“You’ve had many names throughout history, even when you were trapped in purgatory,” Shem explained. “In Egypt, they called you Osiris, but I played your role for most of that time period. I managed the scythe while you and Ramel were gone for millennia,” Shem said, sliding his hand fondly over the gravestones as wewalked. He paused over one stone labeledHecate.His expression changed, and for a moment, I thought he looked devastatingly sad.
“Who is Hecate?” I asked softly, and he glanced at me, seeming startled that I had noticed him pause by the elaborate grave. Her tombstone was carved with the phases of the moon and depictions of the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.
“Hecate and I spent a lot of time together when you were away,” he murmured softly. “She was one of the last goddesses Yahweh was able to extinguish.” Shem traced the letters of her name gently. “I think Yahweh actually got the idea to turn you mortal from her.”
I frowned. “Yahweh wanted to turn her mortal too?”
Shem shook his head, his lips forming a firm line. “No. She vowed to turn herself mortal, to try to escape him. We suspected He was somehow putting the other gods to sleep, and she thought He wouldn’t find her if she hid her essence in a mortal host.” Regret flickered across his face. “Unfortunately, He put her to sleep before she could properly escape.”
I suddenly felt angry. How dare Yahweh think He could wipe out an entire race of gods?
Ramel stepped closer to Shem, clearly upset that his friend was in pain. I thought for a moment he might reach out to him or offer some words of comfort, but instead, he turned to me.
“You, too, had become suspicious that Yahweh was beginning to target the other gods and goddesses after the flood. It’s why you created the scythe and impregnated Hell with your magic. You wanted there to be a way for us to operate death in case anything were to happen to you,” Ramel said somberly.
“Is there any way to wake them?” I wondered out loud as the demons beckoned for me to follow them. They led me on a slow walk through the rest of the tombstones. We passed the graves of Ra, Isis, Ares, and the Holly and Oak Kings next. Their energies seemed to lay just beneath my feet, and they all reached for me as I walked by, as if begging me to help them.
“If there is, we haven’t found one,” Ramel said. “Though if we woke them all, it would likely result in a war. Many mortals would perish.”
“Why didn’t Yahweh put me to sleep?” I asked, and Shem smirked at me.
“Thatisthe question, isn’t it?” he purred, and Ramel laced his fingers through mine as we walked.
“Our theory is it is because you’re the antithesis of His magic. You’re two sides of the same coin, and for that reason, you are evenly matched. Coming against one another would likely result in mutual destruction. Without your magic, there is no death, which means there would no longer be any way to continue the natural cycle of life through His Sorter of Souls.
“The other gods are more disposable. For example, humans will still go to war without Ares to spur them on; they just no longer have a god to barter with to givethem an edge. However, without death, they literally cannot die… and that, my love, would fuck things up for everyone, including Yahweh.”
I gazed around at all the tombs filled with sleeping gods and suddenly felt overwhelmed.
“I don’t know why you’re telling me this or what I’m supposed to do with this information,” I murmured softly. Ramel and Shem exchanged a glance and shrugged.
“On the off-chance that you don’t reclaim your memories on your birthday, we thought it would be a good idea to show you who you are and where you come from. You will always be the Queen of Hell, Lilith. You can fight us and try to run from this as much as you want, but it won’t matter. This is who you are; it is who you will always be. Hopefully, knowing a little bit more about your past will make the transition easier.” Ramel tugged on my collar gently.
“If I’m the queen, then aren’t you supposed to listen tome? You two are controlling assholes, and you never listen when I say no.”
Shem shrugged. “You can try to control us, but you’re not strong enough. Until then, we’re in charge.” He made it sound so simple and matter-of-fact. Like that was just the way things were.
“If I were you, I would be fucking worried about me getting my powers back then,” I grumbled, and they both chuckled darkly.
“We’re looking forward to it, actually.” Ramel smirked at me, and I glowered at him.
“We like it when you try to fight back,” Shem purred, sliding up behind me and tugging me into him. He bit the side of my neck hard enough that I yelped. I squirmed and tried to pull away, but he growled into my throat.
“Yeah, just like that.” He nipped at my ear and increased his grip on my hips. I felt a rush of heat pool in my core, and I realized with a start that I was beginning to associate their forceful behavior with sex and pleasure. I licked my lips in anticipation as I watched Ramel’s eyes darken while Shem feasted on the sensitive patch of skin just below my ear.
“Hold her wrists behind her back,” Ramel ordered. So quickly that I barely felt him move; Shem had both my arms twisted behind my back in a vice grip. I jerked away from him, trying to tear free, but he was so strong I could barely move. I realized with a start that there were no chains out here. If I was ever going to get away from them, this would probably be my best bet.
You’re never going to get away from them.
That mean little voice was back. I remembered everything Ramel and Shem had just said. They told me that I had made this place and that I belonged here. The burning in my core implied that some fucked up part of me didn’t truly want to be away from them. What type of a life could I hope to live now, knowing all that I knew? If I ever did get away, what would happen to me? I would likely bescooped up by Yahweh, who was decidedly even worse than the two demons who had claimed ownership of me.
Almost as if Ramel could see the conflict in my eyes, he stepped forward with a smug look on his perfect face. He curled a finger under my chin as I struggled against Shem and tilted my face up to look at him.
“Do you think things are going to be any different when you get your memories back, deathtrap?”
I bucked against Shem’s steely grip and glared up at Ramel, hating how beautiful he was. As Shem tightened his hold on me and Ramel raked his gaze over my body, I felt my heart rate speed up and my nipples peak beneath my hoodie.
“I think when I get my powers back, you won’t be able to control me anymore,” I spat, and he chuckled. He leaned forward and pulled my bottom lip into his mouth, sucking on it so hard I gasped.
