She flicked her clawed fingers in dismissal. “Throw him in the Pit, Mishetsu.”
Mist pushed off the wall and approached the groveling demon. He told himself he felt nothing as he grabbed the creature by his shredded wings once more and dragged him kicking and screaming out of the hall. He was numb, encased in a metaphorical ice that was his only way to remain sane.
And yet, deep within, a part of him that shouldn’t exist felt things no demon should feel. In order to survive, he worked hard to bury it where no one, not even he, could find it. The battle grew more difficult every day.
And he had already failed once.
Against his will, the memory resurfaced again.A radiant smile adorned the woman’s face, her hands busy chopping vegetables while the demon rested his chin atop her head and smiled with contentment. She leaned back and said something that Mist couldn’t hear over the roar of the ocean. Whatever it was caused the demon to throw back his head and laugh. He scooped up his tiny human and spun her around while she shrieked with delight.
It was the first time Mist had ever heard such a scream. A scream of happiness, not of pain or terror. What could such intense joy feel like? How was it possible to be so consumed by happiness as to want to shout from it?
His steps faltered, and he stumbled slightly on the uneven floor, drawing him back to the present. He shook his head to dislodge the memory and realized he had reached the end of the long, dark tunnel. The shadows flickered from the torches on the wall. Ahead of him was an iron gate.
Through those interlocking bars, the goraths waited.
Their eerie screeches and the squelching sounds they made when moving filled the air as they caught the scent of approaching meat. Crushing the demon’s wings in a vice-grip with one hand, Mist turned the crank on the wall to raise the barrier with the other.
Without pause, without allowing himself to feel anything, he hurled the demon inside, hearing his screams increase in volume as he caught sight of the monsters. More shrieking came from the goraths as their plethora of eyes latched onto their prey.
Mist lowered the gate and turned away, walking back to the throne room without waiting to hear more.
Paimon turned a satisfied smile on him as he entered. “Always so loyal, my Hunter.”
“Mistress.” He bowed to her as he had been trained to do. Deep within, that broken part of him filled with loathing, but he kept it buried. There was no space for regret in his life. Obedience meant everything.
“I have another job for you,” she said when he straightened. “An important one. Possibly the most important you have ever been sent on. Lucifer himself has ordered this mission.”
Mist gave no outward reaction, but he was immediately wary. Anything concerning Lucifer was something to be concerned about. To survive in Hell, it was best to stay far away from its High King.
“Four powerful demons have gone rogue.”
Again?he thought, immediately recalling Eligos once more. This time, he slammed the door on the memory before it could arise. Even thinking of his failure in front of Paimon was too great a risk.
“You are to track them down on Earth. Take whatever measures are necessary to subdue them. It is understood there might be collateral damage.”
“Should I destroy them if they refuse to cooperate?”
Paimon shook her head. “Lucifer wants them alive. If they are together and you risk being overpowered, return to me to report their location. Legions will be sent to secure them instead.”
Legions?Just who were these demons? He frowned slightly, the only outward display he allowed of his apprehension. He could not allow anyone to realize the turmoil that spiraled within.
He… felt things. And it terrified him.
“Who are they?” he asked in his flattest voice.
“Asmodeus, Raum, Mephistopheles, and…” Paimon’s lip curled off her fangs. “Belial.”
1
Chocolate Therapy
Present Day
Mishetsumephtai selected a piece of popcorn from the bowl with careful claws. Setting the buttery morsel upon his tongue, his head tilted as he chewed. The flavor was bland, the texture crunchy and chewy at the same time. He could tell it held little nutritional value. And yet, something had him reaching for a second piece as soon as he finished the first.
“See?” the human beside him said. “It’s good, right?”
Technically, Eva was only half human, but she had only recently discovered that.
