Chapter 5
ASMODEUS
Irecline on the pillows and wave off the Lamia demon feeding me grapes. I’m bored with them and her. One of my sons is talking to me, and I really am trying to pay attention. But I’m too… bored.
“Father?” Agares says. Or maybe it’s Valefor? There are just so many.
“Yes…”
“Nereth,” the incubus answers with only a small sigh. They’re used to it.
“Ah, yes,” I say, marginally cheered by the revelation. I remember now. Nereth is one of Naamah’s brothers, and while I don’t want to play favorites, I never forget her name. “What were you saying, Nereth?”
“I merely said Zagan spotted the Elioud out in Hell today,” my son says.
I raise an eyebrow, pondering. “Is that so? And where exactly has he seen them?”
Nereth pushes back a stray lock of hair that fell over his forehead with his tail. “By the Phlegethon, Father.”
“My brother’s territory,” I muse, evaluating just how bored I really am. I decide it’s enough to warrant an excursion and get to my feet. “He won’t mind.”
Nereth takes a step back, blinking at me. “I—ah. Sorry?”
Someone moans on the other side of the room, the sound coming from a pile of entwined bodies writhing in ecstasy. Even that doesn’t hold my attention.
“We’re going to look at the mortals,” I say like I’m suggesting a trip to the zoo. Not that I’ve ever been to a modern zoo, being confined in Hell as I am.
“Won’t we get in trouble?” Nereth asks after a moment of hesitation.
“Nonsense,” I declare. “We’ll stay in the ether. Even if we are sensed, they won’t know who is nearby. The Fallen will likely think it’s my brother.”
Finally, his eyes get that glint that confirms he’s indeed my son and his sister’s brother.
“We should appear in our demonic forms and scare the shit out of them,” he suggests gleefully. “They’ll run right back to Purgatory.”
I throw my head back, laughing, boredom forgotten. “As tempting as that sounds, Son, I think the Council would have my balls. I’m rather attached to those. Literally and figuratively.”
Nereth makes a sound of disappointment that contrasts with the screams of orgasmic ecstasy emanating from the orgy.
“Very well,” he says with a small moue. “I guess we’ll have to entertain ourselves from afar.”
Once we materialize in Ashtaroth’s territory, traveling nearly instantaneously through the ether, I immediately sense the soldiers’ presence. It’s an interesting mix of Fallen and half-bloods.
“Let’s move a little closer,” I suggest, my gleeful voice surprising even to myself. If something as novel as living mortals coming to Hell happened more often, I might not feel the heavy weight of ennui as poignantly.
As soon as the mortals come into view, I notice the Fallen turning our way.
I recognize Maalik and Daniel, Purgatory’s veterans.
My path crossed Maalik’s a few times over the centuries, especially when he was a part of Belial’s forces.
Daniel has always been more reclusive, though he does occasionally come before the Council.
“What’s wrong?” a tall woman with fiery hair asks the Fallen. Her hands are on the handles of her swords, her eyes darting around. “Something feels off.”
“It’s fine,” Maalik says through clenched teeth. “Focus on the task at hand.”
“Like not accidentally rolling into the river of molten lava?” one of the male half-bloods asks with a smirk. The redhead pokes him in the ribs. She seems feisty.
As the group moves up a dune, their path leads them perpendicular to our position, and the hot breeze from the Phlegethon sends their scents to us. I freeze, locked in place, my lungs full of black orchid and vanilla, and even my heart stops its unnecessary beating.
There are three females in the group: the auburn redhead, a blonde with pink hues, and a brunette with chocolate waves pulled back and high into a ponytail. When the latter turns in our direction and falters for a moment, I realize it’s her I’m smelling.
She’s unbelievably beautiful for a mortal, with delicate, elfin features, clear gray eyes that contrast starkly with her dark hair, and plush, pink lips that are begging to be defiled.
By the Dark Lord, she is… everything. I find myself wishing I weren’t concealed by the ether, find myself wanting her to see me. How would she react to my mortal form? I know for a fact it is incredibly pleasing.
The beautiful woman seems to be more fearful than the rest, her hands twitching near holsters where she seems to have throwing stars stashed. A much less powerful weapon choice than those of her peers.
“Simone?” Maalik says over his shoulder, looking at the beauty who’s still frozen in place. “Don’t lag behind.”
“Simone,” I murmur, testing the name on my lips.
She shouldn’t be able to hear me. But something makes her shiver. Then she jolts into action and starts following the group again, rushing to fall into step with the other mortals.
“Father?” Nereth prompts. “Is everything alright?”
“Quite alright,” I reply, my voice rougher than usual. “Let’s linger a while. See what troubles the mortals find.”
And see if I get bored watching darling Simone.