Page 57

ELI

TIERS EIGHT AND NINE: GLUTTONY AND LUST

Our boat came to a stop in the dark, and I tensed. The searing pain in my head had left me, but with Cal not responding to me, I had no idea if that was a good thing or a terrible thing.

A grimy, wet wall of dark stone, holding the only glowing light in the space, reflected what looked like some sort of concrete dock or ledge.

I heard shuffling in front and moved Anna behind me. “Good evening,” muttered a tall thin man with a pointed chin. He was dressed in all black, with a neatly pressed jacket and pants—not exactly what I was expecting to see in this grimy space.

“You have arrived at tier eight, Gluttony.”

He reached his arms out to help Anna from the boat, and she quickly accepted, moving to the large concrete slab, and I followed behind her. I couldn’t see anything beyond the space, as the faint glow of light only stretched so far.

“This way, please,” the man said, turning and walking away. Anna grabbed my hand, and I squeezed it. I liked holding her hand. A lot had changed for us, but all it took was the slightest brush of her palm to remind me how soft her skin was.

A large door, matching the stone of the wall, opened with a great creak and thud.

We followed the man inside blindly, too tired to be fully prepared for what could be on the other side.

We entered what appeared to be an old-style gothic manor—apparently equipped with a boat ramp.

Inside, we were greeted by light chimes of laughter.

Anna and I exchanged a look, recognizing it.

“Eletha?” Anna asked, picking up her pace.

We turned the corner into a dark, poorly lit living room. Walter and Eletha were cuddled up on the couch, with half of Eletha’s body draped over Walter and their faces only an inch apart. A small bar stood in the corner, where it sounded like another servant was telling Bexley a hilarious joke.

“Oh no,” Anna said, noticing the drink in front of Bexley. “I kind of thought he might have given that up. It was sort of amazing when he threw the flask in the sea and saved Walter.”

I shrugged and silently cursed the man. I knew he had potential, and if he wanted to, he could change a lot of lives.

I looked around the room, feeling uneasy about how calm it was. I nodded to Walter but kept walking toward Bexley at the bar. I couldn’t hold it in anymore—I was frustrated and disappointed. How could he not want something better?

“Hey, man,” Bexley said with a smile.

The smile surprised me. “I wasn’t sure you knew how to smile,” I said, and the light faded slightly from his eyes.

“Yeah, me neither. Did you see what happened back there?” he asked, sounding excited and lighting up again.

The servant interrupted us. “Sir, would you like another one? Perhaps something stronger?” The waiter held up a tall already-poured glass of a dark emerald-green liquid.

I had no idea what it was, but Bexley seemed to recognize it immediately.

“Six barrels,” he muttered, staring at the glass.

“I’ve been wanting to try one of those for decades. ”

I rolled my eyes, about to walk off, thinking my words would be useless on him. But his next words surprised me.

“No, I’ll stick with my water,” he said, sounding somewhat sad and proud at the same time.

“Water?” I asked, looking into his drink.

It was a short crystal glass, giving the impression that it was something much stronger.

“Yeah, water,” Bexley affirmed. “I decided maybe I should give up drinking and dust for a little bit. Maybe I could do something more useful.” He said the last part with a hint of a question, and though we hadn’t been friends for long, I knew he was waiting for my opinion.

“I think that’s a great idea,” I said, ordering myself some water. “What you did back there was really impressive,” I added, slapping him on the back a few times. On the last slap, I felt him straighten, his chest swelling with pride.

“Yeah, I’ve never done anything like that,” he said quietly. “You saved Walter’s life. For that, we’re all incredibly grateful to you. You did a good thing, Bexley. Maybe there’s hope for you yet,” I said with a grin, half joking.

But as soon as the words left my mouth, he lit up visibly as if he’d never been praised for anything in his entire life…and maybe he hadn’t.

I sat down on the stool next to him. “Yeah, how’d you do it? Tell me everything. What were you thinking when you threw your flask in the water?”

“You saw me throw it?” he said excitedly, and I couldn’t help but grin at his enthusiasm. “Then I just grabbed him. I don’t know how it all worked out,” he said after he had finished recounting the story.

“So, what now?” I asked. “Are you really done with drinking for good?”

His face grew serious, and again, that sad look appeared in his eyes. “Yeah. I know it’s going to be difficult, but there’s a lot of things I can’t do drunk and fixing myself is one of them.”

I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say .

“Besides, drinking and me don’t really mix. I think it’s gonna be really hard at first, but I’m thinking…” He trailed off.

“What?” I asked.

“I’m thinking about going to the human realm.” My eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said, glancing around to see if anyone else had heard him. “I’m thinking maybe I might be able to do more in the human realm, like what I did for Walter.”

“Save him from drowning in a bloody sea?” I asked with a smile.

He rolled his eyes. “No, help them.”

“You think you’d like to help the humans?” I asked, somewhat surprised. Not sure why, though—Bexley had been helping us the entire journey.

He nodded, as if he had been waiting to say it to someone. “Yeah. I don’t know what you know of the human realm,” he said.

I let him continue, even though I knew a fair amount from my time there with Cal.

“There’s heaven and hell. Heaven is run by the angels, and hell is run by the demons. If humans are good, they go to heaven, but if they’re bad, they go to hell.”

“With your father,” I added.

He nodded. “I don’t want anyone else to have to go to him,” he said so softly I had to lean in to hear. “What if I could help the humans from going to him, you know? Get some of the bad ones back on the right track before it’s too late,” he whispered with glittering eyes.

For a moment, it felt like I wasn’t speaking to the haggard, rough-around-the-edges Bexley but to a small boy.

I thought for a second and then nodded. “I think that’d be incredible.

” I smiled. “You know,” I said, clearing my throat, “you and I don’t really know each other aside from in here, but I con- sider you a friend now, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you how proud I am of you—for how much you’ve grown and changed. ”

He rolled his eyes, trying to hide a smile and feign bashfulness. “You too,” he said, surprising me.

“What’s going on here?” Anna said with a mock scowl when she saw Bexley’s drink. She leaned up against the bar on Bexley’s side.

“Tell her, Bex,” I said.

His attention caught for a moment at my use of his newly acquired nickname. It was amazing what a few small words could do for someone.

“I’m giving up drinking and faerie dust for good,” he said to her.

“I’ve heard that before,” Anna said with a laugh, though I could see the doubt in her expression.

“No, it’s for good this time,” Bexley stated.

“I hope it is,” Anna said. “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”

“No, Anna, I’m for real this time,” Bexley affirmed.

Anna nodded, obviously having heard that before at some point.

“He really liked helping Walter and is planning to go to the human realm,” I interjected, before she said something she would regret.

“Wait, what?” she said, surprise in her eyes.

Bexley perked up, clearly pleased at her surprise. “Yeah, I’m thinking I really liked the feeling I got when I helped Walter. I think the humans could use my help,” he said.

She nodded and a grin crept up and onto her face. “What will you do in the human realm? You know they have alcohol there too though, right?” She smirked.

“I do, but I will just take it one day at a time. Then if that’s too difficult, one hour at a time.

I think a different situation might do me some good,” Bexley said.

“I think for the first time in my life, I’m ready to do something about what happened to me.

Are you sure the portal to the human realm is still on the tenth tier? ” he asked her.

She smiled. “Last I’d heard. ”

He nodded. “Thanks, Anna.” “For what?” she asked.

“For always being open-minded and giving me a chance.” She waved off the compliment and gave him a big hug. I found myself immeasurably jealous, wishing I were the recipient of said hug.

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” I interrupted, “but these tiers are not quite as horrifying as I would have expected, though they have changed a lot for everyone.”

“Speak for yourself,” Bexley said. “It was horrifying for me.”

“I wouldn’t say that just yet,” Anna added. “We still have three tiers left.”

I nodded. She was right. “You have to admit this doesn’t look that scary.” I glanced around the room.

“Could I offer you this, sir?” Suddenly the waiter interrupted, holding up a large tray filled with pre-poured glasses of amber liquid.

“You’re doing this on purpose,” I said to the waiter, curious about what Bexley’s reaction would be.

The waiter held a glass out and quite literally wafted it under Bexley’s nose. Bexley’s eyes closed and he instinctively reached out to grab the glass. As soon as he grabbed one, I saw Anna deflate.

Obviously, we knew the real battle would be for years to come and not just a one-day struggle, but he had seemed so sure.

Bexley held the glass, took a big sniff, and then set the glass down on the tray. “No, thank you. I don’t drink anymore,” he said proudly.

Anna flung herself around him and this time I wasn’t jealous because I found myself giving him a big hug as well.