Grave Mistakes (Hellgate Guardians #1)(65)

“Feel free to claw my other leg this time,” Jerif snarks as we climb onto the wobbly floating plate. I shoot him an eat shit smile and flip him the bird.

I claim the middle seat once again, not looking forward to the ride, but at least there will be a breeze. I’m fucking melting at this point. Everyone is always all too happy when the Wicked Witch of the West melts and dies, but I’m feeling hella sympathetic for the bitch right now. This level of humidity just isn’t right. No one should have to go like this.

“What were they going to do?” I ask, wanting to distract myself from the boat ride, but also trying to piece everything together. “If imps and demons know that the Gates are guarded, why risk it?”

The imp starts the fan up on the boat and takes off, while I grip the bottom of the bench seat with both hands so I don’t go diving head-first into Jerif’s crotch again.

“They’re most likely looking for Ubers, but the list is endless in what they can do,” Iceman leans down and yells to answer my question.

“Ubers?” I ask with confusion.

Jerif chuckles and leans toward me, the distinct smell of charcoal coming with him. “It’s a joke we make about mortals who can be possessed.”

“What?” I squeak in shock. “You call them Ubers? Isn’t that a little—”

“Funny?” Jerif inserts.

“Heartless,” I counter.

Jerif leans back with a smile and shrugs. “We’re demons, Delta,” he announces, pointing at himself.

I scoff. “Doesn’t mean you need to be crude dicks.” I don’t like the thought of them making fun of humans for getting possessed. “It’s not their fault.”

Jerif levels me with a look, his fiery hair whipping back from his face. “Yes, actually, it is. They do it to themselves. So before you go feeling sorry for some poor innocent soul, remember that they invited us in,” he rebuts.

“Wait. What? Humans invite the demons? How does that work?” I shout as I try to trap all the hair strands that keep flying all over the damn place.

“The way most sin works. They convince themselves it’s worth it, or they don’t care about the consequences. Or maybe they just don’t think they’ll get caught, but the powers that be are always watching...on both sides,” Jerif explains.

“Okay, but why do demons need a human...Uber?” I ask, cringing slightly at the blasé word choice. “Why not just wreak havoc in their own bodies?”

“Some do, but most Outer Ring demons want a human host because they have the potential to become more powerful.”

“Plus, it’s harder to punish a demon or an imp when they’re holding a body and soul hostage. It’s a pain in the ass for both sides,” Crux points out.

“Hence the attraction of possession,” Echo adds.

I get a chill that has nothing to do with the wind whipping around us, and everything to do with the fact that I could’ve been around possessed humans for years and not even known it. Sean, my ex-boss, is a good candidate.

“But why are demons allowed here at all? Shouldn’t they all be in Hell?”

“Both sides are tasked with maintaining a balance. We both do what we can to pull souls to one side or the other, but we aren’t supposed to do it by force. There has to be free will.”

“But you’re demons, so why aren’t you all for the downfall of everyone?”

Jerif snorts and rolls his eyes. “Oh right, because demons are all evil. Is that what you’re getting at?”

“Uh, pretty much?”

“Well, you’re wrong. We’re noble as fuck, and it’d be nice to get a little appreciation for it every once in a while.”

I stare at Jerif for a beat, not sure what the hell to say to that. Iceman shakes his head and gives a tired chuckle. “The other side has been using these scare tactics since the beginning of time. It gets old,” he explains, like that helps Jerif’s words and frustration make more sense to me.

News flash, it doesn’t.

I am appreciating the view, though. Iceman with no shirt on and an open suit jacket that flaps in the wind over his muscled blue chest is downright sexy.

“The Mortal Realm is a trial,” he tells me, completely oblivious to the fact that I was just checking him out.

“Okay, yeah. I’ve heard that,” I admit as I pull my eyes away from his abs.

“But the end game isn’t Hell or Heaven, but to become better. To level up, so to speak, and move on to the next challenge. It’s all about growing and progressing until you earn your own world and your own Mortal Realm to watch over and help. But none of that is possible without giving souls obstacles and choices, challenges and falls to get up from. Without the dark, there is no light. Without pain, there’s no pleasure. We’re the shadows of it all. We test and tempt and make beings question things. We trip and coax and lure, not because we’re evil, but because that’s what needs to happen. No one can grow and overcome without us. We weren’t thrown out or condemned. We were tasked with a sacred responsibility, and we were willing to sacrifice our own reign for it.”

I stare at Iceman wide-eyed and try to make sense of it all. “But why? Why wouldn’t you want all the good things and all the blessings?”

Jerif shakes his head. “Blessings? More like a shit ton of work and responsibility, and don’t even get me started on what a thankless situation it all is. Give me temptation and consequences any day of the week,” he declares, and all the other guys nod their agreement.