For Hell's Sake (Queen of the Underworld Series Book 1)

by T. L. Anderson

  Rolling my eyes, I pick at the frayed sleeve of my shirt. “I’m tired of hearing how he’s so worried. For an eternity he had nothing to do with me. None of you spoke more than two words to me. Now I’m supposed to believe you’re all so concerned over my fate? I don’t even do anything productive in Hell anymore. I’m basically just a laughingstock to all of you.”

  I try not to think about how far I’ve really fallen over the years. In the beginning, I controlled everything, I created the punishments and carried them out. Then it all became too large for me to control myself, so I delegated the work to each of them and the demons. I guess I delegated too much because now I’m not even in control anymore.

  “We just figured you didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. After being alone down there for centuries before we came along, it had to be tedious.” He tosses the gauze in the garbage and turns toward me. Reaching up, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re not a laughingstock to any of us. We respect you down there.”

  Turning my face, I avoid his gaze so I won’t see the lies in his eyes as he speaks. He slides a finger under my chin, pulling me back to him. His eyes are clear as he looks into mine. “We would go to the ends of Hell for you. When the demons get out of line, we pull them back in to acknowledge you as their queen. Yeah, over the last few decades things have been slipping. We’ve become…complacent. But it happens when you do the same job in and out. We were hoping by staying out of your way, you’d get the break you deserve.”

  Gulping, I see the truth behind his statement. “Why though? Why not reach out to me? I was lonely, barely surviving the days.”

  He tilts his head, pressing his lips together. “Honestly, we didn’t think about you being lonely. We were given strict orders to serve you, to protect you, and to not bother you. We did what we felt we needed to do with the information we had. Just like up here, we will do what we feel we need to do to protect you and serve you.” His thumb holds my chin still as he steps closer. “Because that’s what we’re supposed to do for our queen. Protect her, even if it’s from herself.”

  My eyes widen at his words. “But…”

  A smile curves as Lex releases my chin, his arms resting on the counter beside me. “No buts. You may not take our duties seriously, and that’s understandable. However, we do, and now we take it even more seriously. Things are shifting, changing. I know you can sense it.”

  With a tilt of his head, he runs his cheek next to mine, resting his lips at the base of my ear. Every word dies on my lips, the fire inside burning bright as I lean my neck, exposing it to him. Needing more. My legs spread as he steps between them, and I wrap my feet around the backs of his knees, holding him in place. Just touch me, damn it. His hot breath sends chills down my arms, and my eyes close on their own. He places his lips against my skin, finally setting free the need inside. My hands tangle in his hair as I pull him closer, my breaths coming out raspy and short.

  “Please, I want this.”

  The moan on his lips vibrates against my skin. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted this for,” he whispers.

  Peppering kisses along my neck, I turn my face to his, causing our lips to crash together. I swipe my tongue along his bottom lip, and the hint of salt and dust greet me. It’s savory, like the one thing I’ve been missing in my life. His tongue greets mine as we envelop each other, satisfying our centuries’ worth of cravings. My legs tighten around him as he grips my head between his palms, tangling our bodies into one. Sliding my hands along his chest, I grasp at his shirt, pulling it toward me, needing more. More of everything. The taste, the sensations in my body, the need to have him in me. I start to lift his shirt, his hard abs sliding against my palms. His body tenses with my touch, but his lips don’t slow down. His hands quickly fall to my hips as he lifts me into the air, crashing our bodies together, every part of us pressed against the other. I lift my hips to slide them against his, feeling the outline of how much he wants this too.

  “We…need…to slow…down,” he pants between kisses. Fuck that—I need to speed this up before I combust from the inside out. My hands slide to his back, and my nails curve, digging slightly into his skin as he twirls his tongue around mine. Before I can respond, he pins me against the wall, my wrists gripped above my head in his hand. He presses into me but pulls our lips apart. He leans his forehead on mine, and we both pant, trying to catch our breaths. I wiggle, trying to break his hold on me. He doesn’t move as he pulls his lip between his teeth.

  “Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you?” I ask as I try to decipher why he thinks we need to stop. My mind is racing, but my body is humming. I feel like a top that was wound but not allowed to release.

  He chuckles, lifting his head. “You did nothing wrong. I just don’t want you to feel confused…or regret this.”

  “Why would I regret it?” I tilt my head, but a knock at the door has me holding my breath.

  Levi’s voice rings out from the other side of the door. “You guys all right in there? Ryce and I were waiting for you two. We have to discuss something urgent.”

  My shoulders slump as guilt buries inside of me. Lex notices with a sad smile, and he lets go of my wrists and lowers me to the ground. Holding me steady, he calls out, “Just a minute, we’ll be right there.”

  Levi hesitates. “Okay. We’ll just wait out here.” We listen as the bedroom door shuts and we’re alone again.

  “Don’t do that,” he says as he runs his fingers down my arm. “Don’t feel guilty. They understand. I understand.”

  “Understand what? I don’t even know what I feel right now.” Crossing my arms against my chest, I stare at the floor.

  He places a kiss on my forehead before backing away. “We know. It’s okay to feel the same things for all of us. We can see it, and we’ve talked it over. We’re okay with it. Don’t forget that.” He heads toward the door. “I’ll wait for you with them while you clean up.” Shutting the door behind him, he leaves me alone in the aftermath of another bomb going off in my life. They’ve discussed it and they’re okay with it? I think of the way Ryce kissed me earlier, the moment just now with Lex, the fear and worry in Levi’s eyes today. Even the way Aries was more concerned about me than the rest of them. It’s all starting to make sense. The four princes of Hell each hold a piece of my heart whether I want them to or not.

  17

  I drop the towel onto the bed and shake out my wet hair. After Lex left, I needed some time to take everything in. I thought a bath and change of clothes should help, but so far it’s just given me more time to think about all the emotions running through me. My lips still tingle from Lex, and I can still smell Ryce on me. With a shaky hand, I grab a sweatshirt off the bed and pull it over my head. Sliding a pair of black leggings on, I grab a warm pair of socks to go with my comfortable yet depressing ensemble. If I’m going to be forced to feel these things, I’m going to be comfortable while I do it.

  When I walk out into the living room, fresh and ready to face the impending doom, my mood falls the minute my eyes land on the brooding asshole in the corner, his jaw set, eyes staring at the television while he leans against the wall with crossed arms. Like him being here is somehow causing him pain. My eyes narrow as I scowl toward his stupid presence. If he thinks he can come back and boss me around again, he has another thing coming.

  “I thought you left,” I sneer, flopping onto the couch. I find that sitting always makes me feel braver. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that the couch is so comfortable it’s like a human burrito casing or that I just love making them face me. I’m shorter than all of them, so standing I don’t hold the power. But sitting, yeah, this is my throne of fluff—don’t mess with me when I’m on it.

  He starts to say something, bitching under his breath, but Lex cuts him off. The serious look on his face has me biting a retort. “Something’s come to our attention, and it might explain what happened to the portal.”

  My stomach drops as dread fills the air. �
�What happened? Did those guys with the guns follow us?” I glance around to see if anyone is hiding in a corner ready to pop out and shout, Hey, I’m here to kill you. Then I realize there’s no way any of the guys would just let one of them in. Not after almost blowing us up with the rocket tube or whatever.

  “Don’t freak out. We might have a plan,” Levi says. But all his words do is make me panic. My eyes widen as my pulse races in my chest. This can’t be good.

  “Oh for fuck’s sake. She doesn’t want to be treated like a child, so be it. Lilith is here,” Aries spits out while glaring at me. It’s like he’s challenging me to not freak out with that kind of news.

  “Does she know I’m here?” My voice squeaks at the end, but I cover it with a cough.

  Aries smirks at my slip. “We don’t know. Since she’s not here busting down our door, I’m going to assume no, she’s not aware that the devil is walking on Earth.”

  “Okay” is all I say. This is definitely not good news, but it could be worse. So much worse. I mean, my dad’s ex-girlfriend is on Earth causing mayhem, I’m sure, but she doesn’t know I’m here. Which is probably really good, since I am the one who ruined their relationship in the first place.

  “Lucia, you still here with us?” Levi waves a hand in my face, pulling my attention back to the only four immortals who can help me stay hidden from her.

  “How do you know?” I look to Aries, seeing as he’s most likely the one who has the answers I need. The others have been with me the last hour.

  He tries to hold on to his ridiculous glare, but it contorts into confusion. “I saw one of the humans she turned. The soul was fresh inside, just started the transition of being tainted by demon blood, which means she’s close. I followed it and found a few more that were freshly made.” He starts pacing the short length of the wall, his hands grasped behind him. “What I can’t figure out is how she ended up here of all places. The last we heard she was somewhere in Southeast Asia, and that was just last week.”

  “Her being here can’t be a coincidence. How did they not tell us she’s close to the portal?” Lex asks, pulling out his cell phone and typing furiously.

  “The last bit of intel we received was from a legit source. This should have never happened,” Levi says.

  Ryce steps forward, a sneer on his face. “We need to stop her. Now. This can’t go on any longer. We’ve been chasing her for a millennia. This is the closest we’ve got to her in over a hundred years.”

  I try piecing together everything they’re saying, but none of it makes sense. “Intel? Chasing her for a millennia?”

  They ignore me, talking right over everything I just said. I catch bits and pieces of their conversations, but I’m still stuck on my questions I want answered.

  “Hey! What do you mean intel and chasing her for millennia?” I yell, effectively cutting off all other conversation. “Is that why you all are up here in the first place? Why you were sneaking off from your duties in Hell?”

  The averted gazes and silence answer my question for me. Of course, this is why they’ve been so secretive. “So, you mean to tell me no one thought to clue me into the fact that someone has you all looking for Lilith? Who gave the order?” Levi clears his throat as all three of them look to Aries.

  “It doesn’t matter who gave the order or why. What’s important is how we can stop her and get the portal open.” Aries gives me a look that says I’m the boss not you. Yeah, not this time, asshole.

  Standing up from the couch, I place my hands on my hips and stare him down. “Yeah, that’s not going to work for me this time. I’m sick of your poor excuses for everything. I’m to the point that I’m going to walk out that door and leave the four of you to your catastrophic lives while I take a chance on being murdered. Either by a human or Lilith. I don’t care anymore. Who gave the order?”

  He crosses his arms, refusing to answer. Fine, if that’s how he wants to play. I look to the rest, and they all look toward the floor, avoiding my gaze. All right then. Without a word, I head around the couch and to the front door. “I told you, I’m done playing games.” My hand rests on the knob. Just as I go to turn it, I feel a warmth on my skin as someone holds my hand in place. With a glare, I stare at Aries.

  “I told you, princess, you’re our responsibility,” Aries states.

  Fuck that. Fuck all of this. I can feel the fire burning under my skin, but I don’t release the self-control I have. In fact, I let it build up and I direct it directly to the hand he’s holding. I watch as his eyes harden, and he grits his teeth. My hand is currently hot enough to cook an egg completely on it in seconds. The doorknob heats under my grip, but it doesn’t bother me. Not as much as I can see the heat is bothering him. His eyes start to water as his grip tightens on mine. With a little extra surge, I push the heat harder out of my hand, and a small flame licks his skin. First comes the smell of burning flesh, second comes the string of curses flying out of his mouth. A smirk pulls at my lips as he runs to the kitchen and flips on the cold water to cool down the now blistering skin of his hand. I would feel bad, but I know he can heal. Serves him right. I start to turn the knob again, figuring no one else would be dumb enough to stop me.

  “It was your brother, Samiel. He’s the one who has been giving us the intel on finding Lilith.” Aries talks through clenched teeth.

  “Why?” When he doesn’t answer, I pull open the door more.

  Lex speaks up. “We don’t know why. All we know is it came from someone higher up. We thought your dad sent the orders at first, but we came to realize it wasn’t him.”

  I turn toward them, confused by the information. “Samiel? Why would he want Lilith caught?”

  “We honestly don’t know. I always thought he was a weasel. After you fell from Heaven, he’s been nothing but a pain in the ass. Working his way up to sitting by your father’s right hand at the throne,” Ryce bitches.

  I swallow down the lump in my throat. Does no one in my family care that I was kicked out of Heaven? Or is it all a competition to them, trying to get my seat next to Father. “If that’s the case, I can tell you no one knows of your mission to catch Lilith.” Shutting the door, I flip the lock like it will keep out the evil witch herself.

  “What do you mean?” Aries asks. He’s wrapping an ice pack and towel around his hand.

  “If he’s vying for my seat next to the throne, he’s obviously trying to work his way up to being the favorite. The thing I was before…” Memories from my days as an angel play in my mind. Dad always sent me on the most important and urgent requests. Until I saw his creation of man and realized he didn’t think as highly of the female race as he pretended. I would never be the favorite for him, because I wasn’t male. I was the only child he had with our mother that bore her female genes and her fierce attitude. He kept me close so he could keep an eye on me. Now, I’m banished for ruining his play toy and causing the reckoning. “It doesn’t matter. Samiel thinks differently than the rest of Father’s children. He’s cunning, smart, but vicious. There’s a dark spot in his heart, not like the others. He has to be the best at everything. Pride is sin. And without being the favorite, he can’t be prideful.”

  They all stand silent, listening intently to the story. I suppose they only know what they were told. They never lived in Heaven; being half angel and half demon, they were cast to roam Earth, protecting the separate hemispheres from true evil after the reckoning. “What do you all know about my fall?”

  They all look to each other, but it’s Levi who responds. “Just that you caused sin to run rampant on Earth and were punished to Hell. We were to protect Earth and try to overcome sin, but when we failed, we were sent to Hell to protect and help you.”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of it, but not really everything. You should probably sit and I’ll tell you a little more. It might make more sense about everything currently happening.” I walk toward the kitchen table and pull out a chair, the others following suit. “Before anyone comments about what I’m
going to tell you, just know I’m not the same angel I was before. I regret some things I did, and yeah, I deserved to be punished, but not to the extent I was.”

  They all sit forward, waiting for me to spill my secrets. Why, when four sets of concerned eyes land on me, does my stomach flip? I can do this—I have to. It’s the only way to figure out our current issue: getting back home.

  “The whole story of Adam and Eve is true. I did tempt them, but Adam is the one who caused sin. He’s the one who caved to the temptation. Now, before you go thinking I’m a big bad evil angel, I did it to save Eve. She was miserable. Adam was…defective, I suppose. He took after my father way too much, his hatred for woman obvious in the lack of say Eve had in anything. She wasn’t allowed to speak to Adam unless spoken to, wasn’t allowed to eat unless he said, she wasn’t even allowed to go to the bathroom without him giving her permission first. He treated her like he owned her. So me being me, I got pissed. I overreacted and tempted him. Yada, yada, you know the rest.”

  They all nod, but there’s a few looks of surprise. Obviously, they didn’t know Adam was a douche canoe.

  “The part you don’t know is that Lilith was there too. The day I went down to the Garden, she came with me. Father wanted us to get to know each other, so he tasked us with seeing after his prized possessions. When she saw what Adam was doing, she was pissed too. She couldn’t believe Father had created such a beast of a man. The guy really was horrible. I just wanted to tempt him, which everyone knows through the legends and stories. But the apple, as portrayed in the books, that I tempted them with wasn’t actually a fruit. Lilith had this great plan that the only way to get Father to notice the issues with man was to tempt him with another female. Her.”