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I can't handle this, I thought. Then, I have no choice.
I finally managed to clear my throat. "Hi," I said quietly. "I'm Da
She watched me for a few more seconds before she responded. "I know," she said, in a clear light voice. "He told me you would come."
My mouth was dry and smooth as glass. This wasn't normal for a kid.
Like I knew what was normal for a kid. I never spent any time with children if I could help it. "Who told you?" I managed. "Santi—ah, um, your daddy?"
She nodded, her pale hair falling forward over her face. "He said he was my daddy," she confided, "but I don't think he was. My real daddy talks to me inside my head at night. He has green eyes and a green stone like me and he told me you would come for me. He said he would send you."
She seemed to expect some sort of reply. It was obvious who her "real daddy" was. Either Lucifer had some way of communicating with her, or she was precognitive, or… My brain stopped sorting through alternatives. It didn't matter. Lucifer already knew about the kid, I'd bet. I'd also bet that Lucifer had known about Santino's "samples." Or if not known, guessed. The Prince of Hell was no fool.
Why then had Japhrimel promised not to tell him?
"I promised your mommy I'd take care of you," I said rustily. Oh, gods, Da
The little girl nodded solemnly. "You're not like them." She pointed at the front of the hover, where Jace and Eddie conferred in low worried tones. "You're not like my real daddy either."
"I hope not." I shifted uncomfortably in the seat, the spaceblanket crackling as I moved. "What's your name?"
"I'm Eve," she said, matter-of-factly. I flinched. Of course, I thought, and watched as her dimples came out. She smiled at me. "Can I have some ice cream?"
"I don't think we have any, kiddo." Japhrimel had to live on blood, or sex, or fire, I thought. What does this girl eat? Oh, you an not ready for this, Da
The hover circled slightly, and began to drift downward toward Jace's mansion.
"Um, Da
I hauled myself up, and the little girl pushed her blanket off and shimmied down from her seat. She held her small perfect hand up. "Can I come, too?" She wore a short white babydoll nightie, and her chubby feet were bare. I fought the urge to pick her up off the hover's cold metal deck.
"Okay," I said, and took her hand. It was warm in mine—a demon's touch.
Like Japhrimel's. Was he dead? Or had Santino's men taken him? What could they do to him? Was he injured?
I made my way up to the front, holding the girl's hand. "What's up?" I peered out the front window.
"Take a look." Jace glanced up at me. "How's the kid doing?"
"She seems okay," I replied.
Below us, the familiar blocky outlines of Jace's mansion grew larger as the hover slowly dropped. On the wide marble expanse of courtyard in front, two sleek limohovers crouched, and four police cruisers.
"Fuck me," I breathed, forgetting the child's small hand in mine. "What the hell?"
"I was hoping you could tell me," Jace said. "I'm incorporated and operating under codes, so I'm fairly sure they're not here to roust me."
"Sekhmet sa'es." I was too tired to come up with a good plan. "No chance they're here for you, Eddie."
"'Course not, unless they'd like to arrest Gabe for fucking almost dying," he said, with no apparent growl in his voice. He must be exhausted. "What do we do, Da
I wish they would stop nominating me as the idea man, I thought. "Nothing else to do," I said. "Drift on down and land, but keep the motor ru
"Of course," he said. "What do you want me to do, Da
"Stay here with the kid," I answered, glancing down at Eve. The little girl looked up at me, as if I were the only person in the hover. "If they take me, get the kid somewhere safe and wait for me to show up."
Jace swung out of his chair, not even bothering to argue with me. I felt a weary relief. Was it normal to feel this way? So tired, but unable to sleep.
No sleep. Not until I finished this game. And it was a game, I'd been pushed from square to square all along.
I took the child back into the hold and settled her back into the chair, tucking the blanket around her again. When I finished, Jace was standing by a crate of supplies, a strange expression on his face. His hair curled into a halo, drenched in ice water and then dried in climate control. I probably didn't look very good either.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said. "Let me find a commlink."
Eddie piloted the hover down. We landed with a thump. "Sorry," he called back. I slipped the commlink in my ear, settled my wrinkled coat on my shoulders, made sure my knives were easy in their sheaths. My right hand ached deeply, all the way down to the bone. If I were still human, I might be maimed.
I knelt down in front of Eve, who watched me with Doreen's eyes. "I've got to go talk to whoever this is," I told her. "You stay with Jace until I get back, okay?"
She nodded. "It will be all right, Da
"Great," I answered grimly, and stood up. The ground swayed underfoot, or maybe it was just me. "Jace, I want you to promise. Promise you'll take care of her if I—"
He shrugged. "You know I will, Da
I nodded, then Eddie popped the side hatch. I hopped down to the marble, almost losing my balance. The heat hammered at me, Nuevo Rio back to its old, bad, su
One of the limohovers opened its side hatch. A set of steps folded down.
I swallowed. I had a fair idea of what could be waiting in there.
I strode across the burning white marble and toward the sleek black hovers, trying to keep my shoulders straight and wishing I wasn't dirty, bloody, air-dried, and so close to crying my throat ached keeping it all in.
CHAPTER 52
The inside of the limo-hover was done in all different shades of red. Crimson, cardinal, burgundy, magenta, carmine, lobster—I blinked, stepping onto plush carpet at the top of the stairs. The air swirled with the smell of demon, smoky musk, and I took a deep breath. It was as if I hadn't been breathing until now. Whatever demons used for air, this hover was full of it.
That's why she smells familiar, I realized with no real surprise. She smells like him. Like Lucifer.
The Prince of Hell lounged elegantly on a huge circular red-velvet couch, his booted feet crushing the velvet. I gave the surroundings a tired glance—wet bar, tinted windows, doors probably leading to a bathroom and a private bedroom. There was a sunken tub in one corner, bubbling and frothing with a clear viscous fluid that didn't look even remotely like water.
Lucifer's golden hair burned among the redness. He was dressed, of course, all in black silk, loose elegant pants and a long-sleeved, Chinese-collared shirt. The walls were done to look like expensive red damask wallpaper, and heavy velvet drapes muffled every sound.
I swallowed. "The decor sucks," I said, too tired for any bowing and scraping. I cradled my right hand in my left—it was really starting to throb as adrenaline wore off.
"Good afternoon to you, too," Lucifer replied, his voice stroking and tapping at my ears. A thrill like old tired fire ran through me—I was too exhausted to really respond to him. If I'd had any more energy I would have been worried about it. "Have you brought me the Egg?"