13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Jay
My arms were suddenly empty and my tongue was sticking out. I must have looked like a dumbass standing there in a pose as though I had been kissing someone. I had, but now he was gone.
“Scotty?” I glanced at the bench where the Angel of Death had been sitting to see he was gone as well.
David Dearly had brought my heart to me for an instant, but it was enough to solidify my resolve. Scotty and I were going to be together for eternity, and some motherfucker was going to pay for pulling us apart in the first place.
And we were getting married.
I’d had no idea a human tradition such as matrimony could be so important to Scotty. When he popped the question, I could feel the sincerity pouring out of him through our bond, which I was happy to learn was still there. It dawned on me that maybe that was why Scotty was upset with me before we were separated. Gah! I’m an idiot!
“Hey, little bro. What’s that smile about?”
“I, uh, I dozed off and had a dream about Scotty. So, let me bend your ear for a minute. What would happen if an Arch murdered a cherub and a demon?”
“If it was one of us who murdered another demon, it would depend on the reason. If an Arch murdered a demon, we would be forced to retaliate. Why?”
Just as I was about to tell Beelz what was going on, Paxton De Vil, who had been transformed into an ugly monster thanks to his death, came around the corner. “Where’s Aeacus? Master is displeased with me and wants Aeacus to attend him immediately.”
Stupid fucker. “Haven’t seen him. Can you say the Arch’s name yet?”
Beelz spoke up. “Doesn’t matter. The Arch’s gotta confess. We can’t dispose of him without the Creator’s permission. We haven’t killed an Arch in millennia, so Daddy would want to do that himself. It would be a big production. Gods, I hope we get the chance. What do you know?”
De Vil stared at us, drinking in every word that was said. Is he going to try to get away and report to Nyx? Would he be that stupid?
“Nothing. I was just wondering.” I growled at De Vil. “So, uh, aren’t you looking for someone?”
He scurried off toward Hades, and I spread my wings. “I’ll catch up to you later.” I patted my new brother on the shoulder.
Beelz nodded and strutted away while I took to the sky. I followed De Vil down to the dock of Hades, seeing him take a seat on a bench to wait for the ferry. I landed in a Zaqqum tree on the Limbo side and waited. If I could get him to tell me the Arch, I’d know who to go after and then, I would.
Turned out, De Vil was exactly that stupid. He got on the ferry, and I watched as it floated down the Styx and then took a right at the River of Acheron toward Nyx’s corner of Hell.
Kharon, the Ferryman, was a neutral being, even though Nyx was his mother. He’d take anyone where they asked to go, so I wouldn’t execute him. But De Vil would be exposed as the traitor he was and dealt with by Lucifer.
I shot into the black sky and glided overhead, staying high and using the darkness for cover. I was determined to get rid of that guy for good.
No way was I going into Nyx’s domain alone, but I’d get close enough to ensure it was De Vil’s intended destination before I hurried back to my brothers.
It was becoming easier to think of them that way. Was it because I was accepting the idea of being a prince of Hell? What would that do to my being able to get back to Scotty?
I stopped and landed on a rock within eyesight of the dock at Droh. It was where Lucifer had banished Nyx’s mother, Chaos, and where Nyx was gathering her minions for the big fight.
Once De Vil exited the ferry, I shot across the sky and landed beside Kharon. “Did he say why he was coming here?”
“No. Just asked for a ride.” Kharon stared at me. “Are you getting off or do you want a ride back?”
I took off without another word, heading back to Hades. I needed help.
I flew above the street and landed at the mouth of the path leading to Lucifer’s mansion. I touched down and ran up the stairs and into the house without knocking. Aeacus met me at the door. “You have no audience scheduled with the Ruler.”
“Where’s your assistant?”
“He went to the shops for Master’s dinner.”
“I’m afraid not. He went to Droh. Unless Lucifer has a favorite restaurant there, I’d say De Vil lied to you.”
“N-No. He wouldn’t do that. He knows my existence is tied to his loyalty.”
Poor bastard. “I don’t think he cares. Get the rest of my brothers. De Vil is going to betray Lucifer, and I’m pretty sure that’s not going to go over well.”
“Jameson.” I turned to see Bereth, pride, and Mammon, greed. They must have heard my grand entrance and come to see what was going on because I hadn’t been quiet. I hadn’t spent as much time with them, but that was probably about to change if I was stuck being a prince.
“Gents, I’m on the way to talk to Lucifer. The warlock is visiting Nyx.”
Bereth stepped closer. “How do you know?”
He was kind of a pompous dick, but I got the feeling it came with the territory. If you were the epitome of pride, you probably had a hard time not being a prick.
“Seriously? Is he stupid or does he wish to burn in the eternal flames with no way out?” Mammon shook his head. “How do you know he went to see Nyx. Do not trust spies to be truthful. They are all self-serving.”
Bereth chuckled. “You’d know that better than anyone, you greedy bastard.”
Okay, they don’t trust the new guy. Got it.
“I didn’t follow him to Droh, but I followed him far enough to know that he was on the path. As did Kharon. He gave him a ride.”
Verrine and Beelz—envy and gluttony—exited the mansion. “What’s going on? Aeacus ran inside and shouted at Pop, which didn’t go well. Aeacus is currently regenerating. Where’s De Vil?”
“Jameson says the warlock went to Droh. He claims the Ferryman took him, and Jameson followed to the mouth of the path,” Bereth announced.
The growl from the mansion was akin to a rabid dog. “I think Dad heard us.”
Suddenly, the Ruler of Hell flew out of the mansion in all his deep-red glory, his wings blowing out the front doors.
“Shit. He’s Hellboy red. This will be bloody.” I turned to Beelz and saw his face filled with glee. That kind of scared me. Lycus’s eyes were black, and the vein in his neck throbbed as it pumped blood through his huge body. Apparently, wrath was ready to rumble.
Lucifer stopped when he saw all of us. “ We fight! Now! I’m tired of this. The Council can fuck off. They’re not being threatened by Chaos and Nyx. That’s just me, and I’m done.”
So, like the good demon sons we were, we followed Lucifer into battle.
I had no idea what we’d be met with, nor how we would fight Nyx, but I quickly realized I was in the position to perhaps get myself back to Scotty. This was likely my only shot. Before we arrived at the path to Droh, I caught up to Lucifer. It was time to make another deal.
“Got a minute?”
Lucifer came to a grinding halt, and I almost crashed into him. Apparently, the other princes anticipated his move and screeched to a stop behind us. I was sure it was a sight, the eight of us hanging in the air over the River of Acheron.
“Where is Asmodeus?” Clearly, Lucifer was unhappy. The deep voice echoed off the walls of the endless cavern.
The thunderous flapping of wings caught everyone’s attention, and we all turned to the entrance to see Asmodeus flying from Droh. He stopped when he saw all of us waiting because in his arms was De Vil.
Lucifer roared again before shooting off toward the two of them. I’d missed the opportunity to make my deal. I was well and truly fucked.