“They don’t listen to me. Besides weren’t the sins supposed to be controlling them? Why don’t you turn the inquisition on them.”
“I don’t quite care for your arrogance, Ledger. Maybe it’s time that our deal meets its end.” I flick my wrist and re-open the wound I’d just healed for him. “Didn’t you ever hear to not bite the hand that feeds?”
“Stop. Fuck. I’m sorry.” He chokes out, spitting blood from his mouth all down his faded blue hospital gown.
“Do yourself a favor, and fucking listen before I claim that soul of yours.” He has the good sense to shut up. “Now, that I have your attention, I need you to do something for me. Call the rest of your little society and meet at the fraternity house. Once there, call your contact down here for further instruction. Do you have any news for me, or have you been uselessly lying about?”
“I have it on good authority that when that witch went through the veil, a bunch of souls escaped. They’ve been running amok on the island.”
A Cheshire like smile breaks out over my face. “Thank you, Leighton. You’ve proved to be useful after all.”
With escaped souls, I’ve just found a way to occupy Hades. He’ll have to go up top to round them up, leaving me free to pursue his daughter and take Pandora’s box for myself. I’d use it to rid myself of all these men who tried to control me and become the new Ruler of the Underworld. A Queen of Hell like I deserved to be.
CHAPTER33
Chapter Thirty-Three
SALEM
SONG: WITCH HUNT BY VISTA
Our descent down the mountain is eerily quiet. We’re spent from the nonstop running. Skye seems folded into herself, mulling over the bomb I just dropped on her. I don’t push the subject, instead trusting that she’ll come to me when she’s ready and hopefully accept me as her sister with open arms.
The terrain changes the closer we get to the other side of the mountain. The path widens enough that we aren’t threatened with death every time we step. Sloan struggles with the hike since he’s stuck wearing just his underwear. The rocks dig into his feet as he walks, and I can tell from his limping that he’s in pain.
Satan follows closely behind, keeping up with us despite going toe to toe with a dragon. He’s amazingly resilient and doesn’t seem to want to rip the guys’ throats out now that their demons have been discarded. We tied them up with some rope that was in Graham’s backpack, but who know how long it will hold, or when someone will find them.
“Is that a fucking town?” Graham asks, breaking up the silence. I squint to see where he’s looking. Sure enough, there seems to be a sprawling amount of buildings off in the distance.
There’s no way we can make it there by tonight. We should rest, and soon. My legs feel like they’re moments away from collapsing beneath me. My feet are rubbed raw, making me miss the fuck out of my magic. I wonder if Skye’s is similar to mine, or wholly different since she has two gods as her parents. Would that make her a… goddess?
“Woah, Salem. You good?” Pierce grabs onto my arm, steadying me. I didn’t even realize I’d spaced out and started to sway.
“We should stop.” Walker says, frown affixed to his stern brow. I want to quip at them both that I don’t need to be babied, but I’m too tired to argue.
“Looks like there’s a cave up ahead. We can rest there.” Garrison says, jogging over lips pursed as he looks me over. “Do you think you could make it?”
“Seriously, stop fussing over me. I’m fine.” I admit, it’s a little cute how they’re fawning over me like concerned mother hens.
I manage to hobble to the lip of the cave. It’s dark so we can’t tell for sure how deep it goes, but it gives us enough coverage to tuck in out of sight. I slide down the wall and rest my aching legs and feet. Walker crouches down in front of me and slips my shoes off, taking my feet in his large hands. My eyes roll back into my head as he massages the base of my foot.
“That feels so good.”
“Keep making noises like that and I’ll take you right here in front of everyone.” I let out a soft laugh that quickly turns into a moan as he digs against the arch. His whiskey-colored eyes flash and I suck my lips in behind my teeth with a suppressed chuckle.
Satan plops down next to me and I pat its large head, scratching behind its ear. He leans into me and quickly falls asleep.
“I can’t believe how you can trust that thing.” Sloan scoffs. “It nearly tore my ass in half.”
“Maybe you deserved it.” Pierce says, knocking his elbow into Sloan’s.
“Can I see your flashlight, Skye?” Lukas asks. She tosses it and he catches it easily. He shines it around the cavernous space, snagging on what looks like a lifelike statue clad in armor.
“What the fuck is this doing in here?” He gets closer. I can barely make it out from here, but it looks like its hands are up in surrender.
“It’s as big as you are.” Pierce says, walking over to his brother. Lukas shoves Pierce’s chest with a smirk.
“Asshole.”
