Page 25 of Hell-Bound

Ren slipped on the mask and got to work. She went through every book in the sitting area to no avail.

Frustrated, she held up a book to throw it across the room.

No. Ren likes books.

She fought the impulse.

Instead, Ren placed it gently back on the shelf where she found it, rolling her eyes at herself.

You’re ridiculous. Books can’t feel.

Resigned, she approached the door, she’d locked it this time, and unlatched it carefully to avoid alerting any lurkers outside.

She peeked her head out—empty. The only change was the lantern a few feet from her, now re-lit. She tried not to think of more angry Devils walking the halls, passing only a few feet away from her.

I’m sure it was just that Jester.

She creeped out the door soundlessly, having finally got the hang of the dress.

In the hall, she could again hear the orchestra. The elegant music began to crescendo, and she felt another tug as it beckoned her, the temptation growing.

She wasn’ttechnicallysupposed toavoideveryone here, was she? Leo had encouraged her to blend in, hadn’t he? Sneaking through halls wasn’t exactly blending in, and she’d never find out anything about her contract doing so.

She tilted her head, orienting herself towards the music. She had no trouble finding the two large double doorsinside. She could hear the enticing music, talk, laugh, and occasionally swished gowns.

Well, it doesn’t sound like torture and Mortal sacrifices.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she pushed one of the doors open, barely wide enough to see.

There were hundreds of partiers. Some were in groups conversing while others danced and swayed to the music. They were all dressed in immaculate gowns and dublets. The decor could only be described as opulent with glittering gemstones shining from every surface. Chandeliers, tables, classes, dinnerware, and seating were all embossed with different chromatic stones.

Looking around, it was easy to distinguish Devils from Mortals as they all wore masks of different colors, all with depictions of demons or imps.

They weren’t cowering as she’d expected them to be. In fact, the majority were included in the partiers. Giggling, standing in corners, and sipping champagne. Some were Lesser Devils like Jester, skin in every hue imaginable. Pink, blue, purple, and red. Their tails swished, and horns were on full display, with only some donning masks. She supposed, as Jester had said, that the ones without masks were of a more important status.

There were also several Devils with large leathery wings cascading down their backs. Unlike the Lesser Devils with their colorful complexions, they looked perfectly Mortal except for the long black horns perched on the crowns of their heads.

One female in particular exuded divine beauty. She wore a fitted corset dress made of the finest silks and was absolutely dripping with the most alluring jewelry. All reminiscent of those found all over the city and now, in Ren’s own bodice. The Devil had a haughty laugh and was sipping from a long-stemmed champagne glass as she flexed her opalescent wings.

Ren felt her stomach clench as bile threatened to rise as the female’s jubilant giggle echoed off the walls. Howcould such effortless abandon exist mere steps away from such misery? And how could these people bask in this vulgar display of privilege when there was so much suffering on their doorstep?

Her disgust morphed to anger as a female laughed again, tossing her crystal-embossed hair over her shoulder. Ren wanted to rip it out. Wanted to scream at these people tohelp.Surely, with all of this extravagance, they could dosomething.Or—perhaps, she wouldmakethem.

Her hand twitched again, but not for her piccolo this time.

Then...

Indulge me, darling. Just this once. You could hurt them, you know? It wouldn’t be hard. Not for you.

The phantom voice caressed her ears.

She froze. The voice was getting stronger.

No. No. Please. No!

She didn’t want to send smoke signals showing her location to everyone in the room.

But nothing happened.