Page 104 of Galen

“Well, that’s… reassuring.”

“Humans still aren’t safe here though,” Castor said. “It might not be like you’ve been told, but it’s still dangerous.”

“Where do human souls go when people die?”

“Good souls go to Elysium, or Paradise as some call it. For bad ones? The common name is Sheol. It’s a section of the underworld specifically for souls. And believe me, you don’t want to go there.”

I almost asked why but thought better of it. I was too freaked-out as it was. I didn’t need to add to it. “Do you really think the new king is a son of Lucifer? Lazarus said he killed all of Lucifer’s sons.”

“When Alastair first examined the ring, he said the engraving along the band was some type of binding spell.” Castor clutched at a wound on his side as he shifted position. “Maybe someone transferred the son’s power into that ring so Lazarus couldn’t trace him.”

“And then when Clara’s ancestor had a change of heart and hid the ring, it prevented them from ever giving it back to him.”

Castor nodded. “Just a theory.”

“We’ll find out soon, I guess.”

Leaning my head back on the cave wall, I closed my eyes and thought of Galen. I was sure he was pissed. And worried. I just hoped he kept his anger in check. No matter what happened to me, I didn’t want him losing himself to Wrath.

Would I ever see him again?

“Hey, Castor?”

“Yeah?” He sounded so tired. Drained.

“If I die down here…” I blinked away tears and cleared my throat. “I just want you to know that I don’t regret any of it. Meeting you and your brothers is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“You’re not too bad. For a human.” Castor cracked a smile. “I’ll be damned if I let you die, Simon. I really don’t want to hear Galen bitch about it for all eternity. He’s enough of a pain. Without you, he’ll be unbearable.”

I heard what Castor didn’t say. That he cared about me too.

Exhaustion took me over, and my eyes closed again. I couldn’t fight it anymore.

I dreamed of a brilliant night sky shining with countless stars. Galen’s arms were snug around me as we soared, and his lips brushed my nape. Higher and higher he took us, but I wasn’t afraid.

In his arms, nothing else could touch me.

I was safe.

***

Four demons dragged me and Castor from our cell and guided us down a winding corridor. We reached a set of stairs and climbed them. We went up a spiral staircase before reaching another corridor. Running water sounded from nearby, and the damp muskiness in the air shifted to an earthy one, like when rain soaks the grass and sinks into the soil.

And then, a breeze.

We turned a corner, and I gaped. I had assumed the underworld would be deep beneath the earth’s surface with pools of lava and smoke rising into the air. Instead, I found myself staring at the night sky.

Moonlight spilled into the outdoor walkway, shining between the tall columns. As I looked closer, I noticed it wasn’t the same moon I was used to. There were two of them, one bigger with a faint blue hue, while the smaller one had a ring of red around it.

“Is it just my wonky vision, or are there really two moons?”

Castor chuckled under his breath. “You’re seeing it right.”

Colorful trees lined a courtyard, the branches adorned with soft pink petals. Similar to cherry blossoms but slightly different. These flowers glowed.

“Wow,” I said. “I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful.”

“Many don’t,” Castor responded. “They forget that darkness is supposed to tempt you. Much like how some depictions of Lucifer make him out to be this red-skinned beast with hooves and claws. When really? He’s more beautiful than anyone you’ll ever see. Both men and women alike fell to their knees in his presence, too taken by his beauty.”