Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

“Maybe not,” I said.

He stowed the snake and straightened up, not moving back to his seat.

“What?” I asked.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he stepped back and resumed his seat. I hurt too bad to be curious.

I looked around the glittering gold room before remembering there wasn’t any human technology in this place. No cameras to watch and hear what was being said. “I’m in the castle, then?”

“Yes. You are in a transitional suite. You will get to choose your living quarters when you are able.”

“So…the first thing he wanted me to see was a gaudy room from yesteryear?”

Cahal’s eyes twinkled. “I assume he wanted to impress you.”

“Ah.” I flexed and unflexed my fingers again. As it was, I couldn’t hold a sword. “Go, go gadget healing!”

“What?” Cahal asked, confusion stealing across his expression.

“Nothing. It’s an old cartoon. So what’s the plan here, do you think? Obviously I need to heal. I assume dear old Dad will let me do that?”

“That’s a certainty, yes. You will not be harmed while you’re here. You can heal in peace.”

“Groovy. And after that?”

“He’ll take up your training.”

“Awesome. After that?”

Cahal’s expression turned grim.

I nodded. I’d figured as much. There was a big question mark as to Father Dearest’s end game. But now that he’d found me, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get sent home with a pat on the back.

As if on cue, the door opened up, and my father strutted into the room in his human form, his shoulders swinging as his slow steps ate up the dark wood floor. A grin pulled at his wide mouth and excitement and mirth sparkled in his brown eyes. It was like he’d sucked all the confidence from everywhere else in the worlds and donned it like a superhero’s leotard.

“Good evening,” he said in a medium-range voice before stopping halfway down the bed, on the side of Cahal. “Reagan Somerset, isn’t it?”

“Yep. You knocked up my mother.”

His grin pulled wider. “And you are the result.”

“Two for two. And you are…” I quirked an eyebrow at him. “A rescuer? A kidnapper? A jailer?”

“Yes.” He laughed, a rich, hearty sound. “Welcome. May I?” He glanced at the edge of the bed.

“Knock yourself out.”

“Fantastic.” He sat, giving off the vibe that he was incredibly comfortable with this situation, which made me uncharacteristically uncomfortable with it. The shoe being on the other foot would take some getting used to. “I’ve brought you a plaything.”

“That sounds gross.” I paused, and then the light clicked on. He meant Cahal. “I assumed you would be training me.”

“And so I shall, but you need someone to practice on.”

“I’m sure you have minions for that. Cahal is more of a drinking buddy. He’s too chatty for anything else.”

Lucifer’s smile was bright and broad. “Is that the case? Hmm. Well, then, he can be your confidant, how is that? Or your tour guide to this new place. When you tire of him, however, you will get rid of him. He is only welcome here until you say he’s not.”

“And I assume I can choose how to get rid of him?”

“That all depends on what he knows when he is no longer needed.”

I curled my lips under while nodding. “Gotcha. Tire of the druid, then slip a pair of cement shoes on his feet and send him down with the fishes.”

A small crease formed on Lucifer’s brow. “I am not sure I quite remember what fish are. I will have to look it up. Or, better yet, you can create them yourself when you require the watery grave.”

I laughed despite myself. “How did I end up in this fucked-up situation?”

“You are my heir, Reagan.” The smile dripped off his face. “You were always going to end up here. This is your birthright. It is where you belong. You’ll see that, in time. For now, what can I get you? Do you need to eat, like your druid? Or just heal? Use that snake. It’ll cut down the healing time considerably.”

My stomach rumbled, but I knew it was just because it was accustomed to getting food, not because it needed it. I’d realized I didn’t need food to live when I was bonding Darius. “I don’t need to eat, no. And for now, I don’t think I will. It’ll probably hurt. But eventually, yes. I enjoy it.”

He stood. “Fantastic. I will make sure food is prepared for you when you require it. I’ll leave you to your…”

“Babysitter,” I supplied.

He laughed again, and I could tell it wasn’t forced. He was a man who liked to find humor in odd things. Another trait I’d gotten from him. This whole situation was probably going to blow my mind before it was through.

He stopped by the door before pointing at his head. “Remember, some of us can hear thoughts. You know how to keep your thoughts to yourself, don’t you?”