Old Demon and the Sea Witch (Welcome to Hell #9) - Eve Langlais Page 0,4

her four men was the only reason he’d not disowned her for leading such a normal, happy life.

“I am aware that some prophecies shift over time. Actions have reactions. But something’s nagging me about this one.” Gaia worried, and the flowers in her crown wilted.

“Is this because of that meme being passed around Snaphell and Hellbook?” It showed the nebulous figure of the Antichrist standing on the bodies of his parents and crushing the Earth in his fist while chuckling darkly.

“Damian would never kill me.” I noticed how she didn’t include Lucifer in that assertion. Too many predictions said the devil would die by the hand of his son.

“Damian is but a small child with many years ahead of him to decide what kind of man he’ll be. One shaped by you and his father.”

She groaned. “That’s what I’m afraid of. I swear, I don’t know how Muriel turned out so good in Lucifer’s care.”

“Maybe she turned out fine because he’s a good dad?” It sounded wrong to even say it.

Gaia’s nose wrinkled. “Does a good father threaten to feed his child to the hellhounds if he shits through his nappy one more time?”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t.” Not my most reassuring statement.

“He’d better not. But I don’t need Luc finding any more excuses to eliminate Damian. Which is why you need to find that prophecy for me. To debunk it before my husband finds it.”

“This would have been easier and faster if you’d just snapped your fingers and taken me to Atlantis for a peek,” I grumbled.

“I would have, but they installed some kind of dampener since my last visit.”

“Can’t whirl your way in?”

“No,” she said, sounding most disgruntled. “The nerve of that king, spelling Atlantis against me.”

“Join me when we dock there in a few days and show them who’s boss.”

Gaia shook her head. “I am tempted but shouldn’t. There is something wrong with that island. A lack of connection to the land, my land, weakens me.”

I had a theory about that. “It’s because Atlantis was built almost entirely from the sea.”

She grimaced. “And the ocean depths, including its denizens, belong to the Neptune family. But who helped them build those kelp farms and created those pretty-colored corals? Me. Yet I don’t get any credit.” Gaia scowled, and somewhere, a tornado probably tore up a few trees.

“Utterly unfair,” I agreed.

“I should get going. The baby will wake soon.” A good mother, Gaia didn’t leave home for long these days, given Damian proved to be a demanding son of the devil. Like father, like the child of his loins. Gaia spoiled the boy rotten, and thus far, no one had dared interfere. There were, however, wagers on just how bad the little prince would become.

“I can’t keep doing these favors for you,” I reiterated, not for the first time.

Her smile caused butterflies to burst free from the cascade of her hair and flit around the room in a riot of brightness. “I do so appreciate it. You are the best librarian there is. The one most suited to finding secrets. And keeping them.”

Flattery. Even an old demon wasn’t immune.

“I am only doing it because I’ve never seen the Atlantis library.” Nobody had since it sank. What kind of wonders did it hold? Ancients secrets. The best kind.

“Be sure to report to me the moment you locate something.”

“What if there’s nothing to find?”

“I’m sure you’ll finagle an interesting tidbit. If you do, I’ll grant you a boon.”

“Better be a good one.” Because if Lucifer found out that I was working with his wife, I’d be feeding the hounds.

“Oh, it’s good.” Gaia winked. “You’ll soon see. Now, I must be off. Have fun.”

“Doubtful.”

“Ah, yes, the nephew thing.” She knew right away the source of my turned-down lips. “I wouldn’t worry too much. I have a feeling things will work themselves out.”

“Really?” A goddess alluding to the future? Truth, or telling me what I wanted to hear so I wouldn’t be distracted from her task? I didn’t doubt for one moment that she’d manipulate me if it suited her purposes.

Rather than clarify her statement, Gaia said, “You should get yourself a drink. I hear the piña coladas are especially nice when sipped on the fifth-level deck.” With that advice, she swirled out of sight.

I went looking for a cocktail. The day needed some alcohol.

I almost choked on a candied cherry—because the colada came decked out and frothy—when I heard her voice. “Hello, Shax. It’s been a long time.”

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Dorothy: A lady should always be