Lucifer, who’s impervious to injury, picks up the smoking cauldron and puts it in the middle of the pentagram. I stand at one point and hold out my hands, casting a circle around us to contain the portal. Carefully, I scoop out the herbs and arrange them where they need to be, with the glass ball containing the soul next to the cauldron.
I have to set the intention next, which won’t be hard since I cannot wait to get the fuck out of here. Inhaling, I hold out both hands for Julian and Lucifer to take. The wound on my left palm from where I sliced my hand to close the gates is still tender, but I ignore the sting of pain I feel when Julian takes my hand.
“Ignis,” I whisper, and the herbs burst into flames. When the remains are nothing but ash, the portal will close. The fire is magical, being fueled by the powers inside the herbs rather than the herbs themselves. Inhaling slowly, I focus on my breathing to keep centered. It wouldn’t take much for me to accidentally burn the herbs up with hellfire, which would ruin the spell.
Once I’m sure I’m good, I close my eyes and imagine the big house that Lucas and I both call home. I’m standing right before the porch and feel the stone steps beneath my feet as I rush up the stairs. The front door creaks open, and that stupid balloon arch is still in the foyer. Everything looks how it did before I had Julian fly me down to Hell.
Energy swirls around us, and I hold onto my vision of the house for another few seconds before I open my eyes. Blue light shines in the center of the pentagram, so bright it’s almost blinding. It reminds me of the same magic that’s used to reveal the hidden door leading to the Covenstead.
“It worked,” I whisper, heart speeding up. My lips curve into a smile as I watch the portal grow big enough for us to step through.
Lucifer gives my hand a squeeze. “Ready to go home, kiddo?”
“So fucking—” I cut off when something bangs against the greenhouse doors.
“Lucifer!” a demon bellows, raspy voice reverberating off the walls and making the glass in the large windows rattle. “Lucifer Morningstar,” it repeats, and I jerk my head around, certain he’s right behind me. He’s whispering, yet his voice is loud. “I was once your most loyal servant. Now you protect the half-breed. Prove yourself our worthy leader once again by letting us bathe in its blood.”
Lucifer rolls his eyes and lets out an exasperated sigh, acting annoyed. It’s a classic Lucifer cover-up: be as dramatic as Eliza and make the problem not seem like a problem. But I know better, because I have a sinking feeling I know exactly who that demon is, and he’s the reason the gates were opened in the first place.
Paimon.
Chapter 4
“We should go.” Julian gives my hand a tug. “Now.”
“The portal,” I rush out. “It will stay open for four minutes if I did my calculations correct, but it could stay open even longer.” I look back at the door, fear making it hard to think straight. The rituals were preformed to use the Ley line to open the gates. We suspected Paimon of orchestrating them in his master plan to take over, probably in the same way Bael did.
But only someone with archangel blood can sit on the throne.
Paimon came to Hell with a plan, and I’m guessing getting trapped inside wasn’t part of it. Though now…now he knows he’s trapped inside with me, and we all know he doesn’t want to take an actual bath in my blood. He’s going to use me, just like his buddy Bael. If his plans are to possess me or make me his demon-bride, I don’t know. And I’m not about to find out.
“If Paimon gets in and can access the portal…” I trail off, shaking my head. “Four Horsemen on the loose are already enough.”
“He’s not going to,” Lucifer calmly tells me.
“How can you be sure?”
The door rattles again, and Lucifer starts to say something, but his voice is drowned out by whispers in my head.
Caaaallll-liiieee.
I freeze, feeling cold breath on my neck.
Callie.
I tip my head to the side, knowing I should ignore this voice, yet somehow I’m unable to.
You have questions, Callie. I have answers. Answers no one else can give you.
I go to blink, trying to clear my head, but when my eyes shut, I’m unable to open them, and suddenly, I’m standing in the same spot right here in the greenhouse, but I’m alone. The shadow of a man stands behind me, and a crown made of bones sits on his head. He slowly brings a hand up, moving my hair over my shoulder and to his face, inhaling deep.