“Daughter,” Lucifer greeted moments later, taking his place next to me and pulling me from my thoughts. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair stuck up in disarray, and he had bags beneath his eyes like he hadn’t slept in weeks. The only part of him put together was his immaculate white suit.
What happened between yesterday and this morning to make him look like that?
I slowly chewed and swallowed the rest of my roll. “Father,” I said, testing the word. It didn’t exactly make me cringe, but neither did it feel natural coming out of my mouth.
“How has your morning been?” he asked, although by his emotionless tone, I wasn’t sure if he was curious or just going through the motions.
“Fine. Oliver and I are close to completing the ten-mile run.”
He grunted, as if unimpressed.
I gritted my teeth, not sure if I was more frustrated with him or myself. “And yours?”
“Fine.”
He surelookedfine. But I didn’t comment.
“Today—”
“Did the general find a bite mark on Ni’s right shoulder?” I interrupted.
Lucifer peered at me, questions in his narrowed eyes. “Yes.”
“So the black veins are some sort of demon infection.”
He turned in his seat, fully facing me. “How do you know the infection was from a demon?”
“I don’t. But the Doors of Moirai showed me an image of a male with white hair and horns sinking his teeth into what I assume was Ni’s neck. He looked pretty demon-like.”
His forehead creased faintly. “The Doors of Moirai showed you that?”
I nodded.
“They showed you, but not me?” His lips pressed into a thin line.
“Is that bad?”
“It’s—” He paused. “Unnatural. We’re connected. They should only respond to me. Their mosaic images are their secondary power. They show me important scenes that will have an impact on the future.”
“Maybe because I’m your daughter?”
He didn’t look convinced, but I had no other explanation.
“So the doors were warning me about Ni.”
“Not just Ni. The white-haired male who infected her will play a part in the future, if he hasn’t already. You didn’t see his face?”
“His hair covered most of it.”
Lucifer tapped his fingers against his lips, staring unseeing at the frozen flowers.
“But if he is a demon, how is he here?”
Lucifer considered me. He knew something—or at least had a theory. But would he tell me? Another moment passed.
“We think one of Lilith’s new creations has somehow infiltrated the Seven Circles and is spreading this demon infection.”
Lilith?
