AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 2
RAVEN
Wrath’s Kingdom
AM I DEAD? How the fuck am I here? Where exactly in Hell is here? I have no idea. I’ve only really been to Micah’s kingdom, but that was through visions and his bond to my soul. I feel weird, and I’m nearly certain I’m here in mind and body. Confusion washes over me as I stare at the blood-red ground. I would know if I were dead, right? I’ve died before. I felt it. Something about this is different.
Screams and shouts fill the air, startling me, and I force my body to get its shit together and work with my mind. The disconnect I had before—my body and mind warring with each other—is why I am here in the first place. I was stupid as fuck to think I could create a banishing circle to send Lucian back here. He’d have just returned anyway. I was just so fucking mad. I still am.
Now, Elias could be lost to me. I could be lost.
Micah wouldn’t have freaked out like he had if he thought I’d be okay.
Shit.
Pushing my palms into the hot, squishy ground, I get to my knees and peer around. Tall, gnarled trees litter the landscape, creating the creepiest forest I have ever seen. The yells of pain and anguish continue to fill the air, but I can’t see anything amid the trees. It’s like people are here but aren’t. Like they’re figments of my imagination.
I’d believe as much if the blur of a massive figure didn’t materialize several dozen feet in front of me. Oh shit.
Rushing to my feet, I race toward the nearest tree and duck behind the thick trunk. The mangled branches climb toward the orange sky with thick brown clouds. Everything looks off like I’ve lost the ability to see certain colors, but it might be because they just don’t exist here in Hell.
The beastly demon snarls, the ear-shattering sound whipping through my head. I hold my breath like it could make a difference and slowly peek in its direction. I wish I hadn’t. Jabbing its clawed fingers into its gut, the demon yanks out something from inside and drops it to the ground.
It’s not just something. It’s a figure. A man.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I recognize him.
Joel pushes up on one arm, his other one a bloody, partial limb, missing from where Kase bit it off. Hollering, he tries to drag himself from the demon, but it’s no use. He can’t escape. This is part of his eternal punishment from the twisted, murderous life he led.
And he’s here because Kase wanted to ensure his damnation. I think that’s where I am. Wrath’s Kingdom. Now how to call upon the king of its throne? Shit. I’m guessing there aren’t phones here. Or maps.
If I survive this bullshit, I’m going to need my devils to show me around. I really fucking didn’t want the grand tour until I cemented my place in Purgatory, but if Lucian is capable of sending me here while I’m alive...
That’s it. I need to find Andre. My time with him was supposed to be in his kingdom. That’s where I need to go.
“Leave me alone! Please!” Joel’s howl of agony whips my attention back in his direction.
Could I dare intervene? Maybe he knows his way around these creepy forest lands. He might be remorseful enough to help me in exchange for...who the fuck am I kidding? The asshole will try to get me back. He probably blames me for all of this.
Summoning my courage, I peer at the gnarled tree branches and find one that looks sturdy yet easy enough to break. If I’m going to travel through Hell, I need something to defend myself with. I’m sure screaming and telling any bastard demons or damned souls that I’m the one the devils want beside them will only leave me in danger. They’ll try to use me to their benefit.
I stretch up and grab on to a branch nearly out of my reach. Swinging and throwing my weight forward, I snap it from the tree, using all my strength. Thank unholy Hell for my devilish strength, enhanced by my contract. Without it, I don’t think I could even break a twig here.
A loud crack reverberates through the air, and a wave of liquid shoots from the jagged stump of the branch. My eyes widen, and I stumble away in shock. The tree gushes a waterfall of blood. I gasp and drop the mangled branch, realizing it might not be a tree at all—at least, not completely. A hunk of what could possibly be bone peeks from the end of the branch, dripping the same red liquid still pouring from the tree. I study the bark. I’m nearly fucking certain I see a face within the strange, rough texture like it could possibly have been a human or soul or something at one point.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhale a soft breath. “Just fucking pick it up. What’s done is done, and you need a damn weapon. Who cares if it’s some weird-ass limb and bleeding.”
Damn, I’m twisted. My devils would be so proud. It’s the thought that pushes me forward. I can’t back down now. There is no fucking way I’m going to cower. If I want to help rule Hell, I need to act like the queen my devils want and need me to be.
Wiggling my fingers, I take a small breath and snatch the bloody branch from the ground. It’s heavier than I expect it to be, so I flip it vertically and hold it like I would a walking stick. At least one side doesn’t drip the blood. I wonder what the soul or whatever had done in life to deserve this sort of eternal torture.
“A living mortal. How curious.” The gurgling voice booms from behind me as a demon creeps away from the other side of an enormous tree with several silently screaming faces protruding from the dry, cracked bark. “I’ve never seen such a sight.”
Jagged, yellow teeth fill its lipless mouth as it regards me. I recognize the demon. It’s the same one who pulled Joel from its stomach. Shit. Straightening its back, the demon towers over me, blocking out the view of the world. I shift on my feet, flicking my attention to my surroundings. I can try to run and hide, but I doubt I’ll get far. The fucker’s legs are as tall as my stomach.
“Get the fuck away from me,” I snap, swinging the severed branch toward the demon.
