Supermassive Black Hole
Hell is a barren wasteland.
Jagged rock structures stretch from the ground toward the obsidian sky, looming down on us like giants ready to attack. A streak of lightning zigs and zags across the sky, illuminating statues that line the path ahead.
Except they aren’t statues. My feet are moving before I have the sense to stop myself. Curiosity gets the better of me, as always.
I’m standing directly in front of the first, and that’s when I realize these are tombs. A woman with flowing red hair is petrified in ice. Her face is frozen in terror, mouth open in midscream.
I move down the line to the next and find another woman who resembles the first.
“Who are these women?”
“Witches,” River says. “Those that aided Heaven in the wars. If they were captured, they were mummified.”
I blow out a breath. “Better than torture,” I muse.
“No. It’s far worse,” Lawrence says, sliding up next to me. “They’re aware of everything that’s happening, but they’re cursed to simply watch in a state of stasis. For a witch, that’s their form of Hell.”
“True. I can feel her wrath,” River offers. “She’ll be there until Hell needs her to do their bidding. Then, she’ll be returned to that tomb once more.”
“Sick,” I say, shaking my head.
That’s a gross understatement of what this place is, but I’m at a loss for words.
I spin in a circle, taking in the landscape—or lack thereof. Lights line the walkway, but other than that, we’re shrouded in absolute darkness.
“This is … not what I expected,” I mutter mostly to myself. River’s raised brow has me explaining. “I mean, I did expect this,” I say, motioning to the morbid tombs. “But where’s the hellfire? Why aren’t there demons lurking about patrolling the area?”
It’s a dark land illuminated only by the pathway and lightning overhead. No fire. No moon. Nothing but miles and miles of rocky terrain, void of any color.
“It’s only a small part of Hell. The worst, in my opinion,” River says, garnering a snort from Law.
“I’ve heard there are beautiful lands here in Hell, but it’s all a trick. Once you succumb to the allure, the veil lifts and true Hell awaits.”
I wonder how Law knows so much about Hell when I don’t. Being an angel, you’d think I’d know more about this place, but I wasn’t privy to much past Earth. If anything, as a virtue angel, I should know far more.
Leeanna always said they sheltered me, and I never understood what she meant. Now, I do, and I resent it.
“What kinds of allure?” I ask, hating to admit to these two how little I know.
“It depends on your vice,” Law says, waggling his eyebrows.
I frown up at him and motion for him to continue.
“Beautiful women offering to keep you company, only to capture and torture you. A river of whiskey to drown in. Essentially, the seven sins acted out.”
My nose scrunches in distaste. I’ve had enough of the seven sins to last me a lifetime.
Luke warned you that you’d never be happy here.
“You asked,” Law chuckles.
“All that is true,” River cuts in. “But as long as you know that about this place, you’re safe. You simply don’t give into the charm. Keep your eyes trained forward and keep going. Only the weak perish.”
“Why would Luke choose this awful place to live in, if there’s more out there?
“It’s the perfect place for security purposes. There’s really nowhere to hide in the Barrens, Victoria. There isn’t a need for a patrol here. They can see their enemies coming easily.”
“The Barrens?”
“It’s what this place is called. Each sector has a name, like anywhere else.”
“How far do we need to go?” I ask, wondering what horrible places we’ll see along the way.
“Not far, just to the edge of Abdiel’s territory. He was the horned demon who was with Nolda. He won’t give us any problems. He’s given you and me safe passage as a favor to Lucifer.”
No surprise there. That one in particular was next-level creepy but calculating. He watched the room, taking everything in, while Nolda ran his mouth and indulged in the finery.
“Why would he allow that? What’s in it for him?”
“To gain trust. He’ll be the first to strike if Lucifer is ever to be overthrown, but he’ll hedge his bets for now.”
If.
Of all that was just said, that one word is the one I hold on to. It gives me a modicum of hope. If River hasn’t completely lost faith in Luke’s ability to remain in control, then I certainly won’t.
“Where do we go from here?” Law asks, sounding impatient. “I don’t think it’s wise to stand around. They’ve likely discovered our absence and have demons searching now.”
River nods. “We might be given safe passage, but that doesn’t mean Nolda isn’t lurking. With his ability to stay hidden, we need to be cautious.”
“This is where we part,” River says. “You’ll want to head off to the east, beyond the two clusters of stalagmites in the distance.” He points to some towering rocks that seem miles off.
“I’ll never make it there unseen,” Law surmises. “You only mentioned safe passage for you two.”
River grabs my hand, pulling me away from the frozen people. “Not my problem.”
“River,” I chastise. “We can’t leave him here to die.”
“Like I said, not my problem.”
Just when I start to soften to the reaper, he goes and reminds me that he isn’t exactly a good guy. The jury is still out on him and right now, I’m leaning toward untrustworthy.
“Make it your problem,” Lawrence bites, rounding on River. “If I don’t get to the Fae kingdom, the vampires will revolt, and the human population will suffer greatly. I’ve heard that you reapers are gunning for a release from your duties, but at what cost?”
I gasp. He was serious when he mentioned an extended holiday. The reapers are truly considering banding together for the first time and abandoning Earth? They’ll just allow chaos to reign?
“Things have changed in that regard. Now that she’s been found.”
River looks to me, and my lip curls in disgust. I don’t want to play any part in his or his people’s plans.
“Let’s hope that’s true.” Law’s skepticism is clear, and I don’t blame him.
The reapers are a fickle bunch, and if my short time here in Hell has taught me anything, it’s that they change their minds on a whim. They’re not to be trusted.
River drops my hand, stepping into Law so that the two bump chests. They’re nose to nose, and I fear what’s to come.
“I don’t owe you a damn thing, vampire.”
“Stop!” I yell a little too loudly, considering we’re trying to fly under the radar for Law’s sake, if nothing else. “We don’t have time for this.”
River doesn’t move, but he doesn’t say anything, and neither does Law.
“Good grief. Will you two knock it off?” I say, getting in between the alpha idiots. “Why are you being an asshole all of a sudden, River?”
“We’re in a bit of a hurry. This wasn’t part of the deal, but Lucifer sprung him on us, making his mission my problem. I don’t like being inconvenienced.”
“Your existence is an inconvenience to me, but I’m not bitching like a small child.” Lawrence grins at me but I turn from him to glare up at River.
“Please,” I beg, and he finally relents, stepping away from Law.
“We’re all running out of time. Here,” River says pulling something from his pocket.
A gray chunk of what looks like coal rests in the palm of his hand.
“It’s moonstone. Here in Hell, it acts as a conduit between the rock formations.” He motions around at the towering mountainous stones. “It won’t get you to the Fae kingdom, but it will get you to the portal you need. And fast.”
Lawrence and I share a glance.
“How does it work?” Lawrence asks.
“It allows you to walk right through the boulders from one to another. The boulders here act as doorways to each other. Simply envision which direction you want to go and step through the rock while holding that moonstone. It will transport you to another boulder closer to your destination. You will need to be quick. They’ll be on you any time now. ”
“What do you think?” he asks me.
“What choice do you have? It sounds like your best bet to get to the Fae.”
River continues, impatiently. “When you get to the cluster of stalagmites in the distance, veer to your right. You’ll come to the start of Hollow Hills.
It’s Elion’s territory, the trickiest of them all.
Make your way along the creek until you come to the oak tree.
You’ll know the one when you see it. Envision the Fae world or whoever it is you seek.
Step through just like you do the rocks, and you should find yourself on the other side. ”
“That’s all?” Law mocks, sounding defeated before he even begins his journey.
“Well, you’ll need to avoid the banshee and somehow get past the whispering poppies, but yeah … that’s all. Hey man, good luck,” River says, extending his hand to Law, who looks at it for several long seconds before grasping it in his and shaking despite their earlier feud.
These magical men can be such idiots.
“Thank you,” Law says, sounding sincere. “Good luck to you both as well.”
River nods, and off Law goes to begin his quest.
“Do you think he’ll make it?” I ask, hoping he does.
“It won’t be easy, but he’ll make it.”
He says it with so much confidence, you’d think he actually knows, without a doubt, Law’s outcome. And maybe he does. The truth is, I know next to nothing about this group of beings.
“Why did you act like that back there?” I ask, needing to understand him if I’m to follow him into the unknown.
“I meant what I said, Victoria. Things have changed. You’ve changed them. I have to keep you safe at all costs.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Why? Because you have some insane idea that we’re to be married?”
“It’s not about that. I’ll never force you into a marriage that you’ve had no choice in. I’m not that guy, Victoria.”
My eyes narrow, searching River’s face for signs of inauthenticity, but find none. He seems sincere.
“I’m not a bad guy, contrary to your beliefs.”
I prickle at his words. “How do you do that?” I grind out through my teeth.
“Do what?”
“Read me so easily? I don’t like it. It’s wholly unsettling.”
He laughs. The asshole actually throws his head back and laughs.
“You wear your emotions for the world to see. How you feel about me was pretty clearly written all over your face back there. You don’t trust me, but you need to, Victoria.
If you want to survive and learn about who you are, you have to trust me. ”
A howl in the distance pulls our gazes from each other.
“Wolves. There are traitors all over Hell, and if they’re Bumalin’s trackers, we don’t have much time. What’s it gonna be?”
Inhale. Exhale.
I’m not sure I buy the whole part about being the lost reaper princess, but I’ll never know unless I follow him. Worst case, I am. Best case, I’m not. Either way, I can only hope I’m able to convince the queen not to side with Nolda.
“Let’s go.”