“Due to the events of thirteen years ago, Lucifer can now walk the earth if he chooses,” he said.
This time, I couldn’t keep my mouth closed. It dropped open so fast I half believed it might dislocate and bang off the table. “That’s possible?” I blurted.
“Anything is possible,” he replied with an air I found far too casual considering the topic.
“Even for Lucifer himself to walk the earth?”
Kobal snorted and rose to his feet; walking over to the sideboard, he pulled a bottle of wine and two gold goblets inlaid with rubies from the cabinets underneath. The lanterns and candles flickering in the tent glinted off the goblets and caused the rubies to glisten like blood. He turned toward me and lifted the bottle of wine in an inquiring gesture. I shook my head no and watched as his large hands elegantly filled his goblet. His hand could probably encompass my entire head; I was struck by the certainty he could squish my skull like a bug.
He settled in across from me again. “He hates the name Lucifer.”
I did a double take at this odd statement. “Why?”
Kobal actually smiled at me to reveal all of his even white teeth as he leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs before him. I realized his muscles had muscles as they flexed beneath his tank top. “Lucifer actually means shining one, morning star. It was the name he was given before he was cast from Heaven, the place where he once was the shining one. When he settled in Hell, those who called him by that name again were ruthlessly slaughtered.”
“Who would have guessed he’d be so testy about a name.”
“We are what we make ourselves. He wanted no reminder of his former life.”
If it hadn’t been for Gage, Bailey, Lisa, and Asante, I would have completely understood that statement. I loved my small town, but my mother’s betrayal would forever be stamped on my soul, would forever taint what had once been a fairly happy place for me. Whenever she wasn’t around anyway.
“And what does he prefer to be called?” I asked.
“Satan.”
I leaned forward to take hold of the goblet he’d set before me. I’d never had wine before, but this conversation called for it. His hand engulfed the wine bottle before I could take hold of it. “I will pour it for you,” he murmured.
Settling back in my seat, I watched him as he poured the wine and set the goblet down again. “Polite, for a demon,” I murmured.
“Brave, for a human,” he replied. “Or stupid. Which is it?”
I shrugged and lifted the goblet. It was heavier than I had expected and by far the most expensive and exquisite thing I’d ever held in my life. It may be beautiful, but it wouldn’t fill my belly, so it had little relevance to my life. Unless I melted it down to make hooks out of it, I thought with a smile.
“Maybe a little of both,” I admitted, but I had the insane feeling he wouldn’t hurt me, even if he probably could crumple my body and use me as an accordion if he wanted to.
I took a sip of the red liquid inside the goblet. My nose wrinkled when the bitter taste hit my tongue and slid down my throat.
“It’s an acquired taste,” he informed me.
“Apparently so.”
“There’s many misconceptions about demons, and some truths.”
“Are you going to tell me which is which?” I inquired.
“You’ll learn. We’ll be spending a lot of time together over the coming weeks.”
I didn’t know what to make of that statement. The man may not outright frighten me, but his massive size and demonic nature were more than a little overwhelming. “Why?”
“So that you can be trained properly to protect yourself.”
“Do you not want to kill humans?”
“Oh, there are a fair number of you I’d like to kill. You’re a rather annoying species in all honesty, but you serve your purpose.”
“What is that?”
“To help end this war.”
