Chapter IX
IX.
I spend the rest of the day mapping out the Underworld in my head.
Hell is broken into the cities of Dominus, Lapis, Aquarum, and Nix. Within them are thirteen lots containing sinners arcing across a vast rectangular area. Dominus is the only city without lots. It’s the farthest point North, and it’s also home to me, Father, and the demons.
We can reach the rest of Hell via flying chariot, boat, or bridge.
Chariot and boat are out of the question. While they’re the fastest modes of transport, they’re also the most heavily guarded. We’ll have to leave on foot.
Lapis, the city of stone, is next door to Dominus. It’s the biggest of the cities and contains five lots stemming from the sin of Wrath—for those violent toward others, thieves, the prideful, the liars, and the fraudulent. Lapis is made of dark granite and is a series of endless cliffs and caves.
Going through there will require a ton of climbing but will also provide the benefit of cover. Once I’ve actually gotten Nathan Reynolds out of his lot—if I get him out—Lapis should be the easiest area to traverse. As long as we can avoid the lots. Those are dangerous places, even for me.
Nathan Reynolds will be in the closest lot, and in theory, he shouldn’t be hard to reach, but the souldiers will be suspicious of me lurking.
My stomach’s been a knot since deciding to leave. I’ve bounced between wanting to empty the kitchen fridge and hurling my guts everywhere.
I glance at the clock, wringing my hands and willing the numbers to speed up.
The crescent-shaped sword hanging on my wall winks at me.
It’s heavy as I ease it down, glinting orange and red in the light of my room.
A mixture of pure silver and demon blood, this sword is one of the few weapons that can harm a demon.
It’s another gift from Father, this one bestowed at birth.
A reminder that anyone who falls out of line will be punished.
I’ve never used it, but I’ve taken combat lessons with a wooden version to learn how to strike a wounding blow.
Swishing the sword through the air, I practice the stances I’ve been taught. It’s heavier than wood, but not difficult to wield.
I’d rather not need it—no part of me wants to battle the people I’ve grown up with—but my gut aches again knowing that I won’t have a choice if Father figures out what I’m doing. The demons once tasked with protecting me will become my hunters at his command. Their loyalty lies with Father, not me.
The sheath attaches to the belt of my dress with little effort, and I jam the sword into the holder. I grab my hooded cape from the back of my bedroom door and tie it around my shoulders with shaking fingers.
Once I break Nathan Reynolds out of Lot Thirteen, we’ll need to get to the outer banks of Lapis, a place I haven’t been to since I was a child, when Father flew me out there in his chariot.
Since I’ve only seen the rest of Hell from above, I’ll have to use my memories of the layout to get us to the exit.
The clock strikes eleven, and I almost fall off the bed. I will my body to stop shaking before shoving the photo of my mother into the bodice of my dress and pulling my hood over my head. It’s not a fantastic disguise, but it should keep me shadowed as I make my way out of Dominus.
Grabbing the shoulder bag I’d filled earlier with food and water, I steal into the empty hallway. My heart thuds so loudly in my chest that I’m sure it’s going to give me away.
Inching down the hall, I keep my ears pricked for the slightest sound.
I reach the demon dorms before pausing to catch my breath.
My legs tremble, threatening to send me face-first into the granite.
I lean against the wall for support as I tiptoe farther into the dark passages.
There are torches lining the hall, but most are extinguished.
If there’s one things demons hate, it’s light.
The demon rooms all look alike from the outside, each with a heavy wooden door and silver knob.
Snores from within rumble the doors on their hinges.
No one can snore like a demon. And they all snore.
As a kid, I used to try to determine which was louder: the screaming of the shadelings or the snores of those who punished them.
I creep past the closed rooms, remembering that Nathan Reynolds passed through these same halls before stumbling into my room and no one stopped him.
Maybe we do need to increase security.
My thoughts are cut off by two voices piercing the dark, and I freeze, my heart racing.
“I know what you mean,” a masculine voice I recognize as belonging to a souldier says. “My wife doesn’t understand who I work for. I can’t call in a vacation day whenever I want.”
“Exactly,” another voice counters, deeper than the first. “I asked for our anniversary off, and I thought he was going to pitch me into the Ignis River right there. I pretended it was a joke.”
I scan the hall for a hiding place, but the dorms lack any decor beyond concrete walls and floors. Demons aren’t exactly known for their interior-decorating skills.
The voices draw closer, and I press into the wall until something jabs into my lower back. A doorknob. No snores permeate the wood, so the demon who lives here is likely on patrol.
Taking a breath to steady myself, I reach behind me and turn the knob, gritting my teeth against the squeaking metal. I back into the room and inch the door closed as the souldiers pass my position. Their conversation continues as they exit the hall.
I rest my forehead against the door and close my eyes, my muscles uncoiling.
“Well, this is a surprise.”
My stomach clenches and I spin at the familiar voice. “Ferus?”
“You were expecting someone else, Princess? It’s my room, after all.”
I groan inwardly.
Of all the freaking doors to open.
Ferus’s quarters, like Father’s, are dark as night, with black walls and furniture, lit by a single torch in the corner. The only color is the crimson demon himself, lounging on the bed, his orange hair bright against the satin pillowcase. He grins, his teeth glowing in the firelight.
“Oh,” I manage in a small voice that doesn’t sound like my own. “Wrong room.”
Ferus bolts off the bed and creeps toward me. “Who are you looking for, Princess? I’d think you know the place pretty well by now.” His eyes trail up and down my body, and I instinctively back into the door.
I straighten in a failed attempt to match his height. “These halls are too dark. I thought this was Atty’s room.”
He chuckles and the aromas of bloodwine and ash perfume the air. “I don’t believe you, Princess. You know Attero’s at the other end of the hall.” Placing his hands on either side of my shoulders, Ferus pins me to the door.
I should’ve taken my chances with the souldiers.
I try to flee, but my body refuses to cooperate, and I force my face to remain neutral. He’ll grab onto any hint of weakness he finds.
“This is quite the ensemble for bedtime.” Ferus fingers my hood with one hand before slipping it beneath my cloak and skimming down my side to my hip. He rests his fingertips on the hilt of my sword. “Do you always wear weapons to bed, Princess?”
I swat his hand away. “Not that I need to explain myself to you, but I was coming from the practice room.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Ferus takes a breath and straightens, removing his hand from beside my head.
“Training to take Daddy’s place. What a waste of time.
Do you actually believe you can do your father’s job?
No one’s going to listen to the spoiled little girl who got the throne without even working for it. ”
My face heats, and I stare at the ground. “I’m not spoiled.”
“No?” He leers at me over his sharp nose.
“What have you done besides get in the way? I fought for my place down here. Waged war next to your father like the rest of his souldiers. I was cast from my home, severed from my wings, and my body is scarred from battle. You, Princess, have done nothing to earn your keep. You pretend to fight with a wooden sword, but you’ve never lived the real thing.
Talk to me when you’ve proven yourself worthy of your place on that throne. ”
He growls the last words, and I flinch before straightening my spine.
Ferus may have fought beside Father, but I bear the scars of that battle daily. In Father’s distance, in his wrath, in his lies that led me to believe I’m alone.
And not even Ferus sees them because I keep them buried where no one can find them. Not even myself.
“I don’t need to prove anything to you, Ferus.
” I take a step toward him, clenching my fists as the heat from my face courses through the rest of my body.
“But I work damn hard. When I’m not checking in shadelings, I’m in classes.
I have zero freedom to do what I want. Only what he wants of me.
” My veins burn, and I ball my fists so tightly that my fingernails dig into the flesh of my hand, drawing blood.
“Fine, Princess. Whatever you want to believe.” Ferus leans against the desk and crosses one leg over the other. “Just cool the fireworks. I know you’ve always been hot for me, but there’s no reason to set my room on fire.”
I follow his gaze to my closed fists, now shedding smoke. Oh shit.
Closing my eyes, I count to ten like Mr. B. taught me, and the heat in my palms dissipates. I breathe until my head clears and my body temperature returns to normal.
“I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Ferus pushes off the desk and strides toward me so fast he’s nothing but a red-and-orange blur. His hips press me into the door, and I wince as my ass slams into the wood.
Ferus grins and skims my cheek with his cold fingers. “All I meant was that you could use some help on that throne. We’d make a good team. You have the bloodline, and I have the strength and good looks. Besides, I see the way you look at me.”
“You mean with disgust?”
He chuckles. “There’s that wit I admire.” Ferus runs his fingers through my hair, and I gag. Every part of his body that touches mine makes me want to run to the showers and scrub until my skin comes off. “We’d keep each other on our toes, wouldn’t we, Princess?”
I shove his hand away with a growl and grip my sword. “What are you even talking about?”
“I’m saying you should marry me, Devica.” His breath is hot against my cheek. “Marry me and make me your king. We’ll rule this place together.”
“What?” I ram my head back in surprise, and pain shoots through my skull as it connects with the door.
Blinking away stars, I study his face, searching for any trace of humor.
But Ferus wouldn’t know a joke if it knock-knocked on his disgusting face.
“You can’t be serious. First of all, you’re literally thousands of years older than me, which is just gross.
And secondly, why would I want to marry someone who constantly insults me? ”
His grin widens, exposing more of those sharp teeth, and a shudder courses through me. “Princess, I was teasing. We both know you’re gorgeous, despite your size. You’d be a stunning queen, and I’ll make you feel things you never thought possible.”
I open my mouth to tell him off but slam it shut as he leans in to kiss me.
Oh, absolutely not.
I tilt my head away from him, and instead of my lips, his mouth meets the door.
He utters a confused cry, and I take that moment to drive the hilt of my sword into his stomach, then knee him in the crotch for good measure.
He releases me and drops to the floor, moaning and grabbing between his legs.
I stare down at him, straightening my spine as he writhes at my feet.
“First of all, I’m gorgeous, period. And second, I’d rather swim in the Ignis River than marry you.
You have a better chance with that door than with me.
” I wipe my hips with sweaty palms, as though I can erase the feel of his hands all over me.
Then I spin on my heel. “Goodbye, Ferus.”
Opening the door, I peer into the hall, my heart skidding through my chest. The souldiers from earlier are long gone.
“You’ll pay for this, Princess,” Ferus hisses from the ground behind me. “I’m not letting go of the throne that easily.”
Pulling my cloak over my face so he can’t see how my lip trembles, I deepen my voice and speak without emotion. “Take it up with my father, asshole.”
I slam the door and slip into the darkness.