“When I found out I was going to be interviewed by a demon lord from hell, you can imagine, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What exactly does a girl wear when chatting with a demon?”
“Needless to say, I’m a little nervous, and now that I’ve all but bitten through my bottom lip in anticipation, I have to hope he doesn’t notice. First impressions and all that, right? On another note, who’d have thought they had WiFi in hell? I mean the guy ordered Waves of Change and liked it enough to ask for an interview. That’s some reach ISP!”
A tall man in a black trench coat left open over a tan waistcoat and trousers fills the doorway. He has black, shoulder-length hair with a slight curl to it and bronze, olive-toned skin. His bright copper gaze fixes on little old me a second before his full mouth spreads into a smile. “You must be Nulli.” He pronounces my name “Noll-li.” He’s gorgeous, so I’ll take it. He steps toward me and stops, inhaling deep. Wispy black coloring starts to bleed into his startling eyes and his face becomes expressionless. “My name is, Misery. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His voice roughens. “…You are bleeding. I can come back later.”
Nulli: “No!” *sucks on my bottom lip to stop any bleeding before offering an innocent smile* “I’m fine. Please, let’s just get started.” *looks Misery up and down* “Your eyes… are you all right?”
Misery nods. Slowly, the black coloring drains from his copper irises and we sit down facing each other with only a teeny tiny table between us. He clears his throat. “You’re very lovely … and your heart rate just increased. Do I make you nervous?”
Nulli: “Nervous? No. You’re just not what I expected. You look like you just stepped off the cover of ‘Why Haven’t We Met Before?’ weekly. When I picture hell, I don’t imagine tall, olive-skinned underwear models with fresh breath and clean fingernails.”
Misery snorts, a sound he manages to make gentlemanly, then he frowns. “What is an underwear model?”
Nulli: “Uh, nevermind. Like I said, let’s just get started. By the way, is your hell the same hell most people know?”
Misery: “No. Humans are given a second chance when they die and go to my hell. And it’s not a repository for bad people – everyone goes there.”
Nulli: “That’s not what I expected. This hell of yours is very different from the things we understand. Speaking of which, I never pictured demons reading romance. You’ve read Waves of Change. What did you think?”
Misery: He pauses. “I enjoyed the multicultural aspect of the book. The fact your heroine is human and your hero is from a different species was encouraging. It’s frowned upon to date humans where I’m from, and a lot of demons just view them as sex toys.”
Nulli: “Is that how you view us too?”
Misery: “I think it’s ridiculous at times. It’s a holdover from a different era. On the other hand, some humans are fine with serving as sex toys in demon households. Demons who employ humans for that purpose call them pastries.”
Nulli: *Stares at him with wide eyes* “Pastries? Do… do demons eat humans?”
Misery: “No! Ah, I mean no. I’m not sure who came up with that term, really.”
Nulli: *raises eyebrow*
Misery laughs. “Stop looking at me that way, Nulli. I wouldn’t dream of eating a human … for food, anyway.” He smiles, flashing two rows of white teeth. “Let’s talk about something else. What made you start writing about the mating of men and women from different backgrounds?”
Nulli: “Love is such a universal emotion. I didn’t want to limit the expression of it in my books to particular subsets of the population. Humanity, at its core, strives for the same things. Safety, security, happiness, food, shelter, companionship. These ideals and desires cross all boundaries, so I like to explore them without a filter. I also like to explore and illustrate the physical expression of love. *I lean forward, watching him closely* You seem very interested in this subject. Is that why you wanted to interview me? Looking for tips on mating with humans?”
Misery: Misery’s smile grows wider. “That might have been part of it.”
Nulli: *chuckles* “I see.”
Misery: He settles his arms on the table and drops his tone. “Do you picture yourself as the human when you write about cross-species sex scenes?”
Nulli: *Smiles* Yes, I do. The human condition is what I am familiar with, but I love the idea of visualizing how I’d interact with different types of beings. “What about you? Have you ever visualized mating with a human?” *crosses one leg over the other*
Misery’s eyes grow distant. “Not before I met a certain human I wanted to mate with.” He grins sharply while looking at me. “Now I do it all the time. Have you written any stories about men with wings?”
Nulli: “Yes, actually. I’ve just signed a contract for a story where the hero has wings. It’s called Rhuul’s Flame. I love the concept of him as a character. He was a lot of fun to write. Wings can be very interesting to work with.” *wicked grin*
Misery laughs. “Well, I agree they can be very interesting to work with … or so I have been told. Do you want to see mine?”
Nulli: “You have wings?” *raises eyebrows* “I’d love to see them. How do you keep them concealed?”
“I keep them retracted most of the time. I suppose ancient magic allows me to do that.” Misery shrugs out of his trench coat and straightens from his chair to strip down to his trousers, revealing a broad, muscled chest as bronze as his hands and face. He turns around, showing me the clean lines of his shoulder blades and back. “Ready?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Thick black shapes burst out of his shoulder blades and shoot out in both directions.
Nulli: *jaw drops*
His wings grew in seconds, now hiding most of his back from view. They’re shaped like a bird’s wings and covered in long ebony feathers as wide as how I pictured the feathers of an angel’s wings to be.
Nulli: “Those are—Wow! May I … touch them?”
Misery: He glances over his shoulder at me and his eyes blacken a little. “Yes, if that doesn’t bother you. Some humans would have a problem touching them.”
Nulli: “I don’t have a problem with it. I’d love to feel them. Let’s call it… research.” I reach over the table and brush my hand over several of his shiny black feathers. “Do you show your wings often?”
Misery: “No. Well … except in bed. In hell, exposing them in public is like screwing in public: you just do not do it unless you can find some cover.”
Nulli: “I see… but you showed them to me so freely. Such an intimate thing for your kind.” *leans back in chair* “I’m intrigued, Misery.” *smirks*
Misery: His eyes blacken further and he holds my gaze for slightly too long. “Then I’m glad I intrigue you.” His wings retract into his back with an audible shucking sound and he turns fully, then bows in my direction. “Thank you for having me, Nulli.” His lips curve as he continues watching me. “I have no more questions for you, but I hope we will see each other again soon. Maybe you can visit me next time.”
Nulli: “Are you inviting me to your home? Is that allowed?”
Misery: “Yes, it’s allowed.”
Nulli: “Oh… okay.” He offers me another warm smile before he turns to leave. I can’t help but sigh as I watch him disappear through the door. It’s all fluffy clouds and rainbows until a cold chill moves down my spine. “Wait. Only dead people go to hell!”
———————————————
So, what do you think guys? Should I pay Mr. Misery a *gulp* visit?
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes! Yes you should so go and see him. *sigh*
Fabulous interview!
Heh, thanks, Nae. I’ll send him a message.
Thank you for encouraging her, Nae. I’d love for Nulli to come visit. Have you seen her? *stares off into space* I hope she decides soon.
not sure if you go visit him you’d want to come back! who’ll do your writing then?
nice interview
Well, he seems to have an internet connection, so I can still write.
I love her stories, so I can assure you I would never do anything to prevent her from writing. I might even inspire her to write something new.
by all means, inspire away. i know nulli has never let me down so far with whatever she creates. *winks*
Do you know Nulli well? Care to share any details?
well enough to know her vast imagination has no boundaries and time and time again she amazes us with a a story that is always real whether her characters are human, non-humans or aliens from out of space.
she’s special and a true friend even when times are busy
as for details are for her to share, not me, give it your best.
Absolutely!
I knew you’d say yes! Hahaha
I like you already, Tonya! By all means, please convince her.
I think you should go. I would. =D
Thank you, Mello! It’s nice having the ladies vote in my favor.
I would make sure you got a “Get out of Hell Free” multi-use pass first. Then I would be gone!
Good idea!
I don’t know that she’ll need one of those, Heather. I’d do my best to make sure she was comfortable should she choose to stay.
Sounds like Misery would make really good inspiration for a new character and story, Nulli. In the name of research, I say go. But make sure Rhuul knows where you’re going so he can come get you if we don’t hear from you.
Believe me, Rhuul, Gao, Daniel, Chris, Cirian, Jin, David, and even Ghenna and Talloc will know where I am!
I assure you, she will be safe with me. I tend to protect my interests.
Underwear model? Wings? Takes an interest in your work? Hmmm I think you have a winner here, Nulli!
I never looked at it that way, Eva!
I’ll have to look into this underwear model thing. The subject seems to have quite an effect on human women.
I would certainly visit, trouble attracts me. A wonderful interview, such a great twist.
Thanks, T.D.!
I like the way you think!
Aww, thank you, Tan! *hugs*