“You don’t want to. You won’t.” I say it with much more emphasis than I feel. I know it’s a lost cause. Lucifer knows it, too. He’s probably munching on a bowl of popcorn somewhere while he watches.
“Put this on the bed,” he says, tossing me a plastic sheet. I comply, slowly, trying my best to think of something I can do to stop this. To change it. Change him.
“Now lie down on it.”
As if I’m going to do that. I pretend to faint, dropping down and grasping the side of the bed. He rushes toward me, and I spring up, dodging past him toward the door. He catches my ankle, and I go down hard with a shriek. He drags me back toward him, and the knife slices into the sole of my foot. His hand muffles the sound of my scream, and he lifts me, one-armed, onto the bed with some difficulty. But the second he slices into my other foot and the pain shoots up my leg, I know it’s over. There’s no way I can walk now. And no one’s coming to help me. Not when Lucifer himself is making this happen.
Corbin mutters angrily at me for bleeding on the carpet as he rummages in the bag. He pulls out handcuffs, which he uses to cuff my wrists and ankles to the bedposts.
“Seriously,” I beg. “You don’t have to do this. You can still change your mind and no one will ever know. I can get you help.”
“You think you’re better than me.” He smiles down at me, smoothing my hair back again. “That’s why you tempt me with your body but never mean to let me get anywhere. But now you’re mine. Just mine. You’ll always be mine. No more screaming.”
He stuffs some kind of material in my mouth and ties something else around it, preventing me from making a sound louder than muffled grunts.
“This is exactly how I pictured it.” He sucks in his bottom lip with a look of pure ecstasy as he runs the tip of the knife up and down my body. Over my legs, my arms, my stomach. Every inch of me, never quite pressing hard enough to draw more blood. I tremble but can’t go anywhere.
“Please,” I try to beg, but I can’t even do that. I’m basically just a plaything now. A Demon sent by the Devil for Corbin to slice up and practice on so he won’t hesitate on his first real human.
“First I have to decide how I’m going to take your eyes. They’re the things that help you lead other men astray.” He presses a sweaty hand over my eyes. I keep them closed tight, but in my mind I see all those photos with the eyes blackened or cut out. I feel the tip of his knife on top of my eyelid. I cry and tremble. This is even worse than the ‘pin cushion’ torture chamber Cam tried to close on me. The anticipation of what Corbin’s about to do to me makes me want to pass out. I try to roll my head to the side, but he grabs my face and holds it steady, fingers cutting painfully into my jaw.
So this is Lucifer’s torturous punishment for my failure to comply: letting me become a serial killer’s first victim. Letting me go through the pain and horror of being murdered in the most gruesome way possible and knowing that, even though I can’t die from it, I will have started this monster off on a rampage.
“Or maybe I should do it a different way?” he asks from above. The pressure on my eye lifts, and I’m left breathing hard, but still intact. For the moment.
“I wonder how long it will take to blind you with a flame held close to your eye? Or better yet, how long you have to stare at the sun before it happens. So many possibilities, how to decide? I suppose it can wait until the end while I mull it over. We have a long night ahead of us, Scarlet.”
Chapter 19
Keira
It’s time for the parade.
I straighten Noah’s tie, fussing with his collar for the millionth time. This feels so JFK. I wasn’t there for that one, but I’m pretty sure Lucifer had something to do with it. Lucifer has everything to do with this one—Noah wouldn’t have chosen this way of gaining power, I just know it. It makes me nervous, but what can I do? If I somehow convince him not to go through with it, Lucifer would be pissed off.
“You ready?” I ask, staring at the burgundy tie and its perfect square knot.
“It’s not that big of a deal, babe. I told you. Just relax. You don’t even have to come.”
“Don’t be silly.” I laugh, slapping his shoulder playfully. “If I don’t go, you’ll be too distracted, picturing me all hot and sweaty and alone. I could never be responsible for stealing your focus on such an important occasion.” I wink.
“Attagirl, Keira,” Lucifer says from behind. I clutch Noah’s tie, nearly ruining it again.
Noah pries my hands off and holds them tenderly, stroking my knuckles.
“Let’s get this over with.” Noah leads me to his bedroom door and throws it open to find his parents on the other side.
My jaw drops. But when I glance around, I see that neither the throne room nor Lucifer are around.
Still, I am a girl. In Noah’s room.
Everyone looks everywhere but at each other. Noah clutches my hand even tighter. “We were just leaving,” he says finally and pushes between them.
“Actually, we have a lunch date,” his mother says. “But your, uh, friend, is welcome to join us. Of course.”
“Since when do I join you on dates?” Noah asks. He’s squeezing so hard, my hand would break if I were a human girl. “If I was invited, you certainly forgot to let me know. So I already have plans.”
“Hi.” Noah’s mother holds out a hand to me. We all stare at it.
Finally, I take it and let her shake mine. “I’m Keira,” I say.
“Keira. Nice to meet you,” his mother says. “I’m glad to see Noah getting out with someone so lovely. It makes me feel a lot better about his mental state.”
“Mom!”
“Well, surely Keira knows about our family tragedy?” his mom asks, voice breaking. She plays with the button at her collar.
“I do,” I say. “And we’d love to join you, Mrs. Howard, but the truth is, Noah promised me he’d come to the parade and meet my family today. You understand? My father is the governor’s campaign manager.”
Lying comes so easily to me, it’s almost a crime.
“Oh. Oh, of course. But, maybe we’ll come, too. That sounds like a fun family activity.”
Noah and I exchange glances.
“No, Mom. I don’t want you there. Okay?”
I could glamour them, but it seems like Noah’s got this. He could do it himself if he wanted to.
“Oh.” Mrs. Howard’s big brown eyes glisten with moisture, and the button she’s been playing with nearly pops off.
“I suppose you don’t want Keira’s family to meet you and the folks all in one day, huh, son?” his dad cuts in, stroking his wife’s back. I’m surprised and impressed that his dad was able to save the situation like that, and did it in a way that allows Noah to be with me. That doesn’t seem like the MIA dad Noah’s mentioned.
“See you later then,” I chirp. “Thank you for understanding.”
I yank Noah out of there, afraid he’ll start a screaming match when he needs to stay focused. I’m going to have to do something about those two if I want Noah to concentrate.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he says, a dark shadow on his face.
“You wanted out of there, and I made it happen faster than if you’d started fighting. You can thank me later.”
Noah half grins and squeezes my hand in a sweeter way, but he still looks like he’s carrying the weight of the world. Maybe he is.
We grab a strategic spot; close enough to the bushes where Emily will be hiding that Noah can grab her while still keeping a good sightline of what’s happening in the parade. I brought little American flags to wave around, trying to help us blend in with the crowd, but maybe my foul mood’s rubbed off on Noah, because he waves me off when I try to hand him one.
“Quit the moping or someone will get suspicious. This is supposed to be a happy time. Got it?” Lucifer appears between us, prying our hands apart so he can have Noah’s full attention.
“Where’s Grace?” Noah asks Lucifer, watching the
road where a kid toddles through the makeshift barrier on the opposite side of the street, his mother trying frantically to haul him out of the way.
It’s an odd question. Noah’s not usually concerned with Grace’s whereabouts, and with all that’s about to go on, I have to wonder where his head is at.
“She’s doing her job. I expect you to do yours.”
“I will do what I want, when I want. I am not one of your toys, Lucifer. I am your equal, and you need to start owning up to that.” Noah’s voice is quiet but dangerous. My eyes grow big, and I freeze like a deer caught in the crosshairs, unsure what to do.
But Lucifer just laughs and slaps him on the back. “Get it together. Are you up for this or not?”
“Oh, I’m up for it all right. Because it helps my own plans come to fruition.” Noah grabs my hand again and tugs me to his side where I stand awkwardly, still unsure of what to do.
“We can discuss this later. This is not the right time or place.” Lucifer’s smile has faded, and his expression carries a threat.
“Who’s Corbin Treymark?” Noah asks.
I’ve never heard that name before, but Lucifer’s smile returns and spreads like fire across his face. Laugh lines even appear at the corners of his eyes. “No one. Yet. But when your sister is done—or should I say when he’s done with your sister?—he’ll be the most heinous serial killer of all time.”
Every muscle in Noah’s body tenses to the point I think his veins may burst. His nostrils flare like a bull ready for a fight. If he were a Demon, his eyes would be glowing red. Lucifer pushed his button, but he’d been asking for it. What worries me is that he’s asking for a lot more, and I’m afraid he’s going to get it.
I put a hand carefully on his shoulder and rub. I want to scream at him that Lucifer’s doing this to make him unbalanced and that he shouldn’t react, but I can’t. Lucifer can’t hear me help Noah at his expense. It would be back to the Pit, and I’d never see Noah again.
Lucifer leans in to me like he’s going to kiss my cheek and whispers in my ear. “Dump him. Now. Before the assassination. Make it good.”
He winks, slaps us both on the backs, and disappears into the crowd.
“You need to go help Grace,” Noah says when I lean in close. Tears burn my eyes. He’s not exactly thinking clearly right now. Will he understand I’m doing this because Lucifer told me to?
Does it matter? Either way, it’ll fuel his anger, and nothing good can come of it. What if it throws him so off balance that he screws up the assassination? What if he gets hurt or arrested? Lucifer will have to fix it, right? For his own plans to succeed, he’ll have to. But the thought doesn’t convince me.
How do I do this? How do I convince Lucifer without hurting Noah?
“I’m not here to help Grace. Whatever she’s gotten herself into, she’s done to herself. She can’t die anyway. And since when do you care what happens to her?” I get that unsettling queasy feeling again—the guilt—but I push it down and away. Grace probably does need help, but there’s nothing I can do for her right now.
“That was an order.” Noah’s words are sharp, and they cut like knives.
“Lucifer will have a fit!” I protest. I can’t believe he just barked an order at me. Like I’m his…his minion.
“I don’t care what that son of a bitch thinks. Grace has had enough.”
“I see. So you do care about little Gracie.” I fold my arms. The words come easily, but there’s more of that sickening guilt hurting my stomach. “Poor, sweet, little, helpless Grace. Keira can just go get murdered as long as Grace is spared a bit of discomfort.”
“Keira!”
“You know what you are?” I ask, letting myself cry. The last thing I want to do is hurt Noah, but if I disobey Lucifer, he’ll never let me see him again. Whatever I say now is fixable. An eternity in the Pit isn’t. “You’re just a little human. You want to be more than you are because you want to live up to your sister’s legacy. But you aren’t cut out for it. You’re boring. In fact, I’m done with you. I’m sick of the whole Grace thing, and I’m out.” Each word is like a bullet in my own heart because I know exactly how much they hurt him.
Noah catches my arm and spins me back toward him, nearly pulling me off my feet. He leans over and whispers in my ear much like Lucifer did.
“You will do what I say because I am your master, too, and I order it.”
My eyes close automatically to keep all the humans around from seeing my nature. Pain sears through my brain along with my anger. He is my master, whether I want to admit it or not. I thought he’d never do this, though. I believed he loved me enough not to. I’m such a fool.
“Or what?” I hiss, pulling away from his grip. “You’ll send me to the Pit? Set me on fire? Make me relive my death?” I spit each possibility at him. I’ve shared all these experiences with him in the false safety of his arms. Will he use them against me now?
I chance a glance at his face. He’s gone white but trembles with barely controlled anger. Suddenly, I’m terrified of what he’s going to say and sure I don’t want the answer. I can’t bear to have him threaten me with his power. I can’t bear to see him turn into Lucifer. “Never mind,” I whisper in a cracked voice. “I’ll do what you ask. Your wish is my command.”
I make myself invisible with a flourish of my hands and black smoke, not caring who may be looking. I stay where I am a minute longer, watching. Noah’s muscles twitch. His eyes dart toward the bushes where Emily’s just slid into place, her violin case masking the gun she’s planning on using. She’s dressed like one of the many band members in the parade.
Then I see it. He’s focusing his rage on her—like I taught him. He’s putting it on a “safe” target. Only she isn’t safe. She’s an innocent girl who has nothing to do with any of this.
Oh. My. Hell. Did I just worry about corrupting an innocent? No way. Still, I hate this. I hate this whole situation. Why does he have to be the damn Antichrist? I don’t care what he’s done—I still love him. It was my own fault for hurting him. He lashed out; it was the human thing to do. Hasn’t he already offered to make me his queen? All I want is to throw myself back into his arms and say I’m sorry, but I can’t. Lucifer would never allow it.
There has to be something I can do. And I realize: there is. Lucifer is distracted now; he won’t be watching me at such a crucial moment as long as I’ve apparently done his bidding.
I’m going to save you, Noah, I silently promise. Or at least get someone who can.
Chapter 20
Josh
My first priority is Grace. Maybe seeing her will calm me down a little. So I grab a soda and check on her via the magic view screen in my room.
What I find makes my blood boil. The can I’m holding explodes, sending fizzy cola all over the room. I don’t remember crushing it. All I can see is Grace’s terrified face as the soon-to-be-dead man looms over her with a knife.
Tommy Two barks to get my attention, and I shake myself. “Right, boy. I’m overreacting. She’s a Demon. She can take him out in a second. But…”
My eyes are like magnets drawn to the image of Grace struggling. My mind flashes back to the night I stood frozen and helpless in the snow outside, watching through a window as Cam prepared to torture her. Why is she going through this again?
Lucifer.
Of course it’s Lucifer. He’s trying to lure me down there.
And it’s going to work.
“Gotta go, boy. Don’t worry. I’ve done this before and walked right through the fires of Hell, so don’t worry about me.” Worry about that bastard.
The warm glow of Heaven surrounds me as I transport myself down directly to the hotel. I don’t trust Lucifer. All I know is I can’t stand to see Grace reliving her worst nightmare—our worst nightmare.
I’m about to burst through the door when Keira appears in my path.
“Get out of the way, or I’ll take you down, too.”
“Wait. Josh! I knew you�
��d come straight here to save Grace, but you have to help Noah! Lucifer—he just made me break up with him, and…and he just had a thing with his parents and, well, he glamoured a girl—an old friend of Grace, I think—to kill the governor. It’s starting, okay? He’s going to stop her. He’s going to kill her when she kills the governor. Josh, you have to stop it.”
Is this a trick? I’ve never seen Keira look this earnest, but she is a good actress. Either way, I have to save Grace. She’s my priority. I can’t even touch Noah, anyway.
“Out of the way.” I push forward, and Keira dodges aside but grabs my arm, tugging me back with all her Demon strength.
I glance back over my shoulder, annoyed. Then we both look down at her hands—her bare hands on my arm. Nothing’s happening. She isn’t burning.
She smiles. “You believe me. Then go!”
“No. It doesn’t matter if you’re telling the truth. I can’t touch him, and Grace is in there with a psychopath!”
“So don’t touch him then! Touch other people. Just do something! Grace would want you to save Noah. She can’t actually die, you know.” Keira’s let go and regained some of her old self-confidence.
I squeeze my eyes shut. Damn it. She’s right, of course. But I can’t leave Grace with this madman—she may not be able to die again, but she can still feel pain. “If I try to save this girl from Noah, then you have to save Grace.”
“Me? I can’t. Lucifer will have my hide. I was just in the Pit for an hour, and I can’t go back.” She’s panicking, eyes darting around as she backs into the wall.
“Enough of this.” I throw out my hand, and the door of the hotel room goes flying inward.
Keira jumps but cowers in the corner as I stride inside.
They’re gone.
“Where’d they go?” I ask, searching the room. Pictures of Grace are all over, most with the eyes burned or cut out. I pick one up and bile rises into my throat. The magic should have brought me to the right place.
“They have to be close by,” Keira says from the doorway. “I’ll do it, okay? But you have to go. Now!”
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