"A SHATTERED SOUL CUTS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES."
"What the fuck, Vel!" he yelled as my body crashed into his. "Do you want to get yourself killed?"
Tears streamed down my face the moment I met his angry features, my body trembling under his hold.
His face softened and, without a word, he pulled me into his embrace.
I let myself melt into him, my soft sobs echoing in my eardrums.
I didn't cry when I was killed and sentenced to hell. I didn't cry in that pit. Didn't shed a single tear in that pit—first because my tears would have been acidic anyway, and also because I was too busy trying to survive the burning liquid to have the time to cry.
But in that moment, the first in twenty years, crying in the arms of a man who had been through the same hell as I have—felt like heaven. Heaven I would never get to experience for the rest of my eternity.
I let myself feel, knowing this would be the last time I would ever be allowed to.
"Wanna talk about it?" Omari whispered, stroking my hair.
There was nothing to talk about. I displayed weakness, and what Lucifer did was merely knock some sense into me.
I deserved it. So no, there was nothing to talk about.
Speaking of beatings, I remembered my body was covered in blood and immediately jerked away from him. But to my utmost shock…
The blood was gone. I was completely woundless. Where had all my scratches gone?
Was the whole encounter the devil's manipulation, or did I heal as fast as a freaking vampire?
It didn't matter. Nothing else mattered.
Just the mission at hand.
"There's nothing to talk about, Omari. Let's get to work," I said, walking toward the house, the visibly confused Omari trailing behind.
As we entered the living space, I walked straight to the laptop on the table and stood in front of it, staring down.
"Any updates?" I asked, my eyes still on the laptop.
I could feel his intense gaze on me. I knew it was only a matter of time before he snapped. He was my partner, after all. I literally dragged him out of hell for this mission. And it was only a matter of time before he snapped from me constantly keeping him in the dark.
"I checked before I came out to get you," he replied, his voice cold enough to send shivers down my spine.
"And?" I ignored his tone, my eyes not leaving the laptop.
"Nothing."
"Check again."
Though it was a little too early for the results of yesterday's interview to be released, I was growing impatient.
Now more than ever, my hands were aching to kill, my body aching to fuck. And now that I had been given permission by Lucifer himself, I needed release badly.
I could feel anger in my bones, and I almost pitied the next damned soul I would lay my hands on. They'd get the worst death yet. And I knew just the right place to go hunting.
"What does it say?" I asked when Omari's hands on the keyboard stopped moving.
"The results are out."
I swallowed an I told you so.
"We're in, aren't we?" I asked, finally looking at him.
He didn't respond. I didn't need him to.
We were fucking in.
Time to hunt.
Without another word, I quickly ran upstairs to my room, opened my dresser, and began scanning through the clothes. I'd attract attention no matter what I wore, but for this occasion, something not too revealing was needed.
I fought back a smile at the thought of having another pet strapped to my chair in a few hours. I could almost hear their screams, and I was so fucking turned on.
Put it on my to-do list to finally fuck Omari after today's kill. With the devil's official permission to do whatever I wanted, I finally felt free in this new world.
I spotted a white sundress. Bingo.
Without wasting time, I put it on. As usual, it looked stunning on me, hugging my figure in all the right places. I slicked my hair backwards into a high ponytail and tied it up with a white bow.
If I didn't know any better, I'd mistake myself for an angel, not a vengeance-driven demon.
Oh well. No one said you couldn't be both.
With one last air kiss at my reflection, I turned toward the door and headed downstairs.
"Whoa, take it easy on the light, fairy," Omari exclaimed dramatically. "You might actually blind me."
I scoffed at his cringe remark.
"Keep monitoring their website till they fix a date for the next," I ordered.
"What would you have done if you weren't chosen for the next interview?"
"I'll keep killing their staff until I'm given a position."
"Sounds totally like you."
I shrugged.
"Need a lift?"
"Nah, I'll do this one myself."
"And where exactly are you going?" He cocked a brow.
I let out a tight smile and walk towards the door. Halting in my steps after pulling the handle I glanced over my shoulder at him.
"Do your job and look pretty, Omar. You and I have a little game we are yet to complete—which we must—when I'm back from my hunt."
And with that, I shut the door behind me.
…
One would think the best place to find sinners would be nightclubs, bars, casinos—you know, the morally gray places.
But I knew better.
I stared at the monstrous building ahead of me. It was ancient, dark, and ridiculously beautiful.
And for something meant to lead one into salvation, it was much more intimidating than my gates of hell.
The church.
The perfect place to hunt for sinners.