AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Uh, y-yes?" I called back, making quick work of getting the rest of myself cleaned off. What thefuckhad just happened? I knew Helios said someone would be here with clothes, but never specified who it would be or what they looked like. But seeing as how Deimos ordered them to look after me, I assumed they wouldn't let just anyone into my room. I was in the process of scratching the shit out of my hair with the hair products that were by the tub when a head peeked inside the bathroom.
"There you are!" the woman said as she let herself in. She looked around my age, but I was sure that was by design. Everyone who could pass for human in Hell seemed to be young and good-looking, and this girl was no different. Rich, olive skin with gold-colored eyes, blue wavy hair with streaks of red, orange, and yellow ends, and a full figure that men would worship like God. Even what she wore screamed sex appeal. A black corset with red ribbons crisscrossed along the sides and black fishnet sleeves covered her curves. Elastics wrapped around the shoulders and a red laced skirt dipped low in the back. She also wore knee-high fishnet stockings and high-heeled boots.
She had the look that would have the churches in Salem hissing like vipers and wanting to drown her in holy water. Me, personally? I'd want to own an outfit like that.
"Um, hi. I'm Antonia DeLuna," I said, smiling sheepishly.
"Yes, Apollyon told me about you. I'm Solara, his sister in all but blood."
From the amused look on Solara's face, I guess I wasn't doing a good job of hiding my shock. Apollyon considered this woman a sister? I would've imagined any one of them would consider her... What would they call it? A girlfriend? A mate? I tried imagining Solara with either of the four men, excluding Apollyon for obvious reasons. Xaphan was too much of an asshole to have a woman, Abaddon... he came off as the playful type. I doubt he'd want a serious relationship, but I'd been surprised before. Usually not in the best of ways, like how I ended up here.
What about Helios?
I didn't know why, but the thought of him and Solara together had my heart constricting in my chest.
"Antonia? You okay?" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Solara call out to me.
I frowned at her. "I've been dragged to Hell after my husband tried burning me alive, woke up locked in a cellar, and am now forced to study magic, not to mention your lord seems to have a kink for seducing me in my dreams. Do I sound okay to you?"
Solara's expression morphed into sympathy. "Seems like you're going through a lot."
That was an understatement. How I managed to stay sane through all of this was a mystery. I wasn't even sure why I dumped all of that onto Solara when I just met her. Maybe it was because I didn't have anyone else to talk to—anyone to vent to—and I desperately needed someone to talk to.
"You have no idea," I muttered softly.
"Well, I brought over one of my dresses for you to wear for now until we get your measurements, and I'm sure one of the boys is bringing food over to you. Why don't you finish up here, then meet me in your bedroom so you can tell me all about it? I have time to kill."
That was probably the best offer I had in a long time.
Chapter8
Antonia
Solara and I sat cross-legged on my bed—hard to believe this was my bed now—and talked for however long it'd been since finishing up in the bathroom. We had a gold platter sitting in between us filled with an array of meats, cheeses, and bread while I told her everything that'd happened to me so far. As much as I didn't want to admit it, this was nice. I couldn't remember the last time I had a girlfriend I could call to talk and gossip with. It wasn't as if I had my pick of friends back in Salem with everyone thinking they'd rot in hell or get possessed by a demon if they got within reaching distance of me.
Shouldn't I have been weirded out by the fact that, so far, Hell didn't seem all that bad? Granted it hadn't been a full day since I regained consciousness, but the only bad thing so far was Xaphan's bad attitude and Deimos wanting me to learn magic. Maybe I was giving Hell too much credit. Maybe after a few days I'll see it for the abhorrent, ungodly place it truly was.
"Wow, you've gone through quite the ordeal," Solara said when I finished up my story. "No offense but your asshole husband sounds like a real piece of shit. Why did you put up with him for so long? You said you were married for five years, right?"
I nodded and dropped my gaze in disappointment when her question hit me. "I've often asked myself that question a thousand times, and every single time, I've yet to come up with an answer. I don't know, I guess I kept thinking that if I put up with it a little bit longer, if I kept hope alive, things would improve. That maybe Bal would love me the way he used to before we got married. Look where that ended me."
Bringing my legs up, I wrapped my arms around them and rested my chin against my knees, feeling the weight of Bal's betrayal and the years of negligence pressing down on my shoulders. I couldn't believe that after five long years of love, praying, crying, and optimism, it would end this way. That he would try to kill me rather than simply asking for a divorce or something. Did he truly hate me so much that he would resort to setting me up to burn in a cabin while he and his bastard friends watched? Witch or not, I didn't deserve that. I never did anything to warrant so much hate and isolation, especially from him.
Holding up my left hand, I examined the diamond wedding ring that was still worn on my finger. It's sparkling gemstone mocking me for being a fool. For being a failure. I thought back to the night he proposed to me, and how I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. Me, a college dropout was asked to marry one of Salem's most eligible bachelors. I thought about the wedding ceremony, and how I spent six months planning everything, and two weeks struggling to find the perfect wedding dress. That night was supposed to be my fairytale moment. My happily ever after.
Now it was more of a happily never after.
I sniffled, not realizing I was crying until my vision blurred with tears. Grumbling, I furiously wiped away my tears and pulled the ring off my finger. Fuck Balthazar, and fuck being his wife. "Fucking bastard."
"Yes, he is, and you deserved better," Solara said, taking another bite off the piece of bread and cheese she picked up. "For what it's worth, it's not so bad here once you get used to it."
"Tell me you're joking," I deadpanned.
"What, you think Hell is merely a place for your soul to rot? Are you supposed to suffer eternal damnation or something?"
"Isn't it?"
Solara gestured at herself. "Do I look like I'm suffering? Do the guys look like they're suffering?"
