“Do you think I’m stupid? I’m not handing the little bastard over,” Wrath screamed. “If I die, he dies with me. Swear to me that I’m the true heir of Hell and then take your own life. I will let the child live if you comply.”
“I can freeze time,” Elle whispered with her eyes glued to Wrath as she continued to yell.
“The knife could still prick the child in the split second it will take for the magic to take hold,” God said quietly.
“Don’t risk it,” I said, tightly. “I’m going to give her what she wants.”
“What?” Elle hissed. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Millions of years ago,” I told her. “Trust me.”
Glancing over at Mammy, she nodded. I was betting my son’s life on the skills of a Dragon who trimmed nether regions, and her son who was missing brain cells. Right now, I saw no other choice.
“I can’t die without the Sword of Death,” I said flatly to Wrath. “You know this as well as I do.”
“Get it,” Wrath snapped with a nasty smile as her body relaxed slightly. She was beginning to feel more confident in her success.
“It will take some time,” I replied then turned to Lizard who had choked up on his baseball bat ready to go for the kill. “Lizard, transport to Purgatory and summon Mr. Rogers. Have him bring the Sword of Death to Hell. Let him know I need to kill myself.”
“Umm… sure,” Lizard said, looking at me strangely.
Lizard knew as well as I did that Fred Rogers was in Hell right now, in the very same room we were standing in. Fred was a poker buddy and joined me at game night every Tuesday. He rode the party bus down from Heaven where he resided. His job was in Purgatory—the most boring fucking place in the Universe. He was indeed the protector of the Sword of Death—the only instrument that could kill a True Immortal.
“You want me to go to Purgatory? Right now? And get Mr. Rogers?” Lizard asked, perplexed.
“Yes,” I said. “It will probably take you a few hours to locate Fred. He likes to play hide and seek.”
Hopefully Mammy wouldn’t need more than a few hours to make sure Murry didn’t fuck up.
“So, should I play hide and seek with him, my liege?” Lizard inquired with the smallest of grins.
“If that’s what it takes to get him to give up the Sword of Death, then yes,” I replied as Lizard nodded his head. “You might want to pretend to be King Friday.”
“Not a problem. Is Mr. Rogers a good hider?” Lizard asked.
“He is,” I confirmed, glancing Fred’s way to make sure he understood my bizarre directive. “Leave at once. Wrath has promised to let my son live if I off myself. I’d like to get this over with. The sooner the better.”
“As you wish,” Lizard said as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Fred had slowly lowered himself to the floor and was now hiding under a table. He was a smart man and a damn good poker player. Steve Perry and Dr. Ruth moved in front of the table to block anyone from seeing him. I realized in that moment I didn’t need Steve Perry to be my BFF. I had everyone I needed already. I just needed to make sure none of them were taken from me.
“It shall be done,” I said coolly.
“That’s good,” Wrath said as the colorful tattoos on her skin morphed to a dull gray. “Tell the Demon Army they have to obey me upon your death.”
“They heard you,” I replied. “If you are indeed the true heir to the throne of Hell you will have no problem.”
“Don’t get yer panties in a wad about the fire,” Mammy warned. “Yer boy loves it.”
“What fire? What do you mean?” I demanded.
“Just don’t freak. Ya feel me Lucifer Dark Junk?”
“I feel you,” I said. “What about the others in the room? Will they be safe?
“Can yer mamma cast another barrier spell?”
“Mother, Mammy wants you to cast a barrier spell,” I whispered.
“How do you know this?” she asked, glancing casually over at Mammy.
“Don’t ask. Can you do it?” I asked under my breath.
“Yes,” my mother replied. “Where does she want it?”
“Where?” I asked Mammy.
“Around everyone in the room except me, Murry, Wrath, the baby and you,” she instructed.
“His name is Luke,” I told Mammy.
He wasn’t just the baby. He had a name. A name made one real.