Page 279 of The Wishing Game

"Wow, the great Commander Azerius just did something illegal," I add in an amused tone.

He doesn't seem to appreciate the joke, however.

"It was the only way. I did notbreakthe law. I merely circumvented it," he says, proudly pushing his chin up.

"Sure, sure. Whatever makes you feel better." I giggle.

He gives me a severe look.

"I have done it for you, human. You are welcome," he huffs.

"I don't remember asking. I don't even know why we're here, Ze."

"You shall see. It is a surprise."

"Right. I can see that. Not everyone gets a first date inhell.I should consider myself lucky," I add ironically—not that Ze can tell.

"Precisely." He nods thoughtfully. "Not only are you the first female I am taking on adate, but you are also getting an exclusive tour of hell. No one but me would have been able to arrange something like this," he says as he throws his arm over my shoulder, pulling me to his side. "I paid the Custodian a small fortune for this favor. Very few can afford that," he tells me in averyserious tone.

"Yep, got it, Ze. You're rich." I chuckle.

"Veryrich," he corrects. "So you see, this is an exclusive experience onlyIcould give you," he makes sure to let me know.

I nod along, amused.

He, on the other hand, is very pleased with himself, his lips curled up in a smile.

We walk behind the Custodian. Curiosity brims inside of me the more glimpses I get of thishell. Who exactly are we here to see? What damned soul? I would inquire more of Ze, but it doesn't seem he's very inclined to tell me.

The different galleries where souls are laboring while being lashed and caned by the Custodians are not unlike the dark tunnels I toiled in while I was at the hacienda. Except for this unbearable atmosphere, there aren't too many differences. Who said there isn't a hell on earth, too? If one took away the supernatural element, the conditions are the same.

I quietly take in the slowly shifting environment. Every quarry is worse than the other, the atmosphere seemingly even more inhospitable, which makes it harder for the souls to work, and in turn, makes the Custodians more likely to hurt them. The punishments increase, both in frequency and gruesomeness.

As we get deeper into this hellish dimension, we leave the barren land behind as we come across the entrance to a subterranean mountain.

"What's this?" I whisper as we go inside. The air becomes heavier and warmer, affecting my body and my mind. Colors mix together, my sight becoming confused the more we descend. "It's so hot," I grumble, attempting to air myself with my hand. Sweat pebbles on my forehead, dripping down my face and neck. My clothes are already damp from perspiration. The air I breathe is hot too, and I struggle to fill my lungs with it.

Damn it. I squeeze my eyes shut as I shake my head in an attempt to chase the fog away.

I hate heat. I hate anything too hot and sweaty. I especially hate hot air.

Of course Ze would bring me somewhere that has all three. And this was supposed to be afungetaway.

One thing's for sure. Ze has no concept of the word fun—not that I didn't know before, but this just solidifies it.

"Easy," Ze murmurs as I sway on my feet. His arm falls to the small of my back as he keeps me upright. "Open your mouth," he says, grabbing my face with two fingers and prying my mouth open.

I'm so out of breath at this point that I don't even protest, my lips parting to allow for his cool breath to give me life. I suck in a deep breath. Then another. Soon, my body begins to regulate its temperature better and I'm no longer dying of heat. The air quality changes, too, and I'm able to breathe normally.

"Good?" he inquires.

I nod, bringing the back of my hand to wipe the sweat clinging to my skin.

"We are heading to the worst part of Katras. Very few beings can withstand this type of atmosphere," he explains. "Let me know when you start feeling hot again and I will lend you my breath."

"Now I see why people always associate hell with heat. It'sawful." I make a disgusted face.

"Technically, it is not an association," Ze starts, putting a finger up. Here it comes—another lesson. "It sometimes happens that a soul retains fragmentary memories of the afterlife. It is rare, and those memories are never something cohesive. Feelings, impressions, that type of thing. Heat is one of them. Mortals across all realms have the same basic idea of the afterlife because of those impressions."

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