Lucifer Damned (Morningstar Book 3), Percival Constantine [electric book reader .txt] 📗

that? They weren’t really your family? You adopted or something?”

“No, it’s just…” Lucifer let out a breath as he tried to think of an easy way to explain it. “I was raised in a cult.”

“No way. You mean like some kinda Heaven’s Gate shit or something?”

“Yeah, something like that. Just without the mass suicide,” said Lucifer. “Anyway, I learned the truth—that we’d been lied to all our lives. And I tried to tell my brother about it.”

“Guessin’ he liked the taste of the Kool-Aid?”

“That’s one way of putting it,” said Lucifer. “He turned on me, had me expelled from my home, and we haven’t spoken since.”

“Anyone have your back?”

“There were some, but not the ones I truly cared about,” said Lucifer. “I lost my brother and I lost the woman I—a woman who was very special to me.”

“She was part of this cult stuff, too?”

Lucifer nodded. “Indeed she was.”

“So you haven’t talked to your brother. What about her?”

“We’ve been in contact,” said Lucifer. “Though seems each time we speak, things only seem to get worse. One step forward, two steps back.”

“Maybe you gotta just move on then.”

“Maybe you’re right. It’s something I’m trying to do now actually—leave all that in the past and move forward with my life as it is now.” Lucifer looked across at Jimmy. “Might be something you should consider as well.”

“Huh? When did this become about me?”

Lucifer shrugged. “You had people you thought you could count on and they turned their backs on you. Might be time to re-evaluate some of your relationships and where your life’s going.”

Jimmy frowned. “I dunno. I mean, not like I was all that keen on doing it in the first place. But at the same time…”

“You wanted to be one of the gang,” said Lucifer. “Trust me, I understand that temptation. But the wonderful thing about freedom is you have a choice to follow your own instincts. Might be time to consider what you want instead of what some friends who bail at the first sign of trouble want.”

The outer door to the cell block opened. A uniformed officer entered and walked over to the cell door. He opened it while staring at Lucifer. “Looks like you made bail.”

“Well, fancy that.”

Lucifer rose off the bench. Before he went to the cell door, he walked over to Jimmy and held out his hand. Jimmy looked up at the hand and into Lucifer’s eyes. For the first time, the teen noticed how strange the odd man’s eyes were—a kind of pale, faded yellow.

“Do yourself a favor and don’t mess around with guys who are going to run out on you,” said Lucifer. “Stick to your values and trust in those who truly have your back.”

“You sayin’ that for me or for yourself?” asked Jimmy.

Lucifer shrugged. “Maybe both of us.”

“All right, I’ll try.” Jimmy shook Lucifer’s hand.

Lucifer gave him a parting smile and then walked out of the cell. The officer locked the door and led him from the block over to a gated booth where an officer inside produced Lucifer’s valuables and some forms on a clipboard. After signing for his belongings, the officer escorted Lucifer to a waiting room where Belial was waiting.

“You’ve made bail, but you’ve gotta show up at your court date,” said the officer. “Failure to appear will result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.”

“Understood,” said Lucifer and he took the court documents provided by the officer. He left the officer’s side and walked over to Belial, whose face remained stoic.

The two left the station in silence and went out to the parking lot. A car pulled up to the curb and Belial opened the door for Lucifer, who climbed into the car first. Belial followed, sliding into the seat next to him.

“Thank you, Erik,” said Belial.

“Why did you come by car?” asked Lucifer.

“I was with Erik when I got your call. He felt it was best if he drive me. Might look suspicious if we walk out of the station and duck into an alley to teleport away,” said Belial.

“Good thinking,” said Lucifer. “And you, Erik? What’s your business?”

“I work for Mr. Black, sir,” said Erik from the driver’s seat.

“Ah, right.” Lucifer leaned back against the seat cushions and glanced in Belial’s directions. “You’re still running errands for Odysseus?”

Belial nodded. “The human world requires currency. So long as you remain powerless, we must earn some.”

“There are other ways, you know,” said Lucifer. “You could always knock over a bank.”

“I’d prefer something lower profile,” said Belial.

The rest of the drive was silent. Eventually, Erik pulled up to the large mansion in Evanston’s Lakeshore Historic District. Lucifer got out of the car first and went to the front door. He started to unlock it, then noticed Belial was still standing by the driver’s side door, speaking with Erik. But without access to the heightened senses his powers once granted him, Lucifer had no way of knowing what the two were discussing.

Eventually, the conversation finished and Belial joined Lucifer at the door. The demon said nothing as Lucifer opened the door and let them both in.

“What, no lecture after bailing me out, Dad?” asked Lucifer by way of a joke.

Belial removed his trench coat and hung it in the closet. He ascended the staircase without another word. Lucifer just watched him go and then went into the library to fix himself a drink.

Although Belial seemed to have a chip on his shoulder over the past few weeks, Lucifer still enjoyed this new arrangement he’d found for himself. Yes, he was powerless. But for the first time in his entire life, he felt truly free. And that was worth whatever silent treatment his right-hand demon would give him.

3

After his eyes slowly opened, Lucifer sat up in bed and reached across to the clock on the nightstand. The time was just past noon. He slid his legs over the edge of the mattress and climbed out of bed. Lucifer went to the door and removed the red silk robe