Sonam’s behind me, kicking a man in the stomach with such force that the poor bastard crumples in half. The captain fends off a woman next, sweeping her legs out from under her before she can do me any harm. He fights off another, and then another,protectingme. The chaos unfolds around us. I could crush them all one by one, but not like this. Not against a seemingly endless horde.
“Take off your mask,” the captain commands. “We need your fangs.”
My insides churn. I don’t want to take it off. He doesn’t understand the true extent of the hatred I have for my own scarred face.
I spot the star god safe on his throne. Don’t these people realize their efforts are wasted on each other? He is but one against the powerful many. They don’t yet know the strength they hold in numbers.
“With me!” I shout over my shoulder, barging my way through the crowd.
Sonam follows without question, keeping pace as we charge toward the star god. The second judge of Hell seems unperturbed at first, but the closer we get, the more his concern begins to rise.
The star god stands abruptly, holding out a hand as if to stop us. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s far enough!”
Faster than I can blink, Sonam has his sword pressed to the god’s throat. When he tries to squirm away, I stand my ground, flashing my teeth with a deep, rumbling growl. If I must, I will tear my mask off and give him something to fear. This god may thrive on chaos and torment, but I can smell his cowardice deep within.
“Command them to stop,” Sonam orders. “Or I’ll separate your head from your shoulders.”
I glance at the captain. “I thought you said there are consequences to killing a god.”
“Minds can change.”
I don’t know whether I want to laugh or groan, so it comes out as a short huff. “Typical. You change the rules whenever it suits you.”
“A thousand humble pardons, Fox. I’ll see to it that you get the next one.”
“That best be a promise, Dinner.”
A grin ghosts across his lips, though the glint in his eyes is undeniable.
The god sneers. “Unhand me at once, you filth.”
“Let us all move on from this place,” I say firmly. “Enough of this senseless violence.”
His face twists up as he laughs, sharp and sinister. “You believe them trapped here?” he asks. “The doors are unlocked, as it were. There’s nothing stopping these cretins from walking on through to the next court. They’re here because they want to be.”
Sonam frowns. “What do you mean?”
The star god presses his lips into a thin line, unimpressed. “Allow me to impart a little wisdom. Everything in Hell is about choices. If you wish to stop fighting, then stop fighting. These souls are here to redeem themselves, after all—to correct their wrongs before they’re deemed ready for reincarnation—and what better way to purge their worldly sins than by giving them the chance to change? I’m not to blame for their violent tendencies. What they do is up to them—I just happen to enjoy watching mortals make fools of themselves.”
Irritation simmers beneath the surface of my skin. “Maybe they weren’t aware they had a choice.”
“Everyonehas a choice,” he replies simply. “Everyone.” The star god leans toward me and chuckles, evidently unafraid of Sonam’s blade. “You made a choice once, too, didn’t you? He told me all about you. What a pleasure to meet you in the flesh.”
My stomach churns, a sudden chill gripping my spine. It does not bodes well that the Maskmaker has been talking about me. “Where is he?”
“He came running this way,” the star god answers. “Didn’t stay long. A shame, really. I would have loved to catch up. He has plans, or so he keeps telling me. They are far too important to stay for very long.”
That coward—always running away. First he ruins my life, and now he’s too frightened to face me for longer than a minute. He’s always been keen to show off, but I thought he was above something as pathetic as taunting. If he knows I’m here, surely he knows his time is limited. After all these years of searching for him, I’m finally one step closer to taking my revenge.
“What is he doing down here?” I ask. “What’s he planning?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“I would not ask otherwise, you snake—”
“Put the sword away, friend,” the star god says to Sonam, ignoring me entirely. “The way to the Court of Hunger is just through there. Go on. I won’t stop you.” He gestures toward a moon gate, nearly identical to the one that saw us here.
The captain and I exchange a look. It’s brief, but it’s enough for a silent conversation to pass between us. I’m genuinely surprised when he takes a step back, gesturing with a subtle sweep of his hand. An invitation to take the lead. How uncharacteristically polite. He would have made quite the prince.
