Chapter Three
Atlas
Rolling over in the giant soft, comfortable bed, Atlas knew exactly where he was and could appreciate the room he’d been led to the night before. Everything that had happened the previous day played in his mind as Atlas stared up at the black stone ceiling.
The stone, as Bel had explained, was part of the core of the hell realm. Hell was apparently made up of different levels and the one that they were on was a private plane where most of the princes and older demons lived.
Which meant that while Atlas might have ended up in hell, at least he was with one of the most powerful beings around.
Atlas had so many more questions. Plus, Bel had promised to help Atlas find answers that hadn’t been available to him in his entire life.
He hadn’t shared everything with Bel. Guilt made his stomach turn. While Bel had been kind enough to offer his help, he had done so without having all the information.
Stretching his arms over his head, Atlas gave a massive groan. This was much better than the cheap motels that had become his home over the last few years. Bel had even waved his hand and had clothes that would fit Atlas stacked on the bed.
Magic really was amazing.
Even though Bel thought it was a possibility that Atlas had magic of his own, Atlas doubted it. There was no way. Since he also didn’t know how to explain the flickers, Atlas could admit that he might be totally wrong.
Picking up his phone that he’d placed on the bedside table, Atlas checked the time. It was amazing that his phone actually worked in another realm. Of course Bel had to do something to it for the signal to come through. Magic, Bel had told him, without being able to explain how that worked.
Bel promised that he’d have people who would be able to answer Atlas’s questions.
It seemed crazy to him that Bel didn’t know all these things. Maybe it was because Bel had been born with magic that he never thought about it, but Atlas was dying to know. And it was only a little because of his need for revenge. And that brought back the guilt.
Atlas didn’t have any family living. No friends to speak of.
He was alone in this battle against the shifters.
Now he knew to call them shifters. In Atlas’s mind they were still monsters.
Not Bel. Atlas couldn’t think of him as a monster any longer.
But the shifters. Yeah, there was no other word to describe them.
Excited about the possibilities before him, Atlas climbed off the bed. His feet hit the floor. The same black stone as the rest of the room warmed as soon as Atlas’s skin made contact. Huh, that was cool. Magic.
Testing this theory, Atlas turned toward the bed. He waved his hand. “Make the bed,” he said out loud.
Nothing happened.
Okay, the floor had warmed under his feet so he could do this.
Staring hard at the rumpled sheets, Atlas said louder, “Make the bed.”
Nothing.
Fine. Atlas was disappointed. It didn’t mean he couldn’t use magic. Maybe it took practice? He turned to head toward the door that Bel had made before leaving Atlas alone.
The demon prince thought of everything.
Just in case there were issues with Atlas being able to get what he needed, Bel had altered the wall to put in a door.
A door that led to a massive bathroom. Atlas had ignored the large standing shower before bed but now he felt the need to get clean.
Motel showers sucked. He had a feeling that the water pressure in hell would be amazing.
He started the shower before going over to the toilet and taking care of that pressing need.
Once he was done, Atlas moved over to the bathroom sink.
He washed his hands and spotted a new toothbrush and toothpaste beside the sink.
Was that Bel or the magic? He didn’t care.
As long as he was able to brush his teeth, he was a happy man.
With minty fresh breath, Atlas turned toward the shower. The steam had begun to fill the bathroom. He dropped his clothes onto the floor then pulled open the glass door.
Heat and steam engulfed him as Atlas entered the stall. He couldn’t even call it a stall. The space was enormous. There were four shower heads raining hot water down on his head and shoulders.
His long moan filled the room.
So good.
He hadn’t had a shower this good in…well probably his entire life.
On the wall beside his arm were containers labeled with bodywash, shampoo, and conditioner.
Atlas started with the shampoo, filling his palm before working the liquid into his hair.
He washed and conditioned his hair before moving onto his body.
Atlas wasn’t shy about using too much of the bodywash once he caught the amazing scent of it.
He probably spent way too much time in the shower and by the time he turned off the water, he felt like a whole new man. Well, getting the best night’s sleep ever probably helped with that as well.
Reaching for the door, Atlas realized he’d made a mistake. No towel. And he didn’t think air-drying was a real option. He didn’t want to use the clothes he’d slept in but that would have to do.
Atlas pushed the door open and gasped. Just what he needed. A stack of fluffy black towels now sat on a shelf that hadn’t been there before Atlas had entered the shower. He grabbed one off the top and began to dry his body.
Magic really was awesome. And this had to have been him. Bel wasn’t even in there with him and the towels had materialized out of nowhere. Still confusing but awesome no less.
Once he’d gotten most of his body dry, Atlas brought the towel up to his head.
He didn’t have much money and tried to save where he could, but he never missed one of his hair appointments. Atlas wished he had his normal styling products with him. He’d make do.
Stepping out of the shower, Atlas rested the towel around his shoulders.
The vanity beside the sink now had an arrangement of hair products, including a brush and hair dryer. It even looked like the products were the brand that Atlas normally used.
Magic was awesome.
He lost himself in the familiar routine of styling and getting himself ready for the day. Once he was satisfied that he was totally having a good hair day, he turned to pick up his clothes from the floor.
And they were gone.
What?
That was an issue.
Atlas moved the towel off his shoulders and tied it around his waist before walking out of the bathroom.
Now the bed was made?
Atlas threw up his hands. “Really, magic? Really?”
Sitting at the end of the now neatly made bed was a stack of clothes. Underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt. Okay, Atlas could work with that. Beside the bed he spotted a thick pair of socks and a pair of black leather boots. It was all a huge improvement on the stupid uniform he’d shown up in.
He dressed quickly, excited to share his thrilling morning with Bel.
Striding across the room, Atlas pulled open the door. Atlas wasn’t sure how he was going to find the demon prince but hoped this house or whatever wasn’t too big. Walking through the door, Atlas found himself inside Bel’s office. The same office as the night before.
Now that was very interesting.
Bel’s office had not been attached to Atlas’s bedroom when they’d walked to it the night before. Lifting his gaze, Atlas spotted Bel sitting behind his desk with his cell phone up to his ear.
Noticing that he had company, Bel smiled and waved Atlas forward.
Atlas practically skipped closer.
“I understand,” Bel said to whoever he was speaking to. “Yes. I appreciate it. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and dropped the phone onto the surface of the desk.
“Bad call?” Atlas asked in sympathy, stopping in front of the desk. The top of the desk nearly reached his collar.
Bel grunted. “Everyone is so excited to meet you.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Had Bel changed his mind about helping him?
“Not bad,” Bel said with some hesitation. “I just don’t want you getting overwhelmed. They can be a lot.”
Atlas shrugged. “I’m sure it will be fine.” Honestly, he had no idea how this was going to go. He wasn’t afraid of meeting more demons. Bel had been very sweet to him.
“You say that now,” Bel said. “You should be running away screaming.”
“I’m not really the screaming type.”
“You yelled at me yesterday,” Bel pointed out.
That seemed to have really bothered Bel. “I’m sorry about that. I was frustrated. I promise not to yell again.”
Bel smiled at him. “How about breakfast? I prepared trays earlier for us.”
“Coffee?” Atlas requested hopefully.
“So much coffee,” Bel agreed. “We’re going to need it.”
Maybe he should be more concerned. Bel did seem rather worried.
Bel waved his hand and a table with two chairs materialized where they’d sat the night before.
“I have so much to tell you!” Atlas remembered as he bounced on the tips of his toes.
“You do?” Bel rose while ushering Atlas toward the table.
A black cloth covered the table under several silver domes. “You said you prepared this earlier? Like with magic?” Atlas asked.
“I quite enjoy cooking. It relaxes me. I have recently gotten back into it. I wanted to make sure your first morning here was welcoming.”
Bel really was the best demon ever. Not that Atlas had met other demons or anything.
“I appreciate it. Thank you.” He really did. Atlas loved to eat.
“I’m not saying that magic doesn’t have its place. Especially here. Sometimes it’s rewarding to do things on your own though.”
“Magic is awesome!” Atlas told him as he hurried over. There was coffee in fact. Two giant mugs one on each side of the table.
He had to hop up to get seated. Atlas went for the coffee first as Bel slid into the seat across from him.
“You had a good morning, I take it,” Bel said.
“I think I used magic!” Atlas shared.
“Did you?” Bel’s lips twitched.
“I tried to make the bed but nothing happened. But I’m pretty sure I conjured a towel and my hair products. Then when I got out of the bathroom, the bed was made and I had clothes waiting for me.” Atlas removed the silver dome lid in front of him.