Falling for the Boogeyman

Chapter 1

Basil

Watching the souls of the damned burn is, perhaps, my favorite pastime.

Seeing them squirm and writhe in the heat of Hell’s inferno brings back memories of my childhood, playing hide-and-seek among the discarded as they try to fight their way out of the pits.

Most don’t make it out. But those who do, they become the fighters we need to continue to move forward. They become the new boogeymen.

“Sir,” my assistant Nix says, interrupting my afternoon viewing of the pits, “there’s a problem in sector three.”

“What now?” I grumble. There’s always a problem. Always something going wrong.

“It appears a seal has broken.”

Interesting. “And?”

“And the town handyman is unable to fix it,” she says, sarcasm lacing her tone.

I finally take my eyes off the pits and turn to face her, “We don’t have a town handyman.”

She rolls her eyes so hard I’m sure she’s able to see the back of her head. Ah, she must have been making a joke. “Yes, I know, sir. That is why I am here. You need to go and check it out.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Just send Felix. He can deal with it.”

“He’s tried, sir.”

Even more interesting. Felix, my younger brother, is a master with the land, possessing abilities far greater than he should for his tender age of twenty-two years.

If it weren’t a tradition that the oldest son inherits the leadership title, and if he didn’t want it to begin with, we would likely have to battle each other for the right.

As powerful as I am, I’m not sure it’s a battle I would win.

If only because I’m not sure I’d have the heart to destroy him. Of course, I’d never tell him that.

Sitting at my desk, I turn on my computer and open my communications. “Fine. I’ll go down later.”

“Sir. A broken seal is an—” Nix says before I cut her off.

“I know what a broken seal means. But in case you haven’t noticed, people aren’t exactly fighting to get in, and if they can make it out of the pit and all the way to sector three to find a way out, then they deserve to leave.

Otherwise, it can wait until later.” I flick my eyes from hers to the folder in my hand, letting her know I’m not discussing it further.

She huffs out a breath, but she doesn’t push it.

She may be my assistant, but Nix is also my biggest ball-buster and the only one, aside from Felix, who could get away with talking to me the way she does.

“In that case, sir,” she says, putting extra emphasis on the sir, “your three o’clock is waiting for you.

He appears extra scared to have landed in Hell.

Might I suggest the angry overlord routine? ”

And this is precisely why she’s my assistant. She derives as much pleasure as I do from scaring the shit out of the new arrivals. Smiling mischievously, I unbutton the collar and cuffs of my dress shirt and run my hand over my bald head before stroking my horns. “Send him in.”

As she walks to the door, Nix’s demeanor changes for her part of the act. I bellow after her, “Next time, don’t make me wait, or I’ll roast your ass alongside the souls in the pit!”

She opens the door, voice quivering, “Ye… yes, sir.” Stepping into the hall, I hear her say, “He… he’s ready for you now,” before she lets out a convincing fake sob and scampers away.

The door clicks shut a moment later. I look up, allowing my eyes to blaze their true deep red, and take in my newest soul.