This chapter is dedicated to shellzels who has a really funny and unique ONC entry, titled Wyatt's Magical Wardrobe. The story starts with a shopping spree while drunk (a prompt I was eyeing myself for a while), and sellzels turns it into a fun plot complete with an old mansion inhabited by a hot dude (who might be a ghost), all described by an amazing narrator and her cool best friend. Another great ONC entry not to be missed.

Stepping into Lou's penthouse is just as overwhelming as the first time. The sheer size alone is mind-boggling compared to the trailer I shared with my uncle and the luxury makes me feel like I shouldn't touch anything. Panoramic windows in almost every room give the illusion of walking on clouds and the view is absolutely stunning. Fireplaces emit warmth, black and white furniture are not only stylish but comfy, all wrapped in black marble walls, floors, and ceilings. Only the total lack of a kitchen including a fridge takes some getting used to.

Lou stands by the window, his arms folded.

Unapproachable.

Ever since we left the ball, he hasn't spoken a single word.

"I'm gonna get changed."

He doesn't react.

Heading for my bedroom like a scolded little girl, I fight with my tears. I ruined everything. When they put me on the spot, why couldn't I choose? Anchor has been so nice and Lou has been practically worshiping me. Picking either one of them would have been a lottery win, but I froze, my heart torn. The thought of losing one of them is painful, although chances are that I now lost them both.

I change into black sweatpants and a soft azul sweater and return to the living room. Lou hasn't moved an inch; he's still staring out onto the hills and the fires of hell. Fester jumps up my leg, yapping, his tongue lolling in anticipation of his meal.

"Lou, do you want me to feed Fester?"

Nothing.

I walk over to the fireplace and grab the little shovel to scoop a generous amount of glowing coals and embers into his bowl. Fester gobbles them down within seconds. When I drop on the couch, he jumps up and curls beside me. I scratch him behind his ears; his little growls that show his content are like the purrs of a cat. He is the cutest little thing.

I glance at Lou, who still hasn't moved.

"How do you expect this to work?" His voice is like the rumble of an impending storm.

"Expect what to work?" By not calling it what it is, maybe it will blow over.

"Anchor, you, and I." He turns his head; his eyes glow like golden nuggets in the obscure light of the penthouse. "Do you expect us to take turns? Like one week with him, and then one week with me. Or should we take shifts? I mean, you must have thought about it."

"To be honest, I'm not expecting anything."

His snort is bitter. "Yeah, right. You are a human. They always expect that the world is their oyster."

"Hey, that's not fair."

"Knowing what your kind does on Earth, you probably expect us both in your bed." A cruel smile plays on his lips. "But I'm telling you now, hun, that's not going to happen. I'm the King of Hell and will not share a woman with my brother."

And we are back to the pet name. It irks me to no end when he calls me "hun."

The hostility in his stance adds to my discomfort. "Look, I never asked for any of this, so why don't you just send me to the torture chamber and be done with it?" A few tears spring loose and roll down my cheeks.

"Hey, don't cry again." He sits next to me and rubs my hands. "Neither Anchor nor I want you to be punished." He swallows hard. "I guess . . . I guess I'm just jealous, and that's a new feeling for me. So far, no one has ever had anything I wanted and couldn't get, and that it is Anchor I'm competing against makes it a bit awkward."

"This is not a competition, Lou."

"But it feels like—"

Rustling from the balcony kills the words on his lips. He stands up. An icy gust together with hazy fog swoop in from the outside. My teeth chatter from the sudden cold and goosebumps rise on my arms. Fester whimpers.

"For Heaven's sake, I don't need this right now," Lou mumbles.

Arms folded, he glares at the open door and the curtain rods with dripping icicles. I hold my breath as time slows to almost a standstill.

What is happening?

A man steps inside, surrounded by a cloud of mist. He has a statue of one of those brute football players who protect the quarterback and uncouth features that go along with that. With his artic-gray eyes and silvery hair, his age is hard to tell, though judging from his firmed-muscled body, he must still be in his prime.

Lou rolls his eyes. "Dude, what an entrance. And what in the Heavens' name are you doing here? You guys are not supposed to step into hell." He waves his hand. "Shoo, shoo. Go back to your ivory tower in Cloud City, where you belong."

"Levinia sent me." The man's snarl grates on my nerves. "Since you are apparently incapable of administering justice in regard to Cassandra Wallace, she felt it necessary to assign her to a different hell. I'm here to facilitate the transfer."

"Well, that's not going to happen." Lou steps in front of me to fully block me. Fester bares his fangs. "Cass, go to your room and take Fester with you."

I scoop up the little hellhound and leg it to the door, but once I cross the threshold, I hunker down. Since this matter concerns me, I'd like to know what's going on.

The man huffs. "Don't make this difficult, Lou."

"Newsflash, Raguel. When it comes to sinners, Levinia might be in charge of the section assignments, but as the devil, it's in my sole discretion to determine when a sinner is rehabilitated. Cass has been redeemed. There is no need to punish her further."

"Levinia disagrees. Per information she received from your own guards, Cassandra Wallace never even checked in for her punishment. Now step aside, so I can retrieve her."

"You touch her, and I will end you, Angel of Justice or not."

Holy shit, the dude is an angel.

Fester growls and struggles in my arms.

Metal scrapes over metal as Raguel raises a sword from its sheath, but before he can take a step forward, a ball of energy tosses him against the wall. Lou's hands turn to flames, sending dozens of fire spears in his direction. Unfortunately, Raguel is not helpless; the frigid mist around him turns the metal spikes to ineffective weapons that bounce off his skin.

With an unexpected agility for such a large man, he is back to his feet and attacks Lou with his rotating sword. Lou manages to pull up the fire poker to block the blow; the screeching of steel on steel squeals in my ears. Raguel's sword breaks in half and he tosses the hilt into the fire. The flames die. Roaring and with sharp canine teeth exposed, the angel jumps at Lou. The rapid movement of swinging and slicing arms and legs during their close-up combat makes me light-headed. Fester wrestles so hard against my grip that I can barely hold on to him.

Raguel flies through the air, the huge marble table that is the centerpiece of Lou's living room breaking upon impact. The angel shakes his head as if trying to fight off a dizzy spell.

Lou's laugh thunders. "Did you seriously expect to step into hell and win in a fight? You are on my turf, my friend, and my strength here is unrivaled."

Raguel groans, just as Fester sinks his teeth into my hand. With a cry, I let him go and he dives straight for the angel. Shooting a fireball at the opponent, Fester attacks.

Raguel smirks. "Oh, how cute." Picking up the remains of his blade, he swats off the little hellhound as if he were a pesky fly. Fester hits the couch with a yelp and crashes to the floor.

"Fester, no." Without even thinking, I leap into the room and kneel next to him. My fingers only find moist fur. Tears blur my vision; if Raguel killed him, he'll have to answer to me.

In the next breath, my hair is pulled roughly, leaving my scalp on fire. With another pull, I fly backward. Arms curl around me in an iron grip; something sharp pierces my skin just under my heart.

"Stand back, Lou," Raguel warns. "This is Ma'at's dagger and will shatter her spirit for eternity before she can even blink."

My gaze locks with Lou's. Jaw clenched and chest heaving, he stands frozen in place. Blood trickles down his cheek from a cut under his eye. His hands are balled to fists and his knuckles are white. Slowly, Raguel backs up toward the balcony.

Lou grinds his teeth. "I'm gonna find you," he mouths.

The pounding in my chest hurts so much that my bones must be close to cracking. "I'm sorry for everything."

He shakes his head. A muscle in his jaw jumps; his golden eyes blaze with rage, but the dagger against my ribs keeps him in place. Raguel and I have reached the edge of the balcony. Without warning, the angel drops off the ledge, pulling me with him. My scream is drowned by the swooshing wind tearing at my hair; the rapid descent is like my death fall all over again. The whoosh of his spreading wings reverses the motion and we soar up toward the sparkling stars. I stretch my arms out for Lou, but it's too late. His figure shrinks until it melts with the shadows of hell. I lost him and Anchor forever and only my punishment awaits.

WP total word count: 15,612

We have reached the second pinch point with Cass being taken by Raguel and Lou having to watch her being snatched from right under his nose despite his powers. I hope this little twist surprised you and you are eager to find out what happens next. I'd love to hear your thoughts and please consider a vote, if the chapter deserved it, and/or drop me a comment. Thanks for reading!