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COLD SKIN
Once I was placed by River’s side, we didn’t say a word to each other. He ate in silence as I listened to the idle chatter of the low demons surrounding us. So far, I haven’t gained any useful information.
Demons are typically worse than teenage girls with their gossip, but for some reason, today they’re relatively boring with their conversation.
Until they’re not.
The demon directly across from me is now discussing the merits of physical torture versus mental and I’m glad I haven’t touched my food, because it would most definitely be coming up.
“Are you not going to eat?”
I look at River, scrunching my nose in disgust. “Are you serious?” I ask, motioning toward the demon who has an affinity for torture.
“He’s a lot of talk, Victoria.” The demon looks up, scowling at River. “What? You know you are. You haven’t been allowed in a torture room yet. You’re too clumsy.”
The demon who’d been listening to the supposed tall tales of torture snorts, earning himself a jab to the ribcage.
“You’re all sick,” I snap, and it’s met by hoots of laughter.
“The contents of your stomach are safe for another day,” River smirks.
“Doubtful. I don’t know what the hell that meat is, anyway. They’re probably serving human, if what Hannibal Lecter over there says is half true for the demons who do get to torture.”
He chuckles. “It’s beef. I’m pretty adventurous with food, but I draw the line at human.”
“A reaper with a moral compass? How strange.”
I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, just in time to catch his smirk.
“It has nothing to do with morals. I just find humans to be generally dirty.”
“And cows aren’t?” I purse my lips.
“There’s a difference between dirt that’s easily cleaned and dirt that stains one’s soul, Victoria.”
I chew on my bottom lip, considering his words. Is he saying he has eaten humans?
“No Victoria. I have not eaten humans.” He rolls his eyes, as though I’m some idiot child.
“Forgive me for wondering,” I mutter. “For someone who’s spent as much time in Hell as you, I wouldn’t think you’d have such an aversion to dirty souls... or humans for dinner.”
“I see you have a flair for the dramatic. You know, they’re not all truly evil when they arrive here, Victoria.”
I wonder why he always insists on saying my name. I wonder even more why I like that he does. Shaking my head, I steer my thoughts into safer territory.
“How do you figure? Only the truly corrupt go to Hell.”
River shakes his head. “I just brought a soul here tonight—a young man, no more than twenty years old. He was hit by a car while riding his bike away from a crime scene. He killed another boy.”
I suck in a harsh breath. “Murder... and you think that’s not bad?”
“You didn’t let me finish,” he retorts. “The boy he killed had bullied him for most of his life. The bullying had turned physical in the last year. Jordan reacted out of self-defense, but his hatred got the better of him in that moment. Years and years of abuse compiled until he snapped. Now he’s here, and he surely will become a monster.”
My stomach turns. I’ll never condone murder, but in this Jordan’s case, it does seem a bit unfair. Had he not died, he could’ve atoned in prison and eventually made his way to Heaven.
“That... doesn’t seem just,” I admit. “But Heaven has to know something you don’t. They wouldn’t have just sent him directly here.” I shake my head. “No, you’re missing some key details.”
He shrugs. “I spend a lot of time in both Heaven and Hell, and quite frankly,
