23. Say What? #2
“Welcome to this year’s Gauntlet. We have a few changes.
First of all, as you might have noticed, we have some monitors set up sporadically around the campus and around Nova, so those here can watch the Gauntlet.
While in other cities, it will be broadcast in their own respective areas,” he explains, indicating a few of the monitors I saw earlier.
Damn, how big a deal is this thing?
“There’s a lot of royalty in this year’s Gauntlet, so I’m sure that has a big pull in wanting to witness this. This isn’t normal,” JP leans in to whisper in my ear. Another chill runs down my back at his information. Well, shit.
“I know you are all anxious to start, but I have been asked to allow one of our gracious sponsors to make a personal announcement before we start. And how could I say no to my wonderful friends? Please give your attention and welcome L.A.M.B. to the stage,” Dean Cauldron announces, and the crowd goes wild.
It’s a mixture within the audience of fascination, awe, and terrified wonder as the group walks up the stage.
They are in their full demon forms, and knowing they can control it on this plane, it’s for show.
Bez is completely shirtless, showing off the tattoo of their name and skull across his chest, his pants riding low, and his machete in Tormeth’s skin sheath attached to his back.
Astaroth’s hair floats around his shoulders and wraps around his open shirt as his tail whips back and forth, making small thunderous booms. They don’t overshadow the noise, but if you know what you’re listening for, you know it’s his tail.
Murmur’s permanent smirk gives off aloof, don’t-give-a-care, but it’s his eyes that are penetrating, scanning the crowd as they walk.
He’s always searching, even as he causally fixes his black leather jacket.
Lucy is the one who’s the easiest to read now.
It’s when he doesn’t move that he tells you everything.
When he’s still, that’s when he’s trying to show you he’s the calm, cool, and collected one. That nothing bothers him.
I can’t believe it took me so long to figure him out. It’s the smallest things you have to look for. Like that slight flick in his left eye that shows the tension he feels.
Caught ya.
Lucy takes center stage behind the podium, and the rest of L.A.M.B. spreads behind him while the crowd still claps and cheers.
“Thank you, Dean Caldron,” he says, nodding at Matthew.
Once he turns to face the audience, he raises his hand and snaps his fingers.
A boom sounds, and a shockwave flows out from the stage, silencing everyone.
I immediately focus on Astaroth and narrow my eyes on my old weapons instructor, giving him a hard time for the unnecessary display of power.
He must feel my eyes on him because he meets my gaze and winks.
Those sneaky bastards.
“I want to take a moment to share with you all a very important time in our lives as the Leaders of Hell. L.A.M.B., and especially myself, want to name our benefactors and heirs. As of this moment, my son and daughter are the true and rightful heirs of Hell, and I want you to meet them today.”
My jaw hits the floor as JP walks forward and takes Moni’s hand.
Holy Shit. How did I not know about this?
Moni, sporting a pastel yellow, holds her head up high while she floats next to JP, as they join Lucy and the rest of L.A.M.B. up on stage, and the crowd bursts into applause.
“Go, Moni!” I scream. “I know her!”
“Woo Hoo!” Lynx yells.
“That’s my man!” Zeke cheers.
I can’t help but get teary-eyed seeing them stand tall as Lucifer pulls them in and gives each of them a hug and says something to each of them before they leave his side.
“They shall be treated with respect as if they are already sitting on the thrones with their respective mates.” He pauses and looks in our direction.
Something off to the side flickers, and I glance over to see me and my group on the fucking TV screens!
Aww, shit! Okay, Rez. Stay cool, don’t act a fool.
‘Look, Rez! We’re on TV,’ Lynx says, doing hip thrusts for the unseen camera, wherever it’s at.
‘Lynx! Stop it!’ I reach out and grab him, but it’s too late; people are already laughing at him, and I’m praying for the ground to open up and swallow me.
“Well…” Lucy pauses again, “Maybe not that one.” I whip around to face the stage so fast that I know I’m going to have whiplash, just in time to see the Hellfire hurling at Lynx.
I reach out and catch it with my left arm, before willing it across my body and up into the air, where Bez easily disperses it with a thought and gives me a proud papa look.
Which, for him, is a raised eyebrow, but it did gain the effect I’m sure they were looking for.
The crowd’s laughter hushes, turning to awe and shock.
“Like I was saying, give them the respect they deserve as the future rulers of Hell. If you did not learn during the meet-and-greet, my domain will be one of your stops. As a host, we wish you good bloodshed and slaying.”
As L.A.M.B. walks off the stage, the crowd is shocked speechless, and I slap my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing at the entire thing. He did not just say that. Who wishes someone a good slaying?
“Saddle up, buttercups, and tighten those sphincters, cause we have a one-way ticket to Hell!” JP says, hiding a smile.
“Why are you thinking about anyone else’s backside other than mine, sir?” Zeke asks, playfully smacking JP’s arm before turning to me and whispering in my ear. “Did L.A.M.B. and JP just say that?” he asks for confirmation.
All I can do is look at him and nod, and he looks at my covered face and mumbles “unbelievable” before shooting a smirk at JP and kissing him.
“Thank you so much, L.A.M.B., and congratulations to the new Heirs of Hell,” Dean Caldron exclaims, clapping and getting the crowd involved again.
“To honor and begin this special event, our own first leader of this great city and conqueror of the first Gauntlet of Purgatory is here to see off our students. Please help me welcome Gebeb, or most of you might know him fondly as Gus!”
Something dawns on me as Dean Caldron moves aside and Gebeb—a.k.a. Gus—moves front and center.
“Hey, Moni?”
“Yeah?” She shrinks down and lands on my shoulder.
“What’s Gus’s last name?” I ask, curious if he even has one.
“Huh? All these years, and he never told me. Now that I think about it. I think I asked him when I first started working for him, and he either told me he didn’t have one or he didn’t use it… just to call him Gus,” she admits. “Why?”
“In school, I had to write a paper on the nine Egyptian gods for a final. One of the gods was called Gebeb, or Geb, and he was the God of the Earth, or soil, or something. Like fertility and farming,” I tell her, staring at Gus!
“Yeah, but if that’s him, how did he go from Gebeb to Gus?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug, forgetting Moni’s on my shoulder.
“Ahh. You heathen!” She smacks my earring. “Watch it.”
“Oh, sorry.” Nervous laughter bubbles out of me. “Maybe he kept part of his name and took part of his mom and dad’s?”
“Who were his mom and dad? And how do you know all of this stuff anyway? What purpose does this really serve on Earth? It feels like useless knowledge? I mean, of course, not this minute since we’re learning about an ancient God that’s been living underneath my freaking nose and making me coffee forever.
OMG! Do you think that’s why his coffee is to die for?
HE’S A GOD and HIS COFFEE IS THE NECTOR OF LIFE?
” She squeals and flies in front of me, where she stops abruptly, staring unfocused at my cheek, and then frowns.
“What? What’s wrong?” I ask, reaching out to grab her small shoulders.
“I-I thought I was…about to faint—but then nothing. I don’t understand.” She mopes a little bit, turning blue.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing and decide to tell her.
“So, Gus gave you something to help with today so we could hopefully get you started with the Gauntlet without you passing out,” I confess.
Moni stares at me for a moment before turning neon green, spinning in a circle, and doing a little shimmy.
“That’s great!” she cheers before putting her hands on her hips and cocking her head to the side in confusion. “So if he’s a God, who are his parents?”
I chuckle at her antics, but I don’t get a chance to answer her.
“Weren’t his parents Shu and Tefnut?” Lynx asks, joining in.
“Yeah, but how did you remember that?” I ask, taken aback that Lynx would know something like that.
“Are you kidding me? How can I forget them? I personally committed them to memory as Shoe and Tough Nuts.” Lynx smirks. “Anything with nuts is unforgettable.” I can’t help but roll my eyes at his comment.
Of course he would remember something resembling genitals. “You are so predictable, now that I think about it.”
“Are you guys paying attention?” Levi berates us over his shoulder.
Oops. I probably should be doing that.
“So take my advice and use it for this week’s challenges.
This event will be almost a mirror of the first Gauntlet.
So, if you would, please pair up with your group.
We will call each team to the portal at random.
There, the portal will send you to an indeterminate location in the Ever Woods where you will be held in seclusion until everyone has joined in and the time officially starts. Good Luck,” Gus, or Geb, says.
“Luck? Who the hell just needs luck?” Lynx mumbles as we head to the closest portal.
“I agree. We need an army,” Moni adds.
“And a few bombs,” Lynx agrees.
“We need a damn miracle and my powers,” I whisper.
“Hopefully, we’ll have the blessing of the Fates,” JP mentions.
With how the Fates have been helping me so far, the Fates can fuck off, respectfully, of course.