“More than you think. Beatrix always tells me to go out for the evening and get some air, but I get nervous with everything going on. I don’t want to seem disobedient, ya know?”
“You? Worried about disobedience? Seems Gehenna has done some good for you,” I joked with a wink.
He chuckled loosely. “It’s not a position I enjoy, admittedly, but it’s where my ducks lie. I know, now, to keep my mouth shut. My mouth is what got me in this position, after all.”
“It was more than your mouth, but I see what you mean.”
Decimus grew incredibly quiet all of a sudden, so quiet that it was unsettling. I raised an eyebrow at his silence, and this made him exhale loudly. “Nick? Can you be honest with me about something?”
“Of course.”
He trailed his finger along the inside of his glass, watching the liquid spin inside. “You didn’t lie to me, about being Gehenna-bound, did you? It wasn’t payback for what I did to you?”
I sat up straighter. “I would never do something so cruel.”
“I just… I feel like, I mean… I know I was cruel and all, but was I that bad? Was I really meant to go to Gehenna for being… for not… keeping my hands to myself?” he weakly asked.
I blinked once before realization hit me. “I… don’t know, Decimus. I mean, your soul was pure black, which means you are one hundred percent destined for Gehenna. My dad and I were certain about the state you were in.”
“I see.” He rolled his thumbs repeatedly as he thought of how to ask his next question. “You don’t think… Peregrine did something, do you? Could he, even, do something?”
I made a sound of disgust. “Peregrine might be powerful, but-… well now, wait a moment here.” I played with the zipper of my jacket as I thought to myself. “He always says how important I am to him…”
“That’s what I was hinting at. Did he, maybe, damn me because of what I did to you?”
“Sounds like we should find out,” I snorted, standing immediately.
Decimus shot up and grabbed my arm to shake me. “No, wait!”
“Decimus, I am not letting this slide, not for a single second. If he played with one ofmysouls…” my voice darkened to my Grim voice, “then he will face consequences far greater than what he thinks he can dish out.”
“Let’s just think for a second, ok? We need to keep alliances where we have them, especially if we are going after Pandora. Peregrine needs to keep things in line in Gehenna while we deal with our topside crap. I can handle my job for the time being, especially if it helps the cause.”
“I cannot just let this go!” I fumed.
He took my shoulders and made me look him in the eye, where tears were collecting along his lash line. “I understand your anger and feel it just as if not more than you, and I appreciate your willingness to protect me, but we need to keep clear heads here. We need stability in any way we can have it, and me having guaranteed time to help you with Pandora is a necessity. Besides…” he brought his voice down low, “Peregrine is in control of your dad right now. Do you really want to piss him off?”
I simmered down to a tolerable temperature to his relief. “I see what you mean.”
“Good.”
I gripped the hands he had on me firmly as I made my next promise. “I swear, Decimus, that if there has been any injustice brought on to you, that I will fix it. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“I’m surprised you want to, after all I’ve done…” he admitted.
I smirked half-heartedly. “At a base level, it’s my job to correct mistakes made by Purgatory. On a personal level, I owe you for all your help on Earth, and for you helping me with Pandora.” I held my hand out. “Maybe we can start over, if you’re willing to be a better person.”
“Keep your shit together and it’s a deal,” he teased.
“I can do that.”
Chapter thirty-three
Take What You Want and Leave
Nicodemus
“So, are we all ready for the ceremony this weekend?” Mom chimed as she joined us at our lunch table. She carried a tray of apple slices, yogurt, and an egg salad sandwich, which was her go to lunch most of the time.
