Tim reached out and pushed me so hard with human and magical force that I stumbled back falling onto my ass.
He laughed.
I rose quickly and sent a force of wind at him so hard he flew back almost to where Lela and the other man were standing.
I turned back and nodded at Colt. Colt so far was the only person who hadn’t lied to me. He nodded back.
“You are going to have to do better than that, demon,” Tim spat.
I screamed loudly as Tim came toward me again.
I looked and saw Colt grab the man from behind freeing Lela.
I kept still until Colt had Lela in his arms.
I sent another gust of wind at Tim knocking him back even farther.
“Kass! Don’t kill him!” Lela then cried from behind me.
I let out a sigh and felt her next to me.
“Lela...If I don’t, he’s going to keep coming after you and me,” I said turning to look at her.
She nodded. “I know. Let me do it.”
She turned her attention to Tim.
“Lela. You would kill your own father?” he breathed out.
“You kidnapped your own daughter.”
I grabbed Lela’s hand just as she raised her other hand toward Tim.
Light and dark came out of each of us heading directly for Tim.
All we heard was a scream before a loud bang, and he was gone.
Our hands separated, and I turned to the guys who were then running over to us.
“What was that?” I asked.
“Some powerful shit.” Roderick laughed.
I sucked in a breath and crossed my arms over my chest.
“You still have a lot of explaining to do,” I said to him.
He nodded. “I figured it would come out eventually.”
“How are you going to live with Mom?” I asked.
“I’m going to let her explain that to you.”
“She’s dead.” Lela huffed.
Roderick nodded.
“Look, we have a ceremony to attend, why don’t we get ready for that? Then you can see what I’m talking about.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Roderick disappeared, and I pulled Lela into a hug.
“How did you find me?” she asked.
I pulled back and smiled. “I had a little help from a woman down the street.”
Lela smiled. “I really never thought he would hurt me.”
“Me either. Let’s go.”
We all piled into the car and went back to the house.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS PASSED, and Roderick was finally ready to fully step down from his position.
I had spent the past few weeks interviewing demons. I told Roderick things were going to change, and that was the first thing. I was making a council of demons. I was to be made up of men and women, who I could trust to sit on a council. Not every choice needed to be made by me, and I wasn’t entirely ready for all of that responsibility. I found a few guards for myself and some for Lela. Even though she claimed she would be fine; I just needed someone to check on her when I couldn’t. I knew Colt would want to be with her too, but he was on my council. His time would be split up a lot.
I finally got the hang of the disappearing act thing. It wasn’t an easy thing to learn, and it took quite a few long days to make sure I had it down.
Lela and I got to Hell.
“It’s so weird down here. I can’t believe after today you won’t be living on Earth anymore,” she said as we walked down the hallway.
“Just because I’m going to be running this place doesn’t mean I won’t spend any time on Earth. I plan to split my time as much as I can.”
She nodded. “I know that, but your life will be down here. I can handle Earth for you.”
We walked into what Roderick called my quarters. He had officially moved out days ago, and I had moved in.
It was weird seeing things I had in my home on Earth down there.
“You must be Kassandra,” a woman said kneeling before Lela and me.
“And you are?”
“She’s here to help you both with your girl stuf,.” Roderick said from the doorway.
I turned to face him. “Girl stuff?”
“Yeah the hair and face goop.”
I laughed. “You aren’t good at this are you?”
He shrugged. “I never got to raise you, so I didn’t have a reason to learn any of it.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll see you ladies at the ceremony. Lela, you too. You are getting what we talked about.”
I turned to Lela.
“He’s giving me some of his powers. Just the one that makes it, so I can come visit you anytime I want.” She smiled.
I nodded and looked at the woman.
“Well take a seat, and we’ll get you ladies ready for tonight.”
Another couple of women stepped into the room as Lela and I took a seat.
For the first time in a long time, I let myself relax a little.
It was strange to think that all of it started because of the tattoo on my body because I was determined to figure out why.
After the ladies finished with our hair and make-up, I went to the mirror and pulled the dress off the side of it.
“This is what I’m wearing?” I asked looking the dress over.
The woman nodded. “The king requested that specific dress.”
“There is hardly any dress to it.” I sighed.
“Just put it on.” Lela sighed.
I walked into the bathroom and stripped down to my bra and panties. There was no way I would be able to wear a bra with that dress.
I walked into the closet and found something more suitable.
Once the dress was on, I just stared at myself in awe.
It was stunning on me. It showed off much of the tattoo, which I assumed was the reason that Roderick picked this dress out. The tattoo accented the dress perfectly.
“Holy hell.” Lela gasped when I walked out of the bathroom.
“You like?” I asked.
“I love it. You look amazing.” She beamed.
She bounced into the bathroom with her dress and came out moments later.
“You both look fantastic.” The woman smiled.
“Thank you for your help,” I noted.
“Anytime, my queen.”
I shifted between my feet. It was already beginning, and it felt so weird having people call me that.
Lela and I walked out of the room to Theo and Roderick.
I thought their mouths would unhinge from their jaw.
“You ladies look...wow,” Colt said.
“I’m going to assume that means we look good.” I laughed.
Lela was clearly in her element. She was always the type to dress up like that.
“May I escort you to the ceremony?” Theo asked holding out his arm.
I nodded and wrapped my arm through his.
“I’m not sure I can do this,” I admitted to him as we walked.
“Why? I think you are going to do a great job.”
I shrugged. “I’m nervous.”
“Yeah but you have a council ready to help you. You have me and Colt. We will make sure things run smoothly.”
I nodded and stopped to face him.
“Thank you for sticking it out. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to deal with.”
He sucked in a breath. “Kass, I love you. Everything about you.”