by Vivian Wood
Kirael stared her down for several long seconds, mulling over her words.
“Don’t ruin your chance to be happy, if that’s what Vesper might be for you. That’s all I’m saying,” Mere Marie told him, wagging a finger. “Now if you’re ready, we have some serious ass-kicking to do.”
“Right,” Kirael sighed. “I’m going to meet you all at Madam White’s in an hour, right?”
“Correct,” Mere Marie said. “Wait…”
She reached in the pocket of her robe and produced a handful of sweet-smelling sachets.
“Gris-gris?” Kirael asked.
She shrugged. “Call it for good luck, huh? Might come in handy.”
“Well… thanks,” Kirael said, accepting the packets and shoving them into the pocket of his jeans.
He parted ways with the others, heading to the Gray Market solo, his thoughts chaotic. What Mere Marie said, the part about freedom, kept ringing in his head.
He thought about Vesper, about how he’d tried to keep himself apart from her… all in the name of being fair to her.
But what did Vesper want? What did she deserve?
Heaven, Hell… he’d been caught up in his personal melodrama for so many millennia. It hadn’t much occurred to him to look beyond his own needs, beyond his own struggles. In truth, he hadn’t even made much of an attempt to discover Vesper’s life story, to find out what she fought against day to day.
He was drawn to her, to her strength and resilience, but… he wanted more. It was a complete surprise to him, but he wanted to peel back all of Vesper’s layers, understand her, be someone she could lean on.
And that desire was the very opposite of what he’d worked toward for so long. The distant mirage of forgiveness, the idea that if he did enough good deeds, he’d earn his way back into Heaven…
He wanted the impossible.
But was he ready to give it all up, try for something new and meaningful here on Earth? Live in the present, rather than the past?
He simply wasn’t sure.
By the time he managed to pull himself out of his thoughts, he was halfway through the Gray Market, only a few blocks from Madam White’s. The place was distasteful to him, a Kith brothel where anything and everything could be bought for the right price.
Decadent, sinful. Certainly not a place where Kirael would normally be caught dead, but… of course, this would be the place Stella chose. Stella reveled in being as bad as she could be, in dragging tempted souls down into the dirt, corrupting them so completely that there could be no going back.
He parked and set off on foot. Kirael pulled up short when he turned the corner in front of Madam White’s. Stella and Vesper stood on the wraparound front porch. Each stood with her hands on her hips, giving the other a skeptical look. Stella in her spike heels and outlandishly scandalous dress, a two-piece number in fire engine red, showcasing all kinds of skin. An oversized white leather purse hung on her shoulder, no doubt an expensive designer brand.
Vesper wore black jeans and a sheer white t-shirt, with her hair bound up in a complex-looking braid. She was incredibly beautiful, despite her black boots and her disdainful sneer. Her simplicity was part of what made her so unique and sexy.
“Ladies…” he said as he climbed the stairs.
They both turned to him, looking as though he was the reason they’d been forced to interact. He almost cringed under the force of their glares. Then Stella’s face lit up, and Kirael turned to see Lucan bounding up the stairs.
“There you are,” Stella said, all of her attention on Lucan. “I don’t like when you make me wait, Lucan.”
Lucan shot her a frown, but Kirael didn’t miss the fact that Lucan’s eyes traveled up and down Stella’s body more than once. Kirael knew that Stella and Lucan were once an item, passionately in love in fact, but at some point they’d fallen out. These days, Lucan seemed unable to tolerate the sight of her.
“Did you bring everything?” Kirael asked Vesper.
She pointed at her messenger bag, which lay on the porch near her feet. “Got it.”
“Let’s get going, then,” Mere Marie said. “The portal straight to Hell isn’t going to open itself.”
Stella rolled her eyes. “To be on the safe side, we’re going to go through a series bolt-holes first. I’ve linked them to this…”
She dug a white velvet pouch from her purse, carefully opening it and showing them a delicate glass orb.
“We just touch that, and it will take us… where?” Vesper asked.
Stella huffed. “To the portal I set up for you, obviously. Lucan and I will stay here. The rest of you will go to the portal, do what you need to do. I hope you’ve arranged for something to pierce the threshold of the portal.”
“Taken care of,” Vesper said.
“Whatever. There’s another orb on the other end for when you’re ready to leave. Hands in, everyone!” Stella said, holding the ball out to them.
Kirael glanced at Vesper, who looked nervous. He held out his hand, ignoring Stella’s derisive snort, and Vesper laced her fingers with his.
“On three? One, two, three…” he counted off. They both touched it at the same time.
Kirael felt the world lurch around him. Everything swirled and twisted, then it went completely dark. A few scenes flashed before his eyes, spots where Stella had linked the bolt-holes: a park with a rusting swing set, a smoky night club, a flash of what might have been dense green jungle foliage. In theory, the linked portals would confuse anyone who tried to follow them, possibly even mask their presence before they penetrated the portal into Hell.
Another dozen scenes flashed, too quick for Kirael to take in, and then he felt a gut-wrenching sensation as he landed on his feet in a dark, dusty, cramped space.
“Jesus,” Vesper said, waving away some of the dust they’d stirred up. “Is this a tomb?”
They were indeed surrounded by big slabs of stone, almost certainly ancient graves. Atop the closest was another orb, glowing softly on a bed of white velvet.
“At least she gave us a little light,” Kirael said with a shrug.
Ezra and Mere Marie popped into existence a second later, coughing and sputtering.
“Oh, this is just beyond the pale,” Mere Marie declared as she looked around. “Wow, can’t miss the portal, huh?”
The wall to their left wasn’t the same dark, rough stone. Instead it was a wall of pure dense blackness. Strangely, it was as difficult to stare at as the sun itself.
“That’s what we’re going into?” Vesper asked. Kirael gave her hand a squeeze, then released her.
“We’ll be all right,” he said.
Vesper set her messenger bag on the nearest stone slab, producing the cross.
Kirael held out his hand and called the vials from his angelic stash, handing them over to Mere Marie. Then he called his sword, which was a cool, heavy comfort in his hand.
“Ah, one more thing,” he said, laying his sword at his feet.
He held out both hands and summoned Vesper’s twin blades, the gold gleaming dully in the dim light.
“Ah!” Vesper said, a grin lighting up her whole face when he handed them over. “I’ve missed these.”
“Hopefully you’ll use them more wisely this time,” he said, lips twitching.
“Depends,” Vesper said, looking gleeful. “Don’t get on my nerves, maybe I won’t stab you.”
“Alright, everyone,” Mere Marie said. “Let’s focus.”
Ezra hopped up onto the slab, looking a little bored. Mere Marie ushered Kirael and Vesper over to the portal.
“I’m going to throw both vials, one for each of you,” the Voodoo Queen told them. “Vesper, you pierce the Veil with the cross, and then y’all better boogie.”
“Okay,” they said in unison.
Mere Marie held up her hands, murmuring an incantation. The portal began to shift, little veins of silver cracking through it. When Mere Marie uncorked the vial and tossed the contents onto the porta
l, it went solid as a silver platter, reflective as a mirror.
“Now!” she said, and Vesper shoved the cross against it.
The ornamental cross sailed right through the portal, sucking at Vesper’s hand.
“Shit!” she cried.
She stumbled forward, flinging out to grab Kirael. Kirael caught her arm just in time to feel the puuuuuuuuulllllll…
Everything stretched, and Kirael felt himself yanked through the Veil. He and Vesper tumbled onto the ground, winding up in a spot that looked for all the world like a bustling block of downtown New York.
“I… what?” Vesper said, looking around wildly. “Did the spell go wrong?”
“No,” Kirael said, standing and helping her up. “We’re in Hell, all right.”
“But this is… like, normal?” Vesper said, staring at a hot dog vendor standing near them.
“Yeah. This place is Belial’s doing,” Kirael said. “It’s for people who spent their whole lives ranting about how they’re expecting a heavenly reward. Bad people who use the cover of religion as a way to condescend and hurt others.”
Vesper’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
“Yeah. There are endless levels, but this one is particularly insidious. Imagine you die, you expect to rise and see the Heavenly Host greeting you. Then you land here… it’s just three blocks long, then it starts over. Over and over and over,” he said, shaking his head. “Some souls, it just completely destroys them. It’s unbearable to watch.”
Vesper bit her lip, looking down. “I can’t believe we’re in Hell. Sometimes my life goes by so fast, and then I stop and think, what did I do to end up here? This is a particularly strong example.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Kirael said, taking her hand again. “Come on, we should keep moving at all times. Harder to hit a moving target.”
“How do we get out?” she asked.
“Easy enough, if you’re not assigned to be here,” he said. “Pick a doorway, any doorway…”
He led her to the nearest door, a busted-looking electronics shop. When they stepped through it, they found themselves in a dark stone tunnel.
“This seems more familiar,” Vesper said. “You know where we’re going, I assume?”
“Yep. Downward, if you’d believe it,” he said. “This is the uppermost part of Hell. We’re aiming for the middle, more or less.”
“That’s where Mercy is?” she asked. “And the thing you need to get?”
“That’s the place,” he said. He’d barely thought of the Book of Names in the last few days, focusing mostly on Vesper and her needs. Foolish, considering his hopes of returning to Heaven’s good graces.
They continued through the tunnels, Kirael leading the way, navigating mostly by picking tunnels that led downward. He was careful to avoid entering any other levels except where they had no choice.
In the end, they went through a world that was nothing but an endless dark stretch with knee-deep water, a level that held a giant house of endless staircases going in all directions like a nightmarish MC Escher painting, and a level that was a wall of nothing but a single big mirror — and the reflections in it were ghastly, highlighting a soul’s deepest insecurities and flaws.
His own reflection he knew all too well — he’d come here often in his time serving Lucifer. It was a glimpse of the past, of the moment he chose to defect from Heaven. On loop, over and over and over.
He didn’t know what Vesper would see in the mirror, but he’d rather save her that pain.
“Don’t look,” Kirael said, putting his hand next to Vesper’s face. Giving her blinders, essentially. “Please, trust me.”
“I trust you,” she said softly, letting him guide her through the level.
Though quiet, her words reverberated within him. I trust you. I trust you.
His heart gave a funny squeeze, but he pushed the feeling aside. There was absolutely no time for that, not now.
After they made it through and into the tunnels once more, Kirael had to stop to get his bearings. They were very, very close to the Atrium, which held all the private rooms for the Fallen.
On one end, the Book of Names lay in a chamber next to Lucifer’s quarters.
Far on the other end of the Atrium lay the houses of ill repute, places where the lower demons and Fallen could gamble, drink, and whore away their endless lives.
Vesper grabbed Kirael’s arm, pulling him to a stop in the tunnel. She held up a finger and then pointed to her ear, motioning for him to wait, listen.
At the sound of booted feet, Kirael threw up a shield of privacy. It hid them both from plain sight, but only if someone wasn’t really looking for them. It was also limited by only working on lower Fallen and demons, not on the more powerful enemies.
Kirael flattened himself against the rocky wall, motioning for Vesper to do the same. Two figures appeared in the juncture of a nearby tunnel, less than fifty yards from where Kirael and Vesper stood. A Fallen and a demon of some sort.
They slowed, one of the Fallen pausing right where the two tunnels met. Kirael recognized him as Jeremet, a mid-level Fallen who specialized in the very same kind of wet work as Kirael used to do.
If Jeremet saw them, he would know Kirael in an instant. Kirael and Vesper would likely be dead where they stood.
“Is there a problem?” the scaly red-skinned Ykinnis demon standing beside Jeremet asked, sounding impatient.
“No, just…” Jeremet frowned, then shook his head. “Nothing.”
“As I was saying, if we work together to overthrow Belial…” the demon explained.
The two moved on, their voices fading, and Kirael let out a huge breath.
“That was close,” Vesper whispered.
“Too close,” Kirael agreed. “I’m glad you heard them. Let’s keep moving, but definitely be on the lookout. We’re going to see more and more Fallen as we approach the Atrium, which is where your sister will be.”
“I—” Vesper started, then stopped. “They’re coming back.”
Kirael took her hand and led her the opposite way, up the gently sloped tunnel. He could hear several sets of heavy boots again.
“This way,” Jeremet ordered. “I swear I sensed an outsider.”
Kirael took the next right, in a tunnel that dropped steeply until it fed out into a small rock cupola. The only way forward was to enter another level, and a single glance told Kirael exactly which one it was.
The fine hairs on the back of his neck raised.
Jeremet and the other Fallen were gaining on them. Kirael wanted nothing less than to step into this particular level, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Vesper…” he whispered, glancing at her. “Don’t let go, okay?”
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and bright with worry. She nodded, and his heart lurched again.
Squeezing her hand, Kirael took a deep breath, then plunged forward through the threshold.
Chapter Twenty
Vesper
The space Vesper stepped into was… shocking.
The ground under her feet was still dark stone. All around her, the sky was blank and white, unnatural as could be. She stood on a small clearing of sorts; a hundred yards away, the ground rose to form a thin, high stone arch.
A bridge, if you were the bravest person in the world. Up and up and up it went, Vesper’s eyes widening as she took it in. The arch thinned even more at the top, until it was mere inches wide.
Below it, more endless white mist.
“Are we safe?” Vesper asked, glancing behind her.
“They’re not coming after us,” Kirael said, his voice flat. “No one comes in here willingly. So… safe from Jeremet, perhaps.”
“Where are we?”
“The first level Lucifer ever created. Fear.”
“Fear?” she asked, incredulous. “That’s what you called it? I’m not even afraid of heights.”
“This is only the first small piece of the whole level. A test, you could call i
t.” Kirael gave her a long look. “This is going to become very unpleasant.”
“Don’t you know all the tricks? Can’t you get us out a side door or something?” she asked, frowning.
“This isn’t an amusement park ride, Vesper. This is Hell. There’s no escaping.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then sighed. “Whatever happens, you must act decisively. The level is supposed to frighten newcomers, who don’t have bodies. Normally, they just learn that their concept of corporality and end the level by accepting that they no longer have a physical form, and that they cannot overcome their fears.”
“But we both have… a physical form…” Vesper said, confused.
“Yes. It’s going to be more difficult for us. We’ll have to overcome our fear in each scenario, I should think.”
Vesper glanced at him. “Seriously?”
“This isn’t the time for sarcasm, Vesper. Just… don’t let your fear rule you. Nothing you see will be real. Since it’s not real, you can call up objects to help you, within reason.”
“Like… think it, and I’ll have it?”
“Something like that. Just be careful. The object here isn’t to repress your fear… seeming unafraid will just make things worse. This level is very… intuitive.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be with you. Let’s get moving.”
Kirael walked up the stone arch, crossing the narrowest section in a few big steps. He turned to look back at her, raising a brow.
“Why can’t we just fly over it?” she asked.
“The challenges grow greater as we progress. If we progress too quickly or easily, mainly through the physical challenges, the later ones will be… very difficult. It’s better to go through these than end up with five or six psychological challenges. Believe me.”
“Okay. You can do this,” she told herself.
She followed Kirael’s steps, though the path was so steep in some places that she had to lean in and balance with her hands. She tried her best not to look down, but when the stone path dropped away under her feet and grew narrower than her foot, her heart started to thrum.
