Anariel said. “Now just hand over the vials of virgin’s essence and pure soul’s semen and our business here will be finished.”

“About that,” Zafira said. “We don’t have a ‘vial’ of his cum. I thought it would better if it were… fresh.”

Anariel looked at Zafira inquisitively. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Zafira walked up to Anariel, invading her personal space. She slid her hands inside Anariel’s robe to fondle her angelic breasts.

“I thought we could relive those nights we had all those centuries ago. Cole could use the, um, visual stimulation, after all.”

“Why not just have him fornicate with us?” she asked.

Cole’s eyes widened. Did he just hear her right? An invitation to fuck an angel and a succubus? At the same time?! Cole’s cock was instantly hard at the mere thought of the prospect. He has been able to resist Zafira up to this point, but he did not think he could resist both of them.

Zafira shook her head. “Unfortunately for him, his soul needs to remain pure.”

Anariel raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Zafira can’t take my soul if it remains pure,” Cole answered.

Anariel paused, looking confused. She then looked at Zafira who was giving her a stern glare. “I… see.”

Zafira moved a lock of Anariel’s red hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her pointed ear. “Besides, once you’re cured, you can never do this again. Best to get it out of your system now. It will be like old times.”

Anariel smiled. “Old times. I do miss those nights with you from time to time. I guess this will be my way of showing my appreciation for all you’ve done for me. You showed me to think for myself, which eventually lead me to fall in love, and to create this sanctuary.”

“Cut the sentimental crap and kiss me,” Zafira commanded.

Anariel leaned in to press her lips against Zafira’s. Their kisses were soft yet energetic, like two lovers separated for years, or in this case, centuries. Anariel placed her hands on Zafira’s cheeks, pulling her mouth harder into hers, nibbling her lower lip. She sucked on Zafira’s long forked tongue as they caressed each other, completely enthralled by her sexy demon lover.

Zafira, too, was in this moment. She pulled her red dress over her head and deftly removed Anariel’s robe from her shoulders while she embraced the angel deeply, sensuously. Her hands grasped Anariel’s smooth behind and pulled her now-naked divine body against her own. They held each other tightly, compressing their ample breasts between them.

Cole could hardly contain himself. He watched on as the two beautiful supernatural beings explored with lips and tongues. His throbbing cock ached with mounting lust. He cursed the fact he dare not join them. That is not to say he could not still enjoy himself, now that he was aware of a few loopholes. He unzipped his fly, pulled out his stiffened cock, and stroked himself while staying safely distant.

Zafira tilted her head to nuzzle and kiss and nibble at Anariel’s neck. Aneriel’s breathing intensified — she felt powerless against Zafira’s seductive intensity. They held each other with one arm while sneaking the other hand in between their lover’s thighs. They rubbed on each other’s pussy, humming together like a sinful choir. Zafira then withdrew her hands and with a sudden jerk, pulled on the back of Anariel’s knees, tackling her in the bed of flowers.

Never pausing from her assault, Zafira’s mouth savored all of Anariel’s physical being. She suckled each of Anariel’s perfect pink nipples while she kneaded her hands in the soft flesh of her tits. Her head moved lower, kissing along Anariel’s chest, sternum, and stomach. She then ran her tongue across the stubble of her trimmed fiery mound just above her swollen clit.

“You tease!” Anariel hissed.

Anariel grabbed Zafira by her horns and forced the demon’s face into her impatient wet pussy. Zafira responded enthusiastically, wildly sucking on Anariel’s sensitive button. Anariel’s angelic voice cried out in sexual bliss, unable to contain the pleasure Zafira brought her. Anariel rocked her hips as she pulled on Zafira’s demonic horns, grinding her dripping sex against Zafira’s sucking mouth. Anariel gasped as she felt Zafira’s snaking tongue penetrate to her heavenly core.

Zafira drew back, managing to escape Anariel’s tight grip on her horns. She grabbed Anariel behind the knees again and pushed them towards her chest. The angel’s legs spread wide-open, gaping, inviting. Zafira leaned in to lash her tongue at Anariel’s succulent pussy and then trailed lower, licking the tight velvety entrance of her back door.

“You uncouth demon!” Anariel purred.

Zafira giggled under her breath at Anariel’s playful insult. She snaked her devilish tongue inside the angel’s asshole and thumbed over Anariel’s clit as she rimmed her, bringing immense pleasure to both of Anariel’s holes. Anariel screamed her orgasm; jangling shockwaves shot agonizingly through her ecstatic body. Another orgasm rushed through her when Zafira abandoned her ass in favor of her soaked pussy, lapping up her nectar while sticking two fingers deep inside.

Spinning her body around, Zafira climbed atop Anariel’s sexy form. She planted her knees on each side of Anariel’s head and slowly lowered herself to the angel’s mouth. Zafira eyes rolled back; she whimpered, feeling Anariel’s slithering tongue invade her hungry pussy, and aimed her mouth back between Anariel’s thighs. The two moaned into each other’s pussies as they savored their shared sexual essences.

“This is too fucking hot!” Cole thought to himself. He pumped his engorged cock; waves of pleasure telegraphed from his eyes, burning from the overwhelming erotic vision before him, down to his aching balls and twitching toes.

Zafira raised her head from between Anariel’s thighs. “It is time to claim your prize, Ana.”

Zafira climbed off Anariel and signaled Cole to come to her. She wrapped her hand around his cock, stroking him slowly while feeling his balls with her other hand.

“Mmm,” Zafira hummed with a devilish grin. “You’ve produced quite a lot for her, haven’t you? I have a big finale planned for both of you.” She handed Cole the vial of virgin’s essence.

Zafira lay on her back in the luxuriant grass and licked her ruby lips. “Ana, sit on my face!” she ordered.

The angel did as her demon mistress commanded. She knelt and positioned her heavenly pussy above Zafira’s hellish mouth.

“Listen, Cole! When you cum, pour the virgin’s essence on her.”

Cole stood in front of Anariel; his thick cock hung mere inches from her mouth. She grasped his shaft, hungry eyes eagerly awaiting her prize. She stroked him slowly while cooing to the exquisite pleasure coming from Zafira’s tongue.

“Do you like me stroking you, mortal?” Anariel asked.

“Yes,” he hissed. His eyes rolled blindly back into his head.

Cole listened to the loud slurping sounds of Zafira’s mouth on the fallen angel’s pussy while Anariel pumped his cock. Anariel stroked him faster as she approached another orgasm. She screamed blissfully; her orifice flooded Zafira’s face with holy juices.

Watching the angel cum sent Cole over the edge. “I’m about to cum!” he moaned.

Anariel quickly took her hand off Cole’s throbbing cock and folded her hands together. She closed her eyes and mumbled to herself as if praying. Her hands glowed in a faint light; she spread wide her blackened angel wings; her heart sang, stronger, almost audible to mortal ears.

Cole popped the lid off the vial of virgin’s essence with his thumb and splashed it on Anariel at the same time his cock shot several streams of ropey cum on her face. His load landed on her lips and dribbled south, then dripped from her chin down her front, all the way to Zafira’s fiercely suckling mouth.

The two erotic fluids mixed and sparkled on Anariel’s smooth skin. Within moments, Anariel’s wings glowed as if on fire. The glow slowly died; the blackness of her wings flaked off like fresh ash, revealing glistening white feathers underneath. The cure had worked.

Anariel stood. She slowly turned her head, looking at her new wings. “I… I don’t believe it.”

“I told you it would work!” Zafira boasted. She stood and brushed charred ash from her skin.

Anariel hugged Cole. “Thank you,” she said with utmost sincerity.

Cole’s mind tried to return to Earth. His blood still rushed to the wrong head as the angel held him in her warm embrace. He had just cum on an angel’s face andshe was thankful for it! Cole wondered how many mortals, or otherwise, could make such a boast.

“Ahem!” Zafira coughed. “We’ll be taking one of your feathers now.”

Anariel released Cole. “Very well.” She extended a wing. With a pained expression on her face and a hard tug, she plucked a feather and handed it to Cole.

Cole gazed at the white feather in his hand. This was it — the last object they needed. Soon, he would have his answers. He tucked the feather inside his coat pocket, and then remembered to also stash his half-erect cock back in his trousers.

Anariel stood in front of Zafira. “Thank you for everything. I will pray for your safety, but you must never return. I have an image to uphold and I can’t have demons or angels seeking a safe haven here, thinking they can get away with killing others as you have.”

“I don’t need your prayers or your sanctuary,” Zafira said with a smile. “Honestly, I would have never returned, but I had no one else to turn to for this. Besides, it would be a shame if you fell for my seductive ways again.”

Cole watched as Zafira the succubus and Anariel the angel embraced each other in a gentle hug, not as lovers, but seemingly as bitter old friends.

“I will send you both back to Chicago.” Anariel stepped away from Zafira and extended her arm. Her open palm drew in magical light; with a slight gesture, a glowing orb took form. She drew back her arm and, with a twist of her wrist, threw the mystic globule. The orb shattered against thin air with a loud crackle and muted flash. A dimensional gateway appeared where the orb of light dissipated.

Zafira and Cole walked to the gateway. Cole stepped through first; Zafira lagged behind. “Good bye, Anariel,” she smiled over her shoulder.

Anariel smiled back; her eyes glowed. “Good bye, Zafira.” The gateway closed with finality behind the succubus.

Zafira materialized back at the abandoned factory. Several hours had passed since their departure for Purgatory. Morning had arrived, evident by a rising sun peeking through cracks in boarded-up windows.

“Well, that certainly was fun, wasn’t it?” Zafira said, smiling at Cole.

“You could say that,” Cole chuckled. “So, what happens now?”

“Now we rest. Tonight, I’ll use the items we gathered to perform the ritual.”

“Rest? How could I possibly rest now?”

“Let me rephrase; I need to rest. Such a ritual is very taxing, even for me.”

Zafira opened two portals with her hands, one leading to her lair and the other to Cole’s apartment. “I will come for you when I’m ready.”

Zafira disappeared into one the magical portals. Cole stepped through the other, uncertain of what tonight would bring.

THE END OF CHAPTER SEVEN