Page 9 of How to Accidentally get Trapped in Hell

Chuckling, I can’t help but agree as I close the door. “As a teacher myself, I have no sympathy for him. Teachers who are cruel to kids deserve a special place in Hell… I mean... ummm...” I stutter. It’s a sentiment I’ve voiced often enough, but now I know just how accurate I was.

Oz and Luc share a laugh at my faux pas. “Considering everyone gets their own room with their own personal hell, I’d argue thateveryonegets a special place in Hell,” Oz says once he’s laughed enough at me.

Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms and glare at him. “Whatever. Are you going to show us more, or are we done now?”

“Well… I do have to locate this soul and transfer him. If you’d like to get your hands dirty, you’re welcome to come.” He holds up the book still in his hands, indicating the asshole I read about earlier. His smug look tells me he’s counting on me saying no. But I know the things that creep did, and I want to make sure he gets what he deserves.

His smirk falters as I smile. “I’d love to,” I announce, much to his surprise if the widening of his eyes is anything to go by.

He quickly smooths his expression back to the cocky jerk look that comes so naturally to him. “I love a girl who’s not afraid to get a little bloody.” His eyes flash and my treacherous body warms as his heated eyes skim my body.

“Yes, yes. So do I, but let’s not talk about my granddaughter like that,right in front of me, shall we?” Luc says with a look on his handsome face that says it’s not merely a suggestion. “It’s bad enough I have to tolerate Belzar and Zephyr making eyes at my granddaughter. But they’re her mates. I don’t have a choice.Youdon’t get that pass. Unless you have a mate mark you haven’t told me about?” He arches his brow at Oz and I hold my breath, waiting for his response. As far as I know, the mate mark only appears after the mate is consummated… Which we definitelyhaven’tdone. I would remember having sex with Oz. But what the hell do I know? Maybe it’s not about sex at all.

“No, sir.”

“That’s what I thought. You may proceed. I assume you’re planning on transferring him to room sixty-six?”

“Of course.” Oz’s lips twitch and I inwardly roll my eyes at the room number.

“Very good. We shall meet you there.” Without another word, Luc snaps his fingers and transports us to an empty torture room.

Unlike the last room, this is exactly what I would imagine a torture room to be. Various tools litter a table on one side against the wall and even more hang from the wall. There’s a chair with cuffs attached to the arms and legs, an empty bucket beside a sink, and some kind of wooden x with cuffs on each end spread throughout the room. As I take in the room, Luc strolls over to the wall and fingers the whips before picking up a knife and poking the tip of his index finger. A devilish smile spreads across his face as a bead of blood wells up on his finger.

Before I can say anything, Oz pops in with the vile soul we’ve been waiting for, one Joshua Hyde. The things he’s done in his life make me sick. Rape, molestation, child pornography… To name a few. I’m just thankful the book didn’t show me the acts. Reading about them was bad enough. No “personal hell” would be good enough for him. I’m glad Luc and Oz agree and plan on truly torturing him. Being skinned alive for all of eternity would be just a fraction of what he deserves.

Oz drags him to the chair and secures his wrists and ankles. I watch from the side of the room as Luc approaches the prisoner, flipping his knife in the air as he strolls toward him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a soul truly worth torturing,” he remarks with a smirk as his eyes light up with fire. Joshua’s eyes widen in fear and he pulls at his bindings, trying in vain to free himself before Luc can reach him. His reaction only serves to excite the devil even more. “You’re going to be a screamer, aren’t you?” he asks with a smile that stretches across his face, baring his sharp teeth.

He stops three feet away and the knife he had been flipping in the air suddenly flies toward Joshua, embedding itself in his chest.

“Fifty points!” Oz declares and Luc and he share a manic laugh.

seven

Oz

Iwasnotexpectingto run into the princess in the torture hall, but I plan on making the most out of this turn of events. I don’t know why, considering when I first found out about her, I hated her for simply existing, but ever since I laid eyes on her in that dingy basement, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. There’s some kind of pull demanding I find her. When I left her with Belz and Zeph in that basement, I had this hollow feeling in the pit of my chest. That feeling didn’t go away until Luc popped me into her room and I finally saw her again.

Since then, the ache has changed. Now I long to be near her all the time. It makes no sense. I hate how conflicted I feel all the damn time. I love Belzar and Zephyr, even if I never tell them, but I’ve never felt thiscompulsionto be with them all the time. That may be part of why I’m so conflicted about feeling this way toward the princess… That and she’s their mate. No honorable demon should ever think of another demon’s mate the way I’ve been thinking about Madelyne.

But as happy as I am just to be with her for this short time, I take my job seriously. Luc brought her to me so she can see what really happens to the souls that are sent to Hell. Belzar and Zephyr would coddle her. That’s not what she needs right now. The girl knows nothing about Hell. But she’s about to get a front-row seat and a crash course in torturing souls.

I want to watch her squirm as Luc and I tear this soul apart. She’ll leave this room a changed woman. Either she’ll run to Belz and cry over what she sees, demanding to be returned to Earth, and thus out of my hair. Or she’ll surprise me again and accept what happens here as a necessary evil. She may even decide to join in on the torture. Though, I may be in trouble if that happens.

She may not be my mate, but as Luc’s granddaughter, and both of my lovers’ mate, I’ve accepted that she’s now a part of my life whether I like it or not. That doesn’t mean I don’t plan on making her life as uncomfortable as I can get away with. And torturing this piece of shit in front of her seems like the perfect way to start.

I watch her out of the corner of my eye as Luc taunts the perv I just tied to the chair. I always enjoy watching Luc in the torture room. He’s a master. I have nothing but the utmost respect and loyalty for him. He’s been like a second father to me since I was a child. My own parents were shit, but they’re demons. What do you expect? My mother used to work in the palace. That’s how I met Luc. Most demons never even have the opportunity to see the devil up close. They fear and obey him without hesitation, but they don’t know him like I do. I would be just like them, obediently working my life away in fear of drawing his attention if it weren’t for that fateful day in the palace.

My mother has worked in the palace my entire life, yet she’s never brought me with her. I’ve never even seen the palace before. Today, for some reason, she’s determined it’s time that changed. I quickly get ready and obediently follow behind her as she leaves the house for work. It’s still dark and we walk in the shadows, hiding from prying eyes.

“You be good and quiet today. You should be neither seen nor heard. You don’t want Lucifer to catch you in his home, boy. So make sure you stay out of sight,” she hisses at me.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, barely loud enough for her to hear.

Despite my many faults, which my parents are always quick to remind me of, one thing I’m not, is stupid. So I heed her words, staying out of sight. If I’m not supposed to be here, I’ll do anything I can to make sure no one knows I’m here.

Of course, my hiding could never be good enough. I’m young, I haven’t had years to hone my senses enough to be able to detect when someone’s coming before it’s too late. As I sneak down a hallway to find a new room to hide in, I hear footsteps. I can’t see anyone, so I assume they’re coming up a side hallway that will soon intersect with my own. It isn’t long before I hear voices and I know it’s just a matter of time before I’m caught. As the voices grow near, I panic. All I can think isdon’t let them see me.Over and over. The words turning into a mantra in my head.

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