Page 10 of A Match Made in Hell
I can live.
‘Tell me how,’ I demand. ‘Tell me the way.’
She hesitates.
‘Think of it like this. You can either tell me now, or after I’ve worn you down with a million more questions. Because I’m not leaving this room until I know.’
Despite the exasperated sigh she emits, it takes her several more tail swishes and a heavy bob of her throat before she relents and says, ‘You didn’t hear this from me.’
I mime zipping my lips and throwing away the key.
There’s another beat of silence. I spend it imagining blood surging through my veins in preparation for my inevitable return to life.
Finally, she utters the answer I’ve been waiting for. ‘There’s one way back to the mortal realm. But there’s only one person who can help you get there.’
5
Sathanas.
She doesn’t have to say his name for me to know I’m right. Knowing that, though, diminishes some of my new-found hope. ‘And what’s he going to do to me if I ask him for help? He expressly said no complaining or asking to leave.’
‘That’s the official rule.’ She waves her hand. ‘But rules were made to be broken. You’d just need to prove yourself worthy.’
I don’t like the sound of that. ‘Worthy how?’
‘It’s all very tedious.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘Sath can explain, if he makes you the offer.’
‘Big if,’ I grumble.
‘So give him a reason to.’ Whatever’s on her next clipboard is, apparently, far more interesting than my potential escape from Hell. She waves a hand in the direction of the door. ‘I’ve already told you more than I should. Get out and do what you will with it.’
I don’t move straight away. More questions ricochet around my brain and they all lead back to one issue: how am I possibly going to pull this off?
The Sorter whistles loudly, drowning out the sound of her cart’s squeaks as she moves on, abandoning me to figure this out on my own.
Well, fine. I’ve got this far by myself.
If Sathanas needs a reason, I’ll give him a reason. I’ll give him the best damn reason he’s ever heard.
I exit the Sorter’s morgue to find my fellow passengers have all gone. I could carry on the way they went, investigate more of Asphodel. Find myself one of these rooms we’ve been offered, see how bad they are before embarking on Mission Convince the Devil to Help a Girl Out.
But I don’t want to explore, or get settled. Not when I have no intention of staying.
Not when an unfortunate reunion with my past could be waiting round every bend.
I return to the entrance chamber. This is stupid, and dangerous, but I can’t stop myself. Being dead means I have nothing to lose.
Two demons now guard the doorway I saw Sathanas go through. One is shorter than the other, with longer lashes and lips pressed into a pout, but otherwise they could be twins. Small horns, curved and grey, protrude from foreheads that wrinkle into a frown as I approach. Well, they can wrinkle as much as they like. I haven’t broken any rules.
Sathanas told us to explore. I’m exploring.
‘May I get past?’ I ask, trying to sound polite.
‘What for?’ It’s the taller of the two who answers, although they both narrow their eyes in unison.
‘I wanted to look around. Unless . . . That doesn’t lead to the Old Tunnels, does it? I wouldn’t want to get into trouble.’ I smile sweetly.
Tall Demon grunts. ‘King Sathanas’s quarters are through here. He’s not to be disturbed.’
