Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

“I’m not leaving, but I do think we shouldn’t just stand here.”
“I like your boots.  I’ve seen steel like that before,” he recalled.
“They used to be a shield for an angel,” Mia said.  “Come to think of it,” she said, reaching behind her.  “Looky here what I have.”
“That’s an archangel’s dagger!” the demon shrieked.
“Shush,” Mia warned.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“I will if you keep crying.  Man up.”
“Oh, that was so sexist,” a familiar voice said from behind her.
“What was that?” the demon asked, clinging to Mia’s side.
“It’s who was that.” Mia moved cautiously forward through the pink fog.  It occurred to Mia that this was her least favorite color, and she really hated this hue of pink; it reminded her of Pepto-Bismol.
“Don’t leave me!”
Mia stopped, turned, walked back, and grabbed the hand of the demon before she walked into the pink fog once again.  “What I most despair of is this color of pink, insecure males, and being responsible for insecure males,” she amended.
“That’s why you’re so attracted to me,” Abigor said.  The fog dissolved around him.  The commander of sixty legions of demons wore a finely appointed black suit with a rich blue brocade vest.  His dark chocolate eyes adorned his handsome face.  There was no doubt of his military background.  He radiated an intensity that weakened Mia’s knees.
Mia dropped to ground, pulling the demon-with-no-name with her.  She waited in silence.
Abigor took a moment to take the dagger out of Mia’s hand before he helped her to stand.  He placed a foot on the back of the demon to separate him from Mia.
“Mia Cooper Martin, what brings you here?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.  I seriously doubt a Duke of Hell would be babysitting the Pit of Despair.”
“How astute.  One of my squires alerted me to your presence.  You don’t belong here.  You’re upsetting the minders.  And what is that thing you have brought with you?”
“Long story short, it’s a flesh-eater that I made a bargain with.  If I got him off the island on which it had been exiled, he would stop Lamia from killing my husband, friends, and various crewmen.”
“Are you still married to that tall fellow?” he asked.
“Yes, Abigor.”
“And you said Lamia.  I haven’t heard of her for hundreds of years.  Who is this?”
“The demon-with-no-name.”
“No, he’s a myth.”
“I don’t know who he is, but on the island where he was exiled, he’s very powerful. He eats fresh human brains by punching through their skull.  I don’t know why he’s acting like a big baby, but I assure you, he’s normally quite impressive,” Mia said, mortified.
“It’s the pit,” Abigor said.  “It’s making him this way to torment you.  Normally, they don’t get twofers down here.”
“Gee, I feel lousy right now,” Mia said.
“Why?”
“I sent a sweet demon I used to be engaged to down here.”
“I know.  Who do you think my squire is?”
“Sticks?” Mia asked, her face lit up with happiness.  She caught the beginnings of a pout from the proud Abigor and said, “You chose well.  He’s the heroic type.”
“I noticed the boy does shine when it comes to taking one for the team,” Abigor said.  “But I fear, I’ll have to kill him now.”
“No!”
“You like him more than me.”
“No, I don’t.  It’s the pit.  It’s making you insecure,” Mia said quickly.  “No one is more handsome, more powerful, with one fallen exception, than you.”
“Good catch,” Abigor said.  “Sticks, bring a leash.”
Sticks arrived.  He was taller than Mia remembered.  His twiglike arms had grown into branches.  His face bore a noble look.  He handed Mia the leash.
Mia started to put it around her neck.
Abigor cleared his throat.  “Not you.  Around your pet,” he ordered.
“Oh,” Mia said, blushing.  “He’s not my pet.”
“He is until I say he’s not,” Abigor instructed.
“Yes, Duke.”  Mia knelt and slid the strange fiber around the thick neck of the demon.  She looked to Abigor and asked, “Can he stand?”
“He does have two legs…”
“I mean, may he stand?” Mia corrected.
“Yes, come on, I do believe I am feeling a wee bit insecure,” Abigor said.
They walked for a while in the fog.
“I hear you have new wings.”
“They’re too big, but yes, they’re beautiful.”
“They caused quite a scandal topside.”
“There was a misunderstanding caused by a jealous birdwoman.”
“Mia, entities are always going to be jealous of us.  You have to learn to deal with such pettiness.  God made us beautiful.”
“I appreciate you lumping me in with you popular kids but…”
Abigor laughed.  Sticks waited a beat and joined in.
“Where are we going?” Mia asked.
“It takes a while to get out of the pit, doesn’t it, Sticks?”
“Yes, but it is better than being eaten by a snake,” the demon commented.
Mia winced, remembering her folly when she first dealt with the tree-living being.
Abigor laughed.  “Oh, Mia, you are a delight.”
“Why are you torturing me?” Mia asked.
“Because you brought your problems to Hell.  Did you expect a parade?”
“No, but I didn’t expect to be part of a parade,” she said, pulling on the leash.  “Can I have my sword back?”
“It’s a dagger, and no you can’t.  It’s mine now.”
Mia frowned.
The fog cleared, and Mia saw a gate before them.  She stopped.
Abigor sensed this and turned around.  “What’s wrong?”
“I take it that’s the exit.”
“Yes, we use a lot of gates here.  It impresses the lower demons.”
“I’m not sure of this, but I get the feeling when we exit the gate, whatever makes my pet compliant and insecure will stop.”
“Yes, and you will no longer be plagued with insecure men.  Here anyway,” Abigor added.  “I can’t control your world.  Yes, I can, but Lucifer would be irritated with me… again.”