The Devil's Playground by Parker Williams

Author:Parker Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy, fantasy, serial fiction, gay romance, werewolves and vampires, short stories and collections, supernatural and occult
Publisher: Parker Williams

Chapter Four

Artie propped up on the pillows and glanced toward the door. He couldn’t believe how attentive Ben had been during the last week. Artie wasn’t allowed to get up unless it was to use the bathroom and to take care of his personal hygiene, while Ben watched him like a hawk. It was sweet, but he was over the babying and wanted to get up. Hell, he and Ben hadn’t even made love, despite Artie’s attempts to turn his lover on.

He smiled when Ben came in, a tray of food in his hands, but the smile faded quickly.

“Not Tempest’s broth again,” he whined.

“It was good enough for me, it’s going to work wonders for you.”

“You’re enjoying this.”

“My mother made me eat this crap three meals a day, and then served up some for in-between meal snacks. My dad and Ally thought it was funny after a while. Now it’s my turn to laugh.”

Artie sneered at Ben, then his smile came back. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now eat your broth.”

Without further complaint, Artie ate the stuff. It definitely wasn’t his favorite meal, but Tempest had said it had magickal properties that would give him back some of his strength.

Ben sat at the edge of the bed and Artie could feel the weight of Ben’s stare until he finally sighed and looked up.

“Can we talk about what happened?”

Artie’s stomach rolled. He knew this moment was coming, and had hoped to avoid it. He shuddered and wrapped his arms around his waist as the memories assailed him once again. He didn’t want to relive the pain, but Ben deserved to know.

“The demon had these minions pawing at me, and each time they touched me, I saw the lives they had. Some of them were innocent victims and I saw their deaths. Others were people like Spencer who sold their souls for power. But the pain they went through when he transformed them seared my insides. Then, finally, their leader came up and grabbed my face. He forced his mouth to mine and thrust his tongue inside. I could feel him inside my mind, but I couldn’t get him out.

“The thing is, he kept me out of my own body, and barely in my mind. He allowed enough control for me to see what was going on, but I wasn’t able to stop him from what he was doing. He situated himself in there and began to whisper vile things to me.”

“Like what?”

Artie swallowed hard. “He told me no one was coming for me, because they didn’t care, and I knew it, because if they did, they would realize something was wrong and put a stop to it. Then he began telling me you were glad to be rid of me, because you wanted a normal lover.”

Ben growled and gripped Artie’s arms. “Tell me you know that’s bullshit,” Ben demanded.

“I do. It was thoughts of you and my friends that I held on to. You guys were all that kept me from giving in like he expected I would.

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