“They’ll go backto hell with no hope of redemption, and they’ll add to my quota. I’ll claim them all, and my ring of hellwillbe the most populated! Lesser demons will be begging to join my legion! I will be the most popular Prince in the underworld with the most souls!” Mammon ranted, gesturing wildly with his arms.
“He really is full of greed,” Aunt Ro said, staring angrily at the demon.
Kushiel felt Cass closer now, and he knew it wouldn’t be long. He also sensed something else in the woods, coming toward them. He wondered how Mammon didn’t sense it as well. He only had one question left for the demon. “How did you accomplish this? It couldn’t have been on your own, because we don’t think about ghosts,” Kushiel mentioned. He needed to know if Mammon had an accomplice.
Mammon smiled slyly then. “I’m proud to admit that it was my idea to stop redeeming souls to increase our quota. I’ve brought this to the leadership team for quite some time, but when they refused to listen, I went to the top. Of course my ideas and all the support I had were impressive to the most important people,” Mammon bragged.
“He’s insufferable,” Aunt Ro muttered. She looked behind her then and seemed a bit shocked, but Kushiel couldn’t make out what had caught her attention.
“The more souls we have, the more impressive, of course, and the more lesser demons under my control. What do I care about the souls? They did what they did and deserve to be in hell. They certainly shouldn’t get second chances. And why shouldn’t I have more? I deserve it! I was going to make this work no matter what, and I told the leadership team and the head of hell that. Of course, figuring out how to get the souls out of Erebus was a difficulty, but I figured that out too,” Mammon bragged.
“Since we can’t see ghosts, how did you figure that out?” Kushiel asked. Aunt Ro disappeared then, but Kushiel could feel that Cass was almost there. He heard, as if Cass was whispering in his ear,I’m coming Kushiel. Just hold on.
Mammon continued, “When I told Lucifer my plan, he told me that it was not in the order of the universe, and the only way souls would be outside the realm of the gray angel wouldbe if they were ghosts. He told me we can’t see ghosts, which I can’t believe has been kept from us. He commented that ghosts would be hard to hold anyway and would require great power and warding to accomplish, but I knew I could do it. And I have,” Mammon stated, gesturing at the clearing.
Kushiel felt Cass so close, coming toward his side of the clearing. He also saw a dark figure behind Mammon, but the demon seemed completely unaware of anything going on around him.
“Of course, finding the proper spells, creating the portal at Erebus, and then warding this clearing have sapped my energy quite a bit, but I used the earth, the sea, and the strength of the trees to help me. It has taken its toll,” Mammon stated, gesturing at his horns and wings, “yet soon these souls will be brought into my ring of hell, and I will be all that much stronger.”
Mammon looked slyly at Kushiel then. “I might even become the strongest demon in all of hell. The leadership has been the same for eternity, and maybe it’s time to change that.”
Two things happened at once then; Kushiel felt Cassius step out of the forest behind him, and at the same time, a figure stepped out from the forest behind Mammon.
It was a hellhound, and Kushiel had no idea if he was here to help them or Mammon.
Chapter 27
Cassius
It felt like hours had passed since Kushiel had disappeared from sight, but it had probably only been a half hour at most. Cass had been trekking through the woods, and he could tell he was getting closer with each step. He was busy looking down and trying not to stumble on branches and undergrowth, and when he saw someone’s feet suddenly in front of him, he couldn’t help giving a yelp of surprise.
He looked up, and then he just kept on walking straight through Aunt Ro.
“I don’t have time for ghostly issues right now, Aunt,” he mumbled, continuing to make his way through the woods.
He could see her floating along next to him, and as he almost tripped on another branch underfoot, he had a moment to wish he had the ability to transport himself or float along above the ground.
“Hmph. Don’t have time for ghostly issues. You know, I never get any appreciation. Why do you think you’ve been bothered by so few ghosts since Kushiel showed up? Hmm? Because I was the one who kept them at bay while you dealt with all this,” Aunt Ro huffed. “And I went and found Kushiel, because apparently I can find him almost as easily as I can find you, and I show up togive you information so you don’t walk in blind. But do I get a thank you? Of course not,” she muttered.
Shit. It had been amazingly quiet on the ghost front, and he hadn’t thought to question why. And if his aunt had seen Kushiel and had information…
Cass stopped and looked at her, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Aunt Ro. I appreciate all you’ve done, but my soulmate is gone, and I’m fighting off panic. If you can fill me in, I’d appreciate it, but I can’t stop. I have to get to him.”
With that, he turned and continued walking.
“He’s alright,” Aunt Ro reassured him. “Perfectly fine, and he found Mammon and the missing lost souls who are ghosts. They’re in pretty bad shape, and I can’t imagine how he’ll help them all without draining himself dry.”
“What is Mammon doing?” Cass asked.
“Oh, he’s monologuing,” Aunt Ro answered.
Cass looked over at her questioningly.
“You know, going over his evil plot and how great he is, insert evil laughter here, blah blah blah,” Aunt Ro said.
Cass just shook his head. “He isn’t upset with Kushiel being there? There’s no fighting?” he questioned.
“Oh, well, did I forget to mention that Kushiel might be a little bit trapped inside a ward with all the ghosts?” she muttered.
