My suitors

Chapter 14

I step forward, but Adal holds me back.

- Where's my mom, I yell.

- There's no need to get worked up, dear. Your mother is with me, safe and sound. For now, Rey says.

- Why. Why are you doing this, I ask.

- How else am I going to rule Heaven and Hell. I need something to bargain with you, Princess, Rey says.

- Bargain, I ask in my head. My chest tightens as I worry about my mother's safety. But one look at Adal helps me calm down.

- I'm so glad you're here, Adal, I say in my head. With a much clearer mind, I face Rey once more.

- What do you want with me, Rey, I ask.

- Isn't it obvious, Princess, Rey asks. He pulls a small, peculiar scepter out of his jacket and holds it up.

- Stop, Adal yells. Adal charges at Rey, but he's suddenly grabbed by two men.

- Adal, I yell. A woman comes up behind me and pulls my arms behind my back.

- They're being controlled, I yell.

- Of course they are. How else am I meant to take over Heaven and Hell, Rey asks. Rey chuckles, twirling the scepter like a baton.

- You humans really are slow on the uptake. But I have to admit, I'm lucky my goals lined up perfectly with the leader of the Misfortune dorm. But I knew he alone would be overpowered by the other prefects, so while you were all distracted by him. I went into the human world with the Key to create an army of humans. If your kind is good for one thing, it's for taking you all down, and making Hell and Heaven mine to control. And that part of my plan beings with your death, Princess. It really wouldn't take more than a push for your father to follow, Rey says. He steps over to me, smiling malevolently.

- Satan trusted you, I yell.

- That was his first mistake, Rey says. He shrugs.

- Well, that and going soft. He went and fell in love with a disgusting human. That's when I knew he had to go, Rey says.

- You really do hate humans, don't you, I ask.

- Of course I do. All of my suffering, all of my pain. It all comes back to you humans. God's favorite. I don't understand. You're all miserably weak and pathetic, squabbling over the most foolish things. Even as the barrier cracked and bits of our world crept into theirs, they began to turn on each other. Such simple, easily manipulated creatures, Rey says. He twirls the scepter, and the woman holding me down begins moving strangely, like the man that attacked me in the courtyard.

- Is Rey using the scepter to control her. That would mean, I say in my head. With one more wave, the woman tightens her grip on me. It's painful enough to make me cry out.

- Stop it, Adal yells.

- Or what, little demon, Rey asks. The stone in the scepter glows. Suddenly one of the men holding Adal punches him, making him double over in pain.

- Are you beginning to understand how outmatched you are, Rey asks. Adal glares at Rey. All of a sudden, there's a flash, and the street fills with smoke.

- What, Rey asks. I hear something strange before the person holding me is gone. Then I feel a warm grip on my hand. When I turn, I gasp.

- Draco, I yell.

- Come on, I have a portal nearby, Draco says.

- What about Adal, I ask.

- Trevor has him, hurry now, Draco says. He pulls me behind him, and the two of us make our escape.