Corruption: Kingdoms of Hell, #4

By Kit Bladegrave

A love story. Set in hell. The daughters of a god find themselves having to meet an obligation they didn't count on. They have been pledged to marry the Princes of Hell. Hell hath no fury like a goddess forced to marry a prince of the Underworld. The Kingdoms of Hell Saga is ongoing.

 

Pierce is the Prince of Corruption. He delights in the misfortune and misdeeds of mortals. They are naught much more than mere playthings for this wicked, immoral prince of the Underworld.

 

Remi's the daughter of a god. A demi-goddess. A good soul. So what happened to her? She keeps finding herself bloody after bouts of darkness. She needs some help. Can the most corrupt prince of the Underworld help her find her true self again or is she bound to the hellish, evil, vengeful ways she's been living?

• Language: English
• Publisher: KitBla
• Release date: Apr 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201690496

Book preview

1

PIERCE

The gathering had started at sundown. Bouquets of fresh-cut purple, white, and blue flowers decorated the throne room. Banners for the royal family and one of the noble lines hung on the walls. The dark green lines covered four long tables, two to each side of the room. The king had even laid out the best gold and silver he had to offer. Set before the throne was a fifth shorter table. Those two seats were being held as a place of honor for tonight's celebration. Steaming platters of venison and pig, roasted vegetables, and various rolls and sweets filled the tables, leaving a pleasant aroma in the air. The wine and ale were flowing, and the happy chatter of mortals resounded in my ears.

I’d been keeping to myself, invisible to mortal eyes. I was pretty content to watch the nobles play their parts in the court of their beloved king. Well, not so beloved, not anymore.

I settled into a corner of the throne room, a jug of wine and a glass already in hand.

Time for the festivities to begin. I filled my glass, sat back, and lifted my drink in toast. The tattoo on the back of my hand glowed while my power seeped from me and filled the air. The shattered heart branded on my skin represented my kingdom of Corruption.

And that’s precisely what I’d been doing these last few days—corrupting. It’s what I was good at, the best. However, mortals made it far too easy.

The seeds of discord had already been planted in the souls of these particular nobles. I simply gave them a nudge in the right direction to carry out their dark intentions. It’d been a long time coming. I would’ve let it drag on for another few months, maybe even years, but lately, I was bored. Besides, it was high time I stirred up some drama in the human kingdom of Drear. I almost pitied these mortals for the part they were about to play in my little show tonight.

Almost.

There was another reason for my choosing this kingdom. It was a child’s reason, but I couldn’t get myself to grab her attention any other way.

Drear’s patron goddess was none other than a daughter of Alric the betrayer. Remi was a deity of hearth and home. Of family and loyalty and love. Not that I cared what she was a goddess of. I didn’t even honestly care who her father was. She was, however, bound to become my future wife. As such, I’d been waiting for a chance to see her in person again. It’d been far too long. I could’ve simply gone to the gods’ realm or sent a message. But I wanted to find out for myself if the rumors were true. Seeing her in action was the best way to understand if she’d changed as the others said she had. I didn’t want to believe it.

Then again, she wasn’t the only one who’d changed.

So far, though, none of my other plans to get Remi to make an appearance had worked. Messing with the merchants and those in the villages had done little to provide the entertainment I was looking for. Nor had it been enough to garner Remi’s attention. Now, overthrowing a monarchy, that would most certainly make her take notice. It’d been a while since I toppled a family regime.

And that was what I intended to do tonight. If Remi didn’t show her face this time, I’d have to wonder if she was truly a patron goddess of these lands. I’d have to consider the rumors were correct, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

Music filled the throne room, started by a quartet of fiddle players in the corner. Delight filled me, knowing any moment now, the place would erupt in beautiful chaos. Tonight was meant to celebrate the princess' engagement to a young noble lord. The happy couple sat at the head table. They clinked their glasses, grinning at each other like fools.

That’s what they were in my eyes—fools in love. But love wasn’t real. It didn’t exist. It was just another means of corruption. It seeped into someone’s heart, into their soul, and twisted them around from the inside out. It was no better than what I did to those in my realm, a mockery of what they’d done to others, landing them in my pits of torment for eternity.

It’s what had happened to Ezra and Holden, and most recently, Caleb. I might be forced to wed Remi, but I wouldn’t be falling in love any time soon. Besides, it was impossible to corrupt the one doing the corrupting. I wasn’t capable of love. Remi wouldn’t be happy in the Underworld with me. Happiness wasn’t part of the bargain anyway. As far as I was concerned, she could live her life, and I’d keep doing what I was doing. It was better for both of us if we came to that agreement and left it alone.

I sipped on the sweet wine, musing about my plan. Once the evening was well underway, the real fun would begin, and I got a front-row seat.

The music changed to another lively tune, and pushing out of my chair, I moved through the nobles. I remained invisible to their eyes. Many whispered with their heads close together, waiting for the right time to make their move. This was going to be a glorious night indeed. I drained the jug of wine and exchanged it for a full one. My steps were in time with the music while I sauntered from one plotting noble to the next. Far too easy. One thought put into their heads at the right time and goodbye, loyal subject.

Hello, traitor.

Even the royal guards had taken hardly any effort to join the nobles in their plot. Deep down, it sickened me. But the moment passed quickly enough.

The room was rife with corruption, and it bolstered my power. Laughing in delight, I spun around and around while the music played. Those in attendance, too blind to understand what was happening, drank more. Soon enough, the blood would start running, and my work here would be done.

While I danced through the crowd, I picked up on more gossip and tucked each tidbit away to use later if necessary.

The fiddlers shifted to a slower tune, and I stood up on one of the tables, eagerly awaiting that first blow to fall. The nobles moved as one, walking through the mass of bodies and edging closer to their king. Pathetic beings, the lot of them. So easily twisted up inside. So easily turned—

A presence appeared to my right, shattering my good mood. Sadly, it was not the deity I’d hoped to see. If Remi had popped up right then, any thought of what I would say to her vanished from my mind. Coward. Deep down, that was all I’d ever be. Perhaps it was for the best it was not her.

Your timing is horrible as always. What do you want? I asked the new arrival.

Hollis, the messenger of the gods, surveyed the scene. He stood on the table with me, keeping his presence shielded from the mortals, and shook his head. You know this is going to end in bloodshed.

If you’re going to come and interrupt my fun, you could at least bring more wine.

I’d say you’ve had enough. He crossed his arms. What’s the point of causing the pain that’s about to be unleashed?

There is no point, I replied, spreading my left arm out while grasping my glass of wine. Besides, if I didn’t push them to do this tonight, they’d be doing it themselves in another few years. I’m merely speeding up their plans.

You’re pushing them to the pits in Corruption. Is that truly what you want?

If they weren’t bound for my kingdom already, their souls wouldn’t be so easy to turn, I argued, my tone light and amused. Come now, don’t spoil my fun. Stay and watch if you’d like. Have a drink on me.

I wouldn’t consider this fun, he uttered.

Stop sounding so disappointed. I gave him a playful nudge, and he grunted, moving away from me. I chuckled, picked up a glass from the table, and poured the wine from mine into it. Here, drink this. It’ll make you feel better.

Hollis took the glass and turned it upside down, pouring the contents over the table. The mortals seated nearby bolted off the benches, confused at where the wine had come from. Hollis set the glass down and merely looked at me.

If you didn’t come here to partake, then I assume you have a message for me, I said with a flippant wave of my hand. Deliver it and go. I don’t want to miss the good parts.

Caleb has sent word.

Good for him. And how are the newlyweds doing?

Why don’t you visit Savagery and see for yourself?

Pass. Everyone in Savagery is so serious and, well, savage. I grimaced. Is that all he wanted you to tell me? That he’s living a married life of bliss?

Caleb will be arriving in Corruption in a few days to speak with you about the pits.

I paused in raising my glass to my lips. The pits? What about the pits?

It would appear there’s trouble, and he’s concerned your attention of late lies elsewhere. That you’ve been neglecting your duties. Hollis’ lips thinned, observing the nobles moving closer to their king. I would have to agree with him.

I clapped Hollis on the shoulder, making sure to sway on my feet. Lighten up, would you? I haven’t neglected anything.

Is that so? When was the last time you were at the pits?

It had been just this past morning, but there was no reason for me to tell Hollis that. He was like all the others, believing I cared so little for my realm. Let him. Let them all. What did I care? You haven’t told me what trouble you speak of.

That’s not part of the message.

I glanced toward the ceiling overhead and drained my glass of wine. Fine. You’ve said what you needed to now go. There’s about to be bloodshed, and I’d hate to miss the outcome of all my hard work.

Hollis’ nostrils flared. This is not what your father intended when he granted you the powers of your kingdom. You are twisting your purpose. You don’t deserve to bear that mark on your skin.

His words cut deep, but I held my temper in check. Keeping a fool’s smile on my face, I shrugged. That’s your problem. You’re always so obsessed with the rules and doing your duty. We can all see how well that’s worked out these last few years. If more of us had acted against our given natures, maybe the war wouldn’t have happened. Maybe I wouldn’t be destined to marry a goddess who will never be anything but a nuisance in my life and I a bastard in hers.

And my own words went and cut me even deeper. It wasn’t that Remi would be a nuisance. It’s that she’d try to save me, and I couldn’t let her get dragged down with me as a reward for her efforts.

I took a long gulp of wine, emptying the glass. I threw it over my head, barely hearing the glass breaking over the surrounding festivities. I picked up the jug from the table, and while Hollis gave me a blank stare, I tipped it back and drained it, too. I was done feeling anything tonight. Numbing bliss was all I wanted now. Once the wine was gone, I wiped my mouth with my hand and carelessly threw the jug over my head. It struck a table somewhere, sending several more mortals scattering in confusion.

Now, I said to Hollis, anything else you wish to say to me, or can you leave me in peace?

Your year to wed the goddess Remi fast approaches. It would be prudent of you to reach out to her instead of making Jaspen step in. When you finally speak to her, I suggest you’re not acting like a drunken fool.

Do you think I care what she thinks of me? I’ve already told you it won’t matter.

Your brothers would say otherwise.

My brothers have been corrupted. You don’t need to be the prince of my realm to see that.

Love is not corruption, Hollis argued softly.

But it is. That’s the great lie of existence. Love isn’t there to save anyone. It’s the worst corruptor of all.

Hollis looked as if he wanted to say more, but the music cut off abruptly. One of the nobles, the first one I’d planted the seed of betrayal in, had reached the king. His dagger was poised in his hand, ready to strike. I blinked, and the blade became a long-stemmed rose. The noble gave his head a shake. He smiled, then handed the rose to the king, proclaiming it was a humble gift for the princess. One by one, the other nobles who’d been ready to attack also appeared as if they were coming out of a dream. The guards, too, lowered the weapons