Page 4

Chapter Four

LILY

“Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to Hell we go…” I hummed the rest of the song under my breath, the improvised ditty doing little to calm my nerves. I’d never been much of a fairytale fan—too much damsel, not enough common sense—but I had to admit, the writers had a knack for catchy melodies. The only difference between me and the seven dwarves was that they carried mining picks, and I carried swords. Two, to be exact.

For now, I’d tucked those swords safely away in a duffel bag, then set it next to my front door. But once we stepped through Hell’s gate, I’d ditch the bag and wear my babies proudly again.

The warrior in me shivered with anticipation.

The rest of me, however, did not.

I stood by my plan. I absolutely believed Rathiel and I needed to return to Hell, if only to save Earth from total annihilation. Yet, I dreaded every second leading up to that pivotal moment. Earth might be a hot mess, but it had coffee and bacon—two sacred gifts Hell lacked. It was a realm of pure torment and torture for a reason. My father had shaped the kingdom in his image, and he’d gone for more of an ash, brimstone, and distinct eau de sulphur atmosphere. Not to mention, the residents were bred for war, and I’d just spent the last ten years practically on vacation. I hadn’t been sipping martinis on a private jet or anything quite so ostentatious, but I also hadn’t spent the last decade fighting for my life.

Physically, my body was fit as a fiddle. I was combat ready. But mentally? That was a whole other can of worms. Jack’s death had rattled me. I’d seen humans do dark things, but even then, their blackness didn’t compare to Lucifer’s fallen. Zera had murdered Jack out of spite, just to feel his bones snapping in her hands, and to hurt me. Hell demanded a certain bloodlust—one I wasn’t sure I possessed anymore. If the hellspawn sensed even the slightest weakness in me, they would devour me for dinner.

I shook that thought off and tried to focus on the positives. Not that there were many. At least I wasn’t going alone. Rathiel and Eliza would be there, fighting at my side. And I knew without any doubt that Rathiel would fight until his last breath to protect me. As I would for him. But that was another topic I wasn’t ready to explore yet.

I stole a glance around my apartment, silently saying goodbye. It wasn’t the nicest place, but it’d put a roof over my head and given me a place to call home. That meant something to me.

The day before, I’d told my landlord I wanted to break the lease. He hadn’t been thrilled, but I’d turned his frown upside down by paying six months’ rent upfront, giving him lots of time to find a new tenant. Then I’d sweetened the pot with another lump sum, on the condition he pack my things and clear the place out. I’d given him permission to keep whatever he wanted and toss the rest. He’d asked a great deal of questions, ones I couldn’t answer, but in the end, money won.

My bank account, however, wasn’t nearly as pleased about the transaction. But eh, it was just money. And truly, the cash wouldn’t do me any good in the pits of eternal damnation anyway.

Rathiel stepped beside me, his hand brushing mine. The tiny, fleeting contact lit me up like a damn Christmas tree, and it took all my willpower to keep my reaction hidden. Ever since the night we’d kissed, his presence drew me like a moth to a flame. I was trying my hardest not to give in, but I was slowly losing the battle. The damn vampire had more of a hold on me than I cared to admit, and that was without my memories of our past.

“Ready?” he asked.

I silently nodded. I so wasn’t ready, but I had a plan to execute and the Devil to assassinate. The first step started now—and that step involved claws and fangs.

“You go left,” I told him. “Create a barrier between the living room and my bedroom. I’ll go right and try to snag him before he bolts.”

Rathiel took his position as I ordered, then nodded.

With a deep, steadying breath, I prepared myself. Vol sat on the couch, his wide eyes trained on me, and a devilish grin twisting his lips. We’d discussed the plan this morning, and he’d cackled maniacally. He hadn’t promised to help, but he had promised to sit quietly and enjoy the show.

“Good luck, Meat Sack,” he chirped, stretching out his tiny legs like he had all the time in the world. “This is gonna be hilarious.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for the support, Vol.”

“My pleasure,” he said with a dark chuckle, kicking back to watch the chaos unfold.

I shifted my focus to my target, who sat perched on the armrest of the couch, his tail flicking like a metronome of doom. Purrgatory, the fluffiest, sweetest cat on the planet—except when it came to Vol—watched my approach with murder aglow in his green eyes. I’d dressed appropriately for the occasion: long sleeves, thick mittens, and a steely resolve. But it didn’t feel like enough. When it came to cat carriers, my sweet, purring companion turned into a furry demon wielding toe-bean daggers.

“Okay, buddy,” I said softly as I inched closer. “We’ve done this before. Let’s keep it civilized.”

Purrgatory’s ears flattened, and his tail twitched faster.

“This isn’t going to go well,” I warned Rathiel, not breaking eye contact with my furry adversary. Anyone who’d ever lived with a cat knew a flicking tail was a sign of impending death.

“He’s a cat.”

“He’s a demon .”

“Please. We’ve fought hellspawn. He’s hardly?—”

I lunged and snatched my fluffy boy. The next few seconds were a blur of yowling, clawing, and swearing—mostly mine. Purrgy’s claws seemed to glint in the light as he swiped them through the air. Twisting his body in all the impossible angles, he busted free and bolted toward Rathiel.

“Stop him!” I shouted, scrambling after my ginger menace.

Rathiel cursed and dove after Purrgatory. For a brief, glorious moment, I thought Rathiel had him—until Purrgatory turned boneless, slipped through the vampire’s hands like smoke, and torpedoed into the bedroom. Meanwhile, Vol rolled around on the couch, clutching his small stomach as he laughed and laughed and laughed.

“That was priceless, Meat Sack!” he shouted, his grey skin mottled pink.

Rathiel straightened and blinked his angelic blue eyes at me. “Well, that didn’t go according to plan.”

“No kidding,” I sighed.

With a new plan in mind, I stomped to the linen closet and yanked it open. Thankfully, since the landlord wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow, I had a small arsenal of blankets at my disposal. I snatched one, then led Rathiel toward my room.

“He’s under the bed,” I said, knowing my cat’s hiding habits all too well. “I’m going to flush him out. He’ll likely bolt for the door again.” I thrust the blanket at Rathiel. “Come inside and close the door so he can’t dart past us. Then use this to catch him. Make sure to wrap him tightly so his claws don’t get you.”

Rathiel took the blanket with a serious nod, then followed me into my room with Vol at his heels and closed the door.

I crouched beside the bed and peered under the frame. “Come on, Purrgy,” I murmured. “Don’t make me get the spritz bottle. You can do this, big guy.”

From under the bed, a pair of pissed-off, green eyes glared at me. I reached under the frame, and Purrgy scooted backward with a quiet hiss and a loud growl.

“Come on, baby, don’t be like that. You’ll like Hell, I swear.”

Vol’s bark of laughter came from the doorway.

“Not helping, Vol.”

“Not here to help,” he informed me gleefully.

I rolled my eyes, then patted the floor. “Come on, Purrgy. We gotta go buddy.” I dropped flat onto my stomach and scooted closer. The second my fingers grazed his fur, he bolted and dove straight into Rathiel’s waiting arms.

This time, Rathiel caught the little bean and scooped him into the blanket, cinching it tight to keep Purrgatory from wriggling free.

“Quickly!” I said, scrambling to my feet and leading Rathiel into the kitchen. I grabbed the collapsible fabric cat carrier, stuffed with blankets for the cold, and said a little prayer. “Don’t give him time to catch his bearings,” I said. “Just get him inside as quickly as you can.”

Rathiel unwrapped the kitty burrito and stuffed Purrgatory through the hole. Purrgy kicked and howled, growled and spat, but in a war between vampire and putty tat, vampire won. Once Purrgy’s whole body was inside, I zipped closed the door, then lifted the carrier to eye level.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” I told him, who was practically vibrating with kitty rage. “Okay everyone, it’s time to kick this joint.”

Rathiel and I quickly dressed in our winter gear, and I grabbed a side satchel, one I’d lined with scraps of fabric for Vol. I opened the flap and told him to get in. He paused to stick his tongue out at Purrgy, then vanished into the bag’s depths.

I carefully slung the satchel over my shoulder before hoisting my pack onto my back. Rathiel came behind me and secured Purrgy’s carrier to the top before shrugging on his own pack. Then he grabbed our duffel bag full of weapons and turned to face me. We had far too many bags—more than I wanted—but I wasn’t willing to part with anything else. So, we would just have to make do.

We didn’t speak, but our gazes met and held. When he arched a questioning brow, I gave a firm nod. I could do this. I had to do this. I didn’t like it, but so what? We didn’t always get the life we wanted. And while I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my eternal days snuggled up on a couch, watching a movie, possibly cuddling with a fangy blood drinker…

I cleared my throat. Nope, those kinds of thoughts wouldn’t help right now.

The point was, we didn’t always get what we wanted. This was my life, and the only one I had to live. So, I needed to live it.

As if right on time, my apartment intercom buzzed, announcing our Uber’s arrival. I’d asked my neighbour to call for me since my cell phone was now little more than a brick.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Without another glance back, I led Rathiel out into the hallway and walked away from every possession I owned. I had the important stuff, I told myself. Purrgatory, Vol, Rathiel…but that didn’t soothe the ache in my chest right now.

If we survived this trip to Hell, maybe we’d find a new home someday. If not…well, Hell was always looking for new residents.

With that cheery thought, I squared my shoulders and led the way outside.

* * *

RATHIEL

Night blanketed the Alberta Legislature Grounds, the crunch of snow beneath our boots the only sound in the still air. The cold bit deep, needling through layers of clothing and skin. I’d never known a cold like this before stepping foot on Earth. Hell was constant heat—suffocating, blistering, all-consuming. There was no reprieve from it, no icy wind to remind you that you were alive. And yet, as much as I craved the warmth of Hell in this bitter night, I didn’t miss the inferno.

I adjusted the duffel slung over my shoulder and followed Lily, her pack bouncing with the cat carrier strapped to it. From inside, Purrgatory let out a low, grumpy growl, the sound tugging a faint smile to my lips. The absurdity of dragging a cat into Hell hadn’t escaped me, but Lily had been adamant.

I hadn’t bothered arguing. Not because I thought it was a good idea—but because I knew arguing would do no good. Lily wasn’t the kind of person who left anything she cared about behind. Purrgatory wasn’t just a pet. He was a tether to the life she’d built here. A piece of something she wasn’t willing to lose.

I could understand that, seeing as how Lily was that for me.

She had changed in our time apart—softer in some ways, no longer living a life forged solely from pain and fury. But she was still a soldier, still held herself like a warrior.

Before all this, she’d been living a quiet, human life. Now she was gearing up for war.

My grip tightened on the duffel as I considered all we’d been through. It was hard to believe it’d been little more than a week since I’d dragged myself through the gate, bloody and broken. It’d taken all my power just to keep it open while I fell through. But I remembered the cold hitting me like a fist, and the sensory overload after ten years of torment in Lucifer’s dungeon.

I’d barely escaped in one piece. But I hadn’t cared. All that’d mattered was finding Lily.

But first, I’d needed strength. A few semi-willing blood donors later, I’d replenished myself enough to track her down. And I had—easily. Maybe too easily. The moment I’d caught her scent—faint traces of divinity wrapped in something definingly Lily—I’d found her.

But the relief hadn’t lasted.

I’d found her in some sort of food establishment, sitting across from a human. Her hair had shimmered under the lighting, her laughter soft as she’d smiled at whatever inane thing he’d said. The sound should have soothed me. Instead, it’d felt like a blade to the chest.

This whole time, she’d been alive. Whole. Every bit the angel I’d sacrificed myself to save, the one I’d betrayed Lucifer for. And yet, in that moment, she’d felt more distant to me than she had during the ten years we’d spent separated.

I’d stood frozen, rooted to the spot, until the human noticed me. He’d said something. She’d turned to look.

And our eyes had met.

For one stupid, fragile moment, I’d hoped. Hoped something deep inside her might stir. That the memories I’d stolen might still resonate within her. That she’d see me…and simply remember.

But then her expression had shifted.

Not with recognition. Not relief.

Confusion. Caution. A spark of anger.

I’d seen her angry many times before. But this had been colder. Detached. Pure loathing directed solely at me.

And that was when it’d really hit me.

She hadn’t recognized me. Not the way I’d wanted her to. Not as the man she’d once loved. Right then, I’d been no one to her. Just another remnant of her past. Just Lucifer’s lackey.

That moment had hurt. More than Lucifer’s barbed chains flaying me alive, more than the hooks of molten iron ripping through my muscle and flesh. Those I could endure—hell, had endured.

But they hadn’t broken me, because I wouldn’t let them. Because Lily had needed me.

I only wished she’d needed me as much.

I forced the memories down, locking them away where they belonged. Dwelling on the past wouldn’t change anything.

We were going back to Hell. And I needed to focus on what mattered: keeping her alive.

A pulse of energy tore through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. My head lifted, eyes locking onto the gate. Its power thrummed in the air, a familiar, unwelcome presence pressing against my senses. Like an old wound aching before a storm.

This would be my third time opening it. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d survive it.

The first time, I’d done it for her. A last act of defiance before Lucifer ripped me apart for my betrayal. I hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t cared what it would cost me. I’d thrown everything I had into forcing the gate open, shoving Lily through, then sealing it behind her before my body failed. It hadn’t taken long for Lucifer to find me after that, nor had I been able to put up much of a fight. He’d dragged me to his dungeons and unleashed all his cruelty on me.

The second time, I’d been equally desperate. To find her. I’d torn through the fabric between worlds, my strength draining with every second the portal held. But I’d done it. I’d found her.

Now, I had to do it again.

This time was different. This time, I wasn’t sending one being through. This time, I had to hold the gate long enough to send a celestial, a siren, a vampire, an imp, and a cat through. And I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to pull that off. The gate fed on our power. The more who went through, the more power it required. I was a fallen angel turned vampire, but my power wasn’t limitless.

I wasn’t sure I could do it.

But what choice did I have?

If I didn’t make it—if my body gave out before the last of them crossed—Lily would have to face her father without me.

And that? That wasn’t an option.

Which meant failure wasn’t an option either. I’d find the strength. I’d dig deeper than I ever had before. I didn’t care what it took, how much it hurt.

I’d hold.

Because she mattered.

And I didn’t.

“You all right?” Lily’s voice broke the stillness, rising softly against the night air, her breath misting in the cold.

I jerked my head toward her, her silhouette stark against the pale glow of snow-covered ground. “Yeah,” I said. “Just thinking.”

She studied me with a calculating look I’d come to know so well. The one that meant she was trying to piece me together, figure out what thoughts were rattling around in my head.

I hadn’t told her the full truth about what opening the gate would cost me. She didn’t know how much it demanded, nor did she need to know. All that mattered was getting her—getting them all —through. I could deal with whatever came after.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into her expression. “You’re sure?”

I swallowed hard, glancing away. But before I could respond, footsteps crunched across the snow.

“Hope I’m not interrupting something,” Eliza said as she strode toward us, her pack secured to her back. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, her gaze flicking between us.

Lily glanced at her friend. “You’re late.”

Eliza shrugged, flashing a brilliant smile that supposedly brought men to their knees. Not me, though. The only smile I was interested in was Lily’s.

“Fashionably late,” Eliza corrected. “Don’t worry, I’m here now. Ready to kick down some fiery doors?”

Before anyone could respond, something pressed against my senses.

It was subtle at first—just a prickle along the edges of my mind. Then it sharpened with a pulse of power so strong, it hummed in my bones.

Unfortunately, I knew that feeling.

I swore under my breath and whirled around, scanning the darkness.

“Rathiel?” Lily asked, her voice quiet.

As though her voice had summoned them, the shadows unraveled. One by one, six familiar figures stepped forward, their winged forms cut from the night itself. Moonlight gleamed off their weapons, their faces unmistakable.

Lucifer’s fallen.

We were so fucked.