Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
FAMINE
“This band of pathetic rebels still thinks they beat me.”
I listened to my sister drone on and on as I checked my manicure. The long, pointed, crimson nails suited my ensemble, the color nearly matching my tresses and contrasting beautifully with my black leather catsuit. God, it was good to be back in my body.
“I can’t wait until Sunday sees my face again and realizes how wrong she was.”
I rolled my eyes, stifling a loud sigh. War had always been too confident, somehow able to twist her failures into successes when the tides began to turn.
I stood outside Lucifer’s main hall, where he’d most recently tortured me for no damn reason. Now he was gone and my sisters were here, plotting like the mischievous hens they were.
It was nearly time for my grand re-entrance, but if I’d learned anything during these games of ours, it was that information was priceless.
I’d been away for a while, and this meeting was a perfect opportunity to bring me up to speed.
Especially since they might reveal something they may not want little old me to know.
The second thing I’d learned is never to trust these scheming bitches farther than I could throw them. That went double for Death.
“We have to find them first. My army has been scouring London for any sign of Lilith or her lackeys. We’re sure she has her claws in this.
” A male voice filtered to my ears, causing me to perk up.
Pride. How interesting. What were the Princes and the Horsewomen doing colluding without their boss around to tell them how high to jump?
“Lilith isn’t important. She can be dealt with.
It’s finding our children that matters. Where are we with gaining the Siren coven’s cooperation?
Without their locator spell, we’re not going to find them.
They have too many magical allies who can shield them.
” Death was the smartest of them. Always had been.
She was honestly the only one who could give me a run for my money.
“They’ve been annoyingly tight-lipped,” Greed answered. “We’ve tried our most persuasive techniques, but they aren’t taking the bait. Thankfully, Sloth will be free in a few more days, and then they won’t stand a chance.”
A little shiver rolled down my spine at the mention of the final Prince.
Sloth had a reputation, and not just for being lazy.
Laziness was the mother of all invention, and Sloth had a sadistic streak that made my sisters and me look like pussycats.
If he was going to deign to do something, he’d damn sure make it count.
He’d strip your skin slowly and keep you awake for every long, drawn-out moment of it.
When it came to torture, he wasn’t just a prince; he was king, and everyone knew it.
Now was my time. A lull in conversation while the group pondered their next topic. The perfect entrance. I stepped over the threshold, the echoing of my heels on the stone floor calling their attention from one another.
“Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up,” Death said with a smirk.
“Where have you been?” War demanded.
“Who fucking cares?” Pestilence muttered, ever the petulant bitch.
“Lovely to see you all as fucking always.” I gave them a saccharine smile before settling myself at the head of the table, where Lucifer normally sat.
Mmm, it felt nice to be here. Powerful. “I’ve been doing what none of you were capable of while you sit around staring at each other and complaining. ”
“And what’s that?” drawled a Prince I didn’t recognize, though his green eyes gave him away. Or maybe that was the aura of jealousy he couldn’t quite hide.
“Envy, is it?” I asked, making a show of it as I eyed him up and down.
His lips twisted in a sneer, though he gave me a little nod.
“Well, darling, prepare to live up to your name, because I found them.”
“Who?” War snapped, sitting forward with her elbows on the table. She fucking hated the idea of someone getting one over on her, which frankly just made me want to do a little dance in my chair.
I smirked, leaning back and kicking my feet up onto the table. “Take your pick. The horsemen. The vessel. All of them.”
“What? And you’re only just sharing this now?” Pestilence snarled. “How typical.”
“I’ve been working my way into her heart.
You would’ve been smart to try that tactic yourself, Mayor Delta Dubois.
If you had, maybe you wouldn’t have ended up as a victim of your two sons.
” I shook my head, tutting. “No one likes a politician. Why on earth you’d take the form of one is a mystery to me.
” Then I offered her a wicked smirk. “Oh, wait, I know. It’s because you’re fucking stupid. ”
Death snickered and rubbed her hands together in glee. “I think I missed you.”
“I wish I could say the same,” I crooned, tossing her a toothy smile.
The Princes were not impressed by our posturing. I could feel their impatience permeating the air. Honestly, I didn’t get it. They’d already been waiting centuries to be released, what was a few extra days?
“Why are we sitting here discussing this? If you know where the vessel is, why haven’t we brought her to Lucifer? Our king has given us many tasks, but this one is the most important.” There Wrath went, bursting into the conversation with about as much tact as a bull in a china shop.
“Well, I don’t know where she is right this second. But I do know she left them. She’s more than likely on her way to find the one man who can offer her a place to stay. Sweet, sensitive Cole.”
“Who the fuck is Cole?” Pestilence blurted.
I tsked softly and shook my head. “Careful, sister. Our sweet Lucifer might take offense to you speaking about him that way.”
“She’s with him?” Lust crooned, perking up from their slouch in the corner. I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting this particular Prince, but they were a bit of me, and like always recognized like.
“If all went according to plan, yes. Our king will be on his honeymoon until further notice.”
Death eyed me suspiciously, her shrewd gaze narrowing as she asked, “How do you know all of this?”
“Because, sister, while you were here doing fuck all, I was hiding in plain sight. Helping them all with every pathetic need they had. Counseling Merri in matters of the heart. All I had to do was bide my time, manipulate her just right, and the idiot horsemen played right into my hand. They broke her. I gave her the wings she needed to fly.” My lips curled up in a grin as I thought of our last moment together.
“Allons-y, mademoiselle,” I murmured, mostly to myself, frankly missing the French accent I’d had to keep up while wearing the handsome Christian like a cheap suit.
Emotions rippled through the room, a delightful bouquet of interest, jealousy, and my personal favorite, respect.
A slow clap started, Death giving me her signature simpering smile. “Brava, sister. You always were a clever little cookie.”
Ignoring the patronizing compliment, I stood and braced both arms on the table. “While the king is away, we are in charge.”
“Wait just a damn minute. Why are you in charge?” Pride protested, eyes flashing with righteous indignation as he jumped to his feet.
“Because, you silly muppet, my sisters and I are the only reason the rest of you are here. Now sit down and be a good puppy.”
My sisters snickered while I watched Pride wilt like a flower left in the hot sun. Pretty, but useless. Just like him.
“Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. There is still a very real threat to the success of our endeavors. Everything hangs in the balance, and we must be prepared to topple the scale in our favor.”
“So what do you propose?” Greed asked, eyebrows lifting.
“I’m so glad you asked. We do anything and everything required to ensure this apocalypse goes our way. No matter the cost.”