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“That’s the difference between us, Father. Ambition. He had none, so I had to have enough for both of us.”
Traven is frozen on the floor. Candy’s body vibrates, a low growl building in her throat. I put my hand on her back and shake my head. The last thing we need is for her to go full Jade.
“Don’t be too impressed, Father. He’s done this trick before. Talking through people on earth, but you don’t have any real power here, do you, sunshine?”
Mason raises an eyebrow.
“What makes you think I can’t pull this building down on you right now?”
“Because 9;s01C;Becif you had any real power, you’d have made it through that binding hex by now.”
Mason raps his knuckles on the invisible barrier.
“Good point,” he says. “You’ve got me there. I suppose I’m helpless as a kitten.”
He smooths down his filthy rags like he’s getting ready for a date with Miss America.
“And here I thought you’d be occupied with your fantasy about attacking heaven. But you must have time on your hands to be pulling stupid tricks like this.”
He shakes his head.
“I’m working twenty-four/seven on the big plan. Aelita, too. She came Downtown and brought some tchotchkes. She’s a hell of a girl.”
So it’s true. That’s not a combination I like thinking about. What do they have in common? One wants to kill God and one wants to be him, and I can’t see Aelita approving of Mason taking the old man’s place. Hell. Maybe they both want to be God and are going to do a set-up Pearly Gates time-share.
“You’re bluffing,” I say. “Aelita is a bitch on wings, but she’s not stupid. She wouldn’t have anything to do with a second-rate show pony like yours.”
“Sure she would. We have the same hobbies.”
“Like what?”
His face splits into a big grin. Those teeth again.
“Hating you.”
“I’m flattered.”
Traven grabs my arm and pulls me back a few feet.
“Stop talking to him. The demon is trying to confuse you.”
“There is no demon. There’s nothing in there but a little rich boy who wants to murder the world because some bad men took away his Etch A Sketch.”
Mason clasps his hand over his heart like he’s wounded. He spits some of Hunter’s blood on the sacrifice platform and clears his throat.
“Answer me this, Jimbo. And I mean this sincerely. What you need to focus on right now is the key question of the night: Why is this happening?”
For all I’m bullshitting him, I know he’s consumed with his plans to attack Heaven, so, yeah, I’m kind of wondering what’s really going on.
“Because" w201C;Be you’re trapped,” I say. “Because you got yourself in way over your head. Because you’re not Lucifer and not really in charge down there. You bribed a few generals into coming to your place for catered lunches and cigars. Big deal. Without General Semyazah, you’re never getting close to Heaven. And you haven’t been able to build a key to escape from Hell. You can’t admit you’re stuck down there. That’s why this is happening. Hiding in other people’s skin is as close as you’ll ever come to getting home.”
He stares at me, leaning his forehead on the barrier like a bored kid.
“You’re embarrassing yourself again by thinking small. What’s happening here is a formal invitation, but not from me. Listen.”
Hunter’s body goes slack. Mason has released control. A second later Hunter snaps back up. His eyes brighten and he looks around, but is unsteady on his feet. His lips move as he looks for his voice.
“Jim?” says Hunter.
