Page 105 of Spit

“Who are you?” I asked.

The bald man smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “My name is on the door.”

My shadow sniffed before shrinking back. That was unusual. He didn’t usually act cagey around demons unless they were Mr. Bub.

“Cecil Phagia?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Just so.” He mimicked the gesture.

“And your mission in life is to make as many burgers as possible, I’m guessing?”

“I can see why Legion likes you. Such a quick tongue. I’d wager that making snotty barbs isn’t the only thing it’s good at.” The bald man kept his genteel smile, though it curled at the edge, turning cruel.

My hand fluttered to my chest. “I’m hurt.”

“Good.” He sniffed, reaching into his top drawer and pulling out a candy bar. He took the time to peel the wrapper away before taking a bite. I would have murdered him for that candy bar if I didn’t have a desire to get some answers.

“How do you know Legion?” I kept my voice light, uninterested.

Cecil raised both of his brows. “Hasn’t Legion mentioned me? You think he would. Haven’t I been mourned? Hasn’t he missed me?”

I said nothing.

Cecil waved his hand in disgust before stuffing the rest of the candy bar in my mouth. He chewed with his mouth open, and my nose wrinkled in disgust as I watched the chocolate break apart in his mouth and stain his teeth.

After the CEO swallowed the rest of his candy bar, he wiped his fingers on his filthy T-shirt. “I went by Camio once upon a time.”

I blinked, my eyes fluttering as I digested the information before I could shut down the emotions playing on my face. Camio—one of Legion’s facets.

Camiowas part of Legion.

“Camio.” I echoed. “The steward of Gluttony.” I looked around the office with renewed interest. The black and white photos of cows on the far wall showed their round innocent eyes framed with long lashes. “This is your company?”

“It always was.” Camio knitted his fingers together and sat back in his chair. “But then I died. Didn’t I?”

“How did you swing that?” I crossed my arms over my chest and rocked back on my heels. “How did you fake your death when you’re bonded to Legion? If you want him here too badly, give him a call. I bet he’d rush right over if he found out his brother wasn’t actually dead.”

Camio swung his leg onto the table; he pulled his pants up at the ankle to reveal a skeletal leg. A band of silver wrapped around his ankle. “Devil’s silver. Burns like a fucker, but it stops the bond.”

“Devil’s silver is rare,” I noted.

“It is.” He agreed. “I melted down a blade to make the anklet. I didn’t think that I would be able to find more until the scepter fell into my lap.”

“And Mars and Quinn? What were they? An experiment? A test subject? A fishing lure to try and get Legion here to you can kill him?”

Camio threw his head back and let out a laugh. “I want to be free like anyone else would. If I’m found, I’ll be thrown back into the tiny cell in purgatory to rot. If I die, I’ll cease to exist.”

“Why are you torturing Quinn?” I demanded. “You’re pumping him full of Devil’s silver!”

Camio chuffed a laugh. “They are collateral damage.”

“What did they ever do to you?” My fists were clenched, and my jaw was stiff.

“You are a child, Ms. Boudaire. You have known Legion and his merry band of facets for less than a month, yet you go to bat for them? We are demons. We might have been angels once, but there was a reason we fell. Each of us succumbed to the sin that binds us. I wished to experience the world. To experience everything in abundance. I did not care that I killed off the last of the demons left after the war. I consumed their flesh though I did not need sustenance, simply because I was free to do so.”

“And the others?” My voice hitched.

“The first circle not only encompasses Pride but also Lies and deception. The devil ruled over lies, with Legion as the king of pride. My brother did not see what was staring him in the face—that the devil did not betray God for any reason other than he could. It was fun. He enjoyed it, just as I enjoy Gluttony. Legion believed the devil had a cause, and in that, he was blinded by his pride.”

---