Page 57 of The River of Fire
I shake my head in disbelief. “It’s not the same! These were innocent people, they did nothing to you!”
That dreadful smile is still on his face as he crosses an ankle over a knee. He’s sprawled on the throne like nothing of consequence is happening. “Could the same not be said for most demons? Would you be equally affronted if I killed a hundred of my own kind?”
My mouth falls open and it takes me a second to form my reply in the face of his ridiculous question. The Fallen are silently observing our volley. Even Kevin and Naamah are standing completely still, their eyes wide open. “You’re comparing demons, some that spawn with an ingrained instinct to rip into any living creature they come across, to people? Humans aren’t born good or evil, they have souls.”
His eyes flash, but then he smirks and I have a feeling he manipulated this conversation to go exactly as he wants it to. “Can one not love without having a soul? Angels do not have souls. Father does not have one. Even the Watcher whose apron strings you cling to is soulless.”
I flush at the insult and take a step back. Sariel is frowning at his father with what looks like disappointment. “That’s not what I meant,” I snap. “What is this conversation really about, Ashtaroth?”
Any hint of animation wipes from his face. “Nothing. There is nothing for it to be about.”
I can feel myself trembling at the implication of his words.Nothing. Daniel steps closer and nods at Maalik who smoothly breaks the silence in the room. “As I was saying before you joined us, Lana.” There’s a steadying quality in those golden snake eyes that I really appreciate right now. “The Council has decreed that any Purgatory warrior held here by the Great Duke is to be released.”
My eyes instinctively snap towards the archdemon who shrugs leisurely, his smile not reaching his calm amber eyes. “They were always free to leave at any time.”
I clench my jaw. Bastard. Either he’s putting on one hell of a performance or I’m the most gullible person in both Hell and on Earth. I look away from him before my mask slips. Catching Sariel’s eyes, I nod at him in farewell, then turn on my heel, not waiting for the others.
My breaths increase in volume, the air sawing in and out through my clenched throat. I want to scream and rip at the flesh of my chest until I can pull my lungs out and stop feeling like I’m drowning. I pick up the pace, but Maalik reaches me, his long legs eating up the distance. “Do you need anything from here?” he asks.
“No,” I reply, my voice as dead as Sariel’s was last night. “There is nothing.”
Chapter 42 – Lana
Rolling over to my other side, I pull the covers over my head. Two days ago, we walked until late into the night, across all of Ashtaroth’s territory, before crossing the fire river into the lands I’ve patrolled hundreds of times. Everything hurts now and I’m somehow more exhausted than when I returned from Asmodeus’ ziggurat fortress, which now feels like years ago.
I settled into living with demons with alarming ease and now feel displaced in my own room. There’s no breakfast waiting for me to share with Puck. No water left by an archdemon to ensure I’m hydrated after our nightly activities. Growling, I throw my damp pillow onto the floor. I’m not usually a crier. I tend to run or fight away any anguish I feel, and I haven’t cried since those first weeks here, but my exhaustion has left me unable to get out of bed for anything other than a stumble into the bathroom.
A familiar weight lands on my ass, and it takes me a second to realize that it’s not meant to be there. “Puck?” My voice sounds like I deepthroated a cheese grater. “What are you doing here?”
Chirping and squeaking, Puck answers my question in great detail. I just don’t understand any of it. He clambers over me until he’s so close to my face that I go cross-eyed trying to focus on his baby bat features.
The door bursts open, bouncing off the stone wall and two muscular figures try to enter at the same time.
“Why is there a demon in your room, Lana?” Corson asks incredulously, while Maalik looks like he’s trying to hold back laughter.
“He’s mine!” I hiss and tug Puck closer, hugging him like a teddy bear, as his wings bat against my arms and muffled chirps vibrate through my body. Oops. I slacken my hold a bit so he can breathe.
“Of course he is,” Maalik drawls. I have a feeling he would have rolled his eyes if he didn’t find it beneath him. He grabs the handle and, shooing Corson out, starts closing the door. When it’s just his bald head poking in, he gives me an evil smile. “You have until morning to finish moping. I’ll be dragging you onto the training grounds in your pajamas if you don’t show up dressed and ready after breakfast.”
With that, he shuts the door and I groan pathetically. “I should never have gotten that beer with Mike,” I tell Puck. “I should have changed my last name and moved to Zanzibar.” Puck chirps solemnly.
I look into the huge black eyes which are focused on me unwaveringly. “Did you leave, sweetie? Or did he kick you out?”
Of course, Puck can’t answer me. Instead, he burrows under the covers and settles down for a nap.
???
The next morning, after breakfast with Daniel, Puck and Ihead out to the training fields outside of the fortress. Daniel accepted Puck easily enough, but it wasn’t him I was worried about.
We’re followed by curious glances and, yes, some hostile ones too. The way they glare at Puck like he’s the fox in the henhouse makes their feelings clear. I disappear for over a month into an archdemon’s stronghold and come home with a baby imp. Nick’s old friends look especially miffed. I just smile stiffly at everyone and try to steer Puck away from objects that aren’t nailed to the ground or wall.
Outside, I see Jess, Ethan, and Liam waiting for me, standing by Maalik’s side as Kev is stretching on the ground. He hasn’t noticed me yet, but Jess is practically vibrating with excitement. I reach them and pull her into my arms. A couple of seconds later, I feel more sets of arms around both of us. “Group hug,” I mumble into Jess’ citrus-smelling hair.
“Alright,” Maalik interrupts our reunion. “Let the girl stretch before I wipe the floor with her.” When I extract myself from the many limbs around me, I can see the relieved look in his eyes. Guess he didn’t expect me to show up so easily.
“Oh, it’s on,” I tell him, then turn to Jess. “Hold my baby,” I tell her, pointing towards an oddly subdued Puck. He’s peering up at us clutching the tomato Daniel gave him at breakfast, before promising to request some of the cherry variety for him.
Ethan’s choking pulls my gaze away from the imp. “R-really?” he sputters. I eye him with confusion until it hits me.
