Hell's Weeping: Infernal Descent, #2

PROLOGUE

Iknow she’s coming for me. My master shows me images of her every day. He does it to discourage me, to make me give up all hope, but it has the opposite effect. She’s not given up, so I won’t either.

She has even found friends who’re helping her. An angel, a hellhound and a werewolf. I’m almost a bit jealous about that. No, make that very jealous. I don’t have a single friend here, even though my master likes to pretend that he is. In reality, he’s vile and rotten inside, nothing like the nice facade he’s built as his body. I’ve seen his true self many times and trust me, it’s not something anyone ever wants to see.

But now she’s getting ever closer. She’s stuck in one of the circles and I think that’s my master’s doing. He’s been trying to delay her for years now. He’s not succeeding though. Ciera keeps coming and she will get here eventually. Into the centre of Hell, the place where flesh melts from bones and souls cry out in anguish. The place he’s holding me captive. The place I’ve grown up in.

I don’t think she’s realised yet. The men haven’t told her. She’ll be in for a shock when she finds out. She’s expecting to find a toddler, but by the time she makes it here, I’ll be a grown woman. Even if she hurries, I’ll be older than her when she arrives.

Thing is, the further you get into Hell, the faster time flows. While mere days might pass in the outer circles, here in the centre those days will be years.

And they’ve not told her.

I wonder what she’ll do to them when she finds out. I smile at the thought. They’re in for one hell of a beating. Ciera is able to travel through Hell because she burns as brightly as the fires devouring the souls. She’s a light in the darkness and she’ll save me.

I just need to survive until she does.

CHAPTER 1

W hat do you mean, all Hell’s breaking loose? I ask Ceb, whose face is getting that fiery glow indicating he’s about to morph into his other glorious form. Yes, I appear to have a soft spot for three headed hellhounds, so sue me.

I meant exactly what I said. The fucking tombs and graves in the city are opening and the occupants are escaping. The bastards appear to be making their way here, he responds, his handsome face changing before my eyes. In a matter of seconds, his other form fills the room. The three-headed hellhound with fire flaring from his nostrils and flames licking beneath his skin, rapidly appears before us.

You could’ve waited until we were outside the damn room, Plutus complains, pushing against the beast’s shoulder.

The nearest head snarls at Plutus, whilst the one on the left pulls back its lips over its jagged teeth in a snigger. The middle head lets out a low rumble of laughter.

Sometimes I forget Ceb’s a demon in charge of a whole circle of Hell. In fact, for the last hour or so I’ve managed to forget why I’ve come here. Getting pissed and kissing Maro has distracted me. I’m here to save Tris, not kiss a fallen angel, get drunk with a hellhound and ogle a sexy, naked, werewolf.

‘You kissed them too’, a tiny voice says inside my head. I ignore it.

How many are we talking here? Maro asks, stepping up behind me.

I try not to be distracted by his nearness or the heat that seems to pour from his chest into my back.

All of them, Plutus responds, scraping a hand through his hair.

"All of them? Fuck!" Maro exclaims. He places a firm hand on my hip and steers me towards the window, the heat of his palm burning my skin.

We leave now. Once outside you get on Ceb’s back. Maro and I will take up the rear, Plutus says.

Despite the imminent danger, Plutus’ comment seems to tickle Ceb and his whole body shakes with laughter. Even Maro finds it amusing.

What the fuck is wrong with you two? This isn’t a laughing matter. Lucifer must know we’re here. Why else would the heretics be set free from their burning graves? Get your shit together, Plutus admonishes.

Ceb snarls a little at that. He may be a fairly relaxed man in his human form, but he’s still a demon at his core. I don’t suppose he takes kindly to being called out on his behaviour, especially not by a snarky wolf shifter with attitude.

We haven’t ventured into the City of Dis for some time, Plutus. Maybe we’re overreacting. For all we know this is some regular shit that goes on. A heretic party perhaps? Ceb says.

Plutus rolls his eyes. Don’t be a fool, Berus. No one gets entertained in Hell aside from Lucifer himself.

"Err, unless you’ve forgotten we’re standing in a pub. Isn’t this place entertainment for those who enter? Perhaps Ceb’s right?" I point out.

If they’d been strolling along having a chitchat, I might have agreed with him. As it is, the heretics are carrying weapons and looking murderous. Even the two old crones in the pub have cleared off. When demons as dark and as powerful as them leave, then it’s fair to say what’s coming ain’t friendly.

Then we’d better get out of here before they turn up, hadn’t we? Maro says, pushing me towards the window once more.

"You really think they’re after me?"

Yes, I do. They’ve been confined to those graves for eternity. I’m betting Lucifer promised them freedom in exchange for your head.

Look, I’m hardly a threat. I don’t want anything apart from taking my sister's place. I’m a nobody. Why go to all the bother?

Number one, you’re not a nobody, you’ve made it this far into Hell for a start, and number two, he took your sister. Lucifer may take what he wants, but he rarely keeps what he doesn’t need, Maro says, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Plutus. She must be special to him, and therefore you’ve got a problem.

"Maybe so, but Lucifer is a liar and a cheat. He’ll say anything, do anything, to get what he wants. He’s the Devil for crying out loud, why would these heretics believe a word he says?"

You did, didn’t you? Plutus points out.

My lips purse together in a hard line. He’s right, of course, I did believe Lucifer. He has a way of twisting the truth and making you believe he’s a man of his word, or contract, should I say. The fact is, he’s no more a man than the three misfits standing before me. Lucifer is a fallen angel, the Devil himself, and the most feared being in all of history.

Okay, we get it. Time to leave, Maro snaps, wrapping a protective arm around me.

I can look after myself, I say, shrugging him off.

A few minutes ago I’d been more than happy to have his arms wrapped around me and his lips pressed against mine. Now I’m just angry at myself for wasting precious time.

My fingers reach for the bow that’s slung over my shoulder. Knowing it’s there makes me feel better. I’m not going to let a few heretics get the better of me. No one’s going to stop me from saving Tris.

No one.

Let’s get you out of here, fair maiden, Ceb says, nudging me out of the way. He glances over my head at Maro. It’s going to get a bit hot in here. Best stand out of the way for a moment, okay?

I don’t have time to respond before I’m hauled backwards to the other side of the room. Just before Maro twists us around so that I’m enclosed in his arms with his wings wrapped around us both, I see Ceb blow out a stream of blue fire from his three mouths. Maro curls his body and wings around me blocking my view, and I hear the sound of glass shattering. Ten seconds later, he stands and yanks me upright with him. When I turn around, I see Ceb stepping through the space where the window once was. The frame has disintegrated from the heat, shattering the glass in the process.

Fuck that’s hot, I mumble, still feeling the heat from the smouldering brick.

Let’s go, Plutus says, keen to get away from the pub and the hoard of heretics apparently intent on taking my head and gaining their freedom.

Maro lets me go, and I notice his wings aren’t damaged by the heat at all. So, not only are they sharp enough to draw blood, they’re also fireproof. It makes me wonder what the other parts of his anatomy are like. I mean, perhaps his cock grows three times its length and vibrates like one of those sex toys I see the prostitutes flaunt in the red light district back home? Imagine that! Better still, what if Maro’s manhood is multicoloured, glows and vibrates? Wouldn’t that be a sight for sore eyes. I can’t help but giggle at the thought. I think I may be a little hysterical. The threat on my life seems to be having a strange effect on me.

What’s so funny? Maro asks, raising a blonde eyebrow.

Nothing, nothing at all, I squeak, ignoring his glare and climbing out of the hole in the wall.

Plutus and Maro follow me, joining Ceb and me on the rocky ground at the back of the pub. Now that we’re outside, I can smell the thick smoke and, in the distance, can see billowing black clouds rising into the air. Beneath the clouds is an army of frail-looking men and women stumbling half-dressed towards us. Every single one of them is holding a weapon.

Shit, what now? I say.

Maro draws his sword as I grab hold of my bow and arrow, readying myself to fight.

Up on my back… Ceb starts only to be interrupted.

Well, well, well. If it isn’t Cerberus the puppy, Maro the birdy and Plutus the pussy! A voice says from behind us.

Great, that’s all we need, Plutus groans, muttering obscenities under his breath as we turn to face the voice.

Who are you? I growl, immediately disliking the creature standing before me. And by creature I mean centaur. A half-horse, half-human beast with bright multicoloured hair and dark skin. What the everloving fuck