Thread: A Devil's Game ::: {Ariamella & Prince of Smut}

RE A Devil's Game Ariamella Prince Macy's whole body jumped at the sound of a man's voice, causing her fingers to slip and lose the page she had been reading on. Oh well, it wasn't like she was that far in anyway. She lifted her head to the direction of the voice, surprised to see a tall old man standing before her. How long had he been there, and why did she not see him? He must have come out through some back area, doing whatever it was bookstore employees did... Strange, she thought, that he asked her to sit just as she tensed her muscles to stand. Not just asked her, she realized, but told her to remain seated, like he needed to keep her there in the seat. Jeez, was he not getting enough sales or what? That was a creepy point going against him, but she tentatively relaxed back in the leather chair, watching as he adjusted an odd statue. Was the woman naked and bound ? The statue itself looked to be of exquisite craftsmanship, but she couldn't imagine the kind of artist that wanted to be remembered by pieces such as the one atop the shorter dark bookshelf. Her gaze drifted to where his was rested, and she turned to examine a painting of a woman who looked to be brought up to happiness and power just to be brought down again. The odd choice of decor made her turn a questioning gaze to Balthazar, a careful look in her eyes as she examined him. One more creepiness point was held against him, just for the weird statue. Her hazel-grey eyes took in his own black orbs, causing her to look away as eerie depth of his eyes overpowered her for just a moment. Despite being dressed with class and style, she could see that he was a thin man, and the bony structure of his face only confirmed the thought. But what earned him the third creepiness point was that he called her 'my angel,' except in French. The fact that it was in French was probably the strangest part, and she probably didn't like it because it reminded her too much of Couture magazine and the uppity bitches who used useless French in daily language. Macy put her book down in her lap, crossing her arms subconsciously as a defensive act, like her body knew she needed protection from this man. I'm not really looking for anything in particular, but thank you Balthazar, she said politely, offering a shallow smile that didn't dispell the cautionary gaze displayed in her eyes. I'm just browsing. I had a long day at work, and books are relaxing to me. As with all clich answers by book-lovers, stories transport me to another world, where I'm a completely different person. You must know the feeling, since you opened your own shop. She looked around once more, nodding as she continued the small talk. You have many interesting titles here, among other interesting things. How did you manage to get a hold of a first edition Scarlet Letter ? They go for thousands on the market... But I'm sure you have a refined taste for the items you own. The statue and painting look like they cost a fortune. Her gaze skimmed the table, falling upon an old copy of Goethe's Faust . She leaned over and picked it up, flipping through the pages, pleasantly surprised to find the text still in its original German. Her tone shifted slightly from polite caution to curiosity. I assume you're a collector, Balthazar? Most readers would never have picked up the actual text. Most go see the theatrical or operatic performance. The story really was something. Faust, a man in the pursuit for knowledge, finds discontent in his life and strikes a deal with Mephistopheles to serve him in Hell as long as the devil served him in life. It was a tragic tale that resulted in the loss of any chance at happiness, but it was a beautiful read all the same. For the first time since that afternoon, Macy smiled. It was more of a twitch of the lips, and it was apparent that she was getting more comfortable, even if Balthazar was receiving quite a bit of creepiness points. Are you new here? I live pretty close by and I've never seen your shop before. How long have you been open?