He shrugs. “Call it… shifting allegiances.”
“Which means?”
“Since you’re going to die, I might as well allow you into the Hellscape hierarchy.”
He picks at something under his nails, and I shudder at the thought of what lies beneath. Innards? Brain matter? A combination of both?
Revolting.
He rolls his eyes. “Jambalaya, Victoria. I do enjoy a human meal every now and again.”
I shake my head, angry we’ve veered so far off topic. “Hellscape hierarchy…” I remind him.
“Oh, yes. That. Lucifer handed me the power himself. Since he was going to be largely MIA.” He shrugs. “His absence played right into my hand. It allowed me time to create division and doubt in our leader. Low demons are a very needy bunch. They require leadership and purpose.”
I scoff. “Massacring humans is a heck of a purpose.”
He smacks his lips, feigning boredom. “That, my dear, is simply fun. Our purpose is far greater. The days of lurking in the shadows while the likes of you roam Earth unscathed are over. We’re taking our rightful place.”
“You intend to enact Hell on Earth?”
“It’s high time.” He snaps his finger, and his former glamour is back. He cracks his neck, stretching his hands out. “I have a few humans to corrupt. This… talk will have to continue later.”
Nolda turns to walk away, and I call after him, “Nolda. Wait.”
He looks over his shoulder, one brow peaked in curiosity.
“If I don’t have power here, why not let me out of this cage?”
It’s a worthless request, but one I’m making to stall long enough for more information.
“You wouldn’t be able to handle Hell, angel. They’d rip your arms from your pretty torso or tie you up and do things to you that… well… would break your beautiful body.”
“And that’s a problem for you?”
“Like I said… I want you in one piece so that whenIfuck you, Lucifer will have to witness it.”
My nose scrunches at his vile threat.
“You’re disgusting. And out of your damn mind if you think you’ll ever touch me.”
His lip curls up into a sinister grin. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and without moving he somehow manages to do just what I said he never would.
An invisible tongue licks up my cheek, leaving a sticky residue behind.
I gag at the feel of the slimy yet gritty organ as it trails a line up the other side of my face.
He smiles. “I will have you, Victoria. I’ll have you until your organs spill from your orifices.”
My stomach bottoms out at the mere thought and bile rises to the back of my throat, nearly choking me.
“Never,” I groan, battling the need to be sick.
“It appears you don’t know how this works. In Hell, you are powerless. Weak. Unable to fight back. You’re merely mortal.” He chuckles. “In Hell, my kind make the rules.”
I turn my head away, unwilling to show him how unsettled I am. I won’t allow him to win this war of wills. He might have the upper hand, but I won’t go down without a fight.
“I’ll see you soon, Victoria.”
