That Old Black Magic

“Looks like everything worked out,” Theo said.

“I can’t phase right now.”

“No, you can’t. I wanted to talk first.”

“You can control my ability to phase?” Darrak’s eyes narrowed. “Andy’s going to shift back to human any minute. It’ll kill him if he’s still here.”

“Then we should probably talk fast.”

Darrak got a sinking feeling. Well, more of one. “What do you want?”

Theo smiled. “World peace. Happy children smiling and dancing together. Love and harmony for all.”

“I’m still demon enough for that adorable image to make me gag a little. Cut the shit, whoever you are. What do you want from me specifically?”

“You’re a nobody, you know that, Darrak?” Theo’s expression didn’t change. “How do you feel about that?”

“Is this a trick question designed to make me slam my fist into your stomach really hard? Because that can be arranged.”

“It wasn’t meant to be an insult, believe it or not. More like an observation. You were created from nothing but hellfire and now you stand before me as a new creation — demon and angel combined. How does that feel?”

“It’s a bit itchy around the collar, but I’m sure after a couple washes it’ll soften up.”

Theo’s smile held. “You cover your fear and uncertainty with humor. It’s as charming as it is annoying.”

“Everybody’s a critic.”

“Answer me truthfully, Darrak. How does it feel to be what you are now, having come from your very specific beginnings?”

He was about to say something snarky, some quip to amuse himself, but after everything that had happened he wasn’t feeling much like joking around. This thing in front of him wanted answers and he was somehow in control of Darrak’s phasing ability, which was the only way they could get out of here in one piece.

If they stayed much longer Andy would succumb to his shift, and a human couldn’t survive here. It might look like an urban landscape, but it was far from it. Andy would burn up in about two seconds flat.

Andy had helped Eden on her journey. Darrak would be forever in his debt for that. If Eden hadn’t arrived when she did, he had no doubt that he’d be long gone by now.

He’d faced the Void and lived to tell the tale.

So instead of a joke, he chose to answer Theo with the truth.

“What does it feel like to be changed from what I’ve always been? It scares the hell out of me.” He snorted. “Literally scares the Hell out of me. I’m changed inside and out, but if I had the chance to go back to what I was before… I wouldn’t take it. I am exactly who I was meant to be, and it’s all thanks to Eden. I love her with every fiber of my being, and if you make a move to hurt her I promise you I’m still demon enough to turn you inside out. And trust me, that can get very messy.”

Theo leaned against the wall behind him. “Yeah, that’s basically what I thought.”

“Great. Now are we done with this little tete-a-tete? Have you gotten what you wanted out of me? Can we go now? I have something I need to deal with as soon as possible.”

Destroying Lucifer. He’d always enjoyed a challenge and this was as challenging as it got.

“Attempting to throw Lucifer in the Void sounds a bit risky,” Theo said.

Darrak froze. “Excuse me?”

“Mind reading.” Theo shrugged and tapped his temple with his index finger. “It helps me in oh so many ways.”

Even Lucifer couldn’t read minds. “Who the hell are you?”

“You keep asking that question. It’s really cute.” Theo smiled. “Just so you know, Lucifer won’t be easily beaten. You should know exactly what he’s capable of. But even he will succumb to the Void if you’re successful. He’s not invincible. And he’s not half as smart as he thinks he is. His mind can be manipulated just like anyone else’s.”

He was taken aback by Theo knowing his very dangerous plans. “If he takes Eden’s angel side, am I right? Will she be lost to me?”

“Not all at once. But soon and forever.”

Darrak’s jaw tightened and he cast a glance toward the gaping mouth of the Void. “Then Lucifer has to be destroyed. There’s no other choice.”

“You certainly seem as if you have the drive to do exactly what you’re saying. There have been attempts to destroy him before, but no one has yet succeeded. He doesn’t let many get close to him lately. But you’re an exception. He likes you.”

Darrak laughed. “Yeah, right. We’re best pals.”

“You’re different from the others, and he respects that. You’re something he created out of nothing, but you’ve taken on a life of your own and a strong, individual personality has evolved. You’re a being of passion and conviction. You were always meant for this, Darrak. It just took you a long time to get here.”

It sounded like a compliment on the surface, but it didn’t sit well with him. This entity using Theo’s face knew him too well, could even read his mind. He didn’t like that at all.

“What do you want me to say?” Darrak asked.

“If Lucifer is destroyed, Hell will be without its prince.”

“Don’t worry. He already has someone lined up.”

“Pretenders to the crown. There are many who would love to take his place — they’d line up for the chance at that kind of power. But none are worthy. There’s a reason a former angel rules Hell, you see. Yes, Lucifer was prideful and not fond of humans, but he was a shining star from the very beginning.” Theo smiled. “That’s his name, you know. The bringer of light. That was why he was needed; why he was created. But he’s forgotten this and now wallows down here in the muck feeling sorry for himself.”

“That sounds like him.” Darrak thought about his many unpleasant dealings with the prince. “Crybaby. Muck-wallower.”

“It’s not an easy job — quite possibly, the most difficult job in the universe for a being of pure light. I don’t entirely blame him for seeking a way out.”

Darrak glanced at Eden. The thought that she’d have to hand over her angel side to Lucifer was too much for him to bear.

“She can’t hear us right now,” Theo said.

Darrak’s attention returned to him. “Why not?”

“Because what I need to ask you, what I need you to agree to, is not something she can know. Not right now.” He was quiet for a moment. “Do you know who I am now, Darrak?”

Darrak studied the face of the demon he’d known for his entire existence. But this wasn’t really Theo. Not even close.

“Yes, I do.”

Even to him, he sounded a bit breathless.

“When Lucifer is destroyed, I need you to agree to take his place.”

Darrak’s throat tightened and he couldn’t speak for a moment. Very unlike him. “You want me to be the Prince of Hell.”

“You have proven to me that you’ve changed. You have enough darkness in you still to not let this place or the shadows here drive you insane. But you now have enough light to make you the perfect, levelheaded choice to maintain and control the balance down here.”

Darrak couldn’t remember anyone ever calling him levelheaded before. “I can’t do that.”

“But it was what you and Theo once planned, wasn’t it? To rule Hell together. To take over each demon lord’s throne until you managed to seize control of them all. It would have been quite the coup if you’d succeeded.”

“We never would have succeeded. Lucifer knew too much.”

“You’re right. But he doesn’t know this. His head is full of plans for the future once he takes Eden’s angelic energy.”