Black Hollow: To Trick the Devil

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

MEREDITH VANTH SLID from her bed at the sound of the coffeemaker beeping at her, her eyes still refusing to open even after her feet hit the floor. She sat there a moment, her head hung low, shoulders slumped, as she clutched the edge of the bed taking deep breaths in the hopes of jarring her senses to wakefulness. After a couple of moments, she realized the exercise was not going to work, and she forced her eyes open as she stood, forced to face the day whether or not she was ready. The truth was, she was more eager to face these current days than she was those of her previous years. Her life was simple now. A simple job as a waitress at the Fireside Grille. A simple scattering of friends. A simple day-to-day existence. She craved simple. Her past had been too complicated.

She paused in front of her dresser mirror on her way out of her room. I crave life. I’ve had enough of death.

She sighed, gave a sad shake of her head, and continued on to the eye-opening beverage she had fallen in love with the moment she stepped foot in the land of the living—coffee. Glancing at the clock on the bedroom wall before she passed out of her bedroom, she groaned, realizing she only had just over an hour before she needed to be at work. She was pulling the noon to nine shift today, dreading it and looking forward to it all at the same time. Thursdays were a prelude to the weekend, not as busy as Friday and Saturday, but pretty close thanks to some direct deposits going into bank accounts early. Tips would be high, especially with the corset dresses made of dragon scales the owner of Fireside Grille, Pietr Drakki, made them wear. It surprised her how soft the dragon scales felt to wear. The first time she saw them, she feared they would slice her open. Surprisingly, they felt just as if she pulled on a tight shirt, and she was able to move around in them easily with no hindrance at all.

She stepped into the bathroom for her morning routine, thinking of her Thursday regulars she would see soon. Many would be in for a quick lunch, some for some afternoon fondue, and then the dinner crowd wanting wine and spirits, getting ready for the last day of the work week. Of course, it was her first day at work this week, so it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Still, she enjoyed her job, much better than her last one, so she looked forward to going to work every day. Seeing people smiling and laughing was much preferable to seeing them die over and over again.

Once she finished brushing her teeth, something she had to get used to doing now that she had a normal existence, she moved down the hall, through the living room on her way to the kitchen.

And to coffee. Had she mentioned how much she loved coffee? They didn’t have coffee where she came from. They didn’t have anything where she came from, actually.

She entered the kitchen, a bounce in her step, a song floating through her mind, ready to start her day, when she saw him and came to a sudden halt. How the hell did he find her? King said she would be safe. The Kings of Hell, at least three of them, would keep her presence a secret, help her live undetected in Black Hollow. So, why was Lucifer sitting in her kitchen?

And sipping her coffee!

She took a deep breath and then continued on her way to the coffeemaker. “I see you know your way around a kitchen,” she said as she passed him where he sat at her kitchen table. “You know in polite society people don’t just let themselves into someone’s apartment. They knock and wait for an invitation.”

Lucifer’s blood-red eyes twinkled at her as he lifted the coffee mug to his thin lips. He made a point of taking a slow sip, the steam from the coffee curling around his thin nose. He ran his tongue over his lips when he pulled the cup away, smiling at her. “We both know I don’t do well in polite society,” he said, setting the cup back down on the quaint table. “However, it seems you’ve done quite well for yourself. I should have known to check with King the moment you left Hell.” He shook his head. “Vanth, Vanth, Vanth, what in the name of my home were you thinking? No one leaves Hell. You have a job to do. You’re the harbinger of death. People need your help to die.” He c****d his head to the side as he gave her a questioning look. “Do you know how many people are still alive who shouldn’t be? How many need your special talents at doling out punishment?”

Meredith—Vanth—opened the cabinet and pulled out a ceramic mug with Alizon’s candy shop logo on it and poured herself a cup of coffee. It was too hot in Hell for coffee. She sighed. It was too hot in Hell for water, as well. It always wound up boiling. Thus, there was never anything to drink in Hell, especially rum. She had grown quite used to drinking rum from Fireside Grille’s bar. She didn’t want to give up rum.

After pouring herself a full cup, she held it with both hands, the heat insignificant to her flesh from the centuries she served in Hell, bringing souls to Lucifer. She leaned back on the kitchen counter, holding the cup in front of her. “I can’t do it anymore,” she said, her voice soft as she did her best to look Lucifer in the eyes. “I’ve been watching people die for eons, and I just can’t do it anymore. I needed something that shouted life. I needed a new beginning. I’m sorry.”

He waved off her apology. “Don’t be sorry,” he said, his tone placating, soothing. “Everyone needs a break now and then. I mean, you have been bringing the dead to me for over a millennium. I can understand the need to unwind a bit.”

She stared at him, his slick, dark hair, his slender form, beautiful features. He understood? She shifted slightly against the counter. “Um, thanks,” she stuttered. “I didn’t expect you to understand. I thought you’d want to haul me back to Hell.”

He smiled at her. “Oh, I plan on hauling you back to Hell, don’t get me wrong. You have a job to do and you’re behind. I can’t punish people if you don’t bring them to me. I’m here to make sure you return.”

“But King said…” she began, bolting upright and splashing coffee everywhere.

“King—Raguel, that is—is one of the Kings of Hell, but he is just a demon, like you,” Lucifer said, his red eyes narrow slits as he glared at her. “I am the Angel of Death, the Ruler of Hell. I determine who can come and go. Me…and me alone. Don’t you ever forget that. Raguel gave that up when he wanted to open that silly coffee shop using my Kingdom as a branding tool.” He stood, his features tight against his face as he strained against every word he spewed her way. “I am Lucifer, Satan, the Devil. I rule Hell!” He hit her table, knocking his mug over, sending coffee spraying in every direction.

She yelped at his outburst, dropping her own cup to shatter on the floor as she jumped slightly. “Yes, your Evilness,” she squeaked as she bowed her head, arms straight at her sides, fingers splayed wide. Then, she glanced up at him, pleading in her gaze. “But please don’t make me go back,” she begged. “Please. I’ll do anything. I just can’t watch people die anymore. Surely, there’s someone else.”

He narrowed his eyes at her, c*****g his head to the side as he studied her. “Anything, huh? You would really do anything to stay out of Hell and remain here in Black Hollow?”

She nodded emphatically. “Yes, anything. Anything at all. Just name it.”

He studied her some more, running his tongue over his lips. “I’ll need to think on it, but we might just be able to strike a deal, and you know how I just love a good deal.”

“Any deal you want,” she said, her words a rush as they passed her lips. “Just name it.”

“You, of all people—or demons—should know better than to agree to my terms before you’ve heard them.” He stood straighter, fixing his pristine button-down shirt as he preened in front of her. “Very well. I will take some time to think about it, and will tell you my terms. In the meantime, you may carry on with your newfound monotonous life.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, her voice trembling. “Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Lucifer said as he smoothed out his dark hair, which was truly unnecessary. “You haven’t heard my terms yet.” He grinned at her as he ran his finger through the spilt coffee on the table. He lifted his finger and sucked the liquid off his finger. Glancing down at the rest of the coffee spreading across the wooden table, he said, “I really should see about getting me one of these coffeemakers for Hell.” He glanced back up at her, his expression blank. “I’ll be back.” He then turned and left without another word.

Meredith watched him leave, her nerves a jumbled mess until she heard the door click shut. She wasn’t sure what scared her more—the fact that he found her, or the deal she might have to strike in order to remain in Black Hollow.