The Divine Comedy

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

It had been a good year for Lial. The city had turned into a playground as the locals enjoyed the wine, gorged themselves on rich foods and partook in all the pleasures life had to give. It had become almost too easy to seduce even the most holy of young women, with most secretly yearning for the sinful life beneath their puritanical ways. To be honest, he was growing bored with it all. For once he'd like to meet a woman who'd challenge him, who'd be able to keep herself pure until almost the very last moment, when she'd finally break beneath the power of his persuasion.

As he wandered down the alleyway, heading for yet another quiet bar, Lial spun his cane in the air. Perhaps tonight would be the night, he hoped, that he'd meet the one to truly test his skills. With a sigh he stepped down the steps and into the basement, letting the music flow over him as he stepped inside.

The place was crowded, even this early in the night, which was always a good sign. People always gathered where the greatest sins were on offer and if the number of people packed into the small cellar were anything to go by this place certainly offered its fair sharer of sins.

Weaving his way through the crowds Lial made his way over to the bar, his practiced eye scanning the women as he passed, looking to spot the one he'd make his target for the night. Settling in to a darkened corner he waved the bartender over and ordered himself some expensive wine, tossing a coin through the air to the man before turning back to survey the room once more.

 

[heartofcourage]

The city was bustling as the lone woman walked through the streets, passing person after person as she was engrossed in the sights and sounds around her. Her dark eyes looked up the sides of the old buildings, tracing over the architecture that seemed created by the angels themselves. She smiled to herself at that though, her slender fingers tracing along the rough stone facade as she continued walking.

Angelica had never seen such beauty in her life. She had been sheltered for the most part, kept from the sins and secrets that a city such as Paris had to offer. It was why she had chosen the city. She wanted to live, she wanted to learn, she wanted to see what life had to offer her.

The sounds of music caught her attention, a sweet sound that directed her down an alleyway and down a steep set of stone stairs. She peeked into the open doorway, looking at the people within with a wondrous look. They were laughing, having a good time, shrieks of conversations meeting her ears as it mingled with the music.

Tentatively she stepped inside the front door, looking around the dark inside with a slight smile of awe on her features. It made her smile watching all of these people. It warmed something in her heart to see such joy.

Angelica: http://data3.whicdn.com/images/26160728/original.jpg

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

He knew as soon as he saw her that the dark-haired beauty would be the one for tonight's games. Her innocence and purity almost shone off of her in the candlelight, almost unworldly in their intensity. Taking a sip from his glass Lial quickly signaled the barman for a second glass, which appeared almost as if by magic on the counter beside his arm.

Tossing another coin to the man, aware that each one was worth grossly more than even the most expensive bottle in the small bar, Lial swept up the glass and made his way across the room.

"Well, good evening my dear." He said in perfect French. It help to know the local language when dealing with humans, he'd learnt that the hard way over a thousand years earlier, and now his accent had all the markings of a natural born Parisian. He could almost have laughed at the irony, after all there was nothing natural about how he'd come to be in this beautiful city.

"May I interest you in a glass of wine?" He asked with the utmost respect, "In exchange for your name, perhaps?" His smile could've warmed even the coldest of heart, that small spark of demonic power lurking just beneath the surface oozing into his words to help smooth the temperament of the girl as he casually admired her body.

 

[heartofcourage]

Angelica was nearly intoxicated with all of the excitement and joy that was going on around her. She missed the man that came up to her, startled by his voice as he wished her a good evening in French and suddenly offered her a glass of wine in exchange for her name. She tilted her head to the side for a moment, unsure of what to do when suddenly her name sprang from her lips.

"Angelica." She murmured softly as he gave her a smile that warmed her belly and sent a shock down towards her toes. "And yours, monsieur?"

She reached out her slender hand for the glass of wine that he offered, bringing it to her lips for her first real taste of alcohol. It was smooth, bitter, warming her body as she continued to stare at this handsome man that had become so enamored with her all of the sudden.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

"A wonderful question, and so well put I must say." Lial spun around the girl, his arm sliding around her thin waist as he pulled her gently towards him, and away for the crowd. Leaning in a little closer he whispered in her ear, "At one time, I would have told you I was the son of the Comte de Foix, but such talk has not been popular around these parts of late. Instead I go by the name Lial Jochaneh, a respectable and well respected trader of sort around these parts."

As he spoke Lial took the maiden's hand, for a maiden she must be with such grace and poise, raising it to his lips. When he finally finished talking he quickly dodged his mouth down and lay the briefest of kisses on the porcelain skin. "I hope it is with good tidings that we meet, and that you are not in this reprehensible establishment to meet with another. Such a fate would break my heart."

 

[heartofcourage]

Angelica gasped as she was spun around, her wine sloshing from her glass as the man's strong arm wrapped around her thin waist. She suddenly found herself pulled back against his chest, staring at the wall as he leaned in close over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. She let out a soft sound as he finally told her his name. Lial. A strange little name, she thought to herself as he took her hand and brought it to his lips.

The kiss that her placed against her skin made her belly clench like the wine had. He was intoxicating, the kind of man that would swallow her heart and soul if she allowed him to. Her dark eyes turned back towards his, looking over her shoulder.

"I'm not here to meet another. The music is what drew me in here, if I'm honest." She murmured softly. "It is my first day in Paris. I was simply looking around the city at the architecture."

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

"In that case, my dear, I have a sight you simply must see," Lial said as he gently took the wine glass from her hand and set it down, along with his own, on a nearby table. "Do not worry, it's only a short walk and once we are there you will wish never to leave."

Gliding towards the door with Angelica held tightly in his arms Lial took her hand in his, squeezing it gently as he stepped out into the street. "Are you warm enough, my sweetness? I wouldn't want the night's air to disturb you in any way."

 

[heartofcourage]

"But, I only just got here." Angelica said as he took the wine glass from her hand and set it down.

It didn't seem that he was going to give her a choice as his arms wrapped tightly around her yet again and strode towards the door. They were suddenly back out in the open, gliding up the stairs until they were on the street again. There was something about the way the act was so easy that slightly frightened Angelica.

"I'm warm enough, thank you." She said in her soft voice as she glanced back at the man that held her hand so tightly. "Where are we going?"

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

"Up," Lial said with a smile and the two of them were suddenly being launched through the air onto the rooftop of the building. In front the them the panorama of the city lay beneath a clear cloudless sky, the Earth-bound lamps, lights and candles mirroring the majesty of the constellations in the Heavens above.

"I hope you like the view," Lial said as he slowly turned Angelica on the spot, letting her glimpse the Louvre, the Pantheon and the Eiffel Tower. Each were lit against the night's sky, a blend of architecture, engineering and human ingenuity. Finally spinning Angelina into his arms, Lial held her close.

"Each and every one is a beauty, but none can compare to you," Without warning he moved his mouth to hers and kissed the sweet, young girl passionately. As his tongue slipped between her lips he could taste something in her which in all his years he'd never experienced before. Something divine.

 

[heartofcourage]

Angelica was confused with Lial's answer and she briefly let out a sharp scream as they were launched into the air. She wasn't a stranger to heights but the sudden movement of flying into the sky from a standstill was enough to unnerve her. She clung to him, looking down at the city beneath them with a breathless gasp.

It was beautiful. The lights twinkled in the distance as if they were stars in the night sky. The lanterns were all lit for the evening ahead, lending light to the darkened streets of the city. The Louvre was beautiful in the darkness as was the Pantheon and Eiffel Tower. All sights she longed to see up close and personal. She was taken by the beauty of the earth as it curved in every direction towards a dark horizon, hinting at beauty beyond their sight.

She gasped again as she was spun in his arms, facing him as he held her close. His speech was smooth, cunning, and without warning he was kissing her. She let out a startled cry as their mouths met in a passionate embrace. His tongue slipped between her lips, her belly clenching at the foreign sensation of a man kissing her. Her fingers clung tightly to his thick jacket, her knees weak even as they floated. The sights and sounds of the bewitching man before her was enough to make her dizzy.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

With swift, deft fingers Lial unfastened Angelica's dress, her bodice loosening around her chest as he held her in his arms. "You said this is your first time in our fair city, my dear," He said as he pulled her body tightly against his, "May I ask if there are any other firsts you'd like us to explore tonight?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Angelica was completely intoxicated with this man. She didn't notice as he loosened her bodice, his arms still holding her tightly. She gasped when she finally looked down and saw the swells of her breasts just beginning to appear to his gaze. Her slender hand moved to grip her bodice together, her eyes turning back towards his as he asked her if there was anything else she wanted to explore that evening.

"What other firsts could there possibly be?" She asked in her soft voice, a little naive as to the art of seduction this man was using to entice her.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

Holding her tightly in his arms Lial bent down and ran his lips over Angelica neck, kissing it gently as she slowly made his way down to her shoulder. "I'm sure there are many firsts a young lady could experience on her trip to Paris."

Reaching up her back, he pulled her dress away, leaving her shoulder bare as he began to make his way along her collarbone. "And I promise you, they can all be very pleasurable."

Pulling her arm around her body Lial gripped Angelica's hand as if grasped at her bodice, gently but firmly pulling them both aside before smiling down at her naked breast. Bending over he slowly kissed his way over the swell of her chest, making his way down towards her nipple, which was beginning to stiffen either from the cold night air or from his gentle and tender touch.

 

[heartofcourage]

Angelica whimpered as Lial ran his lips over her slender neck, kissing it gently until he moved to her shoulder. She was lost in the sensations that he was building within her. No man had ever touched her like he was. No man had ever kissed her shoulder, bared her breasts, caressed over her skin with their lips. There was so much going on that she missed the moment his hand gripped her wrist, pulling her hand away from her gaping bodice.

A long, low moan escaped her lips as he moved to kiss over the swell of her chest. His attentions were making her nipples stiffen, the pink buds beaded tightly as his lips closed around one. Her entire body clenched at that motion, a gasp leaving her lips as he so intimately touched her.

"You have to stop." She whimpered, looking down at his face as he feasted on her flesh. "Please. We can't do this."

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

As he drew closer Lial let his forked tongue slip from his mouth, the tips teasing around Angelica's pert nipple for a moment before pulling away just as suddenly. Straightening up with a devilish smile dancing on his lips Lial took Angelica's hand in his and gently kissed her finger, one-by-one.

"As you wish, my dear." He said gallantly as he slipped around beside her, slipping his jacket form his shoulders before gently placing it over hers. "I would never dream of doing anything which might make you uncomfortable."

Sliding his arm around her waist he stepped forwards off the roof, an with a sudden rush of air landed gracefully back in the darkened alleyway. Turning back towards the bar, the music drifting in the air around them, Lial stepped away from the young girl, his hand stretching her arm out until only their fingertips were touching.

"You need only say the word and our night together ends here." He said, his smile lighting up the alley, "But if you are brave enough to come with me, I can promise you pleasure you could never have even dreamt were possible."

 

[heartofcourage]

Just as soon as he had started at her breast, he was pulling away, kissing her fingers one by one. She whimpered as he slipped his jacket about her shoulders, his arm slipping back around her waist as he stepped off the rooftop and they suddenly were back on solid ground. She stared at him in a haze, her fingertips clinging to his own as he told her their night could end right then and there.

"What more can you do?" She asked him in a curious voice, her hand slipping more firmly into his own.

Angelica wasn't sure that she wanted their time to end. She was so completely confused by his seduction, her body in a jumble of want and need. She knew that by going with him she would be sinning, but she wanted to feel more of the pleasure that he had given her up on the rooftop. Her fate was sealed as she stepped closer to him again, her eyes showing him just what her lips couldn't say.

 

[RhoEpsilonDelta]

As the girl fell into his arms Lial pulled her close against this chest and looked down into her eyes. There was something there, hidden behind the deep brown pools, something he felt he should recognise, but his time on Earth had been a long one and so many things reminded him of the past that he'd long become accustomed to the feeling.

With a smile he gently reached up and ran his fingers down the side of Angelica's face. "It night be better to ask what can't I do," He said cryptically as he snapped his fingers.

At the end of the alleyway a horse-drawn carriage suddenly pulled to a halt and with the slightest pf pressures to her waist Lial spun his little prize around and led her towards it. Letting her go he stepped forwards and pulled the door open for her, bending down respectfully as he gestured into the wooden box. The interior was resplendent, dressed with rich brushed velvet which seemed to glimmer in the night.

"After you, my dear," Lila said playfully, as he gave Angelica the choice to step inside.