Page 11 of How to Accidentally get Trapped in Hell

Who is this woman?

“Well, itismy home, isn’t it, Father?” she snarks as she walks past me to sit in the chair in the corner of the room. She smirks at him as she crosses her legs and I take the moment to pick my jaw up off the floor.Father?“So? Who was it? I don’t see anyone. Which means you clearly poofed them out after I knocked.” She raises a brow in challenge and I stare at her dumbfounded.He can do that?!

“Not this time, my dear. He’s still here. Can’t you see him?” Lucifer asks with a smirk, confirming what I already suspected. It worked. They can’t see me!

“What are you on about? There’s no one here besides us. Don’t play games with me, Father.” She scowls at him.

“Mozoth, tell my darling daughter hello.” The smile on his face is something I’ll never forget. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone smile like that. All teeth, like the cat that ate the canary.

Not wanting to disappoint him or make Zofina think he’s lying, I quickly speak up. “Hello.”That’s it? That’s all you have to say? You’re such an idiot.

She gasps as she sits up and looks around the room trying to find me. “Who said that?” Her head snaps to Lucifer and she questions him. “Who’s Mozoth? Why can’t I see him?”

“Ummm, that would be me,” I answer, letting the magic fall once again. It’s easier this time. I feel it slip away as I speak, revealing myself to her.

“You? But you’re just a boy.” She scrunches her nose as she stares at me in confusion.

“A very special boy,” Lucifer adds. “Well done, Mozoth. I knew you could do it.” He beams at me and I straighten at his praise, holding my head high as if I really did do something amazing and worthy of the devil’s praise.

Immediately after thinking that, I’m hit with this agonizing searing pain in my head. I crumple forward, my hands flying to my head between my knees as I scream. I have no idea what’s happening around me, I can only focus on the pain. I scream and scream until my voice goes hoarse. Until suddenly, the pain just disappears. I slowly come back to reality as I feel a comforting touch on my back and shoulder. Someone is rubbing circles on my back… It’s an odd sensation. I’ve never had anyone comfort me like this before… While someone else grips my shoulder firmly, grounding me.

I finally look up to see Lucifer staring down at me with what could only be described as pride. It may not be a look I see often, but I know that’s what this is. For some reason, the devil isproudof me.Me. Holy hell. What is happening?

That day, Luc took me in. He didn’t want me to squander my abilities. He wanted to nurture them himself. Watch them grow. He’s been more of a father to me than my biological father ever was. He taught me how to use my powers and he groomed me to be his head torturer. We’ve spent many days tormenting souls together. It’s easy to slip back into the role of his prodigy while I watch his knife sail through the air, sinking into the man’s chest.

“Fifty points!” I declare and Luc and I share a manic laugh.

eight

Madelyne

Iconsidermyselfagood person. I’m kind and respectful. I treat others well, even if I think they deserve otherwise. You never know what someone is going through, and to judge them based on their actions without any insight as to why they acted that way, is wrong and small-minded. I’m not usually quick to anger and I don’t hold grudges.

But right now, faced with the reality of everything this vile soul has done in his life, the typicalput yourself in his shoesthoughts that normally direct my brain in moments like this aren't there. I don’t want to put myself in his shoes. I don't want to know what would make him do all the horrid things he’s done. Why doesn’t matter anymore. Not when you’re in Hell. This is the one place where your actions hold the most weight.

My thoughts as I watch my grandfather laugh while he stabs and cuts the soul in front of me are nothing like I would expect them to be. I don’t know if it’s beinghereor what, but things are shifting in my mind. I would never think about hurting another person, much less revel in their misery. But now? With Luc torturing Joshua Hyde? I don’t feel that way. I know the things he’s done in his life. He deserves to be here. He deserves everything Luc and Oz do to him.

It’s a little scary how completely apathetic I am, but as I watch Luc and Oz laughing as they stand side by side, flaying the skin from this soul’s body, I can’t help but bask in his pain. He has earned this and so much more. A part of me-this new part that I’m not too proud of-wants to join them. Show them how to really torment him.

How the hell I know anything about torture is beyond me. Maybe it’s my demon side coming out? Now that I’m in Hell and I’ve been around Luc, I feel like I’m changing. The more I’m around other demons, the more at home I feel. My mother said I would gain demon traits the longer I’m in Hell. Maybe she wasn’t just talking about physical traits. Maybe the desire to see a deserving soul tortured isnormal. Maybe that’s part of being a demon. I may still be getting used to the idea, but that’s what I am. A demon.

One day, I’m supposed to take over for Luc. If the prophecy is true. I may have a different way of doing things than him, but being respectful to demons isn’t going to change their purpose. Even if I change things when I’m in charge, their jobs will stay the same. Any soul that gets sent to Hell is deserving of whatever punishment they’re dealt. I can’t, and I won’t let my humanity get in the way of that.

It’s that thought that has me grabbing something off the wall and joining them. If I have to prove to myself that I can do this… that I can be a good demon… There's no better time than now. No better soul to start with than this one.

Oz must sense my approach because he steps back and looks at me, his eyes heating as they trail over my body. They land on the weapon in my hand and I feel ten feet tall when they flick up to my eyes in surprise. A sexy grin slowly spreads across his face and I shiver at his attention. He looks at me like he wants to push me against the wall and fuck my brains out. But also like he’sproudof me. Like he’s pleasantly surprised and turned on that I want to help torture this soul.

I feel my face flush as I soak in his attention. I have a moment’s thought that this is wrong. I shouldn’t think of him this way. I have two mates. But then I remember when I met Zephyr. I was already unknowingly mated to Belz and I felt guilty for finding his best friend attractive. It didn’t take long for Belz to convince me he’d be happy if I developed feelings for Zeph. He told me I never needed to hide my feelings when it came to his friends. He included Oz in that statement. So, maybe it’snotwrong for me to be so insanely attracted to him.

I force myself to look away from the tempting demon and focus my attention on the man chained to the chair. I walk around Luc and then behind Joshua, trailing my nails across his back from shoulder to shoulder. He trembles beneath my touch as my grandfather steps back. I finish my circle around him and smile when I see the skin that was peeled from his arms has already returned.

Since he’s just a soul, he doesn’t technicallyhaveskin. But part of the wonderful magic of Hell means souls can feel as if they had a body. He feels everything. But no matter how much pain is inflicted on him, it never stops. In a corporeal body, he would pass out or die. But he’s already dead. Hate to break it ya folks, but there’s no passing out from pain in Hell.

“I wonderJoshua, if you had known when you were alive that you would be sent to Hell to be tortured for all of eternity… Would that have changed anything? If you knew for certain doing any one of the disgusting things you did would send you here, forced to experience unending pain… would you still have done it?”

“I didn’t do anything!” he wails.

I sigh before glaring at him. “We both know that’s not true. Don’t waste your breath. Trust me, air will be a commodity when you’re screaming in pain. Now answer the question. Would you have done it?” I don’t know why I’m asking. It doesn’t really matter. It won’t change things for him. Besides, it’s not like I'd have any way of knowing if he’s being honest. I can’tmakehim tell me the truth.

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