Soon I find myself right where he is, and the ground hardens under my feet and the wind slows around me. When it dissipates, I find Damien standing in front of the couch, in his human form wearing nothing but underwear, screaming at the television.
"Oh, come on. That was a fumble." He throws a hand up that's holding a bag of potato chips and some fly out and land on the floor. "I swear this game is rigged. I'll take care of the ump later tonight if he doesn't get his head out of his ass."
Never in a million years did I imagine I would witness something like this. Who would have thought demons were this passionate about football? "Did I catch you at a bad time?"
He turns around and his blue eyes widen. "How the hell did you get here?"
For the first time ever, I've thrown him off kilter enough for him to show surprise. Is it sad I want to gloat? "I have my ways. Aren't you all-knowing?"
"Well, in fact, I'm pretty close to that so I'll take it." He picks up the remote and pauses the game. "So, it seems you've learned a lot since the last time we saw each other. To what do I owe the pleasure to your visit?"
And just like that he's trying to get cocky and regain control of the situation. I can't allow that. He's had that far too long. "I need more information, but first, I need you to get your clothes on."
"Oh, please." A huge smile fills his face and he lays the chips on the table. "You're not innocent any longer, so what's the big deal?"
How the hell can he know that? Does he have some kind of radar? "I'm not quite sure what you're referring to."
"I bet Charlie is a happy man today." He chuckles and takes a step closer to me.
My natural instinct takes over and I take a step back, countering his move. "This conversation is irrelevant. Please, go change. I want to talk about the flame which is something I thought you'd be invested in discussing."
Some shadows swarm out from around him, but after a moment, he begins retreating. "Fine, but only because we do have business to discuss. I'll be back in a moment."
As he walks out of the room, I take in my surroundings. The room is large with dark tan walls. There is a large flat screen television hanging in the middle of the room with a leather sectional against the opposite wall framing it. To the left of where I stand is a huge bar area filled with various liquors and wines. This is most men's dream bachelor pad. I'm sure Damien made sure he had the best of the best.
Even if Becca wasn't having a hard time with her soul, I bet she would still be struggling as a normal person being around all this temptation. What kind of predicament did I put her in?
"So, do you like what you see?" Damien comes back in jeans and a black shirt.
"You have a very nice set-up here." I can't lie about that. It is nice.
"Thanks, it was hard running the man who owned it off." A sordid smile crosses his face. "But it was fun and worth it."
There is no telling what he did to that poor man. "Where is Becca?"
"She's out running some errands." He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms.
Guess I'm not getting anywhere with that question. "So, are you ready to talk?"
"Sure, you came to me." He enters the room, darkness shrouding him and walks over to the bar filling up a glass with whiskey. "Would you like some?"
Oh, no. There is no way I would drink some of that alone with him. "No, thanks. So, what can you tell me about the flame artifact?"
He takes a sip of the drink and places it down. "Well, it's hot for starters."
I may wind up slapping him if he's going to be a smartass the whole time. "I kind of figured that since flame is in the name."
"Hey." He raises a hand up and laughs. "You never know."
Whatever, I guess he has a point, but I already know it's hot. “Are you going to continue playing games with me?"
"But it's so fun." He swirls his drinks around, the ice cubes clinking together.
"What is hell like?" I don't want to get too flustered. He'll keep on and know he's getting to me.
"It's hot and volatile." He takes a sip of his drink again. "The first few layers are protected the same ways, but inside that's different. It's unpredictable which, in a way, makes it predictable."
"What does that mean?" This conversation is not helping at all.
"The Cerberus guards the Gates of Hell." He sits on the other end of the sectional and crosses his ankles. "That never changes."
"That's the three-headed dog, right?" If I remember from my classes, that shouldn't be that horrific.
He shakes his head. "You didn't pay attention in school much, did you? It's a three-headed dog with a serpent's tail, mane of snakes, and a lion's claws. No one has ever made it past."
Shit, maybe I just was trying to block the rest of it out. How am I supposed to get by something like that? I don't see how even training will prepare me for something like that. "Okay, let's say I find a way, what's next?"
"See that's when it'll get unpredictable." He chuckles and scratches at the back of his neck. "Just know it'll be lots of demons, fallen angels, and volatile land masses. The good thing you have on your side is you have the earth and angel's breath artifacts."
That's true. I hadn't thought of it like that.,But whenever my powers get used now, they begin to spiral a little out of control. I won't be
