Page 1 of Hell’s Half Acre

Prologue

Ancient Hell

Barely more than a toddler, Luke Teivel stared at the twisted, purple-skinned thing in front of him. It had three red eyes and two black horns springing out of its head. Being the son of the devil and confined to Hell, he was used to all manner of strange creatures.

Even those who’d once been beautiful humans were often given contorted or mangled forms as infernal punishment. His father was terribly creative when it came to ways to make someone suffer.

But this…

Never had he seen anything like it.

“What is it, Father?” He stared up at the most beautiful of all creatures in Hell.

The devil would never allow anyone or anything here to outshine him. Light-bearer wasn’t just his title, it was Lucifer’s mind set. Tall and well-muscled, his father had long hair like spun gold and eyes that flashed between bright blue, swirling gold, and red whenever Lucifer lost his temper.

Red that descended over the blue as he turned toward Luke. “Are you stupid, boy? Surely, you know a demon when you see one.”

Yes, but this one was very different than the demons Luke was used to seeing. And he knew better than to say that out loud.

His father was mad enough, and patience wasn’t a virtue Lucifer possessed.

Then again, there weren’t any virtues Lucifer possessed.

Luke’s mother moved to stand between them so that his father wouldn’t be able to strike him for punishment. She was almost as tall as Lucifer, but that and their gold eyes and him were the only things his parents shared. His mother was as dark as his father was fair.

Her brown skin glistened in the firelight that also caught in the jeweled collar she wore. “Don’t be mean, Sammy. He’s just a baby. Be kind or we’ll leave here…forever.”

Samael Lucifer’s eyes flashed like a turgid sea. Had anyone other than Luke’s mother spoken those words, they’d have been blasted by fire to the lowest pits to suffer eternally.

But as the Alpha hellhound who enforced Lucifer’s rules and dictates, Senka held no fear whatsoever of Hell’s king. It was something Luke didn’t understand because his father terrified him, and he did his best to stay far away from the angry fallen angel.

Luke peeked around his mother’s legs.

Releasing a long, deep breath, his father calmed instantly in front of the one woman Lucifer favored above everyone else. “Fine.” He dropped his glacial gaze to Luke. “It’s a present for you, little—” He hesitated because he normally called Luke a little turd or shit, but since his mother was present… Lucifer thought better of the insult.

Instead, he attempted a smile that looked evil despite his beauty. “—boy.”

Luke was confused by his father’s actions and words. Lucifer wasn’t known to gift him much of anything other than pain whenever Senka wasn’t around. It was something he was forbidden to speak about because if Luke ever told his mother…

There would be hell to pay.

Which meant Lucifer did possess one virtue.

He kept all promises of torture, especially when it involved excruciating pain.

His mother smiled down at Luke, placing a hand on his head and ushering him a step forward. “What do we say when we receive a gift, Xynzara?”

Luke bristled at the name his mother had saddled him with. He hated it almost as much as he hated his father. “Piss off.”

Lucifer laughed.

His mother grimaced. “I give up.” Cuddling his cheek with her gentle hand, she held Luke to her side. “Why are you gifting him with this creature, Sammy?”

“I thought it would amuse him. It’s a pet. You said that all children should have one. Since you gave him an imp at his birth, I thought it was time I gave him one of my demons to command.”

Luke felt his mother tense subtly. “What is it you really want, Sammy?”

“To make you happy, my love.”