Page 17 of Nope, No Regrets
Rei
This time, I stepped through the red cloud and ended up in this enormous, ornate bedroom. I’d figured out portals like this, but could never make them big enough to bring people with me. I had so much to learn.
This bedroom was something else. You could fit my entire apartment inside. I spent a lot of time and money decorating my space, but it wasn’t anything like this. Screen doors separated the sitting room from the bedroom and there was a low table, with pillows on the floor, for tea and eating.
There were these beautiful murals all over the walls and a futon on the floor. Sota saw me staring at it.
“This was intended to be our chambers when you came home, and we were married. I’ll have the futon replaced with one big enough for everyone.”
“Why are you okay with the whole group thing?” I demanded. “Faust hates it. Dakarys and Rajack would be okay if it were just the two of them. Faust has a reputation at Silverhold, and they didn’t want him anywhere near me. Wren has never cared, but she’s a witch.”
Sota just chuckled and tucked my hair behind my ear.
“Your father has many wives, and several concubines. He loves all of them dearly, and they adore him. It’s like that in several areas of Hell. We try to put aside human things like petty jealousy and telling people who they may love.”
“And that would be a beautiful thing… if I hadn’t overheard you and Barbatos talking about a couple who bonds over torturing people.”
Sota chuckled.
“Bael is one of the seven kings of Hell, but really runs the show. Solron is a shadow demon, who came to his attention because she caused a bit of a problem with her hacking. Instead of punishing her, he put her to work. They bonded, and now he’s smitten. You need to get used to torture, Rei.
“We don’t throw people in jail for life here like that prison you were in. We don’t see the point. Hell has a very low crime rate, because if you do that here, you’re going to end up in the dungeon of the person you hurt… unless you were really naughty, then you go to royalty to be tortured. Sometimes, it ends, and you go back to your life. Sometimes, you die down there. I get that it might seem extreme to you, but it makes living here more pleasant.”
“Sota, I grew up thinking I was a fox shifter and totally alone because of my brother. You and Barbatos threatened those demons at the gate because he’s already bribed himself out of here once.”
“I’m not saying people aren’t dumb enough to risk it. Shit, Kudan has always been a spoiled brat. He thought they owed him the throne, and didn’t want to wait until your father retired and gave it to him. He attempted an assassination and failed. He’s just proved to be very hard to catch.”
“But why send me alone? Why wasn’t there a demon with me?”
I needed to know that. I got that my brother was a psychopath—showing up with the high priestess of the Aether Circle answered any questions about that—even before I knew they had been killing demons to find a way into Hell. I understood why I didn’t grow up in Hell too, but not why I hadn’t been sent anyone to help me.
“I was a teenager when you were born, back when all of that went down. The marriage between us was arranged, but they didn’t ask me my opinion on any of it. I wasn’t keen on the idea of being engaged to an infant, but when I found out they were sending you away, I thought they should send someone with you.
“You have to understand what things were like then, and in the years following. Your father is a good emperor, and is well-loved, but Kudan had help when he tried to kill him. We haven’t been able to find him because he convinces demons to help him.
“When I was tasked with hunting him, I ended up arresting several demons I thought were on our side. Honestly, I think everyone who knew where you were sent would have preferred you had a mentor, but no one knew who could be entrusted with the task. One of your father's most trusted advisors and friends was later found out to have helped Kudan. There was no safe choice to send then, because they were still trying to figure out the scope of Kudan’s circle.”
“Why not send you? It’s a little unfair to send me to a place where arranged marriages aren’t a thing, then spring a fiancé on me…”
“Maybe. I was still a teenager, Rei. We didn’t have a solution then to stop witches from summoning demons. The Aether Circle has been trying to find a way into Hell for a long time, they would have wanted to get their hands on you well before you robbed them.
“It was decided to put you in the middle of nowhere, with humans. A man and woman who were trying to adopt were contacted and told the conditions were to keep you there, or someone would come to take you back. Arranging that was difficult enough without trying to throw in a teenager when someone only wanted a baby! It also would have seriously made things awkward if you grew up thinking I was your sibling, and then I dropped that bomb later.”
I started laughing, and I couldn’t stop. This was just so fucked up. Faust and Dakarys were still standing around naked while Sota and I talked about my past.
“That woulddefinitelybe more awkward than finding out there’s a demon there to spring you from jail, and that you’re expected to marry him. I’m enjoying the view, but how about we get Faust, Dakarys, and Rajack some clothes?”
“Don’t forget me!” Wren called out. “I’m never wearing orange again.”
Sota clapped his hands.
“I can handle Wren. I set the seamstress to work making clothes for Rei when I knew I was bringing her home, and you’re about the same size, but my clothes aren’t going to fit the men you’ve brought with you.”
Faust just shrugged.
“I’m a wolf. The people here are going to have to get used to seeing me naked after I shift.”
“We aren’t offended by nudity here, but most people don’t walk around nude. Stay here, and I’ll arrange clothing.”
