Chapter Forty-Five (Sin)

"There was a dragon that landed on one of the castle balconies." The guard informed me. "People are worried that they are planning an attack."

Amaya laughed, “Are you kidding me, Leviathan wants peace.” She blurted.

“Leviathan?” Abigail asked from beside me, “You mean the dragon from the other day?"

“Yeah, he came to visit me this morning and gave me this.” Amaya shared as she handed Abigail her new ring.

Abigail’s eyes teared up, “That was your fathers.” She sniffed as she looked at the engravings on the band. They gave Ros this ring when he became Chief Druid. A couple of years later it disappeared when I asked where it went, he said he had given it to a friend.”

“He gave it to Leviathan's ancestor and was told to give it to the next druid he met.”

Abigail gave the ring back to Amaya, “I’m glad that it has found its way to you.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes, “I don’t think the time jumping or traveling will ever make sense to me. How can thousands of years have passed when, just two days ago, we were in a time he existed?"

“Time flows differently here, and we jump through holes in time to get to the time period we need, it is confusing and can be hard to navigate.” I shared.

Abigail nodded, and we headed to the table at the head of the room, joining Hellebore, Lazarus, and Rook.

“How are you this morning, dear?” Hellebore asked Amaya.

“I’m good. How are you?” Amaya returned. I can only hope that Amaya would not fall for her façade, this woman was not to be trusted.

“My night was uneventful. Life around here can be rather boring.” She yawned.

“I will admit it’s not what I expected.” Amaya smiled as a servant placed a tray in front of her and Abigail.

“What did you expect?” Lazarus asked her, before I was able to. So I took a sip of my drink, it was like coffee, but made with sin.

“Everything they taught me growing up told of fire and brimstone, demons that wanted to torture humans and enjoyed their pain. Basically, I always pictured it as a giant torture chamber with a man in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork hurting people.”

Unable to stop myself, I spit my drink out as I laughed at her description of hell.

She laughed, “I know it’s a silly description. I blame kids' cartoons for it.”

“Kids cartoons?” Lazarus asked.

“Yeah, every Saturday I would watch them with my adoptive parents. It was our weekend ritual.”

“I will have to check that out one day.”

“Do you not have a television in hell?” She asked, surprised.

“Nope.”

“Well shit, there goes my favorite pastime.” She muttered to herself. “Guess this really is hell.”

I chuckled, “It has its downfalls, but it is not all bad.” I pointed out. Making a mental note of somehow getting television down here for her. Once I figured out how it worked.

“The scenery is beautiful, and the dragons are a bonus.” She replied around a mouthful of eggs.

Hellebore dropped her cup, “How are dragons a good thing?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at Amaya.

“Leviathan is great, and they are amazing creatures.”

"They eat our kind." She snapped.

Amaya put her fork down. “Demons had a truce with them which was broken, that is why they attack your people.”

“How do you know about that? Are you a spy?” she sneered.

“Amaya is not a spy.” Lazarus, and I snapped.

"There’s no way she can know that." Hellebore pointed out.

“She can speak with the dragons.” Abigail beamed. “My little Druid.” She looked so proud when she gazed at her daughter, I wish I could have united them sooner.

“Druid? I thought she was a witch?”

“What she is. Is none of your business. Especially when you don’t share what you are.” I snapped.

Lazarus’s head snapped up as if he had just remembered something, but when he looked at his mother, he bit his tongue and returned to his meal. I would have to make a point of talking to him later. Things had been so busy since our return; I had completely forgotten that he had discovered what she really was.

After we ate our meal, we stood to leave.

“Amaya dear. I hope you and I can get to know one another. Us women have to stick together, after all. I would love to get to know you as well, Abigail.” she shared in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Of course. I look forward to it." Amaya smiled, but as she turned away, it fell into a frown.

"I'll pass. Thanks." Abigail retorted bluntly.

"How rude! If I was still Quee..."

"You aren't Queen now, so quit harassing my guests." I warned her.

"How dare you?" she huffed as she stood up and left the hall.

As we were leaving the dining hall, I stopped Amaya, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“You don’t like Hellebore?”

“She has a dark aura, and something is telling me to stay away from her.” She whispered back.

“Good, listen to your instincts. She can’t be trusted.”

Amaya nodded and smiled, “I got the same warning about you.”

“Can’t be right a hundred percent of the time.” I chuckled, and she laughed in response.

“You are a cheeky demon.”

“Never said I wasn’t.”

Merula walked up to me in a rush. “Your highness, they need you in the throne room.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“One of the hell gates has cracked.”

“Cracked? How?” I looked at Rook.

“I will investigate.” He declared as he left the room in a rush.

“I will be there in a minute.” I told Merula.

“Thank you.” Merula bowed and followed Rook to the throne room.

“I have to deal with this. I will come find you later. Little flame.”

“Okay, how bad is it if a hell gate cracks?”

Not wanting to worry her, I replied, “I can handle it, don’t worry.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek, she smiled and headed down the hall with Abigail.

Damn, it is depending on which gate it is. This could be disastrous. I thought as I made my way to the throne room.