Once we’re all at the top, the guards continue down a long hall with ceilings two stories high. Paintings line the wall, each one darker and more twisted than the last. They depict the King of Hell ruling the Lowerworld. It’s chilling and disturbing. It’s also a reminder about why we’re here and what’s at stake.
At the end of the hall are two massive statues that flank another iron door. The face on one statue—I’ve seen before. In the temple, well, and in his son’s features. It’s Lucifer. The opposite is a horrifying goat-faced demon. Horns protrude from his head and his feet are cloven. Etched into the bottom are the numbers 666. It’s then that I glance between the two, realizing they are one and the same. Lucifer’s human face as well as his demon one.
My breath catches, and I tear my eyes from the hooved creature. If we have to face the demon one…I’m not sure I’ll have the strength.
That, and all other thoughts vanish as we enter the courtroom. It was warm outside, but as I enter the room it becomes insufferable. Brimstone wafts from massive firepits surrounding the room, but the center focus of the court is a lavish throne.
No.
Not the throne.
The man sitting in the throne.
He’s in his human form and for a moment I gasp, shocked at how much Luke looks like him. It’s uncanny and makes my stomach twist uncomfortably.
“Holy shit,” Elizabeth mutters behind me. At what exactly, I’m not sure. It could be anything; the throne, the fires, the King of Hell preening down at us with a fucking crown on his head. “Look in the cage.”
Cage?
My eyes drop to the metal cage, built with spikes pointing inward and out. Curled into a ball inside is a figure, skin covered in oozing puncture wounds. He lifts his face and I see him, truly see him, in the flickering light.
It’s Roland.
Without minding my place, I blurt, “I thought he worked for you. Why is he a prisoner?”
Lucifer laughs, bold and rumbling. It shakes the walls of the court.
“Welcome, Valkyrie, I’ve heard so much about you.”
I lift my chin as my allies are lined up next to me. Elizabeth remains on one side. Marshal on the other. We’re flanked by Immortals.
“Do you know what this court is about?” he asks me.
“I assume it’s where you condemn the souls sent to you from across the realms.”
His eyebrow lifts. “Not entirely un-true, but this specific court is for trying Heretics. The non-believers. Roland didn’t believe in me, he believed in himself and himself alone. That’s a grave violation, and he’s being punished accordingly.”
“Then why are we here?” Agis asks.
“Because everyone that travels through the circles must pass through this court. Prove their allegiance to me.”
Rupert clears his throat. I look down the line and see his red hair shining in the firelight, a deep frown on his face. “We may not worship you, but I think everyone standing before you believes in you and your power. Is that enough to clear our case?”
Seems too easy to be true. The grin on Lucifer’s face confirms this.
“You are believers in my power, but you believe in something more than me, more than the other gods that rule the realms.” His black eyes pin on me. “You all worship at the feet of the Valkyrie.” His statement shocks me, but not one of my allies protests. Lucifer continues, “Unfortunately for Roland, he didn’t believe in you either. But it doesn’t matter. To stop me you had to come to me whole. Five Immortals plus the Valkyrie. You’re one short.”
Confirmation. That’s what he just gave me, that the key to all of this was the balance of the Guardians. Five, plus one. I jerk my eyes to his. “We have those numbers. We re-created the balance. Miya,” I swallow the pain that follows his name. “We replaced him.”
Every eye shifts to Luke, who stands nearest to Roland’s cage. He’d come through for us so many times. He led us through the circles, gave us guidance, and ultimately filled the gaping hole left in our group. But right now, I don’t see that person. I don’t see the man that brought us together, that I made love to, that I bonded with.
I see the face of a boy afraid of his father.
“Luke,” his father calls, pride shining in his eyes, “you have exceeded all of my expectations. You infiltrated a group of highly trained warriors, pushed past their defenses and gained their trust.” Lucifer nods to one of the guards to hand him a sheathed blade. He holds it out, the engraved metal glinting. The already sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach knots tighter and bile pushes up my throat. I know that sword. Marshal stiffens next to me. He knows, too. “A gift, for your loyalty.”
Luke steps forward and reaches for the sword. Before he touches it, I grind out, “Don’t. Don’t do this Luke. Don’t you dare take Miya’s sword.”
Lucifer laughs and nods to his son. “Kill him.”