“Then we need to get out of here and find him.”
“No,” the king said. “You need to train.”
“What?”
He stepped closer, a cunning look glinting in his eyes. “You and the Nephilim will be placed in Hell’s military, where we’ll beat that human weakness out of your body and mind. And when you’re not suffering with your squadron, you’ll be in the library studying—or with me, training your powers.”
I met his unflinching gaze with one of my own. “And if I refuse?”
“Then you won’t survive.”
Chapter
Six
LUCILLE
After suffering through a few more minutes with the king, he finally let me see my mom. She lay beneath the covers, her small frame occupying little space on the giant bed. The black silk comforter contrasted horribly with her pale skin, like it was sucking the life out of her. In fact, the entire room felt dark and lifeless.
I reached out a shaky hand, smoothing back her black hair from her shoulder. Someone had placed her in a strappy nightgown, nothing she would’ve ever picked for herself. She needed her T-shirt and pants with the little chicks on them. She needed her obnoxious rooster eye mask. She needed?—
A sob caught in my throat. I crawled across the mattress and curled up next to her. Tears slid down my cheeks as I wrapped my arm around her stomach and rested my head against her chest.
She needed to wake up.
I listened to her heart, guilt hitting me with every slow beat.
Why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t it have been me, like I planned?
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” My voice cracked. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
After kissing her forehead and wiping my face, I let Oliver help me back to my room. Rune and the general followed behind. There were no words of comfort. Even Oliver had no happy remarks, only a warm arm wrapped around my shoulder.
Right before my room, I paused at a large window—a cluster of buildings spread out in the distance. Unlike the small, thatch-roofed houses in Elora, these buildings were taller, wider, and had white caps on their slanted roofs.
“It’s pretty frigid down there, and the people are something else to look at, but at least I haven’t come across any demons like I expected I would,” Oliver mumbled as I stared with a flat expression.
“What do you mean?”
Wasn’t Hell supposed to haveallthe demons?
Oliver shrugged. “I mean, I haven’t seen any scaly, bulbous, disgusting bastards anywhere. Some half-breed demons, but that’s it. Not that the people look all that normal, but…” He shot me a look, then waved it off. “You’ll understand once you see for yourself.”
“Demons don’t have souls. They aren’t Hell’s creations. You won’t see them here. You’ll only see their half-breeds,” the general informed us.
“Okay.” I didn’t have the energy to say anything else.
I pulled Oliver to continue toward my door. I needed time to digest everything—and eventually discuss an escape plan.
Rune and the general hovered behind us, but neither would be allowed in. Not that the general ever was. Rune’s tail curled happily at my attention, making me regret keeping her out. The general, on the other hand, seemed deep in thought.
“Sorry, Rune, but you and your angel aren’t coming in this time.”
Clarity sharpened the general’s gaze. “Yes, we?—”
“General, your clothing is in tatters, and you have blood all over your face and chest.”
He glanced at his shredded shirt, then back at me, lips pressing into a hard line.
