Page 127 of Half Dead

“I’m not following.”

“You don’t need to. The only thing that matters is that I understand, and I accept it. I accept me. Lorelei. Melinoe. I’m not two halves or two souls in one body. I’m just me.” Flawed. Fallible. But always trying to be better. Todobetter.

Aite’s upper lip hitched up in one corner. “You’re so pathetic. I don’t get what Kane sees in you at all.”

I opened my arms wide and embraced her. She reeked of death, not that it bothered me. I lived with a revenant for crying out loud. The stench of death was basically my scented candle.

Aite stiffened in my embrace but held tight all the same. Nightmare form or not, this was the last time I’d ever get to do this with her.

“I miss you, friend,” I whispered. Her body dissipated, leaving me with only empty air and the lingering scent of death.

I walked to shore, to safety, and I hoped it would signal the end of the trial.

The shadows moved again, and I released a weary sigh.

Not yet.

A boulder materialized in front of me with Kane attached to it. At first glance I thought it was another imaginary Kane, albeit less bloody, but the stitches across his mouth suggested otherwise. I rushed forward to free him, but my efforts were thwarted by a horned demon with slightly bowed legs. His skin was crimson, as though he’d been freshly flayed. His only accessory was the gold hoop hooked through his nostrils.

“Are you meant to be the final nightmare? Tell Lucifer he’ll have to try harder.”

“On the contrary, I’m the designer of this exciting trial.”

“One of Lucifer’s minions, I presume. I’m surprised your boss didn’t want to witness it. Can’t bear the humiliation of losing, I guess.”

“Don’t count your chickens before they’re headless, mon cher ami. This trial isn’t over yet.”

I peered at him. “And who are you, exactly?”

The demon sliced a finger through the air, eliminating the stitches across Kane’s mouth.

“Belphegor,” Kane spat.

The demon tipped an imaginary hat at him. “Good to you see again, mon frere, although I expect to see much more of you after today.” He winked at me.

“Bel is a prince of hell,” Kane said.

“This guy outranks Dantalion?” I shook my head. “There’s no accounting for taste.”

Belphegor bristled. “I once had the honor of serving as our ambassador to France. How I miss the people there.” He gave a chef’s kiss.

“And now you get to deal with me. You drew the unlucky straw, huh?”

Bel’s smile revealed a row of sharp teeth that looked hand carved. “Unlucky for you, maybe.”

I refused to be intimidated by unattractive dental work. “How do you feel about doing your boss’s dirty work for him? Shouldn’t this behispet project?”

The demon pushed up his sleeves. His forearms were covered in a complex pattern of tattoos. “Like Lucifer always says, when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. Speaking of l’amour…” His flayed finger zigzagged between Kane and me. “When Lucifer told me how smitten you were, I admit I had my doubts, but this seems like the real deal.”

“It’s none of your business,” Kane said through clenched teeth.

Belphegor kept his focus on me. “I find this whole thing fascinating, you have no idea. If I told you to suck poison from a serpent, you would. You’re willing to let your love for him destroy you.” He dabbed at the corners of his eyes. “It’s so beautifully twisted.”

The demon was wrong. Love was the opposite of a poison or a disease; it was a cure.

“Are you my final battle?” I asked.

“I’d hardly call it a battle. I’ve seen you fight. More of a skirmish, really.”

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