Page 62 of An Unexpected Ascension
Then, I thought to myself, what a perfect predicament we have found ourselves in. The Fentonelli girl in desperate need of my help. Oh, the fun I can have with this!
She wanted so badly not to need me, but an eternity in pain didn’t seem like the type of afterlife she sought.
The short distance to the sea was quiet between us, a traumatic fog clinging to her like the blood she wears. The moment her eyesspy the water she’s marching straight for it. Without stopping, she submerges herself, rubbing her skin clean.
This poor, delusional girl.
“Where do you think you are?” I bite, storming for her, my fingers wrapping around her bicep in a bruising grip.
“Get off me!”
I haul her out of the water, throwing her to the sand and in that very moment, another one of Hell’s beasts comes shooting up from the surface. Scaly like a crocodile, but much larger. Gnarly, sharp teeth snap in warning, greedy for an entire meal. It lingers, the rough green skin nearly so dark, it blends in with the color of the black sea. Its eyes flit open, watching us as its head rests on the surface.
“It seems I’ve saved you twice now from becoming animal feed.”
Briar rolls her eyes, wiping off the remainder of blood now thinned with water.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. I wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for you. So, the way I see it, it’s your job to keep me safe.”
I snicker, “Oh, Angel. You’ve got quite a mouth on you. I’m eager to see what else it can do.”
“Ugh!”
She spins on her heels, offering me her back while I call for Charon. As we wait, the sea beast finally creeps back to where it came from, quickly replaced by the familiar rowboat.
“What a pleasure it is, to see my friend again so soon,” the creature greets with a ghastly smile.
“Charon.” I nod to him before summoning the unruly female behind me who’s yet to follow. “Come now, Angel.”
With bewilderment glowing brightly in those jade green eyes, she stomps toward the boat. I lift her inside before climbing in.
“My lady.” The demon bows his head to her, and to my surprise Briar only grimaces.
“Woman? Very much so. Lady?” I chuckle. “No, there’s no lady here, friend.”
He quirks an eye socket, veins dried up decorating the surrounding bone.
“You are relentless,” she grumbles before turning to the figure hooded by an ancient cloak. “Briar. My name is Briar. Not Lady, not Angel, not woman, but Briar.”
A slow, decrepit smile forms across his boney face.
“My apologies, Briar. A friend of Hermes is a friend of mine.”
He reaches a skinless hand toward her and hesitantly she shakes it. I can see the curiosity hiding behind her eyes, wondering what he is, who he is.
“Oh, we’re not friends. I could never be friends with a demon that’s damned me for selfish reasons.”
“Selfish?” He urges as he pushes us off the shore and into the sea. “I’ve seen many scorned angels befallen from grace by the hands of your demon here, but never for reasons beyond duty.”
“And duty called,” I add in.
A scoff, coughed out by saidLady. She plants herself on the middle bench, away from me, but closer to Charon. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single fallen angel get so comfortable around the Demon of the Sea.
“And what about your duties forced me to seek out the Tree of Knowledge?” she snaps, her head whipping my way as if it could yield a sword with a decapitating blow.
“Oh! Hermes, what duties indeed?”
“And not to mention taunting my angelhood with demon kisses! The threats to... dirty me in front of my God! This one?—”
