Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
I hated that even after everything she’d done, the first thought that went through my mind before I stopped it was, Thank you, Mom.
“Where is it, then?” I snapped. “Where’s this research?”
“It’s coming.” His red, reptilian eyes unsettled me. “It’s coming along with my present for you— Well, half of my present for you. If you want the rest, you’ll have to earn it.”
I just rolled my eyes, not even bothering to pay attention to his riddles. I swear, if this angel ever gave a straight answer, he’d die.
“And knowing that,” I muttered, “I still need to ask: why me?”
“Pardon?”
“Why me?” I asked louder. “Why do you need me to find the hallows and figure out the clues for you? You just said my mother’s been working on this, so why do you need me?”
“Trust me, darling, you are not my first choice. Putting my faith in an Avos witch who is not under contract goes against every fiber of my being, but you’d be surprised how particular these things can be,” he said. “There are creatures and items out there who can’t be seen by those who’ve lost the favor of the gods, can’t be approached by men, and can’t be touched by bloodstained hands.
“It would explain why my centuries of searching came to naught,” he admitted. “It might even explain why that young and pretty thing was chosen to become the All Hallows while those wizened old crones only shared in the power. You may not believe it, but age can also be a factor. Some beings only bestow their gifts to the young.”
I found myself nodding along.
“Whatever the conditions may be for you to collect the items in the spell, the fact remains that it is your destiny to achieve this power,” he said, “and it’s mine to rip it from you.
“Get the fuck to it, Charlotte Hunter. I am not a patient man.”
“I—!”
Lucifer winked out of existence, leaving me shouting in an empty hallway.
DESPITE MYSELF, I MOVED quickly but quietly through the hallway to the mess hall. Hera knew that was the last place I wanted to be, but I’d been surviving on chips and cookies for the past few days. I needed real food or I was going to pass out, and there was only one place in Abaddon to get that.
Lucifer also said the research on the hallows was on the way. Is it going to be waiting in a bag in my room like last time?
My fists tightened thinking of the person providing that research. What was I supposed to think of my mother now? Should I even keep calling her that? Did titles like that matter when they’re replaced by the worst one there could be: murderer.
I choked on a sob, heart twisting. Yes, Lucifer swore he’d give Dora her normal human life back in exchange for the power of the All Hallows, but that didn’t change the fact that life was taken by our own mother.
What was I supposed to think when I looked back on all those happy childhood memories? The princess birthday party? The butterfly gifts for every celebration? The happiness and love in Mom’s eyes when she held us? The tears in Dad’s eyes when he held Adora for the first time?
Was all of that really a lie? A performance? The whole time, was my mother side-eyeing my sweet, smart, talented little sister... and counting the days until she killed her?
Veering to the right, I clutched the wall as I doubled over and promptly vomited on the floor.
I couldn’t take this. I’d never been more stressed out in my life. More confused. More riddled with grief. More... alone.
I covered my eyes and mouth, trying and failing to hold in my sobs.
Even after losing my parents in the accident, I didn’t sink this low because I knew I wasn’t alone. I had Dora and she needed me to be strong for her. But now...
I not only lost my entire family. I’d lost the life I thought we had together.
Staggering away, I forced myself to continue to the mess hall—roughly rubbing my eyes. I could already hear Sabrina in my ear, scolding me for showing the slightest hint of weakness.
All too soon, I made it to the mess hall doors and shoved inside before I could talk myself out of it.
I froze to the spot, not believing my eyes.
Erlik said female demons would now be attending Abaddon Academy, and he was a douchenozzle of his word, so I shouldn’t have been shocked at the sight of them, but still... I was.
Women each more beautiful than the last flitted about the room, snapping their fingers left and right.
Gone was the dirty, food-covered floor—replaced by plush, crimson-and-ebony carpet. Gone were the low-rent buffet tables and cheap spit guards—all to be replaced by intimate circular tables with fresh linen cloths, and all the food neatly arranged on fine plates. As for the random platform at the end of the room reserved for the rare announcement, a gorgeous copper beauty of pinup proportions stepped up to it, snapped her fingers, and the platform stretched and widened.