Chapter Two
Cold. Everything was so incredibly cold with the kind of chill that snuck in through the thickest winter clothes and made its way right into my bones.
At some point, I must have slipped off the patio chair and landed on the ground.
The chair hadn’t had sharp edges, not like the ones I now lay on, which poked into me as I breathed.
I groaned, already knowing from my pounding headache that this hangover would be one for the ages.
Recalling last night’s events was a struggle. I’d gone to the party, started with shots, and then…
A jolt of panic coursed through me as the memories flooded back. My eyes shot open. I no longer sat on the balcony overlooking a beautiful sunrise. Darkness enveloped me on all sides. The same darkness that had devoured me. The same darkness I’d known the day I met him.
I jolted upright faster than I’d ever sat up before.
As my senses came into focus, I assessed my situation.
I was naked, and my bare body invited the cold to collect on my skin.
The air carried a thick scent of smoke. Every breath stung my lungs.
Flashes like lightning struck on the distant horizon, revealing the outlines of stone hills and otherworldly structures.
Echoed wails and crashes followed in their stead. The unmistakable sound of violence.
My hand shot to my chest. My heart still beat, but its rhythm was unfamiliar. Wrong, somehow. My body carried on in its earthly dance, refusing to admit the truth that I knew all too well.
Before I could wrap my mind around that truth, an itch set in on my left shoulder. It quickly became a searing pain too great to ignore. I bit down on my lip and stifled a cry. Warm metallic liquid oozed into my mouth. Blood—a chilling realization I shoved aside for now.
Emerald light flickered at my side, and I turned my head to look. What I saw there made my stomach lurch. Green flames sprang to life on my skin, turning me into their fuel. My breath hitched, my muscles tightened as the fire spread along my shoulder.
Panic tore through me in waves. Without water to douse it, I’d have to smother the flames. I released my lip and slammed my arm into the ground. The force of the impact against my wound tore a tortured wail from my throat.
It seemed to have done the trick. Once the dull ache wore off, only the discomfort of fresh-seared flesh lingered.
I pushed myself upright on trembling hands.
Though the fire had gone, an emerald glow remained on my shoulder.
It came from the symbol branded into my arm, resembling a winged castle.
A heart sat atop it, a cross hung beneath it, and the whole thing was encased in a pair of concentric circles.
I ran my fingers over the symbol, and the raised, welt-like lines stung under my touch.
The sight of the sigil alone made me nauseous.
I’d never seen that mark before, but green flames? I knew those, knew who summoned them. This mark was Vapula’s doing.
“Here,” a soft voice whispered from somewhere in the dark. “Put these on. Once you have dressed, I will give us some light.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I staggered to my feet and stumbled away from its source, balling my hands into fists. Whatever lurked out there, I wouldn’t let it take me without a fight.
“Stay back, I’m warning you!”
Silky fabric pressed against my palms. I flinched, but no pain or struggle followed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Humans don’t often come here with their worldly possessions, and I assumed you would want to protect your modesty.”
I forced myself to take a deep breath. Terror wouldn’t serve me, and I had to drive it out before it swallowed me whole. I took the fabric. Whoever was holding it released it, and its weight sagged in my hand.
“Thank you,” I muttered, struggling to unfold the clothes in the dark.
It was a near-impossible task. I stumbled trying to step into the pants.
Even after I twisted the shirt around three times, I was sure I’d put it on backward.
The heavy, silk-like fabric they’d been sewn from slipped in my hands as I dressed.
Though there were no shoes or undergarments, I was still grateful for the layer of insulation.
The crisp air reminded me of an early winter day.
Chilling, especially when naked. Not quite dangerous, but not far from it, either.
“Alright, I’m dressed,” I said. “You can turn the lights on now.”
Once I’d spoken the final word, a lantern came alight, casting a warm glow over the surrounding area. I could make out the shimmery orange stone that made up the rough ground, as well as the figure who had come to my aid.
Before me stood a tall man with dark skin and black hair that glinted like obsidian in the firelight. A band of shining cobalt sat crooked atop his head. A crown. It matched his twinkling indigo eyes and the deep blue gambeson he wore.
Then he smiled, showing his fangs.
He was a demon.
The realization broke whatever spell he had me under, pulling me back to my senses.
Everything I knew about demons painted them as terrible, scheming things that take advantage of humans to further their evil agendas.
Vapula certainly matched that description, but this one seemed different.
Some instinct deep inside told me he meant no harm, even as dread crept into my veins.
He didn’t encroach on me, didn’t try to intimidate or attack me. He stood perfectly still and let me take him in.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, as if he had read my thoughts. “I want to help you. Come; this place won’t be safe for long. We’d best get moving.”
I grimaced, not knowing whether to trust him. If the demon noticed my reluctance, he didn’t show it. He turned his back on me, striding off into the dark and taking our limited light with him. Even as the darkness encroached, I held my ground, unwilling to follow him blindly.
“Where is ‘this place’?” I asked. “Who are you? Give me a reason to trust you, and I’ll consider it.”
The demon halted in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder. “I would be honored if you called me Zaleos. I am one of Hell’s Dukes, and I preside over peace and love. It is my honor to make your acquaintance.”
“A demon of peace and love?” The words tasted wrong in my mouth, almost paradoxical.
“Strange though it may be, it is true.” His smile kept its gentle allure, even as it widened.
“As for where we are, I have a feeling you already know. This is a prison entombed in stone, meant to hold the corrupted deep underground. You are lucky I found you when I did. Hell offers no procession for the dead, and terrible things roam free down here.”
A heavy sigh left my lips as the demon confirmed my fears. I was dead, and this was Hell.
The vows I’d said to Vapula replayed in my mind, a cruel reminder of the fate waiting for me: ‘I pledge myself to you. Until the day the darkness kills the light, until the heavens cease to burn, I shall be yours.’
What a fool I had been to make that promise. Now I found myself unarmed in the realm of the demons. That notion alone sent a shiver down my spine.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Vapula would have to wait. Before I could worry about him, I’d have to deal with the Duke standing before me.
“Duke Zaleos,” I muttered, feeling every syllable play across my tongue. “Just a title and a first name, then?”
“That is all I have ever had. Now, what may I call you?”
“Lillia. Lillia Sparre.”
“What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Will you come with me, Lillia?”
I hesitated. “Tell me where you’re going, and I’ll tell you if I’ll follow.”
“You will need somewhere to stay, yes?” Zaleos asked. He gave a soft hum. “My kingdom is no place for a human. I won’t lead you to the fate that awaits you there. I have an old friend who might be persuaded to take you in, though he is of a somewhat… questionable constitution.”
“Questionable how?”
“The Prince of Lust and Lies? His title precedes him, but he is more than those hollow words.”
My throat tightened. I wasn’t sure what I’d wanted to hear, but it certainly wasn’t that.
He continued, “I believe Sitri may have reason to aid you. He has made his home in the city of Lantyca, the capital of his kingdom. I can take you to its gates should you wish to seek asylum there.”
Seeking asylum from a lust demon. My chest seized at the thought.
The only demon I’d known was a scholar demon, and judging by the standard he set, begging for a lust Prince’s help was out of the question.
As I opened my mouth to object, an amber flash lit canyons on the horizon.
The faint wails of helpless souls caught in its blast chilled my blood and caught my breath.
I swallowed, my tongue now terribly dry.
“There’s no one else who would take me?” I asked.
“None who would be preferable, my lady.”
“And you’re certain it’s safe for me to go to him?”
“Quite certain. Call it a hunch, but I’ve a suspicion you two have more in common than you know. Prince Sitri has yet to break the trust I placed in him. You will be safe in his care.”
More objections bubbled up within me, and I did my best to quash them.
It would be a long eternity in Hell if I couldn’t keep myself under control.
Demon or not, Zaleos presented an opportunity—one I’d be foolish to throw away.
I knew what kind of things lurked in the dark.
Without weapons or light, it was only a matter of time until I fell prey to them.
If I kept my wits about me, it would be better to have a guide than to wander off alone.
“Alright, I’ll follow.” I bowed my head and stepped up to his side. “I hope you know what you’re doing, sending me to a Prince like that.”
“Keep your heart open, and he may surprise you. Now, let us go.”
Zaleos set off into the dark. Matching his pace proved difficult.
Just a few steps in, I winced. Whatever the pink, orange, and white-banded stone was made of, my feet already ached from rubbing against its jagged peaks and ridges.
At this rate, I’d rub them raw. With my shoulder and head still throbbing, it became hard to shut the pain out.
Rocky cliffs and hills rose and fell alongside us, painted in rosy-amber stripes.
Something was missing from the scene. There were no plants or animals anywhere.
I strained my neck, trying to catch glimpses of my surroundings beyond the lantern’s light, but only shadows moved there.
At first glance, this could have passed for badlands on Earth, locked in a dark, moonless night.
Even moonless nights had stars, though—and trees. This place had only desolate stone.
I found it hard to settle into the journey, faced with the constant pain radiating through me and the ever-present clatter of warfare echoing in the distance. And then there was my guide, a demon of peace and love, shrouded in secrecy, leading me to an unknown fate.
With his eyes glued to the path ahead, I stole a glance at Zaleos, only for him to turn, his smile gone. I flinched as our gazes met. He scanned my face, took in my weariness, then shook his head.
“I won’t harm you, Lillia, but your mistrust is well-placed; many demons will not hesitate to do so. Would you like a word of advice?” he asked.
“I would if you’re offering.”
“Strength comes in strange forms down here. Symbols hold power, and your name is the most potent symbol you possess. You offered it to me far too readily.”
I blinked. “My name? What kind of power does it have?”
“The power to claim your soul, perhaps the most important skill a demon possesses,” he said.
“Many souls take on aliases down here; others share their names only in part. Very few can resist the pull of a name when wielded against them. You are not among them, my lady, and you would best remember the danger it presents.”
“Understood. Thank you for telling me.” I tucked that information into the corner of my mind, making a mental note to watch my tongue. “And what if a human is already indebted to a demon? One who knows their name…?” I held my breath as I waited for an answer.
Zaleos’ laughter caught me off guard. “Have you no sense of self-preservation, Lillia? We’ve only just met, and you’ve given me all I need to undo you.
Secrecy is survival. Do not forget that.
Terrible fates await the unprepared down here, and if you don’t wish to be among them, you must learn to gather information from others without giving away your own. ”
“And why are you telling me this? What’s in it for you?”
He raised an index finger to his lips and gave me a wink. “A Duke always has his reasons. I’m sure mine will become clear in time.”