Be Careful What You Wish For: A Zombie Apocalypse
Chapter 512: Inside The Throne Room

Chapter 512: Inside The Throne Room

"She’s different now." Dante didn’t mean to say it aloud, but the words hung in the air, heavy and true.

The receiving hall inside Hallow was like a copy of the throne room in hell that the Sins knew like the back of their hand. However, this time, there were ten thrones; five on the floor, and another five up on a mini stage. Then there was a set of black curtains, and a throne of bones that only one person was qualified to sit on.

Dark onyx pillars were placed every five feet, and a blood red runner when from the hall doors all the way to the third throne.

The Sins were lazing around, all but Dante who sat in his throne on top of the stage. His back was straight as he stared down at the demons in front of him, their long list of demands going into one ear and out the other.

He had more important things to worry about then two demons bitching about who owns a human’s contract.

Normally, the room was never quiet and today was no different. It creaked with voices, echoed with whispered favors, requests, grievances. But today it felt... heavier. Like the walls themselves were bracing for something.

Or someone.

He sat on the obsidian throne indicating Pride and listened to the third demon that morning whine about a cursed artifact, a disputed territory, and someone stealing his soul contract out of spite.

Dante didn’t answer. Not yet. Instead, his gaze slid toward the far wall. Not the door. The wall.

"She’s not broken anymore," Luca said, his arms folded as he leaned back on his emerald green throne. It was just to the right of Dante’s but neither man was looking at the other. Instead, he sounded less like he was stating a fact and more like he was mourning the chaos they all barely understood as he, too ignored the chaos in the room.

"That means the world should be very fucking nervous," Tank muttered from where he was standing in front of the curtains like a guard dog. His eyes never left the demons fighting off in a far corner, but it was too far away for it to impact Hattie’s throne.

And that was the only thing he was worried about. Hattie’s throne was to remain untouched unless it was by the Devil herself.

"She was humming this morning," Salvatore added from his seat in the front row, his voice quiet. "Actually humming. Like she was happy."

Ronan snorted as he absently kicked his leg over the armrest of his throne. "She’s only that happy when she’s planning to do something fun. I should go find her. I could use a bit of fun right now."

"She’s... lighter," Dimitri said carefully from his spot beside Dante’s throne. The bright red of Wrath’s throne brought everyone’s eyes to him, whether they wanted to or not. "Not weaker. Not calmer. Just... like something snapped into place. And now she’s whole."

"She smiled at me," Eric said his eyes narrowing on the number of demon petitions in the room. He shifted uncomfortably on his wooden throne, not used to being put on display for the masses like this. "Like actually smiled at me."

The other nine men went dead silent, even as the chaos around the room became bigger and bigger.

"Like, real smiled. Not the ’I’m-about-to-kill-you-and-laugh-about-it’ kind. The soft kind." He took a slow breath and closed his eyes. "And I didn’t even know how to respond. My brain just stopped working for a moment."

Désiré laughed from his golden throne. "Maybe she’s finally realized she’s hot shit."

"Maybe," Luca nodded as Dante dismissed the demon in front of them. "Or maybe she’s finally done being broken."

Dante said nothing.

He felt the change like it had happened to him, too.

She hadn’t just changed. She’d settled. The chaos was still there—but now it moved with her, instead of around her.

That was the most terrifying part.

She was... anchored.

Whole.

And the world wasn’t ready for what Hattie looked like when she stopped reacting and started choosing.

The next demon to approach the throne was still talking—something about an unlicensed soul market and a half-demon pyramid scheme—but no one was listening anymore.

The men all sat up straight on their thrones, and even Tank came to attention as the air in the room shifted. The curtains behind Tank fluttered softly like being caught in a gentle breeze, but there was nothing gentle about the woman who walked into the audience room.

Pig-tails. Mary Janes. A black-and-red princess dress that didn’t belong on a battlefield or in a throne room—but made her look more dangerous than a blade, Hattie smiled brightly as everything went dead silent.

Emphasis on the dead.

One demon, so fearful to be in her presence keeled over dead before Hattie even took a single step forward.

She didn’t glow. She didn’t crackle with power. She simply stood tall with all the pride of her position..

Tilting her head to the side, Hattie smiled brightly at the men in front of her. "You busy, Dante?" she asked sweetly. "Or can I steal some of my men back?"

Dante didn’t move. "Petitions," he replied dryly. "Kingdom management."

She gave him a bright, wicked grin and popped a lollipop into her mouth. "Better you than me."

And then she strolled forward like she owned the room. No hesitation, no second glances at the demon twitching on the floor.

The guys stared at her as she approached from behind, each of the sitting a little straighter on their throne. "She’s whole," Eric whispered.

"She’s dangerous," Luca grunted.

"She’s perfect," Tank purred, a gleam in his eyes.

"I missed this version of her," Desiré sighed.

"She doesn’t need us anymore," Salvatore grunted, causing the others to turn toward him. "That’s what’s changed. She’s not holding on because she needs to survive. She’s choosing us."

The girl in front of them wasn’t a girl clawing her way back to the surface, this was the Devil finally remembering she owned the ground she stood on.

------

Hattie twirled once at the center of the room, her skirts flaring. The lollipop clicked against her teeth. "Well, boys," she said, eyes glinting bright white as she took in everything. "Did ya miss me?"

"You terrify me," Luca muttered under his breath, even as he felt the desire inside of him demanding to touch her, to love her.

"I think I’m in love," Desiré whispered, fanning himself dramatically.

"Think?" Ronan scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I’ve been in love for years," Dimitri said. "I’m just more afraid now."

Hattie grinned, spinning once more before landing in Dante’s lap like a cat claiming a throne.

She leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, and smiled at the rest of the room.

"You can keep running the kingdom, babe," she said, tapping Dante’s chest with her lollipop. "I’ve got... better things to do."

"You’re still the Devil," he reminded her, arms looping around her waist without thinking.

"Only part-time," she winked. "Full-time chaos gremlin. It’s an unpaid position, unfortunately."

Eric cleared his throat. "Should we be worried?"

"When she’s like this? Always," Dante replied, unable to hold back his smile.

"But she’s smiling again," Salvatore added with a smile of his own.

And that was the only thing that was important to them.

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