Chapter 4 #3
She shrugged. “Does it matter?”
More than anything. He wasn’t about to react over a theory. But if Sorath knew who’d betrayed him…
That, he would definitely act on.
“Why are you in human form?” Normally, she remained as part of his car, leaving it only to carry messages to and from Hell.
She climbed onto his lap. “Care to catch up?”
Luke caught her wrists to keep her from embracing him. “I don’t need a haircut. Thanks.”
“I’d never do that to you.”
Yeah, right. And he’d never trust anyone so treacherous. Her record with men…
While Luke could be stupid for a pretty face…
He wasn’t an absolute moron.
“Tell Sorath I’ll be in touch, and stay in the car when you’re in this realm.”
She pouted. “Surely, you’re tired of humans by now. Don’t you want better company?”
“Tired of the human world, not humans. Now go. You’re wearing out my patience.” Not to mention, he had something much more pressing to see to.
With one last huff, she vanished back into his dash.
Luke took a moment to savor the quiet, knowing it wouldn’t last.
By the time he entered his apartment upstairs, the voices were back in his head. All the whispering and begging. Those who were trying to make deals and those who wanted out of bargains they’d made.
He heard them all.
There had been a time when he would have sought out the more desperate souls for his father. Damn shame they weren’t on speaking terms. He was really good about bargaining and delivering souls that made his father proud.
But those days were over.
He would never damn another human. Never make another bargain. Even if he regained his status, he wouldn’t be his father’s pride anymore.
Fuck him.
If only he could purge the voices, Luke would be thrilled.
“What did that bitch want with you?” A pair of bright red eyes glowed in the shadows between his couch and the far wall.
He’d know that sultry, growling feminine voice anywhere.
Luke closed the door and locked it. “What are you doing here, Mum?”
“I smelled Delilah in human form. Given her history with you, I had a feeling she was harassing my favorite child.”
“I’m your only child.” Luke used his powers to turn on the lights.
As he did so, the black Xolos hound turned into his tall, elegant mother.
Her amber gold eyes stood out against her dark skin, making them appear to glow.
She wore a bright silver crescent moon amulet suspended between her intense eyes.
With a tender smile, she approached him and reached up to gently cup his cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
“Miss you, too.” He pulled her in for a hug.
She yanked playfully at his hair before she took a step back. Her long black gauzy robe rustled with her graceful movements as she entered the small kitchen. “This place is beneath you.”
“You say that every time you visit.”
“It’s true every time I visit. I weep to find you in such a state. How do you stand it?” With a wave of her hand, she tidied up the counters he’d left a bit crowded. The one truth about Senka…she couldn’t stand clutter of any kind.
Turning back toward him, she pinned him with that glare that usually caused demons to wet themselves. “What did that bitch want?”
“She said Sorath knows something about my banishment.”
Scoffing, she waved those words away dismissively. “Not true. Sorath has nothing. If he knew, he’d have told me so.”
“How about you?”
“Your father won’t discuss it. Sammy is still quite angry at you. He won’t even allow me to mention your name in his presence. Worthless bastard.”
Only his mother could use that nickname for Samael Lucifer. She got away with things no one else would even dare because she was the only creature alive his father fully trusted.
“I will find the one responsible for this and when I do—”
“You will let me deal with them,” Luke reminded her.
Senka screwed up her beautiful face. “If you insist.”
“I do.”
Helly appeared at the door, then pulled up short as she saw his mother. She bowed respectfully. “My lady.”
Senka inclined her head to the imp. “At least this one is loyal and knows her place. Something I won’t forget when you’ve returned to your standing. I will make sure your imp is well rewarded.”
If only she knew what Helly said about her in her absence, she might think differently. Thankfully, none of it had ever gotten back to his mom.
And he definitely would never tell. He liked his imp in one piece.
Senka moved to stand before him. “I’d best be off to torture Delilah. Need something to improve my mood.” She tugged at the stud earring in his left ear. “I hate this thing. Make it go away.”
He wrinkled his nose at her. “Bye, Mata.”
She stepped back to go, then hesitated. “You know your new partner?”
“Yeah. I met her today.”
She gave him an irritated stare. “Be careful. She has things after her as bad or worse than you do. They’ve already taken her sister. And they are coming for her next. I don’t want you hurt because you’re near her when they strike.”
He wasn’t worried. The list of things that could hurt him was very short. “I’ll be careful. But what is after her?”
“Ancient powers. They’re all around her. Can’t you feel them?”
No, he couldn’t. That wasn’t like him. All he knew was that she wasn’t fully human. His assumption had been that she was a half breed like him.
But if his mother was correct…
There was a lot more to her. “Can you give me more than that?”
“I don’t know more than that at present. Just be watchful, child.”
“You, too.”
With a nod, she vanished in a cloud of smoke.
“What was she talking about?” Helly asked as she flopped on his black leather couch. “Who’s after Sorcha?”
“No idea. Sorcha said nothing about a sister.” And the voices in his head gave him no clue about Sorcha’s past. Other than her uncle Ted and one other dead relative from a long time ago, he knew nothing about her really. That was highly unusual for him. “I thought she was a halfling human.”
“People think you’re human.”
True. There were a number of creatures who could hide their real natures. Generally not from him, but on occasion…
There was a lot more to Sorcha than he’d originally thought. And for some reason, that thrilled him to no uncertain end.
But right now, he couldn’t afford to be distracted. He had to find his betrayer.
And figure out what had mangled an innocent college student. Most of all, he needed to know what game Delilah was up to. She didn’t just randomly extricate herself from his car. Never in history had there been a greater shit-stirring bitch than she.
If she had any part in his banishment, hers would be the first throat he’d take.
Things always get worse before they get better.
And he felt trapped in a midnight hour from which he couldn’t escape. More than that, he felt as if his enemies were getting the better of him. The saddest part was that he didn’t know who those enemies were or why they’d targeted him.
They’re Hell demons. Does it matter?
Not really. They’d succeeded in upending his life. But he wasn’t done with them.
They’re probably not done with you, either.
That was a sobering thought. Along with the fact that they were out there. Living their lives, thinking they wouldn’t pay. Thinking they could just keep fucking with him without any consequences.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
He would find them. And they’d curse whatever bitch had shat them into their worlds. Because at the end of the day, no one knew better how to punish someone than the son of the devil who was bent on vengeance.