For something that now existed for the sole purpose of terrorizing the damned, Kyle had done a lot of screaming himself when he’d first arrived in Hell. And not the good kind. Not long after being granted his immortality, he’d woken from a nap to discover a fifty-foot-long, black snake-like creature curled up on the balcony. He hadn’t been able to stop himself – he’d shrieked. The monster had looked at him with pupil-less orange eyes, made a noise like an angry cat, and slithered away. Ryka’s complete calm upon hearing this creature described only made Kyle feel worse.

Even more terrifying had been his first flight. “I should really show you around,” Ryka had suggested. When Kyle had paled at the mere thought, Ryka had backpedaled. “At least let’s take a walk around here.”

Kyle had peeked out over the edge of the balcony and nearly cried. It was a sheer drop of at least a hundred stories to a hard, cracked ground below. “H-how?” he’d stammered, already dreading Ryka’s answer.

“Did you really just ask that? What do you think we have wings for?”

“I can’t,” Kyle had protested as Ryka had pulled him onto the thick railing that surrounded the overhang.

“Sure you can. The worst that’s going to happen is that you look like an idiot.” Kyle suspected that would just be what happened before the actual worst part - splattering like a bug on a windshield at the base of the cliff.

“That’s bad enough.”

“Suck it up,” Ryka had told him, moments before giving him a shove. All of Hell had heard him scream. But instinct kicked in and he managed to save himself the embarrassment of crashing. Although his landing was a little rough. He’d skidded to a stop, a tangled heap of wings and limbs. Ryka had touched down gracefully next to him, shaking his head. “At least you fuck better than you fly.”

Nothing, though, had prepared him for the part of Hell that resided on the other side of those towering black mountains. Ryka had insisted on giving him a tour, and Kyle really had no choice but to go. It wasn’t the sight of billions of human souls being tortured by countless scores of demons that frightened him - though that was indeed traumatic. It was seeing Lord Satan as he appeared to the damned that made him scramble to hide behind Ryka. He could still clearly remember the number of times he had seen the great beast through the portal’s open mouth, but those memories were almost a comfort now.

In a form that appeared to be a hideous amalgamation of all sorts of animals, some native only to Hell, Lucifer towered over the Pits and the unfortunate souls that inhabited them. His wings, bat-like in this form, were nearly level with the mountains’ peaks. The damned wept and groveled at his feet, pleading for mercy they’d never know, while fire danced around them. On cloven hooves, he trod over them, straight toward Ryka and Kyle. Only Ryka grabbing him by the wings had stopped him from throwing himself to the ground. But Lord Satan had walked right past.

“He-he looks so different,” Kyle said quietly, as if anyone besides Ryka could hear him over the wailing.

“He can change into whatever he wants.”

“I think I prefer him the other way.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll never leave you alone.”

***

Time passed differently in Hell than it did on Earth. What felt like weeks to Kyle had been years in the mortal world. After all the initial shocks, he thought he had adjusted rather well. At first, he and Ryka had been left to their own devices, which was fine with them. They needed to make up for lost time.

Sure, they had been literally stuck together for the length of the contract. But it wasn’t the same. Finally, Kyle could simply reach out and touch Ryka. And Ryka was surely spoiling him, never turning away Kyle’s attention, whether it be simply twining their tails together while they chatted, or something more. And they often opted for the “more.”

But then Kyle’s work had begun, Lucifer assigning him his first group of ten imps. They weren’t just his problem - there were other “babysitters” in the rotation - but they seemed to wind up with him more often than not.

It annoyed Ryka to no end, but Kyle couldn’t help but think they were cute. Something about the imps’ big eyes and oversized wings made them irresistible, even if their personalities didn’t always match. They looked like little kids, but acted like obnoxious teenagers most of the time. At least he had experience with that.

Still, they were a little naïve, and could be very sweet. Ryka would kick them out so he and Kyle could be alone, and the little ones would go, looking hurt. But they’d invariably wake up under a pile of imps, all quietly snoring and cuddled close.

“You think you would have learned your lesson,” Ryka had said, trying to rouse the ten little demons that had snuck in while they were asleep. Annoyed as he tried to act, Ryka was still exceedingly patient with the intruders, even the three that were passed out on his wing.

“I guess you’ll have to teach me again,” Kyle replied with a grin.

“Get lost, brats. We’re busy.”

“Again?” one yawned. It was the usual reason any of their babysitters kicked them out: the desire for a few moments of privacy.

“Yup. Now, good-bye.”

***

No matter how bleak the view from the balcony, the one behind him was always wonderful. Kyle glanced back over his shoulder to appraise his other half, still bound and gagged on their bed. Ryka’s chest was heaving, teeth still clamped around the chain in his mouth.

There was a reason he’d always manifested devices suitable for dungeon torture porn - it was what he’d known from home. In Hell, there was an overabundance of heat, rock and the labor needed to mine ore and forge it into iron.

Kyle had learned that many of the damned were put to work. Because simply being here wasn’t enough, they were forced into servitude for all eternity. Most performed general - but still soul-crushing - tasks, such as making chain. Some, however, had specialized assignments, chosen just for them as part of their punishments.

Several Popes - some of whom had been named “Innocent,” but been far from it - served as Lucifer’s personal attendants, catering to his every degrading whim. And there was no shortage of staff to care for the rest of demonkind. History was rife with humans who had thought themselves worthy of owning other humans, and it was they who would now spend the rest of time slave to creatures who would show even less compassion than they had.

It was two of these who had suddenly appeared to tidy up their room. Kyle had been so lost in thought he’d hardly noticed Ryka freeing himself and summoning housekeeping, something done by ringing a bell that only their assigned servants could hear. The two souls - whose names had probably popped up frequently in the Civil War books Kyle had been so keen on - worked with bowed heads, knowing all too well that eye contact with their masters risked their wrath. At least their masters saved their lust for each other; not all were so lucky.

But Kyle ignored them, instead focusing on the whirlwind skipping across the plain. “Ugh, the fuck does he want?” Ryka grumbled, noticing what Kyle had.

By now, the method of Judas’s transport was all too familiar to him. And there was little doubt it was them - or more likely Ryka - he was coming to collect. Even Kyle was getting annoyed by how frequently Ryka was requested at Lucifer’s palace. Though at least they didn’t leave him alone; Judas usually hung back to keep him company, and keep the gawkers away.

Ryka was already fully prepared to try and argue his way out of it when Judas touched down on the balcony rail. “Tell him-”

But for once, Ryka gave up the fight when Judas informed them, “He wants both of you this time.”

***

Kyle and Ryka looked back and forth between each other and Lucifer a great many times before either of them was able to form a coherent response. “Purgatory?” Ryka finally managed, sounding none too pleased. Hadn’t they just gotten out of that shithole?

Lucifer nodded. Judas stood beside the Devil’s throne, his face expressionless. It bothered him a little that Kyle, at least, would be leaving Hell for a while. Having been a damned soul himself, Kyle was the only other demon who didn’t look down on him, and they had begun to strike up a friendship. Judas was sorry to have to lose his company so soon. Not that it would be for long. Though if they performed as expected, they would likely be sent again.

“Yes. I’m so glad you were listening to me. There’s been a mix-up, you see ….”

***

Trench coat flaring out behind him, Kyle stormed back to the hotel. Carefully avoiding bumping into other pedestrians, he checked his watch again. A low growl rumbled in his chest. Only ten minutes until the scheduled meeting time and Ryka had yet to make an appearance. And he had promised to show up at least twenty minutes early.

For being six hundred years old, give or take, Ryka still often behaved like an imp. Irresponsible, impulsive, impetuous. Though Kyle knew he did his fair share of enabling. He had always been weak to Ryka’s demands, even when they had shared the same body. And now that Ryka could accompany his requests with a pleading look, there was no way Kyle could deny him anything.

Which was why he had left his other half napping in their suite while he ventured out alone. The hotel was making him claustrophobic - it was still too soon for him to be cooped back up in places like that - but when he had suggested a walk, Ryka had groaned and buried himself deeper in his nest of pillows and blankets. Even with their meeting time so close, Kyle hadn’t been able to say “no” to that. But Ryka had also made a promise, and was dangerously close to breaking it.

The staff at the front desk shot him nervous glances as he hurried by, grumbling under his breath. He had just enough power to maintain the illusion he was human. It was exhausting and required most of his concentration, leaving him little to actually play the part. Even though he had recently been mortal, acting like one was increasingly difficult. Anger didn’t help.

Neither did overwhelming anxiety. He had hardly gotten used to things in Hell, and now they were back in Purgatory. Lord Satan had assigned them a task, and expected it to be completed perfectly. Which was why they had been chosen. Only a few years had passed since they had last been here. Fitting in wouldn’t be a problem for a former mortal and the demon who had accompanied him for nearly a century.

It wasn’t the playing pretend bit that had Kyle on edge, though. This involved Heaven. And a tight schedule, for some reason.

Love him though he did, Kyle was still furious with Ryka. How hard was it to show up on time?

Temper burning hotter the closer he got to their room, Kyle’s displeasure was quite audible by the time he finally burst through the door. “Where the fuck have you been?” he snarled.

In his true demonic form, and nothing else, Ryka was leaning back against the headboard. He had a beer in one hand, and held himself even more tightly in the other. “Good timing,” he greeted. “I woke up lonely.”

Livid, Kyle slammed the door closed behind him and stalked across the room. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” Judging by his panting and blown-out pupils, Kyle guessed Ryka had woken up not long after he had left, and had been trying to satiate his loneliness ever since.

“But … I … you were supposed to meet me ….”

“I’ve still got an hour,” Ryka replied, much too relaxed. “Well, we’ve got an hour. Get over here.”

“We don’t have an hour!”

Barely managing to smother a laugh, Ryka asked, “Isn’t your watch broken? It’s an hour fast, right?” They had discovered this just last night, upon their arrival in Purgatory. Kyle had insisted on wearing it, then proceeded to reset it dozens of times. It somehow still always ended up wrong. A long-ago trip through the portal had permanently impaired its ability to properly keep time.

If he could have, Kyle would have curled up and died. “Yes. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Ryka took a swig of his beer before setting it aside, and used the tip of his tail to pat the empty spot next to him on the mattress. “Care to join?”

“Well …”

“Again: we’ve got time.”

That they did. And Kyle needed something to calm his nerves. He shed his clothes, and the illusion that made him look human. His trench coat, a shabby dark gray, opened into a set of leathery wings, and his tail and horns became visible once more.

“Much better,” they said together, each taking a moment to appreciate the view before Kyle dove into bed.

***

An afternoon romp hadn’t done much to dispel Kyle’s worries about their rapidly approaching rendezvous with two of Heaven’s messengers. “Why are you so worked up?” Ryka inquired as they strolled out of the hotel lobby and onto crowded streets. Before Kyle could answer, Ryka continued, “Though you’ve never seen an angel ….”

“Well, I mean, Lord Satan, but … what are they like?”

A lascivious grin on his face, Ryka said, “Maybe you should’ve brought a change of underwear.”

“What?”

“Mortals can’t see it, but they look to us like an incubus or succubus looks to a human.” That, Kyle knew, meant attractive beyond words. “Which is why they’d rather meet here than come to Hell themselves. Here, there’s only two of us to harass them. They only had to try that experiment once ….”

Even now a monster himself, Kyle shuddered at the mention of that incident, glad he hadn’t been around to witness it. Two angels, sent on an errand to Hell, had quickly become victims of their counterparts’ lust. Although they were powerful themselves, they had been outnumbered. The angels, brutalized, had been sent home to recover, or try to. The offending demons had been sent to Oblivion, nothing left of them but fragments of their souls, destined to an eternity of bodiless misery.

That demons and angels were still allowed to interact was astounding. But now the matches were carefully made. They had to be equals in terms of numbers and strength, and with the right temperaments. Even with Ryka’s short fuse, it was understood he and Kyle were safe choices; no chance of either trying to rape an angel.

They walked on in silence for a few minutes, Kyle trying to shake the images his imagination produced reflecting on that story. “Besides looks, what are they like?” he asked when the crowd thinned a little.

“Are you worried? They’re angels. They’re not gonna kick our asses in an alley or something. Besides, we’ve always got a way out.”

Out of habit, Kyle looked down at his feet, where a pseudo-demon did a rather convincing impression of his shadow. Since he wasn’t as powerful as Ryka, the portal to Hell that had accompanied Ryka for so long had been attached to him, just in case. At least now he could correctly pronounce its name. “Right. And I didn’t think they’d do anything like that.”

“They’re just … cold. To us anyhow. Guess you can’t blame them after what happened. But they’re happier to stay with the saved. They’ve never liked to be here as much as demons do.” Which was why human myth was filled with gods that very much resembled Kyle’s new kin. Angels appeared, too, but not at nearly the same frequency. They didn’t have the same desire to meddle.

This time, there was no choice. Two souls had arrived in the wrong afterlife, and they were here to help rectify the situation. To send a mistakenly saved soul to Hell, and make sure one of the former damned reached their place in Heaven. Now he understood why Lord Satan had been so quick to tell him how that happened.

“How do they find them, the souls? How do they know?”

“If a soul ends up in Hell and it shouldn’t be there, it’s like it never really feels fear or pain. And a damned soul in Heaven is paranoid, always waiting for its punishment to begin.”

“Okay. But how does this even work? He didn’t tell us anything ….”

“Get used to it,” Ryka scoffed. “I’ve only heard it described, never seen it done. But since Purgatory is the middle ground, it’s easier to do it here. I guess the portals do most of the work. We just bring them along.”

“And we’re supposed to meet more than once to make this happen?” He certainly didn’t want to be the one to call out Lord Satan, but it was starting to sound like busy work. As someone who had, on occasion, assigned such tasks, he knew bullshit when he saw it.

Ryka sighed, obviously of the same mind. “The first time just to make extra-sure there won’t be any raping, and to try and find a good place. It needs to be out of mortal sight, but close enough to lure the souls. At least one wants out from where it is now, and they’d both rather be alive if death isn’t panning out.”

“So, a park or something?”

“Usually, I guess.”

He stopped talking again when the restaurant came into view. Someone - God? Satan? - had made a reservation. It seemed a mundane place for such a meeting, but here they were. To eat over-priced pasta and plan where to move souls between Heaven and Hell. Kyle was glad he couldn’t get headaches anymore.

“Maybe we should invite them back to our room,” Ryka said under his breath.

Kyle was about to scold him, but his words caught in his throat. Seated primly in the restaurant’s waiting area were the two most perfect creatures, aside from Lucifer, that Kyle had ever set eyes on. A man and a woman, both with silvery hair, pale blue eyes, and - invisible to the other patrons - wings covered in pearlescent ivory feathers, watched their approach. They were breath-taking in their flawless beauty. Kyle would have said “glowing,” but realized they really were, radiating pure white light. Their halos, he realized.

“Told ya, didn’t I?” Ryka said, giving Kyle a shove toward the angels. They stood as one, and inclined their heads slightly toward the advancing demons. But Kyle was too awestruck to get his mouth to cooperate.

The woman, wearing a smile that made Kyle’s heart pound against his rib cage, stopped in front of him. “I’m Muribelle, and this is Quinn.”

“Uh, hi,” he managed. “I’m Kyle. And that’s Ryka.” The blood that should have been powering his brain was rushing southward. “Let’s sit. Please.” Ryka muffled a snort.

Stolen novel; please report.

Muribelle giggled, a sound like the tinkling of hundreds of tiny bells, and agreed. She and Quinn, who had yet to speak, led the way, and Kyle hung back a little with Ryka. “So,” he began, before the teasing could commence, “are we supposed to make small talk? Or …?”

They arrived at their table before Kyle had a chance to inquire further about the details of the transaction. Not until they had ordered their drinks and meals did Quinn finally speak. “You were a human,” he said, staring at Kyle.

Kyle wasn’t sure exactly how to take the angel’s sudden remark. His first instinct was to think it an insult. But he noticed Muribelle staring at him in fascination, and realized they were more intrigued than anything else. “I was.”

“Reincarnation is so rare. You must have done something quite incredible to please Lucifer,” Muribelle said.

Ryka chuckled. Kyle shook his head, but couldn’t stop himself from smirking just a little. “Don’t even say it,” he mumbled. He was quite sure the angels didn’t want to hear that pleasing Lucifer was Judas’s job.

Somehow, Ryka pulled himself together long enough to ask about their actual mission. This seemed to be Quinn’s area of expertise, based on his prompt reply. “We’ll meet again tomorrow at eleven p.m., in that park across the street.” Ryka and Kyle both glanced over their shoulders to the spot Quinn nodded toward. Even now, in the middle of the afternoon, it looked deserted. Kyle hoped that it would be the same at night, so they could at least temporarily do away with their disguises. Keeping up this illusion was draining.

“We were told it’s been used before, so should be a good place. We’ll make sure, though. And as long as nothing has changed by tomorrow’s meeting, we can complete the transaction the following day.”

“‘Nothing’s changed?’” Kyle inquired. “How do you mean?” The souls weren’t going to be any more or less in the wrong spot in a day’s time.

“If one of us had to return to Heaven because of an emergency. Or another delegate from Hell arrived.”

“Funny you’re suggesting we might gang up on you.” Not that there wasn’t precedent, but that had nothing to do with them. Ryka’s indignation at the assumption had glasses clinking together behind the nearby bar. Kyle kept a lid on his own anger, but just barely.

Beautiful as he was, Quinn still looked quite intimidating when he was angry, those blue eyes icing over. Kyle briefly wondered if there was going to be ass-kicking in an alley after all. But the angel schooled his expression and lightly cleared his throat. “I never meant to suggest such a thing. Of course, one of you could be called away as well.”

“There’s never been a problem, so things will go smoothly, I just know it,” Muribelle chimed in. “We do both hope to see you again tomorrow.” Kyle suddenly understood her role. She was obviously a young angel, and inexperienced - he didn’t feel power radiating off her the way it did off Ryka and Quinn - but seemed quite good at keeping Quinn focused, and making up for his cold attitude. Kyle supposed he served a similar function: keeping Ryka from turning this restaurant into a murder scene.

“Same here.” Ryka didn’t appear to agree, but said nothing. In fact, both he and Quinn kept to themselves for the entire duration of the meal, leaving Kyle and Muribelle to struggle through some awkward conversation. Aside from immortality, it turned out angels and demons didn’t have all that much in common.

As far as Kyle was concerned, they didn’t make it through their meeting fast enough. He practically dragged Ryka back to their hotel. “You horny or something?” Ryka asked, grinning.

“Not really.” Still, he quickly did away with all illusions and clothing once they were back in their room. “Well ….”

“Give me a sec. These fucking boots-” Ryka’s tirade against his footwear was cut short by the sudden appearance on the wall of a swirling black vortex. “Ah, shit.”

He would never have said it out loud, but Kyle was thinking the same thing. They only knew of two beings capable of opening such a portal at will, and there was no doubt which one this was. “I’m not interrupting, am I?” Lucifer said by way of greeting as he stepped into the mortal world. More surprising than his sudden visit was the fact that he wasn’t alone.

Clinging to him, with claws tearing into his usually perfect robes, was an imp. And Kyle didn’t need to see the young demon’s face to know who it was. “Jinx.”

Huge eyes brimming with tears, the imp leapt into Kyle’s open arms. “He’s been a wreck without you.”

“He’s not staying,” Ryka asserted, before either of them could suggest otherwise. Babysitting wasn’t part of this gig. And was exactly the sort of thing that would fuck up the whole plan. They’d have to start this bullshit all over again. Nevermind they’d just be proving Quinn right.

“Just the night,” Lord Satan told him. Ryka wanted to argue, but there was no point. “I’m sure he’ll sleep the whole time, and you know what a sound sleeper he is. It will be like he’s not even here.”

Neither Kyle nor Ryka had a chance to ask when time exactly he was coming back to retrieve Jinx before Lucifer stepped back through the portal, which closed behind him. “He’s not sleeping in the bed with us.”

“I didn’t say he was. We’ve got a whole suite here, with plenty of furniture. But he’s going to need some clothes. Do you mind?”

The answer was an obvious “yes,” but Ryka did as Kyle asked, though with no shortage of grumbling. When he returned to the room, shopping bag in hand, Jinx was standing on the bed, wings open so Kyle could examine them. Bratty though he was, it still wasn’t easy to look at what the other demons had done to him.

Only two years old, the size of a four-year-old human boy, and without any power to speak of, Jinx was an easy target for his peers. He was a full-blooded demon, created by Satan just as they had been, but he was mercilessly bullied. Tears and holes made his wings nearly unusable, and his tiny body was covered with scars. He didn’t have the strength needed to diminish them, and even so, wounds inflicted by other immortals were nearly always permanent to some degree. Of Kyle’s “class” of ten, he was the runt, and apparently unable to cope without the presence of his guardian.

“You know, stud, you’re quite the pushover.”

Kyle smiled and brushed a lock of Jinx’s dark, tightly curled hair out of his face. The imp snuggled against his chest, purring quietly. “I know. But he looks so much like you did the first time we met. I can’t help it.”

“Kid, hurry up and go to sleep. I’m going to do unspeakable things to your beloved Kyle.”

***

As promised, Jinx slept peacefully the entire night. Kyle was sure the entire building crashing down around him wouldn’t have been enough to rouse the little demon. That’s probably exactly what it had sounded like, too. Though of course even the youngest demons understood those things.

“He still asleep?” Ryka asked with a yawn, finally stirring awake. The imp had started out in his own room, but had crept into theirs at some point during the night. Currently, he was curled up at the foot of the bed, nestled in a mountain of pillows.

“Looks like it. Hey, Jinx?” There was no answer, even when Kyle nudged him with his foot. “Out cold. Smoke?”

“Please.”

They finished their cigarettes in silence, watching Jinx sleep. Quietly, Kyle said, “I don’t understand why he doesn’t fight back.”

“I don’t think he’s stupid enough to try when he knows he won’t win.”

Not exactly what Kyle’d wanted to hear. It sounded so hopeless. “What can I do for him?”

“We could take him hunting. Let him practice on mortals with us as backup.” Even if it was more for Kyle’s sake, he was glad to hear that Ryka was willing to help.

A good idea to be sure, but leaving the building was too risky. Between Jinx’s inability to disguise himself and the presence of two angels in the vicinity, they had to settle for tormenting whoever they could entice into their room.

Luckily, it was easy enough for Ryka to wander down to the lobby and lure a victim back - one little nudge to their freewill and they would have followed him through the portal into Hell itself. Their luxury accommodations weren’t exactly a cesspool of human depravity, but Ryka still managed to track down an executive with a taste for underage girls and a young woman trying to scam men into her bed and out of their fortunes.

Even with coaching and hand-holding, Jinx was anxious. The realization that they were somehow practice made their victims’ fear all the sweeter, but it still wasn’t enough to inspire confidence or enthusiasm in the imp. All Kyle could hope was that he was at least filling up.

He only shrugged and hid his face in Kyle’s neck when asked how he was feeling. “Try to make fire with me,” Kyle urged. Demon though he was, he still hadn’t been able to manage the feat himself, but full-up on fear, it seemed like a good time to try. Especially here, where there was no one to judge their attempts.

Even with Ryka’s assurances that no one would mind if the hotel burned down, Jinx still hesitated, making a few feeble efforts before giving up.

So preoccupied were they that they nearly forgot about their upcoming meeting with the angels. “Lord Satan’s not coming back for him,” Ryka growled. “Asshole.”

“They’ll be pissed if we bring him, though, right?”

“Yeah. And if I have to see the look on that bastard’s face when we do just what he said, rape will be the least of his concerns.”

***

If the angels suspected there was another demon nearby, they never mentioned it. The four met only long enough to assess the park - a perfect spot, as Quinn had said - and set up a meeting for the same time and place for the following night. For that, Kyle was glad. He wasn’t comfortable leaving Jinx alone.

But he slept during their absence, and straight through the night once more. They spent another day trying to help him. This time, Ryka tracked down a couple local gang leaders, who followed him like obedient dogs back to their suite. Like their previous day’s prey, they let these two go in the end, both scrambling for the exit once released from Ryka’s control.

Neither Kyle nor Jinx succeeded at arson, and Kyle wished he, too, could curl up for a nap afterward. Even with the imp out cold, it still wasn’t easy for Ryka to convince him to leave Jinx again so they could go out to eat before their final meeting with Quinn and Muribelle. It was hard to say “no” to a date.

With time to spare before the exchange, they headed back to the hotel bar. “I’m going to go up and make sure he’s still sleeping,” Kyle said, unable to stop himself from worrying. The unusual pace of time in the mortal world seemed to have exhausted Jinx, and they hadn’t even been able to wake him long enough to let him know they were going out. “Order me something strong.” Kyle had no idea how Hell funded a luxury hotel suite, but he had no qualms about doing his part to run up their bill.

“You got it, stud.”

Kyle left Ryka alone at the bar, something else that made him a little nervous, and started for their room. He stepped up to the door, listening for any sign that Jinx might finally be awake. But he heard nothing. “Come on, sleepyhead, time to get up,” he announced, stepping inside. There was no reply, and it didn’t take any searching for him to realize why. Jinx was gone.

***

“Fucking brat. Now I know why Lord Satan dumped him on us.” When Kyle had told Ryka that Jinx was missing, the older demon hadn’t seemed surprised. “He probably went looking for you.”

That had led them to investigate the park where they would shortly be completing their transaction with the angels. The thought that Jinx might reach them before he and Ryka did was almost as upsetting as the thought of the astoundingly defenseless little imp all alone in a crowded city.

Their search didn’t take long. The smell of Jinx’s fear brought them to a dark corner of the park. In a rare show of reason, Ryka suggested they check the situation out first before interfering. From behind a row of unkempt shrubs, Kyle and Ryka watched to see if Jinx would finally stick up for himself.

With no way to disguise himself, it was truly a wonder the imp had made it this far. Kyle imagined that it hadn’t taken him long to attract the crowd of twenty or so people that had him surrounded, pinned against a high stone wall that marked the border of the park. He growled as they closed in on him, but the sound was far from threatening.

Murmurs of “What is he?” and “Who could we sell him to?” were easily audible to Kyle, and he felt an angry rumbling start to reverberate in his chest. But Ryka held him back, frustrating Kyle further.

“Wait and see what he does.”

Given that this was Jinx they were talking about, Kyle didn’t know what he had been expecting. The group had moved in a little closer, and a few brave individuals had reached out to grab the imp. Then the red light of Hellfire sent ominous figures dancing across the manicured grass. Most of the mob backed away, taking their shadows with them.

But he was just too good of a prize. Regardless of the flames that now engulfed Jinx’s arms and wings, some of his would-be kidnappers refused to let him go. Flinching away from the heat, two men managed to grab his arms and force him to the ground. In his panic, he lost control of his power, and the flames went out.

Kyle watched with growing rage as the crowd moved back in. Two people held down each limb, and two stood on each of his wings, keeping him completely immobilized. Even in the dim light, Kyle could see the tears streaming down Jinx’s cheeks, and it sickened him to see the imp struggling in vain against his captors. To have mere mortals so easily overpower him was obviously just too much for the little demon.

When one of the group stepped on his tail and Jinx let out a high-pitched yelp, Kyle snapped. Crimson flooded his vision, and all he wanted was to see more. To bathe in it. He had never known fury like this. And never expected it to feel so right.

With a monstrous roar, Kyle burst into the clearing, eyes blazing and claws at the ready. “Cowards!” he thundered, grabbing the first person that tried to run by him and tearing out his throat. His victim managed one startled gurgle, blood spraying out from the gaping hole in his neck.

Their hate and greed now turned to terror, the mob scrambled to avoid Kyle, but he was far too quick and far too angry to leave any of them unscathed. And it was so easy. They were so weak, so breakable. He felt almost drunk, inebriated with bloodlust. Killing them was so satisfying, and the fear they experienced in the moment they realized they were going to die was a high unlike any other. How had Ryka controlled himself all those years?

The few that did manage to escape with their lives didn’t make it far. Ryka waited down the path, eager to deal a final, fatal blow to any who dared think they deserved to live after what they had done. Being able to eviscerate the half dozen mortals that came his way more than made up for having to babysit Jinx.

When no one else tried to pass him, and the sounds of the massacre in the clearing seemed to have ceased, Ryka started back toward Kyle. He found his partner panting, kneeling in a pool of blood, surrounded by the nearly unrecognizable remnants of the offending mortals. Jinx was crawling toward Kyle, looking in awe at the carnage around him. “Kyle!” he cried.

Red fading from his vision, Kyle pulled Jinx into his arms. His growl quickly subsided to a purr as the imp snuggled close. Smiling, Ryka sat down on the gore-soaked lawn, opening his wings to shield them from view, should anyone dare to follow the bloody trail back to its origin.

“You okay, brat?” Jinx peered up at him, wiping drool off his chin onto Kyle’s shoulder, and nodded. “That make you hungry? We’ll eat after this next bullshit.” Jinx beamed at that. “And how are you, stud?”

Kyle leaned into him, light-headed. That rush of rage had been intoxicating. And he didn’t want to be done feeling good. “That was-”

“Almost as good as sex?” Ryka suggested, taking Jinx from Kyle’s arms and setting him down. Kyle squirmed and made a noise that sounded like an affirmative. He dropped his gaze to the ground, but out of the corner of his eye, saw Ryka gently pushing Jinx toward the shelter of some nearby trees. The imp was obviously exhausted from exerting himself – as soon as he found a comfortable spot, he curled up and fell asleep, knowing that as long as Ryka and Kyle were nearby, he was perfectly safe.

Kyle felt a bit guilty, but Jinx needed the rest, and he needed release. Finally, he understood why Ryka had always been so willing to let his temper get the best of him. It was nearly orgasmic. Nearly.

“I’m feeling the same way, stud. The brat’s already asleep and we have time. Shall we?” Still, Kyle hesitated. He couldn’t ask for that here. Could he? Eyes blazing, Ryka continued, “Anything you want, Kyle.”

If he hadn’t already been close to succumbing, hearing Ryka say his name made up his mind. That, paired with a lusty grin, was all the convincing he needed. Briefly, he recalled that they still had to meet with Muribelle and Quinn. But as he watched Ryka strip off his red-stained jeans and then flatten his wings in submission, the only thought that could be spared for the duo from Heaven was: Angels be damned.

***

With his desire satisfied and Jinx safely in his care, Kyle walked with Ryka to the designated meeting place. They were all three of them a mess. Jinx, wearing grass-stained pajama pants, was still bruised from his encounter with the mortals. Kyle and Ryka were proudly wearing the same mortals’ blood, both covered head-to-toe. And both also heavily adorned with claw marks and love bites from what they done afterwards.

As the angels came into view, Kyle slowed his pace, allowing himself to fall a few steps behind Ryka. Not that it did anything to stop Quinn and Muribelle from immediately noticing Jinx, who had one of Kyle’s hands enclosed tightly in both of his.

Muribelle didn’t seem too bothered by the imp’s presence, but Quinn certainly was. “What is that?” the angel spat, in no way concealing his disdain.

Since Quinn didn’t bother to mask his emotions, Kyle thought it best not to hide his, either. Reaching deep within himself, and thinking about how much he wouldn’t mind seeing Quinn burn along with Jinx’s attackers, Kyle growled. The sound seethed up from the ground beneath his feet, his fury amplifying it into something truly unholy.

“You might consider choosing your words more carefully,” Ryka suggested, looking smug. He had only caught glimpses of the slaughter, and it made him proud to see Kyle so easily adapting to his new life, so eager to let his anger take over.

“Let’s just get this over with so we can go home,” Kyle spat through clenched teeth.

But as powerless as Jinx was, he was still demon enough that Quinn refused. “This is the kind of change I mentioned the other day. He has to go.”

“I’m not leaving him alone!” Kyle roared. “Look what they did to him.” As gently as he could, he opened up one of Jinx’s wings. Shoe prints were still clearly visible against the black membrane.

Muribelle looked concerned, and Kyle was sure she was about to try to convince Quinn to just go on with the plan, but Quinn spoke before she could get a word out. “Terrible as it may be, this still voids our deal. Sorry.” Then, much more quietly, as if he thought Kyle might not hear, continued, “And I expected so much more from him, having been a human once.”

Somehow, Kyle controlled himself. His claws were digging deep trenches in his own palms, and his blood spattered like hot oil as it hit cold pavement. But although he reined in his fury, Jinx had apparently had enough.

He left Kyle’s side and stalked toward the angels, stopping next to Ryka. This time, his growl was louder and deeper, even if just by a little. It hadn’t done much to scare off the mortals, and it certainly was going to intimidate two older, stronger angels. Maybe now, though, he’d be brave enough to stand up to his peers, if he was suddenly bold enough to face Quinn and Muribelle.

Though Kyle suspected his sudden fearlessness had more to do with who stood at his side. And there was the thundering Hellfire and brimstone growl Kyle remembered so well. Fair warning that Ryka - and anyone under his protection - were not to be fucked with.

Muribelle’s eyes went wide, and even Quinn seemed hesitant to further enrage Ryka, who cut his performance short when Kyle stepped up to put a hand on his shoulder. They didn’t need an incident, no matter how good it would have felt to rip that smug smirk right off Quinn’s pristine face.

Jinx quieted his own growl, and Muribelle smiled down at him. “He looks just like you.”

“Who?” Ryka and Kyle asked in unison, sounding equally baffled.

“Both of you,” Muribelle answered with a giggle.

The two demons looked at each other, down at Jinx, then at each other once more. “Could he really be …?” Kyle trailed off. Was he really going to get everything he’d ever wanted? Ryka, the chance to work with kids - or at least imps - again, and one of his own? Lord Satan had insinuated such a thing was possible, but to actually do it ….

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The last remnants of Kyle’s growling petered out to a whimper, and Jinx glanced back at him. “What is it?” he asked, directing his query at Ryka as he reached up for his hand. Ryka did one better, scooping the imp up and resting him on his hip. Kyle felt himself melt. For calling Jinx a brat, Ryka still seemed to have a soft spot for him.

“It’s time to finish this fucking job, that’s what,” Ryka answered, gaze boring into Quinn. “We’re not leaving him alone. So do what you need to do and let’s end this.”

Muribelle shot her partner a pleading look, and Quinn finally gave in. “Fine.”

Just as Kyle’s shadow reared up behind him, mouth open and flames licking its jaws, Quinn’s halo expanded in a burst of white light. For all the time and effort they’d put into setting this up, Kyle thought the exchange itself was a little anticlimactic. The two souls darted by each other before finding their appropriate homes, no further immortal assistance required.

“You’re kidding me,” Kyle said. Quinn’s halo was its usual subtle glow again, and he could feel his shadow settling back to a reasonable size. “That was it?”

“Yup,” Ryka answered, starting toward the hotel. The angels had already departed, Quinn stalking off in a huff, and Muribelle offering a small wave, which Kyle returned as a reflex.

“I need a drink.”

“Me, too. What about you, Jinx? Should we sneak you into the bar?”

There was no answer, and when Ryka checked, he found that the imp was already fast asleep.

***

None of the three noticed when the portal appeared on the wall. They had long ago fallen asleep, with Jinx nestled against Kyle’s side, and one of Ryka’s wings covering them both.

“Mission accomplished, hm?” Lucifer said quietly. With a start, Jinx awoke and looked up at him, the sleep not entirely gone from his eyes. “Poor thing. Don’t worry, those mean people are all waiting to see you again. Want to come play?”

Nodding slowly, Jinx extricated himself from Kyle’s embrace and slipped onto the floor, landing noiselessly next to the bed. He reached out a hand, and Lucifer took it. “I made fire,” the imp told him.

“That’s even better than Kyle’s done so far.”

“But he’s stronger,” Jinx asserted, offended that Lord Satan was implying that something was wrong with Kyle.

“He is. You’ll be strong one day, too. Now go on, Judas is waiting for you.” Maybe because Kyle was so sympathetic towards him, Jinx also thought fondly of Judas. Without another look back, he stepped through the portal.

Lucifer lingered for a moment, fixing his gaze on Ryka long enough to wake him. “What?”

“Tell Kyle I took him home, so he doesn’t worry.”

“You should have come when you said you would; we left a little mess in the park.” Some of the bodies had been incinerated, but not all. Most had been too strewn about to waste time hunting down all the pieces. The coroners would have fun reassembling the rest, discovering that although the parts added up to one human, they weren’t all from the same individual.

“You could have cleaned it up.”

“When you sent me to Kyle, you told me never to dump bodies through the shadow, that Hell was bad enough without corpses falling from the sky.”

Lucifer sighed. “You had another option.”

Ryka wondered why every conversation with this asshole had to be so frustrating. “Do tell.”

“I don’t think I will. I think I’ll let you figure it out yourselves.”

Before he did or said something he’d live just long enough to regret, Ryka moved on. “What about us? When do we get to go home?”

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“That’s what you said about Jinx, and that was two fucking days ago.”

“Oh, was it? Hm. Well, enjoy.”

And then Lucifer was gone, the portal winking out of existence. Next to him, Kyle slowly opened his eyes. “Something happen?” he asked, not yet noticing Jinx’s absence.

“Jinx finally got picked up. And he’ll be back for us tomorrow.”

“Isn’t that what-?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.” For a moment, Kyle considered going back to sleep. At least until Ryka pressed himself closer, hand on the small of Kyle’s work and sliding lower. “So, it could be a few days, then?”

“Yup.”

“We’re not leaving this room before then, are we?”

“Oh, definitely not.”

“Perfect.”