Storm of Sin - Patricia D. Eddy Page 0,71

rocks surrounding Hell. The celestial realm is so fucking white, it is almost blinding, and the archangel’s face swims in and out of focus.

“How could you let him do that to her? To me?” I shove him, and he lands on his ass a few feet away.

“I had no choice. He outranks me. I swear, I did not know who Zoe was when I first saw her with you.” Gabriel makes no move to rise. Smart. I may be powerless in this realm, but my fist still packs a punch.

“Neither did I. Obviously. It was not until we...”

“Fucked?” A dry laugh escapes his lips at my shock. “Being an angel does not stop me from swearing. Or fucking, to be honest. Not that I have in centuries.” He shakes his head and fixes his golden eyes on me. “I am the revealer of truth, the bringer of justice, and the interpreter of the Almighty’s plan, and I swear to you, Sinclair. This is not what I signed on for. I cannot do a damn thing about your banishment to the earthen realm. Nor do I think you want me to. But I can help right the wrongs visited upon you and—?”

“Zoe. She is Zoe now, and will be forever more if I can find her in time.”

Gabriel rises and offers me his hand. I do not hesitate to take it. He nods as he pulls me to my feet. “We will find her. Save her. And see Thorn and his lover brought to justice once and for all. But we may need a little help.”

Thirty

Zoe

My stomach twists in on itself. I’m so hungry. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. At least a full day. Maybe two. I haven’t seen anyone other than Thorn and his human automatons, but I can hear the other women scream.

Dion’s cries are the worst. My only friend. She’s here because of me. Because Thorn and Regina needed a way to get to me so they could get to Sin. She broke hours ago. I heard it happen. She doesn’t curse him now. She begs. Pleads for water. Food. Mercy. If I’m starving and so dehydrated my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, she must feel so much worse. Her body needs twice as much food as mine, and Thorn isn’t giving her anything.

I can’t hold out much longer. He’ll sell me soon. To some vampire who’ll drink my blood, glamour me, or turn me. I can’t let him.

So many centuries ago, he auctioned me at least a dozen times. But I was less powerful then. I remember now. What I’m supposed to do. What I was supposed to do back then. I can get into Thorn's mind in much the same way he can enter mine.

Before, my power was weaker. Seraphiel believed it would take weeks to destroy the incubus. But now, I can trap him in an instant. When I do, my own mind, my entire consciousness, will be shackled to his. My physical body will die, and our souls will be sucked into the void, consumed by the Underworld for all eternity.

Every time he comes for me, I think I should just get it over with. But when Thorn dies, all the women caged down here with me? They’ll die too. My connection with Thorn's mind offers me insights I didn’t have last time. He holds the keys to the cages and the thick iron gates leading to the surface. Regina won’t free them. Her mind is so far gone, so tied to Thorn's, she might not even survive his death.

No one knows where we are. Hell, I don’t even know. These tunnels and caverns are old, but not as old as the ones in Italy. Maybe a hundred years? But we’re very deep underground. I can’t hear any traffic above us. Can’t even feel the rumble of cars or trucks or cable cars.

Soft footsteps approach, and light floods this old, crumbling space. Regina. My heart races, and I try to shield my mind, but while I can fight Thorn—for a time—I can’t resist the Fae.

“Bring her,” she orders, and Gregory unlocks the cell, grabs me by my ankle, and yanks me out. I lunge for his hands, but I’m too weak and slow. “You will not fight back, my dear. You want to obey. To please me, yes?”

No!

“Yes, Regina.” My voice holds no emotion, like I’m suddenly two people. The real me, and the mindless shell she controls