Page 22 of Unholy Night
He lowers the list and gives me a serious look. “We do not speak that name in this house.”
I can’t help it. I burst out laughing, startling Mandy from her sleep.
“What’s so funny, Mommy?” She sits up and rubs at her eyes.
“Mr. Lucifer is scared of a cherub.” I cover my mouth with my hand but it does nothing to stop the sound of my giggles.
“I am not afraid of Cupid. I simply dislike the fellow.” He’s glaring at me, but I’m not worried in the least.
“What’s wrong with Cupid, Mr. Lucifer?” He looks at my daughter and his whole expression changes into something kinder, patient, and… almost adoring.
“Well, let’s just say we’ve had our differences in the past. Using his arrow on Helen of Troy was careless and most definitely not a good joke, no matter what he says. I was busy for a decade sorting all the dead into the appropriate levels.”
“Where did they wait? Purgatory?” I hold out an arm for Mandy and she bypasses it to crawl onto my lap instead. I pull her against my chest and tuck her head under my chin.
“I might be wrong, but I’ve been taught it is a place between heaven and hell where people wait to see where their souls will go,” I say.
“I have no need for Purgatory. I have a waiting room on level two that plays the Macarena continuously. I checked their souls as they came in. I’d already assessed them, so knew they belonged here, but the paperwork! I thought I’d never see an end.”
“Let me get this straight. You have a waiting room that plays the Macarena on repeat?”
“What other song would I use?” His bewildered eyes are my undoing.
I laugh and try to muffle the sound against Mandy’s winter hat.
“You think it was a bad idea?” He runs a hand through his hair, giving me another tantalizing glimpse of his horns.
My fingers are itching to touch them, trace their curves, and bury my fingers in those soft looking curls.
His eyes cut to me and he smirks. Damnit. He knows what I’m thinking. He might not be able to read minds--according to him-- but he can definitely read pheromones or something, and that’s bad enough.
A knock sounds against the large door leading into the office, before opening and revealing creatures that are both fantastical and horrifying at the same time.
Mandy makes a small peep of fear before hiding her face against my jacket.
“Fuchsia, Birch, Dan. These are my guests. The lovely Lady Lyla and her charming daughter, Mandy.” Lucifer looks at each group and smiles, but it’s the first time I’ve felt true fear ring down my spine since setting foot in Hell.
I’ve been wondering where they are, if they are even allowed on this level, but here they are staring at us in shock. Just as I mirror the same expression back at them.
“Nice to meet you?” I don’t mean for it to come out as a question. I clear my throat and try again. “I mean, I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Don’t worry, my Lady. Most humans never see us, so it's a real treat to be addressed at all.” A demon the size of a dining room table chair approaches, leaving a trail of something slime-like in his wake, and it takes all of my will power to keep from shrinking away from the small demon. He gestures to himself with hands that only have two fingers and a thumb, each ending in a sharp claw. “I’m Dan. Is that your spawn?”
Huh? Spawn? Mandy grips my waist even tighter. Oh. “Uh, yes, she is. Mandy, be polite and say hello to the nice demon.”
She shakes her head no against me. This won’t do. I lower my voice to her ear and whisper, “Remember when we talked about discrimination and how it’s a terrible thing to do? Well, you’re doing it right now.”
She pulls away from me with a look of dismay. “But Mommy, he’s covered in gross stuff and his hands look funny.”
“And that, Bunny, is exactly how discrimination starts. You’re afraid because Dan looks different. We don’t have any demons where we live so I understand why you might be scared. But if you get to know him, he might be the nicest person… er, being you ever meet.” I put my hand on her shoulders so she will meet my eyes. “You are too smart to be afraid of someone just because he doesn’t look like you, aren’t you?”
She nods her head yes before turning to look at the demon. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Demon.”
“Just call me Dan, little one.” Dan, the tiny, slimy demon turns to Lucifer. “What can we do for you Master?”
“We have a code Eighteen-A. Round up the appropriate staff for an extraction.”
“Yes sir!” Dan practically runs out of the room in his excitement, leaving a trail of gross, sticky-wet footprints in his wake.