The Darkest Joy by Dahlia Rose Page B

looked around quickly to the fallen implements of torture that once lined Qemuel’s wall of pain. He moved lithely away from another attack from Samael , and his hands rested on a scythe. Caim knew to keep moving. Agility was the key against the bulky demon frame of his attacker and former boss. With each move, Samael’s anger increased. His roar echoed along the still-crumbling walls. Caim saw his chance to strike as the demon charged forward. He rolled between the massive legs of Samael and came up behind him. With one swipe of the scythe, he took the demon’s head completely off. Samael’s heavy body dropped like granite to the floor, and his head rolled into the lava pits.
     
    Caim didn’t wait to see who else was coming. He phased out of the underworld that was now in complete chaos. He went topside to find his Bliss and to leave immortality behind.

Chapter Eight
     
    Bliss stared at the monolith that rose up to the sky. It was the only thing that showed ornate craftsmanship in the middle of small-town Merry, North Carolina. The clock tower. It had been designed to look like Big Ben in London, except on a smaller scale. Now it stood white against the darkness of the sky, with its lighted clock and Roman numerals peering across the town square. And right now, it scared the hell out of Bliss because she knew it would be here either she would find her love and her forever with Caim , or she would be left alone and filled with grief at losing him. After Belial’s impromptu visit, Bliss did not come unprepared. A golden cross now hung around her neck, and she held a plastic drinking bottle held water blessed by the chaplain of the church chapel. His eyes had held questions when she asked him to bless her drinking water, but she firmly kept her mouth shut. If she had opened up, she would have told him everything, and even though priests are supposed to keep confidence, she had no doubt he would have called someone to take her up to the psychiatric ward.
     
    “No use putting this off any longer,” she muttered as she crossed the street. A drizzle had begun while she pushed against the wooden door that led to the stairs of the tower. She had no doubt that she would not be caught going into the building. In Merry, by nine at night, the shop owners pulled in their sidewalk wares and went home for the night.
     
    The door creaked eerily as she slipped inside. It was warm inside the lower part of the tower. The smell of wood and furniture polish was a familiar comfort, yet it did nothing to abate the nervousness in the stomach. She had no doubt that Caim was what she wanted. The fear was that he would not be there and that she would be left with the knowledge that he was in hell being hurt and in pain forever. Her footsteps echoed hollowly on the varnished wooden staircase as she climbed to the top of the tower. When Bliss looked out to the horizon, she could see the boundary of where Merry ended and the lights of every home and business in the town. The rain was coming down now in a steady stream, and the clouds looked ominous and angry when a flash of lightning crossed the sky. Bliss stared out into the darkness and wrapped her hands around her body, hoping to keep some of the warmth inside her. She missed Caim so much. She wished she were wrapped in his arms in bed as they had been only a few hours ago. A crashing noise behind her caused her to whirl around with frightened eyes. On the far side of the room, Caim lay on the floor. He had hit one of the low beams when he appeared, and Bliss could see instantly he was hurt.
     
    “ Caim !” She rushed toward his unmoving body. She placed her hand on his back, and he flinched and groaned. When she moved her hand away, it was covered in blood. “Oh my God! Caim , what happened? Are you human already? Is that why you’re bleeding?”
     
    “Bliss?” The one word was groaned, even though his face was buried in his hands.
     
    “Yes, darling, it’s me!” Bliss could