“I’m not sure about that, but it’s the way I always pictured those bastards.”
My eyebrows shot up; apparently, the animosity between Heaven and Hell was real too. “Okay, so maybe no harps, but something with fluffy bunnies. What happens to the souls who go to Hell?”
“Angels and demons feed on souls in different ways, without them we will all starve and die. Demons inflict pain on a soul when they feed on them. I much prefer a fresh soul; there’s more vitality in them. They are more satisfying. Other, lower-level demons aren’t so picky and are used to having the leftovers from the more powerful demons, such as myself.”
Now I had a full-on shiver running through my body. “If you’re not in Hell now, how are you feeding?”
“Demons weren’t the only things set free from Hell. Some souls have remained in Hell, but though you may not be able to see them, many souls are also free now. They’re not being punished in all the ways they should be, but we’re still able to feed from them.”
“How often do you do that?”
“Once a week.”
It was all so strangely different. I’d almost believe I was dreaming if it hadn’t been the longest and most realistic dream of all time. “And you breathe our air?” I asked as I watched his chest rise and fall with his breath.
“We do,” he replied. “The planes were all an extension of each other until the humans caused this disruption. We are similar to humans in many ways except we are stronger, faster, and our senses are more heightened. We also do not get sick and cannot catch your diseases.”
“Why are you helping us with this?”
“I want my life back, we all do, and so do all of you. Lucifer must be destroyed, and as much as I don’t like it, your kind may be able to help us with that. We must work together in order to put wrongs to right, no matter how much I’d rather kill most of you myself sometimes.”
Wasn’t that a delightfully fun thing to learn about the demon sitting across from me? My eyes raked over him again, but despite his words, I still felt no apprehension toward this lethal creature. Folding my arms over my chest, I leaned back in my seat. “What were humans trying to accomplish when they tore into Hell instead?”
“They were working with governments on the other side of the world—”
“You said that before, so those countries weren’t bombed either by China and Russia like we were told?”
“No, and the civilians there were told your country is the one that bombed the countries destroyed over there. Whatever they were doing tore open an unnatural gateway into Hell on both sides of the earth. At the time, there were many nations working on the project, which ultimately destroyed everything you’ve ever known. And no, there is no giant hole going all the way through the center of the earth. Think of it as an open hole to another dimension. One opening is on this side, in what you used to call Kansas, and the other is in Hungary. The gates connect to each other. They opened at the same time and we’re counting on them closing simultaneously.”
I rubbed at my temples as I tried to assimilate everything he was telling me with everything I’dknownto be true these past thirteen years.
“Why would they do such a thing?” I mumbled.
“Men trying to play at being God,” he replied simply. “Unfortunately, they got far more than they bargained for. Mac has informed me they were trying to do something good by expanding the universe to offer other opportunities to your increasingly overrun planet.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his words. At first, it started as a giggle, but then I was holding my stomach before progressing into a full-on, uncontainable body laugh. His head tilted as he studied me like I was some kind of strange creature. Perhaps, I was.
“What is so funny?” he inquired.
“The old saying…” I got out in between bursts of laughter.
“What old saying?”
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Who knew it would ever come true?”
Perhaps it was the wine, but I slapped my hand on the table as I laughed loudly. He continued to study me, but I heard him chuckle too.
CHAPTER 13
Kobal
I twirled the goblet in my fingers as I watched her across the way. The lantern and candlelight danced over her raven hair, causing her thick, wavy locks to shimmer in the red and orange hues cast by the flames. Her amethyst eyes sparkled, tears actually escaped them as her musical laughter continued to resonate through the air. I couldn’t help but chuckle with her as she wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Oh,” she said with a shake of her head that caused her hair to fall in waves around her pretty face.
My eyes latched onto the scar above her right eyebrow. How had she received it? I dismissed the question. I didn’t care what had happened to her before coming here. All that concerned me was the possibility I might be able to use her to get what I wanted. To claim the only thing I’d ever coveted since I was born.
“I don’t know why that made me laugh so much. It must be the wine,” she said with another giggle.
