“All good here.” Con’s voice was full of concentration. “But now I wish that I was staring at your ass too. All I’ve got is War's, and it’s not half as tempting.” He laughed at his own joke, and I couldn't help but snicker.
“Fame? Death?” I called out, knowing that they were the ones in the back.
“We’re fine, devil-ing. It would take much more to tempt Fame, and I already know my ugly parts and don't want to look, so we’re all good.” His whiskey-coated voice tried to sound light and funny, but it just made me a little sad.
I needed to get us out of here fast.
I got to the mirror and started to pull it open when I felt an incoming presence through the air. Like the land was warning me that its master was close.
“Okay, let’s go. Let's go. Let's go.” I started waving them all through, panic slipping out of my voice as I looked around, trying to make sure I got them in first.
“But, little goddess—”
I shoved War though and pulled Con’s arm over to the opening in desperation.
“Okay, okay. I'm going.” Con eyed me before jumping through without my help, and Fame was next in line. Fame passed through immediately after, not wasting any time.
Next up was Death. As soon as he got to the passage, I heard a rumble and knew Levi was almost here. Death looked over his shoulder at the sound. “The fuck is that?”
“Nothing. Go!” I shoved him with my back. He complained about being pushed around just as I started to step through.
“Lils?” I heard Levi’s deep smooth voice call out in shock.
I gave him one look over my shoulder, showing him that it was me but also that I had the rings of the ruler now. Then I slammed the mirror shut. I was a damn coward, that's what I was. I didn't want to face him just yet. I didn't want to see his sadness and pain until I knew if it was worth it. Until I knew if these mates of mine were worth it.
Chapter 28
Ireleasedasighand slumped against the door as guilt started to eat away at me. I saw his face for a split second and I could tell his emotions from just that small glimpse. I could see his anger and his betrayal, but I could also see the yearning and the love. Which just made me feel worse. Sometimes I hated being part angel.
I shook it off as I noticed the guys staring at my childhood home. It looked like Dad had made some revisions.
Where there used to be a large black gate that led to an extensive front yard, there was now a moat that circled the house, with the addition of Hellfire bursting from the lava at different intervals like huge geysers. What the fuck was that going to do in reality? It was more of a pretty show then something that could actually do harm. I guess if it was made to prevent flying demons from storming the mansion, it could kill a couple, but they could also learn how to fly in intervals. So again, what did the pretty shooting Hellfire really do for security? Maybe he was going for extra scary? That sounded like him. Doing something stupid because it looked pretty.
The green grass that was in our front yard was dead and crusted over. Did he not water the damn grass? It was supposed to be set on a timer. How could he have possibly fucked that up?
The house itself was a two-story mansion, built of black Hell stone and had six large pillars that held up the second story deck that ran around the whole second floor. The front entrance was two large, black iron rod doors with a few large wide stairs that led up to them. Windows surrounded the mansion on both floors, but I know from experience that you can’t see into them, only out of them. It reminded me of those old southern plantations with a large house in the center of a large piece of land, just surrounded by a fiery moat instead of a large gate.
I looked up at the edges of the roof, finding that even the gargoyles that were meant to guard the house looked a little sad. Like they were disappointed in how the house had been kept up but had no power of their own to fix it. I growled at what my childhood home looked like after it used to be one of the only nice places in Hell.
This behemoth of a house was at the center of Hell, where the source of the Hellscape power was, which made it easier for my father to tap into it and rein it in. Even if the Hellscape had a mind of its own, it still had a master that it listened to… most of the time.
It was a strategic place for a home as well as a place of power, but by looking at how my dad has been keeping it up, I would say the old man was slipping and that would not do. No ruler should have a home in disarray. It should be something that others strived for.
I pushed off the mirror door and stomped to where the guys were, cringing at the house as I got closer, but when I looked up at them, I didn't see judgment or disappointment. Their eyes turned into saucers as they took it all in, looking it up, down, side to side, mouths dropped open. I guess even if it was run down by my standards, that didn’t mean that it was any less scary to others. Looking at their faces now, I could see my dad grinning, shoving it in my face that he was getting his desired effect.
I’d had about enough time reminiscing and wanted to get this part over with.
“Come on.”
I pinched at Death’s shirt, since he was next to me, and squeezed between him and Fame to go forward, determined to get this over with. As soon as my toes hit the edge of the moat, a floating drawbridge came down and the Hellfire geysers stopped.
It took me a second, realizing that I had not been on this ground since I left all those years ago. I promised myself that I wouldn't until I had found a mate on my own and built my own kingdom, flaunting it in his face that I could do it, all without being Lucifer's daughter. Now I was crossing with mates Hell picked for me and a kingdom right on the cusp of coming together. I guess not even Lucifer's daughter got what she wanted.
I shoved those feelings deep down and straightened my shoulders as I crossed onto the devil's land. Well, my land now. That was going to take some getting used to.
I didn't look back, as I knew the guys would follow me. It wasn’t like they could or even wanted to go anywhere else since I showed them all the circles. This house was the safest place for them, but I was confident they would want to explore, eventually.
After I got across like a boss, I peeked behind me, giggling at them as they crossed. It was cute to see them flinch away from the Hellfire that wasn't even close to hitting them, but they did have a point. Hellfire was deadly. I only knew of three beings who didn’t get hurt by Hellfire: Pop Pop, Dad, and me.
