Horace nodded but couldn’t seem to look away from B trussed up on his front steps.
“It’s raining pretty hard out here, Horace.”
He jumped. “My apologies.” And he quickly stepped back, holding the door wide for us.
I strode in out of the rain and Lothar dragged Beelzebub unceremoniously through the door and into the foyer. Horace quickly rounded his desk and unhooked two keys from the wall behind it.
“Your rooms are on the seventh floor. Sorry about the climb, but there is an added cell in room 102 that I thought would be useful for your prisoner.”
“Fantastic, thanks so much.” I took the keys.
“Would you like me to bring up a repast for you both?” the demon asked.
“That would be great. Just something simple, if it’s not too much trouble. Bread, meat, some fruit and cheese, oh…and something to drink. Don’t rush, though, I want to take a shower before dinner.”
Horace inclined his head, and we headed up all seven flights of seriously steep stairs. Beelzebub hissed and roared behind his gag the entire way. When we reached the top, I held up the keys. “Do you want to watch over the traitor, or shall I?”
Lothar took the key for 102. “I will.”
He wasn’t going to get any complaints from me. I needed a long shower and a decent night’s sleep. Lothar unlocked and opened his door, then dragged Beelzebub in behind him.
“I’ll let you know when the food’s here,” I called after him. He kicked the door shut behind him without a word. “I’ll take that as a yes,” I called and shook my head as I opened my own door and shut myself in.
The decor was as memorable as I remembered. Apart from the beds, all the rooms were a little different. In this one, the walls were bloodred with a gold filigree design, the carpet a deep burgundy. There was a lot of dark wood and brass around the room, and several candelabras were already lit, as if the tower had a mind of its own and knew I was coming. I took in the large bed and screwed up my nose. The bed frame was a chaotic jumble of charred bones, with a skull in the center of the headboard, all collected from creatures from the many different realms, and most definitely not to my taste.
A fire blazed in the hearth, and somehow gave the macabre decor a warmth that wasn’t easily found in this place. I stood in front of it and sighed, shaking out my tight muscles. If we left early and traveled nonstop, we could be back in Hell by tomorrow night.
Taking out my phone, I sent off a quick text to Luci, telling him where we were and that we had Beelzebub, though knowing Lucifer, he probably already knew.
I rubbed my hands over my face. When we got back and Lucifer tortured B until he told us who was behind all this, when it was all over, I’d request he send me somewhere else for a while. Just to get my head clear again and numb my heart to what I was feeling. It would take time, I knew that, but I could do it again. I had to.
Chapter
Twenty
Roxy
* * *
I was rubbing a towel over my hair when the knock at the door came. I rushed over to open it, and Horace gave me his crooked smile. It was kind of unhinged, but I appreciated the effort.
It was then he noticed I was only wearing an oversized T-shirt. “Apologies,” he said, looking scandalized. “I can leave and return with your repast later, my lady.”
“It’s fine. Bring it on in.”
“As you wish. Would you like me to alert your companion?”
The sound of a door closing came from across the hall. “No need,” Lothar said and walked in.
Was he still angry with me? I wasn’t sure I could handle moody Lothar right then, not when my heart already felt as if it’d been pulverized.
Horace unloaded the food from the tray onto the table at the window. “I’ll return to collect the dishes.”
“Thanks, Horace,” I said and shut the door behind him. “Hungry?” I asked Lothar when I felt his gaze burning into me.
“Very.”
I fought back a shiver at the rough edge to his voice, and what he was obviously implying, and took a seat at the table. I popped a piece of cheese in my mouth. “How’s B liking his new accommodations?”
