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I wonder if I could find my wayoutfollowing the same slime trail … To test my suspicion, I swim in a lazy circle in a large, round room that the slime passes through. Much as I feared, the slime disappears about twenty feet behind me. Once I’ve passed over it, it’s gone. So much for the hopes that I could backtrack if needed. There’s no way I can navigate these halls without those markers, and unlike Hansel and Gretel, I neglected to bring breadcrumbs or pebbles or any such thing to mark my path. Oops.
Note to self: Next time I venture into unknown enemy territory, pack some trail markers. Glass beads, crayons, anything.
The hallways narrow the farther into the castle I go, making the envoy of envy demons crowd me a little too close for my comfort. I conjure two bone swords, one for each hand, and put more effort into kicking my legs to propel me forward, keeping my hands free to slice and stab if needed. A few of the demons are smart enough to back off a bit, but others still lean forward as I pass, as if hoping for the chance to get a quick game of grab-ass in. I keep an eye out for any reaching hands, ready to sever them at the wrists if they get close.
I’mreallyhoping Leviathan underestimates me when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Yeah, I can cast spells with the best of them, but I had some awesome teachers in the martial arts, too. Lena’s friend Molli and her three fae boyfriends are all seasoned fighters—not to mention that Samsher is a beast with a sword—and they all gave me some pointers when I was still a teenaged kid. Now, as a teenaged adult, I’m almost as good as they are.
At the end of the passageway a small opening, almost like a porthole, leads to a surprisingly large chamber. Like, epically large. The porthole closes as soon as I pass through, and a low, ominous chuckle resonates through the water.
I guess I found Leviathan.
The water across the room churns and roils, and I only get the barest glimpse of Leviathan’s true form before He morphs into a humanoid being. Like me, He’s given Himself gills and webbed appendages for better breathing and movement under the water. He doesn’t conjure any weapons—yet—and His stance is relaxed. Probably trying to lull me into a false sense of security. I tighten my grip on the bone swords and take a battle stance, floating perfectly balanced but at a slight angle, minimizing the amount of exposed body parts and making sure my head and torso are guarded by the blades.
“Impressive,” He says, gliding forward with His hands clasped behind His back. “I take it you know how to use those?”
“Let’s just say if I have a sudden craving for fish filet, I can make a quick meal out of You.”
Leviathan tilts His head back and bellows out a laugh. “Oh, Calliope, it’s refreshing to meet a human who isn’t afraid of me.” When He stops laughing, He levels His gaze at me, and His sickly green eyes start to glow. “Even though you really should be afraid.”
Ooh. Glowing eyes. I’msoscared. Not.
In response to His threat, I summon a thread of electrical energy to my hands. I don’t release it, not yet, because water is a major conductor, and I’m liable to fry myself as well if I’m not careful. Still, if Leviathan thinks I’m crazy enough to risk shocking my own body in the process of zapping Him, maybe He’ll think twice before attacking.
The demon Prince’s jovial expression turns dark, and I think I’ve worn out my “cute, fearless human” charm.
“Tread lightly, Calliope. I trust your human sciences taught you that water conducts electricity?”
I shrug, but I don’t stand down. “Human physics doesn’t necessarily apply to the Hell dimension. Maybe Your water conducts, and maybe it doesn’t. Maybe I’m willing to risk it.”
“I control the water here, Calliope. Even if you manage to figure out a way to get the physics of Hell to work to your advantage, I can easily counter it and send your pretty electricity right back to you.”
My fingers grip the sword hilts so hard they start to cramp. I swear, if He uses my full name again, I’m frying myself anyway. “You do that, Levi, and You’ll burn all my eggs along with me. From what I understand, those things are kinda important to Your plan to rape and breed me, aren’t they?”
Leviathan scowls when I make up a nickname for Him, but I note that my statement had enough impact to make Him back up a couple of yards. “My name is Leviathan. Not Levi.”
“And I prefer to be called Callie, but it seems neither one of us is getting what we want.”
His eyes glow brighter, and He snarls, curling His fingers into claws. I suppose it would be scary for someone who hadn’t spent a good third of her life in and out of Hell, but me? I’m not fazed. I even swim closer, changing my stance but keeping myself on guard. For every inch I creep forward, Leviathan inches back.
He’s scared of me. He knows I could hurt Him if I wanted, and He seems to be buying my bluff that I’ll go ahead and take myself out with Him if it means getting my way.
“Fine, then. Callie it is.”
Score one for me! Now if I can just get Him to give up His mission of getting me pregnant with His gross genetic material, everything will be gravy.
Just as I back Him into a corner, easily within my blades’ reach, Leviathan smiles again.
“Tell me, Callie, how many opponents can you take on with those two swords of yours?”
Uh oh. I don’t like that question. “I can take on enough.”
Coral scrapes against coral as the castle shifts. I keep my gaze on Leviathan, but in my peripheral vision I see dozens—no, hundreds of portholes opening in the walls surrounding us. Envy demons pour through in waves, each one armed to the teeth, surrounding me.
Shit.
I change my stance again, readying to spin around and defend my rear flank if needed, but I know it’s hopeless. As good as Molli, Samsher, and the fae are as teachers, there’s no way they could have prepared me for this.
“If they make one wrong move, Leviathan, they’ll damage me beyond repair. You won’t get any new little demonlings if I’m killed here.”
