Chapter Twenty-One

I don't know who the Hell's Harvesters are but by the dread on Creed's face, I'm not looking forward to finding out.

We step out of the hospital, drained and exhausted. Mickey is pale with fear and worry, and her eyes are swollen from crying. All I want to do is get her home so she can rest.

And then I'm going to focus on Ty.

That mother fucker has breathed his last day here on Earth taunting my mate, and he won't get away with it.

Five motorcycles made of bones come to a stop in front of the emergency entrance.

"Creed." The one in front greets.

"Abaddon," Creed growls his kindness in return.

"Let's meet at your mate's house." He glances at me, then at her. "We have a lot to discuss."

"Who are you and why would I take you to my mate's home?" I scoff, standing protectively in front of her.

"Consider us paranormal police," he explains. "And we already know where she lives. We know everything when it comes to the paranormal. I suggest you meet us there or will we drag you."

"Do not threaten me," I warn, my voice so low, it sounds hoarse.

"Why not? What could you possibly do to demons who are much stronger and older than you?"

"Famine! Enough. We don't have time. You're looking for someone, right? Goes by the name of Ty?"

"Where is he? Take me to him. I want to kill him." Mickey steps forward, pointing her finger in the demon's face and he smiles. "I want him to suffer like how he made my sister suffer, how he made me suffer. I want his head."

"Oooooh, feisty. I like that. Are you sure you don't want to go for a demon ride?"

"Conquest," Abbadon groans.

I wrap my hand around the demon's throat, slam him against the ground, and snarl.

But then he is gone, nothing but black shadows in my hand.

A large knife made of some type of metal presses against my neck. "Try again, Beast."

Mickey slams herself against Conquest, standing in front of me to protect me. There's not much she can do. "Don't touch him. I just want Ty. I want to live my life with my mate and go home. That's it. I'm not interested in anything else. Is that okay with you?"

Conquest rumbles, his form a light haze so I can see him for what he truly looks like.

And it's terrifying.

He twirls the large knife in his hand before sheathing it. "Fine. You better be glad you're a little human."

"That's so sweet that you would do that for him. You'd risk your life?" The quieter demon sniffles.

"Oh, fuck me, Death. Come on. Again? How do you reap souls? How?" Famine shouts, starting his motorcycle. "Let's go before I strangle Death. Fucking gets all mushy over everything."

"Sorry. I just find sacrifice really beautiful, Famine. You could learn something from this human and her mate."

"Please, I'd rather experience the fucking plague again."

Death gasps. "You wouldn't! Do you know how hard that was for me? You asshole."

Abaddon rubs his temples, sighing. "Okay, children. We have a job to do. Let's do it, please."

Their motorcycles start-up and they leave, the loud screams echoing again.

"The screams are the worst of souls. That's what fuels their bikes," Creed explains. "I don't like them, but I'm warning you. Don't fuck with them. They will win. Come on, Demi. Let's get Storm home."

Caden and Holt follow Demi and Creed, leaving us alone.

The sky is dark, promising rain, and the air is cool, but there's something malevolent about it. A wicked evil is stirring. I don't care what I will have to do, but I will end it.

I snag her into my arms like I did before and rush us home. Her tears wet my chest, her body bends with every harsh sob, and her pain only fuels me to do what is needed. I'm not going to play with my food.

I'm going to kill Ty the moment I see him. The longer he breathes, the longer he remains a threat to Mickey and her family. I won't allow that.

When we get home, the demons are already there, standing by the lake. The grass crunches under my feet and they turn their heads. I won't let them intimidate me.

I launch into the air and then step into the hole in the wall I created when we mated. I lie her on the bed where she sobs into her pillow, clutching what should be me.

Never in my life have I been jealous of a pillow yet here I am, cursing its existence.

"I'm going to go talk to the demons, okay? I'll be right back, and I'll hold you through the pain."

"I just want him dead," she wails, wiping his face against the pillow. "No torture. No nothing."

I frown. "Not even a little torture?"

She sits up, blue eyes the color of ice as they harden. "I want to talk to Death. I want to make a deal with him."

"You don't need to be a part of this. Let me handle it."

"I want to be. I deserve to be. After everything he has done to me and my family, I deserve this. I need this."

"I heard you wanted to talk."

Mickey yelps as five demons fill her bedroom.

"Sorry." Death apologizing is odd. "Didn't mean to scare you. At least it wasn't to death."

The one with the name "War" on the front of his vest groans. "You have got to let that joke go, man. It isn't funny."

"Is so," Death mumbles.

They are nothing like the demons I've imagined in my head.

"Mr. uh—" Mickey glances around. "Death?"

"Death is fine. Mister reminds me of my father. So formal, am I right?" He steps forward and makes himself at home by sitting on the edge of the bed. "How can I help you Mickey Bloom? You know, you've dodged me a lot in all your days. You have a very strong soul."

"You know me?"

His eyes brim with fire. "I know every life that can be taken, Mickey, for I am Death. I know everything that was done to you. It's impressive you survived."

"Thank you. For not taking me."

"It wasn't your time. So, what can we do for you?"

"Why are you here?"

"Lorcan told us of a new DNA experiment. You aren't as dangerous as Creed, I can sense that. He left dead bodies everywhere. Human bodies. Paranormals can't do that, Rhett. I'm assuming you mated Mickey without her consent too? That typically requires time in purgatory."

"He didn't," she blurts. "I was well aware. Can we get back to the point? Where is Ty? Where can I kill him? When? I need answers."

Death raises his eyebrows. "You can't kill him, Mickey. You aren't strong enough. Not even Rhett is strong enough."

"What? Why?" she questions before I can.

"He is one-third demon, but not your typical demon. He was born from a demon who went rogue, someone who is truly vile. Demons are notorious for being, well, demonic, but this is different. He is the grandson of Azazel, a demon born in the deepest part of Hell. That's where those demons usually stay, but he escaped. We are still searching for him now. It's why torture came so easily to him, Mickey. It's why he is so good at lying, so good at making you believe in him." He taps my mate's head. "He messed with your mind and your soul. He doesn't have a lot of demon abilities. Just a long life and a craving for violence. Demons torture the souls in Hell, the ones that deserve punishment. Ty craves it like humans need water."

"How do you know this?" Mickey's face somehow becomes more pale.

Death grabs her arm, grazing his fingers with discolored nails across the brand on her arm.

"I smell him on you. His scent is trapped in this brand."

"We smell him around the house too," Abaddon adds. "He's been here."

"I knew it," Mickey whispers in horror. "What do we do? He won't stop until he has me. Why me?"

"The small part of him that is demonic is rotting his mind. He doesn't belong here. He belongs in Hell."

"Where he will get to live? No! No, absolutely not. I will kill him if I have to."

"Then you will die," War clicks his tongue.

Mickey grabs my arm. "This changes everything, Rhett. I won't risk you."

"I won't risk you." I cup her face, leaning down to press our foreheads together. "I don't care what I have to do."

"I do." She presses her palm in the middle of my chest, giving me the same peace that I give her. "I care." Mickey pulls away, lacing our hands together so we are touching. "What's the plan?"

"He's already here," Famine announces. "He's hiding in the woods, waiting until you're alone." He smirks. "You know what's really great about Ty?"

"Nothing," I snap at the demon.

"He's mostly human." Famine snaps his fingers. "He has the black plague now. He won't be feeling too hot. It won't kill him because of the demon, but damn! He will feel like absolute hell."

"This is going to be easy. Easier than you thought. He will stumble out of the woods, begging for your help," Death explains.

"Aw, poor thing." Abaddon laughs.

"And we will act like we are going to help him," War explains, laughing so hard he's wiping tears from his face. "But then Conquest will take his blade and slide it across his neck."

"That's where I come in. I'll take his soul back to Hell but because he is mostly human, he will be tortured for all eternity, in the same ways he tortured you."

I don't know how this is funny.

Mickey gasps, staring at each and every one of them. "But what if he escapes?"

"He won't be able to. Humans can't escape Hell. He'll be trapped behind helliron forever."

"Helliron?"

Death lifts his stare from Mickey. "Bones forged in the fires of Hell, mixed with sins from souls, churned in iron. Any human who touches it turns to ash."

I whistle under my breath.

"And he won't escape?"

"I cross my heart and hope to die," he snickers while the rest of his brothers groan. "Get it? I'm Death. I'm already dead. It's a good joke."

"It is." Mickey pats his leg, and he grins happily. "I have one more question."

"Shoot." Abaddon slides a chair from the corner, spins it around, and sits down.

"Can I have his skull?"

I whip my head to Mickey, my mouth agape like the rest of the demons looking at her.

"That's hot." Famine gets hearts in his eyes making me want to carve them out of his face. "Why?"

"I want him to see me live my best life. I want him to see me happy with my mate and kids. I wish there was a way for him to feel my happiness in Hell from the skull on my mantle."

"Wicked," Conquest moans in approval.

"We can make that happen. I can connect his skull to his prison cell, and he'll be able to feel the happiness in your home."

She smiles. "Please. Please, Mr. Dea— I mean, Death."

"Mickey!"

We all freeze when we hear Ty's voice. I hear my mate's heart pumping in wild beats, but it isn't fear I smell, it's anticipation.

"Mickey! Please. I need a doctor. I'm not… I'm not feeling well. Get your ass out here!" he roars.

"Wow. He has some audacity, doesn't he?" Abaddon stands from the chair. "Well, let's go take a soul to Hell, boys."

Famine rubs his hands together. Death lights a cigarette. Conquest unsheathes his knife.

Conquest passes the knife to Mickey. "Is there anything else you'd like to cut off before we drag him to Hell?"

She eyes the knife that's bigger than her head, large rows of sharpened teeth are on one side while the other is smooth, sleek, and lethal.

"I can think of one more thing."

My mate has a diabolical side.

I'm loving it.

The Horsemen vanish into shadows. I snag Mickey, flying her to the ground.

"Be careful. I only just got you."

"Mickey, you stupid girl. Do you know how long I've been here? I've been waiting for you to be alone but you never are. You fucking whore."

I growl, stepping forward to rip him limb from limb. Mickey's hand on my chest stops me.

Right. Somehow, this weak pathetic man can kill me because he is part demon. I don't buy it, but I won't risk dying because then Mickey will die. I don't like it, but I'll listen.

Boils cover his face, neck, and arms. Blood and puss seep from the bumps. "I told you I would kill them if you didn't stay with me. Take me to the hospital." His teeth chatter together from shivering. Every step he takes becomes weaker. His knees bend as he drags himself through the grass. "I'll let Milo live."

He begins to wheeze. "Mickey."

"Tag." Famine snags Ty's arms back, then kicks the backs of his knees, forcing him to the ground. "You're it, you sick fuck."

Ty screams from the pain the plague brings to his body, his arms stretched back must fucking hurt.

Famine breaks one arm, sending a crack through the air, then another.

"You sound pathetic when you scream." Death appears at Ty's side, dragging his nose up Ty's cheek inhaling. "And you reek of me."

"What the fuck? Who are you? What the fuck do you want? I only want Mickey. You can go."

Conquest chuckles, gesturing for us to come forward.

"We don't take orders from you, Grandson of Azazel."

The black rings around Ty's irises burn gold in recognition. "You know of me."

With another snap of a finger from Abaddon, Ty is naked, and without warning, Mickey shouts, slicing Conquest's blade through the air. My brows rise at the same time I cover my own cock while gagging.

She's cut his dick off, and he is bleeding puddles onto the ground. Mickey's rage has only just begun. She slides the blade through his chest, then out, then back again, and the demons laugh.

Ty coughs blood, the gold in his eyes dimming.

Then she gives the final blow, by slicing his head off before he can beg for mercy.

She would have given him none.

"You would be an excellent demon, Mickey," Abaddon praises.

Mickey curtsies. "Thank you," she says through broken breaths, handing the blade back to Conquest.

Death picks up Ty's head, black flames encompassing him, burning the flesh and hair.

"I have his soul," Lorcan says, appearing from nowhere.

"And now you have his skull." Death hands the hunk of clean bone to Mickey. "It's tethered to his soul. He'll feel all your happiness."

"Thank you," Mickey whispers. "For all of this. You gave me something I never thought I'd ever get." She hisses, glaring down at her arm.

The brand is gone.

"The demon who gave it to you is dead. His mark can only last as long as he lives. You're free."

"That's how he found me? Because he marked me?"

"Yes. You would have never been free of him, Mickey. He would have killed you eventually."

I growl, holding her to my chest by wrapping my arms around her.

"Why could I kill him? I thought another demon—"

"You had my blade," Conquest explains. "Demon made. You got your revenge. Everyone wins."

"Thank you. I can finally breathe."

"Good. If you need us, just call our names and we are here." With another snap of his fingers, the motorcycles scream. "We have a soul to take to Hell."

"Lucifer is going to be so fucking happy. Azazel is going to be pissed." Famine throws his head back and laughs. "I wish I could see his face."

They drive away one by one, vanishing in and out of their forms as they ride.

"Do you feel that?" Mickey whispers, holding the skull in her hand by looping her fingers in the eye socket.

"What?" I kiss the top of her head.

"Peace. This is what peace feels like."

"And I'll live every day to make sure peace is all you'll ever feel."

"Are you okay with me keeping his skull? I know it's weird—"

I silence her with a kiss and whisper, "I love you, anyway."