Page 69 of Broken Shadows

What a smart witch. “Correct. There aren’t any markers for several reasons,” I expound and follow the direction of her gaze. Varying monochromatic shades of a cloud-like substance drift lazily far above us. I rub my temples; it’s a poor mimicry of the Human Realm sky. “Time is simply irrelevant. For better or worse, it does not exist in Hell. Not to mention there is no sun, moon, or stars to speak of because Hell exists in a realm of its own.” My scalp prickles, and I can sense how intensely the others are listening to our conversation. Although my brothers are already aware of the ins and outs of Hell, just as any child is taught about where they live, they’re still a couple of fucking nosey busybodies.

Aiden chimes in. “So, a realm is different?”

“Mhm, because realms are like pockets within the same plane.” I return my gaze to the road ahead and ignore the ever-present desire to feed my obsession and stare at my witch. “For example, Hell is one of many realms on the same plane as the Human Realm, but the Earth exists within its own solar system.”

“Blergh, why does it have to be so confusing?” Aiden complains and Gideon hums in agreement.

“That’s just how it is and always has been. There are immeasurable amounts of realms on any given plane,” I elaborate, gesticulating with my hands. “Hell and the Shadow Realm are just two that exist simultaneously.”

“Like a stack of pancakes,” Rosa suggests and laughs. A shiver rolls over my shoulders as Evie’s laughter joins Rosa’s. Fuck, I love that sound.

Evie runs her hands up and down her biceps, then shudders dramatically. “Please don't remind me of The Ugly Pancake right now. I can practically smell the bacon grease.”

“Uh, Bro Demon, your girl makes a good point. This doesn’t look like the Hell you threatened me with,” Aiden huffs as he walks to squeeze past my other side, his shoulder brushing mine. I straighten my spine and wrangle my irritation. This road was not meant for three people to walk side by side. Aiden’s sneakers scuffle against the edge of the cobbled black moonstone road as he struggles not to knock me into Evie on my right. “Where are the other demons, and you know, pitchforks and shit?”

I eye the fog by his shins, his movements flaring their glow brighter, then slide my hands into my pockets. If he only knew. “Oh, you noticed, did you?”

Aiden’s eyes widen. “Um, yeah. Were you screwing with me this whole time!?”

“No, everything I mentioned is still a possibility,” I say, the corner of my lips tilting into a smirk. “But have some patience. We’ll get to that in a moment.”

The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as Gideon growls low where he strides behind me, but I shrug it off.

Ezra slows his pace but remains at the head of the group with Rosa. “First, you have to understand how the trials work, then we can explain the lay of the land. Let's put it this way, God and his ownpowerful angels,” Ezra intones, making air quotes with his fingers, “judge the fuck out of souls when they get to Heaven.”

“Meanwhile, in Hell, the souls judge themselves. Personally, I think self-judgment is by far the crueler option of the two,” I elaborate. “What we're going through now, every soul goes through; however, they don’t know what's happening to them. They aren't clued in on the fact that they're in the trials or what they will face. The catch twenty-two of it all is if a soul cannot complete a challenge, they remain trapped within it for eternity—suffering the same fate over and over like a death loop.”

“Fuckity-fuckery at its finest,” Ezra concurs.

“How many trials are there?” Rosa asks over her shoulder as she walks next to Ezra.

“Seven,” I reply.

“Five,” Ezra speaks over me.

I growl and smack the back of Ezra’s head. “To be clear, there are between five and seven trials. However, as Evangeline’s gate dropped us in a later trial, we have two trials left, three at most. The intention is to keep the souls uncertain if they will ever end.” Realization sweeps over me and my shadows swirl into a frenzy, trapped within me. “Actually, the souls would never have that information to begin with. Godsdamn sadist.”

“You forgot to mention the worst aspect,” Gideon drawls. “The average soul goes through these trials completely alone. Pure and simple—its psychological warfare.” He pauses, his eyes drifting to the countless switchbacks carved into a sheer cliff face rising over a cluster of trees in the distance. “Can you imagine if there was a way to utilize the principles of the trials on the battlefield?” He clicks his tongue. “Unadulterated carnage without a drop of blood spilled.”

“And what happens if a soul passes all the challenges?” Evie questions, then cocks a brow.

“They gain entrance to Lucifer’s Court,” I explain. “Don’t give me that look. It’s actually really spectacular. Pleasant even.”

“Pleasant?” Rosa says, heavy skepticism lacing the question.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “Humans have a completely warped view of Hell. Yes, there are parts of it that are torture, fire, and brimstone, but the vast majority is occupied by Lucifer’s Court.”

With that profound thought, the group falls silent; the fog illuminating our footsteps. The cracked and weathered cobbled black moonstone path winds through a scattering of trees and extends into the distance, shrouded by the same thick fog as when we arrived. So far, the trials are shaping up to be more intricate than I expected. I know Samuel is a sick fuck, that’s not new knowledge, but a taste of worry sits at the back of my throat, bitter and acidic.

Lush bushes dot the edge of the path as we continue our stroll. Their dark black, shiny leaves and plump pink berries dusted in shimmering gold, tempting passersby to have a taste.

“Berries!” Aiden shouts. I turn an ear toward him as the sound of something like shuffling feet blinks into existence.

“Aiden,” Gideon calls sharply.

Curious, I glance over my shoulder, arching a brow as I take in the scene unfolding at our backs.

Gideon’s fingers dig into Aiden's forearm, jerking the appendage backward just as Aiden's fingertips graze a plump neon pink berry. “Eat nothing unless my brothers or I say it is safe. There are edible foods in Hell, but the vast majority are poisonous, especially to humans.”

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