Page 111 of Hell Burns Between Us

She snatched her hand back, watching in frustration as the tray floated away. From the corner of her eye, she saw something hurtling towards her. She turned just in time to catch a demoness stumbling into her.

Peri’s wrist flared again, a sharp burn that fizzled out as she steadied the demoness. She was sunshine yellow and glowing like a summer sun, gripping Peri’s shoulder as her cheerful giggle rang in the air.

“Sorry!” the demoness said, righting herself with a grin. “I was following that tray, but these bloody shoes weren’t made for walking. No matter how pretty they are.”

Peri smiled. “I’m just glad I was here to stop your fall. You’re Yulia, right?”

Yulia’s eyes widened. “How do you know my name?” she laughed, the sound light and airy.

“Oh, I—” Peri hesitated, not wanting to break cover. “I overheard someone call you Yulia.”

“Ah, I see!” Yulia’s grin widened. “But you still need to tell me your name. I have no idea who you are.”

“I’m… Thorn,” Peri said, testing the new pseudonym. It was a terrible name, but Yulia didn’t seem to notice. Instead, her smile grew in a way that made Peri’s whole body spark with heat.

Peri cleared her throat, trying to steady her nerves. “Shall we grab a tray together? We can share whatever we find.”

Yulia’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes, let’s!”

They clasped hands, pushing through the crowd in search of another tray. When they found one, they sank onto a soft seabed-turned-sofa, the food between them, a quiet intimacy in the way they shared it. Yulia leaned in, whispering stories about everyone around them. The two of them laughed, a riot of giggles that seemed to go on forever.

The tattoos between them burnt again, hotter this time. Yulia raised an eyebrow, her grin playful. “I think our tattoos are trying to tell us something.”

Peri quickly finished her drink, trying to distract herself, but her thoughts were in a whirl. She glanced at Yulia, her heart racing. The attraction was undeniable. The idea of kissing Yulia didn’t repulse her—it was the loveliest thought.

Here she was, laughing at a party, contemplating kissing someone for fun—a demoness, no less. She was drinking, dancing, and her outfit felt bold in a way that empowered her, made her feel strong. No part of her questioned what she was doing, even though she’d been told her whole life that things like this would feel wrong.

But here, in the shimmering light of the underwater ballroom, she knew she wasn’t wrong. She was alive.

Perhaps the things that gave her true joy weren’t selfish or depraved at all. Maybe they were parts of herself that she’d never learnt to navigate. Her entire life, she’d been sold a narrative that made her feel deeply uncomfortable. She’d assumed that everyone else felt the same way, and that as she grew older she would finally understand. She expected to find comfort in the life her family was pushing her towards, but in truth, the reverse had always been true.

Finally, her gaze met Yulia’s, and Peri’s heart fluttered. Exhilarating. Terrifying. She wondered what it would feel like to do something she actually wanted to do—just for the thrill of it.

“First, you should know something,” Peri began, the words coming out in a rush.

Yulia furrowed her brow in worry. “What is it?”

Peri leaned closer, whispering with a touch of vulnerability, “I’ve never kissed anyone before... I mean, not really.”

“What? Never?” Yulia’s voice was full of disbelief.

Peri shook her head, nervous energy making her fidget.

Yulia’s expression shifted, her eyes lighting up. “Can I kiss you now?” She grabbed Peri’s shoulders, her face radiating pure joy. “Can I be your first kiss?”

“You don’t find it,” Peri hesitated. “off-putting?”

Yulia laughed, the sound as light as air. “Spirits, no. It’s exciting!”

“Well... alright then,” Peri said, nerves still churning in her stomach. She wasn’t sure how to start or what to do, but Yulia slowly lifted her hands to gently cradle Peri’s face. Her touch was warm and grounding, and before Peri could second-guess herself, Yulia pulled her into a soft, joyful kiss.

Peri found herself responding instinctively, wrapping her hands around the back of Yulia’s neck and leaning in deeper, her body alive with the new sensation.

When they pulled apart, Yulia’s grin was as wide as the moon. “Your very first kiss! How do you feel?”

“Wonderful,” Peri said, her voice muffled as she buried her face in her hands and flopped back onto the couch. “Why did I wait so long to do that?”

Yulia grabbed Peri’s hand, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Shall we go find you some more beings to kiss?”