Blair looks at me skeptically, but eventually, she and Dax leave Hell.
Lilith and I go over portalling, and I master it almost immediately. She seems impressed but also concerned.
“What now?” I ask her.
“I think your father wants you to train with Toth.”
I make a noncommittal noise in the back of my throat. “What should I do in the meantime?”
“Um, you can read. Your room has a T.V. though we only get three channels,” Lilith suggests.
“When can I leave the manor?”
“Hopefully soon,” she says, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. If they think they can keep me locked in here like some sort of prisoner, they have a rude awakening headed their way. I’ve spent too much time being hidden, locked in a life that wasn’t mine. I won’t stand for it. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, but only for so long.
I head to my room, and it takes me a while to figure out that the T.V. comes down from the ceiling, but eventually, I do get it.
There are only three stations: T.L.C, Vh1, and Lifetime. Out of my three options, I turn on T.L.C. and I’m immediately hooked. The show is about this woman who loves to dance so much that she’s trying to teach young children to be great while the mothers of the dancers are constantly on her ass.
Tabby Leigh Stiller immediately becomes my icon, and to my absolute excitement, I realize that the show Dance Mums is the only thing playing for the rest of the night.
Chapter4
Ihave a daddy-daughter date at the Black Lake.What does one wear for that?
On the one hand, I want to be Lucifer’s favorite daughter, and his approval means everything to me. On the other hand, I still kind of want to take the whole joint for myself.
To say I’m torn is a complete understatement, and I think having this one-on-one time will change the tide.
I’m walking down the hall nervously, feeling both eager and uncertain about how this conversation is going to go. I haven’t been to the Black Lake, so I can’t portal there. My thumbnail is about to be a nub if I don’t stop tearing it to shreds with my teeth.
“Where are you going?” Toth’s voice startles me, and I look up at him.
“Black Lake.”
“I can portal you there,” he offers, no emotion in his tone.
“Thanks.”
He tilts his head, holding out his hand, and I eagerly take it. Before I can even exhale, we’re by the Black Lake. The water is almost an inky black, and I swear I see a tentacle slip through the water.
I kind of want to jump in and explore.
“Don’t go in the lake,” he warns, interrupting my thoughts.
“Oh, you’re no fun.”
“There are thousands of chained souls at the bottom,” he says.
“Oh, sick,” I gush, bending down toward the water. Toth holds a fist full of my shirt so I don’t fall in and just patiently waits for me to finish examining the water. “I’m meeting my dad for a picnic.”
“I know,” he says.
“Of course, right-hand and all.”
He doesn’t respond, and I take my time looking around the area. I can just see the manor in the distance. The surrounding grass is all half dead, and the sky is gloomy and overcast.
“It’s beautiful here,” I sigh quietly.
