That god’s not going anywhere, no matter how much effort you exert.
My jaw tightens as I brace against another surge.
“Yes. He. Is.”
There’s a way out of this. You’re just too much of a pussy to take it. Better the Devil’s power, you know, right?
“Fuck you. Don’t talk to me. You’re the reason we’re in this mess to begin with.”
At least I know when I’m fighting a losing battle.
“Does this look like it’s fucking easy to you?” I can barely hold him off.
No. It sounds like a you problem.
“If I die, you die, asshole.”
Then I suggest you get us both out of here. Alive, preferably.
“How about you get out here and help in a way that’s bloody useful?”
Either kick his ass or retreat. It’s that simple.
“What the fuck does it look like I’m doing—weaving a godsdamn sweater?”
Wasting both our time. Just take the fucking gate.
“No.”
Fine. Then I’ll just sit back and enjoy watching him make you his bitch. Because that’s what he’s doing—playing with you. Testing you. You’re just too fucking dumb to see it.
Lazreth thankfully falls silent and sinks further back into my psyche. Whether to let me focus or out of sheer frustration, I don’t know—and I don’t care. As long as he’s not at the helm, creating mass destruction or trying to kill my friends, I’ll take it.
He cares nothing for the contract between God and the Devil, or how it’s meant to be upheld. He’s reactionary. Vindictive. Dead set on making me suffer for the fact we share a body—despite the fact I’m not the one who cursed us to do so.
God forbid he focus his anger on our creator.
It’s not a fight he would win—but maybe he’d spend some of that energy on the immortal actually responsible instead of making my existence a living hell.
Here it comes again, Lazreth cuts in.
“Yes, thank you. I know.”
Another surge slams into me. I grit my teeth, bracing as I draw power from the crack splitting open behind me, dragging it in and feeding the fire. I give it everything I’ve got, doing my level best to incinerate his ass.
The heat and steam from the hellgate fuel me—but there’s a cost.
With every pull, the fracture widens.
He’s dying out, though. I can feel it—weakening with every second. Just a little more from the hell below and he’s toast.
I’ll deal with the gate after this motherfucker is dead as a doornail.
Why are you so afraid to go back?
Tension locks through every muscle. I’m pinned—fighting to keep my footing from slipping into the opening behind me while holding steady against the assault in front. The earth won’t stop shifting. The crater keeps splitting wider at my back, and heat helps… but not enough.
“Afraid?” I scoff. “Afraid? I’m not fucking afraid.”
