Page 33 of Anarchy
I held out my hand to Lilith.
“Let’s go contact my witch.”
24
Ripley
It was different when Reyson cooked entire feasts and served it to all of us. He did that because he enjoyed it, and if Reyson ever felt like not cooking, we were all capable of feeding ourselves. I ate because I was hungry, but I loathed the idea of May cooking for me and serving me because she didn’t have any choice in the matter. I knew plenty of people had maids and in-home chefs, but they paid them and didn’t beat them for no reason. That wasn’t May.
After she brought me my food, she dragged a thin mat into the room my cage was in. It looked like it barely provided padding from the floor, and she had no pillow or blanket. I was furious. I had been angry about it before when I listened to Bram, but now that I saw it, I was furious.
I was trying to find the right thing to say to May. Unfortunately, I didn’t live here. I couldn’t barge in and tell her it was going to be better now when it had been bad for Hellhounds for longer than she’d been alive. That was just cruel. Supernaturals did the same thing humans did when it came to their gods. If shit was blowing up in your face and you had hit rock bottom, it was always some god’s plan for you. I always thought that was a shit thing to say to someone. Lilith and Reyson technicallydidhave a plan, but it wouldn’t improve her situation right this minute.
I saw May visibly tense, and this sense of malice came over the room. I turned around, and I couldn’t believe who I was seeing.
“Bram?”
No, not Bram. This Hellhound had the same face and build, but he definitely wasn’tmyHellhound. I knew that even without seeing he didn’t have the same piercings and tattoos Bram did. This Hellhound had an evil glint in his eyes, and I didn’t like the way his aura made me feel. Definitely closely related to Bram and gave serious credence to the nurture versus nature theory.
“Oscar, witch. If it were up to me, I’d just rip you apart and be done with it. Akul shouldn’t have put May in here to babysit you. May should have had the insolence beaten out of her by now, but she still wants to fight when the others are getting beaten. She’s probably whispering nonsense in your ear, but you aren’t living through this. Dorian was foolish enough to drop Akul’s name in front of you. He’s not going to leave you alive to whisper it to anyone. Don’t get attached, May. This one will not save you.”
Oscar stalked out. What an absolutely garbage individual. He had to be related to Bram, but they were nothing alike. That one little henchman monologue answered a ton of questions for me about this plot. Akul definitely wouldn’t have wanted me to see his face or hear his name unless he was intending on betraying Dorian too.
I had a feeling they both had plans to fuck each other over. Dorian didn’t say how he intended to live through Reyson’s wrath when this was over, but I was pretty sure he thought he could hide in Hell until Reyson calmed down. Dorian wasn’t safe here either, and I was sure he intended to go back to Earth, eventually.
It wouldn’t just be Reyson after him. Demons would hunt him even if he knew those sigils. Dorian would trade Akul’s name for his life. He was like this sentient cockroach who justwould notdie, even if you blasted it with magic, hosed it down with hairspray to get it a little high, and smashed it with your shoe.
Man, it would be so much fun to fuck them both over when my crew showed up.
I suddenly felt a very comforting presence in the room. I could smell patchouli and clove, and there was only one person I knew that smelled like that. Reyson was with me. I smiled to myself. Of course, he was here. He was making sure I was unharmed, and he wouldn’t wait for Balthazar to do his thing, even though Balthazar got results deathly fast.
I broke into goosebumps, and I felt Reyson even stronger. There was also a prickly presence with him that was just as strong that I’d never sensed around him before.
“Ripley, I’m in Hell. Lilith is here and helping me communicate with you while I astral project. I will kill him for caging you.”
“Save the rage for later, big guy. We’re here for intel.”
I was guessing that was Lilith, and she was right. Reyson got a little wordy when he wanted to kill someone. Honestly, most hexes and curses took less time. I couldn’t break out of here, even if I wanted to. I was outnumbered, and Oscar was a psycho. Even if the other Hellhounds on this estate wanted things to be different like May did, they couldn’t help me. They’d be beaten, and they had nowhere else to go.
“The traitor’s name is Akul. There are twelve Hellhounds here. One of them is completely evil, and I’m certain he’s related to Bram. Akul makes a lot of money breeding Hellhounds and forces his to do so whenever they are able. May told me she thinks he wants Talvath and anyone who wants to shut his golden goose down dead. I’m pretty sure Akul intends to kill me and pretend like he’s the hero that stopped Dorian Gray when this is over.”
“I’ll kill them both right now!”Reyson growled.
“You can’t do anything like this. Not even our powers combined can do that. We need to get back and figure out a plan. Talvath will know Akul. Ripley only has limited information. You’ll have to leave your witch.”
“I can drop a little chaos on both of them like this. Ripley, will you be okay if we leave you?”
I heard Lilith laugh in my head.
“She’s a witch. She can handle herself just fine until the cavalry arrives.”
She wasn’t wrong. I could probably fight my way out in a pinch as long as all twelve Hellhounds didn’t gang up on me. Oscar might have threatened me, and Akul might have plans, but they couldn’t do anything yet. They needed me alive because they thought Reyson was cooperating.
They pissed off a lot of people and made promised to a good bit more. They couldn’t afford any mistakes, so I was safe long enough for us to pull this off.
“Go, Reyson, but come back soon. I’d really like to put the magical smack down on Dorian and Akul.”
I heard Lilith laugh again.
