The Devil in Disguise by SmileyCoyote3

Part 1: The Nightmare (Amy)

I had gone to bed early then it came, the nothingness! Acid ate away at my knotted stomach. I sprang up in bed in a cold sweat. The anxiety was unbearable. The feeling everything was wrong, and that I was totally helpless. My gut was emptiness, hopelessness, nothingness. Pain and torture would be preferable. At least with pain there is something, something other than this empty feeling.

Even Smiley wasn't able to ease the feelings. He jumped on the bed and licked my face letting me know he thought some evil force was messing with my mind.

It was the same nightmare I've had since I was a child. The seed was planted when in Sunday school I first heard the word eternity. I remember thinking how scary the whole idea of eternity was. I felt small already, but eternity just made it worse. Then there was the infinite universe. A never-ending emptiness that made me feel even smaller, more insignificant, and more insecure. I needed people around me for security, things around me to shield me and hide the infinite emptiness beyond. I needed experiences to distract me from all this. Otherwise, there was just eternal boredom, loneliness and futility. The eternity of an infinite universe was a vacuum that sucked at my very soul. An emptiness that I was helpless to fill. I guess it was the feeling of helplessness, loneliness, and an infinite universe sucking away at my very existence that kept me from sleep.

The nightmares started when I was a child and my dad read me the "Never Ending Story." The all-powerful Nothing which was devouring the fantasy world really resonated with me. Despite the hero's eventual triumph, the whole idea of The Nothing was planted in my mind and ate away at me. I was no hero. I was no match for the Nothing. The Nothing coming for me, that was my nightmare. That is the nightmare that pursued me into adulthood and now wakes me up at night. And once awake, I feel the nothingness inside me eating its way out.

It is not like I haven't had enough stress in my life recently. I had to add this stress of my own making. There was no getting back to sleep now. I needed somethingness. I needed to feel something, somebody.

I thought about calling Damien. But his loving and caring would only make my own emptiness seem worse. I thought about waking my roommate Destiny, but that seemed selfish. She needed her sleep. I needed a distraction. I needed something meaningless, something without thinking, something without emotion. I needed something wild and crazy.

You'd think it would be easy enough for a girl to go out partying and find a hot guy to bed with no strings attached. It was almost midnight, but Reno is one of those cities that never sleeps. The real problem was finding the kind of guy I was looking for. Nice guys are often looking for more than a one-night stand. I didn't need that kind of attachment. On the other hand, guys who are not so nice are a bit of a risk. Pick up a not nice guy and you could find yourself dead in a ditch. Yeah, and besides all that, you kind of want a guy who is a little sexy. So, it is just not as easy as you might think.

I wondered if it was any easier for guys? They certainly don't have to worry about ending up in a ditch. Then this crazy idea came to me. Wild and crazy was what I was looking for, wasn't it?

Part 2: Devil with the Blue Dress (Amy)

No, I wasn't planning to dump some poor guy in a ditch. Although the thought of treating some creep the way they often treat insecure women with low self-esteem did make me smile. No, I would never do that. That's not me. I was, however, planning to, not be quite myself tonight. I dressed unisex, in an old too tight bra and a loose men's shirt, boots and jeans, sort of western style. My hair was short enough. I looked in the mirror and decided I could pass for a guy or maybe a lesbian. Who knows, maybe I'd pick up a lesbian or a transgender. The objective was wild and crazy right?

I parked at one of the hotels on north Virginia street, Reno's version of the Las Vegas strip. I went from bar to bar and from nightclub to nightclub drinking until I lost track of where I was. I ended up in a western bar where I more or less fit in. Actually, it was just like all the other bars I'd been in. It was dimly lit, reeking of the smell of booze, cheap perfume, and even cheaper and stronger aftershave. I guess what made me think it was western was the western dress of the patrons and the country music playing over the speakers in the ceiling. They were currently playing Marty Robbins. It may also have been a gay bar. I didn't see a lot of guys with girls. But then again this didn't seem like the sort of place a guy would bring a date. This was basically a pick up bar. A lot of singles that were looking to get lucky. This was what I was looking for.

I wasn't having much luck, not with guys, not with girls, not with gays of either gender. I was striking out with the entire LGBTQIA alphabet soup of gender identities. Then the most gorgeous creature I've ever seen came through the door. The music changed to an old Elvis tune, "She looked like an angel. She walked like an angel. She talked like an angel." Eventually I got wise...but no more spoilers, guys.

I could smell her perfume, Channel number five. She had to be the finest girl alive. She was walking real cool catching everybody's eye. She looked that good. It's no lie. She wore a high neck swing dress. It was blue with the beads. All in all, it suited my needs. She was wearing a wig hat and shades to match, high-heel shoes and an alligator hat. She was wearing her pearls and her diamond rings, bracelets on her fingers, and everything.

She caught me staring at her. She came right up to me and said, "I'm here. What are your other two wishes?"

Part 3: Devil Woman (Amy)

We scanned each other up and down. I smiled. Continuing her genie and three wishes pick up line I asked, "Jeannie, I'm guessing?"

"Molly, actually. And you are?" she took the stool next to mine.

"Amaryllis. You can call me Amy." I answered without thinking. I realized my name probably gave away my attempt to disguise my gender.

The angel got a strange look on her face and asked, "Amaryllis Belladonna?" It was as if she recognized me, but then I realized she was probably confused that I was a woman.

"Yeah, like the flower. I'm sorry if you were expecting a guy," I tried to clarify the situation.

She gave me another scan with a puzzled look and said, "No, I was pretty sure you were a girl. In fact, that is what I was hoping. It was just your name that surprised me. It is very unusual."

"I'm surprised you were familiar with the flower's scientific name."

"I'm full of surprises. Can I buy you a drink?" she asked with an evil grin.

We began talking and were really getting along. She had that sexy deep soothing almost masculine voice. She knew all the right things to say to me as if she already knew me. I decided to turn the conversation back to her. "So, what do you do?".

"I do all kinds of things," she answered, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"What kind of things?" I asked provocatively.

"Magical things," she teased. "Give me the ring on your finger. Let me see the lines on your hand. I can see a tall dark stranger giving you what you hadn't planned," she sang the words to the Cliff Richard song currently playing, Devil Woman. In a western bar, you'd think they'd play the Marty Robbins song. I suspect this one was played by mistake. Still, Richard's song fit our situation.

I drank the potion she offered me and soon I was on the floor. Then I looked into those dark green eyes. It was time for what I came here for. She helped me up and to my car real fast. I let her drive, enthralled by the spell she cast. Good golly Miss Molly.

Part 4: Devil in Disguise (Amy)

She gave me a deep kiss at my doorway. It was intoxicating. I was intoxicated. I invited her in. We continued kissing. Women generally kiss better than men, but her kiss was a weird hybrid maybe even better than either a man or a woman.

When we came up for air, she whispered, "Amy, there is something I need to tell you before you hopefully find out for yourself."

"And what might that be?" I asked puzzled. If she had been a guy, I would have suspected he was going to say he forgot his condoms.

"It is just that — I'm a guy. Are you okay with that?"

That was a pleasant surprise, but it raised a lot of questions. It took me a minute to respond. "Yeah, I am quite okay with that, but what bothers me is why were you at the bar in drag?" I probably should have asked about condoms too, but the drag thing really had me curious and besides I always keep spare condoms.

He chuckled. "Haven't you ever wanted to do something wild and crazy? Oh wait, that was you at the bar pretending to be a guy. Not very well I might add. At least I was pulling off my female impersonation."

"Wild and crazy doesn't seem like enough of an explanation for a guy to put on a dress?" I pushed for more of an explanation.

"Okay, how about Wild and crazy and the devil made me do it? Actually, I thought it would be an interesting experiment. I planned to really mess with someone's mind when I surprised them with my real gender. Then I saw you in the bar and my plan changed. I was wondering if you had a similar plan for the evening. I figured like minds, and I was immediately attracted to you."

The bit about him being attracted sounded a bit too serious for a one-night fling. Also, I was feeling a bit guilty about...well about everything. I confessed, "Before we go any further, there is something I should tell you. I'm married." He didn't seem too surprised by that. I went on to explain, "He is not around right now, and I just needed a meaningless fling and nothing more. Are you okay with that?"

"I'm a guy. You are offering me sex. Why wouldn't I be okay with that?" He laughed.

I shrugged. "Some guys might find it immoral."

"I'm more devil than you realize. Immorality is my thing."

Assured that we were both on the same page about tonight being a no strings attached one night stand, I said, "Okay, lets get immoral." I wrapped my arms around him and drug him into my bedroom. I began undressing him, kissing his neck. As I started to help him out of his dress, he stopped me and quickly reached into one of the folds in the dress where there was apparently a pocket. Like magic he pulled out a phone. Like magic because I had not noticed the pocket before or even a bulge that might have been made by a sequestered phone.

He scrolled through the phone and asked, "Do you mind if I put on some mood music?"

"Not at all," I responded as I removed his dress and was surprised to find he was commando underneath, and his soldier was standing at attention. That soldier needed to be put at ease and I knew just how.

Part 5: Classical Music (Amy)

He turned up the sound on his phone and set it on the nightstand and began undressing me returning the kisses I had bathed his body in.

I didn't recognize the music at first, just that it was classical. I was expecting something like Bolero a slow steady rhythm gradually increasing to an eventual frantic pace. Instead, the music was a sort of pastoral hymn. I later learned it was in fact the intro to Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture.

Most people recognize the overture's finale of celebratory cannon fire and church bells. It is frequently played with fireworks displays. The overture has a lot more to it before the dramatic finale. The overture's intro begins with a slow melodic rephrasing of the Russian hymn "O Lord, Save Thy People." This softer melody is actually pretty well suited for foreplay accompanying the slow movement of lips over particularly sensitive areas. Like a flautist gently coaxing a melody from their instrument.

The intro is followed by the famous French anthem, "LA Marseillaise." Tchaikovsky intended it to represent Napolean's advance on Moscow. We used it to coincide with our own advance into coitus. The Marseillaise is then intertwined with Russian folk music providing a mix of various rhythms. Our own rhythms followed suit. Need I explain how the finale coincided with our own climax. I will never again hear those cannons and church bells without becoming aroused.

Round two was in fact "Bolero." Round 3 was "Also Sprach Zarathustra." Most people will recognize this as the dramatic theme from "2001 a Space Odyssey." The pounding on the kettle drums was matched by our own pounding. Fortunately, it is a very brief piece of music. When round four was proposed, it was "The William Tell Overture," well known as the theme for the Lone Ranger. I was done. I simply rolled over and passed out. This Lone Ranger I had picked up was apparently insatiable.

Part 6: The Devil's in the Details (Amy)

The next morning as I awoke, he was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at me as if he were waiting for me to wake up.

"Can I interest you in some more music?" He smiled, brushed a lock of hair out of my face, and kissed my forehead.

He was still nude, and his soldier was clearly interested as was my own foxhole. I seriously considered it. I really wanted to, but I worried this might be an addiction that would be hard to break. "We probably shouldn't. You might ruin me for other men, and I really do love my husband."

"I understand," he said as he began to get dressed. I laughed as he pulled on his dress. It just seemed so weird. "Damien is very lucky." He started to lean in to kiss me again.

I sprang up in bed and stopped him. Damien's name was a detail I had intentionally omitted. I asked, "How did you know his name?"

He hesitated only briefly before suggesting, "You told me last night."

"I did not."

"You were pretty drunk. You just don't remember." He tried to kiss me again.

Again, I stopped him. "I am certain I didn't."

We stared at each other defiantly. Finally, he gave in. "I guess you'll find out sooner or later." Suddenly, his appearance changed, and I was looking at a familiar face. It was Persephone's husband, Hades, the devil himself.

Part 7: The Devil You Say? (Amy)

"I've been interested in you ever since Damien brought you to Hell," Hades explained.

A chill ran through me. As the ruler of the Underworld, he could have had me whenever he wanted. In fact, he still could whether I wanted to or not. Even though my husband Damien was himself a Demon, everyone in the Underworld was subject to Hades' commands.

Hades clearly, had gone to a lot of effort finding out I was trolling bars as a guy and then presenting himself as a woman to catch my attention. He had set the whole thing up. Maybe even starting with planting the nightmare that prompted my midnight prowling. He was very powerful and could easily have cursed me with that nightmare. Suddenly, I felt very vulnerable. What other things had he done to my mind? I pulled the sheet up to cover my breasts and asked, "Why? Why all the subterfuge? Why would you go to all this trouble?" I whimpered.

In a matter of fact voice he explained, "I didn't want to hurt Persephone or Damien. I may be evil, but I'm not stupid. It is in my best interest to get along with both of them." Then using his deep ruler of Hell voice, he said, "It is in your best interest too. I suggest we both keep this liaison to ourselves."

I nodded my agreement, and another chill ran down my spine. Hades can be very frightening especially when he uses his firm commanding voice like that.

Hades nodded back. Then he softened his tone and facial features and explained, "Besides occasionally I enjoy consensual sex. I especially enjoyed last night and would be very interested in repeating it if you are willing?"

I had no idea how to respond. Trembling I said, "I enjoyed last night too, but it was supposed to be a one-time thing."

"Suit yourself," he said making himself naked again with a simple wave of his hand. With menace in his voice he growled, "I also enjoy nonconsensual sex." He proceeded to try to force himself on me. At least there was no music. Then with one of his large hands holding my wrists against my chest pinning me to the bed he paused his assault to reach his other hand over to turn on his damn phone. "The Ride of the Valkyries" played. No way was I going to be taken advantage of like this. Especially with the image of Valkyries thundering down out of the heavens. I was no match for his physical strength, but I had other strengths. I decided to ruin it for him and make the sex consensual. Feminine persuasion can overpower even a demon god. To his surprise, I pleasured him in every way possible and to my surprise he returned the favor.

Maybe this would work out after all. Maybe the Valkyries would take us to Valhalla. Or maybe we had no idea what hell we were headed for.

Part 8: The Devil May Care (Amy)

After our morning session, Hades simply vanished without a word, leaving me to ponder where this was going. Would he be back for more? Would he try to get together with me when, like Persephone, I returned to the Underworld for the winter? And the thing that worried me the most — would we be able to keep this hidden from Persephone and Damien? As I left my bedroom with all this on my mind, I ran into my roommate and business partner Destiny.

"Wild night with Damien?" she asked.

"What?" I responded.

"I could hear you going at it last night. That was some session. You and the music were a bit loud, although I did occasionally hear a male voice. I assumed it was Damien since I didn't see anyone else come out of your bedroom this morning. Damien is the only one I know who can pull off that disappearing act."

"Yeah," I lied. Then I worried that Destiny might mention it to Damien, and he wouldn't know what she was talking about and get suspicious. "Actually, Destiny, you can't say anything about this to Damien.".

Destiny gasped, "You weren't with Damien, were you? Oh my god! You had to have been with another immortal, cause Damien doesn't care if you fool around with mortals.". She stared at me in disbelief. "It's not fair. You get two immortals? I used to think catching a rich guy was the goal. But an immortal, that's the real ticket. And you get two while I get none. It's just not fair Amy."

"I'm sorry Destiny. It is not like I went after either of them. Hades gave me little choice. I would gladly end that relationship."

She waved off my apologies and asked, "Hades is the new guy? Is that the same Hades who is ruler of the Underworld? The one who is married to Persephone the immortal who causes winter when she joins him in Hell for six months each year?"

"Yep, one and the same," I sighed.

"So, why don't you just call it off with him?"

I explained my plight starting with the quarrel I'd had with him and his hideous behavior the night before. I finished with, "He just won't let me call it off, and I really can't stop him. I would threaten to tell his wife, but I'm afraid I'd lose her as a friend and also Damien would probably find out."

Destiny stared at the ceiling like she does when she is thinking real hard. "You need some other leverage on him."

"Yeah, that's easier said than done. He really doesn't care about anything."

"What if you could catch him with another woman and threaten to expose that relationship? You would not have to admit to what you had done with him and still have the threat of exposing his philandering to his wife."

"Yeah, he might care about that. But how do we get him to have an affair with another woman and how do we catch him?"

Destiny got a big grin on her face. "Maybe I could help with that?"

Part 9: The Devil's Destiny (Amy)

Destiny's plan would get her a chance to sleep with an immortal and it might even get me free from him. We'd just have to wait and see when he showed up.

We didn't have to wait long. That evening I walked into my bedroom to find him naked sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Back so soon?" I said as unenthusiastically as I could.

"I have needs Amy. With Persephone gone all Spring and Summer, it builds up and I become one angry devil. So, let's get to it."

"Wow, you really know how to sweet talk a girl. I can't imagine why Persephone leaves you for half the year."

He frowned at my sarcasm and asked, "So, is it going to be consensual or not tonight?"

"Actually, I have a pleasant surprise for you tonight." I forced a smile. "Give me a second to get something." I stepped into the hallway and shouted to Destiny, "It's go time. I came back into the room and started a slow seductive strip tease. Once I was naked, I went over to Hades and began warming him up.

"Was the strip tease the surprise?" he asked in between kisses.

"No, that was just the starter. The entrée is coming up." I went back to kissing to distract him to give Destiny time to strip and sneak up on him. As soon as her body was pressed against his and he was good with that, I excused myself to go get something. I went to get our movie camera and waited until I heard Hades' phone playing Mozart's Rondo, Horn Concerto in E flat. I came into the room filming.

Hades was on his back, so I got a good view of his face in the throes of passion. Destiny was doing an outstanding job of keeping him that way with what might best be called a nuru message. Hades noticed me and asked, "What are you doing? Put that down and join us."

"Just a minute. Destiny wants something to remember you by."

"She won't need that. I'm taking her back to Hell with me. She has agreed to be my spring and summer mistress while Persephone is away. You are off the hook Amy."

Destiny was getting her immortal lover. Hades was getting his summer mistress. I was getting off the hook. Who would have thought this story would have a happy ending? I mean...Oh, you know what I mean.

Part 10: Persephone's Persuasive Powers (Amy)

I ran into Persephone the other day at Starbucks. I don't know what she was doing there since they don't serve ambrosia or nectar, the food and drink of immortals. I guess she just likes to go slumming around mortals sometimes. She recognized me and flagged me down. We talked over a chai tea latte.

Turns out she was okay with Hades having a summer mistress. She was actually glad for someone else to be taking part of the burden of his voracious sexual appetite. She asked me about how he came to meet Destiny and I told her the whole story apologizing profusely for my part in it. She forgave me immediately and put all the blame on Hades. In fact, she was outraged when I told her about Hades attempting to force himself on me. She assured me that it was going to be a very cold winter for him this year if he didn't apologize to me. Persephone, as the goddess of vegetation, has her own unique methods of persuasion. What she can do with poison ivy to one's nether regions has all the immortals respect. She could definitely mess up Hades' happy endings.

We also agreed to keep everything from Damien. Persephone is a good friend to have.