Chapter 53 #2
“We have thrown a party for demons, given you mortal blood and women on the surface. Surely you owe us a favour.”
“Perhaps that will be enough to convince one of the others, but not me.”
“If you were a man of honour—”
“But I am not a man. And I don’t care for honour or valour. Is that all you have?”
She reached out with her consciousness, hoping to sense his thoughts and what might tempt Lucifer to join them, but she was met with thick walls of darkness. The walls of the demon king’s mind were impenetrable—shiny and black like onyx.
Searched for a chink in his armour, she found none. Crestfallen, she retreated, easing back to her own mind.
Suddenly, something trapped her mind in place. Frantically, she tried to yank free, but she couldn’t move.
Clever mortal.
Tendrils of darkness cocooned her consciousness.
Sneaky woman. A mind reader, are you?
Terror flooded through her as she struggled against his hold.
Shall I make you see things that aren’t there? Torture you into oblivion? Make you dance a jig until your body collapses from exhaustion?
Could you, she asked, her heart in her throat, could you really do all that?
All that and more. I am a demon king, after all.
Talons of obsidian stroked her mind, and she shuddered, frozen in place.
Hold still. This will not take long.
Memories flew past—her childhood, her time with her parents, her friendship with Charlotte, her failed engagement. Then, glimpses of her time at the castle. She fought desperately to hide her intimate moments with Caspian.
But Lucifer sifted through everything, pulling memories at will. He paused on memories of her childhood and the events of the Midsummer’s Ball with interest, before moving on. When he reached her discovery of magic, the green fire at her fingertips, he paused.
A mortal … with magic. I see Betsael’s fascination now. A deep rumbling laugh echoed in her mind. Give me your eternal soul, and I will aid you.
I cannot. My soul is mine, and mine alone.
For some reason, he released her. She gasped, breathing heavily as if she had just run.
“So, you care for him enough to venture into a den of bloodthirsty demons, but not enough to trade your soul for his safety?”
“Yes,” she managed.
“Do you love him?”
She exhaled sharply in derision. “Love? Love is for fools.”
“It is.” Lucifer seemed surprised and pleased. “On this we agree.”
Silence stretched between them.
“So, you will not help us?”
Lucifer tilted his head, surveying her quizzically. “Why don’t you tell me why I should?”
She thought hard, her mind still reeling from his invasion. “I think you did not reach the title of Demon King for no reason. You are more cunning than you appear, and there is a reason you’re standing here talking to me. You want something, something worth going after Betsael to get.”
More silence.
She considered. “I don’t think we could ever force you to do something you didn’t want to. For you to come here, speak with me, and ask multiple times for a reason to go after Betsael … either there is something specific you want in return, or”—she paused—“you were planning to go after him anyway.”
Lucifer sat stock still beside her for a long moment before giving the barest inclination of his head.
“What do you really want?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Asmodeus pull himself from the woman in his lap again and look at them with interest. The woman looked disgruntled at being forgotten.
“Perceptive little thing, aren’t you?” Lucifer gave her a slow, easy smile.
“You already knew what you would ask for before coming here, didn’t you?”
Lucifer tilted his head towards her. “I did.”
“And what is that?”
“I will pledge my forces to help you get Betsael back, but in exchange, I want unlimited access to Betsael’s human gold when I visit the mortal world.” He paused. “And … I want to hear everything he knows about where the lost amulet is hiding. I know that he has been searching for it.”
Her heart sank.
“Betsael is not one to share riches or power,” Asmodeus interjected. “He hardly tolerates me. I warn you, he will not like this.”
Elizabeth waved dismissively, decision crystallizing. “Done. I don’t care. They can hash out the details themselves. I expect you want to remain undetected here?”
“Most certainly.” Lucifer’s words were honeyed. “We do not want to use them daily. But on rare occasion, I want myself and my demons to pass through the portal unbothered.”
“Fine.”
“Elizabeth—you can’t possibly want more demons on the surface. What if they hurt humans?”
“They are already on the surface, Asmodeus,” Elizabeth said, her voice turning cold. “Women have been turning up dead and with brutal injuries from your little hunting adventures. Bodies torn as if wild animals got to them, but I know better.”
Asmodeus blanched.
“Demons are already here. It will make no difference. Already the witches gather here, growing rich on anti-demon charms to keep you all away. Hash out the details with Asmodeus and Caspian, I don’t care. We will trade your help for access to the portal.”
The demon king’s eyes glinted with approval.
“But only you and your forces. And you can help yourself to Caspian’s gold when you are on the surface, but the offer does not extend to the rest of your household.”
Lucifer grinned. “Most acceptable. Now, there is one other thing I require. In exchange, I will bring an army that will make Raziel fall to his knees.”
He whispered directly into her mind, his voice a deep rumble:
One day, your path will cross with my heir. When it does, you must act to protect them from harm.
That’s crazy, she replied sharply, not wanting to enter a deal for which she had no hope of fulfilling. I don’t even know who your heir is.
You will know them when the time comes.
That’s insane. How would I even recognize them?
Your path will find you when you leave this place.
You will recognize them in the moment for who they are—the heir to my power.
Immense power, the likes of which the world has rarely seen.
You will face a decision that impacts their life, and you must choose to protect them. That is my true price in this war.
Elizabeth turned it over in her mind. “And this is your price?”
“That is my price.”
Her brow furrowed.
“We are trading portal access for Caspian’s safe return, otherwise known as Betsael. You need to return him to me—alive—for the deal to stand at all.”
Lucifer’s expression soured, as if searching for loopholes. He looked to her as he said gravely, “We are agreed.”
“As for the other matter…” She swallowed hard.
“Elizabeth! What did he ask you for?” Asmodeus shouted.
She tilted her head, pressing her lips together. The weight of the unknown bargain settled on her shoulders, but what choice did she have?
“ELIZABETH!” Asmodeus called out.
She lifted her gaze to meet Lucifer’s burning eyes of red flame. Whatever the cost, she would pay it. For Caspian. For her family’s revenge. For the part of herself that had died with them.
“We are agreed.”
Lucifer’s answering smile was terrifying.