Hell to Pay (Blood for Soul Book 1)

by Alvin Atwater

  Sin shook his head. “Let’s hear it—and look, I’m in no position to tell you this, but not everyone gets what they want. You were born in a unique position, destined for responsibility. Why didn’t you take it? Man up. Do what needs to be done.”

  “I was like that at first, as a child,” I said. “But, among Conus’s trial, humans suddenly started treating me like shit. It didn’t help that I barely had control of my powers. So, I nuked the earth, twice in fact.” I downed the third beer. “Conus threw me in Hell and after a while of agony, I decided I had enough. I’m going to take control of my life with my own hands. How I got this far is either dumb luck, or ‘destiny’ agreeing with me.” Sin nodded…in understanding? “You’re strange for a devil. I thought they were incapable of giving a shit about anything.”

  “Demi-devil,” he corrected. “And why do you say that?”

  “Well, you’re surprisingly well-mannered, almost goody-goody like the angels.”

  “Well, I suppose we both are guilty of stereotyping.”

  A few seconds of awkward silence passed before we both laughed. Even the witch chuckled.

  “I’m different from them. They can be mannered, too but with objectives on their minds. Backstabbing, conniving, dominating. I didn’t want to defy Father at first, but I also wanted to live among the humans, to find…something. A reason for my birth and my city. I often left home to visit and since I wasn’t bonded like everyone else, I stayed gone for days. Eventually I was ratted out by that snake, Lucifer, and the royal house confronted me. My title was stripped and I was banished to the human world. And as everyone departed, Lucifer mentioned something horrifying.” Sin sighed.

  “That is?” I said.

  “He told about the Fallen—and despite being the first—the rest were nothing like him. They’re composed of pure madness—”

  “Yeah yeah, I heard the rumors about them,” I said, snatching beer four. “You’re not going to try and reclaim your title.”

  “Nope. I’m just trying to survive,” he said. “The Fallen will eventually become a problem but not just for me. For you too.”

  “Doubt it. I’ve got hunter problems of my own to deal with,” I said. “The Fallen take out their hatred on the stray demons they catch lurking around their territories. I’m pretty sure they don’t give a damn about…” I paused. What would happen if I encountered a Fallen?

  “You’re thinking now, Epex,” Sin said. “You help me and I help you.”

  I downed the fourth beer. “And how do you expect to beat a god?”

  “I have my ways, though I’ll be mostly relying on your cleverness. Besides, you beat one.”

  I sighed. “I won’t trust you. Fuck, I’ll be an idiot to trust a devil. Demi or not. Doesn’t make a difference to me.” I stood up and quickly downed my last three beers one by one. “I don’t see how the Fallen are my problem.”

  “The mad Fallen don’t discriminate, they consume anything in their path,” Sin said. “You’d better start trusting sooner or later. That goddess isn’t going to be able to protect you from everything. Besides, we both are neither human, god, nor devil. Think about my offer. We’ll benefit more as a team.”

  “I’ll consider it,” I said. “After you say the word, fuck.” Before he responded, I left. About a block later, I found myself a bench in a park and took a seat. Seven beers weren’t enough, but I’d have to let that hold me over until after dinner.

  The second I got comfortable, I felt a holy presence. And it was hostile.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Amelia’s glare nearly pierced my insides. I chuckled, arms folded, standing in defiance.

  “Look, just because I’m on the run from the hunters doesn’t mean I’m going to be sheltered like some child. You should know me better than that.”

  “Oh, I’m not angry about that,” she said. “The alcohol on you is so strong that my nose burns in disgust. The idea of training you is in hopes that you’ll grow up, mature, and develop a sense of honor that could put you in Conus’s favor. Not to drink yourself to a stupor, party with witches, and expect to return to my presence untainted.”

  “I went to a bar, sat down, and Sin and his pet witch joined me. We had an interesting conversation.”

  “You only scoped one, Epex, without realizing that the entire bar was full of witches —every customer there. With you drunk like this, that demi-devil could’ve killed you.”

  “Oh, no, he won’t kill me,” I said, with a laugh. “He reminds me too much of you. That all-for-good manner. His father kicked him out sometime ago and he’s afraid of getting slaughtered by the Fallen.”

  Amelia shook her head. I could see the corners of her mouth twitching a little as she tried to hide her amusement. “I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been a Fallen sighting in centuries,” she said.

  I shrugged, feeling like there was something Sin didn’t tell us. His city. His birth. Oh well, the demi-devil’s bullshit wasn’t my problem.

  “Let’s go home. You’re going to sleep off that alcohol.”

  Something shuffled into my bed. My eyes shot open as I awoke from a dreamless slumber. Amelia was in my bed again, her green eyes peering at me. I caught a brief glance of the clock before she rolled over. Five in the morning. Why am I not surprised?

  “What?” I said. “Can’t you stay in your own room for once?”

  “You say that but when I peek into your heart, you don’t seem to mind,” Amelia said.

  “No. Every time you shuffle into my bed, I immediately think they’ve finally found me.”

  Amelia sighed. “I would’ve felt their presence in the city if that were the case. Now stop being paranoid.”

  I chuckled. “Easier said than done. What do you want early this morning, horn-dog?”

  “You should learn to be romantic,” she softly. “I have needs too.”

  I opened my mouthed to speak, but closed it. She caressed my chest and then my arms, as if feeling for each vein in my muscles. I needed a distraction, before her seducing led me into fatherhood early.

  “Amelia, what do you do during the day?” I asked. “Do you set about with goddess work, like watching over the people of this city?”

  “Yes, but I also attend the local university.”

  I blinked twice. “You’re an immortal goddess. You can pretty much have your way with anything. Your capacity far exceeds that of a human, so what’s the point of a degree?”

  “It’s not about what I am,” she said, rolling on top of me. “It’s about what I accomplish. Sure, time is limitless, but I still want to see what they see, to live among them. To see what makes us different and what makes us similar. How can I protect humanity if I know little about them?”

  “If I had unlimited —”

  “But you do,” Amelia said.

  “My aging has stopped mid-twenties but I’m not truly immortal,” I told her. “I can be killed without…” I paused, remembering something very important. I gently moved Amelia off me and sat up. “I think I know how to strip away a god’s immortality. This should at least stop the hunters from pursuing me for a time.” Amelia frowned, probably disappointed that she failed to seduce me again. Or that I suggested a forbidden spell. “Let me see your arrows.”

  “Oh no, you’re not putting that on my arrows,” she said, sitting up.

  “It’s okay. I developed it myself. It’s not a form of demonism or some bullshit like that.”

  She placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Epex, how in the world did you make something like that? You do know that you’re basically a genius, right? Almost an evil genius.”

  I laughed. “Sorry, but this is one secret I cannot tell you. Can’t have it overheard, getting out, and erased by some record god. But I’ll tell you this, each day spent in Hell was full of purpose ever since my power began to leak from the seal. The deity-trapper is based on an Asian tag of protection called Ofuda and a French talisman called Angelus Praesidium, a few
other things and nearly six or seven years of charging. I did create it with an intention of it dying with me but who knew that that much power would force us to ascend?” I shrugged.

  Amelia eyes were wide. “And another thing—how are you manifesting objects so quickly, despite the seal. A seal that was created by Conus himself. Epex, you’re a prodigy even for Paradise Realm and you don’t even care, do you?”

  “Nope, not even a bit.” I manifested a nice, shiny sword with a dark blue hilt, covered in gold mini-sword decorations, and infused it with some power. Then I manifested a permanent marker, drew three mini deity-trappers on both sides of the double-edged blade and one on the hilt. Seven total. I conjured up a sheathe, also infused with power, and drew a trapper on it too. “These are going to take some time to charge. Are you sure you don’t want your arrows to be given an edge? What about that sword?”

  “No.” Amelia squeezed my arm. “I can manage.”

  “It didn’t look that way when we fought Yulese,” I said.

  “I fought him without much bloodlust. That allowed him to easily time-freeze the power on my weapons. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “Alright, it’s your loss,” I said as I sheathed the sword. Amelia pushed it off to the side and kissed me. She straddled me again, her breathing different, desiring. She kissed me repeatedly. I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t enjoy it and I kissed her back. I restrained myself from hopping headfirst into fatherhood. The naïve Paradise Realm ways of family starting will not begin with a mistake. You know, starting it with barely any life experience. I have to say, it’s a good thing Conus made me attend all of that schooling or I’d probably let the human side of me dive right in and scream when it’s too late.

  “My friends in Paradise Realm insisted that I move on, that there was no hope with you, but I didn’t listen.” Amelia placed her hand on my face, like some mother adoring her child. “My faith in our destiny has brought me into your arms. And soon a beautiful child.”

  “I wouldn’t say soon,” I said. “Fuck, Amelia, you’ve got to learn to control yourself. What is it, goddess mating season?” I chuckled.

  She sighed. “Heat. Epex, what’s time to us? It’s not control that I lack. I just want to be with you.” I felt myself blush. She kissed me again. “You said wanted me to help you forget about the last eight years. Instead of that, I want to help you form new, better memories. But you must learn to let go, to move forward. If you can’t, you’ll never get stronger. What is it that YOU want to do?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Amelia’s words still buzzed in my head like the annoying fly that’s determined to ruin someone’s nap. What did I want to do? A better question is, what can I do? I didn’t have a future. I stood up from the park bench and peered beyond. Humans moved about their day, going to work, school, usual stuff. I had none of that. No purpose other than to survive. Obviously. But even that drew toward a limit. No matter what Amelia said, we couldn’t stand against them all. They’d eventually find me. Maybe that’s it. A goddamn future in Hell.

  I sighed. I was poor at both giving myself a little hope and being a god-slayer. Not that I wanted to be one—that declaration…that stupid, goddamn declaration should’ve been more of a kick to Conus’s balls, but instead became a smash to mine. I wanted to live a normal life but honestly didn’t plan for it. That deity-trapper was supposed to kill both Conus and me.

  I walked past the park, watching the world, admiring what it had to offer. There seemed to be many choices, freedoms, but also restrictions. Some of the restrictions were needed, while others were unnecessary. Humans called that culture, which I thought as both intriguing and bullshit.

  Just then, an axe flew past my face, missing me, and hit a nearby tree.

  “What the fuck?” I said as I spun. The presence I felt approaching me was neither holy or human. Then I saw him, frown on face, a second axe in hand. A demon with red hair, all-black eyes, wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, stopped five feet before me. “Hey dickhead, what the fuck is your problem?”

  He looked taken aback, probably at my language. “Get the hell out of my territory, demigod. Your presence is preventing my soul traps from working.”

  I shook my head at the thought of soul traps. They were nasty little Venus flytrap-like plants used to snatch wandering souls, holding them in place to be either consumed by its demonic master or by itself.

  “Go fuck yourself,” I said, manifesting a sword. It would do until I finished charging my ‘secret’ weapon. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “One last chance. Out of my territory!”

  Demons giving chances? That could only mean he was stricken with fear. Maybe some of those rumors made me look good. I hoped so. “You’re the one who started throwing axes. You think I’m going to turn a blind eye just so you can axe me in the back? Are all demons idiots?”

  The demon blushed. “That was a warning.”

  “I never liked demons,” I said. “Assholes here and in Hell.”

  “Wait…don’t tell me you really are hi—”

  I didn’t give the fucker a chance to finish that sentence—my blade was already upon his neck. The demon dodged by just a fraction of a second. He swung the axe, missing as I sidestepped and I kicked him in the face. I felt his nose break. Still, he held his stance, grabbing my leg, and dropping his axe. I tried to pull free but it was no use. The demon slammed me to the ground, following up with a payback kick to my face.

  I ignored the pain as I got back up, nose bloody. He landed one punch to my face. I dodged his other two and nailed him in the gut as hard as I could. He wheezed, but the look of determination in his eyes meant that this demon wouldn’t go down so easily. I charged force, but too late.

  The demon himself used force, bashing me to the ground. I was surprised he could do such a thing. But his power had to be limited—and if he ran out, his chain to Hell would yank him back in an instant. Still, I guessed at this moment, it didn’t matter. There was no telling how much demonic power this guy had at his disposal.

  I tried to get up but was met with three more force-bashes before the pain yelled at me to stay down.

  “I warned you, foolish demigod,” the demon laughed. I could hear him scrape up his axe. I used that opportunity to surprise him with my own force bash. The bumbling idiot didn’t expect it, eyes wide as his own axe fell upon his neck the moment he hit the ground back-first. Black blood exploded everywhere.

  I loomed over him as he died. “Enjoy the depths.” His body briefly burst into flames, leaving behind a small pile of ashes. Someone clapped from behind.

  I spun to see Sin and his pet witch smiling. “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m gloating here.”

  “At a dead demon?” Sin said. “I doubt that.”

  I shot him a blank look.

  “We were impressed,” the witch said. There was an accent, maybe British or something. “It was...a relief that you weren’t so weak that we’d have to step in and help you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I try not to underestimate the fuckers. I’m the one with a seal not them. Weaklings like this are poor at intimidation though.”

  Sin nodded. The witch said, “I see.”

  “If you would excuse me, I’m going to go find something to do,” I said.

  “Are you looking for a job?” Sin said.

  “Maybe.”

  “Then you’re in luck. If you’re serious, meet me at this park tomorrow.”

  The demi-devil and his witch turned to walk away.

  “Need to keep that thing on a leash,” I muttered.

  She looked at me, smiled, and winked before turning around again.

  Just when I thought I could relax, my holy senses raged harder than the boner I had had this morning. Even Sin and his pet stopped walking to turn to look at the dozen misthangers running toward us. Can’t I rest for just one freaking moment?

  Chapter Seventeen

  An unbelievable sight—twelve heavenly
-beings of death, ranging from four feet to six feet tall. Pale skin visible on the hands and arms they allowed us to see, everything else a mystery cloaked in impenetrable mist. I was not happy to see the fuckers so soon.

  “Do you mind explaining?” Sin said as he unsheathed his sword, voice calm.

  “What the fuck does it look like?” I barked. “Fight or die.”

  Sin chuckled. “Fair enough.” He rushed forward, struck down the first of the pack with a single blow and moved on. I followed suit, beat him to the second kill, and then dashed for the third. The misthangers suddenly stopped. We did too, cautiously. One of the remaining ten stepped forward.

  “You three are getting in the way. Why?” That voice sounded like a slightly frustrated woman.

  “Getting in the way? You’re the one charging,” I said.

  “Not at you. You caught us off guard, even underestimated us. How embarrassing.”

  The two misthangers we thought we’d killed stood up and dusted themselves off. I…didn’t see it coming. They bashed Sin and I to the ground with force.

  The lead misthanger walked over to me and placed a misty foot on my chest. I know because I felt that.

  “Who are you anyway?” I blinked, confused.

  Before I got the chance to answer that, the misthanger laughed. “I’m just kidding, everyone knows who you are. You’re of no concern to me. My question is at her.” The misthanger pointed a pale finger at the witch. “Never mind. Questions are for later. We’ve got bigger things on our plates. Besides, I can’t stay out in the open for too long, or else an annoying bastard might show up.”

  The lead misthanger force-bashed us to the side and the squad of the fuckers moved on. Sin and I stood up.

  “Let’s follow them,” the witch suggested.

  “No, are you fucking crazy?” I bellowed. “If they lead me to a hunter—”

  “There are no hunters in this city,” Sin said. He gestured at the witch. “Amony would’ve detected them.”