Lucifer Damned (Morningstar Book 3) Read online

  Mara’s wings emerged from her back and wrapped around all four of them. They vanished in a flash of light, leaving the manager standing alone in the parking lot.

  “Now who’s gonna clean all this shit up…?” he wondered.

  7

  Referring to the area beneath Lust as a basement seemed like an understatement. To Lucifer, it looked more like a dungeon. There were shackles hanging from the walls, trays of sharp and blunt instruments, a shelf of chemicals, a collection of whips neatly coiled, and several other devices and instruments—the purposes of which Lucifer didn’t exactly want to imagine. In addition, there were even some containment cells.

  “You said Asmodeus used this room?” asked Lucifer.

  Mara had already fastened the hanging shackles on the unconscious Shem and now she was doing the same to Ham. “Yeah. Seems he would use it when he wanted to get some information out of someone.”

  “And you’ve found use for it, too?”

  “So far, I haven’t really had much cause to use this place,” said Mara. “Generally I don’t torture for fun, I do it when I have a purpose.”

  “I find that hard to believe. You certainly seemed enthusiastic about the prospect earlier.”

  Mara gave a soft chuckle. “I never said I don’t enjoy it. Just that when I do it, I want there to be a reason. Otherwise, it just doesn’t give off that same rush, you know?”

  “Not particularly. I never quite understood what it was the other demons loved so much about the act,” said Lucifer as he explored some of the cutting instruments laid out on a tray. “To me, it just always seemed a bit excessive.”

  “And yet, here we are,” said Mara.

  “Oh, we’re not going to torture them,” said Lucifer.

  Mara’s jaw hung so low, it looked as if it had come unhinged. She blinked at the revelation a few times, trying to grasp what she’d just heard. “I’m sorry, you said we’re not going to torture them?”

  “No,” said Lucifer. “You see, these two don’t strike me as elite warriors or anything. I have a feeling all we’ll need to do is provide them with some sufficient threats and they’ll tell us everything I want to know.”

  “But…” Mara pouted.

  “We’re not here for you to indulge in your sadistic tendencies. We’re here for information. And torture is hardly a reliable way to extract information.”

  Mara scoffed. “Well, now you tell me…”

  They waited in silence until their prisoners woke. Ham was sufficiently angered once he realized he was shackled and immediately began to tire himself out in futile attempts at escape. He tried swinging his arms and legs as fiercely as he could in hope of either breaking open or sliding out of the restraints. This went on for several minutes before he tired himself out and ultimately was left pushing his back up against the wall and panting. Shem made a few attempts of his own, but he gave up on the effort a lot sooner than his brother.

  “If you’re both finished, might we move on to business?” asked Lucifer.

  “Let me outta here and I’ll show you what sort of business we’ll conduct!” said Ham.

  “That’s a very optimistic worldview you have, Mr. Ham,” said Lucifer. “But Mara already kicked your ass once. Are you really so eager for an encore?”

  “I’ll die fighting to eradicate you from existence, Satan!”

  Lucifer clicked his tongue. “So droll. So clichéd. It’s really just sad.”

  “Why’d you bring us here anyway? Gonna torture us or somethin’?” asked Shem.

  Lucifer cocked his head in Mara’s direction. “If she had her way, that’s what we’d be doing. But I have other interests that take precedence. I’d like us to talk for a bit.”

  “You wanna have a chat?” asked Ham.

  “Precisely. I’d like to learn more about you two fine gentlemen. For starters, just how exactly you came to this line of work.”

  “That’s none of your business,” said Ham.

  “When you attacked me, Shem chided you for taking the Lord’s name in vain. And your names are Biblical, so I’m going to assume you had a strict religious upbringing. You also mentioned your father’s guild, plus the arsenal in your van suggests you have some connections,” said Lucifer. “I’d like to know just what guild you’re referring to.”

  “Why, so you can kill them yourself?” asked Ham. “I ain’t tellin’ you jack.”

  “How did you find out my location? Why did you assume you could wage an attack with just the two of you?” asked Lucifer.

  “You’re gonna have to torture me if you want me to talk,” said Ham.

  “That’s right!” Shem chimed in. “Because no way are we gonna tell you about the Redeemers!”

  Ham’s face contorted in a combination of embarrassment and anger. “Shem, you fucking moron!”

  “Redeemers, huh?” Lucifer moved from Ham over to Shem. “And who might the Redeemers be?”

  “Uhh…I dunno what you’re talkin’ about,” said Shem. “I’ve never heard of no Redeemers before. Maybe you’re just hearing things.”

  “They’re a fundamentalist militia,” said Mara from her position leaning against the far wall. “If I’m not mistaken, they mostly operate in the southern area of the state.”

  “Good work, Shem,” muttered Ham.

  “We don’t—I mean they don’t operate in the southern area,” said Shem, stammering to try to correct his error. “They’re in…umm…Los Angeles! That’s right, they moved out to LA ‘cause of all the…the sin…an’ demons…and…”

  “Just shut up and stop embarrassing us,” said Ham.

  “If the Redeemers had not only known your location but your current state, there’s no way they would have just sent these idiots,” said Mara. “You’d have a full-blown attack force coming down on you.”

  “Which means only you two knew,” said Lucifer, staring into Shem’s eyes. The thin fundamentalist squirmed under his gaze, trying to look away. Lucifer grabbed his chin and forced him to look into his eyes. “So tell me, Shem. How did just the two of you come across this information?”

  “Leave him alone,” said Ham. “He’s an idiot, he don’t know nothin’.”

  “I know plenty!” said Shem. “The angel picked us because—”

  “Dammit!” Ham hit the back of his head against the wall in frustration.

  “So, an angel told you,” said Lucifer. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

  He turned away from the pair and walked over to Mara’s side. They spoke in low voices so Shem and Ham couldn’t eavesdrop on their conversation. Lucifer first glanced back in the brothers’ direction and then faced Mara.

  “Something feels off about this,” he said.

  “You think they’re lying?” asked Mara.

  Lucifer shook his head. “I doubt it. Their reactions feel genuine. But something just seems strange about the whole set-up.”

  “How so?” asked Mara.

  “If an angel wanted me dead and knew I was powerless, why send those two? Especially when it was simple happenstance that they attacked while Belial was gone?”

  “You’re right, the Redeemers are no slouches—these two are the exception to the rule,” said Mara. “So they would send the experts, they wouldn’t go to just these two.”

  “There’s also the question of what would Heaven gain by killing me,” said Lucifer. “The Divine Choir enjoys having me as their boogeyman. Killing me would undermine that.”

  “Could be a rogue angel, not the first time one of them has gone insane,” said Mara.

  “True,” said Lucifer. “But this feels different somehow.”

  “So what now?”

  “Anael,” said Lucifer. “She knows about my condition—in fact, she was the one who first realized it. And Belial went to her for help when I was injured, but she refused.”

  “You think she’s responsible for this?”

  “I doubt it. Anael believes I should face culpability for my actions and that can’t happen
if I’m dead. And this kind of duplicity isn’t her style,” said Lucifer. “But it does seem like the kind of thing a lesser angel would attempt. The only question is who suddenly wants me dead? And why use Bill and Ted’s idiot cousins? Anael might be able to answer those questions for me.”

  “You’re not seriously thinking of going to her, are you?” asked Mara.

  “Of course not.”

  Mara breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. For a second, I was worried.”

  “No, I’m going to summon her,” said Lucifer. “That way, we can meet away from Uriel’s prying ears and I can find out what she knows. See if she was aware of what he’s been up to.”

  “I’m not so sure I like this plan, sire,” said Mara. “I understand the relationship you two once had, but you’ve been through a lot with each other just in the past few months.”

  “I know, but I don’t have a whole lot of options here, Mara,” said Lucifer.

  She sighed. “Fine, but you have to let me help you with it.”

  Lucifer nodded. “I was actually hoping you’d say that. Without my powers, my access to magic is a bit limited, too.”

  “One more thing, though.” Mara jerked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing back at Shem and Ham. “What about those two?”

  “Drop them off at the nearest police station,” said Lucifer. “That van of theirs is no doubt registered in one of their names and should have been picked up by the cops by now. And as I recall, Chicago has very strict gun laws. So let the humans deal with them.”

  “And you’re sure torture is out of the question?”

  “Please, Mara, just do as I ask,” said Lucifer. “And make it quick. It’s probably best if we summon Anael from my home instead of this place.”

  Upon returning to the mansion, Lucifer began the preparations for the summoning ritual. He painted a sigil on the floor in the basement and lined it with candles. Mara stood in the corner of the room with her arms folded, watching him go about his work with a sense of apprehension.

  She was no stranger to magic or summoning rituals, but the notion of summoning an angel left her feeling uneasy. There was no telling what would happen once Anael materialized in that circle. And though Lucifer assured her that Anael would be constrained within the boundaries, Mara still wasn’t very comfortable.

  Lucifer stood once he lit the final candle and did a final look at his work. He gave a nod and then glanced in Mara’s direction. “All set. I’m ready for your part in this.”

  Mara was apprehensive as she moved from the wall and over to the edge of the circle. “Have I mentioned yet that I don’t think this is such a good idea?”

  “You offered to help,” Lucifer gently reminded her.

  “I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the plan,” said Mara. “Maybe we should at least call Belial. Or some of the demons from Lust. Having some back-up isn’t a bad thing.”

  “I don’t want Anael to view this as some sort of attack,” said Lucifer. “Bad enough she’ll be restrained within the circle. Having a squad of demons gathered around could make her uncooperative.”

  Mara sighed but ultimately acquiesced. “Okay, what should I do?”

  “Get on your knees, facing the circle.”

  Mara moved to the circle’s edge and carefully got down first on one knee and then brought the other one in. She sensed Lucifer moving behind her and then she felt his fingertips gently touching the sides of her head. Lucifer started chanting in Enochian and Mara closed her eyes.

  Power started to flow from Mara’s body into Lucifer’s hands. He continued chanting the spell and the energy moved from the pair and into the sigil, which started to glow as it charged. The candles flickered and the intensity of the tiny flames grew.

  Within the circle, the air distorted and bright, blue lights started to flash. Wind started to blow, moving rapidly inside the confines of the circle and the sigil faded as a figure took shape.

  As the energy died down, the figure came into full view, kneeling in the center of the sigil, feathered wings wrapped around her form. She slowly rose to a standing position and looked at the two who stood before her. Anael tried to step forward, but found herself blocked by the invisible power of the mystic boundary.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” she asked. “This some sort of payback because I refused to help Belial after you were attacked?”

  “No, it’s got nothing to do with that,” said Lucifer. “Although now that you mention it, thanks ever so much for your lack of assistance. Truly, I was touched by how little you cared.”

  “It’s not my job to bail you out whenever you have to face the consequences for your own actions,” said Anael.

  “Never said it was. But a little aid when I was trying to do the right thing would have been nice.”

  “Ever consider that perhaps the right thing would be returning to the throne?”

  “I hate to interrupt your lover’s quarrel, but is this really the best use of our time?” asked Mara.

  Anael turned her attention to the demon and narrowed her crystal-blue eyes at her. “And who is she?”

  “Her name is Mara—” began Lucifer.

  “Please don’t use my name…” muttered Mara.

  “And she’s just here to help me, since my powers are still lost,” said Lucifer.

  “If not revenge, then why am I here?” asked Anael.

  “Because I was attacked,” said Lucifer.

  “Is that really a cause for surprise?”

  “Not exactly, but it is a cause for concern,” said Lucifer. “Especially considering that only a few individuals are aware of my present condition. So the question is how did two incompetent demon-hunters not only know my address, but also that I couldn’t defend myself?”

  Anael shrugged. “How should I know?”

  “Because you’re the one who sent them,” said Mara.

  Anael glared at the demon. “That’s quite an accusation. Would you be so confident making it if not for this barrier?”

  “We questioned them, we know their information came from an angel,” said Lucifer.

  “And so naturally you believed them and are now prepared to string me up,” said Anael.

  “I don’t see a flaw in this plan,” said Mara.

  “The flaw is that I had nothing to do with any attack on the Adversary,” said Anael.

  “Motive and opportunity,” said Mara, holding up a finger to count both points.

  “You’d also be wrong on both,” said Anael. “I’ve made it quite clear that my goal is to see the Adversary return to Hell. What exactly do I gain by having him killed?”

  “I have no idea, but I also don’t understand Tom Cruise’s scientology boner,” said Mara. “Cultist behavior has always been a mystery to me.”

  “And yet you worship the Devil,” said Anael.

  Mara’s eyes flashed with anger and hellfire began crackling around her fingers. Anael’s azure eyes responded with a similar display of power.

  “Go on,” said the angel. “Let’s see how tough you are when there’s not a magic wall for you to hide behind.”

  “Ladies, please,” said Lucifer. “Although it would be entertaining, there are unfortunately more pressing matters that take priority over a catfight.”

  “This is insanity,” said Anael. “You know me. You know that despite our differences, I have no desire to see you dead.”

  “I don’t think you’re responsible, Anael,” said Lucifer. “But I also don’t think whoever it is intended for me to be killed. Otherwise, there would be no reason to send two of the dumbest, most incompetent hunters I’ve ever seen.”

  “If you’re not blaming me for this, then why summon me? Why bind me like this?”

  “The barrier was just to keep you in place so I’d have a chance to explain. I didn’t want to run the risk that you’d fly off the handle.”

  “Fine, then how about taking off the locks?”

  “Oh, you can’t be serious…” said Mara. />
  “It’s fine,” said Lucifer. “If Ana says she’s willing to play nice, then I’ll take her at her word.”

  Lucifer knelt down beside the sigil and scraped off some of the paint with his fingernail. With the line broken, Anael was free to step out of the circle, her wings receding into her back as she did.

  “That’s better,” she said. “Now, why summon me?”

  “Even though I don’t think you’re behind this, you’re the only angel who knew of my condition,” said Lucifer.

  “You never considered that these two might have been lying?” asked Anael.

  “Even without my powers, I’m a fairly good judge of character. And these boys are too stupid to convincingly lie to me,” said Lucifer. “Besides you and Belial, the only other people who knew were a pair of government agents, and they have no reason to go to these lengths. So my question for you is did you tell anyone else about my condition?”

  Anael shook her head. “No.”

  Lucifer raised an eyebrow. “You’re certain of that?”

  “I think I would remember if I mentioned it in passing. You’re not exactly a topic I like to spend much time discussing.”

  “Fair enough,” said Lucifer. “But what about Uriel? He is your commanding officer, so to speak, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, but we have an arrangement. When it comes to the subject of the Adversary, he’s allowed me full autonomy. I haven’t told him anything about your condition.”

  “And why not?” asked Lucifer.

  “Because it’s frankly irrelevant,” said Anael. “Whether you’re powerless or not wouldn’t change the Choir’s position. They want you back in Hell, period.”

  Lucifer paused, dwelling on those words. They want you back in Hell. It was true, that’s what the Choir wanted more than anything else. The Devil to use as an existential threat to keep the other angels in line. And Uriel’s purpose was to see to it that Lucifer returned to Hell.

  “Of course,” said Lucifer. “Uriel sent them.”

  “What makes you say that?” asked Anael.