Page 29 of Hellfire to Come (Infernal Regions for the Unprepared #5)
The Gatekeeper’s coven was located dab smack in the middle of Cleveland, of all places.
The temple walls stretched high toward the sky like the open mouths of baby birds waiting for a worm to fall into their gaping maws.
A domed ceiling made of glass, to better see the full moon each month, covered almost half the block.
Made out of black stone, the building looked menacing, and the three keys – a symbol representing Hecate- painted in blood red above the tall double doors of the entrance stood out stark against it.
Since it was late at night, magical flames were shooting seven feet tall on each side of the stars leading to it, casting it in an eerie-hellish hue. No wonder humans gave us a wide berth.
Pausing at the bottom of the marble steps that would lead me inside, I glanced up and down the street.
An urge to book it down the sidewalk and find a place to hide for a day or two was very tempting.
However, with only one boot and still mostly drunk, there was no way I could outrun Sissily.
She might sympathize with me, but she was a stickler for the rules, and she was smart enough not to want to anger Danika, unlike me.
I had no doubt she’d tackle me and drag me kicking and screaming inside by the hair.
She did that once in middle school when I didn’t want to go back inside with her after lunch break.
The humans mulling around would be no help, either.
Ever since we came out of the closet, so to speak, they gawked like we were circus freaks but wouldn’t come closer than a few feet, as if magic was contagious and they might get infected. I wish it was.
There were exceptions like Davon the cop, but those were few and far between.
We were “the others,” and unless they needed help, humans wanted nothing to do with us.
At least there were no pitchforks or burnings at the stake involved, so not bad I guessed.
That was why my coven was very strict. The government told us we were all good to live among humans as long as no problems came up by any supernatural being, not just us.
So, the high priest and my grandmother—to be honest it was probably all her because the priest was practically a mute when around her—decided we would boss the supernatural world around.
The magi police force was just a front for posturing.
We were the ones that got down and dirty.
And destroyed perfectly new pairs of designer boots in the process, I’d like to add.
Sissily took my elbow and waddled me up the steps when I took too long to move.
Chewing on the inside of my mouth, I allowed my fear to choke me until I reached the double doors, and then I squared my shoulders.
Whatever issues I had would be left at the door.
No one needed to know my shit. It was none of their business, anyway.
The inside of the building was also painted black, with a hallway like one long intestine twisting around offices, ritual rooms, guest reception halls, and the library, of course.
Our pride and joy, with knowledge gathered for generation after generation by magical families.
It was the largest collection in the world, and the love of my grandmother’s life.
I personally used it to hide from idiots when they got annoying, or to pretend I was busy when we had a ritual scheduled.
If I was busy, I couldn’t participate and see all the pitying looks or sneers thrown my way.
“You ready?” Sissily mumbled under her breath and dragged me out of my spinning thoughts.
“No.”
“Hazel.”
“Why does everyone think saying my name will help anything?” I jerked my elbow out of her pinching hold and tugged hard on the borrowed jacket to straighten it.
My balance went sideways, and I pitched forward, but she tugged me back before I face planted.
“Let me tell you, it does nothing but piss me off and feed my anxiety. I know what my name is. I’ve had it my whole life, thank you very much. ”
“You’re stalling.”
“No.” I gasped dramatically. “What in the world gave you that idea?” Sissily rolled her blue peepers at me. “I really don’t want to go in. I might puke all over her desk.”
“You’re so stupid.” She snickered and bumped my shoulder. For her sake, my lips pulled to the side in a pathetic attempt at a smile.
With a sigh, I continued my impersonation of Quasimodo hobbling down the hall on one high-heeled boot and one bare foot, darting glances at the candelabras lining the walls.
Black pillar candles burned in clusters with blue flames, the magical fire standing straight without a crackle or a flicker.
They always looked like a painting that gave off light to me, and it didn’t matter how many times I saw them.
“They are expecting you.” We hadn’t fully rounded the corner yet, but Mike made sure to shout it like he was playing bingo and just won. He leered at Sissily, but as soon as he met my glare, his head ducked down so fast he almost headbutted the desk.
“I see you didn’t take your meds today, Mike?” I jabbed him conversationally, and Sissily snorted.
“What? Yes, I did.” His face snapped up and reddened like a tomato. “Hey, I don’t take medication.”
I pursed my lips, eyeing him and pretending like I didn’t believe him.
Something told me if I kept looking at him his head might explode. I was willing to test that theory, but I felt Danika’s magic reaching, plus Sissily nudged me to get moving.
“Maybe you should.” My suggestion to the creep in passing left him sneering. “Meds won’t grow your brain, but it’ll help with your complexion.”
We left him stuttering and talking to himself about bitches and the goddess knew what other fairy tales he told himself.
After he dared to treat my best friend like she was his personal punching bag while she dated him, I made it my business to mess him up every chance I had.
I was pretty sure he cast a protection spell around himself specifically against me so I couldn’t physically harm him.
Good thing, too, because I didn’t trust myself not to fillet him like a fish.
I flung the door open without a knock and hobble-hopped inside my grandmother’s office with Sissily nipping on my heels.
Stopping in my tracks, I took in the large, ornate-oak desk Danika Byrne sat ramrod straight behind.
High Priest Shadowblood was behind her right shoulder, his face pinched so tight it looked like he was trying not to fart.
His slicked dark hair, long, thin nose, and pointed chin brought the image of a crow perched on my grandmother’s shoulder to my mind every time he did that, although I never dared mention it.
But it wasn’t those two that made me freeze with one foot in the air and one hand gripping the doorknob.
No, it was the third person in the room just to the left of Danika.
In his late twenties to mid-thirties, he was a face I’d never seen before between these walls.
His blond hair was shaved close to his skull on the sides, with the top left longer to drape over his forehead in a wave.
Eyes the color of melted chocolate flicked my way when I opened the door, and they widened in interest—not enough to be obvious, but since I was staring at him like an idiot, I noticed.
A square jaw and a nose with a slight bump at the bridge like it had been broken a time or two framed full lips more suitable to a woman than someone like him.
Wide shoulders stretched his indigo button-down shirt, which was tucked into the waistband of dark slacks that emphasized his narrow waist and muscular body.
I gawked for less than five seconds, but it was enough for one corner of his mouth to twitch.
That little quirk snapped me out of my daze.
Spinning around, I bolted out of the office and plowed Sissily down. She would’ve fallen on her ass if I didn’t catch her by the arm and drag her back out with me. The door closed behind us with a loud thump when I bodily carried her to the desk where Mike was still muttering curses at me.
“Give me your shoes.” My best friend squeaked when I plopped her ass on the desk.
“What? Why?”
“Shoes woman. Now.” My hand was wiggling in her face to show my urgency. “Questions later.”
I yanked them off her feet myself because I had no time to explain why having shoes instead of one boot—regardless of how pretty said boot may look—was so important.
Lifting her leg up pushed Sissily until she was leaning on her hands, and if I wasn’t in a hurry I would’ve chortled at Mike’s face.
Poor schmuck almost swallowed his tongue when he received a face full of a ponytail, and his saucer-like eyes told me he didn’t miss Sissily’s boobs sticking up from her arched back.
I even stabbed her foot in my one boot because I was a good friend like that, and then I was yanking her along with me to enter the office for the second time.
She’d probably replace my shampoo with glue to pay me back for this, but I’d deal with it later.
When I stepped back inside the office, my grandmother arched an eyebrow not looking very pleased, which I ignored, of course.
Being the nice little witch I was, I waited for Sissily to limp inside before I closed the door and guided her to the closest chair.
Her blue eyes were spitting daggers at me the whole time.
As Sissily dropped on the uncomfortable chair, I went as far as petting her head like a puppy that did potty, ignoring her glare the entire time.
Then, I turned and beamed at everyone in the room, giving my grandmother a pointed look towards blondie that said help a girl out but I had a feeling my plea fell on deaf ears.