Page 18 of Wicked Savior
ChapterTen
LUCIFER
The conversation with Evren was intriguing but not the least bit informative. I snort. That’s an understatement. But for some reason, I don’t even care. For the first time in a long while, both my body and brain are in sync… and fascinated… with her. Why though? She wasn’t even flirting.
What intel did I get? She kills angels with a knife. That’s it. Obviously, there must be something special about the weapon, yet she never said what. I meant to circle back to the knife on the next question, but her questions derailed my train of thought. Not to mention the smell of her.
What is she? Her incredible scent still lingers in my nose. I inhale deeply, then shake it off. Human, but with a tinge of power. Whatever she is, she’s bold. A scientist asking to examine my blood. I’m half tempted to let her just to see what she finds.
Striding into my study, I see Cormal is waiting for me. I was tempted to postpone the meeting, but it would only prove him right. He’s already too much of a smug bastard, with more than his fair share of power. I don’t want to feed his ego by acting how he expects. Besides, both Vargas and Ishkova, along with a platoon of demons, are watching over Evren right now. They’ll alert me if Gabriel shows up.
Cormal’s studying one of the Druid books on my desk.
“Care to comment on the accuracy of them?” I ask, dropping into the chair behind my desk.
The book drops to the desk with a thud. “Is this why you asked me here? For a lesson in the history of a forgotten race?” Blue eyes stare blankly into mine.
I retrieve the tome from the trash and show it to him. “This one was utter rubbish. Fabricated nonsense. If you think they’re all nonsense, tell me now.” I wave a hand at the papers on my desk. “I could use the time for something more important.”
He reads the title and laughs. “That one is a waste, but some are likely to have the truth. Or at least a version of it. Druids are secretive by nature.”
I toss the book back into the bin. “I’m making my way through each of them. Hopefully, the truth is in there somewhere.”
A wry twist of his mouth tells me what he thinks. “Not sure why you’re so interested in Druids. It’s a waste of time, if you ask me, but I know you have plenty to spare.”
Irritated, I gesture to his glass. “Don’t drink my good bourbon and think you can insult me. Just because I like you, doesn’t mean I won’t kill you. Understood?”
He chuckles. “Sorry, bad habit. Now, what do you want to talk about?”
Idly, I pick up the pen on my desk and twirl it in my fingers. “Underworld is stable. We’re not constantly at war with our enemies. And because of Arden and our recent assistance with the disposal of the Light Fae Queen, Underworld now has alliances with other races. Internal strife is also at an all-time low. We’re in a good place. Except for the masses. Peace goes a long way, but it doesn’t feed and house the people, give them purpose, or generate much loyalty. Am I right?”
Surprised by my answer, he answers truthfully. “They have to fight every day for the smallest of comforts. The world hasn’t changed much with you in power. Less fear of the world collapsing around them, but overall, it’s the same.”
That’s exactly what I think, too. “What if we gave them jobs that improved Underworld as a whole?” The image of Cormal’s skylight flashes in my mind. It’s incredibly dark and dismal around here, and while I’m sure the gothic theme is preferred by most of the population, we’re now a world of mixed races.
“Merfolk, water demons, ogres, nymphs, hellhounds and other creatures like your Nemean Lion, and so many others…” I begin, listing a few of our more interesting citizens. “They all have different needs. What if the masses were given jobs to build habitats for these various groups? Lakes, parks, forests, training courses… whatever they need to feel comfortable. Personally, I’d like to see your fabricated sunlight in some of these areas. Not everyone shares a love of the dark. Although that would mean you’d have to share the secret of its design.”
For the first time since I’ve known him, Cormal looks stunned. “Who would pay the workers? You?”
“Underworld,” I reply. There’s plenty of money in the coffers, especially when you’re not spending it on war. It’s another reason I was so infuriated with myself when I saw the people in the market. The boy pickpocketing for payment. He deserves a choice. Pickpocket, work for the Underworld, or…
I lean forward. “Also, what do you think of a university of some type? A place where Underworld citizens could get specialized education. Or send their children. Magical and practical. An engineer who builds magnificent feats like the Underworld Market. Or a doctor who heals all races. They can choose their own path.”
I pause, waiting for Cormal to digest the information and decide if he truly wants the best for the people who count on him for their livelihood or if he only cares about his empire.
Cormal downs the rest of the bourbon in his glass and holds it out for more. “This is going to take more than one glass.”
Satisfied I picked the right man to assist me, I wave a hand and the decanter appears. “Let’s get to work.”
Two hours later, we’ve got an outline of the initial plan to build the habitats. The university is going to take more thought as well as some guidance from others whose expertise is in education, but we’ve made a lot of progress in a short amount of time.
Cormal stands. “We’ll need a pretty large team to manage it all. I’ll send you a few supervisors who I think will be the most qualified for this project. You can interview them, see if they’ll work, and add the best to your staff.” He clears his throat. “Orlo is one of them. He’s incredibly smart and deserves a chance to be more than he is today.”
I lift a shoulder. “If the Nemean Lion wants the job, he’ll need to interview well. The competition will be stiff. It’s entirely up to him, though. I won’t stand in his way.”
Cormal tilts his head. “I must admit, you constantly surprise me, and it’s quite fucking uncomfortable. Why can’t you be the predictable, power-hungry bastard like the Devil?” With those words, he disappears.
I scowl.
