Bride of the Sea Monster - Eve Langlais Page 0,2
word for you: Dorothy.” I referred, of course, to the fact that my uncle had lost his chance to settle down because he’d put work ahead of happiness. Before you think my uncle a sappy bastard, lamenting about the past, I should note that I only knew about Dorothy because he’d gotten rip-roaring drunk once while staring at a picture of a woman. His one true love. And he’d neglected her, so she’d run off with another fellow.
Shax’s expression turned somber. “I can talk because I know what a mistake it is to allow complacency to take root.”
“This isn’t a matter of complacency. It’s a curse.”
“You’re being a coward.”
At that, I exploded. “Even if I find her, what am I supposed to say? ‘Hello, because of a curse your fucking family placed on mine, if you don’t marry and love me soon, I’m going to be a sea monster forever.’”
“Not horrible, but you might want to focus on your positive points.”
“Which are what exactly?”
“Already said, you’re not wretched-looking.”
I snorted.
“Well-off financially.”
“I’m also the scourge of the sea.”
“Only if the marriage fails.”
At the reminder, I sighed. “It will because we’re being forced into it.”
“There are spells we can use to fix that.”
“A love spell?” I shook my head. “No. I won’t have it.” Not to mention, I recalled seeing a clause in the curse forbidding that kind of thing.
“You’d rather become a beast for the rest of your life?”
“Better than forcing someone into a lie.” I did have some morals left.
“Would it kill you to ask?” my uncle snapped.
“I won’t beg.” My pride wouldn’t allow it. “And ask who? We still don’t have an actual address.”
“I don’t understand why you won’t act,” Shax raged. “Why are you just allowing this to happen?”
“I am acting. I am ending the curse.” Let it die with me, the last of my line.
“I am going to throttle you,” my uncle yelled.
I glanced away from his red-faced anger—and fear—as I dragged my fingers through the water, ignoring the sharp nibbles of the fish. Harder to ignore was the sudden shift in the air, and the booming voice.
“Did I hear there’s going to be some throttling? When does it start? I want to ensure I get a good seat.” Lucifer rubbed his hands together.
“Not now,” growled Shax. “This is family business.”
“Am I not family?” Said in an aggrieved tone by the Lord of the Pit.
“Now you’ve done it,” I muttered to my uncle. Flicking the water from my hand, I stood and faced the dark lord of Hell. “My Liege. You grace me with your presence.” I sketched a short bow because only an idiot didn’t show respect to the devil.
“Not feeling too graced.” Lucifer glared at Shax, who glared right back. Smoke curled from the dark lord’s nose while power crackled around my uncle.
“Do you mind?” I muttered. “I’m trying to mope over here.”
With a last snarl from each, they relaxed, Lucifer brushing ash from his suit. “Hello, boy, it’s been a while.”
A while being since my childhood. The devil had popped in, said to come and see him for a job when I went beast mode at thirty-two, and then got tossed out by my uncle. The demon-handling of the dark overlord resulted in Shax’s house in the second ring of Hell being picked up and moved to the fifth circle. As if he cared about the loss in status.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“Why do you think?” The devil smiled. “It won’t be long now before all you can do is terrorize the seas. So, I’m here to repeat the job offer I mentioned a few years ago.”
“What exactly is the job?” I asked, raising a hand to stall my uncle when he opened his mouth to protest.
“Nothing you can’t handle. Once you turn all tentacle-y and rampage-y, maybe you can do me a favor and sink a few ships. I’ve got a score to settle with some uppity sorts on Earth.”
“On Earth?” I repeated. “Kind of hard to sink anything when I’ll be stuck down here.” I waved to the darkness of the Styx as it rolled by. The river separated Hell from the land of the living and was filled with unspeakable creatures who constantly hungered. Soon, it would include another kraken. I wondered if my dad would let me move near him. Maybe point out a cave I could call my own.
“Which is the other reason I’m here.” Lucifer tucked his hands behind his back, and I noted his outfit—Darth Vader meets