by Nicky Graves
We walked to either side of the bed and faced each other again. He looked at me as though he wanted to say something but instead rolled onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Will Lawson be okay?” I asked, crawling in to lie next to him.
“He’ll be fine.”
“Can you sense him in the castle?”
He nodded. “He’s fine.”
“How do you know?”
“If his heartbeat was fast, I’d be able to smell him more.”
“Fast heartbeat? As in scared or running?”
“Or having sex.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Still don’t want to know.” However, it did make me feel better to know Lawson might not be with the vamprella.
We lay silent for a moment before Vance leaned over to turn off the lamp, plunging us in darkness. He shifted on the bed but kept to his side.
“Vance?”
“Yeah?”
“I know you don’t want to be in the middle of this fight with Azrael. But thanks for not being a total jerk about it.”
“Just a partial jerk.”
“You have a tendency. Do you think you’ll ever be friends with Lawson?”
“No. Go to sleep or I’ll tempt Wiltone to knock out Treble for an hour or two.”
“But I think you and Lawson are sorry about the past, right?”
“I’m not.”
“Not even a little?”
“Not even a little.”
There was a slight break in his voice that told me he wasn’t being honest. At least not fully.
“Did you love her?” I asked. “Elizabeth?”
“Go to sleep,” he said.
He didn’t deny it.
“Does Lawson know you loved her?”
With a snarl, he shot up from the bed. I couldn’t hear his steps on the thick carpet, but I did hear the door open and snap shut.
Well, if my aim was to get rid of Vance, it worked. But now I was alone inside a castle filled with vampires.
“Lover’s spat?” an amused voice asked.
I dodged toward the lamp and fumbled with it until I turned it on. The light illuminated the room, but it seemed to focus sinisterly on Lucifer, who was sitting on a plush velvet chair in the corner.
While I hadn’t thought I was going to have a relaxing night, now I knew it for sure.
8
Lucifer smiled. It was a friendly smile that would have put me at ease if it wasn’t on the lips of the devil, who could make my life a literal hell. The fact that he was casually sitting on the velvety chair, like he belonged in a vampire’s castle, didn’t help either.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
“Can’t I check up on a friend?” he asked.
“You don’t have friends. It’s beneath even you to lurk in a dark bedroom.”
“Beneath even me?” He laughed. “Little girl, nothing is beneath me.”
Beyond being a “guest” in a vampire’s home, I now had to deal with the devil. Was nothing about my life going to be easy?
“What do you want?” I asked, knowing I might as well get this conversation over with.
“I don’t want anything,” he said. “But it’s come to my attention that you’re stalling.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t think you’d be the sort to procrastinate. Do you think Azrael is dithering his time away at a vampire’s castle?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why are you here?” he asked.
“Believe me, I’d rather not be here.”
“But here you are.”
I didn’t say anything. It was none of his business.
“Cat got your tongue?” he said with an annoying boyish grin that made me hate him even more.
“You killed Ranger. I have nothing to say to you.”
“You miss him.”
“It has nothing to do with missing him. You killed someone. I’d hate you even if I didn’t know Ranger.”
“Poor Riley,” he said. His body shape shifted. And then I saw Ranger sitting on the velvet chair. Seeing him again jarred me.
“Stop it! You’re defiling Ranger’s memory.”
He grinned again. “Maybe I’ll take on his image for a while.”
I closed my eyes so I didn’t have to see Ranger. “You’re a bastard.”
“No, Riley. I’m the devil. Remember that. Now, why are you here?”
Even though my eyes were closed, I could hear Ranger’s voice.
Lucifer wasn’t going to go away until he had answers. Although why he wanted them, I didn’t understand.
“I’m trying to break the claim Vance has on me.”
“And the vampire Michaelo can help you?” he asked. His voice was back to normal, so I hazarded a peek at him. He was back to his surfer appearance.
“Michaelo thinks if I can get more life stones, I’ll be strong enough to break the claim myself. Otherwise, Vance and I are stuck together forever.”
“There’s another way,” he said.
“Yes. Michaelo said a person stronger than Vance could break the claim, but then I’d be stuck in a claim with them.”
“I can break it.”
I stared at him, horrified. “You’d want to be in a claim with me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I can break the claim without having to tie us together.”
I eyed him. “I don’t want Vance dead.”
“I won’t kill him.”
“I don’t want to die either.”
“I won’t kill you.”
“Then how?”
“Simple. I grant you what you desire, and then you would owe me a favor.”
“My desire is to beat Azrael.”
He grinned. “Let’s start small, shall we? We can discuss the details later. But, I will break the claim for a simple favor.”
“What favor?”
“For the claim . . .” he kicked his legs out as he thought. “I want the green life stone.”
I eyed him. “I don’t have the green stone. But I’ll need it.”
“I can guarantee you won’t want or need the green stone. You already know each stone has its own personality. Wiltone is passion and love. Basole the Black is fury and hate. Treble the Blue . . . well, you know all about Treble. Cassoon the Green is jealousy and envy. Trust me. You don’t want Cassoon.”
I probably didn’t want the green stone from the sound of it. However, I didn’t want Lucifer to have it either.
“If I did agree, what would you do with the stone?”
“I don’t ever give a reason.”
I shook my head. “Then forget it.”
“Maybe you need time to think about it,” Lucifer said.
“I won’t change my mind.”
“What if I sweeten the deal?”
“Unless you’re prepared to take down Azrael for me, the answer will be no.” And even then, I wouldn’t be certain. These were life stones. They were not something to barter with.
“I can’t do that for you,” he said. “Especially not for a starter deal like this. But I have something you want.”
“I doubt that.”
“Not even willing to listen to what I have?”
“The only thing I want is something you won’t give me. So, I think we’re done here.”
He gave a silky smile. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“I’m not bargaining at all.”
He gave a nod. “Yes, you are. Humans are simple. Bargaining for time. Bargaining for money. Bargaining for love. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at a certain reaper.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing you can give me that I want.”
“What about Ranger?”
“What about Ranger?” I asked.
“I give you Ranger back in exchange for Cassoon the Green.”
“Ranger is dead.”
“
His body is dead. But his soul lives with me in the underworld. I give you his soul back in exchange for the green stone.”
There had to be a catch somewhere. Sure, he might be able to restore Ranger’s soul, but there was no body to go with it. And in addition to that challenge, what if his soul was somehow corrupted?
And could I really go through with a trade like that?
“I can almost hear your mind spinning,” Lucifer said. “There are no tricks or traps. I get the green stone and you get Ranger back.”
“Will Ranger be the same person I knew?” I asked. “Or will he be some twisted, sick version from the underworld?”
“Souls are souls. They do not change or shift. I cannot corrupt them unless they want to be. He is as you remember him. And, not to sway your decision at all, but he’s miserable in the underworld. By doing this little favor, you give him a chance to escape from the underworld for eternity.”
“An eternity?” I asked. “Are you saying that you’d never take Ranger back?”
“I can’t say never. It would be up to him whether he returned.”
“Forgive me if I don’t trust you, but you are the devil.”
“Fair enough. But, you should know, I don’t lie.”
“You could be lying about not lying.”
He gave a nod. “I suppose you could be right. But I take my promises and my word seriously. This is not a lie or a trap. I want the green stone. And I’m willing to bargain for it.”
“Why don’t you find the green stone?”
He gave a smile. “Smart girl. It’s located in a realm that not even I can go.”
“But I can? Where?” I asked.
“In a place that you small-minded humans might call heaven. But before you get too enthralled with the idea, it is not heaven. A lunatic shanlete put charms all over his realm. Only immortal humans can enter.”
“What’s a shanlete?”
Lucifer looked thoughtful for a moment. “Human in nature but live like hermits in their own realm. Most are reasonable and quiet. Keep to themselves. Nitlof, however, has a few screws loose. He has created a heaven that no mortal human can enter. He deludes himself into thinking that only the purest human can enter and so has waited for that human for millenniums. It will be easy for you to get the stone. If he sees a human in his realm, he’s most likely to give you the grand tour, including the location of the green stone.”
“If I get the stone for you, you give me back Ranger’s soul. But only when I find a body for him.”
Lucifer grinned. “Do we have a deal?”
“You will also break the claim.”
“That’s two favors for one stone.”
“I know. You said you were sweetening the deal. Not only that, but I’m going through all the hassle while you sit on the sidelines. So, you will either give me two favors for one stone, or our business is done here.”
He thought about it for a moment. “We have a deal.”
“Not yet. I want the option to back out if I decide to. Which would mean no favors and no stone.”
He frowned, and it was the first sign that the stone was something he really wanted. While I didn’t want to upset the devil, I also didn’t want to agree to anything and get stuck in a deal with him with no way out. As it was, I needed to discuss the situation with Lawson.
“If we can’t agree to that final point, I will say no right now.” I glanced at him for signs of ire, but the only thing I detected was the frown still on his face, which was more displeasure than anything else.
“Fine. I concede to the two favors, with the option for you to decide to change your mind.”
“Without any repercussions,” I added.
“Yes, yes. With no repercussions as long as the favors haven’t been granted,” he said with a sigh. “However, I want the stone to be your first priority. Tomorrow, I will give you the location, and you will go there immediately.”
“Fine.”
“And you cannot tell anyone about this deal.”
I eyed him. “Why?”
“Deals between us create a link. If you break that by telling anyone, then you forfeit.”
Well, there went my option of asking Lawson for advice. But I could still ask him questions without revealing the deal between Lucifer and me.
“Let me sleep on it,” I said.
“No. You either take the deal now or I walk away.”
I could tell Lucifer was serious. That much I did know. And while I didn’t want him to have the green stone, I also wanted Ranger back and the claim broken.
Would the green stone even matter to me in my fight with Azrael? I couldn’t see how it would. The last thing I’d want is to feel jealous or envious. Those emotions would only be distracting and get in the way. However, every stone made me stronger, including the green stone.
It was a no-win situation.
Lucifer lazily stared at me as he waited for my decision.
I knew I was going to regret this, but without being able to foresee the future, I said, “I agree to your terms as long as you agree to mine.”
He stood and stretched his hand out to me. “Then we have a deal.”
Hesitantly, I held out my hand as well. He grasped it and held on firmly. A thin rope that glowed an eerie red wound its way around our hands. I watched as it climbed its way up my arm and wrapped around my body as if it was a vine.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Just our deal. If you break it, your soul will be mine.”
“You said I could break the deal.”
“You can, but not once you get your favors.”
Okay. I hadn’t received any of the favors yet. Which meant I could still decide against the deal. No problem.
Lucifer withdrew his hand, and the lines faded.
“Don’t break the claim or bring Ranger back,” I said. “Not until I say so.”
“Too late.”
“What do you mean too late?”
“The claim is broken, and Ranger is on his way.” He gave a devilish grin before he said, “I’ll send you the information tomorrow. Sweet dreams.” Lucifer vanished from the room.
There had been several times on this journey when I knew I was in over my head. This time was one of them. I had just made a deal with the devil, and I could not undo it.
I’d have to give him the green stone and hope for the best.
And I had to keep this from Lawson.
With a sigh of disgust, I dropped to the bed, knowing I had made a huge mistake.
9
I had no idea when I fell asleep, but after tossing and turning for what must have been hours, I finally dipped into a nightmare-filled slumber.
Drowsily, I glanced around for a clock, but there were none in the room. And there was no Vance either. I had waited for him to come back to the room so I could tell him the claim was broken. But then I was glad when he didn’t return. How would I tell anyone the claim was broken without revealing the deal with Lucifer?
I’d just have to pretend ignorance and leave as soon as Lucifer gave me the information.
If only Lucifer had given me the location of the shanlete last night, I could have left right away and skipped the awkwardness that was coming.
Standing, I noticed a neatly folded stack of clothes on the foot of the bed. I knew they weren’t there when I went to sleep.
“Wiltone, did you place clothes on the bed?”
Wiltone appeared before me. “No. What label are they?” She snatched the top before I could stop her. “They’re your size. High-end brand. I love the material. So soft!” She cuddled it to her face. “And the deep red is perfect for you.”
“Someone dropped them off in the middle of the night. Did you see or hear anyone?”
“Not after Lucifer,” she said.
“Great. I could have been a midnight buffet for a hungry vampire.”
“I don’t think Michaelo would have allowed that. He seems . . . decent . . . for a vampire,” she said hes
itantly.
“Did you overhear my conversation with Lucifer?” I asked.
She nodded.
“I was surprised you and Treble didn’t make an appearance. What do you think about the deal?” I asked.
“Treble’s mad. He’s been having a fit.”
“Why don’t I feel his emotions like I used to?”
“I’ve been suppressing them.”
I was thankful for that, but at the same time, it would have helped knowing what Treble was feeling.
“Do you think I’m wrong for making a deal with Lucifer?” I asked.
Before Wiltone could answer, Treble appeared in a swirling puff of blue smoke.
His arms were crossed as he blustered, “Nasty! Nasty devil! You should have never made a deal with him. Especially not for a life stone. Life stones are sacred. Not a piece of bobble to trade!”
“I didn’t know what to do. He said he’d break the claim and give back Ranger. Was I supposed to say no?”
“That’s exactly what you were supposed to say!” Treble said.
“Why didn’t you voice your opinion then?” I asked.
He glared at Wiltone.
“Either way, it’s too late,” I said. “I made the deal.”
“It’s not too late,” Treble said.
“What do you mean? Lucifer already trapped me by breaking the claim. I now have to give him the green stone or he’ll own my soul.”
“That is your problem,” Treble said. “I’m not concerned with you.”
We glared at each other.
“Why don’t we figure out a solution together?” Wiltone interrupted. “One that will help us and pacify Lucifer.”
“Okay, like what?” I asked.
Wiltone looked thoughtful for a moment but then shook her head. “We’ll figure it out later. Right now, get dressed and we’ll find Cassoon.”
Treble grumbled. “This is treachery.” He then evaporated into a mist.
“Don’t listen to him. He always thinks the worst. We’ll figure out something.”
“Why didn’t he say something when I was talking to Lucifer? I know you’ve been suppressing him, but with his level of anger, why didn’t he overpower you?”
“I’m not sure how to explain it, but there’s something about Lucifer that subdues us. We’re aware of what is going on, but it’s very difficult to do much more than listen.”