Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
“Tenoch is dead.”
Xolotl froze at those words. “What did you say?”
Hesitantly, her servant came forward to where Xolotl sat in the garden of her temple. “He was caught and rather than be taken, he killed himself.”
That news infuriated her. “But did he accomplish his task?”
“He claimed he did.”
“Then where is Sorcha?”
That caused her servant to shrink away.
Rising to her feet, Xolotl felt the fire and electricity flare over her body. This was taking too long and time was running out. It was imperative that they sacrifice Sorcha O’Malley. Her blood was critical.
“We need her dead. Sooner rather than later.”
“But Tenoch said—”
“If she were dead, she’d be here. Do you see her?” Xolotl asked, cutting him off.
The fool actually looked around as if Sorcha might be hiding.
“Imbecile! She’s not here.”
“Forgive me, my lord.”
Rolling her eyes, Xolotl wanted blood. Why was it so hard to find good henchmen? How she wished life was like an old TV show or movie where henchmen fell out of trees and were willing to do anything needed.
While being competent.
Oh, for the good old days.
Sighing, she stared at the pathetic wretch in front of her. “Get out of my sight. Take however many you need. Don’t fail me again!”
“Yes, lord.” He ran for the door.
Xolotl clicked her tongue for her hound to come to her. She needed someone to soothe her agitation.
Ever since she’d been reawakened, this entire ordeal had been frustrating. It should have been easy. She and her brother were meant to rule the universe. But how could she do that while her brother was still trapped.
Still slumbering.
She needed Sorcha’s blood to free him. To free the rest of her powers that were still bound. At the moment, she was more like a demigod. Just enough power to be infuriating. She could taste her potential.
More than that, she remembered centuries ago when they’d been venerated.
Nuzzling her hound, she sighed at how close they were. “I will not be defeated.”
Or deterred.
This was the final cycle. Their time to reign supreme.
All she had to do was kill Sorcha O’Malley and the world would be hers. Such a simple task.
Why was it proving impossible?
“Well, that was useless.” Luke threw himself down on his black leather sofa beside Helly.
“Bad day, boss?” She offered him her bag of potato chips.
Normally, he’d decline.
Tonight?
He needed some chips. Taking the bag, he dug out a handful. “Where’s Acheron?”
“They went for ice cream.”
That seemed off to him. “You stayed behind?”
Helly sighed heavily. “Been a long day here, too. I just wanted to come in and watch something funny.”
Tommy Boy. One of her favorite movies.
He held the bag of chips out for her. “You’re upset.”
She arched a brow at his words. “You used to not notice.”
That was very true. Worse, he wouldn’t have cared. “I’m not the same demon I was.”
“I’ve noticed.” She took a handful of chips. “Are you all right?”
“Not dead yet.” But life kept trying.
She snorted at his joke. “I take it that your visit didn’t go as planned.”
Luke didn’t want to think about it and yet it was the only thing on his mind. “I learned nothing, other than an exercise in futility.”
“That seems to be normal in this realm.”
He’d noticed that, too. “And I have nothing on the werewolf killings.”
“Because you can’t focus.”
Nothing got past Helly. It was one of many reasons why he loved her. So, so many, really.
His thoughts drifted to all the times in his life when she’d been there. No matter how bad things were, she’d stayed by his side. Even when it’d caused her to be harmed.
No, tortured.
How many times had she covered him with her own body and absorbed abuse meant for him?
In Hell, he’d taken that for granted. As his guardian, it was her place.
Only now he knew the truth. She could have run and hidden. Could have gone for his mother and saved herself.
But she hadn’t. Not once.
Whenever he was in danger or being hurt, she’d been there to pull him out.
Luke took her hand in his. “Thank you, Helly.”
She looked confused. “For what?”
“Just thank you.”
“You’re scaring me, dominus.”
He put her hand over his heart. “I know, and call me Luke.” Giving her hand a squeeze, he released it and got up.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Sorcha.”
When she started to get up to join him, he stopped her. “Keep watching your movie. I’ll be fine.”
That made her eyes widen. “Dom… Luke, I don’t think you’re okay.”
He smiled at her and the loyalty she gave without thought.
“I promise there’s nothing wrong with me.
I’ve just learned to appreciate things I used to take for granted.
” And while Senka had birthed him, it was Helly who’d been his mother.
Yes, she’d been under orders, but he’d survived enough centuries in Hell to know the pain she could have allowed him to suffer … pain that she intentionally spared him.
If he had a heart, it was because of Helly.
And Sorcha was his soul. His conscience. She was the sole reason he was able to see the real Helly now. Sorcha had made him aware of others in a way he’d never been before.
It was why he was determined to protect her. There just weren’t enough people like her in this world. Those who cared about others. Those who cried when someone else was hurt. All his life, he’d been around those who gloried in the misery of someone else. Those whose schadenfreude was legendary.
He’d be lying if he didn’t say he still had epicaricacy whenever he saw those who deserved it get cut down. But that was his sense of justice…something he’d learned working for IA. It no longer stemmed from the simple joy of seeing someone suffer for the sake of misery.
No, it came from knowing that God wasn’t asleep at the wheel. That karma did come for those who brokered in pain.
And one day, he was sure it would come for him.
Why wouldn’t it? He’d been an evil bastard for the vast majority of his life. Human pain had once been a beacon for him. He’d gone to those suffering and had bartered for their souls. Put them in the path of Hell and reveled when they fell.
All to please a father who’d turned his back on him. A beast who’d exiled him from everything without giving Luke a chance to explain himself or even know what he’d done wrong.
He’d loved his father. Had protected him. He’d have done anything in the universe to please the beast. Even give up his own soul.
None of it mattered now.
Luke winced at the sting of that betrayal. Out of the blue, he’d been ripped from everything.
For no fucking reason. ’Cause, fuck you, Ken.
Raking his hands through his hair, he located Sorcha and teleported to where they sat outside Doki Doki Ice Creamery. His mother’s hounds lay nearby, watching and protecting while remaining out of sight of Sorcha and the other humans.
In the dark, he watched her, Simi, and Acheron as they laughed and ate while humans walked past them oblivious to the fact that Acheron held incredible powers along with his demon daughter.
And Sorcha…
He still didn’t know what exactly she was. Like Acheron, the powers he sensed were ancient.
Yet she appeared so normal and average.
Well, not average. Too few beings in the universe could match her heart. Her kindness and laughter were special.
And her laughter was infectious.
What is wrong with me?
He’d never been emotionally involved with anyone.
Not even his parents. There had been affection, sure, but there was a wall between them and what he felt. It wasn’t the same as his feelings for Sorcha.
In truth, these newfound feelings terrified him because he knew she owned a part of him that no one had ever owned before.
No one.
Not wanting to think about it, he headed for the group, then grimaced as he saw what Simi was eating. “Is that barbecue sauce on your ice cream?”
“Of course!” Simi beamed happily as she spooned a large bite into her mouth.
Ew! But who was he to judge? Helly had talked him into bacon donuts. He still wasn’t sure how and those had been delicious. Damn her for that addiction.
Taking a seat between Sorcha and Ash, he sighed heavily.
Acheron cocked his head. “I’m going to assume by your posture that it wasn’t a productive visit.”
“Yeah. It was useless.”
“Sorry.” Sorcha slid her ice cream toward him. “Have some Banana Pudding?”
“Thanks.” He took a spoonful and nodded. It was incredible. “Glad you didn’t opt for the barbecue sauce.”
Sorcha laughed. “So what did you learn?”
“Chthonians are assholes.”
“I would take offense to that if it wasn’t true.” Acheron winked at Sorcha.
Luke’s phone started ringing. He answered it to find the strained voice of Reyes. “What’s wrong, Captain?”
“My brother needs to speak with you.”
“Carlos?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
“At Doki Doki’s. Want me to head back to the office?”
“Can you do that poofing-teleport thing you do?” Reyes asked.
“Sure. I’ll be right there.” Luke hung up and slid the ice cream back toward Sorcha. “Reyes wants to see me.”
“Crime call?”
He shook his head. “No. Her brother’s with her. She didn’t mention bringing you.”
“I think I might be hurt.” She gave him an adorable pout. “Why wouldn’t she want me there too when I’m so cute and cuddly?”
He laughed at her rendition of something he’d say. He was rubbing off on her and he liked it. “Don’t worry, I’ll take notes.”
She scoffed. “You do that and I’ll know Hell has frozen over.”
“Ar, ar.” Getting up, Luke headed to the shadows so that he could vanish without drawing attention to himself.
As soon as he reached the hallway outside of Reyes’s office, he could feel the power of her brother. He might not be a full werewolf yet, but he was still a creature to be reckoned with.
With black hair and dark brown eyes, Carlos was average height and bore a striking resemblance to the captain. “Luke Teivel?”
“Yeah. Nice meeting you.” Luke held his hand out.
Carlos shook it, then turned to scowl at his sister. “Son of the devil? Really? He looks like he plays in a band. Or just stepped off the cover of a romance novel.”