Go.
I hauled the door open, stepped through, and closed it silently behind me. Then I leaned over with my hands on my knees and panted, my whole body shaking.
No. I didn’t have time for a breakdown.
I straightened and walked down the stairs. The cells were as quiet as usual, the silence broken only by the moans and groans of the prisoners. I strode straight past Keigan, who was lying on his side, curled into a ball.
I refused to pity him.
Kyla lifted her head as I approached her cell. I pulled the napkin full of the leftover meat from dinner out of my pocket and slipped my hand between the bars, placing it on the ground of her cell.
She ignored me, immediately falling on the meat. She was thin now, so thin her coat had turned dull, and there was no sign of intelligence in her eyes.
Oh God.
My throat tightened as I squinted in the dim light. I had no doubt that Lucifer was having her watched. If I managed to get the cuff off from around her neck and she changed back, he’d kill her for sure.
But maybe I could have a fake cuff made, so she could change just long enough to remember she was human for a few minutes. Then she could change back, but not be forced to remain as a wolf.
She lifted her head and showed me her teeth.
“I miss you,” I whispered. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
An almost soundless growl was my only reply. She couldn’t see me, but she would recognize my scent. Except she no longer seemed to care who I was.
I forced myself to keep moving. And I peered into every cell I passed, stalking through the dungeon, making my way down each row.
I searched again. And again. Had Garadiel sent me down here to amuse himself? He hadn’t been all that clear when he’d murmured instructions to me while we’d finished up our dance.
I turned toward the stairs. And froze.
A door was built into the side of those stairs. The door Pischiel had said was for storage. I hadn’t paid much attention to it before, because I’d always approached the stairs from the left corridor.
I tried the handle. Locked. I pried open the wound in my palm, ignoring the sharp pain. Then I pressed it to the door.
It swung open.
I didn’t hesitate. This would be just like Lucifer, to lock his own son away from the rest of the prisoners, in absolute solitude. People went crazy when they were completely removed from society. Would my father even be sane?
It was so dark, I could barely see the steps in front of me. I gave my eyes a few moments to adjust, then pulled my gown higher, using my other hand to balance against the wall as I made my way down the cracked steps.
I counted them as I walked. Two hundred of them, becoming narrower as the staircase wound to the right. Finally, the staircase ended, and my feet hit stone so cold, I could feel it through my slippers. Shivers racked my body.
If I extended both arms, I could touch the stone walls on either side of the narrow hall. Down the end of the hall, a single torch of demon fire danced, the light weak but welcome.
Eighteen steps, and I was standing in front of the cell.
I removed the ring from my mouth and stared into my father’s eyes.
12
SAMAEL
My mood was dark as I flew toward Scylla’s realm. Somehow, I was unsurprised to find Selina waiting for me at the portal. I’d planned to fly directly through, but I dropped to the ground, waiting for her to speak.
“I’ve never seen a dragon before,” she smiled at me. “Will you take me?”
Unexpected. But she was one of Danica’s favorite people. She looked calm, almost serene in the dull light, her eyes steady on my face.
