A confusing mix of excitement and rage rolled through my core. I hated that I needed to obey a fucking command to do something as simple as watch TV, but that sounded like the best fucking day ever, especially after how depraved my life had been lately.
“If you don’t obey, you will be corrected until I’m satisfied. Understood?”
I just glared at him, and he smiled, pretending I had said yes.
“Great. We’re going to start off easy today, and we’ll work up to the more difficult stuff later in the week.”
“If you command me to suck your dick, I swear to fuck…” I muttered under my breath, and his eyes flashed in amusement.
“Don’t give me any ideas, Lil,” he laughed, shaking his head. “No, something even easier than that.” He paused for dramatic effect.
“Tell me that you like me, and make me believe you.”
My jaw dropped.
“I would rather suck your fucking dick!” I snapped, and he tutted his tongue.
“Strike one, Lilith.”
I scowled, and he waved his hand, manifesting a black object. For a second, I thought it was a vibrator, but then I looked closer and realized there were two metal prongs protruding from the top.
“Holy shit… is that a…cattle prodder?”
He clicked the button, and a shock of blue electricity exploded between the two prongs. I took a step back, shaking my head.
“You’re fucked,” I breathed, and he gave me a dazzling smile.
“Sure am, sweetheart. Don’t make me use this. All you have to do is tell me that you like me, and we can watch TV together. I’ll even shift into my cat form and let you pet me.”
I ran a hand down my face and counted backward from ten. This fucking demon was the most infuriating being I had ever met in my life.
“Fine. I like you, Shem. I like you awhole lot,” I gritted out, and he scowled.
“Strike two,” he hissed, taking a menacing step forward.
Fuck!
“Okay, okay,” I said, holding up a hand. He stopped his approach and raised an eyebrow expectantly.
I could do this. I just needed to be convincing. I looked at him and tried to remember what he had been like when we worked together. I liked him then.
He had asked me out for drinksevery day.I realized suddenly that I could have hung out with him, and he wouldn’t have died—I could have had him as a friend. I just hadn’t known it at the time.
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and he saw the expression on my face change. The anger in his eyes softened slightly.
“What were you just thinking about?” he asked, his voice quiet.
“When we were at Voodoo, you asked me to go for drinks after work every time we had a shift together, even though I always said no. Why?” I asked.
Something that looked an awful lot like remorse crossed his face, and I felt my chest tighten.
“Because you were breaking. I knew you were lonely. I saw it every day when you came home from work. And I couldn’t tell Ramel who you were or do anything to interfere with Yahweh’s plans. Ramel had to get there on his own. In the meantime, I thought you could use a friend, so I tried to be one for you.”
Suddenly, there was a lump in my throat, and I felt my eyes well up with tears.
“Shem…”
“We like to play games, Lilith, but that’s all they are. Just games.” He reached out and gently touched my chin, his green eyes turning sad. “You’re mortal, so you don’t understand, but just because we hurt you doesn’t mean we want to break you.”
