Page 48 of Devil Bound
I’d gotten a pretty decent view of the bright and airy room last night.There was a fluffy carpet to the left of the door that I’d noticed yesterday, and the throne-like reading chair angled so it overlooked the forest outside.There wasn’t a wardrobe to be seen though, and that posed a potential problem.Exploring wasn’t my first choice, but I had no other options.Ideally, I’d find some kind of blanket I could wear toga-style.
I walked around the freestanding wall to check out that part of the room.
I gasped.“Wow.So this is how immortals live.”
This section was as large as the area with the bed, maybe even larger.A bathroom lay on my right, partitioned off from what was an oversized dressing room by just a glass wall.There was a half wall that looked as if it was allowing some privacy while using the toilet, but you’d be able to look at whoever was showering in there while you were getting dressed, and vice versa.
From the bathroom, you had a view of the grounds, where the tree tops thinned to reveal a lake large enough for a small sailing competition.It was a view you’d be able to enjoy while you did all the things one did in a bathroom, and it was just plain creepy, in my professional necromantic opinion.No one wanted to interact with the outside world in any way in a bathroom.
I would have liked to take a shower, but there was no way in hell I was doing that here, not when Lucifer or whoever else was around might walk in on me any moment and see my bare ass.
“I’ll just shower when I’m home and I’ve had some coffee.Wash away all of this,” I mumbled.Soul barked.At least someone approved.
Clothes.I had to stay focused.I turned to the humungous wardrobe that took up the other half of the room.A brief hunt resulted in a T-shirt that looked like a cocktail dress on me in terms of size, and a pair of sweatpants I had to roll up a few times so they wouldn’t drag around my ankles.
The shoes didn’t fit at all, but I was okay fleeing the house barefoot, and that was exactly what I intended to do.
I turned to find Soul glaring and growling, but since it was the cursed poodle’s default setting, I just stepped around her and headed for the door.The knob turned easily, and the door swung open without a sound.
The second floor had been poorly lit last night, and I could see why now.From up here, you could look down at what had looked like a huge ballroom to me yesterday.In daylight, it appeared to be exactly that, and it was probably only lit for balls or whatever the equivalent was when the Devil was the host.
The balcony I stood on rounded the walls and spread off deeper into the building to my left.I could see two more closed doors opposite Lucifer’s bedroom, but from the quiet, the Devil liked his privacy and the ability to loom over people from up here.I was neither surprised nor impressed.
On bare feet, I turned right toward the staircase no doubt designed so Lucifer could impress the guests of whatever parties he might throw here as he strode down the steps.I tried to make as little noise as possible, but Soul had hurried out the door after me, her claws clicking on the marble and wooden floors.
“Just go away,” I told the dog as I finally got to the first floor, and damn.The ballroom had a few marble columns, and many statues.One was Hekate, and I was pretty sure I could make out Atalanta and her bears, but I wasn’t going to linger.I turned to the room with the big-ass fireplace and the suggestive painting.
I was almost at the front door, my non-walk of shame so close to complete, when Metatron stepped into my path from an archway to my right.She wore pink shorts and an equally pink crop top, displaying her runner’s physique.With her curls perfectly styled, the angel looked like candy.
“You cannot leave,” she informed me, her eyes narrowing as if she’d spotted a cockroach on her shiny floors.
I froze.I had to get out.There was an embarrassing moment in which I asked myself what a cockroach would do, but I got over that and instead met the angel’s unyielding gaze.
“Let’s be reasonable.”
She snorted.“What are you?A fucking comedian?”
I opened my mouth to argue with her, but unfortunately, no words came out.
26
Lionel
“Whatareyou?Afucking comedian?”
Given the state of me, with my stolen clothes that made me look as if I’d shrunk in the wash, the angel’s question was justified, especially when my speechlessness made me look like I was goldfish breathing for laughs.
Metatron frowned and put a hand on her hip.I lowered my head, feeling guilty even though I wasn’t sure exactly what for.
She spoke again.“You have to have your damn breakfast juice.”She made a sharp noise of displeasure.“You should’ve brought some of your clothes.”
Juice.Ugh, no.Hers was good, but it wasn’t food.I had real food at home.There was my emergency apple and peanut butter, and that was going to be a very healthy breakfast, with the added bonus that I’d be able to use my teeth.
Bolstering myself with the knowledge that I’d faced down zombies and succeeded in killing them before they could hurt anyone, I straightened and looked the angel in pink straight in the eye.
“I’m not staying.I’m leaving.Where’s my phone?”
Metatron jerked her head.“Kitchen.”
