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“Wait. What do you mean, they are off?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. I check to see if anyone is staying behind, and a thrill runs through me to see Trometh sulking out behind the others.
“Once the weapons have had a taste of blood, they resonate,” he says, looking at me. Given my wide eyes, he rolls his and cracks his neck before continuing. “Think of them as musical instruments. You strummed their strings and now they sound off. I need to tune them.” He pauses and looks down at me. “Hmm, or better yet, I need to craft new ones to suit you all better,” he says as a deep line creases between his eyes and turns. “Yes! New weapons would be better,” he says to himself.
Well then. Who am I to argue?
“Wait. Astaroth!” I say, perking back up. He slows his pace but doesn’t stop. “While we were out, yes, we were attacked, but it got me thinking. When we found the Demstones, I saw one of my classmates there. She’s apparently Asmodeus' daughter.”
That makes him stop and look at me. “And she was at the cave that you were at?”
“Yeah, I don’t think it was a coincidence. With her showing up and the Goblins knowing we were going to the market, it smells like you have a rat,” I say, giving him a smug look.
His eyes flash black for a moment, then he gives me his back. “I need to clean house, and if you want to have an appetite later, I suggest you finish what you need to with Lilith and take a nap before dinner,” he says, then walks out of the back door.
Something tells me his idea of cleaning house isn’t just doing a little dusting and asking around. I have a feeling he’s talking about remodeling, and the new decor will be a gruesome red.
CHAPTER 30
New Heirs
JP
Wind whips around me but nothing happens as I glance around and notice everyone except Moni is gone as Lucifer descends the steps and takes in both of us. “Where did you send them?” I ask, worried about my friends.
“I sent them to the training room. They can find something to do from there. Come, we need to speak,” he says, and goes to walk behind his throne.
‘JP… I’m nervous,’ Moni says, directing the thought to me. Sure enough, she’s sporting dark gray bark as she squeezes my hand with a death grip. I squeeze her hand back in three quick successions, letting her know I love her and I’m here. It’s something we’ve done since we were little. We follow Lucifer through a door and down another hall until we walk into a small, cozy office.
“Try to relax. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?” I whisper into her ear, and I watch as she takes in a deep breath and exhales slowly.
There’s a desk in the back corner and a few bookcases. A small bar lines a wall, but the sofas and coffee table take up most of the space. It’s the first room that I’ve seen something other than marble or mats lining the rooms—well, besides the throne room. He’s kept the black furniture, but the red carpet adds a different splash of color here, and I definitely approve of all the silver accents. It gives him more of a sophisticated touch and shows a more feminine side.
“Nice room,” I say, looking around at his decor. Moni tugs on my arm, but I keep her by my side as we look around.
“Would you like a drink?” Lucifer offers. When we don’t immediately answer, he pours himself one before downing it and slamming the glass down.
“It’s that bad?” Moni asks, cycling through pale white and dark gray.
Lucifer looks over at us and picks up three fresh shot glasses and a bottle I don’t recognize before sitting down on the sofa facing us.
“What do your colors mean, Moni? Is Moni short for anything?” he asks, pouring three drinks. Given what we’ve seen of him lately, he seems to be opening up more. His eyebrows are up, he’s not scowling, and his shoulders seem more relaxed, but I feel like he’s holding back something. Why? Why this sudden change?
Moni squeezes my hand once more before flying over to the sofa and taking a seat across from Lucifer. She grabs a glass and shoots it back. Tears gather in her eyes, and she clenches her jaw before coughing. She quickly pulls out a thermos, which I know has coffee in it, and scarfs down her drink before putting it away.
“Rez calls me a walking, talking mood ring! The way she says it, it makes me feel special instead of it being an embarrassment,” Moni says, raising her chin.
I can’t help smiling at the fact that she’s standing up for herself, even if she really doesn’t have to here.
“And my name is Monikaloy,” she says as she reaches for her tail, only to find the shortened stub.
I walk over to the sofa and join her, grabbing her hand.
“Do you have a last name, Moni?” Lucifer asks, pouring himself another shot.
“What’s this about, Lucifer?” I ask, getting frustrated that he has yet to tell us anything.
“Please, Moni, I promise to explain after I know.” His eyes bore into Moni, and I feel her shudder against me. That’s it. I’m calling this off. I go to stand up, but Moni stops me.
“It’s okay, Bubba. My full name is Monikaloy Pastel, and I’m an abomination. My mother abandoned me and publicly disowned me, and JP’s mother, Elayna, took me in and raised me,” she admits. The only sign of pain is the small tremble of her lip that I catch before she clenches her jaw.
