Page 10 of Discord and Cinder (Fire Witches of Salem #7)

CINDER

“Y ou will do exactly as I say.” I crossed my arms and parked my butt on the bench, mocking Discord’s last words. The moment he’d uttered them, he’d turned on his heel and strode away, leaving me here to ponder my soul’s survival alone.

“If you want me to do as you say, you actually have to say something,” I yelled into the abyss.

How dare he glare at me with those dark, moss-green eyes, make such an ominous proclamation, and then just walk away.

For all he knew, Satan could have swooped in and had me for breakfast by now.

Or would it be dinner? My watch had died when I’d arrived in the underworld, taking my concept of time with it.

I couldn’t tell you how long I sat there waiting, but it was long enough for me to check every nook and crack in the stones around me.

The walls had to be three feet thick, the ceiling a solid slab of rock.

Unless I wanted to squeeze myself through the hole in the floor and swim through eons’ worth of demon doo, I was stuck in this magic-proof box until dear old Discord decided to set me free.

“Well, Cinder. What now?” I exhaled, trying to blow a strand of hair from my face, but it refused to budge. Between battling the hellhound in my realm, summoning a demon prince, and then fighting off harpy-hounds in Hell, my skin had gotten a tad greasy.

I gathered all my hair, pulling it forward, over my right shoulder, and raking my fingers through the tangled strands. I’d need a facial and a deep conditioning treatment by the time this was through.

Footsteps echoed from one end of the hallway, bouncing off the other end until it sounded like they came from all around me.

My heart tried to jump into my throat, but I swallowed hard and rose to my feet, instinctively reaching for the dagger that should have been strapped to my leg.

I was defenseless inside this magic-proof box, so I dug in deep and poured all my vim into what Discord called my wicked silver tongue.

The power had nothing to do with my tongue, really.

It was a sort of inborn glamour, a way for me to make myself appear more confident, capable, and smart.

Confidence was the key, and when I spoke, it sounded like I was the authority on whatever topic I discussed.

It helped that I was the eldest sister, the first in line to become High Priestess as soon as my mom retired.

I’d been training for leadership my whole life, and this special little power came in handy on the daily. People looked up to me. I had to at least appear like I wouldn’t let them down, even when I felt like I would.

I steeled myself, lifting my chin to add to the glamour as Discord stepped into view. “Oh, it’s just you.” I let out a slow breath.

“Come with me.” He extended a claw and twisted it in the lock. The electrified gate that had nearly turned me into chicken-fried witch thunked and opened about half a foot.

I nibbled on my bottom lip, contemplating my options.

My boots had rubber soles. Rubber didn’t conduct electricity, so in theory, I could kick it open and run through without melting off my toenails.

But that theory involved the electricity being mundane, and I highly doubted the Prince of Hell relied on human technology to keep his prisoners at bay.

I could attempt to squeeze through the narrow opening, but Mother Nature had blessed me with too much junk in the trunk for that to be feasible. With my luck, I’d nick the bar with a butt cheek and end up with a rump roast to make Sir Mix-a-Lot cry.

Thankfully, my captor didn’t give me time to ponder any more ways to cook myself. He grabbed a bar and pinned me with a warning stare. “I’m going to open the gate. I advise you not to try and escape.”

“That’s your advice, eh?” I inched toward the threshold, cutting my gaze right and left, calculating my chances. “Afraid I can outrun you?”

“Not at all, but we are currently in the eighth level of Hell. Even if you made it back to the first level, you’d be stuck. No one gets out without Lucifer’s blessing, and he’s not the most generous man you’ll ever meet.”

“Orpheus did it.” I jutted out my chin.

“And look how it worked out for Eurydice.”

“Dante then.”

“Virgil, I am not. Come, Lucifer expects us in an hour. We must appear presentable.” He swung the gate open, and I did what any smart woman who’d written herself a one-way ticket to Hell would do.

I stepped into the hall, spun in a circle to take in my surroundings, and waited by his side. Listen, I wasn’t an idiot. If Lucifer knew I was there and had sent word that he wanted to see me, what chance did I have on my own?

Zip.

I wasn’t in the mood to have my soul shredded by the King of Hell, so I’d better play make believe and at least appear like I was worthy of his company. If he wanted to slice my existence into strips and fry me like bacon, he’d have done it already, right?

“This way.” Discord grabbed my biceps and dragged me down the hall.

I tried to jerk from his grasp, but his hands were huge, completely encircling my arm, and man, oh man, was he strong. “I can walk on my own.”

“I’m sure you can.” He tugged me harder, and the atmosphere thickened. Heat and oppressive humidity gathered around me, pressing, squeezing until I thought my eyes would pop from their sockets.

One step forward. Two steps. It felt like I was moving through a gelatin mold until… pop . The pressure dissipated, and the darkness around me bled into light. I gasped and pressed a hand to my chest. If I’d had pearls, I would’ve clutched them.

A city stretched out before me, the towering buildings made of basalt and obsidian glass.

A stream of lava flowed down the center of the street, and arched foot bridges connected the two sides at varying intervals.

The sky was deep orange, and clouds in twenty shades of red stretched across a golden…

I couldn’t tell if it was a moon or a sun, but its light cast the city in an eerie glow.

An obsidian palace rose in the distance, blocking my view of the horizon. Black glass reflected the orange light, making it appear to glow, and spiraling turrets jutted upward, extending into the clouds.

I turned around, peering behind me toward the exit, but it wasn’t there. “How?”

“My prison is in a secret location. A pocket in the realm that only I and the lead sentry dog can find.” He tugged me into the city. “We must get inside before we draw attention.”

We strode up the right side of the lava stream and passed a bar where demons and humans alike tossed back brews and shouted drunkenly.

Heavy metal music drifted from an open window, and a beastie with yellowish-gray scales lifted a pint in my direction, his smile revealing dozens upon dozens of cylindrical, pointed teeth.

The savory scents of meat and spice drifted from the next storefront, where a woman with brown leathery wings stood at a counter, rolling dough. The sign above the door read Lilithina’s Meat Pies.

My stomach growled, and I slowed my stride. “Any chance we can make a pitstop for a pie?”

Discord tugged me along. “Lucifer will provide a feast unlike any you’ve ever seen. Enjoy it, as it may be our last.”

“There you go again with those ominous statements. Will you please tell me what’s happening? How does he know we’re here? Why does he want to feed us?”

“In here.” He dragged me through a doorway and pressed a button on the wall.

“You use elevators in Hell?” My mouth hung open, so I snapped it shut. Aside from the lava stream, the beasties, and everything being black, Hell looked so…normal.

“We’re heading to the thirtieth floor. Would you prefer to use the stairs?” He finally loosened his grip, and I tugged from his grasp, rubbing my arm and rotating my shoulder.

“Elevator’s good. Is this an apartment building?”

The door slid open, and he stepped inside. “Yes.”

I followed. “Do you live here?”

He missed a beat in his reply. “No.”

Gravity made me heavy on my feet as the elevator whisked us upward. “Then why are we here? Where do you live? Or…where did you live before you were imprisoned? In that palace?”

He cut me a sideways glance. “You ask too many questions.”

I parked my hands on my hips. “If you would tell me what the actual eff is going on, I wouldn’t have to. This stoic, man-of-few-words persona might’ve worked on women in the seventeenth century, but we have agency now. I want answers.”

He growled softly and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the elevator and, once again, dragging me down the hall.

Shiny red sigils dotted the black wallpaper, glittering as we passed, and my heels thudded on the black marble floor as we made our way to the door at the end of the hall.

He pushed it open and gestured for me to enter, but I held my palms toward him.

“You expect me to walk in first when I have no idea what’s inside?” I arched a brow. “I’m not leaving this hallway until you answer my questions.”

“As you wish.” He crossed the threshold, and the door swung shut behind him.

“Are you kidding me?” I grabbed the knob, but it wouldn’t budge. The nerve of that man! “Open the door, Discord.”

Silence answered me, so I pounded it with the side of my fist. “Open it right now, or you will regret it.”

“Will I?” Amusement tinged his words. “And what, fair witch, will you do if I refuse?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he had me there, didn’t he? I was a light witch in a dark realm, bound to a demon prince, with the ruler of the Underworld expecting me to show up for dinner any minute now. I was screwed.

“If you take me to Lucifer looking like this, he’ll probably shred my soul.

What do you think will happen to you when he does that?

” I moved closer to the door, resting my palm against it and lowering my voice.

“With my soul bound to yours, I imagine it would be painful for both of us. We may be on your turf, but I think, right now, you need me as much as I need you.”

Five seconds of silence passed before the knob turned and the door swung open. I stepped through the threshold before either of us could change our minds and found myself inside a demonic penthouse apartment.

Translucent red tiles covered the floor, and the wall to my right had streams of what looked like lava flowing down it, disappearing into a black marble drain beneath.

A hellcat-skin rug lay in the center of a recessed living room, and leather couches formed a U shape around it.

I didn’t dare ask where the leather came from.

A black suit lay across the back of the nearest sofa, and Discord picked it up, draping it over his arm. How he planned to fit his massively muscled body into a human-sized outfit was beyond me.

“She is a pretty one, Discord,” a demon purred as she stepped out of a room to my left. “I can see why she was able to disarm you.”

I fisted my hands as she slinked toward me.

Her forked tongue darted out from plum-colored lips, and her yellow irises constricted, her pupils turning to vertical slits like a cat.

Aside from the eyes and tongue, she could’ve passed as human, with umber skin, long, flowing hair, and a shimmery gold dress that was slit up to her hip.

“She did not…” He blew out a hard breath. “She needs clothes. Something worthy of an audience with Lucifer.”

The demon looked me up and down. “If she hadn’t already bound herself to you, I’d demand you let me have my way with her as payment.”

Discord’s nostrils flared. “You owe me, Belira. Don’t forget that.”

She laughed. “You’ll never let me. You could join us…just like old times.”

Oh. She was a succubus. I’d let him lure me into the lair of a sex demon, and she was an old flame who wanted a three-way to boot. Fabulous.

His jaw tightened. “Four centuries later, and you still try my patience.”

Her tongue flicked out again. “You wouldn’t have me any other way. I have just the outfit for a first meeting with our dear king.”

She disappeared into the other room and returned with a strappy, red sequined dress and a pair of black platform stilettos.

“I am not wearing that.” I gave Discord a pointed look.

His eye twitched, and a series of emotions crossed his face before he shook his head. “As beautiful as she would look in it, I prefer her in something more modest.”

I scoffed. “ You prefer…?”

He cocked his head. “With long sleeves to hide my mark on her arm.”

“You’re a fool if you think Lucifer won’t sense it,” Belira said.

“I don’t doubt he will, but I prefer not to advertise my folly to the entire court.”

She pursed her lips and disappeared into the other room again.

“Did you seriously bring me to your old girlfriend’s house?” I whispered.

He shrugged. “You asked me for help. I’m helping.”

“I asked you to help me find my parents.”

“You have no idea how things work here.”

“Because you won’t tell me shit!” I whisper-shouted, throwing my hands into the air.

“Here.” Belira returned with a shimmery black number, strapless on the right side, a long sleeve on the left.

“That will do.” He took the dress and platform heels and laid them on the sofa. “Leave us. And not a word of my…predicament…to anyone.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” She winked and slithered toward the door. “Bring her by if you both survive. I promise it will be a hell of a time.”

I waited for the door to click shut before whirling toward Discord. “What the actual…whoa.”

The demon I’d summoned, with his dark green skin and buffalo horns, was gone, and in his place stood a tall, chiseled, completely naked man. “The shower is through that door. Clean yourself, and I will answer your questions.”

“Or you could answer them now.” I crossed my arms and forced myself to look at his face rather than…

the rest of him. He had the same dark, moss-green eyes as before, but that was where the similarities ended.

Instead of horns, he had thick brown hair, sheared short on the sides, and a peppering of a five o’clock shadow accentuated his strong, sharp jaw.

He curled his lip and pulled on his pants before gesturing to the door in question. “You reek of hellhound and sweat.”

I fought the urge to sniff my pits and grabbed the dress instead. “Fine. I’ll take a shower, but you better be here, ready to talk, when I’m done.” I turned on my heel and strode into the bathroom.