Chapter 20

Gael still lingered at the back of my mind when I took my previous spot on the couch. Cass had returned and sat next to me, her hands clasped around mine, her green, cat-like eyes shining. "Thank you for everything," she said, grabbing me in a tight hug.

I nodded, not used to gratefulness and open displays of affection coming from strangers, but I figured Cass and I weren't quite strangers, more like acquaintances and hopefully friends very soon. I barely knew her, but there was something about her that made me want to keep her around.

"How's Dallas?" Amber asked.

"He's sleeping. Now that his soul's returned to his body, Dad has arranged for our best healers to get him back in shape in no time."

"That's awesome," I said. Amber nodded. I could see her relief.

Cass blew her nose and wiped a hand over her cheeks. "You've no idea how much your help means to me." I didn't want to point out I never offered my help. They had actually kidnapped me in order to make a deal. And the deal had been a tempting one. She could read my mind anyway, so I'm pretty sure she got the message loud and clear. I smiled and let her continue, "I promised you would get to see Theo if you helped Dallas. You kept your part of the bargain, and now it's time for me to keep mine."

I took a deep breath and shot Thrain a hopeful look. He smiled at me encouragingly, then nodded. "I'm ready," I said, meaning every word. Hundreds of thoughts raced through my mind. How would I see my sister? Would Amber summon her from the otherworld? Would Cass be opening a portal so I could peer in? Or would someone play vessel? Wringing my hands in my lap, I smiled at myself, happy to finally get to see, hear or feel my sister again. It meant the world to me.

Cass flicked her phone open and typed in some numbers. The air began to crackle as though charged with electricity. A moment later, I felt a pull on my left arm that hung over the couch.

"Chop chop. We only have a minute before this thing closes, and I can't guarantee it will open again any time soon." Cass grabbed my arm to pull me up. Her grip was gentle, slightly impatient, but not forceful. I wondered whether the resurrection of her mate meant she had lost her reaper abilities.

"Yep," Cass said, grinning. "Can't pretend I'm not happy. While it might be fun to fly to places, those wings on my back weighted a ton. Another week and I would've resembled a Pterosaurs." When she noticed my confused expression, she laughed. "Doesn't ring a bell? They're, like, big, winged dinosaurs. Fast and strong, and deadly." Thrain said she used to be bubbly prior to her transformation. I could certainly see that now as Cass kept chatting.

Aidan pinched her biceps, winking at me. "Don't worry, Cass. You're nowhere near." She slapped his hand away, smiling, then motioned me to follow. I stood and stepped through the portal into…sizzling heat.

A hot gust blew my hair into my face, reminding me of popping my hands into an oven to pull out a hot dish, except that the temperature here was so high I almost expected my skin to melt. Cass pointed at the cracking, black earth under our feet. The fissures were the size of my forearm with white steam rising out of them.

"Aw, can't believe I've missed this place," Cass said.

"Me too," Amber said. "I kinda liked our tiny house in Distros."

Thrain leaned in to explain. "That's the second highest dimension of Hell." I felt my eyes widen. Then again, why was I even surprised? If the view didn't scream scorching heat, which doesn't quite fit the idea of Heaven, the smell certainly did.

I didn't need another confirmation that Hell existed, and I hoped—prayed—Theo wouldn't be here forever. I covered my nose to escape the biting stench of sulfur and forced myself to breathe through my open mouth.

"It's coming from the volcanoes over there." Cass pointed behind us to the hills in the distance. I gaped in awe at the huge mountains and the red sky. Foul-smelling gases seemed to shimmer in the setting sun. Bright orange magma erupted from the top, spreading in a wide circle like a huge halo, then flowed down at a leisurely speed, leaving a trail of liquid lava in its wake.

"Let's go. Dad's waiting," Cass said, taking off down what seemed to be a path, but I couldn't be sure because it was covered in dust and dry twigs and branches. We passed a large formation of boulders. The farther we marched through this deserted place, the faster Cass seemed to move. By the time we reached a tall fence, almost a foot taller than me, rivulets of sweat trickled down my body.

Cass opened the gate and let us into a large yard with yet more dying trees and a wilted lawn. My gaze wandered past the cobblestone path to the imposing building stretching against the sky. It was the biggest mansion I had ever seen, all red brick with huge bay windows and pretty turrets on the roof. Stretching up the walls were vines and rosebushes with thorns as large as my thumb. But what caught my attention were the stone gargoyles peering at us through eyes as black as coal. Feeling watched, I inched closer to Thrain, who wrapped his arm around me, and I swear for a moment I thought one of the gargoyles turned his head to follow me. Its lips pulled back to reveal fletched, razor sharp teeth. One of them shifted slowly and let out a piercing shriek.

"Spooky, huh?" Thrain whispered. "You should see them at night when their eyes turn red and fluorescent. They look like the miniature of Cass's hellhound. That one's not a pretty sight either."

"Are they alive?" My gaze settled on them. I almost expected them to jump down from their crouching position, spread their huge wings, and lunge at me to sink their teeth into my flesh.

"Very much so," Thrain said. "They're demons of a lower order with the sole purpose to protect the Big Boss." Aka the green-eyed guy I had seen after reuniting Dallas's soul with his body.

The huge mahogany door opened before us, freaking me out a bit. Cass motioned us to follow her into the tiled hall with several vases with fresh tulips. The walls were kept in an understated white, the only picture on the wall showed a young girl with red, braided hair and an infectious smile leaning over a huge, dog-like creature with a head so large it could probably swallow the child in one whole piece.

"That's her pet?" I whispered.

Thrain nodded, amused. "Yep. Don't ask to cuddle it though 'cause it's known to bite off a limb or two."

I puffed. Cuddling this beast was the last thing on my mind. In fact, the picture would probably haunt me in my dreams for the next few months. We followed Cass through a door to our left into a modern living room kept in yet more white with gray and red. In the middle of the room, leather couchs were set up around a glass table in front of a fireplace. Black and white paintings with silver frames built a strong contrast to the blood red carpet covering the marble floor. Polished silver candleholders sparkled in the soft glow falling in through the windows covering the entire wall. It looked understated and yet so chic, I could swear it had been copied out of a magazine.

"Like it?" Cass smiled. I nodded enthusiastically, truly meaning it.

"Whoever designed this has amazing taste," I said.

She giggled and turned to the door a moment before it burst open and a huge guy hurried in, covering the entire length of the room in two long strides. Thrain bowed deeply.

"Dad." Cass fell into his arms. He laughed and planted a kiss on her red hair. His twinkling green eyes fell on me, and for a moment I forgot to breathe. The guy was even more gorgeous than in my vision. His white shirt with just one fashionable button undone stretched over his bulging muscles. I stared at the way his black hair fell against his broad shoulders, wondering whether it was as soft and dense as it seemed.

"You're kidding me. What's wrong with you, guys? First Amber couldn't stop gawking and now you," Cass said, peeling herself away from him. "Get a grip, mate. He's my dad. Do you have any idea how old he is? Like, ancient."

"Sofia. I'm Lucifer. Thank you for saving my daughter. I'll be forever in your debt." He inched forward and reached out his hand. I grabbed it in a slack grip, lost for words because I had never imagined the devil to be so—

"Gorgeous, handsome, fit?" Cass rolled her eyes, then turned to peer out the door. "Where's Dallas?"

"You mean this young man?" Lucifer stepped aside to free the view onto the hall. In the doorway stood the blond guy from my vision, his hands were buried deep in his pockets. A hesitant smile played on his lips. His wounds were gone, leaving a red scar behind.

The voodoo ritual had worked, which was proof I could tap into my powers and help a lost soul find his way back to his body. I looked at Cass expectantly, waiting for her to rush for him and give him the same enthusiastic greeting she had given her father, but she didn't. Instead, her lips began to quiver and tears streamed down her face. I could only hope it was the joy that froze her to the spot.

"I'm sorry, Dallas," she finally said.

He inched closer and wrapped his arms around her. A sob escaped her throat. The air was charged with tension. Who knew reunions could be as difficult as goodbyes?

"I'm so sorry," she said for the umpteenth time. "For lying, for deceiving, for misleading you. I would never have done it were it not for this stupid curse."

"That will bind you to Hell until you marry your soulmate," he finished the sentence, wiping her tears off her cheeks. "I knew you were lying, Cass. Your whole story didn't make much sense. I just thought you would start telling the truth at some point, you know, for the sake of our relationship. But you never did, until it was too late."

Watching Cass crying, I realized how fragile she was when I thought she was the strongest of us. Dallas pulled her against his chest and whispered soothing words I couldn't discern. Eventually, Cass's crying subsided and she turned away from him, still holding his hand as though she feared she would lose him again.

"Dallas," Amber called out.

He noticed us then. The way his eyes sparkled, I could see his joy at reuniting with his sister. "Hey, sis. What's with the pale as a ghost look? I thought I was the goner." Grinning, he pointed at her pale face and grabbed her in a tight hug.
It was a happy reunion that reminded me I still hadn't seen my sister, but I didn't want to spoil their special moment.

"Great job, Sofia." Lucifer nodded and disappeared behind one of the big doors, only to reappear a few seconds later.

"What's so funny?" Cass said. My attention snapped back to her.

Dallas shook his head. "Nothing."

"You don't believe this curse exists. You think I made it up." Her voice betrayed reproach and a very short temper.

Dallas raised his hands in mock defense. " Of course I believe you. It's just that your birthday is in less than a week."

"Thanks for pointing out that you're not ready to marry me," she scoffed. I peered from Amber to Cass and then back to Amber whose expression mirrored my thoughts.

She whispered to me, "Trouble in paradise, and this after five minutes together. Isn't love grand?"

I had no idea what that curse entailed, but I could tell whatever it was the guy had no intention to marry her. I felt sorry for Cass. Lying wasn't exactly a desirable trait, but whatever fibs she had told him couldn't be so bad when she had just saved his life.

"Go out and enjoy your last days of freedom," Dallas said. "I'll be here, waiting for you."

"You're such a moron." Amber marched over and punched his shoulder. "Why don't you just marry her? You share a bond, you idiot, and she just saved your life. The least you could do is get rid of that commitment phobia of yours and tie the knot."

I nodded, even though I lacked the background knowledge and the whole situation wasn't even my business.

"She's right, Dallas," Aidan said.

"I never said I wouldn't marry her," Dallas said. "Just not now. I want us to get to know each other without all the lies and the deceit, which is why I'm staying here with you." His hand brushed Cass's hair out of her face. "Are you listening? I'm not going anywhere. Just no more lying, Cass."

Her hand clenched and unclenched. As the Princess of Darkness Cass was probably used to getting her way, so someone defying her wishes wasn't helping her short temper.

"Cass?" Lucifer said. The warning in his voice didn't go unnoticed. Her shoulders slumped slightly, but her fists remained clenched.

"I need a timeline. How long am I supposed to stay here, locked up in this prison?" she asked.

Dallas shook his head, grinning. "As long as it takes."

"No."

"I'm ready to negotiate…in private." He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the hall, disappearing with her down the hall.

"Just don't try to do anything funny. I can still hear you," Lucifer yelled after them. I thought it was just a joke, until he turned and I noticed his dead serious expression. "I believe you came here for something in particular."

My palms started to sweat. A shiver ran down my spine. Thrain wrapped his arm around my shoulder to steady me, misinterpreting my sudden shaking.

"Theo! Care to join us?" Lucifer's voice sounded soft and tender, like a father speaking to a child.

I craned my neck to get a better glimpse at the fourteen year old girl appearing in the hall. Her long, flowing, white dress gave her the appearance of an angel floating above the ground. Her blonde hair looked like a glowing curtain, reaching down to her waist.

My breath caught in my throat as I reached out for her to close her in my arms. She felt so tiny and fragile, so lost. Huge sobs rippled the air. It took me a while to realize they were my own.

"They said I could see you soon, but I never believed it," Theo whispered, wiping away the tears covering my cheeks.

I laughed through my ebbing sobs. "For the last six months I've been wanting to tell you how sorry I am for what happened."

"It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have been so careless," Theo whispered. Yes, that was my sister, always blaming herself.

From the corner of my eye, I watched the others pouring out of the room and the door closing behind them. I sat down on the couch with Theo in my arms, my hands brushing her soft, almost white hair as we lost ourselves in a long talk, recalling the past to fill in the blanks that had always made me doubt Theo's death had been an accident.