Chapter Thirteen

The Devil met us at the end of the Diamond Path with a unit of Demons. And in case youre wondering, yes, the name is accurate. The path to hell is lined with diamonds. The title I used for the King of Hell was accurate as well. Luke was in his Devils guise—red skin, horns, leathery wings, barbed tail, and everything.

He strode forward and put his clawed hands on his hips. “My pitchfork is missing!”

“What?” Azrael hurried over to his father. “Since when?”

“I dont know!” Lucifer cast his hands into the air dramatically. “I tried to summon it for this ensemble and it wouldnt come. So, I went to the kitchen, and it wasnt there.”

“You keep your pitchfork in the kitchen?” Morpheus asked.

“Right above the pot rack.” The Devil nodded. “Youd be surprised how many times it comes in handy.”

“You use it for cooking?” Trevor, who had dined at the Devils table many times, gaped at Luke.

“Sure. I might as well get some use out of it.”

“So, its just a prop?” I asked. “Theres no power in it?”

“No. The power is in me. Although, I can use it as a sort of magic wand if I wish. You know, to focus my magic.”

“A magic wand.” I looked at my men, and they grimaced.

“Why are you so upset if its just a tool?” Brahma asked.

“Someone came into my home—my kitchen—and took my pitchfork,” Luke growled and shifted back into his normal guise—basically a blond, white-winged version of Azrael. He stomped his foot and Hell trembled. “They entered my home, stole from me, and I had no idea until you texted!” His wings whooshed open and glittered in Hells low light. “That does not happen!”

“Dad, tools absorb magic,” Azrael said. “It may not have started as a magical item, but after the centuries of you using it, especially in your Devil form, the pitchfork may have picked up some power.”

Lucifer blinked. “Youre right.” He paused. “Shit.”

The Demons gasped. Even Az and I gaped at his dad. Luke didnt swear. He wasnt as creative as my men and I were with his cursing, but he didnt have to be. He used old-school cuss words employed by little girls with ribbons in their hair. Things like sugar and shoots. Never the S-word, and I think all of creation might come undone if he ever said the F-word.

“Ive used that thing a lot,” Luke went on. “We have to get it back.”

“Along with the Tablets and Aarons rod,” Jesus said.

“What about the manna?” Brahma asked.

“I think the manna has been eaten by now,” Az said.

“Manna can be replaced,” Jesus said. “The rest cannot.”

“But theyre not dangerous, right?” Finn asked. “It was only when they were together, part of a spell, that they were a weapon.”

“The Tablets hold a touch of magic,” Jesus said. “But unless you know how to harness that magic, no, theyre not dangerous. But the rod . . . in the wrong hands, it could be as deadly as the Devils pitchfork.”

“Its Aarons rod, not Mosess, right?” I asked.

“Yes,” Az said.

“So, it didnt part the sea or anything. What did it do?”

Jesus squished up his face. “I dont remember. I think my dad gave Aaron a couple of miracles through it. That was back when he was really establishing himself. You know, becoming the Man.”

“Oh, yes. I remember his campaigns,” the Devil drawled. “But were wasting time. Where is the map you mentioned?”

Odin handed Luke the map as the Demons, all in their demonic forms, shifted restlessly on hooves and claws, leathery wings rustling. Lucifer doesnt get riled easily or often, but when he does, all of Hell is affected. The territory is empowered by him after all. Well, its empowered by all the sacrifices Luke receives, but those sacrifices fuel him, and then he fuels Hell. Unlike other gods, the Devils worship never waned. Because Luke is smart. When he got demonized, he went with it, and he made it very general. Who do you blame when evil rears its ugly head? Satan. The Devil made me do it. Hes the source of evil. And so evil returns to him. The blood of sinners flows into Hell, but not directly to Luke. That might infect him with evil. Instead, it gets purified first by the—

“Volcano,” Luke said. “This map leads to the Blood Volcano.”

I blinked, startled by the way my thoughts crossed with his words.

“Not good,” Teharon muttered.

I looked at the God of Healing and frowned. Hed been unsettled since Jesuss sex room, and that was to be expected. We were all unsettled. But Teharon seemed especially uneasy now. Maybe it was because we were in Hell, and one of his titles was “He who holds Heaven in his hands.” But then again, his light was tempered by his twin brothers darkness. Literally. I had given him Tawiskarons Winter and Darkness magic after he died.

“We fly!” Lucifer roared, lifting his fist to the burnt sky.

His Demons roared back.

“Um, Dad, not all of us have wings or can shift into a winged form,” Azrael said.

Luke sighed, his wings slumped, and he glanced around at the God Squad. “Who cant fly? Step forward, please.”

The gods who couldnt fly warily stepped forward.

“Were taking passengers, people,” Luke said to his Demons. “Now, we fly!”

Wings whooshed open and some of us, including myself, shifted. I went with a partial shift, producing just my dragon wings, so I wouldnt ruin all of my clothes. As it was, my top got torn up. But at least it held. I launched into the air, then swooped down with a flock of Demons and snatched up Trevor. Trevor grinned wolfishly at me as he locked his arm around my waist. Azrael took Kirill, Odin followed my lead and formed some dragon wings so he could carry Re, and Viper got a lift from the King of Hell himself.

Then we were off, wings thundering in the cold, dry air, and the Devils manor appeared on our right. It looked like something out of a horror flick—a Gothic manor painted black, with stained glass windows featuring bloody, biblical scenes of torture. Iron spikes and living gargoyles topped the roof, the latter baring their teeth at us as we passed by. But beyond the border of that sprawling building was a picturesque valley that extended into some of the most beautiful landscapes Id ever seen. It was a replication of Atlantis, an ode to Lukes homeland.

We veered left, away from the Atlantis replica. We didnt head toward the Ice Blocks and so we also circumvented the Mountains of Madness. That was a relief. Instead, we flew over the Durbs—the Demon suburbs, where the landscape of Hell changed dramatically. Even the sky shifted from burned orange to a bright blue, matching the sky above Lukes backyard. Everything was cheery and lush. Fancy homes with green lawns and apple trees, English gardens, miniature forests, or whatever the Demons wanted lay below us. I saw Greek-style homes and stately Victorians standing beside modern mansions. The Devil was generous with his territory magic.

Those who happened to be outside stopped and stared up at us, but no one waved. It was obvious that this wasnt a pleasure flight.

Lucifer led us over the Durbs and swung around, bringing us back into Hells, well, hellish landscape. The sky returned to its burnt color, and the ground became sand soaked in blood. From that rich soil sprouted trees made of bones and the rock formations were the same, held together by bloody sinew. And, great Gatsby it was cold! I had to turn up my body heat. Trevor sighed and snuggled closer.

Finally, we came to the Blood Volcano.

It was magnificent in a gory way. Although, to be honest, you couldnt tell that it erupted blood. The flow seemed off, more fluid and less sluggish, but it was a similar color to magma. And I knew all about magma. We lava flowing continually to either side of Castle Aithinne in Faerie. This stuff didnt glob or bubble, nor did it form a black crust on top, but from a distance, the average person wouldnt know the difference. It was when you got close that things became disgusting.

We landed on the bloody ground, and the Devil didnt pause to check on us. He set Viper aside and went forward immediately, his boots squelching through the overly saturated soil. The blood was purified, so it didnt pose a threat, but that didnt mean I wanted it staining my clothes or wings. I banished my wings so I wouldnt have to worry about dragging them, but Azrael, Luke, and the Demons just lifted theirs, used to the landscape.

Soon enough, we came to an entrance in the mountainside, and the sandy soil gave way to rock. Within the volcano, the streams of magical, evil blood collected before getting purified and spewed out the top. We came across one such stream and followed it deeper into the mountain, leaving bloody footprints beside it.

Then I heard it—one of the most annoying sounds in all the realms. The yapping of a little dog.

“Princess!” I called.

The yapping stopped briefly, then increased in intensity.

“Were over here!” a deep, masculine voice called over the barking.

“Cerberus?” Morpheus shouted and hurried forward.

“Morpheus, wait!” I called after him.

“No, kid. I go first.” Lucifer grabbed Morphs shoulder and yanked him back. “This is my territory.”

Morph nodded, but shouted to Cerberus, “Were coming, Cerberus!”

“Hurry!” Cerberus shouted back.

“Dang it,” the Devil muttered and started to run. “Get behind me, everyone.”

“Arent we supposed to say that to him?” Trevor whispered to me.

I would have laughed if I wasnt so worried about Princess and Cerberus. Instead, I just ran. We chased the Devil through the winding tunnels, along streams of tainted blood, until we came to a cave.

“Careful!” Cerberus shouted.

We stumbled to an abrupt halt. Before us, a stream of blood widened into a pool. In the center of that pool, Cerberus sat on a tiny island, his body encased in chains. Beside him was the Devils pitchfork, stuck in the ground, pointing up. Above that pitchfork hung Princess in a net, her tiny body writhing as she barked.

“Shes been struggling,” Cerberus said, his stare going to the top of the net, where a rope attached the squirming parcel to a craggy rock. “Ive been trying to keep her calm, but she only struggles more. That rope is about to give.”

“Enough of this nonsense,” the Devil said and held out his hand. He frowned, strode to the edge of the pool, and extended his hand again. “Come here!”

The pitchfork didnt move.

But Princess did.

An ominous creaking came from above.

“Everyone just stop!” I shouted.

Even Princess obeyed me, going quiet for a few seconds. She swung above the deadly points, her white muzzle poking through the ropes, and whined.

“Its okay, Princess,” Cerberus called to her. “Youre going to be okay.”

The dog started yipping and struggling again.

“Shut up, Cerberus!” I snarled.

It went quiet again. Even the dog.

“Love cant save her,” I whispered in revelation. “We need to be stern. Cold.”

“Stern?” Lucifer asked. “This is my territory. I dont need to be anything but me.” He waved a hand, and a bridge formed, connecting us to the island. Wings pulled back, he strode across the bridge and grabbed the pitchfork. It didnt move. “What in all the worlds?”

Princess started barking again and struggling harder.

“Princess!” Cerberus shouted.

The rope broke.

“Not today, me!” Lucifer snarled and plucked Princess out of the air.

She still struggled, even after she was safe, her little claws scratching at Satan.

“All right, puppy,” the Devil cooed as he unwrapped her. “Youre safe now.”

Princess stopped struggling at last and surged up to lick Lukes face.

“Yes, yes,” Luke said and stroked her. “I know. You were very scared.” He turned and handed Azrael the dog. “Go to Az. I have to help your friend.” Luke crouched and frowned at the cartoonish amount of chain wrapped around Cerberus. “What the my-territory is this?”

Cerberus, a huge man who looked as if he were part of the mountain, simply grown out of the rock, shook back his wild, shaggy, dark hair and grimaced. His full beard softened the grimace, but his puppy dog brown eyes showed the full weight of his annoyance. “I dont know, but I cant break them. And Im not a dog that can be chained.”

“How did you get taken?” Az passed Princess to Morpheus.

“Hey, girl,” Morph murmured and petted the dog.

“I dont know that either. I was distracted. Playing with Princess,” Cerberus grumbled. “Next thing I know, Im chained up here.” He looked around. “Where the fuck is Hades? Why didnt he come for us?”

“I sent him home,” I said. “We were given a clue that love wouldnt save you. We needed cold reasoning.”

Cerberus snorted. “The Boss is nowhere near cold.”

“Hold on,” I said and crouched beside Luke. “These are fey.” I grabbed the chain at two points and pulled.

Metal creaked, then broke.

“What the fuck?” Cerberus growled. “How did you do that?”

“They suppress magic, but only the magic of the bound,” I said. “Your magic was suppressed. Thats why you couldnt free yourself. But for me, they were just chains.”

“Rude!” Cerberus stood up and shook like a dog fresh from a bath. Chains slithered from him, then he took a deep breath and stretched his massive shoulders. “Oh, thats better.”

Princess immediately started barking.

“Princess!” Cerberus pushed past us and went to Morpheus. “Thanks, Morpheus.”

“No problem.” Morpheus handed the dog over.

Then all of us, even the Demons, watched the huge man cuddle the little, fluffy, white dog.

“Youre okay now. Ive got you.” Cerberus nuzzled his face against the dog. “Were going home now.” He started for the tunnel.

“Hey, you cant go wandering through Hell alone,” I called after him.

“Im a hound of Hell,” Cerberus tossed back.

“Not this Hell,” Lucifer said and lifted his chin at one of his Demons.

A hulking form of horns and scales plodded after the Hound of Hades and the Queens lapdog. Just to be clear, the latter was Princess. Although, Id like to see someone try to make Cerberus their lapdog.

“Youre welcome!” The Devil shook his head, then went back to his pitchfork. “Now, we deal with you.” He grabbed it again, but this time, the pitchfork shivered. “Whats this?” Luke jerked his hand back.

The pitchfork dropped to the ground limply, as if its bones had been removed. Then it hissed.

“A snake!” Jesus cried. “Thats what Aarons rod did. It became a snake.”

“Aarons rod,” Luke murmured and frowned at the snake. “You charlatan! Where is my pitchfork?”

“Not here,” Azrael said grimly. He strode to the snake and grabbed it near the head. It immediately went rigid and straight, then turned into a wooden staff. “But at least we found Aarons rod.”

“A snake and faerie chains,” I murmured. “Like the snake in the Pringles can and the wand.” I looked at Odin. “Maybe we were giving them too much credit.”

“They werent alluding to you calling yourself the Fairy Godmother.” Odin nodded. “They were simply more clues.”

“More games,” Kirill added. Then he frowned and looked around, peering past the Demons and the rest of our team. “Speaking of snakes, vheres Viper?”

I looked around. “Viper?” Then I felt for him down our bond. “Viper!” I ran for the tunnel.

No one tried to hold me back, they just chased after me. But I didnt know where I was going. Because I couldnt feel Viper. Our link should have told me where he was and what he was feeling. If he was in trouble, I would have known it. My husbands would have as well, thanks to the wedding bands we wear. But those werent working either.

I reached the entrance to the mountain and stopped to stare across Hell. Viper wasnt in Hell. He couldnt be. The only way to cut him off so completely from me would be to take him behind some serious wards.

My men settled to either side of me.

“I didnt feel his panic,” Odin said, looking down at the gold band on his finger.

“No,” I said. “And I dont feel him at all.”

“Now this trickster has taken it too far,” Azrael declared, his Death guise peering through his skin, the bones of his skull showing and his eyes flashing blue.

“But where have they taken Viper?” I whispered.

“Maybe these are a clue,” Satan said as he came up beside us. He lifted the magic-suppressing fey chains and shook them.

“Faerie,” I whispered. “We never considered that this person might be Fey.”

“Faeries wards would be strong enough to hide Viper from you, La-la,” Re said.

“Where are you on your schedule?” Odin asked.

“Ill have to check the calendar, but I think Im okay to go,” I said. “It will mean scaring Arach and missing a week or so with them, but I dont think Im there right now.”

Ah, the headaches that come with time travel.

“Why dont you go back and warn Arach that youll be gone for a little while, then return to the God Realm and go to Faerie with us?” Odin suggested.

“Okay.”

“Go now, Vervain,” Odin said. “Well meet you at Pride Palace.”

“All right.” I glanced around at my men and took courage from them. Viper would be all right. Wed get him back. But as I asked the Ring of Remembrance to take me to the Faerie Realm, a minute after I last left it, an image filled my head.

One of a pink snake popping out of a Pringles can.