Lucifer Damned (Morningstar Book 3) Read online

  Lucifer Damned

  Morningstar, Book 3

  Percival Constantine

  Contents

  Before You Start…

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Thank You!

  Get a free book!

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Also by Percival Constantine

  WHY DID LUCIFER REBEL FROM HEAVEN?

  FIND OUT IN THIS EXCLUSIVE BOOK, AVAILABLE FREE!

  Go to lucifer.percivalconstantine.com to see how Lucifer learned the truth and how he set out on the path of rebellion!

  1

  Andrew Greene had been having a good night. He came out to the Red Lion in Lincoln Square hoping for some good drinks, decent food, and with any luck, a chance for some female companionship. His boss had been on a tear on everyone in the office for the past week to finish their projects before the end of the quarter. Stockholders were getting impatient, which meant so were the higher-ups. And that led to crunch time for everyone else.

  But it was Friday and Andrew could at least put that out of his mind for the weekend. And he’d managed to do just that. Standing at the crowded bar and sipping a Guinness, he somehow found himself capable of beginning a conversation with Haley. She said she was a graduate student at the University of Chicago. Andrew had barely finished his undergraduate degree at Southern Illinois University, so right from the start it was obvious that Haley had the edge as far as intelligence was concerned.

  Fortunately, Andrew had felt renewed confidence thanks to a little bit of work he’d had done on himself. In the six months since then, he hadn’t had much luck, but tonight he was feeling good. Haley was in her early twenties with chin-length brown hair and green eyes. She had a great body and Andrew was starting to feel confident as she laughed at his jokes.

  “Hey…” she said, reaching her hand for her drink. But instead of taking hold of her glass, she brushed her fingers against his hand, which held his own beer. Andrew felt a charge and looked up at her. There was something about those eyes that he kept finding himself being swept up in. Her smile was different than before, a little more sultry. And then she said those words Andrew had been hoping to hear ever since he spotted her: “You wanna get out of here?”

  “Wh-what did you have in mind?” asked Andrew.

  Haley blushed and smiled as she looked down at the counter and swept a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Well…” She looked just slightly embarrassed when she leaned in closer and said in a softer voice, “my roommate’s out of town this weekend.”

  A tingle of feeling in Andrew’s lower regions responded to Haley’s invitation. When she made eye contact with him again and asked, “What do you say?”

  Andrew’s response was to finish what was left of his Guinness and set the glass down on the counter. “Where do you live?” he asked.

  Haley chuckled at his exuberance and finished her own beer. They left the counter and pushed through the crowded bar to reach the exit. Outside, the air was crisp. Despite it technically being spring, it sometimes took the Chicago weather a few weeks to catch up with the season. Haley shivered and Andrew jumped on the opportunity by wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

  “Thanks,” she said with a smile as she leaned her head against his chest. “I’m not far, just a little past Western.”

  Andrew smiled and the pair walked a few blocks down to the corner of Lawerence and Western. As they waited for the light to change, Andrew glanced around, suddenly feeling the odd sense that they weren’t alone. There were other people around, sure, but it was almost like they were being watched. Andrew looked at the people who waited at the light and further back down the street towards the bar. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

  The light changed and Haley pulled him to cross. He gave one more quick survey and then acquiesced. Once across the street, they went another block, but Andrew’s sense that they weren’t alone persisted. He tried to dismiss it as simple nerves and instead allowed Haley to take him down one of the side streets. She then pulled him into an alley.

  “C’mon, my building’s just down here. This is a shortcut, we can go in through the back.”

  “Yeah, sure…” said Andrew, still feeling the growing sense of dread. Better to get off the street quickly in case they were being followed. Last thing he needed was to get mugged right in front of Haley. He wasn’t much of a fighter and she’d likely feel humiliated if she saw him cower before some gang banger.

  Haley stopped right by the back gate of a small tenement. She grabbed Andrew by his jacket and slammed him against the bars. He was shocked at first, but then relaxed once she kissed him. Andrew’s hands found her back and he fell into the kiss. Haley’s body crushed against him and Andrew felt his body warming to her touch.

  “We should go inside…” he said.

  Haley nodded. “Yeah, inside.” She turned towards the gate and reached inside her purse, rummaging around for the keys. When she pulled them out and searched for the right one, but they slipped from her hands. “Damn, sorry. Butterfingers,” she said and knelt down to pick them up.

  Andrew was feeling impatient. Not only because he was excited for what was about to happen, but also because he still felt nervous for what might be out there. And as he looked around, he noticed a guy turn down the alley and start walking towards them. The man was tall and wore a knit cap pulled down to his brow, his chin tucked into his chest to maintain warmth. Not only was he tall, but his shoulders were broad. And there was something about him that made Andrew feel paranoid.

  “So…you got that door open yet?” Andrew asked.

  “Sorry, give me a sec,” said Haley. “This lock’s a little tricky, I keep telling the super to fix it, but he just says he’ll get to it soon.”

  The man was coming closer to them. And now he looked up, making eye contact with Andrew. It could have been a trick of the light, but something seemed strange with his eyes. There was almost a kind of flash Andrew could have sworn he saw, as if the eyes had glowed for just a moment.

  The man broke contact and continued on. Andrew let out the breath he’d been clutching and turned back to Haley. It was just paranoia, nothing more. He had to get himself together, didn’t want Haley to think he was some pussy who’d flinch at the first sign of a stranger.

  “Hey.”

  Andrew’s body stiffened when he heard the sound. He turned around and saw that same man walking towards him. The guy came closer, almost towering over him. Andrew swallowed hard and reached for the pocket that held his wallet, willing to just hand it over quickly.

  The guy’s hands were in his pockets. Slowly, he pulled one of them out. Andrew started to shrink down, fearing that it might be a knife or maybe even a gun. But what the man pulled out instead was just a pack of cigarettes.

  “You got a light?” he asked. “Think I dropped mine.”

  “Oh!” said Andrew, both surprised and relieved. “Sorry, I…uh…I don’t smoke.”

  “Prob’ly a good idea, bad habit,” said the man. “Anyway, you have a pleas
ant evening.”

  “You t—”

  Andrew’s response and his relief were both cut short when—much to his horror—Haley turned and pounced on the man with a noise that could not have been human. Instantly, her fingers were tipped with razor-sharp claws that tore open the stranger’s jacket and raked across his chest. He fell back on the ground and lay motionless. Haley turned to face Andrew and he was horrified when he saw the fangs in her mouth.

  “Holy shit!”

  “Hey, hey, easy,” said Haley, holding out her hand as her fangs and claws receded. “Look, okay, yes, I’m a vampire.”

  “So…that’s what this all was? You were just trying to lure me back to your place to bite me?”

  “What the hell kind of attitude is that?” asked Haley. “Oh right, just because I’m a vampire, that must mean I’m going to kill you?”

  “Well…yeah!”

  Haley scoffed. “Believe it or not, I actually like you—well, liked. Before I found out what a racist you are.”

  “Hold on, you’re actually offended by my reaction?” asked Andrew.

  “You’re a young white guy, wouldn’t you be offended if I assumed you were a serial rapist?”

  “That’s…that’s not even close to being the same thing!”

  “And after I saved your life from that creep, who by the way had been following us ever since we left the bar,” said Haley. “Y’know what, maybe you should just take your bigotry and go home.”

  Andrew’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “This is…insane.”

  “Maybe next time you shouldn’t judge people based on what you’ve seen in movies!”

  Haley slammed the gate behind her and went into the building, leaving Andrew just standing out there alone. He looked down at the body and jumped, almost forgetting it was still there. “Great, now what?”

  He turned back to the mouth of the alley and started walking towards it.

  “Uhhh, goddammit!”

  Andrew’s body froze. That voice was the same as the guy he just saw Haley killed. Slowly, he turned around and saw the man get back to his feet. He looked down at his tattered jacket and sighed. Then he glanced at Andrew while gesturing to the jacket. “You believe this shit? Brand-new fuckin’ jacket…”

  “What the hell is happening?”

  “Apologies for all that.”

  This was a new voice that came from above. Andrew looked up and saw a man perched on a nearby garage. He hopped off and landed flawlessly on the ground. He was tall and bald, dressed in a long coat.

  “My associate over there was just supposed to follow you, not engage,” said the new arrival.

  “And who are you?” asked Andrew.

  “My name is Belial,” he said, then nodded to the other guy. “That’s Erik.”

  “And how is Erik not…dead?”

  “I’m a lycan, kid,” said Erik. “Or, y’know, ‘werewolf’ if you wanna go with the normie description.’

  Andrew’s eyes went large at that. He turned to Belial. “So, does that mean you’re also a…a…”

  “A lycan? No. I’m just a demon,” said Belial.

  “Wh-what the hell is going on tonight?” asked Andrew.

  “The vampire was just some bad luck,” said Belial.

  “Yeah, sorry about that, kid. I thought she was actually going to bite you, so that’s why I stepped in,” said Erik.

  “So you guys are what? Monsters hunting monsters? Trying to protect humanity in an attempt to redeem yourselves or something?” asked Andrew.

  “No, actually, we’re here because you made a deal about six months ago,” said Belial.

  “This is about what I owe? So you’re saying you’re supernatural loan sharks?”

  “Basically, yeah,” said Erik.

  “A service was performed for you. You were given six months to pay what you owe,” said Belial. “I’m here to claim what’s due.”

  Andrew sighed. “C’mon, man. Can’t you just give me a little more time?”

  Belial removed his gloved hands from his coat pockets and cracked his knuckles as his eyes flashed yellow. “Do I look like a patient hellspawn, Mr. Greene?”

  Andrew sighed. “I mean…it’s just…things are rough out there…”

  “Perhaps you’d like to know what happens to deadbeats in Hell?” asked Belial. “I can show you, though I doubt you’ll find it a pleasant experience.”

  Andrew sighed and took out his phone. “Okay, just give me the account details…”

  Erik took out his own phone and walked over to Andrew. “I got you covered, kid. Let’s settle this now and then you can go home.”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  As the two performed the digital transaction, Belial looked at the apartment building Haley had retreated into. Vampires looking for actual one-night stands, sorcerers performing spells on demand, demons and werewolves acting as loan sharks. This was definitely a unique world he’d found himself in.

  “Okay, big guy, we’re all set here. Andrew’s gonna get himself home and probably jack off through tears to the soft, blue glow of his computer,” said Erik.

  “And my fee?” asked Belial.

  “Already taken care of, deposited right in your account,” said Erik.

  “Right…my account…” Belial reached into his pocket for the phone. He was still uncomfortable with this human technology, but he was starting to learn.

  “Oh, and I got a message from the boss,” said Erik. “He said if you need more work, he’d be happy to toss it your way.”

  “Thank you,” said Belial. “Out of curiosity, what kind of spell did Odysseus Black perform for the boy?”

  Erik chuckled. “You won’t believe this. Kid wanted a few extra inches below the belt.”

  Belial cocked his brow. “Penis enlargement? That’s what this was all about?”

  Erik shrugged. “Normies, man. What can I tell ya? Anyway, so about that extra work?”

  Belial sighed. “I suppose so.”

  “Your boss is okay with this, right?” asked Erik. “Mr. Black wouldn’t want to piss off the Morningstar or nothin’.”

  “No, it’s perfectly fine,” said Belial. “The Morningstar is…laying low for the time being.”

  2

  The bright-red Miata tore down Lake Shore Drive. The convertible top was down and the driver smiled as he felt the wind blow through his dark hair. A black-gloved hand reached for the shifter and he moved to a higher gear and stepped harder on the gas pedal.

  A scream came from the passenger seat. The driver looked at his companion, a young redhead in a short, black dress whose hands were clasped over her eyes. He peeled one of her hands away, looking back and forth between her and the road.

  “Come on, Isabel. What good is it riding in a car like this if you’re going to cower the whole time?” he asked.

  “C-can’t you slow down just a little bit, Luke?”

  Lucifer chuckled at her response and turned his attention back to the road, keeping just one hand at the top of the wheel. “Relax. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Doesn’t seem like it!”

  “Give me a little credit, okay? I’ve been driving for a whole month.”

  “…what?”

  Lucifer spoke louder so his voice would carry over the wind. “I said I’ve been driving for a whole month.”

  “I heard you, that was a ‘what the hell are you talking about’ kind of what! You only got your license last month?”

  “License? Who said anything about a license?”

  Isabel parted her index and middle finger to peer at Lucifer. “You don’t have a driver’s license?”

  “I know, and yet I’m still doing such a great job,” he said. “It’s amazing what you can learn from YouTube and Need For Speed.”

  “You mean you learned how to drive from a damn video game?”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  Isabel started screaming again, demanding that Lucifer stop the car. He sighed as he
weaved through the lanes, passing the slower vehicles.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be at my place in a few minutes. Then we can have a drink by the fire.”

  A high-pitched wail caught Lucifer’s attention. His eyes shifted up at the rear-view mirror, turning it to get a better view and saw flashing red and blue lights.

  “Oh look, we have company,” he said.

  Isabel pulled her hand away and turned around in her seat. She breathed with relief. “Oh thank Christ.”

  Lucifer frowned at the expression.

  Isabel turned to him. “So you’re gonna pull over now, right?”

  Lucifer glanced at her, then back at the mirror, and then once more at Isabel. The corners of his lips curved slightly upwards and Isabel felt a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach.

  “Oh no…please don’t tell me you’re gonna do what I think you’re gonna do…”

  “I think our friend wants a race,” said Lucifer.

  “No, no, no! No, he certainly does not!”

  “Consider it an act of kindness,” said Lucifer. “A way for the boys in blue to keep their driving skills sharp.”

  “Luke, no, don’t even think about iiiiiiii—!”

  The last syllable stretched into a scream as Lucifer took one of the exit ramps. He sped through the red light, pulling hard to the left. The Miata skidded through the intersection, with other cars swerving to avoid him. Before even stopping, Lucifer shifted and hit the gas again, and then took another left to get back on Lake Shore Drive, but this time heading south.

  To his credit, the officer managed to keep up, following Lucifer’s trail. Lucifer smiled as he watched the car in his mirror. He was on the far inside lane and sidling up beside another car. Lucifer moved ahead of the car beside him, and then, at the last minute, swerved in front of the middle car and across all the lanes. The cop inadvertently pulled ahead and Lucifer dropped back, slowing down just enough to get behind the cop.