Reign of Night (The Thorne Hill Series Book 7)

by Emily Goodwin

  The demon’s inky eyes meet mine, holding my gaze for a beat before laughing. “You don’t have the power to do that.”

  “Damn, that’s disappointing,” I say, shaking my head. “I thought I had a better reputation than that. I mean, if you’re asking for me by name, I figured you’d know I was the one who brought forth the fires from Hell and watched Bael burn in front of me. I can easily do it again, and it is rather cold in here.” I hold both hands in front of me, slowly curling my fingers into my fists and extinguishing the energy ball. I’ve never summoned hellfire inside, and the thought crosses my mind that I could easily burn the building down.

  As I concentrated on centering myself rather than pulling raw power from my anger, flames start to flicker in the palm of my hand. “So, what’s it gonna be? Do you want to burn or do you feel like talking?”

  “It is true,” the demon says, tipping his head as he looks at the hellfire in my hand, and now I’m second-guessing if it was a mistake to summon it. I’m supposed to be keeping my identity as Queen of Hell a secret, and here I am flaunting it, though to be fair, I could control hellfire before putting a crown of it on my head. “He will be pleased when I give you to him.”

  “That’s not happening,” Lucas tells the demon as he moves closer to me.

  “Who?” I press, slowly wiggling my fingers to keep the fire burning.

  “Our new boss,” the demon replies. “And haven’t you heard? He doesn’t want us to hide in the shadows anymore. Instead of waiting for souls to come to us, we can come here where they’re free for the taking.”

  “I’m really sorry to say this—actually, I’m not—but you’re not the first demon to have told me that. And every time you losers come up with this grand plan to destroy the world, well, we’re still here, aren’t we?”

  The demon laughs, wild smile splitting his face. “Maybe before, but things are different now.”

  The hellfire starts to extinguish itself from my fear. Because the demon is right. Things are different now.

  Chapter 13

  “The party is just getting started,” the demon snarls. “And everyone’s excited.”

  “I’ve never been accused of being a buzzkill, but fuck it. I’m crashing your party.” I stride forward and put my hands on either side of the demon’s head. “Daemonium mori!” I say, and hellfire springs from my hands once more, burning the demon from the inside out. The red flames turn blue, and in a matter of seconds, there’s nothing but ash and bone left.

  “I thought you were going to use him to send a message.” Easton’s eyes are on the smoldering remains.

  “He pissed me off.” I run my fingers through my hair, looking at the ashes on the floor. “Fuck.”

  “What?” Melinda asks. “You seem unnerved, and it’s making me unnerved. You don’t really think he was serious, do you?”

  “Of course not,” Easton answers for me. “And she said it. Demons try to bring Hell to earth time after time, but it hasn’t happened. And that thing about a new boss? He was talking out of his ass to try and scare us. Don’t worry about it, sis.”

  I look at Lucas, brows pushed together. We should worry about it, and this is exactly what I feared. “The demon was right about one thing.”

  “What?” Easton and Melinda say at the same time.

  I feel the same fluttering feeling in my abdomen, reminding me of how little time we have to figure this all out. The room is dark again, but Lucas can see the tears pooling in my eyes. It’s so annoying that I’m an emotional mess right now.

  “Lucifer isn’t in Hell at the moment,” Lucas says, and his hand clasps around my waist.

  “How do you know that?” Easton asks.

  “I got a little clued in to some family drama,” I tell him.

  “What does that even mean?” Melinda asks. She’s still holding her flashlight, but it’s pointed at the ground, and her hand is trembling.

  “It means he busted himself out and wants to take an earth vacation,” I sum up. “But by being gone, the throne is empty, and—”

  “Demons want to take over,” Easton finishes. “That’s what he meant.” He motions to the ash on the ground. “The new boss…it’s a demon.”

  “Yeah, but only angels can sit on the throne, and I’m still not sure exactly how that works or if the throne is an actual throne or a figure of speech.”

  “That’s why Bael wanted to possess you, right?” Melinda pulls her arms in close to her body.

  “Right. He found a loophole, and being in a body with angel blood would enable him to overthrow Lucifer.”

  “Lucifer isn’t supposed to leave Hell?” Melinda asks.

  “No, he was cast down there as a punishment, and what I learned from my super-fast crash course on religion from Julian just today is that Hell was created along with Heaven and had demons before Lucifer was cast there.”

  “Is he going to go back?”

  “I’m sure he will eventually, but right now, no one knows where he is.” I shiver, and Lucas holds me close. I’m feeling overwhelmed again, where I know so much shit is wrong that I don’t even know where to start explaining. “Do you want to get something to eat? Or at least go somewhere with heat?”

  Melinda looks at Easton, who’s just as stunned. “Uh, sure,” he says and then motions to the floor. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “I’ll help,” Lucas says. “Go to the car,” her tells me. “Warm up and get off your feet.”

  “Okay,” I say with no arguing, surprising Lucas a bit, but it’s been one hell of a night. He gives me the key fob for the Mercedes.

  “Would you accompany her?” he asks Melinda, who immediately side-eyes Easton.

  “And leave me alone with you?” Easton retorts. “No fucking thank you.”

  “Oh please,” I huff. “Lucas won’t do anything to you.”

  “Only because you don’t want me to,” Lucas grumbles, and I roll my eyes.

  “I’m cold, a little freaked out, and have to pee, so hurry it up and get along.”

  Melinda picks up a canister of salt and puts it in her backpack. “I’ll walk you. It’s kind of icy, and those heels look dangerous. I can’t wear heels.”

  “You get used to them, though this was not a good choice of footwear for an exorcism.”

  She smiles, tension filling the air. I just told her Lucifer busted his butt out of Hell. Now’s not the time to be talking about shoes. We walk in silence the rest of the way, and she sits in the Mercedes with me so we can both warm up while we wait for the boys to come down.

  “You’re sure Lucifer isn’t in Hell?” she asks. “How…how does that even work? I thought he was cast down there with chains. How did he break free?”

  “He was, and I’m not exactly sure how he got out, but I do know he’s done it before. The last time was about twenty-five years ago, and Julian told me he went back willingly.”

  “What are the chances he’ll do that again, like tomorrow?”

  “Right?” I turn the heat up, knowing the chill I’m feeling isn’t entirely from the cold. “That would solve the biggest issue we have at hand right now.”

  “The whole concept is hard to fathom.” She pulls the hair tie from her ponytail and lets her light brown hair fall around her face. “Like…how does Hell work? I mean, I know Lucifer is in charge of the demons, so without him there, they’re just…just free to do whatever they want?”

  “I think so.” I recall Julian’s words about the demons older than Lucifer, the ones he locked up so he wouldn’t have to deal with them. What if they’re let out? How the hell do you fight a demon the devil himself is afraid of? “It’s not easy for lower-level demons to come and go unless a Gate has been opened. Obviously, they can come here from Hell, as the one possessing poor Kenny Gray showed us.” I rest my hands on my stomach, waiting to feel that little fluttering again. “A lot of those demons have been on earth for centuries already, tucked away in a demonic realm or on a spirit plane, waiting for some unsuspecting hu
man to have a seance and help them cross over. But the really bad guys, they should stay in Hell where they belong.”

  “Yeah, I’d definitely prefer it that way. If you need angel blood to sit on the throne, why are the other demons trying to take over?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe they’re going to reassign the hierarchies of Hell. I need to brush up on my demonology, but Hell has a court full of demons handpicked by Lucifer. He named them back when he was newly cast down there and pissed the fuck off, so you can be sure those demons are the baddest of the bad, and Julian told me demons were created from darkness and only know darkness.”

  “Well…fuck.”

  “Right?” I subconsciously rub my stomach.

  “Now what should we do?”

  “It’s simple. I’m going to find that new boss and kill him.”

  I lean back in the kitchen chair, comforted by the familiar surroundings of Lucas’s Lincoln Park house. Ordering a pizza and coming here seemed like the best plan, where we could talk freely without anyone hearing us. And there are strong wardings placed on this house, which is a plus.

  I just filled Easton in on what Melinda and I had talked about in the car but kept the part where I crowned myself Queen of Hell to myself. Everything is so complicated now, and I don’t know what’s considered a lie and what should be withheld for their benefit. The more you know can be dangerous when it comes to magic and demons, and now that word is spreading through the underworld, more and more demons will come looking for me.

  With roughly four months left until I give birth, I’m sure I’m going to be calling on Melinda and Easton for help again. I’ll have to tell them everything, though if Lucifer would just get his ass back down to Hell, it would put an end to this all.

  Though I know it’s not that easy.

  He can’t go back to Hell—where demons have organized a revolt—snap his fingers, and have things go back to the way they used to be. Or can he? It would be really nice, Dad, if you could pop on over and stay long enough to actually answer some of my questions, dammit.

  “And you haven’t heard from…from…him in a while?” Easton asks, meaning Lucifer. He’s had the same piece of pizza on his plate since we sat down, evidence to how shocked he is. I’m right about there as well, though I did eat a full-course meal at a fancy restaurant only a few hours ago.

  “Right,” I tell him. “I haven’t heard from him or my father since the day after Thanksgiving. And I have a feeling we won’t hear from them anytime soon. Every time Michael comes to earth, it puts us both at risk of being discovered.”

  Again.

  “Even Julian just flies in and out now. Today was the first time I’ve seen him in a while, and he just came to dump some information and fly off again before anyone noticed he was hanging out with me.”

  “How did Bael figure out who you were?” Easton asks. He knows Bael is dead because I let him know, but he doesn’t know the details of it.

  “There are a handful of demons who believed the Nephilim child has never been murdered, like I was supposed to be, and have been looking for me.”

  “Do you think more will come looking?”

  “I’m sure of it,” I say and pick a pepperoni off my pizza. I’m not really hungry, but the pizza smells good. Plus, I can’t drink away my nerves, so I might as well binge eat. “And they either want to use me or kill me. Assholes.” I let out a breath. “So I need to find this new boss and kill him before he raises hell in, well, Hell.”

  “Really? You need to find and kill him?” Lucas asks pointedly. He wanted me to swear off demon hunting the second we found out I was pregnant, and I don’t blame him, really. I’d love to take nine months off, but we both know I’m the best and possibly only one for this job. As the possible candidate to be next in line to rule Hell, I could use this as an example of why you shouldn’t mess with me.

  Queen Callie takes no demonic shit, and all.

  “I think this is a lot bigger than you’re making it out to be,” Easton finally says, having to force each word out because he doesn’t want to admit it himself.

  “No,” I immediately counter, ignoring Lucas’s gaze on me. “Someone wants to take over Hell. I find him, I kill him, and there’s no new boss to bring Hell to earth. Easy-peasy. It’s not like I haven’t killed demons before.”

  “Let me know how to help,” Easton quickly responds. “And I’ll be there.”

  “I don’t know.” Melinda nervously folds her napkin in half and then half again. “Angels…Lucifer…it is way bigger than anything we usually deal with. And I know you’re going to hate me for saying this, Easton, but we’re human. Yeah, we’ve been training for this since we could walk, but I can’t hold hellfire in my hand. I’m not going to run away with my tail tucked between my legs, but I’m feeling a little helpless here, and I think you should be, too.”

  She looks at her brother, and I feel bad for the fear I see in her eyes. It’s not my fault Lucifer is free, not at all, and I’m getting more and more pissed at him as time goes by. I get it, to an extent at least, and I wouldn’t want to be damned to Hell, either. But doesn’t he know the risks he’s imposing on not just me but the whole freaking world?

  “It might not even come to it,” I rush out. “Lucifer has returned to Hell before, and he’ll do it again, I’m sure of it.”

  Everyone looks at me like I’m off my rocker, and maybe I am. But, dammit, I want so badly to believe Lucifer will do the right thing. He’s the devil, but only because he was made to be so. Maybe it’s wrong of me—naive, even—to believe he’s not evil, but I just can’t see him in that light.

  He’s not the dark lord he’s been pictured as. He’s family, and if anyone knows how it feels to be cast out and sentenced to a life away from those you thought loved you, it’s us.

  Bael busted his own ass out of jail, and Lucifer had nothing to do with it. I get why both he and my father spun that lie, blaming a powerful demon for Remiel’s demise. But Lucifer did nothing wrong. He risked just as much as Michael to protect me, after all…right?

  “Well, if it doesn’t, you know where to find us.” Easton finally takes a bite of his pizza, and I pick another pepperoni off mine, wishing my familiars were here to eat it because they’re suddenly unappetizing. I should have just ordered plain cheese.

  “I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” I go on. “But we’ve been around the block long enough not to kid ourselves.”

  “Right,” Melinda says, looking like she’s going to need a Xanax to sleep tonight. “And in the meantime, is there anything we can help you with?”

  “No,” I say with certainty. “I’m trying to take the next few months off, though if you happen to notice any—” I cut off when Lucas’s gaze weighs heavily on me. “If you think the world is gonna end, give me a heads up.”

  Her lips curve into a forced smile. “I can do that. And let me know, too? I don’t want to be blindsided like the dinosaurs.”

  I laugh. “I will totally let you know if a meteor is headed this way.” I pick off another pepperoni and take a bite of pizza, setting the remainder of the slice back on my plate. I wipe my hands on a napkin and lean back, eyelids heavy.

  “Are you tired?” Lucas asks, and I know he’s only asking to prove a point. It’s late, and I’d be tired if I wasn’t pregnant. He wants Easton and Melinda to leave but is withholding outright kicking them out for my benefit.

  “Yeah, it’s late,” I reply. I actually don’t even know what time it is, only that it’s past midnight. “Do you guys want to stay?” I ask and purposely ignore Lucas’s annoyed glare. “There’s room here, and all I want is to pass out.”

  “We’re not far,” Easton tells me. I’m not sure where they’re staying or if they even have a place of semi-permanent residence. A lot of hunters move around, following demons on a case-by-case basis. I thought Easton and Melinda might have had some sort of housing set up with some other hunters, but when Easton failed to shoot Lucas point blank, another hunte
r accused him of going soft, and I know both he and Melinda had to sever ties with several other demon-hunting friends.

  “Oh good,” I say with a yawn.

  “You sure you’re good?” Easton asks.

  “She’s fine,” Lucas answers.

  “I am,” I agree. “And honestly, guys, I don’t want you to worry. I hate bringing anyone else into the drama. I know you didn’t sign up for it.”

  “Neither did you,” Melinda shoots back, meaning it innocently enough.

  “I know,” I say. “But here I am, and I don’t want you guys to get caught in my mess.”

  “Demons taking over the world is kind of a whole human, entire planet sort of thing,” Easton says. “But call it what you want.”

  “I’m aware. And if it comes to that…I’ll let you know. I’m sorry I got you involved tonight.”

  “We kinda got you involved,” Melinda says.

  “Oh, right. You did call me.” I shake my head. “It’s been a long day.”

  “We’ll go,” Easton says, looking at his sister. “Call if anything changes?”

  “I’ll probably text, but yeah.” I get up to walk them to the door.

  “Whoa,” Melinda says, looking at me. “How did I not notice before?”

  “Huh?” I ask, right as I realize what she’s talking about, and I put one hand on my stomach. “Yeah, this kind of happened overnight.”

  “You are going to be such a cute pregnant lady,” Melinda says with a smile. “All belly, I’m sure.”

  “I think so,” I tell her, unable to keep the smile off my face. “And my sister said the same thing.” I yawn once more on our walk to the door.

  “Callie?” Easton’s eyes meet mine as he’s putting his shoes on.

  “Yeah?”

  “You sure you’re good?” he asks again. “With everything?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask, slowly shaking my head.

  “Just double-checking,” he says, eyes going to my stomach. “This isn’t what you planned.”