Chapter 21
I jumped back. The sudden blast of scorching heat hit me like a brick wall. I could feel my make-up melting like candle wax, dripping down my face.
“Down there?” I shouted.
A cacophony of agonizing screams howled from the flaming abyss. Impossible! There was no way anything could survive in that.
“Jump . . . Child of Light!” a familiar voice commanded. Evil laughter hissed all around me, enveloping my senses like a snake swallowing its prey. I was being consumed by a mysterious pull . . . luring . . . summoning . . . drawing me in. “Jump!”
I stepped back in alarm. That voice . . . it wasn’t my father's! Despite the extreme heat, I suddenly felt chilled to my core. And then I knew. It had been him all along helping me each step of the way: Offering spells I’d never heard of, giving me the confidence and strength I never had. He wanted me here. Alive! And I’d practically gift wrapped myself for him. This was it. If I wanted my father and Antonio back, there was nowhere to go . . . but down!
“Evie, what are you doing?” Roland wrapped his arms around my waist and was dragging me from the fire’s edge. “You’ll be killed!”
I struggled to break free, hot tears streaming down my face.
“No!” Havoc sprang to my shoulder and kicked Roland square in the nose, causing blood to spurt across the back of my neck. He howled in pain, releasing me for his face. “If she doesn’t go, they’ll be lost. We'll all be lost.”
I took a deep breath and leapt. “Acqua!” I wasn’t a total fool. If I was going to jump, there was no way I was jumping into a pit of flames—water on the other hand was a safer alternative—if only I knew how to swim.
I broke through the water’s surface and sank like a rock, spiraling down deeper and deeper. I tried to push the panic of drowning from my mind and let myself drift, knowing that soon I’d be reunited with my father, and hopefully, Antonio. I prayed they were safe.
At that instant it felt as if a thousand knives were plunging into my stomach all at once. I screamed out in pain, taking water in. Note to self: Only a dumb ass opens her mouth to scream when she’s submerged in a seemingly endless pool of water.
And that’s when I saw a figure moving toward me, reaching out and then grabbing for my arms . . . I was being rescued. Roland, the fool, had dived in and was pulling me back to the surface.
Although I wanted desperately to accept his help, I shook my head violently, signaling him no. I had to keep going down, hopeful that the one who wanted me so badly would not let me drown.
Aeras! I screamed mentally. We were suddenly suspended in air. Our eyes met for an instant. I could actually feel the shock emanating from Roland. And then—free fall!
“Ahahh!” There was no need for me to scream. Roland was doing enough for the both of us. Besides, I was too busy choking up water. We clung to one another like a pair of professional skydivers as we plummeted downward.
“Anyone got a parachute?” Havoc and Chaos were heading our way, shooting through the air like bullets. They slammed into my back like buckshot—I didn’t think I’d needed to pack a bulletproof vest this trip!
I cried out, taking the full brunt of the impact as we came crashing down, literally at what could be none other than Satan’s feet. I moaned. This was so not good.
“At last we meet . . . Child of Light.”
I scooted back, plowing over Roland as I retreated—who, by the way, tough Slayer that he is, had in turn scrambled over me in a clumsy game of leap frog. Such chivalry!
I jumped to my feet, my hands quickly patting down my pant pockets. Damn! I’d forgotten I’d given Roland my staff—like he was going to use it—the wimp!
“You can’t be foolish enough to be looking for a weapon?” Satan laughed lightly, “As if any weapon could harm me.”
I cringed. His laugh was like death. Who was I kidding? It was death; he was death. Or was he? He was tall, standing about six-foot or so, with wavy black hair that hung just above the nape of his neck. His eyes . . . raven black. He was muscled, more than Antonio, yet he didn’t look much older than him. Weird! Shouldn’t Satan be like, ancient or something? And where were the horns?
“Havoc, Chaos, my friends.” He smiled warmly at them. “Thank you for bringing Evie to me.”
I glowered at the pair and began planning several ways to ensure their untimely demise.
“Fear not my dear, Evie. Havoc and Chaos did not betray you,” he spoke, as if reading my mind. “Had I not wanted you so desperately, I would not be so forgiving of their betrayal . . . to me that is. Havoc seems to have been helping you, has she not?”
A lump lodged in my throat. I stood there, frozen. In the hottest place imaginable, I shivered. “Where’s my dad?” I croaked.
“How inconsiderate of me, of course you wish to see your father. Please, follow me.” His words were polite enough. But he was Satan. I didn’t trust him further than I could throw him—judging by his muscle mass, the very idea was comical.
“I don’t think I want to.” I planted my feet firmly where I stood. Roland stayed behind me with his hands resting on my shoulders. I think he needed the support.
“Young man, you don’t look well. Sit!” Roland propelled backward, his body slamming into a chair that hadn’t been there a moment earlier. His mouth gaped open as if to speak. He quickly changed his mind, his wide eyes meeting mine.
“You’re afraid.” A sheepish smile returned to Satan’s face. “I understand. But truly, you have nothing to fear,” said the spider to the fly.
An old man suddenly appeared at my feet. He was curled up tight in a ball, his feeble body trembling violently.
“What the . . .” My heart skidded to a halt. “Daddy . . .?”
George Hollyander turned his head to look up at me. He didn’t have the strength to stand. The once great man had been reduced to a thin, frail, pile of bones.
“Dad . . .!” I dropped to my knees and cradled his head on my lap. His eyes watered; his mouth, too dry to speak. I leaned over and hugged his face, ignoring the smell of sulfur and ash that clung to him. “Oh, Daddy . . .” I blinked, furiously fighting the urge to cry. How fitting it was, that as I was standing in hell, I learned what it truly means for blood to boil. An intense, burning hatred began to course through my veins. Someone would pay for this. I turned my attention to the man whose soul was damned beyond comprehension. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?” Hell hath no fury like Evie!
In an instant, a blazing fireball ripped around the room, encircling our small group. Hot and fierce, the tall flames cracked like lashing whips against the walls. No one was going anywhere, including Satan.
“What have you done to him?” I growled, as angrily as a feral cat squaring off with a rival.
A grin replaced the surprised look Satan had momentarily worn. “You are a devil of a girl, aren’t you?” He laughed delightedly.
I laid my dad’s head down gently before I squeezed the trembling hand he had shakily held out to me. I could see the fear in his eyes. Not for himself, but for me. His eyes, blue as a turbulent ocean, a reflection of my own, looked back at me.
It’s my turn to protect you! I whispered mentally.
His eyes widened. He’d heard me! I guess Antonio wasn’t the only two-way radio around here. Antonio! “Where’s Antonio?” I demanded.
“Your Guardian . . .?” Satan chuckled. “He’s . . . detained. I thought he might like to spend some time with some old acquaintances of his.”
Monster! I stood tall and confident in front of the demon. The flames continued to dance around us at lightning speed. “What have you done to my father?”
“I did nothing my dear. He did it to himself.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “The hell he did!” There is no way my dad did that to himself. Was he kidding me?
“Perhaps we could speak without thee . . . ambiance?” He raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes surveying the flames.
“And perhaps I co
uld send these flames straight up your—”
“Ah, ah, ah,” Satan warned playfully, although his expression showed no sign of play.
I released control of the flames, sending them shooting straight up the pit we’d just fallen through.
“Careful, Child of Light,” a small voice whispered. I suddenly became aware of Havoc and Chaos again. They’d taken a spot on the floor beside my father. Havoc stared up at me with large round eyes. She truly looked scared. “I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with.”
“My father wouldn’t have done this to himself,” I barked, turning my attention back to the demon before me. I knew exactly whom I was dealing with. I was in the center of Hell and Satan had some explaining to do.
“I assure you, he did. I offered him the same choice I’m about to offer you.”
“Which is?” Son of a—! The obscenities wanted to fly now. Well, in my head, anyway. I wasn’t sure I totally wanted to insult him aloud. Yet!
As if he were asking if I’d rather have cake or ice cream for dessert, he presented my options: “Open the gates of Hell willingly or suffer an agonizing death.”
“Gee, which one should I choose?”
“Your father chose to suffer an agonizing death; foolish of him.” Satan smiled wickedly before taking a seat of his own. It was more like a freaking throne, all decked out with gold and jewels. I could picture Havoc secretly drooling over it. “I do not see why you need to suffer that fate. May I offer you a chair? You look weary from your journey.” A similar chair appeared beside me. I turned away from it.
“So if I don’t open the gates of Hell willingly, I’ll end up just like my dad?” My heart tightened at the image of my father lying broken on the floor.
He nodded.
I thought a little more about the situation at hand. “But if I resist too there will be no one to open the gates as you need, right?”
His eyes narrowed on me, his posture tensing ever so slightly. Bingo! The way I saw it . . . I held all the cards here.
“Be careful, Child of Light,” Chaos warned. “The Lord of the Underworld is cunning!”
Yeah? So am I! “A trade then?” My lips curled into a sly smile, like a cat about to pounce. He was so going down. Well, further down that is.
“Evie . . .?” I’d forgotten Roland was here, his shaky voice squeaked from behind me. I didn’t look at him.
“A trade . . .” Satan grinned.
“Evie!” said Roland with disbelief: “You can’t make a deal with . . . with him!” The disgust in his voice was clear.
“I will hear your conditions.” Satan leaned back, patiently waiting.
I ignored the weight of Roland’s stare. I couldn’t think about him now. My dad had to be my first priority. I’d deal with the consequences of everything else later. I held my chin up high. “First. You must let my dad and my friends go unharmed. And I want my dad restored to the way he was.” This was a non-negotiable condition.
“In exchange for your willingness, I will let your father, and your friends go; unharmed. But I cannot restore your father’s life. It was his choice to forfeit it, and it is unfortunately . . . out of my hands.” He didn’t look like it was as “unfortunate” as he’d like me to think.
I stepped closer. “You mean there is no one who could help him?”
“I did not say that. I simply said that it was out of my hands. Perhaps the Oracle might—?”
“What Oracle?” I demanded, cutting him off mid-sentence.
“Enough! The next condition.” He waved me off.
He freaking waved me off? Oh no no no. I put my hands on my hips giving him a look that was sure to make him quiver. A power I reserved for extreme occasions. “I will not be waved off. Ever! You want something from me then you better find a way to save my dad or the deals off!”
He leaned toward me, his eyes no longer friendly. “Watch. Your. Tone.”
I couldn’t back down. If I did, he’d have me under his thumb forever. “Whatever.” I rolled my eyes, waving him off and I swear I saw him grin.
“Anyway, condition number two: I’m not a doorman, so don’t expect me to stand there and like, hold some rusty gate open for every creep that wants to run free.”
He leapt off his throne and in an instant appeared directly before me.
I jumped. I wasn’t completely sure I hadn’t peed my pants. I hated how these demons could pop here and there whenever they wanted. It was totally unfair!
Satan towered over me. His height seeming to grow all the while he glowered down upon me. “You seem to be under the impression I need your cooperation,” He growled.
“Don’t you?”
“No. I could use you and take your powers as my own. You would be able to do nothing!”
“And when I die you’ll be able to do nothing,” I announced matter-of-factly. He had had my father for a little more than a week, and already George Hollyander looked on the brink of death.
“That’s what you did to my father, didn’t you? You tried to force him, and it drained his life away. You need me willingly!” As soon as I’d uttered the words, I knew them to be true. High five for Evie and her problem-solving skills! “You'll only ever be able to crack that gate of yours open,” I mocked.
A fire of his own whirled around us, only us. The heat was so intense, I found myself leaping at him to escape the flames that exploded behind me, threatening to singe my back. My hands landed on his firm chest. Holy crap! Did this guy eat Hercules or something?
A strange look over took him all of a sudden. I will have her! His voice echoed in my mind, deep and husky.
I jumped back into a light snowfall—another spell courtesy of my quick thinking!
“How did you . . .?” He breathed, still too close to me for my liking. His eyes, black and beautiful, regarded me with longing.
Hell no! There was no way I thought he was good-looking. No way! And why didn’t anyone bother to tell me that Satan was a hunk-o-burning love? Another bit of need-to-know information I should have had. Havoc had totally dropped the ball on this one.
His eyes were studying me. “I will let your father and friends go . . . and I will tell you where to find the Oracle . . .”
Great, I thought. Progress at last!
“You will return to me at midnight of every new day and release a demon of my choosing.”
I thought about that. “Fine!” And then I’ll slay said demon before they can do any real damage. Two points for Evie! Who said evil couldn’t be thwarted?
“And . . .” he sneered. “You will be with no other. You. Are. Mine!”
HOLD THE FRICKIN’ PHONE! “What?”
“You belong to me and no other man.” A proclamation! He stepped back, taking his seat once more.
I stood there like a fish, opening and closing my mouth. There were no words.
“Agreed?”
“NO!” I finally shrieked. “Ew! You’re like . . . ancient or something. There is no way I’m hooking up with you. I’m sixteen for God’s sake!” Again, the intense dagger-sharp pain shot through me.
“Do not mention that name here.” His words were dark and absolute.
I swallowed loudly. I was deliberating my next course of action. “Look. I have a rule about dating guys that weren’t even born in the same century as me.” I cringed at the thought.
“Do I appear to be an old man to you?”
I thought about that. No, he looked like a twenty-five year old male model. “Why would you want me?” The question fell out on its own accord. “Other than opening the gate for you, I mean.”
He appeared in front of me again, the back of his hand, gently caressing my cheek. I flinched from his touch. “You’re pure.”
“I’m pure?” He made the word sound icky. “So are a million other girls.” Note to self: May want to rethink the “pure” thing; it may not be as beneficial as I thought.
“There is only one like you. Your hair . . .” he reached out and touched
a loose curl that had slipped from my ponytail, “ . . . it is as red as the flames of Hell.”
Okay, there was no reason to be nasty! Making fun of my hair—a low blow—even for him! Although, I think it was actually . . . a compliment?
“Your eyes . . .” he continued. I shivered at the sudden closeness between us as his hands cupped my face, “ . . . are as blue as the deepest ocean.” His touch was so warm and soft, I felt myself leaning into it. Against my wishes, my heart skipped a beat. Shake it off Evie . . . he’s a damn demon! I chastened myself.
“You are fire and light, wrapped into one,” he continued, not bothering to notice my inner conflict. “You will free me.” There was unmistakable desire in his eyes.
“Your powers and mine . . .”
I recoiled, severing all contact. “I’m sixteen. A child compared to you!”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” A hungry look hung in his eyes as he stepped toward me. “I can be a generous man. You will have everything your heart desires. You will want for nothing . . . If you will only agree to let me love you.”
“But!” There were a million bazillion “buts” and “I’m sixteen!” was the only excuse I could think to utter.
He clasped his hands together. “A compromise! A good faith example of my generosity: I will give you until your eighteenth birthday. On the twelfth hour you will return to me. Once I have you as my own, our bond will be unbreakable.