Chapter Nine #6
“I saw the Avos witches,” I said softly, injecting the calm that this conversation needed.
“I heard them reciting the spell of the hallows. And I know they used a great and unknown power to close the gates of hell. Even if that wasn’t enough for me to believe, it’s enough for Lucifer to believe.
Right now, I have to do what he says because he’s the only fallen angel around who’s willing to give me my sister back. ”
“Argh!” Ronin threw himself back, glaring up at the ceiling like there was a deity up there who could get through to me. “Fucking hell, you know what? Fine! You win.”
I blinked at him. “I win? Win what?”
“Everything. You want to go on this pointless quest, then I’ll do it.
I’ll remove all the obstacles in your way.
I’ll give you so many crates of glamour potion for the dryads that—not only will they rush over themselves to accept your offering and give the information you want—they’ll kiss your feet while they’re doing it.
“After that, I’ll take you to my father’s collection, and let you pick out an angel’s feather.”
“Wait, a real angel’s feather?” I cried.
“As real as it gets. Pure, blessed-with-the-grace-of-God angel’s feather that only someone in an angel’s favor can get. And my father’s in everyone’s favor.”
My mind whirled. Was Ronin being serious? Could it all really be as easy as a phone call to Daddy?
“That’s not all,” Ronin continued, snatching my attention back. “I’ll get the pure soul curse reversed,” he said to my shocked expression. “Your sister will still be undead and a demon, but at least she’ll be her true self. Not that skipping airhead.”
It was my turn to race across and get in his face. “Ronin, do you mean it? You can really give Dora herself back!”
“I told you,” he whispered, his gaze swallowing me whole as his nose brushed against mine. “I can do anything for you.”
My pulse raced out of control, throat tightening.
Ronin really was the handsomest of men. Just looking into his almond-shaped eyes and tracing the flawless curves of his lips, and the little dimple that popped in his cheek when he was being mischievous.
Anyone would be helpless to this face, especially when a sentence like that came out of it.
But I was learning.
“You’ll do anything I need,” I drew out, “and what shall I do for you in return?”
Ronin smirked.
Ah, hello again, dimple.
“Simple,” Ronin said, drawing back. “The more I consider your idea, the more I like it. Why should I settle for ruling one measly House, when I could have an empire? After absorbing every territory, all the coffers, claiming all the trade deals, and forcing every pledge from every other House to take a blood oath swearing loyalty to whoever sits on the throne of sin, all I’ll have to do is slaughter my wives and make you my queen,” he dropped like the unrepentant psychopath he was.
“To that end, all you have to do is make a deal with Lucifer. Tell him if he agrees to my terms and lets House Lucifer be absorbed into the empire of sin, he’ll get his All Hallows.”
“Wha—? Why would he agree to that!”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Ronin shot back. “You’re not telling me he’s planning to stick around after he ascends to godhood?”
I stiffened. So Ronin knew the true legend of the All Hallows too.
“Won’t that get in the way of his bursting through the gates of heaven and making Daddy pay for punishing him?”
I wanted to argue with him, but couldn’t. Everything I’ve learned of Lucifer so far made it highly likely that wreaking havoc on heaven and earth was higher on his priority list than sticking around here. Why play lord... when you can be a god?
“But he won’t do it,” I whispered. “I know enough about him to understand that too. He can make me give him what he wants without giving you a damn thing, so why would he?”
His smirk didn’t fade. “And I can make you give me what I want without giving him a damn thing, so why would I?”
Something ugly pierced my soul... carried on the back of his words.
“Lucifer doesn’t care if you live or die in his pathetic, endless bids to get his dad’s attention, but I do.
So if you’re going after these stupid fucking hallows, you either do it with me, or you don’t do it at all.
And you’ve got my price if you’re going to do it with me,” he hissed.
“You, Charlotte Hunter, are rare, special, perfect, and mine. I won’t stand for you to be killed or damaged. ”
“I’m not a toy!”
Ronin glared at the tattoo on my arm. “Prove it.”
“Arrggh!” Screaming, I snatched up the bookbag and flung it at that hateful, smug face. It bounced off Ronin’s chest—
—and I was blown off my feet.
“Ergh!”
An invisible force caved in my chest, punching the wind out of me and popping me out of my shoes. I tumbled head over feet across the floor and crashed into the door, collapsing into a crumpled, wheezing pile.
Pain was my only friend and companion. Anyone who claimed I hadn’t just broken every rib in my chest would get yelled at for being a filthy liar.
“Ahhh...” I sobbed. “Waahhh.”
“Shh,” Ronin soothed. A warm hand stroked my hair. “My point has been made. There’s no need to draw it out, so don’t fight it, Charlie. There’s no pain where you’re going.”
I didn’t fight it. As darkness rose to meet me, I jumped into its arms willingly.