“I don’t like the terms,” I said taking a few steps closer. “I never do deals where I come out on the losing end, old woman.”
“There’s always a first time, Devil. Why don’t I give you a bit of incentive…”
Spinning so fast she almost disappeared, Fate sang and I thought my eardrums would burst. The sound was indescribable and so piercing I was surprised the wailing disharmony didn’t shatter the entire Ice Palace. The temperature in the room dropped quickly. It felt like daggers scraping my bones. The Fairies dropped to the ground and rolled to keep warm and slammed their hands over their ears.
The Winds of Change screamed and tore through the icy death chamber. I watched in horror as Sadie was completely encrusted in ice and the curse around Elle rose to her ribcage. Sadie’s skin went blue immediately and Elle’s eyes rolled back in her head.
“Enough,” I roared, pulling a plan out of my ass and levitating to where Fate was whirling like a ballerina with a death wish. “I will give you what you want.”
I vaguely heard the Fairies gasp over the wind and Elle’s moan tore at my heart. However, I simply smiled. What was wrong with these people? I was lying. I always lied.
“That’s more like it,” Fate shrieked, halting her motion and staring at me with crazed eyes.
We floated twenty feet about the ground and watched each warily.
“But you will give me something else in return,” I told her.
“And what is it you want?” she asked, straightening her wild hair and running her hands over her body suggestively.
“Power—absolute and undeniable power,” I replied letting my eyes roam her body. My insides roiled as I forced my expression to show desire for her disgusting form. Tearing her from limb to limb was my most burning and deepest desire, but I knew that action would end the world. Holding back wasn’t my forte, but as the bitch had said… there’s always a first time. “I want to influence fate. I want Immortal domination.”
She held my soul in her hand and dangled it provocatively. There was a very fucking long shot that I could make my flimsy plan work. I wasn’t sure if Elle was even cognizant enough or had enough magic left to do what I needed her to do, but I was not going to lose my future without a fight. Since killing Fate was off the table, I’d simply have to destroy her alive.
That I could do.
The nearer I drew to the abomination, I felt my own power increase. The force field around her lessened. The enchantment was constructed sloppily. She truly was losing her mind and definitely her edge. A lesser Demon could break it. Too bad, so sad. I was about to change Fate’s fate.
“Shall we seal the deal with a kiss?” I asked with a raised brow and a smile that had brought legions of women to their knees since the beginning of time.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she purred and floated toward me.
The instant between life and death—even metaphorical death—was brief. There was no room for error. The consequences of failure were catastrophic.
It was a goddamned good thing I didn’t like to lose.
Chapter Twenty
What I was about to do to a certain Fairy would be excruciatingly painful, but he would heal for the most part. Choosing The Kev was a conscious decision. He was the deadliest of the four and could withstand the most pain. Strangely, I was concerned about damaging him. However, when all was said and done, if we all came out in one piece he would understand… possibly.
I would owe the Fairy tremendously, but nothing was without cost. He would forever have a piece of me within him—not the best case scenario, but the only one available at the moment.
Taking Fate into my arms and placing my hand on her face was more harrowing than falling from Grace. It permanently withered something inside of me, but at the same time fed my vicious need for retribution—something that would always be a part of who I was.
Without pause, I let my mind wander and enter The Kev’s. His gasp of shocked agony assured me I was exactly where I wanted to be.
“Take the pain,” I instructed harshly. “Let me in.”
“I want to kill you,” he hissed as his own vast power of self-preservation tried to push me out.
“Get in line,” I shot back. “Can you stand up?”
Fate laid her hideous head on my chest and ran her fingers up my arms. I turned my back to Elle. My Siren’s heartbroken gasp almost derailed me. I had eternity to make it up to her. However, if I didn’t succeed I had nothing. I let Fate play her disgusting game of seduction. It was buying me time.
“You’d better have a very good reason for this, Devil,” The Kev growled with a fury that was impressive. “If this is a game and you’ve truly changed sides, I will come for you and destroy you. You will beg for death, you sick son of a bitch.”
His anger proved his strength. Very few in this Universe could survive having the Devil inside and come out unscathed.
“If this is a game I’m playing, I will let you destroy me. I will hand you the Sword of Death myself and demand you end me.”
“Tell me what you want. I can’t endure this much longer,” The Kev shouted in my head. “Give me instructions. NOW.”
“When I kiss Fate, I will steal back my soul and throw it to you,” I told him. “Move quickly and without sound to Elle. Place my soul on her heart and insist she take it inside her body.”
“Are you serious? What the Hell is that going to do?”
“Hopefully get your disrespectful ass out of here alive,” I snapped, ready to let my presence in his mind become even more painful. I held back. Leaving the Fairy as a vegetable wasn’t going to help matters and it was wrong. Damn it, my conscience was growing like the Grinch’s fucking heart—or Pinocchio’s nose.
“Hopefully?” he queried, furious.
“If you have a better plan, by all means share it now,” I bellowed inside his mind. “If not, shut the Hell up and do as I command.”
“You’re an asshole,” he growled.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I replied. “After you watch my soul go into Elle, slip back to the Fairies and take cover. It will get very ugly very fast.”
“I will do this. But tell me that you haven’t given me something I will have to carry with me always,” he said flatly.
For the briefest moment, I considered lying until what I wanted was accomplished. However the Fairy was too smart for deceit and I owed him the truth.
“I can’t tell you that. What I can tell you is that you will not regret it. I will make it worth your while,” I promised.
“That’s not possible,” The Kev answered back, coldly. “Make your move now, Devil. I don’t have much strength left. Hosting you is draining me. It’s now or never.”
Grabbing Fate’s wrists and pulling them above her head, I aligned my body to hers. I felt no desire, only repulsion. She didn’t notice. As my lips closed over hers, I intertwined our fingers. My soul fell to my hand as I deepened the Judas Kiss. Quickly shifting and grasping both of her wrists in one hand I did a backward toss to The Kev and angled Fate away from Elle.
With my lips still locked on Fate’s, I watched as The Kev did as instructed. What I’d neglected to take into account was that I was now facing my Siren. Her eyes met mine and I felt gutted to the core. Amethyst tears filled her gaze and rolled down her exquisite cheeks. She would understand soon. She had to…
“This is so right,” Fate murmured against my mouth, rubbing her body against mine. “Why have we never done this? We can rule the world, you and I.”
“Or maybe not,” I said flatly as I watched The Kev fly back to Gemma, The Shelia and Lizard and move them out of harm’s way. “Open a portal now,” I shouted to Elle.
My soul had given Elle strength. However, she too was now going to be partially Demon. My soul inside her body would have ramifications. I had no clue how they would manifest. The thought of her being cursed slash blessed with the cross-dressing side effect made me actually smile.
Thinking t
he smile was for her, Fate stared at me in confusion. “Why do you want a portal? We can be happy here in Kismet. No reason to leave, my evil love.”
“Elle, open a portal now,” I bellowed, waving my hand and temporarily trapping Fate in a ring of black flame as I backed away from the abomination. I knew she would counteract the fire, but I only needed a minute once the portal was opened.
With a scream that I felt vibrate through my entire body, Elle called on everything she had left and followed my order. The ceiling of the Ice Palace opened with an eerie groan and wail. I sighed with relief as the crystal death chamber was now dappled with sunlight and amethyst glitter.
A large violet orb floated above us—sparkling and shimmering as if it was alive. Fate’s shriek of fury reminded me that I didn’t have time to admire the beauty that my Siren had woven. Fate was battling her way through the fire and time was of the essence. There was still another piece of the puzzle to be placed and I was going to finish the game.
“You tricked me, you disgusting lowlife scum,” Fate growled, beginning to chant a spell that would extinguish the fire holding her.
“Pot, kettle, black,” I snarled as I centered myself and focused on my power within.
Pulling on magic as old as time itself, I let go of every petty desire that consumed me and reached back to memories many centuries old. The words were of no particular language and could have been chanted silently, but I was leaving nothing to fate. Destiny and the woman who controlled it were not to be trusted…
Glittering black fire engulfed me as I gave myself over to the enchanted energy of ten—the ones I would always be tied to whether I wanted to be or not. Some Immortal rules were simply what they were—no rhyme or reason. I used to think it was fated, but a power higher than any I’d ever considered was truly the only ruler of fate—and it wasn’t one person—could never be just one. Together the ten created our own destiny and apart we balanced each other. They were the ones I needed to serve justice. No man is an island. No man or woman can every truly rule autonomously. Any theory in its purest form was doomed to failure. A compromise meant there was a winner and a loser. However, consensus meant something entirely different.
I was about to cut a large deal… a very large group deal.
The words were on the tip of my tongue and the black fire licked seductively at my skin searing my body in a way that made me feel alive. The eternal magic that roared through my blood comforted and empowered yet made me realize as strong as I was—there was something far stronger. And as selfish as I was, no one could ever call me stupid.
“You will pay,” Fate shrieked like a banshee as she clawed at the spell I’d cast to hold her. “I will destroy you. I will make you pay until the end of time.”
“Good luck with that,” I told her as I raised my arms to the sky—the very same sky that cradled every single dimension known to man and Immortal alike.
Choosing a language that would be clearly understood by all present, I spoke the spell I’d never used in my eternal life. I’d only ever heard it twice and it would have to be amended since it was last uttered many thousands of years ago, but change wrought change and I was an adaptable sort when necessary.
“Darkness and Light, unite as one,
Bring Wisdom and Temptation, leave nothing undone.
Life and Death need Balance tempered by Emotion,
Leave not behind Compassion—part and parcel of this moral explosion.
Utopia shall play, far too soon to be fair,
Bind Good to Evil in harmonic steadfast pair.
The time for judgment has come,
Tie the ten as one.
Come to me now,
The need for justice I avow.”
Fate’s terrified screams of realization were too late for her to escape. The immense room now felt small as the ones I’d called for arrived. I expected most to show, but needed them all. Only one could possibly ruin the outcome with his absence…
One by one they came. It was glorious and surreal.
And the one whom I doubted…
He came.
Chapter Twenty-One
We were unkillable except by personal consent and with The Sword of Death.
We were feared and worshipped.
We were strongest when blended together, yet we were still invincible apart.
We were an errant Immortal’s worst nightmare come to spine tingling fruition.
We were True Immortals—the judges, the jury and sentencing committee. Our decisions were final and irrevocable.
It was fact—reality—gospel, if you will.
And Fate knew it. Her days were now numbered.
Glancing quickly at my Siren, I tried to reassure her with a look that all would be fine. Creating the portal had drained her and her gaze was somewhat vacant, but Elle gave me a small smile. My gut clenched in fury and fear and my instinct was to go to her, but without the Tribunal all was lost. This situation was not working for me. At all. Turning away I tore my gaze from Elle so I didn’t act on my compulsion and ruin everything. I tamped back my rage with effort. She had my soul inside her, I’d have to trust that it would be enough for now.
I would win. I had to win. There was no other choice. I just needed everyone to hurry the fuck up or I was going to do something disastrously unwise.
As if she’d heard my thoughts—which she probably had—the first of the gathering arrived.
Mother Nature appeared in the violet orb and slipped through the glittering mass with regal bearing. She was Emotion. Her entrance was as frightening as it was glorious. She wore a robe of the palest purple shimmering silk and she took in the playing field without reaction or words. The choice of purple was no mistake as it represented dignity, creativity, mystery and magic.
The only crack in my mother’s veneer was the small shocked smirk on her lips as she took in my attire—or rather lack thereof. I’d completely forgotten about my skin tight lavender suede pants, purple sequined Ugg boots and shirtless state. It was tremendously bad timing to look like a cross dresser with the particular company about to arrive. The desire to electrocute myself when I realized I was concerned if I had any lipstick left on was strong. Living this ensemble down was going to take centuries…
Fuck.
My father Bill came next—Wisdom. The Sprite was clad in a robe of blue brocade—the color of the sky and the sea. The hue of his carefully chosen garment embodied trust, loyalty, confidence and intelligence. His expression was grim as he glanced around at the frozen travesty. With a barely noticeable shake of his head, he took his rightful place next to my mother. He graciously ignored my new look. My father was now my favorite person in the Universe besides Elle.
Lucy soon followed—Temptation. Her robe was a bright sparkling red. The color of fire and blood symbolized strength and power as well as desire, passion and love. She stared dispassionately at a fearful but still dangerous Fate as she nodded to me and moved to her spot in the growing circle. However, her stifled giggle as she took in my apparel was tremendously difficult to miss. On the plus side—for me—I restrained my kneejerk reaction to blast her ass and send her to the Basement of Hell.
My maturity appalled me, but I’d get back at Mother Nature and Lucy eventually. Eternity was indeed very long and I had a reputation to maintain. Not to mention, I was smart. We needed to get through the next hour to ensure that eternity would still exist so I could exact my payback. I needed the disrespectful True Immortals to accomplish this. My bruised ego would simply have to survive being battered.
The Angel of Light and the Angel of Death arrived together—surprising yet not. The brothers, Elijah and Hayden, had a contentious relationship not unlike God’s and mine, but in times of great crisis they banded together. Elijah—Life, wore a robe of emerald green depicting harmony, fertility and life. Hayden—Death, wore a robe of deep red adorned with midnight black embellishments illustrating willpower, rage, wrath and death.
Both gaped at me with barel
y disguised mirth. Slowing lifting my middle finger to them, they swallowed their glee enough so that I didn’t have to set them ablaze. I was well aware that incinerating them would be bad form, but I was very close to losing my shit. Being vain clearly had a few downsides.
My favorite daughter, Dixie—Balance—floated in. She was clad in a velvet robe combining the colors of both Life and Death. My child was the stability that was necessary to keep humanity from falling into chaos. She wore her burden well and took her place between the two Angels, but not before she gasped and grinned at my get up.
If I had the balls, I’d make an attempt at re-dressing myself. However, I was terrified of what I’d choose considering the only piece of clothing that kept appearing at the forefront of my mind was a deep fucking purple miniskirt. At least the pants, as hideous as they were, were still somewhat manly—or at least that was the story I was sticking with at the moment.
And then another two arrived together. This pairing was completely expected. A mother and child of untold power… Astrid—Compassion, held her toddler Samuel in her arms. Both wearing unusually somber expressions, they drifted in silently. Astrid wore an exquisite raw silk orange robe. It was fitting. As Compassion she stood for energy, happiness, fascination, success and encouragement. The child Samuel—Utopia, the one who was a combination of all True Immortals—wore a robe in a rainbow of stripes with swirls of black and white amidst the riotous color. His job was unfathomable and only time would tell what massive responsibility he would carry on his small shoulders. As much as I needed them to be here, I dreaded it as well.
And clearly with good reason.
Astrid, never one to hold back… didn’t. Breaking the serious and forbidding mood, she threw back her idiot head and laughed. Hard.
“What in the ever loving Hell are you wearing?” she grunted through her hysterics. “I mean, I know some heavy freakin’ shit is about to go down, but you look… umm…”
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