Lucifer Damned (Morningstar Book 3) by Percival Constantine (list of ebook readers TXT) 📕

Mara had already fastened the hanging shackles on the unconscious Shem and now she was doing the same to Ham. “Yeah. Seems he would use it when he wanted to get some information out of someone.”

“And you’ve found use for it, too?”

“So far, I haven’t really had much cause to use this place,” said Mara. “Generally I don’t torture for fun, I do it when I have a purpose.”

“I find that hard to believe. You certainly seemed enthusiastic about the prospect earlier.”

Mara gave a soft chuckle. “I never said I don’t enjoy it. Just that when I do it, I want there to be a reason. Otherwise, it just doesn’t give off that same rush, you know?”

“Not particularly. I never quite understood what it was the other demons loved so much about the act,” said Lucifer as he explored some of the cutting instruments laid out on a tray. “To me, it just always seemed a bit excessive.”

“And yet, here we are,” said Mara.

“Oh, we’re not going to torture them,” said Lucifer.

Mara’s jaw hung so low, it looked as if it had come unhinged. She blinked at the revelation a few times, trying to grasp what she’d just heard. “I’m sorry, you said we’re not going to torture them?”

“No,” said Lucifer. “You see, these two don’t strike me as elite warriors or anything. I have a feeling all we’ll need to do is provide them with some sufficient threats and they’ll tell us everything I want to know.”

“But…” Mara pouted.

“We’re not here for you to indulge in your sadistic tendencies. We’re here for information. And torture is hardly a reliable way to extract information.”

Mara scoffed. “Well, now you tell me…”

They waited in silence until their prisoners woke. Ham was sufficiently angered once he realized he was shackled and immediately began to tire himself out in futile attempts at escape. He tried swinging his arms and legs as fiercely as he could in hope of either breaking open or sliding out of the restraints. This went on for several minutes before he tired himself out and ultimately was left pushing his back up against the wall and panting. Shem made a few attempts of his own, but he gave up on the effort a lot sooner than his brother.

“If you’re both finished, might we move on to business?” asked Lucifer.

“Let me outta here and I’ll show you what sort of business we’ll conduct!” said Ham.

“That’s a very optimistic worldview you have, Mr. Ham,” said Lucifer. “But Mara already kicked your ass once. Are you really so eager for an encore?”

“I’ll die fighting to eradicate you from existence, Satan!”

Lucifer clicked his tongue. “So droll. So clichéd. It’s really just sad.”

“Why’d you bring us here anyway? Gonna torture us or somethin’?” asked Shem.

Lucifer cocked his head in Mara’s direction. “If she had her way, that’s what we’d be doing. But I have other interests that take precedence. I’d like us to talk for a bit.”

“You wanna have a chat?” asked Ham.

“Precisely. I’d like to learn more about you two fine gentlemen. For starters, just how exactly you came to this line of work.”

“That’s none of your business,” said Ham.

“When you attacked me, Shem chided you for taking the Lord’s name in vain. And your names are Biblical, so I’m going to assume you had a strict religious upbringing. You also mentioned your father’s guild, plus the arsenal in your van suggests you have some connections,” said Lucifer. “I’d like to know just what guild you’re referring to.”

“Why, so you can kill them yourself?” asked Ham. “I ain’t tellin’ you jack.”

“How did you find out my location? Why did you assume you could wage an attack with just the two of you?” asked Lucifer.

“You’re gonna have to torture me if you want me to talk,” said Ham.

“That’s right!” Shem chimed in. “Because no way are we gonna tell you about the Redeemers!”

Ham’s face contorted in a combination of embarrassment and anger. “Shem, you fucking moron!”

“Redeemers, huh?” Lucifer moved from Ham over to Shem. “And who might the Redeemers be?”

“Uhh…I dunno what you’re talkin’ about,” said Shem. “I’ve never heard of no Redeemers before. Maybe you’re just hearing things.”

“They’re a fundamentalist militia,” said Mara from her position leaning against the far wall. “If I’m not mistaken, they mostly operate in the southern area of the state.”

“Good work, Shem,” muttered Ham.

“We don’t—I mean they don’t operate in the southern area,” said Shem, stammering to try to correct his error. “They’re in…umm…Los Angeles! That’s right, they moved out to LA ‘cause of all the…the sin…an’ demons…and…”

“Just shut up and stop embarrassing us,” said Ham.

“If the Redeemers had not only known your location but your current state, there’s no way they would have just sent these idiots,” said Mara. “You’d have a full-blown attack force coming down on you.”

“Which means only you two knew,” said Lucifer, staring into Shem’s eyes. The thin fundamentalist squirmed under his gaze, trying to look away. Lucifer grabbed his chin and forced him to look into his eyes. “So tell me, Shem. How did just the two of you come across this information?”

“Leave him alone,” said Ham. “He’s an idiot, he don’t know nothin’.”

“I know plenty!” said Shem. “The angel picked us because—”

“Dammit!” Ham hit the back of his head against the wall in frustration.

“So, an angel told you,” said Lucifer. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

He turned away from the pair and walked over to Mara’s side. They spoke in low voices so Shem and Ham couldn’t eavesdrop on their conversation. Lucifer first glanced back in the brothers’ direction and then faced Mara.

“Something feels off about this,” he said.

“You think they’re lying?” asked Mara.

Lucifer shook his head. “I doubt it. Their reactions feel genuine. But something just seems strange about the whole set-up.”

“How so?” asked Mara.

“If an angel wanted me dead and knew I was powerless, why send those two? Especially when it was simple happenstance that they attacked while Belial was gone?”

“You’re right, the Redeemers are no slouches—these two are the exception