Chapter One
Rayven
If there wasone thing I'd learned since becoming the Queen of Hell, it was that monsters weren't just demon lords or undead beasts. They were human too.
Sometimes, humans were the worst kind of monsters.
The longer I spent as Queen of the Underworld, the more I understood my king’s distaste for mankind. They defiled everything, including death.
Especiallydeath.
Before I was kidnapped by the Lord of Bones, I was guilty of such sins, and disregarded the sanctity of the dead. I robbed graves to pay my bills and survive, but stealing heirlooms was nothing compared to these vile men’s transgressions. A disturbing number of despicable souls came to our corner of Hell for Judgement, most of them male.
Rapists, murderers, abusers; the worst of the worst passed through our gates.
In the beginning, I’d questioned if I had what it took to pass Judgement on them. After all, I hadn’t been anything more than a grave thief before the Lord of Bones dragged me down to his realm to punish me.
Since then, I’d learned. I’d grown. It had taken falling in love with the god of the dead to not only appreciate the beauty of death, but to revere it. And in my newest role, assisting Belial with his earthly duties, I’d become death’s guardian.
That's how I ended up outside the Cambridge Funeral Home tonight, staring up at the brick exterior with a navy awning above the front door. The icy winter air prickled over my exposed skin like tiny knives, and I tugged my coat tighter around me.
Somehow, by a dark miracle, I’d convinced my demon king to let me come alone tonight. It wasn’t that I didn’t want his company; every second he was away had a hole burning through my chest that only his presence could soothe. But as the newly-crowned queen of Hell, I wanted to prove myself.
I was strong. Powerful. Capable.
I’d faced off against the worst horrors of the Hells. Bone monsters, a carnivorous tree, despicable demon lords, giant snakes, and worse. Handling a bit of human scum would be a walk in the park—or morgue, in this case.
I tempered my nerves with a deep breath. It wasn’t the man inside that had my stomach in knots. I was keeping a secret from Belial. If he found out, he’d be furious with me for insisting I do this alone. And, even after a year, the Lord of Bones’ ire still struck thunder into my core.
This might be my last shot at carrying out my duties without him, and I couldn't squander it.
I trudged toward the door and grabbed the handle, finding it locked. I figured it would be. This monster had been up to his sick shit for long enough that he would have been caught by now if he made simple mistakes like leaving doors unlocked.
Pulling a bobby pin out of my long, braided hair, I sank to one knee. It had been a while since I used my lock-picking skills. The satisfying click a few minutes later had a smile spreading my lips.
Still got it,I thought as I stood again and headed inside.
The lobby of the funeral home was cozy, inviting. It was a long, narrow room with a desk sitting front and center. A few tables and chairs were situated throughout, but I couldn’t see much past the explosion of decorations lighting up the space.
My eyes immediately caught on a tall, glittering spruce tree against the far wall. Trimmed in every shade of red and gold, its ornaments shone in the room’s dim lighting. It was beautiful, the brightest and most vibrant thing I’d seen in a long time. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Was it Christmas time already?
I couldn’t remember the last decent holiday I’d had. Was it back when I was a child, before my father died? I’d been so young then, I wasn’t even sure if the memories I had were real or something I’d fabricated along the way.
What would it be like to have a memorable Christmasnow?
A weight formed in my chest, a tug of yearning as I admired the festive tree.
If only I could have a Christmas tree of my own in the castle. Maybe it would make things feel a little more lively, a difficult task in the land of the dead.
Would Belial approve? He wasn’t the type to observe human customs like that. Though…
Christmas could be the perfect time to share the secret I’d been keeping from him.
A knot of emotion swelled in my throat, and I shoved the thoughts away. There was no time to dwell on it now.
Not while I had a monster to kill.
