I turned around to look at him, blinking through my fringe of blonde lashes. He looked pained, tired even. Like another big explanation was on the horizon. “Where?”
“The Tenth Circle.”
I stared at him for a long breath, probing to see if those words struck any meaning with me. “I don’t remember that place.”
“Because you didn’t know about it before you died. None of us did. The triplets discovered that there’s one more layer beneath the Ninth. The way is treacherous, and only those born from it can find the way.”
I twisted him around to pin him with an “a-ha” look. “That’s where archdemons must come from!”
His lips quirked with the ghost of a smile. “How did you know?”
“I remember always thinking about what kind of place could spawn shifters like Erebus and Abaddon. They had to come from somewhere. If each layer is generally more treacherous than the ones before it, the Tenth Circle must be true hell.”
“This is all true hell.”
Letting out achuckle, I gestured to the bathroom. “A luxurious hotel, the best bath of my life, getting pampered by the king himself. If everyone knew what Hell was truly like, there would be a whole lot more sinning up top.”
“It was the Hell that people imagined it to be before we got our hands on it.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“So have you been to the Tenth Circle then? To try to tame it?”
“No. Haven’t had a reason to. Human souls don’t dwell there, and the archdemons seem happy to leave it the way it is. Though I almost made the journey with Nyx once, when she went to see The Fates. I missed their aid in the hunt for you. But you remember how they were. Always so cryptic with their help even when they had all the answers.”
I wrinkled my nose in confusion. “Wait. Nyx has gone?”
“She was gone for a decade. The way was treacherous, and she almost didn’t make it back.”
“But I thought you said only those who originated from that plane could find the way.”
“That’s the thing I’m getting at, my love. Sheisfrom that realm. At least originally. She’s half archdemon, as are you. We figured out your mother was born in the Tenth Circle. Like Erebus, she traveled to the Eighth Circle to find her true mate. But unlike Erebus, she never went back home.”
I never knew my mother. She had died giving birth to Nyx and me. I wonder if she would have gone back home like Erebus after she’d delivered us. “What does this mean?”
“I’m not quite sure. Though I think it’s the explanation for why you were able to command Abaddon when you wore the crown. Archdemons are stronger than regular demon shifters and are often stronger than their own kind in odd ways. Abaddon may have been superior to you physically, but you’ve always been more cunning, and kinder. The crown has a bit of its own will, you know. It probably thought you a far better master than Abaddon. In fact, you probably share common ground with it.”
“What do you mean? What do I have in common with a crown?”
“You’ve both been worn by Abaddon, and neither of you was very willing to repeat that. So you joined forces.”
“And is that why you can only sort of read my mind? You can’t reach archdemon’s minds. But my beast is only half archdemon. Which explains why only some of my thoughts make it through to you. And why thoughts like the horrible ones concerning Abaddon did not.”
Lucifer gave a nod.
Silence wrapped around us for several minutes as I stewed in this latest information. On top of all the other craziness that had happened to me the last couple of days, this was the easiest to swallow.
I closed my eyes, sinking into the feel of Lucifer’s hands on my body as he bathed me. I let myself sink deep into my thoughts, contemplating all the mysteries the Tenth Circle held. Maybe I’d go someday to see my nieces and give Erebus a piece of my mind for abandoning my sister.
When Lucifer’s hands stiffened, I opened an eye and peeked up at him. “Are you in my head?”
He scowled. “A thought I didn’t care for much slipped through.”
“Well, if you’re going to be nosey—”
“I don’t want you going to the Tenth Circle, Jessica. It’s too dangerous.”
“You let Nyx go.”
“I let Nyx go because who am I to keep a mother from her children? Besides, Nyx is still in possession of her wings. She is more durable than you. If you want to go because of The Fates, I promise your nieces can still help in our fight against the celestials with them right where they are.”
