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

by T. L. Anderson

  I glance around and notice I still can’t see the demons amongst the humans. Which reminds me— “Um, I probably should have said something sooner, but I can’t exactly tell which ones are humans and which are demons,” I whisper, hoping not to bring attention to myself.

  Levi stops walking in front of me, causing me to run right into his back. “You what?” he hisses. “The other day you said you saw them.”

  “I never said I saw them. In fact, you’re the one who told me it was Nassiter. I never agreed or denied it,” I point out. “I’m chalking it up to me losing my powers.” Shrugging, I try to make it seem less like a nuclear bomb of information.

  “Now’s not the time to debate this. Since you can’t tell the difference, don’t swing that blade unless the person on the other end is trying to kill you. You can’t take a human life; it’s against the Laws of the Divine,” Aries interrupts. “In fact, maybe it’s best if you do hide over here, away from everything. We shouldn’t be bringing you into battle when the fight is unfair.” He grapples with his decision. The thought of staying in the shadows seems a little more appealing now that I see what we’re up against.

  “I agree.” They all look to me, trying to decipher if I’m telling the truth. Holding up my hands, I stop the questions on their lips. “If I go out there, I’m an accident waiting to happen. If I stay back here, I can scope everything out. I’ll have a hidden view of whatever it is Lilith is up to that she doesn’t want us to know about.” I’m still trying to figure out what’s in all those boxes they keep placing in the buildings.

  “Fine, you stay put, and we’ll come to you. If someone finds you, call for us. Yell, scream, whatever you have to do. But do it while running,” Aries commands, tucking me into a small alcove of the building. The darkness consumes me as I push myself into the corner, the building still in my view. I raise my hand and salute him, letting him know I’ve got the plan. Shaking his head, he hesitates before turning toward the others. “Let’s go.”

  They all take off at a jog, disappearing into the shadows. The moment they’re gone, the sound of my heart pounding against my chest greets my ears. Alone, once again.

  It feels like an hour has passed, and I haven’t seen or heard the guys. The demons or humans are still working nonstop through the clearing, none of them making any move to show they’re under attack. My legs are aching from standing still, my back sore from leaning on the wall. This is not what I imagined the battle to be like.

  A soft hum reaches my ears, pulling me out of my misery. I lean forward to see if any of the others hear it too. The demons must have since they’re all looking around trying to figure out what the sound is. They start to move in unison toward the van sitting in the middle of the clearing. Seeing them all move simultaneously has my insides crawling. It looks like something from a horror movie, robots working off the same circuit.

  A shudder crawls down my spine as the humming gets louder until it’s a constant buzz. As soon as they’re all near the van, it stops. A second later a click sounds, and the van rocks with an explosion, tearing through the majority of the demons and humans standing within ten feet. The heat from the blast warms my face as the wind pushes the smoke toward me.

  Holding my breath, I try to ease the spasms in my lungs. There’s a loud commotion as people are running, trying to find where they’re being attacked from. I see the shadow of something fly across the courtyard, grabbing one of the creatures by the neck, a knife plunging deep into their throat. Aries’ red eyes glance up toward me before he takes off after another one. The others join in, each of them taking down one demon after another, leaving the area empty of anyone other than them. I slowly inch myself out of the hiding spot and work my way toward them, stepping over the body parts as I go. They meet me halfway, stopping alongside the pile of rubble from the bomb detonating.

  “This was too easy,” Aries states, looking at the destruction around them. If you ask me, I’d say it looked pretty tough, but who am I to judge.

  Lex eyes up the piles of bodies. “Most of these were human. I only saw maybe two demons in all of this. Shouldn’t there be more demons?”

  “Something isn’t adding up,” Levi agrees.

  Ryce walks over beside me, his hand reaching out to me, but he freezes. All of them freeze, their eyes wide but mouths and bodies not moving. I wave my hand in front of Ryce’s face, but he doesn’t budge. “What the heck?” I say to no one.

  A soft chuckle greets my ears, her soft voice breaking the silence. “They’re not going to save you this time, sweet Lucia.” Lilith appears from the shadows, her blonde hair tucked perfectly at the nape of her neck. She’s wearing black pants and a black shirt, allowing her to move amongst the night without being seen. The bartender who slit my throat stands beside her, his grin wide against his darkened features. I should have known he was working with her.

  “Lilith.” My voice cracks. I eye up both of them wearily.

  “Tsk, tsk,” she tuts. “Is that any way to greet an old friend? Especially one whose life you ruined?” She stalks toward me, running the pad of her thumb over the edge of a blade. The handle glints in the embers from the destruction around us, making it easier for me to see the engraving my father placed on the handle. It’s the blade Michael was telling us about. She catches me staring at it, a smile breaking across her lips. “Is this what you’re looking for?” She waves it toward me.

  “Lilith, we don’t have to do this.” I palm the knife at my side, hoping like Hell I don’t have to use it.

  “The thing is, we actually do. It’s written in the stars for us to battle it out. But it also helps when your own family sells you out.” She walks behind Aries, running her fingernail gently down his cheek. “They are gorgeous, aren’t they? I can see why you’re so attracted to them. I suppose your banishment hasn’t been too miserable with them by your side.”

  She walks in front of him, eyeing him up and down before turning toward me with a grin. “Back to our story. Funny thing—Michael told me where you’d be and when. He even informed me that your lovely little portal has locked you out.” A laugh slips past her lips as she leans against Levi’s frozen body. “When I summoned Nassiter, I didn’t know he’d break the portal crossing over. An added bonus, I suppose, on my end.”

  As she runs her hand over Lex’s chest, my blood boils. This bitch took everything from me—my family, my freedom, now my guys. I slip the blade into my hand, tucking it behind my back. “Michael wouldn’t do that. He may hate me, but he hates you more.” I shift, placing myself between her and Ryce. “Why go through all of this, just to what? Take me down?”

  Her eyes narrow as she shifts with me, keeping herself between me and the others. “You’d be surprised who hates you in your family, princess. You ruined everything for me, and a few others aren’t too pleased with you either,” she sneers as she shifts toward me. “You told your father, and he cast me out. Like I was dirt beneath his shoes. Now, I’m going to take away his precious little light-bringer.”

  I snort at her ridiculous mantra. “He won’t care. He banished me to the pits of Hell. He hasn’t talked to me since the day he cast me out. If you wanted to ruin his life, you should have focused on Samiel. He’s his new favorite child. But I forgot, you always were too quick to exact revenge. Never taking everything into account before you act on your emotions.” I circle her, placing her in the middle of me and the guys.

  As she backs up into Aries’ chest, I take my moment. Lunging, I swipe the blade, catching her in the upper arm. She drops her blade as she pulls her hand up to her arm to stop the bleeding, the demon blade burning through her skin and tendons. I can see the fire slowly working its way up her skin like a river of lava.

  I drop to the ground, snatching her blade before she can. Her eyes widen as reality hits her, seeing her lost opportunity as I grip the blade in my palm and hold it out toward her. “Tsk, tsk. How the tables have turned.”

  She stands there in fear, but her lip curls up as a
guttural laugh slips past. “Now,” she shouts.

  The guys still frozen behind her, demons pour out from the buildings surrounding us. With shaking hands I back up, my eyes landing on Aries. It looks like he’s telling me to run, to save myself, but how can I leave them to die?

  I glance around as the demons circle around us, no longer dressed in their human shields. Their black, scaly skin and red eyes peer at me through the darkness. I’m outnumbered hundreds to one. Fuck. I feel a quick whoosh of air next to me, and I duck, expecting something to go flying at my head. A small giggle chimes next to my ear. I glance next to me, and the girl from the coffee shop stands there, her black hair tied back in a red ribbon, her eyes fierce but trained on Lilith before us.

  “What the fuck?” I whisper.

  “Hey there! Yeah, so, I may have known you the day we met. I’m Catalina, but you can call me Cat.” She waves, her gaze shifting to me. The soft green eyes from before are now glowing.

  “Hey…I’m Lucia…” Nothing is making sense right now. She seems to be on my side, but what the Hell is she doing here?

  “Yeah, long story—I’ll explain later, promise. Let’s kick this demon’s ass first though.” Catalina, or Cat, shifts to a fighting stance and aims a knife at the bartender dude across from her.

  Lilith’s eyes narrow at my new friend, and her lips turn up into a sneer. If anything, Cat being here is pissing Lilith off, and I like it. While she’s distracted, I take a quick jab at Lilith with her own blade, piercing the skin on her stomach with the tip. A guttural scream slips past Lilith’s lips as she falls forward, gripping her gut. Before I can advance on her, she whispers, “Unde venerunt remittite.” The guys unfreeze for only a moment, their eyes wide as they reach for me before disappearing into thin air.

  “No!” I scream as I reach for Ryce. “Where did you send them?” I search the area, but they’re nowhere to be seen.

  Lying on the ground, she smirks. “I sent them back to where they came from. And now, it’s time to end you.”

  Nassiter appears from the dark, no longer cowering under my gaze. He sneers as he advances on me. “Run!” screams Cat as she lunges toward him.

  Turning, I take her advice and run as fast as I can before they catch up to me. My legs pump as I run straight for the portal, tears streaming down my face. They’re gone and I’m all alone. My own family sold me out; now Lilith is going to kill me to keep me from returning home to them. As my body shakes and the emotions take over, I picture the portal in my mind, wishing myself there. It’s still miles away; by the time I make it, it will be too late. I continue running, but my legs are slowing.

  “Take me to the portal,” I beg. My feet trip on something, and as I fall forward, I reach my hand out, trying to protect my face. I collapse onto the ground, feeling the soft grass along my chest.

  The wind knocked out of me, I roll onto my back, sucking in air. As my vision returns, I notice the buildings are no longer around me. Instead, I see headstones in my peripheral. Sitting up, I whip my head around, taking in the cemetery. Holy fuck, I transported myself. I scramble to my feet and rush over to the portal, shouting the chant at it as I go. There’s a faint glow, but nothing shifts or opens.

  I scream, “Ryce! Aries! Are you there? Lex?” Tears start down my face again. “Levi?” Resting my head on the wall, I allow every emotion rage through me, the fear and pain taking control, but letting the anger fuel the fire. They can’t be dead—they have to be alive, even if they’re not here.

  My vision starts to narrow as my skin heats, every nerve in my body sending a thousand volts of electricity through it. My hair starts to flame, starting with an orangish tint converting to a bright red. The monster takes control as I listen to the demons scrambling up the hill toward me. A grin spreads on my cheeks as I feel my back cracking, the wings pushing their way out through my skin. For the first time since my damnation, I let them exist. Not in embarrassment from what I used to be, but in pride of what I’ve become.

  I glance behind me, the bright red feathers run through my fingers, the tips a dark black, like the souls I watch over. As the first demon crests the hill, I take a step forward, my red hair fully aflame, my eyes glowing red, and the wings at my back extended. The minute they see me, they falter in their steps. I spread my wings and lift a flaming hand into the air, my Hell’s touch burning bright beneath my skin. Hundreds of the demons stop, kneeling before me, bowing their heads as their queen stands before them.

  Nassiter steps forward, growling at the demons, “Get up, you fools! Don’t bow to her. She abandoned you.” None of them budge, their eyes glancing at the grass, heads still bowed.

  “It’s over, Nassiter. You had your fun, now it’s time to go home.” I tighten my grip on the blade. He sneers, turning toward me in a fighting stance. I figured this was the way things would go. He lunges for me, but this time I don’t run. Wrapping my fingers around his throat, I stop him in midair, holding his feet off the ground. I watch as his eyes widen and the fear starts seeping back into his body. “I told you this wasn’t going to work for you. You betrayed me, and I’m not going to stand for that.”

  Letting the power flow through me, I push the fire from my body through my grip and into him, the Hell’s touch burning the second it meets his scaly skin. He screams as his insides slowly melt, his skin slowly shifting under my touch and falling to the ground. The second he is fully consumed by the fire, the screaming stops and he’s nothing but a puddle of charred demon crisp on the ground.

  Lilith lets out a loud battle cry, her anger flowing through the air around us like static electricity. I glance toward her, waiting to see her next move now that her army has dissipated and turned ranks to follow me.

  She holds a gun in front of her, pointing it directly at my heart. “You think having that ability is a punishment? What your father did to you was a privilege. All that power wasted on someone like you!” She screams as she lifts the gun higher. “I’m tired of being in your shadow. I want the power, I caused the sin—I should get to control it.”

  With a flick of my wrist, I shoot a fireball at her, knocking the gun out of her hand. “Give up now, Lilith. We don’t have to do this.” Please don’t make me do this. Out of everything, I never wanted her dead. Maybe locked up in a cell somewhere, but never did I expect it to come to this.

  “Never,” she breathes as she grabs a knife from her boot. Chucking it, she aims straight for my heart.

  My wings take flight as they pull me into the sky away from the weapon which is now lodged firmly into the portal door. I sweep back down, landing beside her, slicing her own blade through her neck. Her eyes widen as her skin pales, the black blood staining the blade from her wound. As she takes her last breath, her soul slips from her body, rising into the air. I watch as she starts to ascend, her smile wide as she looks to the Heavens. What the hell? But with a shift, her soul freezes before descending down. The look of terror on her face as realization dawns makes me smile.

  26

  The portal starts to rumble as the curse is broken by Lilith’s blood being shed. I stay standing over her body, in case the bitch finds a way to escape Hell and reincarnate herself. The demons stay down, waiting for my command. As the portal bursts open, four angry and panicked princes burst through. My smile spreads as I run toward them, which is a little difficult with my wings fighting gravity. They stand there, weapons drawn, eyes wild scanning for me. As they land on me, they stumble, taking in my monster form. I try to calm myself, but the adrenaline has me feeding the beast.

  “Lucia, you’re alive!” Levi steps forward as he runs his fingers over my wings. “They’re incredible.”

  I blush at his approval. I’ve never let anyone see them before, not even my subordinates, ashamed of what I’ve become. But the way he says it, he makes me feel like I’m who I’m supposed to be. “Thanks. They’re hard to put away though once I’m aflame.”

  Aries stalks forward toward the demons, blade drawn. “Wait!” I yell. H
e stops in his tracks. “They’re submissive—send them back to Hell where they can’t hurt anyone.”

  “What about Nassiter?” Ryce barks, his eyes scanning the crowd.

  “He’s dead.” I point toward the pile of ash and wiggle my fingers. “Hell’s touch. Lilith’s dead too.” I should feel guilty, but I feel relieved.

  Lex and Ryce start to shuffle the demons back through the portal, making sure they can’t leave again. “A little help here?” I ask Levi as I point to the fire engulfing my head. With a smirk, he uses his powers to douse me in water, extinguishing the flame. Aries steps forward and pushes wind around me, air-drying my body while cooling down the monster and pushing her into hiding. My vision returns to normal, my wings lowering and finally going back into my body. That’s much better. Now that the monster isn’t in control, my body starts to feel the effects from the fight. The muscles ache with each passing moment.

  Levi wraps his hands in my hair as he pulls my lips to his, desperation and fear driving the kiss. “We thought we lost you,” he pants. Leaning his forehead against mine, he sighs.

  Lex steps up and Levi hands me over to him. He cradles my body against him, holding my head against his chest as he kisses my forehead. “I knew you could do it. I knew we’d see you again.” Wrapping my arms around him, I hold him tight, thankful I get to feel him again.

  He lets me go and turns me around to Ryce, who lifts me up and wraps my legs around his waist. His head leans against mine, both of us holding on for dear life. “I was afraid you were gone. I tried to get to you. I tried to stop her.” He runs his nose along my chin as he pulls his lips to my ear. “The things I’m going to do to you when we get home. Your body won’t rest for a week to make up for the time I thought I lost.” I shudder against him. He slides me down his body, my feet touching the ground only for a second before I’m lifted into the air again.