Ballistic Kiss (Sandman Slim 11)

“Wait,” I say. “It gets better. The angel who used to be Lucifer? He’s a friend of mine. I’ll introduce you sometime.”

“I’m not sure I want that.”

“He’s fun in his own fucked-up way. And he always knows the best places to eat.”

They pick a bit of lint off the blanket. Seeing it relaxes me. The cleaning elves or whatever aren’t perfect after all.

Janet says, “You really do seem to know a lot about it. But I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth or if this is one of your funny stories.”

I put a hand on theirs.

“Stick around and I’ll tell you the biggest joke of all—about when I was Lucifer.”

“Now you really are just telling stories.”

“Maybe. But think about sticking around anyway?”

They rub my hand and nod.

“I will. I am. Do you want me to get you something?”

“How about a drink?”

“All

egra said that you don’t get to drink today.”

“Now you’re just cruel.”

They pull their lips into a single tense line.

“I’m sorry about Vidocq.”

I find another piece of lint. I wonder if the elves leave them for me to find?

“He was one of a kind.”

“When’s the funeral?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“Can I come?”

“Are you sure? You barely knew the guy.”

“He saved me and died for it. I owe him. Instead of telling me about the Devil, why don’t you tell me about him?”

“That I can do.”

“But you should rest now.”

“I will, but I want to tell you something.”

They look at me.

“It’s not good, is it?”

“That’s for you to judge. After Vidocq died, I went back to Dan and Juliette’s house.”