Luke takes a single step forward, and the most disgusting combination of sounds occurs one after the other: a crunch and then a squirt.
The pale man and I are completely stunned at the sight of Luke’s fist inside of the demon’s chest.
A trickle of blood drips from the corner of the demon’s mouth but his words come out unhindered despite the hand in his chest.
“Hey, hey, hey. Look, I’m sorry I asked.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “Your girl is none of my business.”
Luke opens his mouth to speak but the demon starts to stutter.
“Your Royal Highness, I-I apologize. Look, I’m one of the best collectors out here! I’ve collected thousands of souls for your family. You don’t really want to send me back down, do you? I won’t say a thing. Your secret is safe with me. Camilla Blanch is as dead as she was two hundred—”
Luke jerks his hand out of the body, his fist around a bloody, dripping heart.
He drops it and I watch it fall to the floor in sync with the body.
The pale man spins on his heel and starts pacing, covering his mouth and gagging every time his eyes land on the heart.
I blink hard, trying to clear my eyes, as a thin line of smoke emerges from the body’s mouth before it disappears into the ground.
“Oh, God,” the pale man moans. “Oh, man. As if summoning a demon wasn’t bad enough now I’m involved in a murder.”
Luke’s neck cranes in the direction of the stranger.
“What do you want?”
The man stops in his tracks, somehow losing even more color, when he faces us.
“Me?” his voice is squeaky.
Luke seems impatient now, his long legs taking him toward the other man.
“What is it you want? What are you willing to sell your soul for?”
His pale eyes look down to the body and up to Luke. “Are you really a demon?”
Luke’s back is to me, blocking my view. But the whimper coming from the man is undeniable.
“I need a million dollars.”
“A million dollars and your soul is mine. Agreed?”
He nods.
Luke places his hand on the man, just for a second, and turns back around to me.
“I’ll see you in Hell, Corey Johnson.”
How Luke knew his name, I don’t know. But I don’t have the chance to ask.
Luke’s bloody hand reaches for me and I grimace as the warm liquid envelops mine. Behind me is a thump followed by a muffled cry.
A silent cry I’m familiar with.
I’m wrapped in a thick blanket, sitting on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands.
Upon returning to the cabin, Luke put on the fire while I excused myself to wash my hands. I didn’t even blink as I watched the blood go down the drain, still not positive this isn’t one big nightmare.
But, with Luke sitting opposite of me, staring at me with warm eyes, I know it’s not.
“Care to explain to me what just happened?” I ask.
“Which part?”
Where to even begin?
“Who was that?”
“A demon.”
“You knew him?”
He shakes his head.
“But he knew you?”
“Everyone knows me.”
It’s not cocky, it’s just a fact.
“And he said you’ve been gone? What does that mean?”
He heaves a sigh.
“I don’t interact with every demon I come across. The only ones who know where I am and what I’m doing are those I personally tell.”
“So, who was this demon?”
“A collector, of sorts.” I open my mouth for a follow up but he continues, “Angels and demons are petty. Demons exchange goods in trade for a human soul just to piss off those winged creatures. All fun and games.”
“So, you’re just going to give him a million dollars?”
“Ah, that’s a little trickier. The magic comes from the exchange…or, shall I say, miracle. Father’s an angel after all. Demons are his creation, so his angelic power extends to them as well. The more souls they bring in, the happier Father is.”
Now I see why that demon felt powerful enough to address Luke personally.
“So, now he’s a demon? That guy?”
“That’s not how it works. The Damned are just idiotic humans who sold their souls. They’ll remain tortured in Hell until there’s not even a sliver of happiness in them. Then they’ll become demons.”
I’d imagine everyone has a breaking point.
“And are there a lot of demons here?”
He cocks his head to the side, thinking.
“Yes and no. Demons who resurface are either allowed or they’ve escaped.”
My brows rise.
“Escaped? From where?”
“Hell, of course.”
“Does that happen a lot?”
His mouth twitches.
“More than I’d like to admit.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“Are you asking if there’s a demon around every corner? Under kids’ beds?”
I guess I am.
He continues, “There’s nothing for you humans to worry about. Most of the demons on Earth are only here for a good time. Any of the ones causing any real problems are dealt with accordingly.”
“So, what you’re saying is, there’s actually nothing to fear from demons?”
A slow smile spreads over his lips. He winks.
“I didn’t say that. Demons are as bad as the angels your kind love to praise. Demons just like to have some fun. Our job isn’t to kill humans. That’s up to the big bad.”
He points up to the sky.
God giveth, God taketh away.
“And what is it that you do?”
“I oversee the demons.”
I frown.
“Meaning?”
He grinds his teeth, shifts in his seat.
“I make sure punishment gets handed out.”
“So, really you’re saying you’re—”
“The Devil.”
I suck in a breath.
“And my father’s just an angel who failed at starting a rebellion.”
The Devil.
The. Devil.
My stomach churns, heart pounds, palms get sweaty.
“What about your mother?”
“Don’t speak of her.”
I’m stunned by the snap, physically taken aback.
He sighs, cracks his neck.
“She’s not around.”
“And Lily’s?”
“Sacrificed herself to have my sister.”
My eyebrows rise.
“A demon?”
“Demons can’t conceive. No soul and all…our mothers were witches. It takes some heavy magic to successfully give birth to a demon baby.”
My eyes widen. I put two and two together.
“So, because your father is an angel, he can have kids?” Luke nods. “Are there more of you?”
“Witches that powerful tend to want to live forever. They don’t want to die for a demon baby they’ll never get to meet.”
“Right,” I say because it’s the only thing I can think of.
Lucifer, The Devil, Luke’s father, already has children. What more can a witch have to offer?
Now, that I have him in a vulnerable conversation, I ask the most important question.
“Why did that demon think I was Camilla?”
His face hardens.
“It’s no rumor I participated in the revolution after she was murdered. It was a gruesome time for both humans and demons.”
And blood ran through the streets…
The French Revolution.
Camilla’s reputation—my consequential reputation in turn, thanks to our mistaken identity—is one of death and blood at the hands of the Prince of Hell.
My chest expands as I inhale deeply.
Luke sighs, closes his eyes. “I’m tired.”
S
uddenly, so am I. Too tired to tell him that didn’t answer my question.
I’m shaking from the anticipation, fighting back the tears that are sitting in my waterline.
“Just breathe,” Luke says. “It’ll pass. I promise.”
My heart races, but I nod.
“Just do it.”
“Look at me,” he whispers. “I have you.”
Heat laps at my skin once more, causing my entire body to clench and my lungs to freeze. It’s a fire that feels like the ultimate judgment, worse than any punishment Grandmother ever gave. It feels like my skin’s boiling, and I’m afraid to look down.
When my feet touch the solid ground, and the pain is gone, I pant to catch my breath.
“It’s done, you’re done.”
I blow out a shaking breath of air.
“I don’t like that very much.”
He laughs softly.
“We won’t do it again.”
I hear a chorus of laughter and look around. In the distance, the students of Diablo High are lining up at the bus, waiting to go back home. It was a morning game so after a quick celebratory lunch, everyone is ready to head back home.
Luke and I slept in. I thought the sun would wake us up, but in the morning, a film came over the glass wall and completely blocked out the light.
By the time we woke up, it was midmorning and the soccer game was well underway. I didn’t care to go, and Luke didn’t bring it up as an option.
Instead, we were quiet most of the morning, neither of us wanting to mention last night’s occurrences. I sat on the other side of the island in the kitchen as Luke cooked us breakfast. A whopping plate of French toast with some fresh fruit. Mine with strawberries and his with blueberries. We even shared with each other. It was the happiest I’ve been in a long time.
Plus, Luke’s French toast was to die for. Though I’d never tell that to Aunt Polly.
I’ll cherish the memory forever. Even after life takes us our separate ways.
Back in reality, Luke and I take off in the direction of the crowd. He reaches out for my hand but I tuck it away in my pocket, not meeting his eyes when I do so. I can feel the back of his knuckles against my wrist, trying to coax my hand out but I ignore it.
I plaster a smile onto my face when a pair of bright blue eyes finds mine through the crowd. Daisy pulls me in a hug when I approach.
“And where the Hell have you been?” she squeals. “Luke just pops up and tells us you’re sick and you disappeared.”
“I guess dinner didn’t settle well with me.”
Becca nudges my shoulder.
“You could have left a note or something. If it wasn’t for Luke showing up at the party to tell us he took you back to the hotel, we would have had to rip that place apart.”
I don’t want to think about that party ever again.
“Luke to the rescue,” Tyler says sarcastically. “How exactly did you know where we were?”
His lie comes easy. Too easy.
“Someone put my number in a group chat. I got the address from there and had Alcott drop me off.”
“Well you missed a sick game,” Freddie says. “We’ve never beat Cornwall so bad before.”
“Oh,” I say happily. “So, you guys won?”
“We won, all right.” Freddie reaches over to high five Tyler. “Handed them their asses.”
“That’s only because their captain was injured.”
A shiver runs up my spine. Luke wraps his arm around my waist.
“What do you mean?” I ask in what’s hopefully a steady voice.
“No one really knows what happened. But I heard he was mauled by some animal in the back of the house. He crawled to the back door with his leg all scratched up. It was like a scene in a scary movie.”
While my body is rigid, Luke’s is completely lax. Entirely unaffected.
“Is he okay?”
“He’s alive. Just a little traumatized maybe. Sat on the bench though.”
“Interesting,” Luke says absentmindedly.
“Anyway,” Daisy says, “you guys coming to the Barn tonight? We’re all celebrating.”
All eyes turn to me and suddenly the arm around me feels a little heavier.
“I don’t think so.”
Daisy’s face falls.
“Oh, come on, you have to. You didn’t even come to the game, it’s only fair we get to celebrate with you tonight. The whole school is invited. Even Lily can come!”
That’s a dirty move.
If word gets back to Lily that the underclassmen were allowed in the Barn and he doesn’t tell her, she’ll be very upset. And I’m sure that’s putting it lightly.
“I’m sure we’ll be there,” Luke says.
“Calla?”
“I’ll have to talk to my aunt.”
She nods, shrugs.
“Okay, well if you change your mind, we’ll be there.”
I’m saved by the teacher calling out our names.
Luke tells me that my luggage is already on the bus so I don’t question it, just climb onto the bus with the rest of the kids. Sitting at the head of the bus is Mr. Walter, the sixty-five year old freshman math teacher who’s partially deaf. Hence, a rowdy bus.
Sitting next to Luke on the bus is almost ridiculous.
At first, we try with him sitting next to the window but his natural position is with his legs spread wide, his posture high, leaving me to sit on the edge of the worn leather seat. So, I end up sitting against the window with my legs draped across Luke’s lap. He doesn’t seem to mind as he places his folded hands across my legs.
We don’t speak for the majority of the ride. Daisy and Becca do enough of that for the both of us.
Sitting in the row behind me, they tell me all about the game and the rest of their night at the house. Becca tells me she caught Daisy making out with one of the Cornwall players and Daisy tells me she caught Freddie and Becca doing it in the upstairs bathroom.
Luke smirks at that.
We arrive in Diablo just before dinner.
The bus pulls up to the back of the school in the student parking lot. Everyone piles out, and Luke’s sedan is conveniently parked in the lot.
Daisy pulls me for another tight hug.
“The Barn tonight, yeah?”
“We’ll see.”
She winks and leans in to whisper to me.
“Playing hard to get might have worked on Luke, but it doesn’t work on me.”
I open my mouth to tell her that’s the last thing I meant to do, but she’s already skipping away.
But from the outside, I’m sure that’s exactly what it looks like. Like I was the one holding out as Luke chased me.
“Ready to go?”
I nod, follow him to the car.
Like before, Luke opens the passenger door and closes it behind me when I get in. I turn on the seat warmers as he puts my luggage in the trunk.
The ride to my apartment is as equally quiet. His right hand lies limp on the center console, for me to take it in mine. I don’t.
He parks against the curb and once more I find myself in a small space with a demon I shouldn’t want to be near.
The engine shuts off and he turns toward me.
I try to get the courage to get through the conversation without falling apart.
“Thank you for this weekend,” I start off softly. “I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for you.”
He reaches out, caresses my cheek.
“I’d never let anything happen to you.”
I turn to face him. Take the time to try to remember his face, the softness in his eyes as he gazes back at me like I’m the center of his world. But it’s a lie. I’m not who he sees.
My eyes begin to sting and I have to glance away, collect myself before turning back to him.
“Why do you keep saying that?”
He frowns, the ridges in his forehead deep.
“Because I mean it.”
“But why? What di
d I do to deserve that?”
“Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing?”
“Because I don’t understand you. What makes me so special to you?”
When I don’t think I am.
He sighs.
“I think it’ll be better if I show you.”
I shake my head. I’m powerless when I’m next to him.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“What are you saying?”
My throat tightens, as if it doesn’t want to speak the words I’m afraid I’ll regret.
“I’m saying that I think it might be time you and Lily go home.”
The car grows silent, his surprise palpable.
Luke sucks his teeth and nods his head slowly.
“Okay, we’ll go. But only after I show you something.”
His face is expressionless once again. Any true feelings he might have are hidden behind his well-built facade.
“Okay,” I whisper. A fair trade.
I’ll give him his chance to tell me what he wants…and give myself time to prepare for a goodbye I wish I didn’t have to make.
“I’ll pick you up.”
“I’ll just meet you at the Barn with everyone else.”
He nods in acceptance. Pushes a button that opens the trunk, shifts to get out of the car.
“No, I got it.” I hold my hand out to stop him. “I got it.”
His jaw ticks but he lets me get out on my own.
I haul myself out of the car and around to get my bag from the trunk. I place the strap over my shoulder and make my way up the rickety steps. I wait at the front door, keys in the lock, for him to leave.
After a few minutes, the car turns on and I can hear it pull back onto the road.
When I turn the lock and push the door open, I’m surprised to see Aunt Polly curled up on the sofa. There are papers scattered on the floor, and a notebook open next to her.
She jolts awake when I close the door behind me.
“Hey,” she says in a groggy voice. “You’re home already.”
Seeing her in such a vulnerable state, reminding me of my own, has my knees buckling.
The light bag drops to the floor, and I land on my hands and knees besides it.
Aunt Polly’s off the sofa and in front of me in a heartbeat. She hauls me into her lap, cradling me when I start to hyperventilate.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” she repeats.
“Aunt Polly…” I hiccup.
Her body freezes, her breathing pauses. Like she can already guess.
The Devil's Heir Page 22