"Yeah, like you should be every day." He tilts his head and his blue eyes begin to glow.
That's not threatening at all, is it? My body stiffens and I lift my chin. "Don't worry, I am. So, is that where the flame is?" I need confirmation from someone. It looks like Hell in my vision, but I can't promise it is. "In Hell?"
"What's in it for me?" He sits his glass down on the table and leans back.
Is he being serious right now? "I thought you wanted me to find the flame?" Demons are freaking frustrating.
"Oh, I do, but we haven't entered into any sort of additional agreement." He leans back and crosses his arms placing them behind his head. "So, I don't see how this works to my favor at all."
"If it is in Hell and you confirm it, it would get it out of Satan's control." If what the low demon said is true, he and Satan are kind of at each other's throat. Maybe that will give him the motivation he needs to do it without any additional promises on my end.
"Yeah, but Satan can't control it." He lowers his arms and leans forward. "That's the beauty of it all. If I can get a piece of one of the artifacts, I will be stronger than him period."
Shit, they really are going up against each other. How stupid. "Can't you just tell me if it's there? I really don't want to get in this little feud you have going with him."
"I'll tell you, for a price." He scratches the back of his neck and lets out a sigh. "Becca hasn't been doing well at all. Her soul is getting more fractured by the minute. You should have seen her earlier. It was bad."
Of course, he knows I feel responsible for her and that she looks like Beth. He knows what he's doing. I hate it, because I hate she's going through this and I wish I could save her. I did bring her back to life when I was supposed to reap her. I brought her into this mess.
"If you let me have a piece of all three artifacts, I'll not only continue to protect her like I have been, but I'll fix her soul." He stares me in the eyes and nods. "I know how to. All you have to do is shake on it."
"That's not possible. The other two artifacts are part of me now and the third will be as soon as I touch it." Is he delusional now? What is he expecting?
"We can figure out a way to make it work." He stands and comes within a foot of me. "All I need is your word. Then I can tell you how to find the flame and the easiest way to get it."
I want to say yes, but he's manipulating me like all the times before. He has an ulterior motive, and at the end of the day, he's not helping me at all. And even though I may have brought Becca into this, it wasn’t on purpose. I didn't mean to hurt her, I was trying to help. I take a deep breath and straighten my back. I square my shoulders and meet his gaze. "No. I cannot enter into any more deals with you."
11
The silence is deafening for a moment as he processes my words. I'm not sure how he'll react. I've always given in before, so I'm not quite sure what to expect.
Damien purses his lips and rubs a hand along his chin. "You're willing to risk Beth's soul?"
Did he go there? "You mean Becca's, right?" Is he admitting to something here? I'm so tired of all these games; it would be nice if I wasn't worrying that my queen was exposed.
"That's what I said." He arches an eyebrow and reaches down for his glass of whiskey.
"No, it is." I'm so tired of this song and dance. Yes, it used to work. I was still mourning my best friend's death. I was alone and isolated and didn't have anyone in my corner. Charlie changed that. I still miss her desperately, but I'm not seeing my dead best friend in Becca any longer. "Look, I don't have time for these games anymore. I've wheeled and dealed long enough with you. I'm not interested in it. If you aren't going to help, that's fine. I'll figure it out on my own."
He lifts his hand holding his cup in a salute to me then takes a long drink. "I never thought I'd see the day when you would become strong." He lowers his hand and the shadows come out and swarm him giving a haunting light. "It looks good on you. When someone goes through something like this, it either breaks them or makes them stronger. Every one I've seen, it's broken. Except for you. Maybe you have what it takes after all."
I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a pep talk, or he's trying to scare me back into submission, but either way, I'm standing firm. "Well, I'm not here to amuse or impress you. I'm here to do what I feel is right. And finding the flame isn't for you or the council. It's for me."
"I don't care what you're reasoning is." He shrugs and smirks. "I only care that you find it. The only benefit now is that I'm enjoying working with you. I despise dealing with weak individuals."
Oh goody. That's what I want to do. Make it where he enjoys dealing with me. Shit, maybe it was a bad idea coming here after all. "Speaking of Becca, I have been trying to reach her."
"Like I said earlier, she's not doing the best." He walks over to the bar area and sits his empty cup down on the counter. "But she should be visiting her
