Prologue
Cain
After Road to Worth
“Ah, Cain. Please come in,” my father says as I attempt to pass by his throne room.
I strut in and surveil the room, easily finding my father entertaining another individual. The room never changes with its long, silken drapes on the cave walls masking the dreary ambiance of his life. Plush rugs are spread out along the bare floor for his guests to grovel before him when greeting him. Dad has always wanted subjects to bow to his power, and now it looks like he finally has it because he isn’t ever going to get it from me.
His chair sits higher than the other chairs at the small, intimate table, but that’s by design, same as the chair that’s to his right, mine. The right-hand chair is one step lower than his, showing I am next in line. So, judging by the hasty variety of food and drinks laid out, this is an emergency meeting.
Call me a sadist, but I love watching the domesticated staff quiver in fear as I take my seat to my father’s right, where I truly belong. The man opposite me looks too feminine to even wield the sword on his hip, let alone allow it to hang there. The crazy Thunderstag crown he wears only looks ridiculous on his head. Why slaughter an animal to prove your worth? It’s killing other supernaturals who are our equals or greater in power that proves our worthiness. Better yet, why not try to kill those who are unkillable; actually test themselves?
“Cain?”
I turn to regard my father slowly, paying no mind that he’s been trying to get my attention for a while now, and not caring that I’m making the man before me uncomfortable as he meets my gaze.
“Yes.”
“This is King Elverson of the Fae Kingdoms. He is our partner in this conquest.”
Ahh, so this is the Uncle of that half-breed, Angel, I met a while ago.
She came into my bedroom uninvited a few months ago, or maybe a year ago, time is irrelevant for me. The fact is, she interrupted a particularly decent nightly blowjob, a nap, and possibly a round two, asking for my assistance to procure her some God’s Trumpet. She claimed it would benefit both of us with our shared nuisance, and even offered herself up on a platter as payment, but I know when I see clickbait. After hearing the puny pampered princess gripe about her cousin and wanting to take out both of her enemies, I made a deal with her, not knowing of my familial relations to Nerezza at the time.
I’m not one to feel guilty about what I’ve done to my little mouse. If anything, I’m owed a favor, and unbeknownst to Angel, she’s helped forge my next step to get closer to Rez.
A clearing of a throat pulls me back to reality, and I lazily look at the so-called King of the Elves before me.
“And what do you get out of this?” I ask, not caring that my family already settled all of this before my escape.
He gives me a slight smile, not at all rattled by my question, but my assessment of him doesn’t change. He still looks like a prick.
“I do believe that is none of your concern. What should be your concern is that your old vessel has made it out of the Trail of Worth.” He pauses and looks for a reaction, which I sorely don’t give, and his eyes narrow. “Ah, I see you already know. Did you know this Nerezza girl has opened up the portals once again?”
Again, I give nothing away, and red begins to creep up his throat, a sure sign of his anger or embarrassment.
“What about Asmodeus?” my father asks urgently.
Asmodeus. The prince of Hell who rules Level Two and has publicly come out in resistance to L.A.M.B. Too bad he’s not strong enough to back up his many claims. Dad knows how to pick them.
If I’m forced to be sitting here through this torture, I may as well find some joy in their mutual suffering by not saying a word.
Not trusting the drinks on the table,I motion for a drink from a different servant.
“That heathen,” King Elverson growls. “He has somehow learned how to control or wield dark magic.” His hand absently caresses his throat as his gaze wanders off for a moment. “He’s becoming out of control,” he mumbles under his breath, dropping his hand. Clearing his throat, he meets Father’s eyes once more.
“No matter how much power he has, Asmodeus wasn’t able to penetrate L.A.M.B.’s defenses in time, so it will only be a matter of time before he enacts revenge. And for you, Cain—” He looks at me with unreadable emotion. “Only time will tell whenthe Hellhounds of Lilith herself will be on your trail.” A flicker of a smile follows the slight threat in his tone, and my eyes darken, causing the room to drop in temperature.
Shadows start to curl and slither out from the walls toward me at my bidding, and I watch as Elverson’s eyes widen at the display. Honestly, I would be terrified also, since it’s hard to tell between my shadows and the Sulks to begin with, so who knows what’s trailing closer to him.
“Cain,” my father snaps. “This is not how we treat our guests,” he reminds me.
I only chuckle as I pull them behind me and take a deep drink as I continue to stare at Elverson.
“Is it true you are trying to get your hands on this Nerezza girl?” Elverson asks smugly as he reaches for a drink flask from his hip, freely taking a sip while watching for my father’s reaction.
Ahh, so, he’s not stupid either. I wouldn’t trust anything on this table, and I fucking live here.
