“I just knew any child of mine would be blessed when it came to their demonic form. You’d put several dukes in Hell to shame, River.”
“That is pretty badass,” Charley yawned.
I liked Charley, but she always had this ability to look utterly bored while she was doing all this amazing magic, and when she was done, she was going to curl up right there on the floor and take a nap. She was also pretty twisted in a way I could appreciate. She wasn’t as psycho as Solron, but I knew if I pissed her off and she directed her magic at me, I’d probably be walking around with my dick on my forehead.
“That’s hot,” Pavlina said. “I’ve always loved cats.”
That was true. And Pavlina couldn’t like the sweet cats either. When she wanted a new pet, she’d always go to the shelter and pick the meanest one that no one else wanted. They’d eventually bond with Pavlina, but they hated everyone else. They would randomly attack all over the castle until Hades told her she couldn’t keep her pets here anymore because they were upsetting Cerberus.
Tryphon couldn’t keep his tentacles to himself around River. I didn’t want those slimy things anywhere near me, but she didn’t seem to mind. He wrapped one around her waist and gave her a little squeeze.
“You’re the Monster Whisperer, River. Talk to us the way you did when we were trapped. You won’t be able to use words like that. I know it’s strange at first.”
That was when I really looked into her eyes. They were now red with slits down the middle, but River looked utterly terrified. I should have known. I was born this way, but I imagine every single monster in the Underworld went through this the first time they changed. I needed to be there for her.
Stupid Kimon. He was closer and got his arms around her before I could.
“It’s okay, baby bird. You’re magnificent. You’ve got teeth, claws, and you can even fly.”
“I’ll teach you how to fly,” I said.
I puffed my chest out and let my ego soar. Kimon, Tryphon, and Pavlina brought things to the table that weren’t in my DNA to do. I’d never been able to pull off Tryphon’s ethereal calm. I’d never be as sweet as Kimon. I’d never be able to relate to River the way Pavlina could because I wasn’t a woman.
But I was two for two with matching abilities I could help her with making her stronger. Yeah, I was a selfish bastard, but it meant I got to have her to myself for a little while. Teaching her how to use her fire was how I slowly got over my fear of this strange creature in the Underworld. Teaching her to fly would just bring us even closer.
I spent a lot of time alienating people because there just weren’t many I found worthy of my time. They got on my nerves, and I wanted them to go as far away from me as possible. Aside from Pavlina, it wasn’t like that with my team, and it definitely wasn’t like that with River. I wanted her as close to me as possible, and that had honestly never happened to me before.
I wasn’t in love with the nymph I thought cheated on me with Pavlina. She didn’t break my heart or anything. She got on my nerves, and I was tiring of her, to be honest. I think I was more pissed off that she dared step out on me with someone else when she had a phoenix in her bed.
I stepped in and tried to horn my way into this hug action. I couldn’t just rely on having similar abilities to teach her. I had to be different than I was in any of my other relationships. I had to be there for her when she was upset. I wanted to be. I didn’t like it when she was upset or afraid. I tried to make it better, but Kimon was right there, Tryphon had a tentacle around her waist, and those wings on her back were massive.
“I think I’m stuck,” she finally said, using a voice we could understand.
Ah. So that was the rub. She must be totally terrified if she thought she was stuck like this, even if we all thought she was beautiful this way. Barbatos just took over and practically shoved Kimon out of the way. He grasped River’s shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes.
“Listen to me, River. You are not stuck. This is just an unfamiliar experience, but soon, it will feel like second nature. You are magnificent like this. I’m so proud. Before I walk you through changing back, did you see your reflection in the mirror?”
“Yes, but I’m still trying to process the fact that I have a cat head and wings.”
Barbatos scratched behind her ear like she was an actual cat.
“Own it, River. There are some dukes in Hell that would kill for it. Bael is one of the seven kings that runs Hell, but everyone answers to him. He has three different heads, River, and he’s one of the most respected men in our realm.”
Okay, I was going to have to make a trip to Hell at least once. On Earth, everyone hated the monsters and were continually trying to kill us. In the Underworld, it took a lot of time for people to trust us. Hades did right away, but the other people here didn’t.
It sounded like Hell was the type of realm where the scarier you looked, the more celebrated you were. I could get down with that.
“It’s just strange. I feel stronger like this.”
“That’s because you are, love. You’re stronger, faster, and your demon powers are much more robust. Now, let me teach you how to turn it off. You must practice this so it becomes second nature.”
“And you can whip it out in the bedroom,” Pavlina said. “Seriously, can we bring your demonic form out when we’re playing? Because you are fucking gorgeous.”
I was thinking the exact same thing. I think we all were, but only Pavlina would say it when River was terrified like this. I would never have brought up sex while she was scared, and I was an asshole to everyone.
It surprised me when River started giggling. If it were me and I was a woman who could beat Pavlina’s ass, I would have for saying that to me when I was terrified.
“Only monsters would find this sexy.”
Barbatos started laughing too.
“I don’t because it would be inappropriate, but if you weren’t already taken, I’d be fighting off several demons who want to play with your demonic form too.”
Okay, maybe I didn’t want to go to Hell. I already had enough competition for River without a bunch of horny demons trying to get in on the action.
“Just breathe out and tell your demonic form to go away.”
“That sounds way too easy, Barbatos.”
“That’s because it is. This is in your DNA, River. It’ll become like second nature with some practice. Your demon powers aren’t supposed to be the hard part about being a demon. The only reason they are now is that most demons aren’t topside anymore unless they are doing temporary jobs to meet you and guide you. They couldn’t tell me you existed for me to teach you.”
River didn’t comment, but Barbatos was right in a way. If demonic powers were anything like mine, turning into a bird and accessing my fire was easy. Controlling the fire was something I had to learn, but using it had been easy. Then again, I also grew up surrounded by my family to teach me.
I will give it to River. She wasn’t one of those whiny women I used to take up with. She had every reason to bitch and she didn’t. She wanted Hephaestus back too much. She got her shit together and did what she needed.
I could see her chest rising and falling as she tried to do what her father asked. We all had things that signal we were changing. I burst into flames when I accessed my phoenix. River’s was this swirling red cloud. I saw it when she first changed, and I almost started clapping when I saw it again.