I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself. "I know you're doing the right thing. You're doing what has to be done, and I don't hold that against you. I haven't made it any easier on you, either."
He grinned. "You never make anything easy on me, Lil."
I returned his smile. "Go. Do what you need to do but get Michael to look into Anna and her family pronto."
“Got it.” Backing away from me, he disappeared.
Time to go home. I slid the box under the bed but wasn't willing to go so far as to make sure it was perfectly in the center again. I didn't have the energy to get back down on the floor. If Anna noticed it was moved, hopefully, she'd think it was one of her sons or maybe that vacuum if she had one.
I kept my power expanded around me as I retraced my steps through the house, looking for any further signs of darkness, but nothing sprang out at me. I walked to my car as if I had every right to be there hoping it would keep any neighbors from wondering or mentioning it to Anna.
When I pulled into the garage, Lucian's car was already there. He was home early from work, and I had no explanation for where I'd been.
Window shopping at the baby store in the mall seemed plausible. I'd go with that.
Sucking in a deep breath, I prepared myself to go in and pretend to be Connie.
As I climbed out of the car, I wondered again why we hadn't tried to wake Lucifer's memories. At least we wouldn't have to sneak around. I'd have to ask Michael when he made a report on Anna and her boyfriend.
Chapter 17
Constance-Lilith
Jellybean's barkswoke me from a deep sleep in the middle of the night. When my mind cleared, I realized I recognized the other sounds coming from downstairs. Jerking upright, I used what little bit of magic I could access to push into Lucian as he stirred, the barks waking him as well. He'd always been a deep sleeper in this life. Usually, I had to shake him awake, but somehow this seemed easier than moving.
This time, I didn't want him awake. Whatever Jellybean was going off about was likely to be something I didn't want to have to explain to Lucian.
I hadn't seen Michael or Gabriel since I spoke to Gabe in Anna's bedroom earlier in the week. I hadn't had the opportunity to tell them I thought we should wake Lucifer's memories. This whole thing would be easier if he knew. As I pulled on a robe, I wished I'd called them so I could at least have Lucifer to help me, even if he was in Lucian's body. Maybe I just wanted to enjoy my Lucian a little longer.
Tiptoeing down the hall, I tried to hurry but wanted to be extra careful. Jellybean had never gotten this riled up. If it was a human that had broken in or something stupid like that, and I was mistaking the sounds, I could handle it with my small bit of magic. If this was what I thought it was, to get my Beanyboy so upset, it was very bad.
"Jellybean," I whispered. Moving down the stairs, I tried to peer around the corner into the living room where he growled low in his throat between the occasional barks.
Before moving into the room, I looked around the kitchen just to make sure nothing was going to sneak up on me while I dealt with the living room. The office door was shut as I'd left it, so I ignored it for now.
Walking into the living room, I sighed when I saw what had him all upset. I was right, unfortunately. A low-level demon cowered in the corner, snarling, and salivating at my dog. "Is this what you're freaking out about?" I put my hand on Jellybean's back, and he stood taller with me by his side.
Whining, he wiggled his massive body against my side, nearly knocking me over. The presence of the disgusting creature held more significance than just letting my hellhound have a midnight snack.
These types of demons were the lowest of the low. The souls that had no hope of rehabilitation. The ones that were so evil, they'd never be able to be released back to earth, never be reborn. They were tortured until they became these nasty creatures.
This one looked like a burned raccoon. He had a pointy nose and angry eyes. The demons kept some semblance of their human mind, with the ability to think for themselves to some extent. Mostly they stayed angry and fought each other. They lived their eternity in a part of Hell that was a wild forest but warded so that these demons couldn't even get out into Hell-proper. They were kept under tight control and given no freedoms at all.
Not only had this one escaped the forest, but he’d also escaped Hell itself.
"Damn it," I muttered. "Kill it," I said as I waved my arm toward the demon, giving Jellybean the permission he’d been waiting for. Jellybean lunged with a snarl and made quick work of the demon.
"Gross," I muttered. "Michael," I whispered urgently. He'd better have heard me that time.
I walked to the back door and opened it. "Go enjoy your kill outside."
Jellybean gathered the disgusting creature up in his mouth and trotted out the door with his head high. "Yes, you're a good boy," I told him. "You protected Mommy and Daddy."
His tail whipped back and forth as he passed me, smacking me in the butt. "Ouch." I slammed the door behind him and turned to find Michael looking at the carnage.
"Want some help with this?" he asked.
I sighed, some of the tension leaving my body now that he was here to deal with it. "Please."
