I wink at him. “Oui.”
“No way.” Lana shakes her head and takes the vodka bottle from my hands. “No more booze for you, Simone. Giving me mental images I’m going to need bleach for.”
“Mmm, no,” Jess says slyly. “I’m okay with the mental images. Chocolate and vanilla swirl.”
I laugh at the sounds Lana makes as she pretends to throw up.
Ever since the Fallen divided us into teams and we started learning the ropes, I’ve watched these people open up. Well, except for Ethan—he’s always been as open as one gets. I never had friends before, and I certainly didn’t expect to find them in Hell.
Well, not everyone is friend material here. There’s Nick, an insufferable Cambion who thinks he’s God’s gift to women—human or Elioud—and just won’t take no for an answer. I’ve felt his gaze follow me one too many times to feel comfortable around him. Once again, I’m starting to feel like I should watch my back, in danger from a man.
Putain d’hommes. Tous les mêmes.
All men are the same. Except perhaps Daniel and Liam.
While Kevin and Ethan are Cambion like me, and Lana is ofmixed heritage—which makes her a veritable celebrity in the fortress—Jess and Liam are Nephilim. I know the Fallen said a few drops don’t make someone good or bad, but I can feel kindness radiating from Liam especially.
“So, we’re going out to Hell tomorrow,” I comment, gesturing for the bottle. I need some liquid courage.
“Maalik and Daniel will be with us,” Lana soothes, handing me the vodka despite saying she’s cutting me off. “We’ll be fine.”
I snort, bringing the liquor to my lips. Lana’s very motherly, always comforting people, always wanting to be the one who does the hard things for us. Maalik must have seen that in her, and that’s why he appointed her our leader.
“Yeah, we will be just fine,” I mutter, my eyes watering from the burn of the alcohol. “Likely get attacked by demons and theseputainmanifestations.”
Ethan slaps my back, making me cough. “Then we’ll kill them all,” he says gleefully.
A loud crash against the door makes us all jump, Jess and I yelping in a way that probably doesn’t befit half-blood soldiers in Hell.
“Stop drinking now, orI’llkill all ofyou,” Maalik’s deep voice booms. “I’m throwing anyone too hungover to keep up tomorrow into the Phlegethon.”
Lana bites her lip to keep from laughing, Kevin looks a bit scared, and Liam’s face turns completely red from obvious embarrassment. Jess and I exchange worried glances while Ethan continues inspecting his nails, seemingly unfazed.
“Yes, Daddy,” he chirps, making our eyes bulge out.
Kevin punches Ethan in the arm. “Are you fucking suicidal?” he hisses just as a low growl comes from outside Lana’s room.
“Get your team in order, Lana,” Maalik says before his heavy footfalls fade into the distance.
“I should make you clean the toilet with a toothbrush,” Lana grumbles, then makes a shooing motion. “Go on, get out of here.”
Quietly, we file out of her room, heading to our own wings with a whispered conversation. Liam and Jess veer off toward the Nephilim quarters, and Ethan, Kevin, and I turn to the Cambion rooms. Kevin’s room is closest, so he’s the first to say good night. Then it’s my turn.
“See you in the morning, Sese,” Ethan says with a smirk, making me roll my eyes and groan. He’s been trying different nicknames to see which one annoys me the most.
“That doesn’t even make sense,” I mutter. “Bonne nuit, Ethan.”
The smell of my room has become familiar over the last few months. Not the home I ever imagined I’d have, but a home nonetheless. That’s why I know instantly that something isn’t right. That someone else is here. Someone who doesn’t belong.
I take a sharp breath and step back on instinct, but the door slams shut behind me.
“Don’t scream,” a familiar smarmy voice says. “It’s just me.”
I whirl around to find our most annoying classmate, Nick, lounging with his back resting against the closed door.
“Nicholas,” I hiss, my heart lodged in my throat. “Why are you in my room? Leave, now.”
He rolls his eyes and takes a step closer. “Are all foreigners this rude?”
