'You appeal to me. In many ways.'
'Will I have to worship the Devil, too?'
That set him back. A grin creased his mouth, then he was roaring with laughter. He reached into his jacket pocket and removed a handkerchief made of the finest linen, wiping his eyes. 'So, Lana, dear, Black badly misjudged you, eh?'
'Black is an idiot, and you know it.'
'Only too well, my dear. I thought I had you convinced the other evening.'
'You were wrong. A lot of people usually are about me. But that doesn't answer my question.'
'I was under the impression you were a devout Christian.'
'I still have my virginity, Falcon, but as far as me being a Christian … I used to jack-off the preacher back home.'
That startled Falcon, and the warlock was not easily jarred. 'I beg your pardon?'
'Yeah, his wife didn't like sex, and he'd had the hots for me since I was about eleven. So we made a deal. I'd give him a hand job several times a week and he'd give me money. More money for a blow job.'
'You might have difficulty doing that with me.'
'Sucking you off, you mean?'
'Crudely put, but correct.'
'Nobody's that big.'
His smile told her she was wrong.
'May I see?'
'By all means.'
She opened his trousers and hissed at the sight, wrapping her soft fingers around the organ. 'You'd make some of those porn stars look like babies. You really expect to stick all that into me?'
'That I do, my dear.' He reached into an inside pocket and removed a medallion and gold chain. 'This one is a bit different from the others. Much more intricate in detail. If you'll be so kind as to release your grip from my penis, dear, I'll get a magnifying glass and you can see for yourself.'
She removed her hand from his penis. 'I'll take your word for it, Falcon. But you still have not answered my question.'
'I think you know the answer, Lana. Let's not be coy. After this half-hour of conversation, I feel I know you rather well. I don't believe your thoughts have been pristine and Christian for years. I don't believe you give one whit for any Christian God; so what does that leave you?'
'You're pretty sharp, Falcon.'
'More than you know, Lana. And were I you, I'd bear that in mind.'
'What do I have to do to get into your church … whatever you call it?'
'Put this medallion around your neck, renounce your God, and take the oath.'
'That's it?'
'It's a one-way trip, my pretty.'
'No returns, no exchanges,' she stated.
'That's how uncomplicated it is. The Christian God is very unyielding about other gods, Lana, and quite specific about worshiping the Prince of Darkness.'
'Big deal. I won't have to attend that stupid fucking college anymore?'
'No.'
'I get a car of my choice, money, clothes, a place to live—a nice place?'
'All those things, dear.'
'But it really means nothing to you, does it. Me, I mean.'
His shrug was noncommittal.
'And you're not the only one I'll have to screw, right?'
'You'll understand once you become one of us, Lana.'
She slipped the gold chain over her head, around her neck, the medallion gleaming dully between the mounds of her breasts. 'Oh, what the hell,' she said. 'Tell me what I have to say.'
The wailing had begun anew, with an added note of pain and horror that was increasingly difficult for Sam and Nydia to ignore.
Roma appeared at their open door, a smile on her red lips. 'Her name is Janet,' she said. 'Such a pretty little thing. And Karl is holding up quite well for a man his age. He introduced himself to her pretty little pussy at first, now he is experimenting with the back door. I don't believe she's enjoying it very much, do you? Pity. I always have.'
'I'll try it that way with you, Roma,' Sam said, ignoring the sudden look of fright of Nydia's face.
