Chapter 36 #2
I mimed shooting a finger gun. “I didn’t like getting shot, and these fuckers will hurt others if they aren’t taken care of.
I want them to be permanently taken care of, so that’s that.
I’m also getting some revenge for Belinda.
She won’t know I went about it, but I will.
I plan on sleeping quite well tonight. Lucifer, it is fuckers, right? Not a fucker?”
“There are six men involved, and they are all coming, as they are devoid of ethics and all want to see your corpse. One of them has rather… unpleasant… interests.”
When Lucifer thought something counted as unpleasant, I wanted nothing to do with the man let alone his twisted interests.
“Ew. I’ve changed my mind. Yuless, I recommend that you do whatever it is dragons do when planning on killing singular entities rather than entire cities.
You have some people to help my alligators dismantle.
I’ve decided these assholes have one fate ahead of them, and that’s a trip straight to Lucifer’s dungeons.
I’m giving these fuckers to Darlene and Kanika. ”
Yuless kept on staring at me. “I think I will stay and observe and see what you were planning. I assume you have a plan?”
I checked the lake, pleased at the number of ripples sweeping over the water.
Within five minutes, hundreds of alligators, ranging in length from two to ten feet, took positions in the foliage, waiting for their chance to strike.
I gestured to the reptilian gathering. “My pets are hungry. My plan is to feed my hungry pets.”
My fiancé considered the gathered force, and then he nodded his satisfaction. “It’s an excellent plan. How are you planning to weaponize the Devil?”
“Lucifer, if a single one of my alligators is even scratched, Darlene and I are inviting Kanika to a pizza party, and there will only be one pizza.”
The Lord of Lies scowled. “For that to happen, I would have to kill them the instant they arrive.”
I shrugged. “They’re coming here to kill me.
I have zero interest in a fair fight. They shot me on live television.
I still won the race, but there are videos of me resembling a sack of grain on my previous baby girl, and I find this to be offensive.
Mercy was not shown to me. The only mercy I’m willing to show them is a swift death.
Frankly, I would rather you just disarm them and allow my babies to finish the job.
And yes, should anyone ask, I will be quite honest about what happened here today.
They’re coming here to kill me, and this is Florida. My weapon is bigger.”
Yuless shrugged. “I can find no fault with this plan. No scratches, Lucifer. I’ll be making off with half that pizza should anyone, especially Crystal, be harmed.”
“I see you two have opinions, and you have gotten tired of doing good all the time. I’m even going to be generous and count this towards your next batch of selfish sins, Crystal.”
I could accept that. “If you handle disarming them, I’ll handle the curses, and then my pets can take care of the problem from there.”
“I shall make certain their weapons are incapable of being fired. If you plan on laying any curses, I recommend you begin. It will not be long until they arrive.”
Showtime. With a grim smile, I closed my eyes, concentrated on the land and the nearby nodes, and discovered a baby node nearby.
Delighted, I drew in a line from mine and forged the starting connection.
After careful consideration, I drew a line from Yuless’s node, suspecting the new one had formed around the same time our baby dragon had come home.
I’d probably created the node without realizing I’d done it.
Reaching further out, I picked three of the weaker nodes in dire need of purpose and brought them into the weave of lines, hoping they would all thrive in time. Once I finished that, I considered the conditions for the curse and decided I would layer it.
For those who had been involved with Belinda’s death, they would experience the same crippling doubt and self-loathing the woman had endured before her death.
As I wanted to make certain those souls never harmed another, I made the working conditional and not quite permanent; it would last until Lucifer released them from the darkest pits of his many hells.
Once confident the working would hold, I began the next layer, targeting those who had been involved with my shooting and wished for me to perish.
They would attract the hungry company of any alligator or crocodile to cross their path.
Just to make it hurt a little more, I welcomed every snake and lizard to join the party.
Most viewed nature magic as gentle and safe.
I would be anything other than gentle or safe when I crossed paths with those responsible for Belinda’s death and my shooting. While I would do my best to become a safe haven for those in need, I would also rain terror upon those who would terrorize, and I would lack any remorse for my choices.
They had made the decision to harm others, and I had no problems with becoming the swift hand of retribution. If I wanted peace, they needed to make their journeys to their next lives.
I would atone for the sin, but I would do so through a life of service. And if anyone asked, I’d simply verify I had been given a choice: kill or be killed.
Upon finishing the groundwork for the curses, I opened my eyes and considered Lucifer with interest. “This is a kill or be killed situation, is it not?”
“It is,” he confirmed. “Should you fail to strike first, it’s entirely possible many fates will be changed this day.”
“Then I won’t fail to strike first.” I lifted my chin, surveyed the nearby landscape, and gestured to one of the larger trees.
“Let’s wait for them there. I would rather us ambush them than the other way around.
And once this is done, I have limited plans.
I’m going to be pampered, prepare Alligator Bait for her races, and enjoy life for a while.
Then I’ll get married, and if life doesn’t resume being enjoyable immediately after the ceremony, I am going to be inconsolable in addition to being disappointed. ”
Yuless laughed and headed over to my chosen spot. “I’ll do my best to make certain the rest of your days are a living paradise.”
* * *
Three SUVs and three gaudy sports cars pulled in, and Hagnar stepped out of the vehicle Mr. Mortani drove. As warned, they came armed. Hagnar took in the rather swampy terrain with a pleased expression, and when one of my babies came his way, he crouched and held out his hand.
Yuless sighed. “Someone really needs to tell him that’s a terrible idea.”
I jabbed my fiancé with my elbow, grinning at the sight of the scaled baby snuggling with Yuless’s friend. “Hey, at least you know he isn’t a murderous asshole out to kill me.”
“I already knew that, but I appreciate the confirmation. Your alligator isn’t going to bite him, is it?”
Lucifer snickered. “She wants to be picked up. If Hagnar doesn’t take her, you need to, Crystal. She’ll become one of the dangerous ones, too confident around humans to be safe near them. On your land? She will be affectionate and fine. Elsewhere? She will become a killer.”
I sighed, and to make myself feel better, I touched noses with my little boy, who rewarded me with his affection. “My magic completely changes their fate, doesn’t it?”
“For ones like her, yes. You do what is necessary to give each one their own slice of paradise. If nature did as nature did here, she would be killed for being aggressive.” The Devil tilted his head.
“She would begin with biting tires, and she would eat several pets before attacking a child. The child and the gator would both perish that day.”
“Let’s avoid that. I don’t suppose you have a way to communicate to Hagnar he needs to pick her up? I don’t want to lose her.”
Lucifer nodded, and after about twenty seconds, Hagnar scooped up the alligator and rose. “I am feeling benevolent today. I do like alligators, and this one could use some care.”
I eyed the Devil. “If she’s sick, you will make her all better.”
“She’s quite healthy, I assure you. He leads them on. Patience.”
The other executives of the company emerged, and as warned, they were all armed.
A chill passed through me at the realization Hagnar was in far more danger than we were.
“Don’t fret. Just watch,” Lucifer suggested. “You’re about to see something quite interesting.”
Yuless bowed his head. “He’s going to show off, isn’t he?”
“I would count on it. They came here with the intent of killing the Queen of the Dragons—no, that’s not what he’s thinking. Mother. He views you as the Mother of the Dragons.”
Both were accurate enough. “I accept these titles with glee.” I pointed at Yuless. “I’m not his mother, but I will accept being his queen.”
“You just want to keep ruling over me,” Yuless muttered.
“Yes. I very much enjoy being the ruling conqueror, but I will be a benevolent tyrant and give you some chances to play at being the conqueror.”
“I’m accepting that as an opportunity to convince you I should be the supreme ruler.”
I smiled at that. “Should you succeed, I’ll even bake you a pie.”
“You are so being conquered tonight, health allowing.”
“She couldn’t be healthier if she tried right now, so conquer away,” Lucifer said.
There was no better friend than the Devil. “Should I be worried about what Hagnar does?”
“It depends on a lot of things, including how much magic he can access,” Lucifer admitted.
“He should be able to draw directly from my node, so magic should not be an issue, but his is connected nearby. He should be fine.” I considered Yuless, who had gone from eager to worried.
“Your friend’s node is fine. I already fixed it, and it’s connected to here, so even if he visits, he won’t be harmed. ”
“I still worry. He is so tired.”
“He’s no longer tired,” Lucifer replied. “In fact, he’s itching to stretch. It’s been a while.”