Cold Skin
Once I was placed by River’s side, we didn’t say a word to each other. He ate in silence as I listened to the idle chatter of the low demons surrounding us. So far, I haven’t gained any useful information.
Demons are typically worse than teenage girls with their gossip, but for some reason, today they’re relatively boring with their conversation.
Until they’re not.
The demon directly across from me is now discussing the merits of physical torture versus mental and I’m glad I haven’t touched my food, because it would most definitely be coming up.
“Are you not going to eat?”
I look at River, scrunching my nose in disgust. “Are you serious?” I ask, motioning toward the demon who has an affinity for torture.
“He’s a lot of talk, Victoria.” The demon looks up, scowling at River. “What? You know you are. You haven’t been allowed in a torture room yet. You’re too clumsy.”
The demon who’d been listening to the supposed tall tales of torture snorts, earning himself a jab to the ribcage.
“You’re all sick,” I snap, and it’s met by hoots of laughter.
“The contents of your stomach are safe for another day,” River smirks.
“Doubtful. I don’t know what the hell that meat is, anyway. They’re probably serving human, if what Hannibal Lecter over there says is half true for the demons who do get to torture.”
He chuckles. “It’s beef. I’m pretty adventurous with food, but I draw the line at human.”
“A reaper with a moral compass? How strange.”
I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, just in time to catch his smirk.
“It has nothing to do with morals. I just find humans to be generally dirty.”
“And cows aren’t?” I purse my lips.
“There’s a difference between dirt that’s easily cleaned and dirt that stains one’s soul, Victoria.”
I chew on my bottom lip, considering his words. Is he saying he has eaten humans?
“No Victoria. I have not eaten humans.” He rolls his eyes, as though I’m some idiot child.
“Forgive me for wondering,” I mutter. “For someone who’s spent as much time in Hell as you, I wouldn’t think you’d have such an aversion to dirty souls … or humans for dinner.”
“I see you have a flair for the dramatic. You know, they’re not all truly evil when they arrive here, Victoria.”
I wonder why he always insists on saying my name. I wonder even more why I like that he does. Shaking my head, I steer my thoughts into safer territory.
“How do you figure? Only the truly corrupt go to Hell.”
River shakes his head. “I just brought a soul here tonight—a young man, no more than twenty years old. He was hit by a car while riding his bike away from a crime scene. He killed another boy.”
I suck in a harsh breath. “Murder … and you think that’s not bad?”
“You didn’t let me finish,” he retorts. “The boy he killed had bullied him for most of his life. The bullying had turned physical in the last year. Jordan reacted out of self-defense, but his hatred got the better of him in that moment. Years and years of abuse compiled until he snapped. Now he’s here, and he surely will become a monster. ”
My stomach turns. I’ll never condone murder, but in this Jordan’s case, it does seem a bit unfair. Had he not died, he could’ve atoned in prison and eventually made his way to Heaven.
“That … doesn’t seem just,” I admit. “But Heaven has to know something you don’t. They wouldn’t have just sent him directly here.” I shake my head. “No, you’re missing some key details.”
He shrugs. “I spend a lot of time in both Heaven and Hell, and quite frankly,
neither one is altruistic. Heaven is just as bad as Hell in some respects. They don’t do anything that doesn’t benefit themselves, Victoria.
“Careful, reaper. God might smite you.”
River grins. “I’m pretty sure we’ve all been smitten already.”
My eyebrow rises. “You mean the reapers?”
He looks around the room. “Well … at least one of us.”
I can’t help but grin back.
“Everyone out,” Nolda barks, and all the demons rise at the command, filing out of the room.
I stay seated with those that remain, waiting for demons to come usher me out. When they don’t, I slink down, trying to make myself as invisible as possible, wanting to hear what’s coming next. What plan could Nolda possibly have to overthrow Luke?
“Now, let’s get down to business,” Nolda says. “You two came to Hell for a reason, and I demand to know why.” He addresses the couple. “It’s very convenient that you two would stumble into Hell right before the doors were sealed. How?”
They exchange a glance but neither says a word.
“They were sent by Heaven,” River cuts in. “I have it on good authority that God placed them here to keep an eye on her.”
My head snaps to River, who’s looking at me. “Me? He closed Hell and sent them to watch me for what?” I ask.
“That’s what I’d like to know. For some reason, God doesn’t want Lucifer here, and that’s only been the case since you arrived.”
“You think Heaven is trying to divide them?” Nolda asks River.
“My queen believes so, and that has her curious. It’s why she’s granted this audience, Nolda. So … I’ll hear out your spiel, but let’s not pretend like Lucifer’s absence is anything but what it is—forced. He’d already be here if not for Heaven’s interference.”
Despite River’s early condemnation of Luke, this moment has me even more curious about the reaper. He’s making sure that everyone in this room knows that Lucifer is trying to get here.
Nolda glowers at River before turning toward the man-and-woman combo. “Is this true, Curtis? Sarah?”
Sarah nods.
“Sarah. You can’t—”
“Silence!” Nolda screeches. “What were you offered?”
Sarah doesn’t look at her companion when she rushes on. “Help against Elion. We were told that he has asked for the power of Hell to tear down our ward and extract the twins for Jacob Osborne. Lucifer told him no, but you … You agreed,” Sarah spits at his feet.
Nolda simply laughs at her vulgar display.
I’ve heard of Elion before. He’s supposedly Lucifer’s right-hand demon. The very demon who tortures souls and trains others how to do it effectively to bend their will to Hell’s.
“Do you know what they have planned for Anna and Andrew?”
Sarah chews on her cheek. “They don’t go by those names anymore.”
“Whatever,” Nolda’s hands shoo off Sarah’s words. “They won’t have a choice for long. Once they’re in Jacob’s clutches, they’ll be back to whoever he decides they’re to be, serving Elion. Serving me.”
Sarah’s face pales. “When?”
“The moment Lucifer is removed.”
A wicked smile curves Nolda’s face. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t want nor need his help.”
The couple share a glance, both of them looking confused.
Curtis’s eyes narrow. “So, you aren’t planning to work with Elion?”
“He believes I am, but no. I’m aware of his true motives. He won’t settle for ruling his portion of Hell. He’ll want it all. He’ll try to steal the throne as soon as Lucifer is out of the way. I won’t allow that to happen.”
I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed that Nolda isn’t the complete idiot I thought him to be. For sure, I didn’t anticipate that he’d see through the other high demons’ offers of help.
“How do you know this? No offense, Nolda, but you don’t have the power that Elion does. It should be difficult for you to see through his glamours.” River’s tone is cutting, and I can’t help but smirk at his dismissal of Nolda.
“I have access to a witch who was easily able to read him. She’s far more powerful than the likes of Jacob Osborne.”
The two high demons at Nolda’s side appear to grow agitated, but at what, I’m unsure.
“Who?” River demands.
“She’s currently working with the Council to overthrow Julian here.”
“What?” Lawrence yells. “Who are you working with?”
I hadn’t noticed the four demons who’d crept up behind the two vampires until Lawrence’s outburst.
They snatch them up from their seats, binding their hands behind their backs.
“What is the meaning of this?” Julian demands.
Nolda’s eyes gleam. “I’m sorry, boys, but this couldn’t be helped.
I was given a heads up that you’d ask for access to the portal to the Fae world.
It was my duty to ensure you both arrived.
You were never going to gain access to the portal.
You were allowed in only so I could uphold my part of the deal. You two, in exchange for her alliance.”
“Whose alliance?” Lawrence bellows.
“Julian … I’m disappointed. I thought you were the sharp one.”
Lawrence’s eyes roll at that comment, completely unaffected by the slight.
“No guesses?” He sighs. “Your father’s old friend. Yvette LaVeau.”
Before either vampire can react, the demons shoot something into their necks and their bodies go slack.
“Take them to the cells,” he commands, and the demons drag the unconscious vampires from the room.
There’s no love lost between me and vampires. I hunt to kill where they’re concerned, but everything I know about Julian Bellamy—which admittedly is little—suggests he’s different. And that thought makes what just happened feel all wrong.
I look to River, who appears indifferent to what just went down.
“You’re not going to do anything?”
He shrugs. “Not my circus.”
I scoff. “It will be when there are more dead souls than living. They’ll end humanity.”
River stabs his knife into a piece of meat, popping it into his mouth and making a show of chewing. “The Earth could use a good cleansing,” he finally says around a mouthful.
“Ugh. You’re as sick as him,” I deride, nodding my head toward Nolda.
He isn’t paying any attention to us. His gaze is fixed on Sarah and Curtis, whose heads are together as they deliberate.
“Do you think they realize that either way, they’re doomed?”
“Doubtful. They’re too preoccupied with saving their heirs.”
“Twins? What’s the deal with them?”
“No clue. I haven’t really concerned myself with witch politics. No need.” He pops another piece of meat into his mouth.
“What politics do you concern yourself with?”
“Today? Which side of the war—if any—to join. To be honest, all reapers are kind of looking forward to a holiday. If humanity is wiped clean, there isn’t much for us to do. We can whisk away to another dimension and relax for a few decades. At least until God decides to make more of his pets.”
My nose crinkles in disgust. “You really are a selfish breed.”
“You have no idea, princess.”
“Call me princess one more time, and I’ll kick your ass in front of all these demons.”
He smirks. “Good luck with that.”
“If you’re not going to work with Elion, what does that mean for us?” Curtis asks, pulling all our eyes to him.
“Despite my preference, Yvette has requested an audience with you. She’s looking for a new coven,” Nolda replies.
“A new coven?” Curtis asks.
“She’s been excommunicated from hers. For what we have planned, she needs a new one. If you cooperate, you live. Resist, and you die.”
Sarah and Curtis speak softly to each other before Curtis raises his head back to Nolda.
“If we agree, are we free to go?”
“That’s not really an option right now. The gates are closed. Nobody in or out.” Nolda’s hands come up. “For now, you stay. It’s as simple as that.”
“You were able to come in,” I say to River without thinking, and now the attention is on us.
“You’re still here?” Nolda grinds through his teeth. “Someone take her back to her cell.”
Two demons move toward me, and River stands, placing himself between me and the demons. “I said she stays.”
Nolda leans forward, playing at fierce, but coming up short. “I’ve played your games, reaper … but I’m done.”
River throws his head back and laughs. “You are quite delusional, demon. You have no power over me. I’d have left the moment you opened your mouth if not for my curiosity where these newcomers are concerned.
You don’t impress me. It’s only a matter of time before the other high demons come for you.
Those two are probably making their plans to overthrow you while sitting next to you. ”
“Insolence,” the demon with horns booms, shaking the table.
“Truth,” River says, bemused and completely unruffled. “You and I both know it.”
I’ve ended many demon lives over my lifespan and although I’ve come up against some frightening foes, none have been more so than the demon next to Nolda.
Yet River doesn’t so much as blink at the snarling being glaring down at him. I’ve heard stories of the reaper warriors and always wondered how much truth there was to those stories. They must be true. River is fearless.
“Detain him,” Nolda seethes, but nobody in the room moves to do so.
It’s almost comical how little respect this demon trying to overthrow Lucifer receives from his own subjects.
“If you dare, the entire reaper army will swarm Hell in minutes. I’m here at the sole request of Her Majesty,” River warns, earning a glower from Nolda.
“She won’t protect you.”
River laughs, but its deadly edge wipes all expression from Nolda’s face.
“You have no idea who you’re speaking to, demon. I am to be king.”
His words from earlier about being second only to the queen rush back to me. Does this make him her consort?
River stands unwaveringly tall, staring down Nolda with the fortitude of any king I’ve ever seen. It makes sense that the queen would want him by her side.
The room remains silent with the revelation. My eyes flick from River to Nolda, whose face is somehow sallower than it was before.
“You’re to marry Queen Camille?”
“No,” River shakes his head. “Not the queen. The princess.”
Turning back toward River, my eyes narrow. He hadn’t mentioned a princess before. How would that make him king?
“The princess? She … she’s been found?”
My head volleys back and forth between the demon and the reaper, frustrated that I’m missing key details that would help make this picture clearer.
“It’s why I’m still here,” River explains. “The queen believes she might know something about the princess,” he says, nodding his head to indicate me.
“Me? I … don’t,” I admit.
“Spit it out, reaper. What makes Queen Camille think she knows anything?” Nolda snaps, seemingly as aggravated as I am.
River glances at me for a moment before turning back to Nolda. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m to bring her to the reaper kingdom. Only then will Queen Camille give you her aid.”