Page 6 of A Subtle Scar
A human came down the hallway next but stopped short when he saw me.
“Oh. Hi there. How’d you get in?”
My eyes dropped to his throat where a choker was well visible above his sepia shirt. The pendant had a little Devil image on it, meaning he had to be the boyfriend. I could see why Lucy had gone for this one—pale, stunningly cute, and large, golden eyes framed by long lashes and shadowed by generous copper-brown bangs.
You could say many things about the Devil, but not that he didn’t have an eye for pretty things.
“Door,” I said and pointed. “I’m Charon. You must be Lionel. Happiest of birthdays to you on this day of balance, and many more to come.”
That seemed to relax him, and I got back to my shoes, ignoring the dog for the time being. For all I knew, Lucy’s angel had trained her to attack all those who kept their shoes on in the house, and I was not going to endanger my toes.
“You mean, you aretheCharon?” the boyfriend said and took a step toward me. “The ferryman? From the myths?”
“Well, that’s what humans have made of me. Human myth and reality aren’t always the same.” I stood, now in just my dark lace stockings. “But you must know that, seeing as you’re Lucy’s.”
His cheeks pinked prettily, just one more attribute I knew would get the Devil week in the knees. “I know,” Lionel said, and when I tossed my boots on the pile by the door and gave him another look, I saw a flicker of what I’d heard about him down the grapevine.
“You really do have divine blood in you, don’t you?” I asked.
Lionel bent forward to pet the helldog, but gasped and blushed deeper in the middle of the move. I could guess why that was, especially if he was Lucy’s all the way. The Devil liked to mark what was his and prolong pleasure, but at the same time, he’d want a lover ready. Lionel was likely plugged and had been for a good chunk of the day.
“Y-yeah,” he said. “It’s…complicated. But I’m a demigod.” He pointed over his shoulder. “Party’s that way. Not that I asked Lucy to throw a party, but he’s clearly trying for it to be an orgy anyway. I told him I didn’t want that and didn’t need it. But, you know. Thanks for coming.”
I cocked my head. “It is my pleasure to meet you. I’m not sure I understand—parties and orgies are the same things. Or should be. Or used to be. Are there still bacchanals in human circles?”
Lionel looked at me as we walked down the hallway. I pulled his gift out of my pocket when we got to the already laden gift table in one of the rooms. He saw me put it there and looked away, embarrassed.
“Fuck, you too? People didn’t have to get me stuff. You don’t even know me.”
I felt the air move, and Lucy appeared because like Hermes, he was a teleporter.
“Babe, what do you say?” He pulled Lionel close and squeezed the smaller man’s ass in a way that confirmed my earlier suspicions and made Lionel gasp all over again.
“Mmmn, thanks…thank you, Charon,” he said, obeying Lucifer in a way that would please the Devil.
“Lucy, a joyful Equinox to you. Your boyfriend seems both charming and well trained.”
The Devil smiled, turning his head so his black hair shimmered in the light. It was very shiny hair. My hair was nice but straight, and Lucy’s natural curl just made it catch the light differently, like a gemstone. I tried to ignore it.
The Devil said, “And a happy day of balance to you, Charrie. But while you flatter me, my Nelly is actually quite stubborn. He required diligent breaking in and still needs constant attention so he doesn’t forget his training.”
“I’m not a fucking horse, Beelzebug!” Lionel said, and I could very much see how the pretty half-god had not just attracted Lucy but locked him in tight. He was cute, but not without a bite to him. Someone like Lucy wouldn’t have been able to resist.
As if to prove it, Lucy said, “But haven’t I just ridden you like an hour ago, babe?” The Devil had a smile on his angelic face and looking like he had a halo somewhere too.
“Well, you two figure that out,” I said and took a step to walk past them, then stopped. “Unless you’d rather I stay and watch?”
“Aah, Charrie,” Lucy said and squeezed Lionel’s butt again. “So tempting.”
Lionel squawked and stopped petting the helldog, who scurried off like a good helldog. “Wait, what?” He was turning crimson.
“And he’s shy as well?” I asked.
“Quite,” the Devil purred, reeling in his lover.
“No; no-oh, nothing public, I told you that,” Lionel said and pushed the Devil off, or tried to, at any rate.
“Yet,” Lucy said.
