Page 29 of Not Today, Satan
I stop and scan the land ahead.
We’re closer to the water now, and that means staying in shadow to avoid being seen by the boats. The easiest way around the lots is to our left, through another cave and up a staircase. I squint and suppress a sigh. That’s a long climb.
He stops beside me. “You look lost. You do know where you’re going, right? You’ve left Hell before.”
I raise my chin before marching up an incline. “I’m not lost. And Father doesn’t permit me to go to Earth.”
“But aren’t you taking over for him someday? That’s what you told Dildo back there.”
“Diripo,” I huff. “And I don’t want to take over for my father. I want to come with you.”
He stops again, and I bite back a sigh at his uncanny ability to slow us down. At this rate, I’ll meet my mother by my thirtieth birthday.
“You want to come to California? You don’t strike me as the surfboard-riding, celebrity-stalking type.”
“I don’t know what those are, but I guarantee I’m neither of them.” My breath rasps as we reach the top of the embankment and curve into a tunnel.
I can’t tell him about my mother. If he knows I have someone on Earth, he may realize I’m using him and have no intention of letting him stay there.
It’s better if he thinks I want to help him more than myself.
I swipe at the sweat on my brow with the back of my hand. “I want to see it while I’m up there setting you free. I’ve never been. My plans aren’t really your concern.”
“Fine.” He jogs to meet my pace and walks beside me. “I’ll let you keep your secrets for now. But one day, my charms will win you over.”
I scowl at him in the darkness. “Doubtful.”
We exit the tunnel, and I stop so suddenly he almost collides with me. “Shit.”
The path arcs in two directions. The one on the right will lead us up another embankment around the lots. That’s the easiest route. But a flash of metal from above gives away the souldiers’ position. I count at least ten of them.
We barely made it past three.
“Which way?” he asks.
“Left leads us into Lot Eleven,” I whisper. “That’s where we house the shadelings who committed the sin of Pride. Going in there means we’ll have to pass through their punishment.” I shiver. After visiting Lot Thirteen, entering another lot isn’t on my wish list. “Right leads up to those souldiers and who knows how many more hidden around them.”
He follows my gaze, then releases a long stream of air that flicks at the wisps of hair skimming his forehead. “We’re going left, aren’t we?”
I grip the sword at my side and steel myself. “You catch on quick.”
XIII.
We cross the bridge without incident, inching over the water and staying in the center of the boards so we remain invisible to the boats below. There are no souldiers on the bridge, and the gates to Lot Eleven appear to be unguarded.
Tall, silver doors reflect our images back at us as we approach, small at first, then growing larger when we reach them. The glass magnifies the fear in our eyes, and I turn away and survey our surroundings, my gut rumbling.
“Why is no one here?” Nathan Reynolds asks. “Is this normal?”
“No idea. Maybe they’re looking for me back in the Royal Chambers.” When I’m certain there’s no ambush waiting, I reach for the door handle. “This is the last place they’d expect me to go—with this lot being impossible to escape and all.”
“Wait.” He places his hand on my forearm. “If it’s impossible to get out, what makes you sure we’ll be able to leave?”
“I’m not.” I tug the handle and the door inches open. I wince as the squeaking hinges grind against my eardrums. “But it’s either taking our chances in here or certain capture by the souldiers on the cliffs.”
“I guess that’s as good an answer as any.”
We slip through the gap and jump in unison as the door slams behind us. I grip my sword and straighten my shoulders. If I flinch at every door in this place, we’re doomed.
