Before I Wake
Page 99
Uncommon sense counts for even more.
Over there, Tod said, and I followed his gaze to see Sophie, Lydia, and Emma, obviously terrified and in tears, sitting in a row on a concrete picnic bench that had bled through intact from the human world. Nothing else from the human park still stood in the Netherworld, except for the pavilion, its canvas covering ripped and flapping in a breeze that smelled faintly of the rot from the lake. The park wasnt frequently or highly populated enough to bleed through in much detail.
In front of the bench, the three hellions stood arguing. I couldnt make out every word, but the gist was clear. They were arguing over which hellion would get which girl. Belphegore wanted the pretty onenot sure if she meant Emma or SophieInvidia was jealous of whichever one Belphegore wanted, and Avari insisted that he would get the first choice, because hed pulled the entire plan together.
But that was bullshit. He wanted first choice because he was a hellion of greed, and if he could possibly get away with taking all three of them, he would.
They argued like cartoon bad guys, but the hellions were omnipotent, damn near omnipresent, and immortal, as far as we could tell. Their only weaknesses were the character flaws they embodied and fed from. They couldnt be hurt with anything originating from our world, and as far as I knew, they were impervious to most of the dangers the Netherworld had to offer.
We were in way over our heads.
Id never seen Belphegore in her own skin before, but I wasnt surprised to see that she was unspeakably beautiful, as a hellion of vanity ought to be. What did surprise me was that the moment I turned away from her, I couldnt remember what she looked like. Not because she wasnt beautifulshe wasbut because she was so generically flawless that no one feature stood out enough to be remembered. She was average height, with skin that could have belonged to any human ethnicity. Her hair was neither short nor long, and neither light nor dark, but seemed to change slightly every time my gaze returned to her.
Was beauty so impossible to define? So pointless that it couldnt be accurately remembered? What must it feel like to be the most beautiful creature in all of existence, but be forgotten the moment you leave the room?
Was that how Aunt Val had felt?
Luca was the first to ask the obvious question, pulling me from my own thoughts. What do the demons want them for?
The moment he spoke, all three hellions turned to look at us, like theyd been expecting us all along. And, of course, they had been. Avari disappeared, then reappeared close enough to whisper in Lucas ear. Why dont you join us and find out?
Before we could answeror think, or plan, or runhe grabbed Luca and disappeared again, then reappeared beneath the pavilion, where he shoved Luca onto the bench next to Emma.
Okay, plan? I whispered, glancing from one Hudson brother to the other.
Nash huffed. We probably should have come up with one before we crossed over.
Its not like we had notice or anything, Tod said.
Only two of us can cross, I said, eyeing our friends on the bench. Even if we could get to them, I dont know how many I can take at once. And the hellions could probably hear every word we were saying.
Maybe you should go get help? Tod whispered.
Your mom?
No! both Hudson brothers said.
Levi, or Madeline, Tod suggested.
The more, the merrier, Avari said, and somehow, his voice came from right next to me, though he hadnt left the pavilion. Bring Madeline. I havent yet made her acquaintance.
No! Emma shouted, with what may have been the last of her strength. Dont bring Madeline. Avari needs her.
Tod and Nash both glanced at me, and I knew what they were thinking. What could unite three hellions who hated one another, and why the hell would they want Madeline?
Thane slapped Emma, and she gasped, then kicked him in the shin, still holding her side with one hand. He pulled his hand back to hit her again, but Luca stood and shoved Thane back, glaring silently, and the reaper actually stayed back. Tod wasnt the only member of the undead unnerved by the necromancer.
Sophie was sniffling quietly. Lydia looked paralyzed with fear and pain, and I realized she was syphoning some of Emmas pain. Neither of them would last long like that.
Come on. I wasnt sure what the hellions were up to, but we couldnt help anyone from fifty feet away. I marched down the slight incline toward the pavilion and both Tod and Nash followed me.
dont need Madeline, Thane was saying when we got within earshot. I told you, she can do it. He looked pointedly at me.
I can do what? I asked.
You lying, traitorous bastard, Tod spat, but Thane only shrugged.
We do what we have to do to survive. You promised to try to recover my soul if I helped you. Avari promised to give it back if I helped him. The difference is that he cant lie, and you can. I had to go with the sure thing.
Is this a trade? I asked Avari. You want me? Fine. Im here. Ill trade myself for all four of them, I said, glancing at my friends lined up on the bench.
Oh, were way beyond a simple trade, Belphegore said. Avari can no longer afford to keep you for himself, and these four meat sacks are all necessary for our little project. She waved one hand at the bench and its occupants.
Over there, Tod said, and I followed his gaze to see Sophie, Lydia, and Emma, obviously terrified and in tears, sitting in a row on a concrete picnic bench that had bled through intact from the human world. Nothing else from the human park still stood in the Netherworld, except for the pavilion, its canvas covering ripped and flapping in a breeze that smelled faintly of the rot from the lake. The park wasnt frequently or highly populated enough to bleed through in much detail.
In front of the bench, the three hellions stood arguing. I couldnt make out every word, but the gist was clear. They were arguing over which hellion would get which girl. Belphegore wanted the pretty onenot sure if she meant Emma or SophieInvidia was jealous of whichever one Belphegore wanted, and Avari insisted that he would get the first choice, because hed pulled the entire plan together.
But that was bullshit. He wanted first choice because he was a hellion of greed, and if he could possibly get away with taking all three of them, he would.
They argued like cartoon bad guys, but the hellions were omnipotent, damn near omnipresent, and immortal, as far as we could tell. Their only weaknesses were the character flaws they embodied and fed from. They couldnt be hurt with anything originating from our world, and as far as I knew, they were impervious to most of the dangers the Netherworld had to offer.
We were in way over our heads.
Id never seen Belphegore in her own skin before, but I wasnt surprised to see that she was unspeakably beautiful, as a hellion of vanity ought to be. What did surprise me was that the moment I turned away from her, I couldnt remember what she looked like. Not because she wasnt beautifulshe wasbut because she was so generically flawless that no one feature stood out enough to be remembered. She was average height, with skin that could have belonged to any human ethnicity. Her hair was neither short nor long, and neither light nor dark, but seemed to change slightly every time my gaze returned to her.
Was beauty so impossible to define? So pointless that it couldnt be accurately remembered? What must it feel like to be the most beautiful creature in all of existence, but be forgotten the moment you leave the room?
Was that how Aunt Val had felt?
Luca was the first to ask the obvious question, pulling me from my own thoughts. What do the demons want them for?
The moment he spoke, all three hellions turned to look at us, like theyd been expecting us all along. And, of course, they had been. Avari disappeared, then reappeared close enough to whisper in Lucas ear. Why dont you join us and find out?
Before we could answeror think, or plan, or runhe grabbed Luca and disappeared again, then reappeared beneath the pavilion, where he shoved Luca onto the bench next to Emma.
Okay, plan? I whispered, glancing from one Hudson brother to the other.
Nash huffed. We probably should have come up with one before we crossed over.
Its not like we had notice or anything, Tod said.
Only two of us can cross, I said, eyeing our friends on the bench. Even if we could get to them, I dont know how many I can take at once. And the hellions could probably hear every word we were saying.
Maybe you should go get help? Tod whispered.
Your mom?
No! both Hudson brothers said.
Levi, or Madeline, Tod suggested.
The more, the merrier, Avari said, and somehow, his voice came from right next to me, though he hadnt left the pavilion. Bring Madeline. I havent yet made her acquaintance.
No! Emma shouted, with what may have been the last of her strength. Dont bring Madeline. Avari needs her.
Tod and Nash both glanced at me, and I knew what they were thinking. What could unite three hellions who hated one another, and why the hell would they want Madeline?
Thane slapped Emma, and she gasped, then kicked him in the shin, still holding her side with one hand. He pulled his hand back to hit her again, but Luca stood and shoved Thane back, glaring silently, and the reaper actually stayed back. Tod wasnt the only member of the undead unnerved by the necromancer.
Sophie was sniffling quietly. Lydia looked paralyzed with fear and pain, and I realized she was syphoning some of Emmas pain. Neither of them would last long like that.
Come on. I wasnt sure what the hellions were up to, but we couldnt help anyone from fifty feet away. I marched down the slight incline toward the pavilion and both Tod and Nash followed me.
dont need Madeline, Thane was saying when we got within earshot. I told you, she can do it. He looked pointedly at me.
I can do what? I asked.
You lying, traitorous bastard, Tod spat, but Thane only shrugged.
We do what we have to do to survive. You promised to try to recover my soul if I helped you. Avari promised to give it back if I helped him. The difference is that he cant lie, and you can. I had to go with the sure thing.
Is this a trade? I asked Avari. You want me? Fine. Im here. Ill trade myself for all four of them, I said, glancing at my friends lined up on the bench.
Oh, were way beyond a simple trade, Belphegore said. Avari can no longer afford to keep you for himself, and these four meat sacks are all necessary for our little project. She waved one hand at the bench and its occupants.
