Darrak glared at him, feeling the pull of the Void behind him. “And you’re trying to convince me that you’re not Lucifer.”
“I’m not Lucifer.”
“How do I know that for sure?”
Theo inspected his fingernails for a moment. “Because if I was Lucifer I would have already gone Sparta on your ass and kicked you into the Void just to see the look of shock on your face.”
He had an excellent point.
“Does everyone get a deal like this before they’re gone forever?”
“No,” Theo said. “Most are introduced to the Void like a balled-up piece of garbage tossed into a garbage can before they have any idea what’s going on, rather than moseying up to the edge like this all subtle-like.”
“Then why me?”
“Because I think you could still be useful to me.”
Darrak wracked his mind, trying to find the answers he needed. “Are you one of the other demon lords? You want me to work exclusively for you if I agree to this? Keep the soul energy away from Lucifer?”
“I’m not a demon lord. And your time is ticking away. Just over two minutes left.”
The draw of the gaping chasm of darkness behind him was growing stronger, he felt it like long fingers sliding underneath his skin, like branches growing up over the jagged cement sides and wrapping around his ankles. It would be pointless to try to fight it. It already had him in its clutches, but now it was waiting before yanking him that last bit backward.
But something kept Darrak fighting, hoping for a solution.
A demon who hoped. Sure, that made sense.
What was down there? Would he land somewhere eventually? Is that where the rumor of the torturous pain came from before you were finally gone forever? Who started that rumor if no one had ever survived the plunge? He was in pain right now, but it was still manageable. He’d experienced much worse in his long existence.
“What do you care about, demon?” Theo asked.
Strange question. “Care about?”
“Is it only yourself? In these last minutes, are you only concerned about yourself and your own well- being?”
“It is top of mind.”
“But not completely. If it was, then you’d already have given me your answer. I need you to speak the words, demon. Say you’re willing to devote your future to killing innocent humans in order to save your own skin. Come on, it’ll be totally fun. Any normal demon would have already jumped on this opportunity, and you know it.”
“Can’t it be evil humans?” Darrak hated the catch in his voice as he said it. “Criminals, serial killers, blackhearted assholes with no chance at redemption?”
Theo laughed. “You’re hilarious. Of course not. What value does a black soul have down here? Zero. Just more cannon fodder. The true value in a place of ultimate darkness comes from the smallest infusion of light.”
He wanted to say yes. He did. But something stopped him, something apart from the invisible ropes that now tied him to the Void. Something else wrapped around his chest and squeezed tight.
“Thirty seconds, demon.” Theo crossed his arms.
Thirty seconds to decide his ultimate fate.
That redhead… had he really seen her? Was she just a figment of his imagination? Why did he think of her now when he was so close to the end? This was it. If he wasn’t able to wrap his mouth around the word
His mind went again to the kids — his first assignment after saving his own sorry neck. It was a deal he once would have taken in a second and not given it another moment’s thought.
But he wasn’t that demon anymore. And he never would be again.
Oh, hell.
“That deal of yours?” Darrak said.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you go ahead and shove it right up your ass?”
Theo’s lips curved. “Is that your answer? Are you saying no to me?”
A small part of him was screaming, wanting to change his mind while there was still a chance to survive, say anything to get out of this. But a larger part of him knew without any doubt that this was the right thing to do.
The right thing. A demon choosing to do something because it was the right thing to do. Hilarious.
“I’d tell you to go to Hell,” he said firmly. “But that would be a bit moot. My answer is no. Capital N, capital O. And that
For emphasis, he gave the grinning entity the finger.
Theo cocked his head. “So it’s true, you have changed.”
Darrak just glowered at him. Then he staggered back a step as the Void’s hold on him tightened another notch.
“One final chance, demon.”
Darrak’s fists clenched. “Blow me.”
“No, thanks.” Theo shrugged. “Okay, I asked three times. You answered three times. It is decided. For the record, I think you should feel really good about yourself. Go you! Buh-bye now.”
The Void’s grip tightened like an iron fist, pulling Darrak backward. He fell to the ground and clawed at the cement. The very edge of the cliff face pushed against his shoe before it broke away, and then he was hanging on to the side of the Void by only his hands, his feet dangling over endless darkness.
Was this really it? Was he willing to give up?
Something kept him holding on. Something with as much of a grip on him as the damn Void had. He couldn’t let go. Not yet.
“Theo! Get back here!” he yelled, calling the name of the friend he’d already lost. The entity using Theo’s face didn’t reappear. He was gone, his job was done, and Darrak was alone to face his chosen fate.
No rewards in Hell for making the selfless decision, that was for damn sure.
This wasn’t a huge surprise.
It felt as if they’d been walking forever when a voice echoed off the dark brick buildings surrounding them.
“Theo! Get back here!”
Eden gasped. “That’s Darrak! It’s him!”
Andy started running then, although it wasn’t without effort. Whatever was in the air around here was starting to cause him some pain.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
A hand clamped down on her shoulder. She spun to see who it was and was shocked to see the face of Theo, Darrak’s demonic BFF who’d been destroyed two weeks ago.
He didn’t exist. Not anymore. And yet here he was.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Theo said.
“Let go of me.” She tried to summon her magic, but it fizzled in her hand before she could get even a spark going.
“It’s too late, Eden. Let him go.”
She glared at him. “Never!”
She turned and ran, racing around the corner up ahead and then skidded to a halt, shocked at what she saw stretching out before her. There was a huge crater in the ground that reminded her of the Grand Canyon. She’d been there once as a kid; her mom had taken the day away from the tables to take Eden on a helicopter ride above
