Bittersweet Magic (The Order #2)

…


She’d always quite liked the Abyss. It wasn’t like humans depicted Hell. It was dark, but the air was cool and crisp. Overhead, the sky was full of stars, and a half moon hung low against the horizon, casting its dim light over a landscape of mountains and deep rugged gorges.

She followed Asmodai out of the open air and into a wide tunnel that led under the mountains. She fought the sense of claustrophobia; she’d hated small spaces ever since she’d been locked in that cell.

Finally, when they were deep underground, Asmodai halted and turned to her. “You stay here until I’ve spoken to Andarta. I’ll try and get Lamont away from her. But you’ll have seconds at the most.”

But Roz wasn’t listening. She was staring past him into the huge cavern beyond. Her eyes were drawn instantly to Piers. He wore black leather pants, but his chest was bare and around his upper arm twined a demon’s sigil. She pushed past Asmodai and ran toward him.

“What the fuck happened to hiding?” Asmodai muttered and hurried after her.

She skidded to a halt in front of Piers. His eyes widened, and an expression of horror flashed across his features.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He turned to Asmodai. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“She cried,” Asmodai said.

“Shit. Which part of ‘take care of her’ did you not understand?”

Roz ground her teeth together. “I do not require taking care of.”

“Are you insane?”

She opened her mouth to answer as every muscle in his body appeared to lock solid. He stared over her shoulder. She didn’t have to look; she knew who must have joined them, and a shiver of revulsion ran down her spine.

“Are you the reason he’s refused to touch me?” The voice was soft but tinged with malevolence.

“No,” Piers snapped. “I told you, I just don’t like being forced. And the deal was I’d be at your side, not on top of you. I never said I would fuck you.”

“It was implicit in the deal.”

“Maybe to you.”

“It’s her, isn’t it? You’re in love with her.” Andarta’s voice filled with disbelief.

Bitch. Roz stepped forward—time to get to the point of this meeting. Her throat was dry, and she swallowed. She could do this.

“Andarta, I challenge you to mortal combat.”

“Are you goddamn crazy?” Piers whirled around to face Asmodai again. “For fuck’s sake, get her out of here.”

“Too late,” Andarta purred. “I accept.”

Shit. This was it. “When?”

“Why not right now? Perhaps once you’re dead, Piers will be a little more amenable.”

“And perhaps he won’t,” Piers growled. Panic was forming on his face. Obviously it was sinking in that he had no control over what went on here. He shook his head as though trying to make sense. “Don’t do this, Andarta. Let her go, and I’ll do anything you ask. Just let her go.”

“Too late; the challenge has been accepted.”

“I’m sorry,” Asmodai said. “I didn’t know she was going to do this. She said she wanted to say goodbye, tell you she’d wait for you. She cried, goddamn it.” He took a deep breath. “We’re going to fight, I take it? But you know you’ll also perish if Andarta dies outside a challenge?”

Piers ran his hands through his hair. “To be honest, after a few hours with that bitch, I think death is preferable.”

Roz realized they meant to fight Andarta. No, this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. But even as the fear crowded her mind, a circle of crimson flame formed around her and the demoness. Too late.

“Only one of us comes out of this circle alive,” Andarta said, her tone making it clear she had no doubt who that would be.

This was it. Roz backed away instinctively until the heat of the fire burned her skin, and she could go no further.

The weight of Piers’ stare drew her gaze sideways. He stared at her and his eyes filled with despair. “Why?”

“Because I never told you I loved you. And you sneaked away. And I’ve been happy this last week. And I couldn’t bear the thought of going on with my life all the while knowing that you were here with her because of me. I’m sorry.”

“Well, ‘sorry’ is not fucking good enough. Look out!”

The first bolt hit her in the arm, and red needles of pain shot through her. She swayed but managed to keep her feet.

She had no clue how to fight back. What was she supposed to do? Just stand here while that bitch tore her into little pieces? She’d do anything for a gun right now, but Asmodai had told her long ago that weapons didn’t work in the Abyss.

She was an idiot. What the hell had she been thinking?