Sin of the Saints (Between Delusion and Sobriety Duet #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Bartimaeus

“ I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, amen.” The Pope completes the prayer and dips my body into the holy water.

Unlike my previous life, I don’t need to take a deep breath before the baptism. I inhale the holy water into my lungs while my head is in the water, filling myself with it. It cleanses me from within, and I send a silent prayer for the sacred angels to show me the way. The way the Pope claims I’ve strayed from while living deep in the bowels of Hell.

The way I lost when Libretto cursed me.

The Pope noted that Ellis found me in almost-critical condition, but God did not demand that I return to Him, perhaps because I’ve not yet completed the calling He gave me, the purpose which I have yet to fulfill.

One last breath to drown the grief, to seal my blackened heart shut. The organ music makes the water tremble, the choir’s chanting fills my still heart. The heavy tombstone slowly closes over me, encompassing me in darkness until I’m swallowed by it. I close my eyes and count the bells ringing.

There are so many of them, they’re so loud, that the water in my tomb quivers and the bass strikes me with paralyzing strength.

Ring.

Belle smiles and winks at me as she walks into the Demon Academy ballroom.

Ring.

Belle arches her back as I breathe in her scent and drink her until I’m intoxicated. A memory of the taste of her passion lingers on my tongue like dying embers longing for oxygen, like a bonfire that’s long since died out.

Ring.

Belle moans my name like a psalm, and I want to give her everything her heart desires. Everything, including my fucking soul.

Silence.

Darkness.

It’s just me and the haunting remnant of her image.

One hour follows the next. Day after day. Another month, and another.

How long has it been? A year? Who knows, maybe more.

Every day is more of a torment than the last, and I know there’s nothing that can expel the remnants of Belle from my body and soul. She’s seeped into everything.

No exorcism is strong enough to cast her out of my heart.

So I wait patiently.

I wait and wait until we meet again.

I coveted her for myself, and nothing can stop me from claiming her. Even if it consumes me.

Bellcolor

Libretto imprisoned me in the castle’s dungeon. Every demon who dared disobey the commands of the Great Dictator is locked up in those cells.

I can’t help wondering if this is what the Devil wants. I mean, if he disagreed, he probably would have summoned Libretto back to him, wouldn’t he? And yet something in me tells me this can’t be how the Father of Demons wishes his army to be treated.

Libretto might be plotting against him, the way I know Lilith ceaselessly plotted against the Devil. What are you, Libretto, and what is your ultimate goal?

The days pass and go by until it feels like I’ve been here forever. It’s my privilege and curse as a creature for whom time holds no meaning. I’m the only one getting meals, but I refuse to feed. I know Libretto is sending me his blood. The scent of it makes the dank air in this place even more rotten. He wants me to drink it, so his blood gradually takes over my body from within, hoping that will get me to give in to him.

He claims the truth is in his blood. I have no intention of testing the accuracy of that claim.

The scent of Libretto’s blood is driving the demons around me wild, and I have to huddle in the corner of my cell. Their frenzied hands, their sharp talons, reach out to me through the bars, in despair and thirst. I shut my eyes tight and clamp my hands over my ears. I pray for his filthy blood to be taken away, for an end to this nightmare.

The pleas of the prisoners, their agonized wheezing, is probably the worst part of my imprisonment.

“This can all end the moment you decide to put an end to it,” Libretto told me during his last visit. “Just drink my blood. Let me in.”

And yet I refuse.

I huddle in the corner of my cell and let my tears flow. I don’t know what drives the prisoners wilder – the sharp tang of Libretto’s blood or the salty scent of my tears. What drives me mad and causes me to wallow in shame is that I hurt Bar. The scent of his blood, his true blood, corrupted my mind. Not only that, but I also let Libretto curse him and did nothing to stop him. Now I’m being punished for my greed, for daring to want more than I deserved. To be here in my private Hell. A bleak Hell, suffused with death and mourning.

Libretto is waiting for me to starve. He knows he can’t withstand my power. He’s waiting for the blood filling my veins to gradually rot until I fade away and beg for his blood.

You’re in for a surprise , I think, I have no intention of surrendering .

Not now, not ever.

“There’s no point in escaping, Bellcolor,” Libretto says, kicking the metal bowl full of his blood towards me. “The dungeons are deep underground, and there are many strong guards outside this door. It’s time to admit defeat.”

When did he come in here? I didn’t even hear him.

I raise my head to him and give him a defiant stare.

“Have it your way…” he turns around and leaves.

I lower my head onto my knees and close my eyes.

“Bellcolor,” I hear my name through the veil of fog in my mind. “Bellcolor…” The voice is so weak, so far away. “Open your eyes, Bellcolor.” I raise my head and it lolls back against the wall. I can’t even hold it up. It’s so heavy. Probably from the multitude of thoughts hounding me. I open my eyes and blink a few times to see a familiar figure before me.

“Prof. Sapienti?” My voice is rough and scratches my throat.

“Yes, listen to me, Bellcolor…” His voice grows faint, I can’t keep my eyelids open. The darkness again wraps around me, and I’m tempted to give into it. To just let go. The bars tremble and a sharp blow, metal on metal, wakes me in a panic. “Stay focused, Bellcolor,” Prof. Sapienti pleads. What is he doing here? Where am I anyway? My thoughts are awhirl. I’ve lost my grip on reality.

I’m drowning, drowning, drowning…

“Where are we?” I ask. Is that my voice? It sounds so alien.

“Follow my voice, Bellcolor, release me from my calling.” What? What does he mean? I want to ask, but no sound escapes my throat.

“Bearer of the light that shines in the heavens, the star falling into the depths of the underworld. Find him.”

“Who? What are you talking about?” I don’t understand any of this. I hope I’ve asked the questions aloud.

“The shining one, don’t let him fall, don’t let him become a defeated corpse.” Prof. Sapienti reaches a hand out to me. With great difficulty I raise my arm, but as soon as I touch him he turns to dust and disintegrates between my fingers.

Prof. Sapienti has returned to his creator.

The shining one, the bearer of the light – who is he? How exactly am I supposed to find someone I’ve never met?