Page 72 of Hellfire & Tinsel
“EON?!”
“You’re right. That’s not nearly enough for them. Two eons.”
“Oh yes. We’re very naughty,” the twins chimed in gleefully.
Zorun seemed panicked now. He turned to the Devil, whose yellow eyes were glittering. “Luc, say something!”
Those yellow eyes glinted. “I think it sounds like awonderfulidea.”
“WHAT!”
“Inspired,” Oren tacked on. “Well done, Peter.”
Peter smiled humbly. “Good. I’ll be checking in periodically for updates. If I hear of any other… incidents… then further steps will be taken. I hope you understand that and take it seriously.”
Zorun was fighting for words, left speechless.
“Wonderful!” Peter said, a heavenly glow shining over the three of them for a second before it disappeared into the inky blackness of Hell. “It’s set.”
“What did you just do?” Zorun demanded.
“I really have to be on my way. We have a fresh intake that I need to show the amenities to,” Peter said, ignoring the demon bearing down on him and approaching Beau. He took one of his hands in both of his. “I’ll be in touch, dear one.”
“That would be nice,” Beau said, smiling and warmed from the inside out.
Peter nodded, then launched himself into the air with a strong flap of his wings, narrowly avoiding the hand grasping for his ankle.
“PETER!” Zorun yelled after him, opening his own tattered wings to give chase.
“Calm down, Zorun,” Luc ordered him, smothering his laughter.
Zorun rounded on the King of Hell. “Calm down!?”
“Yes. Because your ‘charges’ aren’t here anymore.”
Zorun paused, glancing around himself first, lifting one wing, then the other to see if they were hiding. He cursed up a storm. “AZOTH! TARIK!”
He tore out of the room, smoke billowing after him.
“It’s going to be an interesting next two eons,” Luc said. “But it’ll all work out.”
“How optimistic,” Oren said, sliding a hand over his arm. “What’s gotten into you?”
Luc tugged him closer on his lap. “Nothing’s gotten into me, hon. I wouldn’t mind getting intoyouthough.”
Beau blushed scarlet.
“That is our signal to leave,” Kassel said.
Beau nodded eagerly. He wanted to be alone with Kassel anyway and bask in this new home he’d found. He wanted to talkfor hours and kiss and laugh and simply exist with him. Kassel took his hand and began to lead him away, ignoring the moaning that quickly started rising behind them.
Beau let his face cool off on the walk back, cuddling into Kassel’s arm. It wasn’t exactly strolling down a beach—even though it was certainly hot enough—but it was perfect regardless.
They spotted Zorun a few hallways over and were stopped by him. “Have you seen them?”
They shook their heads. All had been quiet and undisturbed.
“I’m sure they’ll turn up,” Beau said. “Maybe you can lure them out with their favorite thing?”
