Page 152 of A Deal in Darkness
“Don’t fall asleep, Adriana,” he says, laughing wickedly. “I’m going to wash you and put you back to bed—and then I’m going to fuck you again and again until you’re damn sure who you belong to.”
44
A MEETING FROM HELL
ENZO
Lucifer marches through my halls and there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop him. He’s refusing to listen to reason and my attempts to hold him back are failing. The Devil’s on a mission and nothing’s going to stand in his way.
He’s going to get what he wants, no matter what—and what he wants is to see Adriana.
She’s sick.
Being in Hell hasn’t been easy for her and she’s found the emotional turmoil difficult. Adriana’s world has turned upside down and almost dying in the Temple of the Damned was the least of it. She’s struggling with the revelation that she’s half-angel and I’ve tried to keep things constant while she processes the change in her identity.
Eva hurt her body and her mind, and healing the body was easy with magic. The mind never heals so quickly, and Adriana needs time to come to terms with her ordeal. She hasn’t slept well and I’m sure she’s reliving her torture in her nightmares. She tosses and turns, sweating and needing to throw the covers off to cool down.
My girl isn’t coping and she works herself up into a state. She’s overcome with waves of revulsion and the nausea that comes with it is overwhelming. Adriana finds herself clinging to a bowl or toilet as she retches and I can’t seem to make this go away.
“I have had enough excuses,” Lucifer screams.
Lesser demons cower and scurry away as I follow him to my quarters. Elgios shrugs and the other Princes of Hell look on with glee, enjoying my suffering. The bastards are finally getting their revenge for my years of favor and not one of them shows me any loyalty.
“She’s sick, Lucifer. She’s struggling with finding out about her father and the torture isn’t helping.”
“You sound pathetic,” he snarls back. “I want to see the Altair you’ve been hiding from me. How long have you been hiding her, Amaymon?”
He stops and turns to me, every inch the vicious ruler of Hell that everyone fears. The step he takes toward me is laced with threat, and there is only one way to deal with him when he’s in this mood. He’s murderous and Hell will pay.
I step toward him, and the high court takes a breath in unison.
I’m not the King, but I am a fucking Prince of Hell and I won’t be spoken to like this. I earned my fucking title and no one’s taking it or the privileges it provides from me. Not even Lucifer. I might serve him, but he’s gone too fucking far and I won’t let him overrule me on this.
Not when it comes to Adriana.
“I did not know she was the Altair, Lucifer. I confess I was drawn to her and I knew she was special. But I truly did not know until she released the light within the Temple of the Damned.”
He scoffs.
“And vanquished the Power of the Damned,” I remind him. “She stopped the rebellion and prevented Mordecai’s return.”
Lucifer growls and his eyes turn into the scarlet of uncontrolled rage lurking beneath his refined exterior.
“Along with Elgios, who held back the army, and myself. We serve you, but she is mine. The deal she made with me is absolute, and you would break the agreementbetween us if you do not grant me my wish.”
The Devil tilts his head and stares at me like he’s contemplating genocide. He probably is, and I’m pushing my fucking luck. But even Lucifer wouldn’t dare to break an unbreakable oath in front of the other Princes of Hell—it would lead to another rebellion and now is not the time to appear weak. He’s vulnerable and if the princes united against him, it would be enough to overthrow him.
“We will see her. Now, Amaymon.”
“She’s sick,” I repeat. “Her appearance isn’t…”
“Material,” Lucifer interrupts. “I don’t give a fuck what the girl looks like. I want to look her in the eye and see what shehas to say for herself. I’ve searched for an Altair for generations and now we have one.” His fist clenches as he marches towards the door standing between him and Adriana. “One that you are asking me to spare.”
“Lord, I…”
He ignores me and throws the door open. They slam into the walls and he sweeps through them, arriving in my quarters with all the grandeur that his position affords.
I glance around the large room and Adriana’s nowhere to be found. The sofas and chairs are empty. The bed is made and she isn’t it. My quarters look deserted and my girl’s making a bad situation worse.
