I didn’t have to be afraid.
All of Belial’s subjects were coming to see me be crowned. There were no demon lords left to disrupt the procession.
Everything would go according to plan.
Belial took me to the library first to deal with Catherine’s soul. Holga and Cecil met us there, the five of us standing in front of the secretary's desk. Catherine was no longer naked, insteaddressed in a pale gown that made her look more like a ghost than anything.
She was solemn, her eyes downcast, hands folded in front of her. Belial didn’t address her, instead nudging me forward, encouraging me to do what I’d intended to do since we returned to Limbo.
The time had finally come.
“We are here to discuss what should become of your soul,” I said to her gently. Her eyes slowly lifted to meet mine when she realized I was addressing her. “I have a proposal for you, if you would accept it.”
Her head canted to the side at my words, curiosity lighting up her features. “What kind of…proposal?”
“Paradise,” I said, holding up an empty soul book for her to see. “A place offered to the most deserving souls. You would spend eternity reliving your most precious memories.”
A tiny gasp escaped her, her eyes bouncing between me and the soul book in my hands. “And if I refuse?”
To be honest, I hadn’t considered what would happen if Catherine didn’t want to live out the rest of eternity in paradise. I guessed we could shove her into the book. As I understood it, she wouldn’t remember any of this anyway, so if we had to force her into her happiest memories, I wasn’t opposed.
“You will be sent to a lower layer of Hell,” Belial interjected sternly. “You will be under Rayven’s rule, for she is the queen of the other eight realms now.”
Catherine quickly shook her head. “No, I…I don’t want to go back there. Please, I—”
“It’s okay,” I assured her, smiling for her benefit. I could tell she was terrified, the dark memories of what had happened to her below playing over her features. Aside from what I’d witnessed, I had no idea what had happened to her, and I didn’t want to know. “Souls don’t typically get to decide what happensto them, but these aren’t typical circumstances. If it was me, I’d choose paradise too.”
Catherine’s gaze nervously flashed in Belial’s direction, a mix of heavy feelings banked behind her eyes. There was still a lot of resentment there, and I couldn’t blame her, but after a long moment, the dark-haired woman slowly nodded to show her respect. Then, she looked at me and the blank soul book I held in my hands.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
She wasn’t thanking Belial. I doubted she’d ever forgive him enough for that. She was thankingme. After all, I’d been adamant since we escaped the eighth layer of Hell that her soul should finally be put to rest. Before any other business was handled, before any other souls were dealt with, hers would be first.
She’d waited long enough.
“You don't have to thank me.” I shook my head. After everything she’d endured—being robbed of her mortal life, dragged to Hell, forced to suffer and be tortured by Belphegor—living out the rest of her existence in her own personal paradise was the least she deserved. “It’s my honor.”
Catherine sank to one knee, kneeling before me, and a fist clenched my heart. As much as I admired the loyalty I’d been shown by the souls in Hell, I didn’t think I’d ever deserve it. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to it. She bowed her head, waiting, and I glanced at Belial.
He’d removed his mask for the occasion—he rarely wore it anymore. He looked stunningly handsome in his black formal attire, tailored to fit the lithe body of his lesser form to mouth-watering perfection. He nodded slightly, and I opened the book in my hands, staring down at the blank pages, pages that would soon be imprinted with Catherine’s most cherished memories.
Whatever they were, I hoped they were beautiful.
In a swirl of blue magic, Catherine’s soul disappeared, pulled into the book’s contents. Traces of the glow lingered around the book for a breath before fading completely.
I closed the book, running my fingers gingerly over the leather-bound cover before turning to hand it to Cecil, who’d been standing idly by, waiting for instructions.
“Thank you, Cecil,” I told the librarian with a smile.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said before turning to hobble down the aisle to return the book to its new home.
“I’m not the queen yet,” I whispered to Belial. The corner of his mouth lifted in a devilish smirk.
“Almost.” He pulled me into him and pressed his lips to my temple. “In fact, everyone should be gathering in the throne room now. We should get a move on.”
My insides pretzeled. It was coronation day. In a very short amount of time, I would be crowned Queen of Limbo or Souls or Bones…whatever my title would officially be. I’d wear the spine of my ex-boyfriend on my head and sit upon the Lord of Bones’ throne.
“Belial,” I said, my feet rooting to the spot.
