the headboard. I took another step back. Black shining sheets, like bat wings covered the blood red mattress.
He strode to the bed, morphing into a tailored tuxedo he produced a tray. Champaign and two tall goblets appeared. He sat on the edge. The bed bent with his weight as he stretched onto his side. He smoothed his hand on the spot next to him and smiled seductively at me. “Sit, my love. Sit and visit a while.”
“Oh, you’re good, but not good enough. You could have killed my friend. I’m not entertaining you, Lu. Get that through your head.”
He shrugged and poured the Champaign into the glasses. “Oh?” He looked at me. “Pity.” His eyes landed on a spot behind me and I turned.
Revulsion had me staggering back several steps. “Oh my God!” I threw my hand over my mouth again, this time fully prepared to vomit. “Hurp.” My mouth flooded with saliva and my eyes watered. “Is that Lydia?” I choked out in a sob and grabbed my stomach. I swayed and he was suddenly there, holding my weight as my knees gave way.
“It was Lydia.” He spoke close to my ear and I flinched, knowing that he could do such a thing was just another reminder. “She hurt you, my darling. She had to be punished. I thought you would be pleased?” He frowned, lifting my limp body; he carried me to the bed.
Over his shoulder, I could see the horror that was once Lydia. She had been nailed to the wall at her shoulders and her body was flayed of all of its flesh. Her head had been removed and placed into her hands, as if it were some sort of satanic offering.
“You’re disgusting! How could you?” Once on the bed, I rolled onto my side. Tears flowed. I knew she was a demon. I knew she was his to do with as he pleased, but nothing living deserved that.
He crawled onto the bed beside me and tried to pull me to him. I jerked wildly and shot off the opposite side of the bed. “Are you kidding me?” I screeched. “I wouldn’t touch your horrible, evil body with a ten foot pole!”
He sat up and smiled. “Why do you always resist? I know you, Grace. You always desire the bad boy. The man who takes what he wants. I see it in so many. That excitement you feel when no one else but you can pet the beast. A woman thrills in the triumph of taming the animal. It’s exhilarating is it not? Well, my darling, I am the bad boy and I promise to let you pet me as long as you wish.”
“You know nothing about me.”
He frowned, “What must I do to get a kiss?” He leaned on his elbow. “Ah, how about this?” He smiled and I followed his gaze once more.
Patrick Camden appeared beside Lydia. His wrists were wrapped with chains, he whimpered as he dangled from the ceiling. He was alive and scared shitless. Panic filled his eyes as he gazed at what was once Lydia. His body swung and grazed Lydia’s decapitated head, sending him into full on hysteria.
I turned and glared at Lucifer. “You wouldn’t dare!” I challenged. “He is a living man, not a demon!”
Lucifer smiled. “He sold his soul, precious. He is mine to do with as I please. Besides, didn’t he plan on kidnapping you? Raping you until he had you fat with his mewling pups?”
I swung my head in Patrick’s direction. His deep brown eyes were filled with tears and he shook his head frantically. Struggling in his bonds, he whimpered.
“No.” I turned.
Lucifer’s eyebrows rose. “No?”
“No, I’m sure you had a hand in that.” Remembering what I had done to Patrick after his plan had failed shamed me. “He’s been punished; besides, I think you put him up to it. You were the puppet master for everything so far you freely admitted it. Why not this too?” I folded my arms.
“I knew you weren’t a stupid woman. But that does not cancel out his debt. I plan on tearing his wolf from his body, then his flesh from his bones.” Lucifer took a step toward Patrick and I grabbed his arm.
He looked down at my hand and then at me. “Yes?”
“Please, what did you give him? Why did he sell his soul?” I looked into his eyes.
“Oh, my angel. Does it matter?” He turned.
“Yes!” I yelled, jumping in front of him. “Please?”
He stood for a