Grave Mistakes (Hellgate Guardians #1)(81)
Jerif groans and Iceman snorts at my annoying question.
“Fine,” I concede. “So you guys said we’re starting at Trēs and working our way up to the First Ring, ūnus, right? But wouldn’t it be faster to start at ūnus and work our way down?” I ask. Apparently, climbing down into Hell brings out my inner tactician.
“If these idiots had their heads on straight, that’s exactly what we’d be doing,” Jerif grumps, and confusion seeps through me.
“Uh okay…” I voice, not sure how to react to his declaration.
“We voted and you lost, Jerif. Get over it,” Crux counters defensively.
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Jerif snarls back over his shoulder. “You’re wasting time wanting to show off, and we can’t afford that shit right now. We need to figure out what she is and then get back to induct her. Not wave at the family like you’re some kind of hero before returning to the Vestibule.”
If I hadn’t been holding onto Crux’s pants, I would have stopped mid-step and probably created a pile up on the stairs of doom for Echo and Iceman behind me. Family? The word swirls around my mind. It’s familiar, and yet, so foreign in the context of Hell and demons.
How did I not think about their lives and existence outside of being Hellgate Guardians? Logically, I didn’t think they were hatched from pure mayhem and temptation, but I haven’t given a second’s thought to their backstories and lives.
Damn, I’m selfish.
I’m instantly consumed with questions about who they are and where they come from. What are their families like? How long have they been guarding the Gate? Do they have girlfriends? That last question takes me by surprise, but I don’t examine it too closely, mostly because I really do want to know everything.
“Oh, please. If your mom knew what we were doing, she would insist on seeing you too and would probably bring you a fucking packed lunch, so shut it. Maybe I’ll give her a little call and let her know what her baby boy is up to...” Echo threatens.
“Don’t you dare,” Jerif growls out menacingly.
“Echo, quit antagonizing Jerif. Jerif, stop pretending like you don’t talk to your parents every day and wouldn’t like to see them. Crux, we all know you voted the way you did because you do want to show off, so let’s not make-believe otherwise,” Iceman states smoothly and clearly over the bickering.
“What vote?” I chime in, too curious to stop myself.
“Rafferty and Jerif voted to get in and out as fast as possible,” Echo tells me, his tone seductive. “You should remember that’s how they like to do things in the future,” he adds with a smirk that I can hear rather than see.
Flames flicker to life low in my stomach, but I pull out a fire extinguisher and smother them as quickly as possible.
“Echo and I voted to start with the other Rings first,” Crux tells me over his shoulder.
“Yeah, because you paid him off or something. Echo doesn’t have anyone to show off to. We all know this bullshit plan is all you, Crux,” Jerif accuses.
Everyone grows quiet. The statement about Echo not having anyone circles awkwardly around us. Tension rolls off of Crux’s back, and I feel Echo stiffen behind me. Jerif just lanced a serious nerve, and the threads connecting the demons all around me suddenly feel volatile and brittle. What a dick move.
“So what do you do in the event of a tie?” I ask woodenly, in an effort to quell the silent agitation.
“We asked Strut to vote,” Iceman answers.
“Strut? Who the hell is that? Another Guardian?”
“No, he’s our butler. Did he not introduce himself to you?” Iceman inquires, concerned.
I snort. “Um, between calling me the help, telling me I’m not allowed to come through the front door, and judging my ability to leave an epic mess in my wake, no. He dispensed with the pleasantries.”
Strut, I repeat in my head. The name suits the guy, but not nearly as much as Grumpy Lurch does. He’ll always be GL to me.
“I think when he voted to have you go through more Rings, he was just hoping you’d get snatched somewhere in Hell and never return to muddy his floors again,” Jerif announces over his shoulder, killing the happy thoughts I was just having about Grumpy Lurch and all the ways I’ll probably piss him off when I’m inducted as a Guardian.
I scowl. As soon as I get back, I’m releasing a bunch of dirty pigs in the mansion and leaving GL to deal with the aftermath. He wants me to get snatched, well, I’ll show him. I am Swamp Thing, hear me roar.
While I’m thinking about how many pigs it would take to make GL squeal, I accidentally miss a step on the stairs. I go tipping over sideways, interrupting my inner evil laugh. I yank back on Crux’s pants with a white-knuckled grip, but I’m pretty sure he’s not only not going to catch me, but I’m also about to take him with me right over the edge as I tumble into the depths of Hell and probably die.
Fuck my life. This is not how I saw things ending.
21
“Stop screaming and open your eyes, Delta! You’re fine, I caught you, but you have to stop panicking or you’re really gonna make yourself fall,” Echo grunts.
My lids pop open, and I see Echo has caught me by my shirt and is straining to hold onto me. He’s lying fully on his stomach, his fist closed around the fabric. I look down, realizing that I’m hanging off the side of the railless stairs. I immediately start to panic again.