Lilith - TI3 (36 page)

"Oh. Forgive my rudeness. This is Agra... and I’m Kali. You know, those bitches who own the Sisterhood... the ones you want to teach a lesson to."

"Well, Kali... Apparently there's a misunderstanding here. Maybe I misinterpreted your intentions. How about we let bygones be bygones, eh? We can start over and just enjoy the moment. What do you say?" Giving her a boyish grin, he was sure he could charm them.

"How about we don’t," hissed Kali, unimpressed. "Instead, how about you tell me where I can find your boss and I make your death less painful."

Lenny laughed. This one was a hoot.

"Sure. What ever you say," he responded, sarcastically.
Stupid bitch!  
he thought.

"Oh I wouldn’t say that."

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Lenny wasn’t sure what to say. Growing tired of the verbal sparring, he decided to end the discussion.

"Listen, bitch, I’m ti…"

Before he could finish his sentence he felt his throat grabbed and fingers pressed forcefully against the veins in his neck. A sharp pain in his chest made him look down. Lenny was sure he had been stabbed but didn’t see any knife protruding. The grip on his throat tightened making him gasp and grab at the hand choking him. There wasn't one. Finding nothing but his own skin, he panicked and grabbed at his shirt collar, thinking it was the source of the choking sensation.

Agra, who had been standing quietly a few feet away, stepped in front of him making eye contact.

"Now, where do we find Freddie?"

"At... at... 323 Fifteenth," he gasped, turning red as the pressure increased. Temples pounding, he felt faint and clawed at the invisible hand. Nails tore the skin on his neck and blood poured from the scratches, staining his shirt.

Jimmy watched in horror. His boss struggled in vain against the same force that was holding him captive. Although he could breathe he knew if he tried to escape he would suffer the same fate.

The stain on Lenny's shirt spread as he frantically ripped at the flesh trying to get enough air to breathe. Blood sprayed from his right jugular. Eyes bulging, he stared in horror when he realized he had severed the veins.

"Don’t worry. You won’t feel any more pain," promised the voice. "At least not in this life."

Slumping to the pavement, Lenny’s body twitched and then lay still. Agra turned to Jimmy, whose eyes had widened in terror.

"You want to live?"

Nodding yes, he relaxed a little as the grip on his neck eased slightly.

"Good. Do as I say and I might spare you, understand?"

Again he nodded, swallowing painfully.

"Take your whore and Margo to the hospital and make sure they are treated for their injuries... and pray neither of them die. Then you can haul this piece of shit to Freddie’s place and tell him we'll be paying him a visit... soon."

"Ye... Yes ma’am."

"And Jimmy, if anything happens to any more of my whores, I’m coming after you. From now on, your life depends on their welfare. Now, go!"

Gently lifting Margo to her feet, he escorted her to the SUV and then came back for Lenny. The two women had disappeared. Looking at Stumpy’s body, he decided to leave it alone as he dragged the dead man to the car and wrapped his body in a rain coat that had been thrown on the floor behind the driver's seat. Shifting Candy onto the rear seat, he dumped his boss’s body in the back and then climbed in and drove off. Sweat poured down his face. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he flinched at his pale reflection and then gasped as two fiery red eyes stared angrily back at him. Once he took care of the whores and gave Freddie their message, Jimmy was leaving town. He couldn't be blamed for anything if he wasn't around.

K
ALI AND AGRA returned to the nightclub. Agra had calmed down once she knew Margo and Candy were going to be fine. When they saw Lilith and Yemaya working behind the bar, they couldn’t resist teasing them.

"Hey! Barkeep!" yelled Kali. "Two beers and hurry up!"

"Yeah! How come two thirsty women can’t get a cold beer in this place?"

"Did you hear something?" asked Yemaya, looking at Lilith, innocently.

"No. Why?"

"I thought I did. I must be imagining things."

"It’s the job. Sometimes you think you hear strange noises... take my word for it, it’s nothing more than static."

"Did you hear that, Kali? We’ve just been relegated to nothing," exclaimed Agra.

"I’m crushed," replied the dark demoness. "And to think we actually worked here once."

"Yeah. Maybe we need to find new jobs. It’s nice to be appreciated now and then."

"You know, Yemaya, you may be right. I believe I’m hearing voices too," said Lilith.

"Really? Well, just ignore them and maybe they will go away."

"Good idea."

"Okay ladies. We get the point. Now get out of here and let us do our jobs," ordered Kali, pushing the two women out of the way. "I hope you two haven't messed up my filing system."

"It’s about time," Lilith said. "And no we didn't. Now how about making Yemaya and the girls some drinks for helping to hold down the shop."

"Sure boss... and thanks."

"I take it everything turned out ok?"

"For now. Kali and I have some business to finish but we can take care of it later."

Agra quickly outlined what had happened. Lilith knew better than to ask what they had in mind.

"Let me know if I can help. This Freddie sounds like he could use a little lesson. Now, I need to talk with Dis. I’ll let him know you’re sending some new arrivals. He’ll love that," chuckled Lilith.

Did they just discuss their business in front of Yemaya and Dakota?

Waving goodbye to Yemaya, Dakota and Cammie, the demoness disappeared into her office and then vanished.

T
HE GATES WERE impenetrable, except to those who belonged. No key, no force had been able to open them in tens of thousands of years but they opened effortlessly at Lilith's approach... and closed swiftly behind her. Several demons stopped to see who had arrived. Seeing the Underlord's ex, then went about their business, secretly enjoying the knowledge that Dis was probably going to catch hell from her for something. It was comforting to know that his life wasn't always fun and games.

As she strolled toward the fiery castle rising majestically above the lower levels of the Underworld, she stopped occasionally to chat with a demon or minion to catch up on the latest gossip. At the entrance of Dis's estate stood Cerberus, his three-headed guard dog. Lilith scratched his ears affectionately, amused at his puppy-like enthusiasm. She had always been fond of the giant beast. His ferocious reputation was well earned, but he was a softie around the demoness. She was one of the few who took the time to play "fetch the demini"with him, a game that terrified the small creatures that scurried through the Underworld, gathering the cast-off possessions of the other inhabitants. Knowing Cerberus would never hurt them, Lilith would grab one and throw it in the air, much to the delight of Dis's watchdog. Catching it in one mouth, he would spit it out and then retrieve it with one of his other mouths before it landed on the ground. Lilith would then pluck it from between his teeth, shake the drool off the demini and send it scurrying into the darkness. One of Cerberus’s heads would smile happily, while the other two looked at the demonish expectantly, hoping another demini would show up.

Dis watched as his ex-wife played with his pet. Eyes gleaming a bright reddish brown, he chuckled when two of the heads curled up their lips playfully while the third stuck out a tongue giving her a quick lick. Almost as old as the Underlord, Cerberus rarely exposed his playful side. It was good to see it now and then. Dis was afraid his oldest companion was beginning to feel his age. Picking up his robe, he slipped it over his shoulders and tied the belt loosely around his waist. He walked into his living room just as Lilith entered through the hall door.

"Don’t you ever knock?" he gruffed, good-naturedly.

"Why? You know I’m here the moment the gates open."

"True, but it would be the polite thing to do."

Lilith snickered.

"As if you ever cared about that."

Shaking his head, he chuckled. Lilith knew him too well.

"So, what is it you think I have done now?" he asked, resorting to his usual placating demeanor. Lilith never visited him unless she thought he had done something wrong.

"Now what makes you say that? Unless you have of course."

"You never come to the Underworld anymore unless you think I've done something. No reason to believe this is a friendly visit."

Lilith smirked. Dis was right. Over the millennia her journeys to his fiery domain had grown fewer and fewer.

"Then there's no reason for me to pretend, is there?"

The dark Underlord laughed and motioned for her to sit. Walking to a small refrigerator, he opened the door and pulled out two chilled bottles of coke.

"Humans would be so appalled to know we drink this stuff," he said, holding up the small plastic bottles, "or that we have ice here."

Handing Lilith one, he tapped his against hers in a toast.

"So. What can I do for you? This isn't about those whores again? I've told you I’m too busy entertaining to take an interest in such trivial matters. I don't have to collect souls anymore. The humans are quite proficient at condemning themselves to damnation. My coffers are overflowing with lost souls."

"So you say."

"Surely you of all people don’t doubt me. You live in their world. Can you honestly say they have gotten any better in the last ten thousand years? All I see is death and destruction in the name of their gods... and then I get blamed for their failings... as if they needed any help with that. Besides, I'll gladly arrange a tour to the belly of my dungeons if you'd like to see for yourself. I may have to expand them if things don't slow down."

Lilith couldn’t argue the point. The newest trend of the religious right becoming more righteous was disturbing but she was sure the pendulum would swing the other way eventually. It always did.

"No. I believe you. Humans are still experimenting with their beliefs. They're a young species but I think they'll learn in time."

Dis snorted.

"You always were an optimist, Lily. Perhaps that's why you are... were my favorite wife. I guess the transformation from human to demon wasn't as complete as I thought. This new breed, however, think they should sacrifice all for the glory of one, whether it is one god or one of their own. That’s their weakness and also why I will always win."

"No, Dis. That’s why you’ll eventually lose. You think nothing of sacrificing everything as long as it makes you happy. Those who follow you do so out of fear, not love. Given a better choice they would abandon you without a second thought."

Dis half-smiled to himself. He wasn’t stupid. There were few demons in the Underworld who weren’t ambitious. Most of the inhabitants would destroy him in less than a heartbeat if they had the guts. The only thing between him and annihilation was his Twin and a few loyal demons. He and his brother were equally powerful. If the Underlord ever lost his throne, the Legion of the Elite and the rest of the demons would have to serve his Twin and life for them would be a different hell... one of righteousness. Even he found the thought revolting. Chuckling at the irony, he looked up and grinned at her. It was satisfying to know that no one in his domain wanted that and therefore no one dared to overthrow him.

"And that’s the beauty of it, isn't it? Who here wants my job? I’m the only thing that stands between my brother and them... and there isn’t one demon or minion that wants to give up what they have here for his
paradise.
"