Chapter 221
[ 1,280 words ]
The Closest Thing To Heaven, Might Just Be Her With Me In Hell
The corridors of the Underworld castle stretched on like veins of obsidian, pulsing faintly with that low hum of ancie
power that had always felt like home to me. Macey walked at my side, her boots chicking softly on the stone floors. TI
had that faint warmth, the kind that came from magma rivers flowing far below. We passed through the grand hall, th
flickering light from the soul-torches glinting off her hair, and for the first time all day, she didn’t look so tense. May
was the quiet. Maybe it was the fact that the reaping work was finally behind us.
“Hungry?” I asked, nudging her shoulder lightly.
“Starving,” she admitted.
I smirked. “Figures. First day in Hell in ages and already asking for a meal p>
She shot me a mock glare, but the corner of her mouth lifted. We pushed through the doors into the kitchen, one of the few places down here that actually felt alive. The Underworld magic kept it stocked, replenishing supplies as fast as we used them. Shelves of bread, cheese, fruits, meats, and bottles shimmered faintly with glamour, like the realm itself
refused to let the place ever go cold or empty.
I opened the fridge, leaning against the door. “So,” I said, peering inside. “You want a ham and turkey sandwich then?
With the crust cut off? Just like you used to p>
Macey rolled her eyes, a soft scoff escaping. “Of course I want the crust cut off p>
That laugh came out of me before I could stop it, a real one this time, deep and genuine. “Some things never change p>
I grabbed the ingredients, bread, sliced ham and turkey, a bit of cheese, and that Underworld mustard she’d once said “tasted like fire and regret.” I laid everything out, working on muscle memory. She perched on the counter, legs swinging, watching me assemble the sandwiches with a grin that kept tugging at my resolve.
When I finished, I slid one plate toward her with a bottle of water. “Here. No crusts, your highness p>
“Much appreciated,” she said with a little curtsy after kopping down.
“Come on,” she added after a moment, glancing toward the back doors. “Let’s eat in the garden. It’s been a while since I’ve
been out there p>
“Sure p>
We stepped outside into the back courtyard, where the Underworld’s garden stretched out under the glow of the ember- sky. The Throwers here weren’t normal, deep violet blossoms with veins of gold, trees that glowed taintly like starlight trapped in bark. The air carried that strange sweetness I’d always liked, the scent of life blooming in death’s domain. Macey walked shead a few paces, finding a spot beneath one of the older trees, its mots curling like dark marble veins anto
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The Closest Thing To Heaven, Might Just Be Her With Me In Hell
the soil. I followed, sitting beside her.
For a few minutes, there was only the sound of us eating, quiet, easy, familiar. The way it used to be when we were kid:
and the world didn’t weigh so much.
Then she broke the silence, voice softer than the breeze. “I’ve missed this p>
I glanced over at her, brow raised. “What? Hell p>
That laugh, it was light, real, and it hit me right in the chest. “No,” she said, smiling faintly. “Us. I’ve missed us. Just be
together. Just you here with me p>
I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze away before she could see what that did to me. “Yeah,” I said quietly, picking at my
ta, me
sandwich crust-ironic. “Me too p>
The garden’s glow shimmered between us, soft gold light catching in her hair. And the ache in my chest eased, just a litt For a heartbeat, it was like nothing had changed. Like there was no pain, no fate, no prophecy waiting to tear us apart. Just her and me, sharing sandwiches under a tree in Hell. And damn it, I’d stay in Hell forever if it meant keeping that
moment.
I leaned back against the rough bark of the old tree, tearing off a bite of my sandwich while watching her pick at hers. Th silence between us wasn’t awkward; it was easy, the kind that came after years of knowing every version of someone.
“So,” I said after a moment, tipping my head toward her, “what’s the plan for the rest of the day p>
She shot me a look like I’d just asked the dumbest question/imaginable. “I’m grounded, remember p>
I smirked. “Oh, right. That minor detail p>
“Yeah,” she said dryly, rolling her eyes as she took another bite. “Pretty sure the leash is short for me right now. They’ll probably only allow me in one of two places, the packhouse and Hell p>
I barked out a laugh, nearly choking on my sandwich. “Wow, that’s a healthy balance of options. Home or the literal
underworld. Real freedom you’ve got there p>
“Tell me about it.” She took a sip of her water and leaned back, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Guess that’s what i
get for skipping class p>
Her tone was teasing, but I caught the flicker of guilt underneath it. It made my jaw tighten before I could stop it. I didn’t
want to talk about nim.
I kept my voice even when I said, “Well, maybe being stuck here isn’t the worst thing. At least you get good company down
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The Closest Thing To Heaven, Might Just Be Her With Me In Hell
That earned me a grin. “You mean you p>
“Exactly,” I said, flashing her one back. “I’m the best company in Hell, I’ll have you know. Top-tier entertainment. A real
privilege p>
She snorted, “Oh yeah? And what exactly does this entertainment include? Sandwich making and light reaping p>
I shrugged, pretending to think. “Sometimes I tell jokes. Sometimes threaten demons. Depends on the mood p>
She laughed again, her shoulders finally relaxing, and something inside me eased at the sound. This-her smile, her
warmth-it had always been enough to pull me out of my own darkness.
“Honestly,” she said, glancing around the glowing garden, “it’s not so bad down here. I used to think the Underworld
would always feel… cold. But it doesn’t. It feels kind of alive p>
2
I nodded, looking up at the faint shimmer of the Veil stretching high above us. “It’s more alive than most places. Everything here has a purpose. Even the dark things p>
Her eyes fiicked to mine, soft and curious. “And what about you p>
“What about me p>
She tilted her head. “What’s your purpose down here, Elliot p>
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I thought about it for a moment, gaze drifting back to the horizon. “To make sure everyone finds where they belong,” I said quietly. “Even if it means staying behind when they do
She studied me, like she wanted to say something but didn’t know how. Then she looked away, brushing a few crumbs off
her lap. “That’s a lot to carry p>
I smiled faintly. “Someone’s gotta do it p>
Her expression softened, and then she nudged my boot with hers. “Guess there are worse punishments than being stuck in
Hell with you p>
“Guess so,” I said, though my chest ached a little at the words.
Because even if she thought this was punishment, sitting beside her under the ember trees felt like the closest thing to
heaven I’d ever get.
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The Closest Thing To Heaven, Might Just Be Her With Me In Hell
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