“I’m going to try to kill Paimon.”
There was a pause.
“Your life force is linked to hers through the brands,” Bel said slowly. “She dies, so do you.”
“I know that.”
“And what happens if you fail? Paimon is a Queen. She won’t be easy to take down.”
“If I fail, I believe she will still give up hunting Lily. She never cared about the prophecy until she found out Lily summoned me from her lair. This was always about my disobedience. If I fail, she will find something else to focus on.”
“Yeah. Turning you into hamburger meat as punishment.”
Mist swallowed and nodded.
“So… you’re going on a goddamn suicide mission. You’re going to martyr yourself even though I told you martyrs were fucking idiots.”
Mist nodded again.
“No,” Bel snapped. “That’s the stupidest fucking plan I’ve ever heard. If you fail, you die worse than if you hung out here and casually burned to death. Hell, I’d take you out myself if it came to that.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want Lily to see me die, weak and mindless, trapped in wards. If I fail, then at least she won’t be there. But if I succeed… Everything I have endured will be worth something if I can die knowing Paimon dies with me. That is the legacy I want to leave behind.”
“Fuck leaving a legacy behind. I told you I would help you, asshole. I told you not to give me shit about sacrificing yourself. I even met with the fucking angel for you, and you’re giving up just like that?”
They stared at each other. Mist wasn’t changing his mind.
“Just go back to Paimon now if you have to,” Bel said. “If Lily can’t summon you again, I will personally go there myself and pull you out of the Pit. Lily said you killed one of the gorath. Kickass. Kill another, and I’ll kill the rest. Problem fucking solved.”
Mist said nothing. Belial couldn’t do that, and he knew it. Unless he was there to surrender, Belial’s return to Hell would be considered an act of war, especially if he showed up in Paimon’s lair.
Hellfire sparked in his eyes like he knew what Mist was thinking. “Fuck this! I refuse to take part in your suicide mission.”
“I am not asking you to.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“Once I destroy Paimon, Valefor will still be a problem. That is the reason I’m telling you this. I need you to protect Lily and her sister when I cannot.”
“You know I will, though fuck you for putting me in that position. I’ve already got a bone to pick with Valefor for what he did to Meph, so don’t worry about him. But Lily will go right ahead and summon you back as soon as she finds out you’re gone, and you know she can do it.”
“Tell her not to try. I’ll draw a hellseal on myself the second I get back there.”
“She’s going to be pissed.”
“Yes.” It was the one thing making him hesitate, knowing Lily would be hurt by his leaving.
You have so much worth to me… I already know what it’s like to lose people I care about, and I don’t want to lose anyone else.
His stomach churned, but he forced the guilt away. He had to do this. He’d been over it again and again, and it was the only way.
“I have one more request.”
Bel cocked a brow, hellfire still dancing in his eyes.
“On one of my last missions before I was sent to hunt you… I broke the rules. There was another rogue.”
“Eligos? I thought he was destroyed…” His eyes widened. “You sly dog. He’s alive, isn’t he? You lied.”
