Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144404 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
There was beauty here in Hell, too. Like many things in life, it all depended on who was in control.
I stared out, watching to see if I could find Trent and Fen running in the moonlight.
“Lady Sloane, you look lovely today. The Eye of Night looks beautiful on you. It’s good to see the lady of the house wear our great treasures again,” a somewhat squeaky voice said.
My hand went up to touch the big stone around my neck. I hadn’t taken it off when I’d showered. I hadn’t even thought about it. “Thanks.”
“May I offer you refreshment?”
I looked down at the small, red-skinned demon who stood there offering me a platter of meats and cheeses. She was around five foot and wore what I’d come to see as the uniform for the mansion’s staff. Everyone with the exception of Tix wore simple gray tunics that flowed around their forms and likely had some magic woven into their fabric because I’d already seen one of the cleaning staff change forms. One minute she’d been a somewhat human-looking lady stretching to get the top of that bookcase, and then next she had no trouble at all because she took her seven-foot demonic form and dusted that sucker right off. Her clothes had stretched with her.
“Oooo, Crizzelo, that looks delicious,” a familiar voice said. “If I could eat, I would feast and feast here. There is nothing quite like Hell plane cooking.”
Lee was oozing charm as he strode up. And he already knew all the servants’ names. Despite the fact that everyone had thought he was human and wouldn’t get near a throne, Lee had been taught how to run a staff. They tended to adore him.
Crizzelo’s pitch black eyes widened as she took in the gorgeous vampire walking up. “Prince Lee, could I get some blood for you? I have my own, though I will say I don’t know it’s worthy of you. You might spit it out and curse the day you tasted it.”
Lee gave her a smile I’d seen him use when he was a kid and trying to put everyone at ease. “Never, but I’m also full up. Thank you so much. And thank you for bringing your lady some lunch. I was surprised when she didn’t eat at breakfast. That smelled delicious, too.”
The little demon flushed. Or at least I think she did. It can be hard to tell with red-skinned demons. At the very least she simpered and giggled and proved that Lee could charm all the ladies. And a good portion of the men. “Oh, she was nervous about the Dark Lord. But now she knows he can be kind, too. Like Lord Sloane.”
The chicks here loved my husband. Likely because he didn’t rape and beat them like his father had. I’d already heard a ton of horror stories about the previous Lord Sloane. Even in Hell, the serving class prefers to be treated with some dignity.
“I’m not sure about the Dark Lord’s kindness.” I wished Trent would come back. I was worried that he and Fenrir were taking so long. They’d taken off after Lucifer showed up, but that had been hours ago. I’d been invited to join Casey and Liv in the library, but I was feeling restless. “I get the feeling he’s going to put the heat on for Gray to sign another contract.”
“But he’s throwing a party.” Crizzelo placed the tray down and sighed like she was a teenage girl going to a dance. “I wish it was a ball, though. Oh, it’s been an age since Lucifer hosted celebrations. Sometimes when the vampires used to sign contracts with demonkind, there would be these parties and balls, and it was so fun to watch.”
“Did you work the parties?” I hadn’t had a chance to talk to the staff beyond my precious Eddie, and Tix, who I was still uncertain about. I needed to start learning the lay of the land here.
Her scraggly head shook. She reminded me a bit of the brownies who ran much of Frelsi, though the demon was taller and had fierce-looking claws on her hands. “Oh, no. That is for more beautiful servants. For the best of the best. They do not let servants like me work such a magnificent party, but for larger parties, I am allowed in the kitchens, and we can see some of what happens. It’s so lovely. I like the music.”
“Well, if we have a party, you’ll be out there serving drinks,” I promised her.
She gasped, her red eyes widening. “Oh, no, Lady Sloane. I cannot be seen at such a fine soiree. We would be the laughingstock of all of Hell.”
“I don’t think Lady Sloane cares what Hell thinks,” Lee offered.
“She should.” Crizzelo stepped back.
“What does the rest of Hell think of Lord Sloane?” This was what I wanted to gauge. Lucifer would tell me everything was fine, and Tix would say the same. Lucifer would do it because he wouldn’t want me on my guard. Tix would do it because to say anything else would be to demean his master.