“Well, now Lucifer can add one more to the list. I’m ready to go back now.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
As though Lucifer was listening, a large red glowing portal opened up in the middle of the living room in front of us. He took my hand into his as we stood in front of the light, looking at each other one last time.
“Are you ready?”
“As ready as I can be.” I paused taking one final look at the apartment before stepping through the portal with him.
CHAPTER 11
We arrived back to Hell in what felt like mere seconds. We were lying side by side in the same dark place I had woken up in when I first arrived in Hell. It was the portal in and out of that place. The red and orange glow coming from the city of Hell gleamed in through the opening of the portal and helped guide our way to the entrance.
Hell hadn’t changed at all and was still busy with the military-looking guys directing bustling souls on the streets that were walking to and from the areas where they needed to be. I wondered where my father had ended up. Honestly, I wondered where all the guys I sent here ended up; hopefully I didn’t run across them anytime soon.
As odd as it sounded, it felt like we were home, and a strange comfort overcame me. LA had given me all it had to offer and knowing what I knew now, I didn’t feel like I belonged there anymore. I had been betrayed by the one man who was supposed to protect me. The only man I could trust now was Roman; hell, I even trusted Lucifer more than I trusted my dad at that point.
We went straight to Lucifer’s lair as we were ordered to do so that we could report back. He was already waiting for us seated confidently and comfortably on his Baphomet throne, power exuding throughout his presence.
He swiftly stood up when we came through the doorway and walked up to me with satisfaction and excitement radiating throughout his face. It was more emotion than I had ever witnessed him display towards me. He took both of my hands in his. His dark blonde hair glistened, and his hazy grey eyes stared intently into mine.
“Holland Ellenberger, you have done exceptional work. I sent you back to earth with low expectations, but you went above and beyond and did far more than I expected. Lilith was nothing compared to you because you, my dear, have a heart full of loyalty. You even offered your life for Roman. He was there to be your watcher, but you turned out to be his.”
Loyalty – I had never been told I had that before in my life and honestly, I probably didn’t when I was alive. I had been selfish and self-absorbed and followed my father’s dirty ways for 26 years. It took the chance of losing someone I loved to change my dark heart.
I looked over at Roman and smiled, watching his sultry eyes on me. I was going to be all over him later tonight.
“I did not expect in a million years for Azriel to come back for you, to bring you home to Heaven. When you not only chose to return back here to Hell, but killed Lilith and brought me your father, I could not be prouder of you and your decisions. For that you will be rewarded, as you told Devon I would.” He winked at me showing he had in fact been listening to my bullshit I was spewing out to him. “I will give you any job you desire down here as long as it is within means. I still need to benefit from it.”
Roman looked at me with worried eyes waiting for my response. My last request had almost gotten us killed by Lilith. But in my defense, I didn’t know that crazy bitch really existed or that she had been Roman’s lover and was out to kill anyone who came in contact with him. I was glad that bitch was dead though so that I didn’t have to fight over him anymore. She was like a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend.
“Don’t worry, Roman, I’m not going to request going back to earth.”
He let out a breath of relief and laughed that I had picked up on exactly what he was thinking. I thought for a moment as to what it was I truly desired; it was, after all, something I had to do for the rest of eternity. Working still wasn’t my thing, but if I had to then I wanted it to at least be something I was good at. I was great at seducing men, but I was over that now after all the trouble it caused on earth. Plus, the only man I ever wanted to seduce again was Roman. I would be seducing that sexy demon every night.
“I chose to stay in Hell because through everything I realized that here is where I truly belong. Sure, it may be dark and extremely depressing, but Roman is happy here, so I choose to be happy here as well by his side. You aren’t so bad either, Lucifer. You have never lied to me. My entire life up there with my father was a lie.”
He nodded and I even got a small smile out of him.
“But if I have to work, I want an office just like Roman has with a fully stocked bar. Oh, and I want a better wardrobe.”
“Out of everything you can request, you are asking for a better wardrobe? Guess you can’t take the heiress out of the girl, now can you?”
“I have also decided to move into the penthouse with Roman so now I don’t need to move in here with you.”
Surprise struck his face. “You were never going to move in here with me.”
“Um, actually that was part of the deal. We agreed if I made you proud, I was moving into your little mansion you got going on here.”
“Do you really think I was going to hold up to that end of the deal?”
“Yes, I do. If you didn’t, I would have bugged you every single day until you couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“I don’t doubt that for one minute, Holland. You are an Ellenberger.”
“So, Lucifer, I have decided what job I want to do from my awesome new office.”
He raised his eyebrow. “And what is that?”
“I want to have my own crew of succubus demons that I am in charge of. I will choose them from the souls that are sent here, because they have to be hot, and I will send them to different areas of the world to bring you fresh souls daily. Do we have ourselves a deal?”
He scratched his chin then nodded. He extended his arm out for us to shake on the deal we had just made.
“Consider it done. I think that will be the perfect job for you.”
Roman and I started to leave, but I turned back and walked up to Lucifer who had seated himself again on his throne, lighting up a cigar. Reaching in my back pocket, I pulled out the dagger that had killed Devon, Lilith, and my dad.
“I almost forgot; I believe this belongs to you.”
He took it from my hands. “The dagger. This will go back where it rightfully belongs and where it shall stay for eternity. Thank you, Holland.”
Roman and I headed back to our living quarters, stopping first at my tiny little dark room. I looked around it, glad I was going to be out of that place. It was nothing like the incredible bright and comfortable apartment we had been sharing during our time on earth. I packed up what little things I had there and headed up to Roman’s penthouse on the thirtieth floor. Once we were inside, I was definitely happier that this would be where I would reside from here on out. Not only was I with the hottest demon in existence, but his penthouse was large and definitely fit for me. The floors were all done in a dark stone tile, the living room was furnished in beautiful Victorian black couches, and there was even a small antique wood burning stove. I didn’t imagine Hell ever got cold, unless there really was a cold day in Hell, but it added to the aesthetic. A small kitchenette with black granite countertops and all black appliances was off of the living room through a rounded archway. All the archways in the place were rounded and the doors were thick mahogany wood.