Chapter Eleven

Caim wasn’t at the champagne fountain, seemingly evaporating into thin air as the party gained energy.

I spotted Aimee on the couch, surrounded by people who were as well-dressed as she was. They looked like television types, and I wouldn’t have had anything to add to the conversation, so I waved by steered clear.

If Malphas wanted to dance or find some demons to start a fire with, he hid it well.

I was about to make my excuses and ask Malphas if we could wait in the car when someone slammed into my back, and the shock of a cold liquid fell down my t-shirt, soaking me in an instant. My teeth locked to hold in any sound, and I whirled on my heel to find an unfamiliar face smirking down at me. A demon. Eyes murky swirling grey, and teeth tinted with black—but not with rot.

I stepped back immediately. Every alarm bell in my body screamed to leave as fast as possible. I backed into Malphas, but before I could even sign a word, Malphas placed his hands on my upper arms and physically lifted me out of the way.

“Who’s this, little Raven?” The demon crooned, his cocked to the side.

“Shouldn’t you know already, Gremory?” Malphas said through gritted teeth. “Where is your master? Didn’t he invite you to his party?”

The only other party I knew of was Behem’s—Gremory must have worked for him.

Gremory’s hair was as grey as his eyes, slicked away from his face. The demon blinked and tried to crane his neck to get a better look at me. “I see many things but don’t see all of them.”

Malphas rolled his eyes. “Go back to Gluttony, Gremory.”

“But none of the gluttons are any fun anymore, Malphas.” Gremory wrinkled his nose like a child. “They just slump around. Hopped up on Sugar. It’s all so tedious.”

Sugar ?

Malphas must have missed the reference because a look of pure rage built on his face until he stepped forward, jabbing a finger toward the demon.

“You said that if Stolas went to the devil on bended knee, Lucifer would forgive us despite our dissent. You lied.” Malphas kept his voice low and evil. “And now you’re in Greed, without Behem’s protection.”

“Was I not right?” Gremory held out his hands like a king, marveling over his kingdom. “You’re not dead. You’re very much alive. That is as good as forgiveness, wouldn’t you say?”

Malphas narrowed his eyes.

Gremory stared at the ceiling for too long, making the atmosphere awkward. “Beware the Eater of Worlds. The Eater of the Aos Sí. Creator of nothing, devourer of all.”

A bead of sweat rolled down my spine.

Gremory stepped to the side, right into my personal space, with one swift movement. He looked down at me. “But I haven’t seen you before,” Gremory added weight to the statement, though I had no idea why being seen was so important. I’d never met the demon before.

Malphas held out his arm in a piano string movement, sliding in to form a wall with his body. His dark eyes glared at Gremory with contempt, though the other demon seemed immune to his scorn.

“Can I dance with your paramour?” Gremory licked his lips. “I’d wager she dances like an angel. Or perhaps, a pixie with gossamer wings. No… No …” He shook his head, speaking more to himself. “Like an angel. I was right the first time. An angel of death.”

I exhaled a shaky breath, but my feet were stuck to the floor.

“You should leave.” Malphas snarled, forcing me back as fear coursed through my body like a river of ice.

Gremory gave me a pithy smile over the top of Malphas’s head, and I got the impression that the demon had wanted to needle Malphas at my expense.

“Where the fuck is Caim?” Malphas snarled once Gremory was out of sight.

“ I don’t see Darla .” I signed.

Malphas gave me a major side-eye. “Hmm.” He said nothing else.

“ What ?”

“Nothing.” Malphas shrugged. “It's just interesting that she bothers you. Considering.”

I gave him a long look. When I didn’t ask, Malphas answered my unspoken question anyway.

“You’re prettier than she is.”

I rolled my eyes. “ I don’t care .”

“If you’re sure.”

“ I don’t .”

A server passed, and I swiped another glass of champagne. The bubbles fizzed against my lips, and a pleasant buzz had wormed it’s way into my system.

I downed a few glasses, trying to wash Gremory’s weirdness away.

I began to see why people attended parties. Even with all the standing about, talking about nothing in particular, it felt kind of nice . The atmosphere affected my mood. The shiny decor, marble floors, and complimentary champagne were nice. The prickle of demon magic against my skin made my stomach squirm. I felt pleasantly warm, but the feeling had nothing to do with temperature.

I recognized the feeling, though it felt suspiciously like Lust. I ignored it.

“ Who was that ?” My eyes flicked to where Gremory had stood, but the grey-haired demon had disappeared. “ A friend of yours ?”

“From another life,” Malphas muttered. “Don’t pay much attention to his words. Gremory is a walking prophecy, though they are rarely accurate.”

Eater of Worlds . He’d said.

I really didn’t want to find out who the Eater of Worlds was.

I wanted to find Caim before he got himself into any trouble. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

The ambient chatter of the penthouse slowed to absolute silence. I heard my own heartbeat in my ears, and the sound of footsteps slowed to a halt as the servers hurrying through the crowd stopped in their tracks.

But, the air in the room grew warmer. The kind of welcoming warmth that encouraged you to take off a jacket and make yourself comfortable.

The magic in the room prickling against my skin bloomed into a painful buzz. My lip tickled, and I brushed my hand over my mouth—my fingers came away bloody. My nose was bleeding.

It was Lust, but so much more .

“That’s not Mammon.” Malphas cursed under his breath. “ Fuck .”

“ Who ...?”

A husky giggle brushed against the back of my neck, and I half-jumped out of my skin. I whirled on my heels, finding a woman behind me. Her hair was long, as dark as a sheet of obsidian without imperfection. Her eyes were slanted as she looked up at me through naturally long lashes.

She cocked her head to the side, studying me, before her face began to change like a thumb pressing against clay. My stomach lurched, the champagne burning my throat as it threatened to come up, as the woman’s sultry face disappeared, replaced by a man resembling Malphas.

The strange demon shot me a toothy grin, flashing a hint of a sharp fang. They tossed their fluffy blond hair away from their face.

The real Malphas’s eyes narrowed, but he bowed his head, dropping at the waist. “Your majesty.” He purred, though his expression was filled with displeasure. Unsure of the correct protocol, I copied Malphas and dipped into a short bow.

“Asmodeus. Queen of the Seventh Circle. She is without equal. Lust, embodied.” Malphas stated dryly, gesturing to the man in front of me.

His face changed again, back to the woman with siren eyes.

“Enchanté.” She held out her hand toward me.

I had no idea what she wanted me to do. Kiss it?

Asmodeus didn’t blink when I didn’t take her hand. Her cherry-red lips ticked with a grin. “Malphas. My delicious commander. Forgotten Prince of the Wastes. You made the finest statue. Were you awake in Lucifer’s garden? Did you know I visited you often?”

I pressed my hand to my belly, unable to squash the flash of jealousy. Asmodeus caught my discomfort, laying a hand on my shoulder.

“Malphas is a delightful lover. Her has the most remarkable—”

Malphas gave her a look that could kill a bird mid-flight.

“Feathers.” Asmodeus finished her sentence with a wink. “Such a beautiful raven.”

Malphas said nothing.

“I came to check on your progress.” Asmodeus nodded to each of us.

“We find the demons stealing the prisoners, and you’ll let us join your court,” Malphas growled. “That was the deal.”

“Have you found the prisoners yet?” Asmodeus quirked a brow. “It's awful for our reputation if people keep going missing.”

Malphas narrowed his eyes. “I understand.”

“I must mingle.” Asmodeus declared, throwing her hands up excitedly. “Try not to do anything I wouldn’t do.” She sashayed away before either of us could respond.

“ Why did that sound like a threat ? I signed.

“Because it was,” Malphas said, eying her as she left. “I thought she sent us because she couldn’t enter the Red City without consequence.”

“ But she’s here .”

“That means she knows who is responsible, but she cannot make a move.” Malphas frowned. “Something’s wrong.” He stated, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “We need to find leave now .”

It was hard to pay attention to anything he said when I felt the warmth of his hand through the fabric of my sleeve. He had nice hands. Really nice hands.

Malphas nudged me forward, racing for the elevator. When I didn’t move, he took my hand, pulled me forward, and pushed through the awestruck crowd as he tried to get as far away from Asmodeus as possible.

I swayed, tripping over my own feet. A shrill giggle left my lips, and Malphas startled at the sound. Asmodeus’s magic was going to my head. My nipples were hard, and I wanted nothing more than to grab Malphas by his grumpy cheeks and plant a big kiss on his lips.

Distance didn’t help; the room was too contained, and I could feel the magic rolling over the room, washing against the walls like an angry tidal wave.

I felt it build in my throat.

I thought it was vomit.

I hoped it was vomit.

Blood pooled on my tongue as I locked my teeth together, anything to keep in my impending scream.

The whiplash of emotions had left me cold from giddy arousal to bone-chilling fear in a single second.

Someone was going to die.

I couldn’t be there when they did.

I pushed past Malphas, mashing my palm against the elevator doors, my hair plastered to my face with sweat. My clammy fingers slipped over the buttons as I slapped the console.

Malphas didn’t ask the reason for my fear. He must have guessed it was something to do with Asmodeus—though he would be wrong.

It was happening again.

Like it always did when someone died around me.

The scream.