Page 16 of All's Hell That Ends Well

The stone floor was heating from the anger boiling inside me. With a whoosh, flames shot out from me and licked over the ground, latching on to what was left of the rugs.

I uttered a yelp and jumped up. I had to put it out. How did I put it out? Panic rushing through my blood, I waved my hands wildly, trying to control the flames. The fire roared higher and brighter all around me.

Shit. Why was this so difficult? I was a demon now; I should know how to handle fire, dammit!

The blaze was inching closer to the bed, threatening to destroy what appeared to be a perfectly fine mattress and bedding despite the state of the bed’s curtains.Oh, no, you don’t.

“Stop!” I yelled while throwing out my hands as if to control the fire with some kind of Jedi force manipulation. “Simmer the fuck down!”

Of course, the fire did no such thing, the fiend.

“Noooo,” I wailed.

And I couldn’t even summon anything to put it out either because I didn’t know what kinds of things were available here to call upon. In order to summon something, one had to know it existed within the territory in the first place, either by having seen it in person or by having unshakable assurance that it was in a certain spot. Yeah, summoning was a whole science unto itself.

I was frozen in place, twitching and panting with mounting despair over this fire I couldn’t control, when a hiss and a gurgle sounded from somewhere above. The next second, a stream of viscous liquid shot toward the flames, dousing them within moments. Two more spit-splashes, and all the flames were extinguished, smoke curling up from the wet ashes covering the floor.

You are, a familiar voice sounded in my head,by far the worst demon I have ever seen.

With a gasp, I yanked my head up and stared toward the gloom-shrouded ceiling, where two yellow eyes glowed in the dark. “Mephisto!”

CHAPTER 6

Bumbling toddler demons have a better grasp of their fire powers than you do, my favorite surly hellcat grumbled from up high.

I put my hands on my hips. “Well, considering that I have only been a demon for a few hours, maybe you could cut me some slack? I’m not used to these powers yet. They’re quite different from the magic I had as an angel.”

Mephisto’s tail swished wildly in the murky shadows above me.Did you like being an angel?Swish, swish.Did you have fun?His voice was velvety yet cool.Did you enjoy theyearsyou spent away from here?

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, my brows drawing together. “Are you…are you mad at me?”

You left.His angry snarl echoed in my mind.

I winced, then shook my head. “Not voluntarily. The connection between my body and soul got severed, and then I died and?—”

YOU WEREN’T ALLOWED TO!

I reared back at his shout.

Mephisto never raised his voice. He never lost his cool. In all the times I’d spoken to him, he’d always been chill and laid-back. For him to snap like this…

You are not allowed to die, he hissed.

I swallowed hard, my chest aching with understanding. “I’m sorry that my absence hurt you. It wasn’t intentional, though.” And with a wobbly smile, I added, “I’ve missed you, too.”

Those luminous yellow eyes narrowed, and he sniffed.I’m not hurt. And I didn’t miss you.Swish, swish went his tail, painting him as a liar.

I grinned. “Sure, yeah.”

I didn’t.I could make out the shadowy outline of his wings unfolding and refolding in the gloom.I couldn’t have cared less but for the state of constant agitation your demon has been in these past years. It was untenable. Irritating. He is unbearable when you are not there. That is all.

I bit back my chuckle, warmth wrapping around my heart. “Of course. You are far too aloof for emotional attachments.”

Precisely.

He’d never admit to actually caring about me, and it was best to allow him the illusion of maintaining his detached nonchalance. Cats would be cats.

“Well, I, for one, am absolutely thrilled to see you,” I said, unperturbed by his lack of openly displayed affection. I knew how to take him. “It’s good to talk to someone friendly here. By the way, how did you know I was here? I mean, not just in Lucifer’s palace, but down here in Hell?”

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