He barks a laugh. “I’m sure I remember you telling me you’d have the devil’s nuts the first time we met.”
“Simpler times, Satan. Before things got messy and the devil tried to make friends.”
His lips tighten. Somewhere in the depths of my anger, I understand what he did and why he did it. Doesn’t make the experience any less terrifying, and a tiny nagging slither of doubt now exists that he may carry through his threat in different circumstances.
“What’s the tax?” Duncan asks, circling an arm around Marsha’s waist.
Lucifer locks eyes with Duncan. “The act that is always violent, no matter how one glams it up.”
“Blood,” I realize. “The realm wants our blood.”
* * *
Violence is a maze split into concentric rings with the mansion at the very center. We stand on a grassy hill, at the very edge of the realm which leads us into an open area of sandy rings. The scene unfolds as we draw closer.
“Are they fighting?” I wonder.
Lucifer glances at a pair of males fist fighting in the closest circle. “It’s where most of Hell’s warriors are trained. The damned that are sent here provide them with endless practice.”
I stare as the six and a half foot muscular male clocks the smaller guy in the face. He crumples to the ground, clutching his face, then rolls to stare at the thunderous sky and receives a boot to his ribs. I wince. I don’t know what the guy did, so I’m not stupid enough to have sympathy, but cracked ribs hurt like a bitch.
“Get up,” the larger guy commands. The one on the floor shakes his head as he struggles to breathe. Reaching down, he grabs him and puts him back on his feet. The guy drops to his knees and starts praying for mercy.
“Goliath,” Lucifer hollers. The giant slams his foot against the man’s spine, breaking his back and killing him.
The giant spins towards us. “Lucifer,” he bellows. “When are you going to start sending me worthy opponents to train? These men grow weaker each decade. Their tiny soft hands and brains couldn’t defend against a goat, never mind a warrior.”
“TheGoliath?” I say as we reach the edge of the sand circle.
Lucifer shoots me a smirk. “Goliath is one of my generals.”
“But a tiny man with a sling defeated him.”
Goliath rubs his forehead. I narrow my eyes, spotting the telltale dint. “When are people going to let that go? The sun was in my eyes, I couldn’t see from the glare.”
A burst of laughter erupts from my mouth. I slap my hands across it and hope I’ve not offended him. “Sorry,” I say with a smile. “I understand what it’s like to be judged from one event.”
He tips his head at me and walks closer. Archan inches nearer. “Who are you, pretty girl?”
“Natia Waterford, scapegoat for man’s sins and misdeeds. The original temptress.”
Goliath throws his head back, his long dark hair ruffling in the breeze as he folds his arms over his tattooed chest. “Pandora, silly woman, man sinned long before your creation. They just hid it better and were judged for it less.”
Zac pushes forward and clasps arms with Goliath. “Good to see you, Ares. How long has it been?” Goliath asks, looking thoughtful.
“The night of the ball back in—” Zac tips his head, trying to recall.
“It doesn’t matter,” Lucifer says. “We need to get to the mansion. What areas are we likely to come up against Zeus’s forces?”
Goliath rubs his chin. “The inner two rings have remained locked down, even since Lawrence’s death. About time, by the way.”
Lucifer nods. “What’s the inner rings?” I wonder.
“Sexual Violence and Terrorism, including mass murder and genocide.”
I swallow the lump of fear. The first women have been taught to fear since the dawn of time, not that it’s exclusive to the female species. The second is where unspeakable acts of violence against the innocent have been committed.
“You’ll be clear through my area and then Murder. Do you want an escort?”
