As I got close, my emotions all mixed up between nostalgia and dread, I saw Reginald holding the door open and smiled a true and honest smile.
“Hello, Your Majesty.” Never had I been so glad to hear his droll, sad voice before. I jumped onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He barely had time to hold me as I gave him a big squeeze. His hands hesitated, not knowing what to do, until he settled on patting my back. It was just like old times.
“Don’t call me that. It’s weird.” I snuggle into his chest just a second longer before I let him go.
Reginald was like a second father to me. Since I didn't have a mother, he’d taught me all the things he thought she would want me to know. How to handle my demonic and angelic mood swings, when I should listen to Dad and when I should make a strategic decision to disobey him, how to act like the bad ass demoness of Hell I am.
He taught me about the birds and the bees, and what my family's roles were in the universe. He taught me how to spot designer apparel and accessories, as well as how to eat food like a lady. Some of his lessons didn't become useful until I was on the human plane, but I guess he always knew I would go there someday. He was incredibly wise like that.
“I wouldn't call you anything else, Your Majesty,” he said as he straightened, then eyed the guys behind me.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” I grumbled at the same time that he introduced himself to the guys.
“I am Reginald, the manager of this house. If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask me.” His cold, detached tone made the guys look at him like they highly doubted they would, but they nodded and mumbled their thanks just the same.
Reginald turned to me immediately. “Majesty”—my teeth clenched—“despite what it looks like on the outside, your father has changed most of the extra rooms to accommodate for his pet projects. If you would, could you create rooms for our four new guests so they may recuperate from their long journey?”
His request was simple and polite, but I knew what he was doing. He was trying to get me to flex my newly bestowed power in front of my new mates to solidify in my mind that Icoulddo it, but also to show my newly appointed mates their place in the food chain.
Rule #73: Make sure all beings of the male variety knew at least fifty percent of your strength at the beginning so they understood not to mess with you for fun.
Okay, Reggie, I’ll play your game.
I surged forward, striding to the elaborate mahogany wood staircase that led up to the second floor and all the extra rooms. I jumped two steps at a time, like when I was a kid, and turned to the right, only to stop still, gazing at the short dark hallway with one red door at the end. That was my wing as a child, where I’d grown up. It looked exactly the same as I remembered. I guess my dad didn't mess with it at all, which was oddly sweet and practically idiotic.
If you could form the house to your will, why wouldn't you replace this area with something that was useful or practical? Maybe another hobby area, but no. He left this hallway, with its crayon-and-marker-stained walls—I’d switched to Sharpies when I got older—that led to a large red door, which shone at the end of the hallway, calling me to come inside.
I was curious if he’d left it all the same or if it was just the art-stained hallway, so I pressed forward. I almost forgot about the guys until I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and Con’s voice mumbling about the grandness of the house.
It only took a few steps to get to my old room, and as soon as my hand touched the round doorknob, I heard the area around me groan, like it was recognizing me coming home.
I couldn't help but whisper, “Don't worry, I’m home now.” I felt the house sigh in response, and a small smile graced my lips.
The door popped open before I even pushed forward, indicating the house wanted me to get on with it. The feeling of the guys peeking behind my shoulder was strange, but not unwelcome. I usually hated that feeling—people hovering around me—but with them, it felt slightly comforting. I tried to squash that feeling, but it just oozed out, so I gave up and just let myself feel it but not act on it. I didn’t want Reggie to think I was going soft.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and gazed into the room. It was just as I left it. I stepped in, going to the center of the space and looking around in a circle. My huge king bed with its black canopy was still unmade from the day I’d left. I remember tearing my covers off when I decided that day was the day I would confront my father. My dresser was open, clothes thrown about because I’d been in a hurry to grab the essentials after we’d fought. Not a single thing was touched or out of place from the day I left, but there also wasn’t any dust or cobwebs, which meant that my father had ensured that it was regularly cleaned since I’d left. I didn't know how to feel about that.
I’d come up here for a reason, though, and it was not just to go into my old room and reminisce about the day I left. No, I had to use my newly appointed power to make rooms for my mates. I turned around sharply, about to get on with it, when I saw all the guys take a few steps into my room, looking around and then looking at me with a mixture of sadness, awe, and jealousy. I didn't know what the last part was about, but I chose not to address it as I nodded to them and closed my eyes.
Since I had never done this before, I was just going to copy what my dad said he always did and see if the magic responded to me. He’d told me that he simply told the house, with his mind, what he was looking to achieve and what it was being used for. Sometimes the house came up with something better than what he imagined because he’d given it all the information.
I closed my eyes and started with my room, since it was the one I knew the best. I started by telling it I wanted something bigger, something that was more of a master bedroom. My mate marks started to heat up against my skin, which reminded me that I had mates and needed to think about them as well. The house sent a vibration of love and homeliness as it invisibly touched each of the mate marks, almost like it was trying to find out more about them from the direct connection we had.
I then envisioned the room getting bigger, thinking of every crack and crevice, every stone on the outside, and every wood piece on the inside that made the walls of this room. I laid it out in my mind like an architecture map. My dad always said that it was best to start with something basic and then fill it up with furniture to your liking afterwards. He also recommended that I should always take the magic’s suggestion; it got testy when you didn't.
I started to think about creating a sitting area to the left and heard the house creaking and moving. Con gasped, and Fame took a slight intake of breath, but I didn’t open my eyes just yet. I imagined Death's scowl and War’s smile. It was comforting to have them watch as I tried something new, but I also found it slightly distracting.
I felt the house’s Hell magic fill me first. I could feel my skin tingling with the influx of power until the floors underneath my feet started to suck it all out. I felt it flow through the floorboards and walls. I felt four sets of power shoot off, two to my left and two to my right as the magic giggled in my ears, telling me not to worry. That it would take care of everything.
My body started to shake as the house kept draining me for more and more power in a huge rush. My ears made a popping noise, making it so I couldn’t hear anything around me, and my knees got weak, but I forced myself to stay standing. I was not going to fall or faint or crumble in front of my mates. I didn't know them well enough to be weak like that. I liked that they looked at me like the strong demoness that I was.
Soon the air around me shifted, and I felt a whirl of power dance around as it giggled and whispered lightly into my ear, telling me to open my eyes. As soon as I did, I found my room completely changed.
My bed that was behind me was changed from a cherry red to more of a dark mahogany with plush pillows and silky sheets. The canopy remained, but instead of a thick black fabric, it was a sheer fabric that had silver stars stitched into it, giving it a magical feel. The bed was even bigger, almost like it was two king beds put together.
I slowly turned and found that I had two windows and a door on each side of my bed that led out to the balcony. Black and green vines flowed from two pots on each side of the windows, creeping up the walls to make a natural arch around the windows. My dresser, nightstand, and vanity all were in the same deep mahogany color as the bed but had carvings of flames put into them in gold.
I still had the same door that went out into the hallway, but what surprised me was that it had two doors on each side of it with symbols above them. As I walked over to the right, I could see that they were my mate marks, one above each door.
