“You are not pleased? We live to please.”
I was backing up into a corner of the room, and the incubi crept closer.
“Listen, I already have two men in my life, and that’s one too many.”
“Then women it is.” Their forms shifted again.
“Will you please stop that?” I begged the room as a whole. They came even closer.
“The devil will hurt all of you if you so much as lay another hand on me,” I said.
“It can be our secret.”
“He can read my mind.” Why was I trying to reason with them?
For the first time since I entered, they looked uncertain.
“And even if he didn’t, I don’t want any of you.” I should’ve just ordered them out right from the get go, but to be honest, these demons didn’t seem malicious, just a bit … horny. Also, it would be nice to not make enemies on day two. I bet in hell, enemies were very bad thing. I also bet these were the nicest demons here.
“Truly?” one replied.
“Truly,” I said.
“If the queen does not want us,” one said to the rest, “then we should leave.”
The others murmured their agreement, and they filed out of the bedroom. I practically sagged against the wall once they were gone.
Fuck my afterlife.
“Dinner,” growled a winged, red-eyed demon, entering the library where I was tucked away. Of all the types of demons I’d seen, this one appeared to be the most common. They were the devil’s lackeys and the only ones that formed from my blood.
“Not hungry,” I said, returning my attention to my book, not that it was much more interesting than the creature in front of me. Hell needed to upgrade its reading material. This demonic stuff got old after a while. There were only so many ways you could describe torturing a person, and though I’d definitely give some of these guys an “A” for originality, the subject was getting repetitive.
I’d just flipped the page when the demon yanked me up by the arm.
“Hey!” I protested, the book falling out of my hands.
He began dragging me out of the room.
We’d already done this jig before, and I was noticing a habit forming here, one where I got pushed around. I needed to set some boundaries, stat.
“I said I wasn’t hungry. Now, let go.” I tugged against his uncompromising hold.
It was as though I hadn’t spoken. The demon’s stride didn’t even slow and his grip didn’t lighten.
My power rose, building like a storm beneath my skin. I could taste it at the back of my throat.
I thrust my hand against the demon’s ashen chest and shoved the energy out, blasting him backwards. He hit the wall, shards of obsidian chipping off at the impact.
He slid to the floor, and I heard him growl. Then he was back up on his feet, stalking towards me, his expression murderous. I could see plainly that he was no longer interested in quietly dragging me off to the devil. He wanted my blood on his hands.
A series of daggers lined the walls of the library. Lifting my hand, I called one to me, using my power to pull it from its post across the room and into my hand. Andre’s training came back to me, and I relaxed my muscles as the demon charged at me.
I stood my ground as he closed the distance. At the last minute I ducked and slammed the dagger beneath the demon’s ribs, shoving it up with my considerable strength. It cut through flesh and bone and hit his heart.
Above me the demon choked. Weakly he swiped at me, his claws slicing across my skin. Ignoring the pain, I shoved the knife farther into him. He swayed, and then his body slid to the side, collapsing next to me.
I rose, wiping the black blood onto my dress and scowling down at the demon.
“Well done, consort.”
My head snapped up. A moment ago, the creature and I had been alone. Now, however, the devil stood in front of me, a legion of demons at his back. They filled the room, watching me curiously.
Pluto turned his head to the side, addressing the beings behind him, “Look at how fierce my queen is,” he said. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was bragging. “Take note—this is how she deals with dissent, and I will not stand in her way as she metes out justice.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. Convenient how he showed up after the fight was over.
His lips quirked.
The demons at his back scrutinized me, some appreciatively, others apprehensively.
“Now,” he said to our audience, “leave us.”
In the next several seconds they dissipated into wisps of smoke, and then they were gone completely, leaving behind only the smell of sulfur.
Sliding his hands into his pockets, the devil strode over to the felled demon. A pool of black blood grew beneath the creature.
“Is he dead?” I asked.
“No, but after his impending stay in the dungeons, he will wish he was.”
I cocked my head. “You set this all up, didn’t you?”
“My dear,” the devil said, turning his attention to me, “even I can’t predict how a demon will act. I only knew that this one right here didn’t much like women.”