Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(108)

“Good morning, Master Belial,” I said to the old demon, coolly. I hadn’t forgotten his words to Laish—that he should have left me for the Skitterlings.

Belial gave me a forced-looking smile and nodded.

“Good morning—you look lovely my dear.”

“Thank you.” I turned to Laish. “Is Kurex saddled and ready to go?”

“Indeed he is—and very ready to be off.”

We turned to go but I felt a tugging at the hem of my traveling cloak. Turning back, I saw it was Bobbin, looking hopefully up at me.

“Yes, Bobbin,” I said, bending down to talk to him. “What is it?”

“I got you something, my Lady Gwendolyn.” He’d been holding one hand behind his back and now he brought out a beautiful flower with gold and orange and red petals that curled outward, rather like an orchid.

“Oh, Bobbin—that’s gorgeous,” I said, taking it from him. “Thank you!”

“It’s from one of the flame-flower plants that grow by the Lake of Fire,” he explained, grinning shyly. “I have a cousin who lives there—he brought me one of the plants to tend. They only bloom when you put them in a hot enough fire.”

“Was that you, teasing the watch-dragon this morning, Bobbin?” Belial demanded, glaring down at the little imp. “Were you trying to get it to breathe fire to make your blasted plant bloom?”

The little imp scuffed at the floor nervously with one hoof.

“I only wanted something nice to give to the pretty lady before she left, Master. Please, don’t punish me.”

“No, don’t punish him,” I said, patting his curly little head. “Don’t you dare—he was just being sweet.”

Belial glowered and I began to think there was something sinister behind his kindly old demon fa?ade. But he only nodded his head briefly.


“As my Lady wishes.”

“Thank you.” Leaning down, I gave little Bobbin a kiss on the cheek before straightening up.

“Oh, my Lady!” he squeaked, his face glowing as he clapped his little hand to the cheek I’d kissed. “Thank you—thank you! I shall never wash my face again!”

“You most certainly will!” Belial growled. “Come back here, Bobbin!”

But the little imp was already scampering away, his hand still held firmly to his cheek, his little hooves tap-tap-tapping across the marble floor.

I turned to go with Laish and saw that he had a most unusual expression on his face. He was staring at me curiously with a little half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“What is it?” I asked as we walked out of the huge skull and into the courtyard where Kurex was stamping restlessly.

“Nothing.” He shook his head. “It is only that I still cannot understand the affinity the creatures of Hell have for you.”

“Not all of them,” I pointed out. “This is the first time I’ve kissed anyone but you since I got here but I’ve been attacked something like three or four times.”

“More like five or six,” he corrected, helping me mount the horse. “But still, there are some creatures here that seem drawn to you—myself included.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know—maybe it has to do with me being a witch.”

“Maybe.” But he sounded doubtful. “At any rate, let us be going. We still need to stop at The Hoof before we can cross the barrier.”

“Why are we stopping there?” I asked as he guided Kurex back out onto the cobblestone road. The big horse’s shoes clopped loudly against the stone and echoed off the bone buildings on either side.

“You’ll see. It won’t take long.” Laish sounded grim for some reason but I didn’t ask why.

We passed through the busy town where, as before, everyone seemed to be going somewhere in a hurry, with a distracted frown on his or her face. I wondered if anyone ever smiled in this circle of Hell. Certainly, it was much more pleasant than most of the other circles I had visited, but while nobody was being tortured, they didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves either. Maybe they all had a low level depression or something—that in itself would be a kind of torture, even if not the obvious kind.

It wasn’t long before we stopped in front of an enormous hoof—seriously, it was as big as a two story house. And that was what it had been turned into—well, a two story tavern, anyway. There was a wooden sign hanging up outside which simply said, The Hoof, and demons and lost souls of all descriptions were going in and out of it, presumably catching a quick drink before they headed back to whatever work they were doing.

“Stay here on Kurex’s back,” Laish told me, pulling the horse to a halt and swinging off. “I will only be a moment.”

“Why can’t I come in?” I asked, frowning. “I’d like to see inside.”

“It would not be safe for you.” He frowned back. “Do you remember that you promised to do as I said from now on?”

“I remember I said I’d listen to you.” I sighed. “Fine, go inside. It’s too early in the day for a glass of wine or beer anyway.”

He grinned. “As to that, I do not think you would like the libations served at The Hoof. The ale has dragon’s bile in it and the wine is crushed from grapes watered by the blood of the innocent.”