“It’s not bad.” Darrak’s attention moved across the hundreds of blank faces in attendance. No one there seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite the freely flowing alcohol and loud music and readily available cleavage. A lot of men and women weren’t even mingling. They sat or stood and stared, as if transfixed, sipping on their drinks.
Strange.
So what did it all mean? He had a feeling he should be able to figure it out, to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Darrak smiled inwardly at the thought. Just because he’d spent some time at a private investigation agency lately didn’t mean he wanted to become a PI, himself.
How ridiculous.
“This is my second night here in a row,” Nancy said. “I can’t seem to get enough of this place.”
“Really?” It seemed to be a common refrain. Those who’d come here looking for love couldn’t stay away.
Nancy nodded and her eyes darted around. “Where’s Darrak?”
Right here. Present and accounted for. “I have no idea.”
Nancy pouted. “That’s too bad.”
Well, it was nice to see that somebody liked having him around.
“Listen, Eden, this might sound kind of blunt.”
“I like blunt,” he said.
“Do you think your brother would go out with me?”
Eden’s brother. Nancy still thought they were siblings. If only she knew the sordid truth, she might run away screaming. It was an amusing thought. “Go out with you where?”
“On a date. I really like him.” She twisted a nervous finger through her bleached blonde hair.
She liked him. That warmed his ego a little. “What exactly do you like about him?”
“You really want a list?”
“Yes, please.” He should be hunting for Theo, but yes, he could use a list right about now. Pathetic, but true.
The hair-twisting became more thoughtful. “Well, he’s charming and good-looking and really nice—”
Well, two out of three ain’t bad.
“—and . . . and his eyes . . .” She bit her bottom lip. “They’re so intense. Sometimes I feel like they’re literally burning right into my soul as though he could devour me whole if he wanted to.”
She was an excellent judge of character.
“So cool and blue, but hot at the same time,” Nancy continued, “like an iceberg on fire. And his hair—well, I just want to run my fingers through it . . .” She shivered and then had the grace to look a bit guilty. “Sorry. I know it’s probably gross having someone think that way about your brother.”
“Oh, no. Not at all. Darrak is incredibly and sinfully attractive,” he said. “It’s not wrong for you to notice this. At all. More people should, in fact. Regularly.”
“Wow, that’s so awesome of you to say that.”
“It’s just the truth.” He shrugged. “Unfortunately, Darrak’s not available.”
“Oh.” Disappointment flickered over her face. A moment later she sniffed. “Well, that’s not a huge surprise, I guess. I wish I’d known, though. I would have stopped making a fool of myself. All those donuts.”
Darrak didn’t want to lose his donut supplier. He wasn’t ready for that ultimate sacrifice yet. “You know, Darrak really enjoys those. He mentioned it to me several times what a great donut maker you are and how you have a knack for putting in just the right amount of custard. It’s an art, really.”
She brightened. “He said that?”
Darrak nodded. “He definitely did. And don’t worry about him. There’s somebody out there for you. I know there is.” Darrak’s eyes flicked to their right. “Oh great. This guy again.”
Nancy turned to see Stanley approaching them with two glasses of champagne in hand. “This guy’s right for me?”
“No, that’s not exactly what I—”
“Good evening, ladies,” Stanley said. “Can I offer you a drink?”
Nancy’s gaze moved appreciatively down the length of the wizard assistant’s body. “Well, hello there.”
Darrak rolled his eyes. “Stanley, this is Nancy. Nancy, Stanley.”
Stanley’s eyes widened. “Wow, Nancy. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I think I saw you here last night, too, didn’t I?”
“Guilty as charged. I noticed you, too. Couldn’t help it.”
Terrific. Love blossoms. Darrak’s work here was done. That is, if he’d decided to turn in his horns for a shiny Cupid’s bow and arrow. And he hadn’t.
Nancy took the glass from Stanley. Darrak eyed it suspiciously.
Well, maybe his work wasn’t completely done.
“I wouldn’t drink that if I was you,” Darrak said.
Her eyes went wide. “Why not?”
Why beat around the bush? He didn’t have the time to hint. He wanted to find Theo. “Because there’s some lust elixir in there.”
“Really?”
Stanley glared at him. “Thanks a lot.”
“It’s wrong, you know.” Great. Just listen to me, he thought. Who am I to say what’s wrong and what isn’t? “Oh, forget it. Do what you want. Just don’t . . . damn it. Just forget it, okay? Drink whatever you want, whenever you want.”
“Seriously?” Nancy said. “Lust elixir? That’s like a magic potion, right?”
Darrak looked at her with surprise. “What do you know about magic potions?”
She shrugged and gave both him and Stanley a wicked little conspiratorial grin. “A little. Doesn’t everyone?”
“No,” Darrak replied. “Not everyone knows about magic potions. Trust me on that.”
“That’s what I love about this club. I can feel the magic in the air.” She shivered. “It’s so exciting.”
Now that she mentioned it, there was definitely a hum of magic here. Very low and quiet, but it was there surrounding them. Damn it, he really wished he could figure out the secret of this place. Even if it was just for bragging rights.
“That’s probably me, baby. My magic is so powerful, you know.” Stanley reached behind Nancy’s ear and produced a red rose out of thin air.
Cheap parlor magic tricks? How sad.
However, Nancy seemed impressed. She took the rose from him happily. “And you gave me lust elixir because . . .”
“Because I think you’re freaking hot,” Stanley admitted. “But if you don’t feel the same about me, it won’t work. The elixir only works on the potential carnal desires that are lying dormant between us. You’re totally in control of whether you drink it or not.”
Nancy raised a mischievous eyebrow. “Well, let’s put it to the test, shall we?” She tipped the glass back and drank the champagne down. “Yummy!”
Stanley looked very pleased. “Maybe you and me should grab a seat in the corner and get to know each other a little better. What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a barista and assistant manager of the Hot Stuff Café. You?”
“Personal assistant.”
She smiled brightly. “That sounds super interesting!”
Darrak stared blankly at the two of them. Nancy sure had gotten over him quickly.
“I have a message for you.” Stanley tore his gaze from Nancy to look at Darrak.
Darrak grimaced. “Yeah, I bet. Trust me, my friend, you don’t want to suggest that the three of us should get to know each other better. You think I was a ballbuster the other night? You have no idea.”
Stanley looked at Nancy. “Will you wait a minute for me, doll?”
“I’ll wait as long as it takes, lover.” She blew him a kiss.
Stanley looked at Darrak. “This is seriously the best night ever.”
“Hooray for you.”
Stanley cleared his throat and looked shiftily from side to side. He lowered his voice. “Theo wants me to take you to him.”
Darrak hadn’t expected that. He actually felt a bit startled by it. “You know who I am?”
They began to walk away from Nancy, who sat on a stool next to the bar.
; “Waiting right here!” she called after them. “For my fabulous new boyfriend!”
“I really hope that wasn’t a mistake,” Stanley said. “She’s kind of hot, but is she clingy?”
“Looks like.”
“I can deal with clingy. Anyhow, yeah, I know who you are. You’re”—he swallowed and glanced at Eden’s body sideways—“the demon. Darrak.”
“And Theo told you that?” He was surprised.
“He did.”
“And why would he do something like that?”
“Because I work for him. I’m his assistant.”
Darrak frowned with confusion. “I thought you were the wizard’s assistant.”
“I can work for both of them. Theo made me an offer I couldn’t refuse last night. Since I didn’t want to bleed to death, I accepted enthusiastically. Theo’s even interested in some of my elixirs. He’s fascinated by non-demon magic.”
Darrak considered this. “And you don’t have a problem working for a demon?”
“Everybody works for somebody. Even Theo does.”
Right. He worked for Lucifer. The same boss Theo wanted to destroy and steal his throne. Talk about the ultimate letter of resignation.
“Listen, Stanley, this club. This Luxuria.” Darrak glanced around, now unable to shake the sense that there was some strange magic at work here that made him increasingly uncomfortable. “What’s the deal with this place? I feel something . . . unusual . . . here.”
Stanley grimaced. “You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“I can’t believe you seriously don’t know. It’s obvious to me. Well, now it is, anyhow.”
Darrak was beginning to feel frustrated with this human. Maybe he’d kill him. He hadn’t had a problem killing humans in the past. Admittedly, it had been some time, but Stanley might make a good test project to see if his talons needed any sharpening.
Then again, in Eden’s body he didn’t exactly have access to his talons or any other demon appendage, including the ability to call his element of fire. He glanced down at her hands. She had fingernails scarcely long enough to do any damage at all.
He suddenly remembered those fingernails scratching down his back when they’d made love.
Okay. So not helpful.
Darrak hissed out a breath. “Tell me what you’re talking about, or I’m going to pluck out your eyeballs and use them to play Ping-Pong.”
Stanley gulped. “I can’t tell you but you can guess. Just look around at this place. You’ll figure it out.”
Since the eyeball Ping-Pong threat had been mostly a bluff, Darrak sighed and glanced around the interior of the club. They were near the hallway to the side exit, but not away from the crowd enough that they didn’t get jostled by drink-carrying patrons who passed them on the way to the dance floor.
Humans of varying colors and sizes and levels of attractiveness shuffled back and forth across the dark, shiny floor, barely making eye contact with each other. Some looked strangely sallow, but he wasn’t sure if that was just from the flickering lights. Drinks rose to bloodless lips. Half-hearted dancing on the dance floor. That ever-present scent of lust and desperation in the air he’d noticed the first night he’d been here.
Darrak knew he should know the answer to this. If he was at full power, he would know. It was on the tip of his tongue, and it was driving him crazy that he couldn’t figure it out.
“Is it a spell?” he asked. “One that compels people to come to this place?”
“Kind of. But not really.”
Darrak shot Stanley a withering look. “A curse? Is this place cursed?”
“You’re getting warmer. Seriously, though, if Theo was going to tell you, he would have.”
Darrak frowned and pushed Stanley back into a hallway. Here the music from the club was muted. “Does Theo have something to do with this?”
Stanley wiped a hand over his mouth, his eyes now filled with worry. “I can’t say anything. Theo’s going to—”
“Theo’s going to what?” A voice asked. A door had opened, and Theo stood there now with fire blazing in his eyes. He grinned. “Darrak, nice of you to join us. See? It wasn’t that hard to borrow her body again, was it?”
“Surprisingly easy, actually.” Darrak still felt unpleasantly confused. “Why does everyone walk around like the living dead here? Why are they compelled to come back night after night? And what does it all have to do with you, Theo?”
Theo glanced at Stanley, who shrank away from him. He laughed.
“Darrak, you scared him, you big meanie. Don’t worry Stanley, I’m not mad. You do have a bit of a big mouth though. It might get you in trouble someday.” His tone was light, but his meaning was not.
“I’m waiting,” Darrak said, crossing Eden’s arms and tapping her foot.
“All part of the plan.”
“Speak plainer.”
Theo’s grin widened. “Ooh, so stern. Like an old-time schoolteacher. Must have something to do with being cramped up inside that uptight little body you have there.” Theo reached around and pinched Eden’s ass. Darrak barely restrained himself from hitting him.
Then, suddenly, he saw the humor in the situation and how much he was overreacting. He laughed and shook his head.
“Shit, look at me. I am acting uptight. You’re absolutely right.”
Theo nodded and slapped his back. “You just have to chill. Enjoy the view. Enjoy the ride.”
“Believe me, I’m trying.”
“It’s been a rough few centuries. I get that. But it’s all easy street from now on. I have the angelheart and soon we’ll get rid of Lucifer forever.” At Darrak’s wary look toward Stanley, Theo chuckled. “Don’t worry. My loyal new assistant knows everything.”
“That’s very trusting of you.”
“Not really. I think Stanley knows what I’ll do to him if he breathes a word to anyone, even his other employer. Right Stanley?”
“Yes, sir,” Stanley replied. He looked terrified.
“So what’s going on here?” Darrak asked. “And does it have anything to do with you?”
“A little.” Theo leaned casually against the wall. “I’m still moonlighting for Asmodeus.”
The Lord of Lust. Darrak hadn’t heard Asmo’s name since Lucifer accused Darrak of conspiring with the demon lord and sent him packing.
Darrak remembered a conversation they’d had a long, long time ago. “Let me guess: Your game plan is to take his throne after you take Lucifer’s.”
Theo laughed, a bit nervously this time. “Dude, say no more. I already told you the walls here have ears.”
The walls have ears. It was a common human saying, but for some reason it seemed to carry more weight at the moment.
“How’s Asmo doing?” Darrak asked.
“Not so good.” Theo casually brushed off the sleeve of his black shirt. “Him and you have a lot in common, actually.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“You weren’t there for the big fight. He and Lucifer went at it pretty hardcore just after you disappeared. Lucifer accused him of trying to usurp his reign, or whatever, and they fought.”
Damn. He missed all the excitement. “Who won?”
“Lucifer, of course. He brought Satan out to play and nearly decimated Asmo in front of everyone. It was kind of awesome, actually.” He cleared his throat and looked around nervously. “No offense, Asmo.”
Darrak looked around as well, but no one else was in the hallway with them except for Stanley, who’d chosen to stay as quiet as a magic potion-making mouse at the moment. “Lucifer . . . or, rather, Satan destroyed Asmo’s solid form?”
“Yep.”
“But he’s still around?”
“He is, indeed. And he’s finally figured out how to fix his problem after all these years.” Theo grinned. “That’s what I’m helping him with.”
Hell had to have seven thrones to represent the seven deadly sins so there was never one true leader. It was a rule. If onl
y one entity controlled everything, the Netherworld might actually rival the heavens in power instead of being the garbage dump for everything Heaven didn’t want. The seven lords of Hell bickered endlessly and had civil wars playing out using lesser demons as soldiers. And they all hated—and feared—Lucifer since he had more power than the rest of them.
“Where is Asmo right now?” Darrak asked.
“Here.”
If Asmo had no corporeal form, how could he be here? “Is he possessing someone in this club?”
Theo chuckled. “Oh, Darrak, you really have lost your edge, haven’t you? You’re so damn lucky I’m here to help you out. No, Asmo’s not possessing someone. But he is possessing something.”
It didn’t work for Darrak, but it was true that bodiless entities could sometimes possess things. Furniture, electronic gadgets, mirrors, books . . . or even . . .
. . . entire locations.
The walls have ears.
Darrak’s eyes widened as things began to click into place for him. Better late than never.
The magic he’d felt here—it was demon magic. He’d barely sensed anything at all to begin with. Just a little lust permeating the nightclub.
Asmo was the Lord of Lust.
“He didn’t,” Darrak said quietly. “He couldn’t have.”
Theo looked very amused. “Don’t know. What are you talking about?”
Darrak’s gaze shot to his friend’s. “He’s possessing this place right now, isn’t he? Asmo . . . he is Luxuria.”
There was silence for a moment as his attention moved between the amused-looking Theo and the scared Stanley.
Then Theo laughed loudly. “Dude, you’ve still got it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t.”
“I’m right?”
“You are. He’s been very weakened for all of these years, but he’s finally regaining his strength. I’m not surprised that you couldn’t sense him until now.”
The entire nightclub is possessed by a demon. Darrak blinked. That is so cool.
Then he had another thought.
“He’s draining the humans here, isn’t he? That’s what’s helping him to regain his strength. That’s why they all look so . . . drained.”
Theo nodded and put an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “They’re dripping lust anyhow. It’s the boss’s favorite snack. It’s not all bad for them, though. They love it. Keeps ’em coming back for more even if they’re not sure what they’re coming back for.”
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