Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
“What happened to you?” Shaddix scowled as she saw Brassle’s battered face.
“Xynzara.”
She let out a shriek at the sound of the one creature she’d give anything to destroy.
Luke. Why couldn’t she be rid of him? Why could she not escape that vexing creature! He was a hellhound, and yet he had more lives than a cat.
Worse, he always landed on his feet.
How was this even possible? What would it take to rid herself of the one vermin who kept thriving no matter what she did to him?
Shaddix flinched as she remembered the day the little bastard had been born. Her father had more children than anyone could count. So many that she doubted if Lucifer even remembered how many he’d fathered at this point. He definitely didn’t know everyone’s name. Nor did he care.
They were disposable to him.
But when he’d held that mutant animal…
Lucifer had smiled.
Smiled!
Her stomach had turned instantly and hatred had sprouted to full force inside her. From that day forward, Lucifer had doted on the mongrel. She wanted nothing more than to see Luke suffer.
To die.
What would it take? She’d spent centuries trying to pry him away from the favored spot. And the harder she tried, the more cemented he became.
Until now.
It’d been a work of genius to finally succeed. But as genius as it was, it was also dangerous.
Not just because Luke would end her if he found out. His mother would be worse.
And Lucifer…
There was no telling what he’d do. While he hated all liars, betrayers were the one thing he would never stomach. The irony of that wasn’t lost on her.
Lucifer had betrayed his own father, but he demanded staunch loyalty from those around him. Any hint of treachery and he took great pleasure tormenting the fool responsible.
“Are you finished with your tantrum?” Brassle asked in a bland tone.
“Don’t say his name in my presence, ever again.”
“Trust me, I won’t. I value my hearing too much to risk another discordant screaming session.” Rippling his shoulders, he stood up and grimaced. “If you hate him so much, why don’t you help me bring him to Father for his punishment?”
Because she was terrified Lucifer would learn that she’d betrayed them both.
But she knew better than to let Brassle know that. It was something he’d use to topple her. “Knowing his wormy, sleazy ways, he might ingratiate himself to Father again. Then where would we be?”
He shrugged. “My position wouldn’t change. But sucks to be you. You’d be booted back to where you were.”
Which was the last thing she wanted. To be subservient to that mutant.
“Question, brother. Where does it say we have to bring him back here in one piece?”
Brassle arched a brow. “What?”
“Think about it. Father didn’t stipulate Luke had to be whole when he was returned.” They could chop him into tiny little Luke bites.
“I like how you’re thinking…but killing him isn’t easy.”
“Alone we don’t stand a chance. Together—”
Brassle interrupted her with a rude snort. “He’d still kick our asses. And Father might, too. While he’s currently furious at Xynzara, that could change at any moment.”
Because Lucifer was a capricious bastard. Which meant he also might be grateful to them.
“You’re such a pessimist.”
“You think?” He wiped at a cut on his cheek and winced. “I just went a few rounds with him. He’s stronger than ever.”
“Maybe. But everyone has a weakness.”
Brassle shook his head. “All his weaknesses have fangs. I’m not willing to risk rabies.”
“You’re such a coward.”
“Realist.” He vanished from the chair where he’d been sitting.
Shaddix stood there, fuming and debating. In spite of what Brassle said, she felt like she was on to something.
The more of them after Luke, the better chance they had of breaking him.
He was currently distracted, chasing his demons and protecting that little bitch partner of his. What better time to strike?
She just needed to get some of her other siblings to cooperate.
Intending to leave, Trinket turned over in bed, and picked up his clothes from the floor.
Sorath grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled him back. “Where are you off to, maggot?”
Grimacing in pain, Trinket did his best not to wince. “I thought you were through with me, my lord.” As one of Hell’s top generals, Sorath owned any creature here who ranked below him.
That included Trinket.
One of Lucifer’s original fallen angels, Sorath was a creature of exquisite beauty. His dark skin and long braids framed a face of perfect proportions.
He was also the angel Lucifer had sent to banish Luke from Hell. If Luke had a friend in Hell, other than Helly, Sorath would be he.
Which was how Trinket had first met Sorath.
While Luke had frowned on their relationship, and so had Trinket, Sorath had refused to be deterred.
He thought of himself as a ruler, and no one else’s opinion mattered. The beast took what he wanted, everyone be damned.
I should never have come back here.
It’d been stupid. He’d thought to slip in and out without anyone noticing.
Sorath noticed everything.
And with an angry sneer, he kicked Trinket from the bed. “Go on. Get out of my sight. I have things to attend.”
Landing on the floor, Trinket leveled his breathing so that he didn’t flinch from the pain. Yeah, he didn’t miss any of this.
All I want is freedom.
If Luke returned home like he wanted, Trinket would have no say. He’d be relegated back to this role.
I won’t let that happen.
Whatever it took, he would make sure that he stayed out of Hell. That none of them ever came back.
This is my last time.
Even if he had to sacrifice Luke.