Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99935 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“But when I crossed, Lucifer let me keep my soul, and with it, my body and memories. Why did he do this?” she put out. “Why else? He did it because from our very first meeting, he’s been carrying out a plan that’s taken twenty-two years to come to fruition, but will finally commence today.”
Wait, wait, wait... Did she just say his plan?
“A plan that will open the gates of hell and unleash holy terror on the world above. A plan that I have been willingly and diligently working to make a success.”
“What? Willingly?”
“I can guess what you’re thinking without needing to hear it,” the fake said. “You’re wondering why I would go along with any plan of his after he failed me and let me die, but honestly, on the very first day in hell when he rescued me and told me what he sought to achieve, all of my anger faded.
“This was always the only way this could’ve ended.” Clink. Clink. Clink. “And now I’m going to tell you, sweetie, so that you understand why Mommy had to do all of these seemingly terrible things.
“You see, three hundred years ago when the foremothers created the spell that locked the gates of hell, they collectively destroyed all traces of the act, and then committed suicide.”
I’d have gasped if anyone could’ve heard it.
“But because what they did was considered the greatest act of service and sacrifice, they all ascended immediately to heaven, and hell never had a chance to get their hands on them,” she said. “But Lucifer is nothing if not the master of playing the long game.
“First, he needed a soul contract with a powerful Avos witch raised in all of their knowledge and secrets.” I imagined her gesturing to herself. “But because the signing of the contract itself would result in said witch—me—immediately losing my connection to the goddess, he needed another living one to lend her blood and blood magic to the spell. That is where you came in.”
I frowned. But that doesn’t—
“I once again can guess what you’re thinking. How can that apply to you when you also signed a contract with the devil? And the explanation is simple, sweetie. You didn’t.”
Shock whited out my mind.
“You saying the forbidden words dragged Lucifer out of hell, there’s no doubt about that, but what happened after was very much in his control,” she said. “He made a complete show of taunting you, prodding you, and making you believe you forced him into a contract that gave you the upper hand, but I bet when your name was signed, you didn’t sign it with your own hand.”
My breaths came in rapid pants. Casting back to that day, I couldn’t deny it. I didn’t sign the contract myself. The quill just stole my blood and wrote it for me.
“A deal with Lucifer must be entered into willingly, and yes, something as small as him writing your name for you makes it automatically void. So even though it looked real to you, it never was.”
“Oh no... Oh no...” I was starting to do something terrible.
I was starting to believe her.
“But what you did do willingly was demand he help you get into hell, and contract or no—your passage was secured. After all, the gates are only closed on this side.” She sighed deeply. “A long game. From the beginning, he was plotting. From the start, he was scheming, and it’s only now that I see his intentions.
“This is why he forced me to be kind to it and treat the both of you the same. This is why I wasn’t allowed to get between the two of you and hurt the creature by forcing you to ignore it. It’s all because Lucifer needed to be sure that when he reclaimed the thing and brought it back where it belonged, you would risk everything to come after it. Even if it meant chasing it to the depths of hell.”
My tears ran in earnest. Soundless, hiccupping sobs heaved my chest. Why was she saying these things? Why was she speaking about Dora this way? This can’t be my mother. This can’t be the sweet, kind woman who laughed under the covers with us as she read us bedtime stories. She can’t be!
“And as soon as you entered the academy grounds, the plan was set in motion,” she said. “You were raised free of magic, so it was down to me to complete the ritual. But because I’m a demon now, and no longer a witch, the only magic I can cast is dark magic—and dark magic requires a price. And there is no stronger currency than—”
“Sacrifices.”
“Hatred.”
What did she just say?
“That is what those murders were meant to achieve,” she continued. “Hatred against witches. Hatred against each other. Hatred in all its vile and most violent forms. But what I never wanted is for you to become the focus of that hatred,” she said. “When I knocked you out in the library, I was going to carry you back to your bed, but then that fae boy burst in. I had no choice but to leave you, and it all went wrong.