Page 15 of A Match Made in Hell
Given what I’ve seen of this place, it might be a literal shark too.
‘And you’re offering me this out of the goodness of your heart?’
His hand drifts across his chest, as though he’s inclined to reach inside and examine how good his heart is. All too casually, he says, ‘My interests are my own. Just know, although I’ll be forced to tempt you at every turn, I’ll be willing you to succeed.’
He’s very believable. But he’s theDevil. I have to keep reminding myself of that. Everything about him is designed to appeal: from the way his dark hair glimmers like it’s infusedwith midnights and stardust, to the perfect angles of his face, to the way that even when he’s goading me his voice is laced with warmth, like the embers of a softly glowing fire.
He’s temptation made flesh, but it’s all a pretty trap, and I won’t fall for it. I have to stay focused. ‘Tell me about the tests.’
Sathanas sighs. ‘The first will force you to face the thing your pride won’t let you admit. Complete it, you move on to the next. The remaining six will require you to resist . . . certain temptations. Pass them all, you can return to the mortal plane. Fail, you stay here, just as you were before. You’ve got nothing to lose.’
He has a point. Say no, I’m stuck here, at risk from the demons and the Void every day. Say yes, I could still end up in the Void.
Or maybe I’ll get everything I want.
‘I see you’re not interested.’ He rises to his feet. ‘A shame, but perhaps it’s for the best. I’ll walk you out.’
You’re throwing your life away, Willow.
‘Wait.’ The word shoots from my mouth before I can stop it. I can’t lose this opportunity. It’s all I have. I need to prove her wrong.
One final cliff edge. One final bad decision to fix all the rest.
He smirks. ‘Yes?’
Bastard knows exactly what he’s doing. I gulp. ‘I accept. I’ll do your tests. Please. I have to leave.’
The lamps swell as though they’re collectively holding their breaths, and light floods the room. When it subsides, Sathanas’s chest is heaving and dark shadows swirl around him before dissipating into the air, leaving a burning smell behind. Once the shadows have cleared, he says, ‘Then we have a deal.’
I don’t move, waiting for some sign I’ve made a terrible mistake, but for all the shadow-based theatrics, the aftermath is a little anticlimactic. We stare at each other in heavy silence,like neither one of us can believe I’ve agreed so readily. I’m still expecting the axe to drop.
Eventually, hesitantly, I ask, ‘What happens now?’
‘Now we begin. The task of pride first.’ He holds out a hand. ‘Ready?’
‘Oh.’ I stare at that hand like it’s a nest of vipers. I’m already regretting not asking more questions. Agreeing to do this and actually doing it are two very different things. Plus, there’s a slight smile tugging on his lips, and I can’t believe anything that makes the Devil happy is going to be enjoyable for me.
‘Of course, if you’re too scared . . .’
‘I’m not scared of anything,’ I snap, raising my voice to drown out the lie. I’m scared of plenty, but he doesn’t need to know that. Besides, I’m far more scared of failing, of ending up in the Void, than I am of his tasks.
And I’ve never been one to resist a dare.
I match the challenge in his expression and march over to him, taking his hand before I can second-guess myself. Palm to palm, his calluses scrape against my skin, and then everything heats and I’m engulfed in darkness, a black so pure it’s suffocating.
The only thing I’m aware of is Sathanas’s hand in mine, solid and warm and present while everything around me has disappeared. I open my mouth but no sound comes out; there’s a pressure in my temple like something’s trying to invade my mind, and I squeeze him tighter and tighter, desperate for any connection to reality.
My feet thud on solid ground. He drops my hand. The sting of brine hits my nose.
And I’m home.
I’mhome.
My head spins. Both from whatever just happened and the fact I’m here – although, I’m not sure wherehereis. I’m onEarth at least, that much I can tell. There’s sand everywhere and, despite the circumstances, my eyes widen. What if we’re in Hawaii? Or, ooh,Aruba. Or Borneo! I wanted to go to Borneo on a gap year before university, but Mum said I shouldn’t distract myself from my studies. I’d hoped to convince her otherwise but then she heard from her friends at the country club thattheNoah Millsbury-Davenport would be attending Royal Holloway with me, and that was that. We were introduced before term started, at some fancy fundraiser at his parents’ house in London. He took me to his rooftop garden and told me I was the first person he’d ever brought there, that he recognised I was special the moment he laid eyes on me, and I knew Mum was right. He was everything I needed.
That doesn’t stop me looking around this beach for signs I’ve finally gone further afield, but all I see is a campfire in the distance with a group of figures sat round it.
I tense. If I can get rid of Sathanas, maybe I could convince them to help me. Borrow a phone, call Noah. Or maybe I should just make a run for it – it doesn’t matter that I don’t have money (or shoes, I still don’t have shoes) – if I can get away quickly and flag down a car, I’d be free.
