Chapter 55
Another Price
The next morning, Elizabeth descended to the great hall where the demon princes sat around the table, wearing sleepy, irritable expressions—though it was difficult to tell in their demon forms.
A pitcher of lamb’s blood rested on the table alongside a plate of bread and orange juice set out for her. She took her place at the table, glancing around at the demon princes.
Only Finnigan looked well-rested and clear-headed. Even Lucifer appeared irritable, while Asmodeus looked horrendous with great shadows under his eyes and his forehead pinched in irritation.
“Long night?” Elizabeth called cheerfully, and Asmodeus groaned, placing his head in his hands.
“Too much fun, Asmodeus?” Finnigan drawled.
Asmodeus gave him a withering look.
Abbadon seemed extremely ill with bleary, bloodshot eyes. She waved for attention with a lazy hand. “Let’s keep this short. I do not relish spending the day without the regenerative powers of home.” She snapped her head towards the demon king. “Lucifer. You back the mortal?”
“I do.”
“You expect us to follow suit? To save his wretched ass?”
“I do.”
“Knowing that black-hearted fool would not have done the same for us?”
He nodded firmly.
“Your reasons?”
Lucifer stroked his chin and spoke slowly, “I think because—”
“I’ve suddenly decided I don’t care,” Abbadon interrupted, head in her hands. “I do not have the energy for court intrigue today. I’ll follow you fools into whatever hell, for whatever purpose.”
Relief flooded through Elizabeth, her shoulders relaxing.
“However, mortal who asks us to fight…” Abbadon levelled a gaze her way.
“If we go into the Seven Hells, so do you. If you are so convinced we will escape alive with minimal casualties, you should have no qualms about coming. You can stay back from the fighting, but if we die, you will perish as well. I will not do your dirty work at no risk to yourself.”
Elizabeth’s blood chilled.
“I like that,” Beelzebub agreed. “Make the mortal come as punishment for asking. Yessss.”
Of course, Elizabeth thought grimly. Nothing is ever simple with demons.
Leviathan’s voice boomed in their minds. Requesting a mortal to follow us into the Seven Hells is most unusual. I personally care not if she comes at all—
“Enough,” Abbadon snarled. “I will give you two minutes to decide, and then you will find me back in the third circle, lounging and resting my poor head.”
Beelzebub nodded. “We will all decide for ourselves tonight, but I find myself considering it. Meet at the burning plains in the fourth circle three days from now if you decide to ready your legions.”
Agreed.
“Girl who asks us to fight,” Abbadon snapped her fingers in her direction. “I expect to see you there.”
As the demons departed, Asmodeus turned towards her and grinned broadly. “We did it! We’re going to get our boy back! And don’t worry your pretty little head, we’ll keep you far away from the fighting.” He gave her a roguish wink.
She smiled tightly and gave a terse nod.
After the demons departed, she found herself wandering the castle like a ghost.
She drifted the halls, and found herself in the second-tallest tower of the castle. Reaching the terrace where she and Caspian had once sat together watching the sunset, she stared out at dreary skies.
Fog wrapped around the landscape, and the mountains were nearly entirely shrouded.
She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold.
The weight of what she’d just agreed to settled on her shoulders.
Despite Asmodeus’ assurances, Elizabeth knew she was about to head into unspeakable danger. She wanted to find her parents’ killer, but she was starting to feel like she had bitten off much more than she could chew.
What in the world had she just gotten herself into?