Go to Hell

Chapter 8

Go to Hell! 

(Renrik’s POV)

My brother asked me if the demon chaining up Seraphine was the same one that killed our father. 

“Honestly, I don’t know, but he’s a demon traipsing around with a wolf under his thumb. He admitted to killing our kind. I’d say it’s fucking likely it’s him.”

“If he killed Dad, he’s powerful. You’re lucky you escaped with just a scratch,” Roderick gestured to my bandaged shoulder. 

I held my head high, letting my pride get the better of me. “I nearly killed him.” 

“And he won’t let you get that close to killing him again.”

“Where are you going with this, Rod?” I squared up to him, my shadow engulfing my Gamma brother.

“I know how you think, Ren,” Roderick didn’t recoil no matter how close I got. He would never be afraid of me, he’s seen me at my best and worst. I doubted there was anything I could do that would shock him anymore. “You’ll charge off without thinking things through. If you want your Luna, you need to be prepared. It will take time-”

“Time? We don’t have time, Roderick. That bastard is going to take out his anger on Seraphine, I just know it!” I started to pace, muscles twitching. “I doubt that he’ll kill her. He’s using her for something. But I know he’s going to make her life miserable, just because I exist.” My knuckles turned white as I clenched my fists tighter. Perhaps I was just as the demon said; violent. I wanted to hit something; smash it to pieces just to blow off some steam.

Roderick lowered his head in disappointment. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could stare at my own reflection in his spectacles as I stopped in front of him again. I was so angry. Dangerous. I hated the image before me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, settling myself. 

Kenton cleared his throat, hovering at the edge of the room. He could read me just as well as Rod could. “You know, Ren, you haven’t even told us much about your mate. What’s she like?”

I let his words sink in. I let him rope my thoughts and guide them away from the rage. “Small,” I breathed. “She smelt like vanilla and peaches hidden under a coat of ash.”

Seraphine was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on, but I didn’t want to be shallow. I paused and recounted our first meeting. “She… stood up to the demon even though he could have snapped his fingers and killed her. She wanted to be with me. There is no doubt that Seraphine was the white light we saw; she radiated purity. I couldn’t smell any other scents on her, either. She’s- Seraphine is a virgin.” 

My own words made me salivate and I had to swallow it. I hoped that the guys didn’t notice, but it was difficult to contain myself the more I thought about my fated mate. “God, I want to mark her.” My leg began to shake impatiently. 

A primal urge stirred within me and I quickly tamed it. “Her name is Seraphine Lowell.” 

“Lowell?” Roderick looked puzzled. 

Kenton beamed and bounced on his heels like an excited puppy. “You know her, Roddy?” 

“No, no,” Roderick scratched the back of his head, deep in thought. “I’ve heard the family name before, but it’s pretty common. It’s probably nothing.”

I wrinkled my nose and puffed out my chest. “It was a common name for families related to the Celesta pack.” 

“Celesta?!” That put Roderick and Kenton on their haunches. 

My brother’s voice squeaked when he spoke. “That’s the pack that Dad -”

“Yes. I know.” I nodded gravely. “All the more reason for me to rescue her, right?” 

“I suppose so,” Roderick agreed. “But you still need a plan -”

“I have a plan.” Sort of. “Listen, I noticed something on the demon’s hand when he teleported away or however the fuck demons travel. I’ve seen something like it before, when Dad showed us around the Vault. A ring. A Hellion ring. I think it can take us to Hell.”

“That is not a plan,” Roderick grumbled. 

“I go to Hell, grab the girl, come straight back to the Surface. The demon won’t be able to touch a hair on Seraphine once she’s under the protection of our veil.”

“That’s not a plan!” Roderick roared, spit flying from his fangs and onto my chest. “Fine. You know what, fine. Just do what you want. I’ll help you study the ring, but we’re doing it tomorrow, after we’ve all had some rest.”

“I don’t need your help,” my words were forced through grit teeth. ‘Impatient. Impatient. Impatient.’ What was wrong with me?

“You’re getting it anyway,” Roderick promised before storming towards the door. His limp didn’t even hinder him. “Because good luck opening the Vault without my part of the key, idiot.” He slammed the door behind him.

“Fuck.” 

Kenton laughed and gave me a solid pat on the back, deliberately on my good side. “Suddenly regretting giving me and your brother part of the keys to the vault?”

“No. This is the reason you have them. So I don’t get access to powerful artefacts and royally fuck things up.” I sighed and collapsed onto the spare bed, rubbing my calloused hand down my face, over my stubble. I couldn’t remember the last time I shaved, or when I last took care of my appearance in general. There wasn’t anyone I needed to impress, so who the heck cared what I looked like?

My chest rose as I inhaled. “You’ll take care of the pack while I’m gone, won’t you?”

“Ren, I’m coming with you.”

“The fuck you are. You’re going to make sure nothing happens to Veilrend -”

“Roddy is more than capable of running this place, Ren. He has a damn good head on his shoulders and you need to stop interrupting him and let him speak.” 

I squinted at my friend. “You literally just interrupted me.” 

“Because you need to hear this.”

“He’s weak.”

“He’s smart and stronger than you give him credit for. Yes, he’s not as strong as you. He never will be, but he’s the Gamma for a reason. The pack will be fine in his hands for a day or two.” Kenton assured me.

I thought about what he said. It would be a great boon for me to have my Beta by my side as I breached the layers of Hell. I trusted Kenton with my life and if anything happened to me on the mission, he’d be the one I would trust to look after Seraphine. 

My nostrils flared. “Doctor Nyxson would love Roderick being in charge. She’ll get to play-pretend-Luna for real,” I huffed. “I’ll sleep on it, but if I say you’re staying here, Kent, you’re staying here. Do you understand?”

“You’re crystal clear, Renrik!”

“Good. Now get outta here,” I barked. 

Kenton happily left me to wallow in the shadows alone. I didn’t bother to drag myself to my real room.

I should have felt guilty about how quickly I gave in to sleep, but I didn’t. I was tired. 

As my consciousness slipped into the veil that protected my pack, I found myself in an ethereal world. Shimmering lights of blue, pink and purple illuminated the misty plane. I was standing on something and nothing at the same time. I looked around and my eyes widened. 

“Seraphine?”