Idriel's Sin

By Jay Di Meo

Blue-haired Idriel is a warrior angel of the seventh heaven – until one day his comrades are all slaughtered and he is charged with their death. Only Idriel doesn't remember much from that fateful night and nobody seems inclined to believe his innocence. Tortured and then sent to earth in a camp for angels and demons, he suffers from guilt and confusion and realises his fate is sealed – until he meets Eligor, a gorgeous demon who takes him under his protection, and who finally decides to listen to Idriel's plea.

M/M Paranormal romance with angels and demons.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jay Di Meo
• Release date: Dec 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386757382

Book preview

IDRIEL’S SIN

by JAY DI MEO

Blue-haired Idriel is a warrior angel of the seventh heaven – until one day his comrades are all slaughtered and he is charged with their death. Only Idriel doesn’t remember much from that fateful night and nobody seems inclined to believe his innocence. Tortured and then sent to earth in a camp for angels and demons, he suffers from guilt and confusion and realises his fate is sealed – until he meets Eligor, a gorgeous demon who takes him under his protection, and who finally decides to listen to Idriel’s plea.

Copyright © 2011 by Jay Di Meo

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover design by Jay Di Meo.

Book previously published with Amber Allure Press.

CHAPTER 1

The small island lay in the Aegean Sea, off Crete. Made of stone and white sand, with a cluster of olive trees on a hillock in the distance, it was as hot as the upper Hells. No shade existed anywhere but inside the barracks, so the afternoon sun beat down like a drum on everyone assembled on the training grounds.

The brightness made Idriel’s head hurt. He shifted his hands in the tight, spelled handcuffs. Sweat ran down his lacerated back, stinging and burning. The guard breathed down his neck, a hand on Idriel’s arm maintaining a bruising grip.

Cherub Commander Raziel extended his four white wings and silence fell on the boot camp. Three trainer angels of the Order of Principalities, marked by their golden crowns, stood behind the raised dais. They rapped their scepters on the ground and the thundering sound made Idriel’s ears ring.

Recruits, Raziel’s voice boomed. I shall be brief. Most of you are not here on Earth by choice. Glorious and Victorious Heaven sent you. Demons, rewarded for good deeds. Angels, punished for their sins. All of you, moving between Hell and Paradise. Well, you are here now and under my command!

The recruits muttered. Idriel’s head swam. He fingered the hem of his black tunic with fingers too swollen to feel.

Raziel smirked. The ones who make it through this camp will be posted to our different departments on Earth. Training will begin tomorrow morning. This is no joy ride. Use of your high powers is not allowed here. No transport portals will be opened and none of your supernatural abilities used. The Wall of Fire I have raised around the camp hides us from outsiders’ eyes and protects us from any threat. Here you will learn to obey Heaven and its laws. We shall beat you into the shape we want, we shall make you warriors worthy of Heaven’s army. And I promise you, it won’t be easy.

Idriel wondered if he would be given the same chance as the others to prove himself. Unlikely.

A trainer stepped up to Raziel and spoke in a low voice. The Cherub Commander nodded. I would like to welcome Sar Eligor, a Fallen one, warrior demon first class, rewarded for saving many of his comrades on a mission gone wrong.

He beckoned.

Idriel had heard of Eligor before; his name often came up in discussions about dangerous missions. He craned his neck to see. A demon stepped to the front. All Idriel could see was a clean profile, short black hair and a strong body, broad shoulders and powerful legs. When the demon bowed his head, a thin, long dark braid fell over his shoulder and hung before him like a rope.

Sar Eligor, you have the right to ask for a privilege, said Commander Raziel. Think about it and let us know. We want to show that we appreciate courage and self-sacrifice.

Idriel’s gaze followed of its own volition the beautiful demon as Sar Eligor retreated and vanished back into the ranks.

We have another interesting case, rang Raziel’s voice and Idriel grimaced. He somehow knew who else would be called. Step forth, Idriel, former warrior angel and guard captain of the Fifth Heaven.

Former angel. The words burned in his mind as the guard pushed him to the front, right before the dais. He stumbled, feeling gazes drive through his back like blades.

Idriel is a traitor, Raziel said matter-of-factly.

Idriel winced. Raziel stared ahead, over the ranks, and waited for his words to sink in. The recruits shuffled their feet and began murmuring. Raziel raised a hand to silence them.

Captain of an angelic squad, he turned against his comrades, he continued relentlessly. He cut them up and dispersed their pieces, effectively killing them. You are looking at a murderer, recruits. He is a prisoner here, waiting to be transferred to Hell. Be careful around him.

Idriel felt the familiar anger heating his neck and face, followed by cold despair and sorrow that left him shivering. He refused to avert his gaze from the Commander. He pressed his lips together. The whispers behind his back turned hostile, transforming into murmured curses and threats.

Excellent way of starting off.

As he shuffled back into line, his chained feet making any bigger stride impossible, someone shoved him and he fell against a tall demon. The demon shoved him back and Idriel dropped to all fours, gritting his teeth as the gravel bit into his palms and knees. Someone snickered. His guard pretended he’d seen nothing.

After some struggle, Idriel regained his feet, panting, and knew his problems here were only just beginning.

The assembly was wrapped off with some final words of warning, and the recruits broke into groups. Two guards dragged Idriel to the edge of the camp, so close to the sea he could hear the waves although a wall hid it. They threw him into a dark cell and locked him up. Still handcuffed, feet still bound, in a space that barely fit his body, what more punishment did they think was needed?

But as time passed and everything fell quiet, still nobody brought him water or food. And that after all those days and nights without. When he tried to swallow, his throat felt like sandpaper. The moon, visible through the bars of the small window, showed him the sleeping camp. He laid his forehead on his knees.

God, where are you? If God was justice, then why didn’t He send a message, telling them they were wrong? Blaspheming again. And you think He’ll help someone as impure as you.

He raked his fingers through his recently cropped blue hair. Some of the uneven ends tickled his shoulders. His head felt too light without his long braid.

Some Rise, and some Fall. Such was the world. He was meant to Fall. He’d never been pure enough. His thoughts and dreams often spelled sin. He had lasted longer in Heaven than he ought to have.

Oh God. His whole body hurt. His back was misery, his wrists were raw from the cuffs, and his ankles bled. His bare feet ached. The control pellet planted in his thigh felt like a knife stuck in his flesh. Am I supposed to even pray to You anymore? Would You listen?

Idriel bit his lip and closed his eyes. His head throbbed in time to his pounding heart.

Could I have done something differently? Could I have prevented the bloodshed from happening, my friends from getting killed, the accusations against me?

What did I miss?

But his fuzzy memories of that horrifying night only blurred and mixed with older and newer ones in his tired mind—memories of disastrous missions and the nightmarish week in the pits of the Second Heaven.

He pressed the palms of his hands against his forehead in a futile attempt to chase away the pain.

The sea crashed on the shore below the camp. The moon set. The steady rhythm of the waves calmed Idriel’s heartbeat. His head grew heavy.

Don’t give up. There has to be an answer.

IN HIS DREAM, HE STOOD in the heavenly court, bound and kneeling. The judge asked him to defend himself, but Idriel couldn’t speak. He tried to move his lips, to open his mouth, but it was sealed shut. Before him lay the remains of his comrades in pools of blood. A snarling shadow lurked at the periphery of his vision, but he could not focus on it. A clear stream flowed before him. He bent down to drink, but the water turned to thick blood. He tried to pull back, but he could not, and the blood coated his lips, sweet and sickly, making him gag. It covered his mouth and nose and he couldn’t breathe.

IDRIEL GASPED AND JERKED awake, feeling hands pull on his legs. His back burned as he slid on the gravel, and he bit back a cry.

The guards released him. Blinking in the grey dawn light, he rolled on his side and sat up, dizziness churning his stomach. The coarse black tunic he’d been given in the Second Heaven seemed designed to rub into all his wounds.

Come on. One of the guards, a low-class angel dressed in leathers, pulled him to his feet and pushed him towards the other one, a smirking demon with a mohawk hairdo. Clawed fingers dug into his arms, steadying him.

Water, Idriel croaked.

The demon threw back his head and laughed.

Idriel tried to lick his lips. Were the rules different in this camp? Could an angel die of thirst? Maybe they had a bet about it.

The demon growled and dragged him away from the cell. Idriel stumbled along. He probably wasn’t considered an angel anymore. He’d Fallen. A miracle they hadn’t sent him straight to Hell.

Like Hell was worse than this.

But maybe he would eventually wind up there, when they got bored with him here. The irony of it brought a twisted smile to his lips, and he winced when they cracked in different places.

What’s one more ache? He blinked again, trying to clear his vision. The training grounds stretched now before them, the steel-grey sea rolling beyond. Angels and demons fought in pairs, with knives and spears and bare fists. An angel in white pants and with long white hair strode towards them. He dismissed the guards with a wave of his hand.

The demon opened his hand, releasing him, and Idriel staggered, his ankle chains tripping him up. The trainer put out a hand, a force field spreading around Idriel, holding him upright.

I have orders to have you train with the others. But I am not unbinding the spelled cuffs and chains. You are a dangerous angel, Idriel.

Idriel’s heart sank. Bound like this, what chance did he have to defend himself?

But he didn’t have much time to worry. The trainer shoved him towards a red-skinned demon with smoke coming out of his ears.

Labal. Work with this one. Don’t knock him out yet.

The demon grinned, a shark smile of sharp teeth, and lashed out with his fists. Idriel had little experience with hand-to-hand combat, but tried to remember his formal training. He shuffled back as the demon attacked again, turning sideways to present less surface to the blows. He leaned back to avoid another punch to the jaw, then turned and hopped back to avoid a lashing boot, the chains around his ankles too heavy. He bent over to catch his breath, when a left hook sent him sprawling in the dirt. He arched his injured back, grunting with pain.

Labal hauled him back to his feet, grinned, and punched him in the stomach. This time Idriel fell to his knees, gasping, unable to get enough air into his bruised chest. He retched. Nothing came out but thick, bitter bile.

Labal grabbed Idriel’s hair and pulled his head back, then kicked him in the ribs. Idriel fell back and raised his hands to protect his face. The demon kicked him again, and the little breath he’d been able to draw left him. Black spots danced in his eyes.

A whistle sounded behind him. The black spots swirled in an eddy that tried to swallow him whole.

This one. Take him. Labal grabbed him under the armpits and lifted him to his feet, then propelled him towards someone else.

Idriel fell to all fours, scraping palms and knees. His arms bent, and his elbows hit the gravel so that his head slammed into the back of his hands. His head pounded. Blood ran down his back. Sharp pebbles pierced his skin. The new small pains mingled with the bigger ones in an all-encompassing throb.

I won’t fight a bound angel.

The male voice was deep and musical. Idriel raised his eyes to tall leather boots, and higher to black leggings and then a bare muscled chest with the tattoo of a winged horse. Darkness trailed behind him.

A demon.

His new opponent bent over Idriel, a wry smile on his face, and a long braid slipped over his shoulder to smack Idriel in the face.

Eligor. The demon Commander Raziel had praised. The dark, slanted eyes regarding him burned with an inner fire; the face was radiant.

He’s beautiful.

You can’t untie him, came a voice from Idriel’s right. He’s dangerous.

Not more fucking dangerous than I, said Eligor. He drew himself upright. And it won’t be training at all if he’s bound. I’ll just waste my time. Not fair.

Not fair for whom? Bitterness stung Idriel’s heart. You don’t need more training, he gasped. Please, God, a respite.

Eligor bent down to look at him. A slight frown knit his brows. He grinned. Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, piece of shit? You’re not only a goddamn traitor, you’re a coward, too.

His words made Idriel’s pulse roar in his ears. He struggled to regain his feet, but his vision kept going black.

Eligor grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and lifted him in the air, then dropped him on his feet where he wavered. Here’s the deal, motherfucker. I want you untied so that I can show you what the fuck I think of what you did to your comrades.

Oh great. Idriel managed to keep his precarious balance as a bunch of keys jingled next to him and the trainer unlocked his cuffs, then the lock on the chains that bound his ankles.

You’re lucky the Commander thinks so highly of you, Sar Eligor, said the trainer. If something happens to you, I bear no responsibility.

Idriel stepped out of the chains, for a moment glad their weight was gone. A cool handle was pushed into his hand. He gripped it and looked up.

Eligor smirked, his face inches from Idriel’s. From up close, the demon’s eyes were a dark tempest blue that seemed to swirl and dance.

I’m going to enjoy kicking your ass, angel. Are you ready for me?

ELIGOR TOOK A STEP back and swung his blade towards the angel’s torso.

The angel didn’t move. Eligor frowned and changed the arc of his gleaming knife to only draw a line of blood on the angel’s pale forearm.

Hey, are you paying me any attention, asshole? I didn’t untie you just so that you can stare at me. Fight back!

The angel blinked clear blue eyes and raised the knife as if it weighed a ton. Uneven tufts of light blue hair fell across his face and neck, brushing his shoulders, but he didn’t make a move to push them back.

Eligor had never seen an angel with hair so short. Both his hair and eyes were blue like a summer sea. Although he was as tall as Eligor, he was bare bone and muscle.

And drop-dead gorgeous.

Eligor scowled and tried to ignore that fact. His body paid attention, though. His nipples stiffened and his cock began to thicken as his eyes took in that strong body, the wide shoulders, the slim hips. The angel’s narrow face with the wide eyes and the sharp angle of the jaw drew his gaze like a magnet.

He’s a fucking traitor. Eligor turned and slipped the knife under the angel’s arm, drawing a cut on his chest. The black cloth opened to show pale skin and a line of red.

The angel stumbled back, blinking, and raised the knife higher.

Finally, a reaction! Elated, Eligor bared his teeth in a grin. I bet you were a pussy before you betrayed your friends, weren’t you? Not some great warrior, or you wouldn’t have had to kill them. You’re full of bullshit.

The angel barely flinched, but it was there. Score.

Eligor closed in for another cut and the angel parried. He shoved Eligor with his hand and stepped back, brows rising as if in surprise.

Fucking pathetic. He wouldn’t survive a single day in Hell. As if I care.

Eligor pressed himself against the angel, chest to chest, and brought the knife up against that white throat. What will you do now, angel?

Idriel.

The raspy voice barely registered. What?

Name’s Idriel.

Eligor bared his teeth. And what the fuck do I care about your stupid name, you ass? Fight back!

Idriel smiled with cracked lips. I am.

Eligor stiffened. Something poked him in the ribs. What the Hell?

He pulled back. Idriel held his knife against Eligor’s side, right below the heart. In spite of himself, Eligor felt a smile pull at his lips. Damned good move. But if I slit your throat, it won’t serve you much.

Idriel nodded. I don’t care. Go ahead.

Eligor’s smile slipped as anger burst in his chest like a fire. He grabbed the angel’s shoulder and shook him. Are you being funny? Listen to me, you stupid fuck. Don’t think that I untied you because I like you. I hate you. You never turn against your comrades, you hear me? Never. I never want to be partnered with you, and I bet nobody else does either. So why don’t you go fuck yourself and let us train?

Idriel frowned and looked away. Not exactly the reaction Eligor had expected. Not sure what I expected.

The whistle rang again.

The trainer marched up to them, keys and handcuffs in hands. Had your fun, demon?

Eligor released the angel and wiped his blade on his leggings. Fucking idiot, he barely fought back.

The trainer turned Idriel around and bound again his hands behind his back. Yeah, well, lack of food and water does make them kind of slow. He winked at Eligor as if that was some great joke, and hauled the stumbling angel towards another demon.

Eligor opened his mouth and closed it again. No food and water? Only high angels could feed off light and air. Idriel would need real food to replenish his energy, especially here on Earth.

Then he noticed a dark substance on his hand. He wiggled his fingers. They were coated in blood from where he’d gripped Idriel’s shoulder.

He frowned. The angel’s black clothes seemed to hide more wounds than the ones visible on that milky skin. Just how badly hurt was he?

Eligor sought the angel out with his eyes and found him on the ground, getting kicked all the way to Hell and back by a third class demon with long black claws.

Idriel seemed to be out cold, rolling with the kicks like a rag doll. Traitor or not, Eligor felt his stomach clench for the angel. Not being able to die didn’t mean he didn’t suffer.

Eligor twirled his knives, chewing on his lip. Then a new opponent bowed to him and Eligor turned his back on the traitor angel.

Not my goddamn business.

TRAINING CONTINUED until high noon, and then everyone rushed to the canteen to eat and drink. Eligor looked around for the angel, but couldn’t spot him anywhere. Then two silhouettes obscured his vision, two demons, and while he tried to see around them, they plopped down opposite him and plunked their trays on the table.

Eligor lifted an inquiring eyebrow.

Sar Eligor, one of them said, a demon with wild red hair. I’m Solas, and this is Uzza. The other demon lifted his chin in greeting and dug into his food. Is it okay if we sit with you?

Too fucking late to ask for permission, isn’t it? Eligor shrugged and went back to eating. The meat and the gravy were