I hope this chapter meets your expectations.

Much love and appreciation to Edwardsfirstkiss and Sazzledazzled fixing my errors and trying to keep me on task.

SM owns Twilight. But this Devil is all mine.

All mistakes are mine.

Enjoy!


The Devil's Plan

Chapter 28

Tone is Everything

"I believe that you should leave that out of the conversation." Ba'al wrung his hands as he tried to advise the ruler of Hell as he was rummaging through Edward Cullen's closet.

"I've waited all this time. Why should I wait a moment longer?" As usual Satan was ignoring Ba'al's advice. He had decided to walk into the Swan home and demand that Isabella fall to her knees in devotion. If he had his way, Satan would have her in his bed before nightfall. Much to his irritation, Ba'al was urging him to take a softer approach.

"Sire, remember she must give herself to you freely. If you force her-"

"Force? Do you think that for a moment she could resist me?" Satan asked, from inside Edward's walk in closet.

Wisely Ba'al shook his head. "Of course not. You're the envy of all who have the privilege to be in your presence. But human girls are different. They are independent and –"

"-And nothing! She is a female." He stated emphatically, practically daring Ba'al to disagree that Isabella would be powerless to resist him.

"Of course, Sire. However she is young. Very young."

"You think her age is a deterrent? Is she not old enough to provide what I seek?" Satan was not deterred in the least by his Swan's age. Yet, he was aware of instances where girls of her age were not yet mature enough to provide what he sought. A chink in his plans had reared its ugly head. Now he would have to ascertain whether she was indeed as mature as he needed her to be.

Ba'al's mouth hung open at Satan's question. He could only assume that Bella had started her menses. His Alice was in perfect synch with her cycle. "Sire I can only assume that she is capable-"

"Assume? You assume? You and your worthless partner didn't think to make sure? Once again I shall have to take matters into my own hands!" Satan declared. How Satan planned to discover Bella's current menstrual status had Ba'al cringing. Knowing his lord, he'd flat out ask her if she were fertile and then Bella being Bella, would probably tell him to go to hell; which of course is exactly where he belonged but would only causing a bigger rift between the two which in turn would make Ba'al's life even harder than it already was.

"Sire, please don't ask her. I will find out." Ba'al pleaded. Satan eyed his minion with narrowed eyes. So far he'd been very unimpressed with Ba'al and Astarte's work. He'd expected to take over the boy, take the girl and be done. He was not happy with the roadblocks he'd encountered so far.

"See that you do. And be quick about it! I will not have my plans delayed any longer." Satan grabbed a shirt off a hangar and quickly shrugged it on before admiring himself in the mirror. No bad, he thought to himself. The Cullen boy, while proving to be a pain in his ass, did have one thing going for him. Satan couldn't deny that the boy was attractive. His physique, while not being nearly as appealing as Satan's angelic body, was not a total disappointment.

"How do I look?" Ba'al lifted his head as Satan appeared from the closet.

"Um, fine?"

"Fine?" Satan repeated in a mocking tone. "I look better than 'fine'. Surely a demi-god's vocabulary contains words to describe a god's appearance?" His words may have sounded flippant, but his icy stare made it clear to Ba'al that he was not playing. Satan, required constant praise and accolades that befitted his narcissistic personality.

"Sire, you look magnificent. Truly, the blue of the garment you're wearing causes the green of your eyes to shine with exquisite vibrancy." Ba'al breathed a sigh of relief as Satan nodded at his praise.

"Better," he said simply before grabbing Edward's grey wool coat and walking out of the door leaving Ba'al to stand in alone in Edward's room worried for the young girl.

~~~TDP~~~

"Of course it's no bother." Bella called over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen to make a fresh batch of hot cocoa for her unexpected guest.

"I'm so glad. I don't know why but I woke up this morning with the feeling that I needed to see you today." Angela grinned with a shrug of her shoulders. When she woke up this morning, she'd felt an undeniable pull towards Bella. As if Bella needed her.

"I'm always happy to see you." Bella gave her friend a brief hug, setting their cocoas down on the table.

"This is yummy." Angela declared, taking a deep drink of the rich brew. "How was your Christmas?"

"Um, it was nice." Bella answered quickly.

"Just nice?" Angela asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No. It was really nice. We went to Billy Black's house. They've been family friends for years."

"Okay. And how is Edward?"

"As far as I know he's fine." Bella shrugged. Her answer wasn't exactly what her guest had expected to hear.

"Uh oh, are there problems in Edward and Bella land?" Angela reached out and patted Bella's hand.

"Oh, Ang, he's just…he's been acting weird, and it's…its' just really weird." Bella's head landed on the table top in a soft thud. How did she explain Edward's behavior to anyone else when she didn't understand it herself?

"Weird how? Not Jasper weird I hope." Angela asked with a chuckle.

"No, a different kind of weird. He just, he stops communicating for days and then when I do speak to him it's as if he's a different person. It was his voice, but the tone of his voice was harsh and his words- they didn't sound like language that he uses, and well, they were kind of harsh too. Last night he was acting as if he was my boss instead of my boyfriend. He was ordering me around, demanding to know why I didn't immediately return his calls. He sounded like a totally different person than I know him to be. I hung up on him."

"You didn't?" Angela's eyes were wide in disbelief.

"Yep." Bella nodded. "I told him I didn't care for his tone and cut the call."

Angela absorbed what Bella said with wide eyes. She didn't know what she'd expected with her impromptu visit, but learning that Edward had turned into an overbearing jerk causing Bella to hang up on him, was a huge surprise.

"Where does that leave you two?"

"I don't know," said with sadness reflected in her eyes. "He's actually on his way over now."

Angela straightened up in her seat. "He is? Do you want me to leave?"

"What? No. You're my friend. There's no reason you can't be here too." Bella couldn't deny that she was a tad worried about what would happen when that bronze-haired boy walked through her door. Having Angela here might help diffuse any blow ups that might occur when she told him that she wouldn't put up with his previous attitude.

"Bella, are you sure?" Angela asked automatically as her gut was telling her to stay right where she was.

"I'm sure. Besides, who knows when he'll even get here? We can catch up and-" She was interrupted by a knocking on her front door, a rather insistent knocking.

"Is that him?" Angela looked toward the front door.

"By the sound of the knocking, I would guess so." Bella answered with a slight frown.

Neither girl moved to answer the door as the knocking continued.

"Um, I don't think he's going to stop." Angela observed, surveying the part anxious, part indifferent look on her friend's face. Bella appeared to waiver between wanting to answer the door and leaving Edward outside.

"No. He's not." Bella agreed, blowing out a loud sigh. "Time to get this over with." She said, pushing up from the table and walking toward the front door.

Bella walked as slowly as she dared to her front door. "Stay strong." She repeated to herself, fearful that once Edward's handsome face filled her vision, she'd forget that she was perturbed with him.

Bella opened her door. The deep breath she'd taken for courage came out in a powerful 'whoosh'. Just as she'd feared, she was momentarily struck stupid by the boy leaning against the doorframe. Quickly, she ran her eyes over him in admiration. Regardless of his attitude of late, there was simply no denying how utterly beautiful he was.

Edward's normally messy and chaotic hair, appeared to shine brighter in the mid-morning light. The wool jacket he wore hugged his shoulders and chest. The navy blue button down made his green eyes seem, somehow greener and mossier. Inwardly, Bella chastised her lack of control as well as for using the word, mossier, but knew it was no use. Even her superior vocabulary couldn't compete with the sheer beauty that was Edward Cullen.

Devilward grinned as he watched the speechless girl take in his visage. If her dazed appearance was any indication of how much she enjoyed Edward's face and body, she'd pose no challenge to him at all.

He pushed off from the doorframe, hooking an arm around the shocked girl, pulling her in closer to his body. "My love, you are a vision," he said, running his nose along the curve of her neck, sniffing her delectable scent before whispering, "I have waited ages for you to be ready for me."

Bella abruptly pulled out of his arms, the swoon she'd almost succumbed too quickly dissolved at his strange words. "Ready for him?" Just what did he think they were ready to do?

"Whoa," she said, pushing slightly against his unyielding chest. "Just what am I supposed to be ready for?" Bella asked with hardened resolve. Sure, in the past it had been Edward who would put the brakes on her arduous advances, but today it would be her to dictate what they did. And even though she'd been temporarily stunned stupid only moments before, she was not going to let him off the hook for his behavior the night before just because he looked and smelled amazing.

Not to be deterred by her sudden show of temper, he reached out and took her hand. He brought her hand up to his mouth where he placed lingering kisses on each knuckle. "My dear Isabella, your words are no match for your body. You cannot deny the tightening in your womb or the lust in your eyes. You leave no mystery as to what you are ready to do."

"Stop!" Bella pulled her hand out of his grasp, noting how his eyes flared with anger at her actions. "Don't you dare discuss my womb or the supposed lust in my eyes. You have a lot to explain and I'm not touching you again until you do." Defiantly, she crossed her arms over her chest and dared him to try her again.

Devilward was fed up with this attitude. No female dared to deny him! Damn Ba'al's insistence for him to be gentle. He would take her now and deal with the consequences. Devilward stood to Edward's full height and prepared to take a hold of the petite child.

"Bella, I think I'm going to head out." Angela moved hesitantly into the hallway. She took in the defensive posture of her friend and the somewhat menacing look on Edward's face with alarm.

"No, you don't have to go. "

Angela eyed both of them from her spot in the hallway. Bella looked angry and Edward look completely put out. "Um, I think you two need some time to yourselves…" Her voice failed her as Edward quickly turned to face her.

Angela had moved close enough for him to inhale her scent. She felt a moment of fear as Devilward's eyes widened and his nostrils flared. He moved quickly to stand in front of Bella, shielding her from her friend. "Leave immediately!" He ordered with authority.

Bella gasped at his outburst, pushing against his arm. "Edward! What has gotten into you?" She admonished, finally succeeding in stepping away from him.

"Isabella, I command you to come back to me!"

"Are you seriously-"Bella didn't finish her statement before he reached out and pulled her back to him.

"Stop!" She ordered. "This is exactly what I've been trying to talk to you about. You can't order me around like I'm your property." Bella looked at Devilward, expecting him to let go of her arm.

He didn't.

With a huff, she quickly pulled her arm out of his grasp and moved to stand next to Angela. "I'm so sorry. He has no right to say-"

"I think it would be wise if I left." Bella stared at Angela in surprise.

"Are you sure?"

Angela nodded. "Yes, you two seem to have a lot to discuss. I'll call you later." Angela offered her friend a small smile and a light reassuring touch to her arm as she moved towards the front door. Bella noticed how Edward moved to avoid Angela as she brushed past him on her way through the door.

"What in the world has gotten into you?" Bella asked, as she moved to shut the door. "I barely recognize you anymore. Your rotten attitude towards me is one thing, but when you turn it to my friends, we have a very big problem. Angela is my friend, our friend and you had no right to speak to her like that." Bella fumed, rushing down the hallway towards the now empty kitchen. She assumed he would follow her.

He did.

The cooled cups of cocoa clanked and clattered as she set about cleaning them. "Honestly, Edward, what is your problem?"

Devilward stood quietly for a moment, enjoying the vision of his Swan's temper tantrum. He especially enjoyed how the heat of the dish water caused a slight flush to the delicate skin behind her neck. The heat also enhanced her delectable scent.

Bella turned around sharply at the sound of his loud inhalation. "What is with you and smelling people?" She asked loudly waving a wet soapy arm at him

Devilward chuckled at her outrage. Should he tell her that he was delighted to discover her aroma hinted at the coming of her menstrual cycle and that despite her current temper, earlier he'd been able to smell her excitement at seeing him on her porch and that the knowledge pleased him immensely? Should he tell her that he'd reacted to that dark-haired female because he'd detected a familiar scent that had been absent in his life for a millennia? As Bella turned her back to him continuing with her task at the sink, he quickly decided that perhaps he would take Ba'al's earlier advice.

"I don't believe that my explanations would be appreciated." He said smugly with a grin.

"Why the frack not?" She asked heatedly. "Because the way I see it, you owe me a crap ton of explanations. And Edward, I want them." Her cheeks flamed with anger.

Devilward walked slowly towards his Swan. In spite of her ire, he was delighted to see her pupils dilate with interest at his approach. Yes, his Swan may not be as subservient as he would have wanted. And he now understood what Ba'al had been saying earlier; something about luring insects closer with honey, or something to that effect. Thankfully his Swan was so attracted to the boy's appearance that even in her fury she couldn't help but lick her lips in reaction to his nearness.

"Isabe- Bella," he corrected himself just as she opened her mouth to protest. "I understand that you are upset at my behavior." He explained calmly, while taking her hands in his, ignoring the irritating wetness of the wash water. "I can only offer my apologies and say further that I was reacting to my intense desire to see you."

"You've been acting like an A-one jackwagon because you wanted to see me?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Tamping down his desire to quash her defiant attitude, Devilward leaned in to whisper in her ear. "My desire for you knows no bounds." He punctuated his words with a kiss to her unadorned lobe.

Bella shivered at the sensation and leaned further into his touch. He moved closer placing small kisses down the slope of her throat, gently inhaling as he went.

Under the onslaught of Edward's magic lips, Bella could feel her earlier promise to not touch him begin to fade. How horrible would it be to just give in to him? Her knees began to wobble as she pondered.

"So easy." she sighed, answering her unspoken question.

"Doesn't it feel better to give in to me?" His words fell like an anvil onto her ears. Give in to him? Let his needs and wants dictate hers? Allow him to treat her like a doormat because he didn't want to give her thoughts or feelings any credence?

"Okaaaay. And now we're done." Bella pulled away quickly, taking a seat at the table leaving him glowering at her. "Sit." She ordered, pointing to the chair across from her. "We're not getting anywhere like this. I'm not going to forgive you for acting like a Fifty Shades, whip wielding wannabe just because my insides turn to mush every time you breathe hard on me."

"Fifty Shades? Whip wielding? What are you referring to? I've not used my whips on you." He stated matter-of- factly.

Bella's eyes were wide with his admission.

"You have whips? What kind of stuff were you and Tanya doing?"

"Tanya? Why do you bring up a dead woman in this conversation?"

"Dead? Tanya is dead?"


So, Bella has had her first encounter with the Devil. How do you think she did? That girl ain't a pushover but who can resist a man that looks like Edward? Not me! I swear, I'd totally let Robert Pattinson use whips on me. LOL!

Thank you for reading!

Love to you all!