Hellen snorted. “Oh, don’t panic, Junior. Your little human is safe … for now. Because when Father came to, he was all in a fluster, and he insisted that there was something very important I needed to know … about you, if you can believe it.”

Her eyes narrowed, flicking to God and then back to me. “Is this her, then? Your mother? The being who conned the King of Hell into spawning you to rob a true Lucifer of the crown? A cuckoo in the nest, as it were. How delightful that you wanted a family reunion!”

Father’s frantic, muffled moans echoed across the space. God was completely mute, although whether due to her shock at the situation or the power still running through my fingers, I wasn’t sure.

“Do you think the demons will accept you once they discover who your mother is?” Hellen hissed, shoving Father to the side with one heel and standing. Looming, or attempting to, from the throne.

This had better work.

“I do not wish for them to accept me.”

Hellen scoffed. “How do you expect to rule Hell without their acceptance?” she demanded. “Father cannot give his blessing—he’s in disgrace for his part in allowing all of this!” Her tail lashed, whipping Father across the flank. He flinched but made no sound.

“I do not wish to rule Hell.”

Hellen guffawed. “Of course you don’t! You never wanted responsibility for anything! I, on the other hand, have worked tirelessly all my life for the betterment of Hell, and yet they will not accept me based solely on my lack of horns!”

She spat viciously, and a breeze stirred behind me.

Stay calm, SJ. Just stay calm …

“Perhaps if I killed you all …” Hellen mused, gripping one of Father’s horns and tugging his head back, exposing his throat. “They would have no choice but to accept me.”

Father whimpered, his eyes meeting mine, pleading. I looked away, not able to meet his eyes, knowing what I was about to do.

He more than deserved it, but it still churned my stomach.

“What if there were a better way … to get the demons to accept you as the Queen of Hell?” My words were quiet, but the weight of them echoed in the cavernous space.

“Simeon,” God breathed, and I realised that whatever had been keeping her silent, that magic had faded from my fingers.

Hellen’s eyes flashed. “She even has a special name for you? Disgusting!” The wind buffeted my back, but I locked my muscles, standing firm against it.

I must get through this. Jemma is waiting for me, and I cannot return to her until I’ve made her life safe again.

“She is here as my prisoner. I have taken control of Heaven.”