Epilogue
I brace myself, even though I know it won’t help.
This is one of those moments that’s too big to emotionally prepare for. Still, it’s hurtling toward me, and nothing can stop it now. Zarmenus and I are in a long hospital hallway, being led by a doctor toward the room where Ashley, Jackson, and the newest member of their family are waiting.
“Are you sure they’ll like this?” asks Zarmenus, lifting the teddy bear he bought for them at the shop by the waiting room. He was completely adorable when choosing the gift, agonizing over making sure we got them the perfect choice.
“It’s not possessed, is it?”
“As far as I know, no.”
“Then they’ll love it.”
Sometimes I still can’t believe he’s my boyfriend, and I got so lucky to be boyfriends with someone as amazing as him.
For real, I mean.
I still smile every time I think about that word, “boyfriend.” Zarmenus is my boyfriend. After we got back to our room from the vet, he asked me if I’d like to actually be his boyfriend. I don’t think it’s possible for me to have said yes faster.
After that, he conducted a séance to speak to his parents and put his foot down. They appeared in the room, so I was a witness to the whole thing.
He told them that he is the prophesied one, not them, and that they should listen to him instead of trying to control him.
They didn’t take it that well, but eventually they relented, conceding that he can stay at Point next semester, as long as he vows to behave himself and remain a good representative of demonkind.
They even agreed to let him stay in his true form permanently, even though I truly believe he would’ve done that no matter what.
I couldn’t be prouder of him for standing up to them. I could tell how difficult it was.
Speaking of human-demon relations, things have never been better on that front.
Ever since the Order of the Golden Sun disbanded, acceptance has grown stronger and stronger.
There are already plans for more demons to visit Earth, trading places with people from all walks of life, not just college students.
Also, we’re still going to be roommates next semester.
I’m going to be incredibly busy, as Leeke was pleased enough that she gave her recommendation, and I got the internship.
It’ll be difficult to balance that and full-time study, but Zarmenus has promised he’ll do everything he can to help, and I believe him.
He’ll support me in that, and I’ll support him in showing humans how demons are nothing to be afraid of. I can’t wait.
The doctor reaches a door and opens it for us.
“Ready?” asks Zarmenus.
“Not really.”
He offers his hand, and we enter the hospital room. Ashley is sitting up in bed, holding a tiny baby. My breath catches. He’s so small and so precious.
“Hi,” says Ashley as we approach.
“Hi,” I say, speaking to both her and the baby. How is it possible for him to be so little?
“Meet Oliver,” she says.
I look up and our eyes lock. Oliver. She never told me she was planning on calling him that, and I can’t believe how perfect it is.
“You know how much I love the name,” she says as she bounces Oliver up and down. “It’s been so hard keeping it a secret, you have no idea.”
“Hi, Oliver,” I say.
He opens his eyes. I already know I will fight the world for this kid. I am going to do everything and anything to make sure he has the best life possible.
“He looks like you,” says Zarmenus, speaking to Ashley. While I was distracted he gave Jackson the teddy bear, which is now sitting on the bed.
It’s so strange, but Zarmenus is right, Oliver truly does look like her. He has Ashley’s facial shape, and Jackson’s dark eyebrows. It’s miraculous that he is so clearly theirs even though he’s so little. He looks right at me.
My heart melts.
“He likes you,” says Ashley.
That second, he starts to cry, which makes me doubt what she said.
“I’m so glad you stayed,” she says as she tries to comfort Oliver by holding him closer. “I was worried you’d already left.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” I say.
“What’s the plan now?” asks Jackson. “Are you still going to Hell?”
They’re talking about our plan, the one that was interrupted by Ashley going into labor. The plan was for Zarmenus and me to go and stay at his parents’ place for a week. I am one of the very few people who gets to visit Hell, willingly, at least, and it’s a responsibility I take very seriously.
But I couldn’t miss the birth.
Oliver is still crying, louder than before.
“We’ll give you some space,” I say.
Zarmenus and I leave the hospital room and go into the hall.
“Why are you crying?” he asks.
I scrub a tear from the corner of my eye. “Happy tears.”
“Humans are strange.”
Still, he gives me a hug. It’s the truth, I am so happy. Everything went well.
Oliver might not know it yet, but he’s one of the luckiest people on Earth—or in any dimension.
As we arrive at the research facility where the portal to Hell is located, my nerves skyrocket.
I’ve been assured it will be perfectly safe, but it’s still terrifying.
I will step through a man-made rift in dimensions and arrive in Hell.
It’s not exactly the kind of place people typically want to go.
The car pulls to a stop, and I look out at the gleaming facility. I swallow hard.
My phones chimes. It’s a message from Tyrell.
Good luck today! Have fun in Hell!
Our friendship did take a hit, but it’s recovering. He’s decided to quit writing stories for Leeke, as he never wants to be controlled that way ever again. It doesn’t seem to have slowed him down; his social media gets more popular every day.
“Hey,” says Zarmenus. He puts his hand on my thigh. “It’ll be fine.”
I trust him. We go inside, and I marvel at the grand entrance lobby. If I thought the Cube was impressive, this is even more cutting-edge.
“Zarmenus, Owen,” says a woman with slicked-back hair in a navy suit. “This way.”
We follow her through the lab. Everything is pristine white. We walk down a few hallways until we reach the room with the portal.
The portal is in a big glass cage, and it’s far larger than I was expecting, so tall I have to tilt my head to see the top of it. My nerves ratchet up. Am I really doing this? Am I really about to take a portal to Hell?
The mechanical parts of the portal start to spin so fast they blur. Orange light starts to seep through the cracks, and then, before my very eyes, a tear appears. The room gets hot as the gap widens, letting in more and more orange light.
The machine slows and stops, but the slice remains. An entirely different world is visible through the gap.
It’s Hell.
Two figures are waiting for us through the portal. It’s Zarmenus’s parents. Maleilius lifts a hand and waves cheerfully.
All that’s left is to go through.
Zarmenus offers me his hand, and I take it.
He squeezes. I’m not going to lie, it doesn’t get rid of all the nerves, but it certainly helps.
He never steered me wrong back when our room was under siege by some unknown entity, so I have no reason to think he will now.
If he says it’ll be okay, I can believe him.
I remind myself the portal can be opened at any time. I can go home whenever I want.
We walk up to the platform. I hold my breath, close my eyes, then step through the gap.
Even before I open my eyes, I know I’m somewhere else.
It’s way warmer, a dry heat. I open my eyes and gasp.
The sky is a shade of bloodred, and in the distance, I can see both pitch-black mountains and a river of molten lava.
Directly in front of me is the most enormous, and monstrously twisted, castle I’ve ever seen.
Dark spires reach into the sky, and the windows look like eyes.
I hear a screech and flinch as a massive bat-like creature flies overhead.
This is Hell. Literal Hell. I look back over my shoulder, and see Earth. A few of the scientists are looking at us through the portal. One of them waves cheerily, and then there’s a whirring sound. As quickly as it appeared, the portal vanishes out of existence.
“Owen!”
As the portal disappears, Maleilius grabs me and pulls me into a tight hug.
The king of Hell is dressed in a ceremonial outfit, and it’s quite frankly terrifying.
It’s made of black leather, and there are two large spikes on the shoulders that are stacked with skulls.
Lysteria wears a very similar outfit, one that seems to be made of hardened blood, but is somehow incredibly glamorous. The gays back on Earth would love it.
“Hope you’re hungry,” says Maleilius. “We have a feast prepared.”
“Sounds great,” I say, my voice dry and raspy.
I follow them through the grand open doors of the palace, which are shaped like a fanged maw, into a vast foyer.
Waiting for us are two hulking, bipedal wolves.
Each is wearing a suit, which makes me think they’re butlers.
One notices me, and a thin stream of drool starts trickling down its lips.
I would be willing to bet it’s thinking about something other than bringing me tea.
They take my suitcase, and some drool hits my hand.
As I wipe it away, I hope the creepy doll from our dorm didn’t make it into my luggage.
I’m almost sure it did; it kept appearing among my clothes as I was packing, returning every time I took it out.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” asks Zarmenus. “I know this is a lot.”
“I’m fine,” I say, although my voice trembling gives me away.
“I know it looks scary. But nothing here will hurt you. I promise.”
He gives me a quick kiss on the lips, which somewhat settles my nerves.
“Do you want to see my room?” he asks.
He leads me through the palace. There’s a chandelier that appears to be made from moaning skeletons. The wolf butler creature follows us, licking its lips each time I look at him.
“He’s messing with you,” whispers Zarmenus.
We finally reach a door, and Zarmenus opens it. Bell runs inside, then vanishes.
“Home sweet home,” he says.
The room is amazing, but also nightmarish.
The bed is in the shape of a heart, surrounded by what appear to be razor-sharp spikes.
It’s stylish but given that everything is red or black and most things seem like they could double as an instrument of torture, it’s not exactly cozy.
A window close by looks out onto a river of lava, and even this far away I can feel the warmth of it on my face.
But who cares? We’re in his room, alone.
Zarmenus moves closer and kisses me. We crash into the door, latching it shut. I kiss him back until he pulls me by the shirt toward the bed. We fall onto it together.
He stops. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I ask.
“I asked them to get another bed.”
I look around the room. I hadn’t noticed there was only one bed.
“Unless,” he says as he moves closer, “you’d like to share?”
Would I like that?
Hell yes.