Fame called out, “Don’t you have any questions for us? We could help you with a strategy.”
I turned halfway and lifted a finger up to my head. “I’ve already got all the information that I need. I just need to be around her, and I’ll be able to tell what will happen.” I turned back around as Fame called to my back.
“That only works if your target makes a firm decision, D. I wouldn’t count on her making a clear decision for you to read from. If you want help—”
He was trying. It was cute, but I knew that I was going to win this interaction with her. I was still going to skim that file that I hadn’t touched yet, though.
“Naw, I’m fine.”
Fame gave me a disappointed look, and I quickly followed with, “I’m going to skim the damn file you gave me, but we agreed that we could each try it our own way, and mine just so happens not to require a lot of prep.” I shrugged and kept going.
I could feel spirits banging on the wards, begging me to come out and talk, so as soon as I got into my room, I put on some headphones and opened the stupid file. I didn’t know how any of this backstory information would help me, but I was going to give this my best shot. I wanted to rid my brothers and myself of Lucifer’s debt. It was one of the only things that we had control over right now, and I wanted to succeed so badly.
Chapter 18
Iusuallylikegettingdressed up. Getting into a fancy gown that made me look like I was dripping in sin, high heels that made my legs look long and seductive, getting pampered all day to prepare. But all I could think about was Fame’s face as he fell.
What was wrong with me? They are just fucking dicks with handsome faces, nothing more.Liar, Liar. They sated a need for power, that was it.Pants on fire. They meant nothing more than a challenge.You’re hanging from a telephone wire, you big old gorgeous liar.
I looked at myself in the mirror, clenching the counter so hard I could break a nail.
“Get a fucking grip, Lils. You need to keep this whole thing going. You don’t have time to grow soft for some men who tried to force you back to Hell.” My voice came out shaky, but I knew you had to fake it ‘til you made it, right? Even if it was faking it to fool yourself. That voice in the back of my head asked,but why? Why did they need me to go to Hell so badly? What did my dad have on them?
Well, I wasn’t going to find out anytime soon. It should take them all a couple of days to get out of the areas they were in. Then I needed to plan for an all-out war. They seemed like a determined bunch, but so was I.
I dismissed them all from my brain and focused back on getting ready and making myself look like the queen I was in this world. You dress for the job you’re striving for, and if I was going to make LAmykingdom, I needed to look the part for my subjects.Take that daddy dearest!
I popped open the cap of my lipstick that matched the black and purple lily I had pinned in my hair on one side. Today, I was going for wicked beauty with my smoky eyes, black lips and heels. My dress was a deep plum that matched my nails and went dangerously low in the back. It had a deep sweetheart neckline that barely covered my tits and had a slip of fabric draped around my biceps. I had two long slits in the front that went to mid-thigh, just high enough that if someone bent over, they’d see my bare pussy, since I was going commando. It was dark sinful royalty at its finest.
Being Lucifer’s daughter helped prepare me to understand how to make my own kingdom, how you needed the people to respect you as well as fear you. They should lust for you and be scared of you. They should want to be you but know they could never obtain it. I needed to be a dream and a nightmare, all wrapped in one. It was something my father did really well while also putting his own crazy spin on it. This place had humans, though, and if I was to be their queen, I needed to blend in with them too.
I called Cass on speakerphone as I finished combing my hair. When she picked up, I barely heard the water running for her bath before she started ranting.
“You are going to this function because the other head LA demons are going, and you need to be seen there. It's for image and status. It’s to make sure your name is on everyone’s lips. I know it’s not your normal—”
I cleared my throat, which made her pause. “I was just calling to see if this dress is on loan. Do I need to be careful with it? This is a casino for demons, and they aren’t always the most respectful of clothing… Or being clean.”
As soon as I’d slipped into this dress, I knew I wanted to keep it. Cass liked to get clothes on loan, since styles changed so quickly, but this dress seemed timeless.
Her pause spoke volumes, and I fought hard not to laugh. She was so used to being on top of things and anticipating my every move that it always stumped her when I switched it up.
“Oh. I forgot to tell you the shop actually gave it to us. It’s a new demon-run shop in town, and they asked that you just tell the paparazzi outside that you got it from Her Sinful Designs. She said she made it, and I quote, ‘for someone like you’.”
My hand flew to my chest as I gasped. “Aww. I mean, she could just be saying that.” I was surprised that anyone—especially a demon—would think of me while creating this gorgeous piece.
Cass’s cross voice came through the phone.“She is a demon.”Like that was reason enough to think she was lying. I mean, she wasn’t entirely wrong, but it still irked me.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, that’s not nice, Cass. Is that what you think of me? Just some lying, scheming demon? I bet you don’t think of Samuel like that.” I egged her on about him because they’d both been playing this love-hate dance for a while, and I wished one of them would just make the first move.
She sputtered,“What… I don’t… Have never…”She just stopped talking, and I had to cover my mouth to make sure she didn’t hear me laugh. I swear, she and Samuel were going to bang it out one day, and then I was so going to make fun of her.
“Anyway. Did you need me to call a car for you?”I heard the splash of her dropping some bath bombs, and I was glad that she was getting some time for herself.
“Noooo.” I drew it out. “I don’t need you to do everything for me. I can do a few things myself, you know.”
She paused before she called out,“You’re driving yourself, aren’t you?”
“Yep.” I giggled because as much as I liked to catch her off guard, she truly did know me. “Before you start lecturing me about safe driving and drinking, I want to remind you that I am a demon and that means that I can’t really die. I am also a very powerful demon and would most likely kill whatever tried to kill me first.”
