Page 8 of In Between Death and the Devil

I stood in the doorway and gaped. At the convent, I’d slept in a shared room with nine other people. This was half that size, and it was for only two. The mirrored walls were thankfully too smoky to make out anything more than vague shapes and they were softened by green, velvet-like drapes. Balls of light hovered near the stone ceiling, illuminating the shadow seams at the edges, and a fireplace outlined in marble sat on one wall.

Closing the door, I sank onto the closest of the two beds. It was so soft I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep. I was used to a hard pallet. This felt like a marshmallow in comparison.

A salamander popped its head out of the flames, making me jump. Its snout had the distinctive marking of a yellow starburst. It cocked its head, as if watching me. I’d never seen one this close before. The dormitories at the convent didn’t have fires. There was more intelligence in its eyes than I expected. I stared back at it for a few heartbeats, feeling as if it was taking my measure, before it darted back into the flames and vanished.

“Oh, good.” The door swung open and Bea stepped into the room. “We’re roommates.” Her smile was warm and I found my lips curving in response. I hadn’t paid much attention to the name next to mine—Beatrice, which I now knew was Bea’s full name. It didn’t matter who I roomed with, but I was relieved it was her and not a complete stranger.

She strode over to the other bed. “This is so nice.” She ran her hand along the plush quilt and my relief evaporated.

“It is.” I swallowed, looking at the luxurious furnishings.

“It’s a bit odd, isn’t it? The contrast between where we’ve come from and this.”

“Yes.” My laugh was shaky.

“Did you sleep on the floor at your convent, too?”

“We had pallets.”

“Such luxury.” Bea’s teasing expression faded when she saw me flinch. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make light of it.”

I shook my head, my throat thick. “You’re not wrong.”

She frowned, staring at me as if trying to figure me out.

I shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Did your transfer seem to go on forever?”

“Yes. It took so long I thought I was lost.” Bea shivered.

“Me, too.” Relief washed over me that my experience wasn’t unique. “And that hook in the heart was brutal.”

“Hook?”

Or maybe it was. “The pain that seemed to never end.” My stomach curdled at Bea’s blank look. “You were as shaky as I was. I thought⁠—”

“Yes. The pain from the poison was intense. And then the interminable wait. Plus, it’s not easy waking up naked in a room full of strangers.”

“Right. That’s what I meant.” It wasn’t, but Bea didn’t need to know about the hook or the man I’d seen. No one needed to know about that. At least not until I understood what it was and knew I could trust them.

Casting about for a change of topic, I picked up a black card with silver writing from my nightstand and handed it to her. “Look at this.”

You are invited

To a Feast of Welcome

In the Great Hall of the Devil’s Castle

Indulge your pleasures and desires

In celebration of your new lives

My heart sank at the reminder that we were expected to spend the evening with Tempters, and with the Devil. A new set of worries settled on my shoulders, wondering if he’d declare he’d been cheated and send me to his Dungeon, even though I was here to become a Judge and not a soul passing through. Would he punish me for eluding him?

My heartbeat pulsed between my legs, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop it. Gods, there really was something wrong with me. Being punished by the Devil wasn’t sexy. He was a power-hungry tormenter of souls.

“It’s so fancy.” Bea ran her fingers over the invitation’s shimmering silver words.

“Do they really expect us to celebrate? Today of all days. And with Tempters?”