He laughed, a sinister noise that coiled through the room like a viper, leaving me feeling unsettled. “Why do I have to want anything to talk to you?”
The slits of my eyes glowed with malice. “You’re the Lord of Envy. You want everything.”
“Fair enough,” he hissed, shifting in the mirror. Beyond him I could see a sliver of a dark, wet cavern, stalactites stretching down from the ceiling. The faint, steady trickle of dripping water could be heard between his words. “A little ghoul told me you were hosting a party on All Hallows’ Eve and that I’m invited. I was a little crushed that I didn't receive a direct invitation.”
Hells.I had to admit, I’d been so caught up in my little thief’s delicious suffering, I’d nearly forgotten about my bargain with Asmodeus. In exchange for Holga’s return, I was to hold a party.A masquerade.
Apparently word was quickly spreading through the layers of Hell.
“Ah,” I said, clearing my throat. I hated all of my brothers, it was true. But there were a couple I could stomach more easily than others. Leviathan, despite his selfish, cunning ways, was one that didn’t make me cringe to talk to. Usually. At least he didn’t berate me for appearing in my “weaker” form. If this were Asmodeus or Belphegor, I’d never hear the end of it. “Yes, something like that. My deepest condolences brother. I’ve been a bit…occupied.”
I didn’t miss the way his yellow eyes shone at my words, nor the devilish smile that contorted his features. “If not your duties, I wonder what could possibly be taking up so much of your time.” Dread settled in my gut before I could even form a reply, and Leviathan didn’t wait for an answer. “Could it be that you've found a new little pet?”
I froze, thankful for the mask I wore. Asmodeus had obviously been busy running his mouth to our siblings about me resummoning Holga.
“What I have is none of your business,” I snapped, trying and failing to keep the sharpness out of my tone.
Leviathan’s grin only widened. “You never learn your lesson do you?”
He wasn’t asking anything I hadn’t already asked myself. They’d all warned me before with Catherine. They’d think I was making the same mistakes. I didn’t need to be chastised. This time was different.
I’d found a queen who wanted me, even if I had to twist and torture her to get her to admit it.
“I hope you’ll bring your little pet to the masquerade,” he went on, ignoring my silence. “It’s been a millennium since I’ve seen a living soul. I’m not sure I can refrain from sinking my teeth into her.”
Something snapped in me at his words, and I saw red, taking several steps toward the mirror. Blinding rage swallowed me at the thought of any of my brother’s—any of them—laying a finger on her. They couldn’t die, but I could make them suffer. She was mine, and mine alone. Anyone that dared to look at her the wrong way would pay for their insolence.
“You won’t touch her.” My voice was pure venom that had Leviathan flinching away from the mirror.
“Temper, temper. You’re stubbornandgreedy, Belial,” he mused, and I wished I could reach through the mirror and punch him in the fangs.
“What do you want, Leviathan?” I ground out, eager to end this conversation. “I have much to do and you’re wasting my time.”
“Is your pet’s namemuch?” He chuckled once, clearly humored by his own joke. “I’ll leave you to it then. Get that dusty skeleton of a castle ready. We’ll be seeing you soon.”
His image shimmered, then disappeared completely, leaving me staring at my own reflection.
If Leviathan knew about my little thief, it was safe to assume the rest of my brothers did as well, which left me uneasy. I didn’t trust half of them with dead souls, much less living ones. And least of all with my delicate little human.
I feared what might happen if all of them were in a room with her, but I wasn’t afraid for her. I was afraid forthem. Afraid I would tear them apart limb from limb and disturb the ancient balance between the layers of Hell if they touched her. And I’d do it all with a smile on my face.
Grabbing the dark sheet on the table, I tossed it over the mirror with a curse under my breath, and marched toward the door. As much as I hated to admit it, Leviathan was right. I needed to get the castle in order if the other eight princes of hell would be roaming the halls in three days' time. There was so much to do, so many things to prepare.
I needed to start with moving some of these souls that were waiting for Judgement off the grounds. They all knew I was decades behind by the lack of souls trickling down to the lower layers, but seeing just how many were sitting around would enrage them.
As concerning as that was, the masquerade was the furthest thing from my mind. There was something more important that would take place on All Hallows’ Eve. Time would run out for my little thief at the stroke of midnight, making her totally, irrevocably mine.
The thought spurred me on, my steps quicker as I headed for the Library of Souls. It would take a lot of souls to whip the place into shape in time, but it could be done. It would be the most magnificent party the nine realms of Hell had ever seen.
It would also be the first time in all the realms of Hell there’d been a queen.
I glanced out the window, noting the blood red sky. In my realm, the sky turned red as brutal death at nightfall.
Day one was up.
She still hadn’t called for Belial.
It didn’t matter. I’d see her soon enough as the Lord of Bones. Rayven needed to know I was watching, waiting.
