Page 15 of Bellamy

“Are you about to recite a big villain monologue?” I asked, earning me a punch to the spine from the demon behind me. She was a mean little thing.

The fallen angel’s eyes darkened as they settled on me. “I’m going to enjoy tearing you apart. Bit. By. Bit.” He then looked at Raiden. “Tell Pride he has two choices: hand over Light Bringer… or receive his brother, one piece at a time.”

“Now?” The female demon put her arms around me. Which was… well, not too bad. She had big boobs, and they were pressing against my back. And as a hot-blooded bisexual male who loved ass, boobs, dick, and everything in between, I had very few complaints.

Well, other than the fact she was a sadistic little lying hag who had taken advantage of my kindness and tricked me.

Belphegor put a hand on her shoulder. “Now.”

Oh shit.I realized what they were doing a moment too late.

“Bellamy!” Raiden lunged forward, his wings propelling him quickly through the air.

He wasn’t quick enough.

The warehouse district faded away as we blinked not only to a different location… but to a different realm entirely.

Chapter Three

Phoenix

“Get on with it,” Asa said with a flick of his hand, one leg slung over the arm of his throne while the other rested on the floor. “I’d rather not be here all damn day.”

The female reaper stepped closer and bowed her head. “My name is Jocelyn. I’ve come to claim what you owe.”

I stood to the right of the throne, silent unless spoken to. The hard tone she’d used wouldn’t do her any favors. Neither would the demand in her words. I pressed my lips together.

“What I owe you?” Asa dropped both legs to the floor and sat forward, his expression much too calm. “And what would that be?”

Jocelyn, though visibly unnerved, kept her chin up. “The payment for helping you gather the human souls months ago. A promise was made to all of us. If we helped you collect souls, you’d free us from our contracts with Death.”

Asa returned to a casual position. “Free you?”

“Yes. We risked our lives and went against our very purpose to aid you in the war. We upheld our end of the bargain. It’s time for you to do the same.”

Ah, shit.Jocelyn had no idea what kind of hell she’d just unleashed upon herself. Not my problem. She only had herself to blame.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” And then she quickly added, “Your Majesty.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Asa rested a hand near his mouth, finger tracing his bottom lip. He then stood from the throne. “I said I’d free you.”

Relief washed across Jocelyn’s face. “That’s all I ask is for you to pay what’s due. You promised us freedom.”

“Freedom.” Asa stepped down from the dais, his black hair brushing the middle of his back. “Hasn’t anyone ever warned you about making deals with the devil? When making your demands, your wording must be precise.”

Jocelyn frowned. “What are you—”

Asa flicked his hand, and the reaper’s neck snapped. She collapsed to the throne room floor, her flesh tightening and decaying. Her body shriveled up before she turned to dust. It was what happened upon a reaper’s death as their immortal life was torn from them, all the years they’d lived catching up to their physical form.

“You’re freed now.” Asa cocked his head at the pile of dust. He then stepped right on that pile as he strode forward. Other reapers waited for their turn to speak with him, yet after witnessing what became of the one before them, they bowed their heads to him before dispersing.

I fell into step behind Asa. His cruelty was expected. He would kill anyone who pissed him off and not think twice about it.

“My king! Great king,” Sven said, scuttling forward. His skin was a mix of yellow and green, and he had short, pointed ears and two pupils in each eye. Wiggling antennas too. He was a mid-rank insect-type demon who had been demoted last year from head chef of the castle to a mere cook after letting Simon escape his kitchen during Asa’s welcoming ceremony as our new king. He was lucky Asa hadn’t killed him for that epic screwup. However, the king found him amusing and kept him alive for that reason and that reason alone.

“What do you want?” Asa asked, not slowing his pace.