Fate's Path

We stood around a table in a hidden room Connor’s father had revealed to us. Responsum had made himself comfortable in the corner of the room, his nose in a book. A map of Hell was sprawled out on the table. Something sticky was serving as makeshift tape to hold each corner down.

“Okay, so Responsum has marked where his house is and has cast a spell so that if we leave, we can always find our way back here.” I said, pausing as Responsum gave a grunt of confirmation. “We have found several pieces of information in Hell’s archives about people or demons that have been affiliated with my mother. Plus, we narrowed that list down to the ones of them that are free to walk around, such as Responsum. That has brought us down to three possible options. There are three of us. What do you say we split up?”

Connor and Kiera were quiet, looking down at the map as I marked the locations where each demon was said to live, but the moment I mention splitting up they shake their heads. “Hell no! The only way we are splitting up is if Responsum agrees to go with you!” Connor plants his fist hard on the table nearly shattering it. I want to argue, but I also know he won’t let me go alone.

I look at Responsum and he glances up from his book. I know using puppy dog eyes is futile but I try anyway and to my complete shock he says, “Fine. I’ll go with her.”

Connor looks at his father as if he is surprised that he would ever leave the house. “You will?” We all ask at once and I can see a look of -almost- amusement in his eyes. He stands and I flinch, reminded of when he towered over me like this and poisoned my bloodstream. His amusement seems to grow when Connor glares.

Then, before I know what is happening, Connor has his father by the front of his shirt. “If I find out that you hurt a single hair on her head I will-“

Responsum cuts him off. “You will what? You are the one who suggested I go with her!” He had Connor there.

Before the inevitable fight broke out given the death glares being thrown each way, I push myself between them and fix my gaze on Connor. “I can take care of myself. He won’t try anything. If he does, I’ll kick his ass.” Responsum grumbles something about how annoying I am. I give him a quick elbow to the gut and turn my eyes on him. I point a finger at him and he shrinks away so I am now towering over him, close enough that he can probably see the anger in my eyes. “You better not try anything! I am on a mission to get my brother back! If you screw this up, I will make you hurt in places that you never thought would!” I’m not quite yelling, but my voice isn’t calm either.

He shakes his head quickly. I smile and straighten up so he can stand again. I turn around and Connor moves out of my way instantly. When I see Kiera she is grinning. “That’s my girl!” She exclaims, throwing and arm around me. I give her a one sided hug and face back to the map.

“Okay. Multiply the map exactly how it is so there are two identical copies.” No one moves so I shoot a glare at Responsum and he points a finger at the map. By the time I turn to face the table again, the map has been replace by three folded up pieces of paper. I open one of them and smile, it’s a smaller version of the map.

My name is written at the top of the one I have grabbed, along with Responsum’s. There are two marks on it. One of the locations and Responsum’s house. “Oh, I see how it is. You chose each location for us!” I raise an eyebrow. He doesn’t even try to deny it. I roll my eyes and hand Connor and Kiera their corresponding maps. “I would really feel better if someone or even something went with each of you!” I frown. “We are in Hell, and that worries me!”

Responsum speaks up. “I have dogs. They can protect each of you.” He barely gets the chance to finish before Kiera peeks up and lurches forward. She hugs him and for a moment I see his icy front melt away. He looks like a happy father, the look he gives her surprises me. Maybe Demon is a lot more like Responsum than he will ever care to admit. Cold on the outside, soft on the inside. Kiera pulled away and skipped down the hall.

“Thank you!” She called from down the hall and Responsum looked at Connor and I.

“Is she always like this?”

“Only with people she likes.” I patted his chest on my way out of the room.

“Wait. Does that mean-?” I heard him say from the doorway and Connor finished his sentence.

“That someone, other than you, likes you? Yes. Yes it does.” I wait until Connor joins me in the room we had slept before I burst out into laughter. I practically fold in half as I fall onto the ground.

“Is it really that often people like him?” My voice drips with sarcasm as Connor joins me in laughing. Connor is laughing so hard he can only nod.

An hour later we have bags packed. My bag just has a book and my map. The other bags have only a couple items each as well. None of us are able to take food except for Responsum. His fridge, as I saw in disgust when I checked, is full of human flesh. Connor did pack some of the flesh in case Demon comes out and wants to eat.

“Everyone remember the plan? Follow the magical trail from the black X to the red one. If you get off track just consult the map. If you need to get back here, you find Chris, or you are in danger tear off the corner of the map with pencil Xs and blow it into the air. Got it?” I go over the whole thing and they honestly look annoyed with me.

“Yes, Mom,” Kiera whines over-dramatically. She then pats her thigh and a small husky looking dog bounds to her sides. “Aww! Who’s a cute little doggie?” She scratches under Gideon’s ear. I smack Connor’s arm and gesture to Responsum, who is giving her a look of adoration.

“Okay! Kiera, Gideon! Go on before I age a hundred years! Connor, Seymour! You guys too!” The second I say his name the Great Dane looking dog runs over to Connor. “Come on, Responsum!” I am the first out the door, absorbing the smells of Hell. I let out a deep breath. Time to get him back. I made a promise to Connor to try everything to get Chris back without giving myself up. I can’t wait another second!

I take a step back into the house and grab Responsum’s arm, dragging him out. He lets out a yelp, but the sound is drowned out by my even heart beats, growing more rapid every second closer to Chris I get. With one last wave to Kiera, Connor, and the two dogs, we are gone.