Hell Froze Over
The next morning, I’m strolling the far end of Bourbon Street.
On this side of town, every vice a sinner has can be sated.
Sex permeates the air even at this time of day.
Behind any of these walls, I’d likely find myself in the middle of an orgy, complete with drugs and alcohol flowing like a waterfall—never ending.
My mind is numb as I focus on the task at hand, using all the energy I have left to smash out the human emotions that are trying to break through. I’m done feeling.
I look at the peeling numbers above the shops as I pass, but in the end, there’s no need.
The place I’m looking for stands out from every other building.
The Solheim Coven doesn’t have to go for inconspicuous.
While every other building on either side of this block is dilapidated, the home of one of the most highly respected voodoo priestesses in the South is well kept, with a fresh coat of paint.
However, only magical beings can see it.
The home has been shaded so that to everyone else, it looks like every other building—well on its way to collapsing.
The blood-red front door stands out starkly against the bright white on every other surface. A black wrought-iron fence surrounds the home, likely to keep the drunken partygoers who stray too far from the heavily lit part of Bourbon Street off its pristine lawn.
Magic swirls in the air, so thick I can taste it.
It coats every surface, leaving a shimmering gleam that only a magical being can see.
This signals that the woman I came to see is here: Madame Solheim, the oldest sister of the Solheim Coven.
I knock briskly four times before turning the knob and allowing myself in.
I know the drill; I’ve been here before, but never in the daytime.
The foyer of the house is quiet, and there’s not a person in sight.
I walk toward the back, make a right down the long narrow hallway, and pass through the curtain of beads hanging in the doorway to the heart of the place.
The coven sits in a circle, holding hands and chanting, while sage burns in the center.
I don’t dare interrupt whatever they are doing. It would be considered a slight against the coven, and I’m not here to incur their wrath. I need their help, and I’ll only get it by being patient.
Several minutes go by with the same chant being crooned. My arms are crossed over my chest and I have to try extra hard to not roll my eyes.
“Still wearing that chip firmly on your shoulder, angel?”
When had the chanting stopped?
I clear my throat, but she silences me with a raised hand.
“Leave us,” she says to her sisters, and they stand, exiting the room without a single glance in my direction.
Madame Solheim stands and makes her way to me. “There’s evil in the air. We’re trying to purify as much as we can,” she explains the act that I just witnessed.
“You know why I’m here,” I say, with a bit of reverence for her gift. I should’ve come straight here before tracking down Almada. I would’ve saved myself time.
“Nah. Almada had your answers.” My eyes narrow in on the mind reader.
This woman goes against everything I was taught. She embodies the very essence of heretics. What she practices goes against God’s law and will be punishable by eternal damnation.
She sighs. “Still holding on to those archaic beliefs?”
“No, I was merely reflecting on a time where I would’ve only stepped foot in here to end your life and send you to Hell,” I admit.
Madame Solheim appreciates frank discussion, and today is no different. She smiles, nodding her head. “Sometimes falling isn’t a bad thing, Tori. You have the ability to see different views for what they are … simply different. We can all live peacefully.”
“You believe that?”
“Someday, but not today,” she confesses. “Something wicked this way comes.”
“He’s already here.”
She shakes her head, holding up one finger. “Not him.”
“Who’s more wicked than the devil himself?”
I ask the question more for confirmation. After what I witnessed last night, I know exactly who’s after the throne of Hell.
“Something that wishes to harness the powers of Hell to unleash it onto the world. Something that wishes to defy him.”
“So, it is a coup,” I say aloud.
“Mmm,” she murmurs. “But you already knew that.”
“Who is it? I might’ve faced him, but I never heard his name.”
She tsks. “You give me too much credit, daughter of God.”
“I’m no daughter of God. In fact, he’d probably smite you just for saying so.”
She laughs. “I was smitten long ago. I don’t fear God.”
She should. God is not to be underestimated.
He could end Earth and Hell in one tantrum, if he so chose.
His love for all mankind knows no bounds; otherwise, this earth would’ve been scorched long ago.
He too has faith. Faith in the faithless.
His belief in humans is unearned and unrequited in many ways.
“So, you don’t know what we’re up against?”
“Pure evil. If Lucifer doesn’t act, it’ll be too late.”
“You want Lucifer to succeed? Why?” I’m truly mystified by this entire conversation.
“Not everything is black and white, Victoria. There are things that not even you know about the inner workings of Heaven and Hell.”
“And you do?”
She shrugs. “I’ve heard whispers.”
“Care to share?”
“Some things are not for me to tell. This is a conversation you’ll have, and soon. But not with me.”
My lips form a thin line as I debate whether to take my chances and push or move on, knowing full well that Madame Solheim only shares what she wishes. I inhale and blow the air out hard.
“Who is the coven helping the demon?”
“A wicked lot.”
“Where can I find them?” I press, ready to start hunting witches along with demons.
“They’ve already moved underground. Ezekiel was too late. Whoever the creature, it’s protecting them for their service. Not even my coven can uncover their whereabouts.”
“Is Zeke in danger?” I don’t want anything to happen to him until he feels every ounce of the pain I’m going to inflict on him for his damn deceit.
She shakes her head. “He’ll be fine. He needs to worry about you more than anything.”
“Does he have any idea I know he betrayed me?” The words are spoken from between my teeth as anger takes hold.
“No.”
“I’m going to find him and tear him limb from limb.”
“No. Forget about Zeke. You need to go to Lucifer. He’s very worried about you. I can feel his distress.”
My nose scrunches. “Lucifer doesn’t care about me. I’m just another toy.”
“You know better than that, Victoria. You’re nothing close to a toy for him.”
I refuse to even dissect those words. Even Solheim can be wrong.
“This creature is determined to reign over Hell. Lucifer needs to be ready. The entire world depends on him sitting upon that throne.”
It’s worse than I feared. A rogue demon, creating an army to overthrow Lucifer. It’s a sad day when the devil isn’t even evil enough. He kept his demons in line, and one stepped off the path. Whoever is threatening his reign clearly has other ideas in mind, and it does not bode well for mortals.
“Thank you, Madame Solheim,” I say, turning to go.
“Victoria,” she calls, and I look back at her over my shoulder. “We all deserve to be heard.”
I furrow my brows at her cryptic message, and she continues.
“Not all that are fallen are truly bad, and not all that reign are entirely virtuous.”
“You’re talking in riddles.”
“Hear him out, Victoria. There is much to learn from the man who stole your heart and haunts your dreams.” With that, she walks past me and disappears.
Maybe if Hell froze over. Perhaps her witchy signal is getting Zeke and Lucifer confused.
I’m still contemplating her words on my stroll down Bourbon Street.
As if the world weren’t already filled to the brim with evil, something worse threatens to take over.
For as much as I resent my time on Earth, I’m beginning to fear it’ll be cut too short.
I hardly allow myself time to enjoy any part of it.
The sun is dipping down behind the landscape, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink. I marvel at the beauty of God’s Earth.
As a virtue angel, I never truly understood his fascination with his creation.
I always thought humans were powerless weaklings that held no appeal and Earth was simply their dwelling.
Now that I’m here and have time to open my eyes and look around, I get it.
It’s a true masterpiece. As hurt as I was at being cast out and losing my wings, I can’t help but feel a bit lucky.
It’s something I don’t deserve, but getting to experience this place and all the intense emotions that come with it feels like an unspoken gift.
With war on the horizon and the possibility of the end close by, I vow here and now to look up to the sky a bit more, inhale the scents of flowers that waft in the air, and enjoy all the trappings of Earth while I can.
Take Madame Solheim’s advice to heart and allow others their voice.
I’m not in the market to have conversations with the devil about anything other than saving the world, but it looks like that’s exactly the talk we need to have.
If I have information that could be helpful to keep him in power and the balance in order, then I’ll give it to him.
The only problem? How does one summon the devil and not alert the other enemy?