Page 41 of Queen of the Wicked (Afterlife #1)

Alessia

U pon their return to Hell, Alessia scrubbed herself raw in the tub Isla filled with a mixture of essential oils until she smelled like a damn rose bush.

Then, she allowed Isla to brush her hair while she listened to her rave about the first book of Bridgerton, the handmaid’s cheeks tinting pink at the more devious parts.

Between the hour soaking in the bath and the lighthearted talk with her friend, it did nothing to soothe the anxiety she’d carried back from the pits. Their journey home was spent mainly in silence, with the group giving her much-needed space to process what the Seeker had revealed.

How was she supposed to feel about being the harbinger when she knew nothing about the realms? Sure, she had been slowly but surely making her way through the Book of Death, but that wouldn’t give her the knowledge she needed to correct the balance, would it ?

Literature is your greatest tool.

Okay, maybe the book would provide insight, but it was at least a thousand pages, and she didn’t have time to read every word when it was all but confirmed that King Bastian was stealing evil souls from the soul yard.

But perhaps the book would have a way to stop him.

Isn’t that why Erebos had tried to locate it for so many years?

“You look beautiful,” Isla observed, placing a white bow at the end of her braid.

It had been a week since they returned from the pits, and they had fallen into a routine.

She would bathe, and then Isla would do her hair, only to remain in her room for the entire day.

“His Majesty has asked for your presence in the gardens this afternoon.”

That didn’t surprise her. With her newfound information as the harbinger, she recalled what Erebos had mentioned in the library about allying with whoever would bear the responsibility.

Whatever an alliance entailed, she didn’t know, but the only thing she was surprised about was that he had waited this long to speak to her about it.

“Perfect. I’ll meet him there after lunch.

” Slimming the cotton fabric of her emerald dress that Isla swore matched her eyes, she wondered what Erebos would think when he saw her.

Because, as much as she tried, she couldn’t get their kiss out of her damn mind.

It had felt so…right. Like all the loneliness she had endured had led to the moment his lips pressed against hers.

What if being the harbinger changed things? Would Erebos still want to explore things with her? Did Alessia want that? So many questions were left unanswered after she left the Seeker that she suffered a migraine every day since.

“Are you all right, Miss Alessia?” Isla frowned in the mirror. “You have been different since returning from the pits.”

No , she wasn’t all right. There was no way she was responsible for righting the realms when she had only just begun to discover the depths of her power.

The sheer amount of pressure that fell on her chest since the title left the Seeker’s mouth had been suffocating, and even though she tried to navigate it herself, she couldn’t when the information she needed wasn’t readily available yet.

The mission was too daunting, and if she thought about it hard enough, it made her want to scream.

A part of her wanted to confide in Isla, but she didn’t know if she could. Those in Hell hadn’t been told about her being the harbinger, so she wasn’t sure if telling Isla would violate some rule set in place she wasn’t aware of.

These would all be things to discuss with Erebos later this afternoon.

“I’m fine,” Alessia lied, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just tired.”

Seeming satisfied with her answer, Isla bustled around the room, fluffing the pillows and performing other irrelevant tasks to keep her busy. “Well, you will be pleased to know I spent my free time doing more than just reading scandalous stories.”

“Oh?” Her admission provoked a genuine grin from Alessia. “What did you do?”

“I may or may not have created something extravagant for you to wear to the ball.”

“The ball?” Alessia glanced at her reflection in confusion. “What ball?”

“It is to honor the Freeing Ceremony this weekend,” she explained. “Once a year, His Majesty will announce those who are no longer tainted. They will then have the choice to be reincarnated or remain here in Hell.”

Alessia sat forward, intrigued. “Who is being freed?”

“That is what makes it so entertaining.” Isla had a bounce in her step, staring dreamily out the window overlooking the gardens.

“It is a surprise. No one knows if they will be selected, so those who reside in this realm travel far and wide to attend. You will likely see a lot more of the staff here in the castle as they prepare for it.” She continued rambling, unable to rein in her excitement.

“There will be dancing and extravagant food, and the decorations are always superb. You will love it.”

“I am sure I will.” A beat, and then, “You didn’t need to make me anything, but I appreciate it all the same. Am I allowed to see it?”

“Not until the ball,” she replied with a mischievous grin. “I used to be a seamstress on Earth before I got wrapped up with the wrong people. This time alone made me remember how much I enjoy it. I am sure His Majesty will be very pleased when he sees you in it.”

“Erebos’s opinion doesn’t matter to me.” But Alessia couldn’t help it when she blushed, remembering how dark the lord’s eyes had grown when he scanned her breasts and?—

“You are a pretty liar,” Isla teased.

Alessia faked a gasp. “I am not a liar! ”

“Tell that to your burning cheeks!” she retorted. “I am surprised this room isn’t aflame yet!”

Tossing her head back with laughter, Alessia was thankful for this new friendship when, for the first time since yesterday, she wasn’t thinking of her new responsibility to the realm or her budding relationship with the Lord of Hell.

In that moment, she was giggling with her friend like teenagers at a sleepover, and she wanted to cherish the fleeting moment of innocence as long as she could.

The gardens of the castle bore a resemblance to those found on Earth.

Hedges upon hedges of greenery surrounded a circular, three-tiered fountain with little park benches at its center.

The only difference between the realms were the types of plants that grew.

The black sunflowers—corathins, as she’d come to learn—seemed to be in full bloom, thriving as the crimson-colored sun beat down on the unique plants.

She’d been fascinated by the glittery petals when she first arrived, only becoming more enthralled with each passing day.

Winding her way around the last hedge, she suddenly stopped. Erebos had told her to meet him here at noon, but he wasn’t who she found waiting for her in the maze's center.

She must have been dreaming. That was the only explanation for why her mother was sitting on the park bench with tears in her eyes and a watery smile.

Alessia blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating.

Nothing about her had changed in the month and a half they’d spent apart.

She still had spiky blond hair shaved on one side with piercings crawling up her ear, and she wore a tunic and pants, much different than her fashion taste on Earth, which consisted of leather jackets and rocker tees.

She was never fond of dresses; Alessia couldn’t remember a time in her childhood when she wore one.

“My dear girl,” Elyana whispered. With the use of the nickname her mother had called her since birth, she knew that this wasn’t a dream. Her mother was here, and she was alive and safe.

Alessia was a little girl all over again as she raced to the park bench and threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath.

Elyana rocked her back and forth, allowing her to release every emotion pent up since her arrival.

In her mother’s arms, she could grieve. She could allow herself to fall apart entirely without fear of retribution.

“H-How are you alive?” she gasped, pulling back to ensure this was still real. “I thought you died. I tried to find you, but Mom ? —”

“I know,” she soothed, swiping away a stray tear. “I am so sorry I wasn’t there, Alessia. Things were more…complicated in Heaven than I predicted they would be. Erebos filled me in on everything that’s happened the past couple of weeks.”

“Erebos?” She swiped at her cheeks. “He…He found you?”

“Not him, per se, since he isn’t allowed in the realm without permission, but he sent a lovely girl to attempt to find me. I can’t remember her name, though. Catrina, maybe?”

Alessia didn’t even care that he sent his former mistress. Catalina found her, and the fact that Erebos went to all that trouble just to locate her meant more to her than he’d ever know. It made her want to kiss him all over again.

And maybe she would.

“I’m so happy you’re here. I’ve been utterly lost since coming to Hell, and now you can fill me in on everything you were supposed to tell me on my birthday.

I just wish…” Her voice broke as the memory of her mom crept in.

Elyana tilted her chin up. “She is with us every moment, Alessia, and she would be so proud of all you have accomplished. You know that, right?”

Alessia nodded.

“Good. Then that is what you must remember going forward. It is what I had to remember until I found you again. It allowed me to put one foot in front of the other, knowing you might still be alive even though she had left the realms too soon.”

“Were you…okay in Heaven?” From what she had heard from Erebos, Bastian had committed countless crimes by stealing lost souls from the soul yard, but it was also something he didn’t confide in a lot of people, for fear of word getting back to Bastian about treason.

It could cost him this entire realm, so Alessia decided to keep it vague for now.