“What do you care?” She shot him a glare.
If he had to deal with humans, he’d much rather deal with children. “How old?”
Bianca drew a juddering breath. “The oldest, Emma, is eight. Her brother, Ethan, is only five.
“That’s young.” Young enough for other humans not to have twisted them and for life to have destroyed their innocence. Despite himself, that stirring of empathy deepened. “I’ll help in whatever way I can.”
“You have to help,” she snapped. “Blood oath, remember?”
“Hell prince, remember?” She didn’t seem to get that and what it meant. “And I’ll help because I choose to, not because of some ridiculous blood oath.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders eased a touch. “Thank you.”
“After which, you will fix the amulet issue and restore my power.” He hardened his voice. No need for her to think he’d grown soft.
Her lips twitched. “Of course.”
“Good.”
She nodded. “Good.”
After about ten minutes of hurtling through the small town of Clayton, Bianca jerked to a stop outside an old brick farmhouse.
Several other cars were parked in the driveway.
The door opened, and a male figure stood in the entrance, backlit by the lights from the house.
Bianca took a deep breath. “Let’s hear what Christen has to say.”
“How thrilling,” he drawled as he followed her up the path dissecting the tiny front garden. Herbs spilled out of an eclectic collection of flowerpots. Crystals lay scattered between the pots. All the garden was missing was a black cat.
“Bianca.” Weaz-adj folded his arms and flexed his pectorals. “I have no idea why Patty called you. I have everything under control.”
A muscular wasting disease would be just the thing for Weaz-adj, but Lucifer didn’t have time to play with his paper ego and stood chest to chest with him. “Move.”
Weaz-adj leapt out of the way with gratifying alacrity. At least someone understood who they were dealing with. Even if it was that pathetic specimen.
Wool tucked under one arm, knitting needles churning, Patty bustled down the hallway. “Emma and Ethan were asleep when it happened.” She caught him staring and shrugged. “I stress knit.”
Turning back to Bianca, Patty continued. “Ethan is still asleep, but Emma woke when Christen broke down the door.”
“It was necessary.” Christen flexed and preened. “An emergency.”
“You scared the poor little souls half to death.” Patty jabbed him in the shoulder with a bright purple knitting needle.
Christen tried to fend her off. “I had to.”
“Stop speaking.” Lucifer stared him down. “And go away.”
Bianca gave him a grateful smile that pleased him. The fact that it did please him pissed him off and he scowled back.
“I made Emma some hot chocolate.” Patty led the way down a cramped hallway. Family photos covered the peeling, yellowed walls. “But she’s asking for her mother.”
Bianca straightened her shoulders like she was buckling into her armor. “I’ll speak to her.”
This seemed like a job for him, however. When he bothered to use it, humans responded well to his charm. There was a reason humans continued to write him into books, make movies and television shows about him. Putting a hand on Bianca’s shoulder to stop her, he said, “I’ll talk to her.”
“Really?” She eyed him suspiciously. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He gifted her his legendary smile. “Trust me.”
Bianca snorted.
Clearly, the haglette was deranged, because his best smile didn’t work on her. He kind of appreciated that. Not enough to not punish her when this was all over, but he might go a bit easier on her. “Well, you can trust me with this.” He grinned. “Don’t you read all that’s been written about me. I’m a charmer.”
Before she could gather further objections, he slipped into the shabby little kitchen.
A small human sat on a stool at the red Formica countertop. Her dark eyes took him in. “Who are you?”
“Lucifer,” he said and took the remaining stool beside her. Great deceiver he may be, but lying to children wasn’t part of that.
She crinkled her button nose at him. “That’s a weird name.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “But I have relations called Belphegor and Mammon, so I didn’t do too badly. You’re Emma, right?”
Her gaze sharpened. “How do you know that?”
“Bianca told me.” He gestured to a hovering Bianca in the doorway.
Emma gave Bianca a weary smile. “Hi, Bianca.”
“Hi, Em.” Bianca’s features softened.
“Where’s my mom, Bianca?” Emma’s voice quavered.
Lucifer took Bianca’s slight pause. “Emma, we have something difficult to tell you.”
Big earnest eyes fastened on him, Emma’s fear a palpable force.
“Your mom seems to be missing.” He laid his hand palm up on the counter, inviting her to put her hand in his.
Emma’s tiny hand slid into his and Lucifer gently squeezed her fingers. Little humans were so fragile.
“We’re not sure where she is.” He lowered his head until they were eye to eye. “But I think you’ve heard my name before.”
She nodded.
“And you know I can do things normal people can’t.”
