Ruby Shadows Read online

  “Ah, you must have magic of your own, my dear. Otherwise the Mirror of the Eye would never have opened to you,” Belial murmured, breaking my concentration.

  “The what?” I asked distractedly, still watching Grams go about her tasks. She looked so old and bent—her hair grayer than I remembered it from even a few days ago. I wished with all my heart I was there to help her—wished I could put my arms around her and tell her that I loved her and I was all right…

  “The Mirror of the Eye—it is made from the lens of Beelzebub’s right eye, you know,” Belial replied in a scholarly tone. “The left one was destroyed when Michael the Archangel plunged his fiery sword into it and killed the great demon at the Second Battle of Antioch.”

  “So…it’s a magic mirror?” I asked. The picture of Grams faded and I was finally able to drag my gaze away.

  “It is—but only for those who have power of their own. An ordinary mortal would have seen nothing but a cracked surface.”

  “That’s what I saw at first,” I confessed. “But then it changed.”

  “And what, may I ask, did it show you, my dear?” Belial sounded intensely interested.

  “It showed me my Grams—locking up her shop for the day. She looked…so old and…and alone.” I tried to choke back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. Suddenly I was swamped in a miserable wave of homesickness. I was tired of being threatened and frightened and chased all over Hell—I just wanted to go home and hug my grandmother.

  “Ah, then you must have true love in your heart for her.” Belial nodded sagely. “The first thing the mirror shows us is that which we truly love and desire. A power hungry individual might see himself as the CEO of a large corporation. One who desires wealth might see himself living in a mansion or holding stacks of cash.”

  “So was what I saw real?” I asked, confused. “I mean, was that really my Grams or just an image of her because I miss her so much and want to see her again so badly?”

  “Oh, it was real, all right,” Belial said, tugging at his beard. “The mirror never lies.”

  “So…I could get it to show me my Grams again? Or someone else?” My head was whirling as I considered the possibilities.

  Belial nodded, his shiny black horns glinting in the low light.

  “When you have enough power, you can compel the mirror to show you the person or persons you love. But you must be careful—the mirror is not a one way portal—while you are looking out, someone or something else may be looking in at you.”

  “Ugh, what an awful thought.” I put my arms around myself, feeling a sudden chill. “Someone like who?”

  Belial shrugged. “Someone who loves you…or someone who means you harm, either is possible. You may even see someone who can help you…or someone who desperately needs your help. The mirror is difficult if not impossible to predict. That is what makes it so dangerous.”

  “All right.” I got up from the couch and smiled at him. “This has all been so fascinating but does Laish happen to have a bathtub or shower on this floor somewhere? Our journey so far hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing and I would love to wash up.”

  Belial nodded.

  “As to that, I am certain you will enjoy Lord Laish’s bathing pool.”

  “Ooo, a bathing pool?” I hurried to take his arm again when he held it out. “That sounds really interesting. Does it have hot water and bubble bath to go with it?”

  The old demon smiled at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

  “I am certain it can be arranged. Would you also like me to send you up a tray of supper? Ask for anything you like, our chefs can prepare it.”

  “Oh, thank you but I can’t,” I said, trying to refuse his kind offer as politely as I could. “You see, I’m just a, uh, tourist in Hell and I don’t want to get stuck here.”

  He frowned slightly. “So you have brought your own food from the Mortal Realm, then?”

  “Originally, yes,” I said. “Unfortunately, the container I had which was spelled to provide it, got broken beyond repair the very first night I was here.”

  Belial shook his head sympathetically.

  “You poor child—you must be so hungry if you’ve had no food for so long. I do wish we could accommodate you but alas, all of our food comes from the Infernal Realm and I fear it would trap you here indefinitely.”

  “Oh, I’m not hungry,” I said, wanting to make him feel better. “Laish has been feeding me himself.”

  “He has?” Both eyebrows shot up this time, making the old demon look like he had a furry gray caterpillar crawling across his forehead.

  “Well, yes,” I said hesitantly. “I mean, he cuts his wrist with this little knife and lets a few drops of blood fall on a plate. Then they turn into whatever I ask for. So you see, I’m perfectly fine.”

  Belial was shaking his head in disbelief.

  “I cannot believe it,” he muttered. “I simply cannot believe it.”

  “Believe what? Isn’t it okay?” The little seed of doubt that had been planted in my heart grew another inch. “I mean, the food he’s been making me won’t trap me here, will it? He promised me it wouldn’t. He said—”

  “No, no—it is perfectly safe to eat.” The old demon made an impatient motion with one hand. “I am just…very surprised at him offering it to you. Forgive me, my dear, but though you’re very pretty, you’re only a mortal. For Lord Laish to offer you the Sacrifice of Blood…”

  “Only a mortal?” I asked, bristling a little. “Does that make me less valuable for some reason? Less worthy of Laish’s interest?”

  “Not as such…” Belial seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “But you must understand, my dear, you mortals have such a very short life span—over in the blink of an eye. I could understand if Lord Laish wished to keep you in the Infernal Realm—to serve as his concubine for eternity. But he is going out of is way not to damn your soul. It makes no sense for him to take such pains for you.”

  “It makes perfect sense to me,” I said coolly, taking my hand off his arm. “Laish knows I don’t want to stay in Hell.”

  “Yes, yes, but…” He tugged at his long gray beard. “How can I put it? It would be like you putting yourself through a great deal of pain and agony simply to feed a pet ant which you knew would be dead in a couple of days.”

  “So now I’m his pet?” I was really angry now. “I don’t think so!”

  Belial made me a sweeping bow which looked awkward and uncomfortable with his humped back.

  “Please, forgive me if I offended you, my dear—it was not done intentionally. I was simply…surprised. That’s all.”

  “Surprised that Laish could care for a mortal?” I asked stiffly.

  “Well, yes, to be candid.” Belial shrugged his hunched shoulders. “Then again, one thing I have always liked about Lord Laish was his ability to violate my expectations. He has always had a mind of his own—even when I first found him and he was new to our realm.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. I wasn’t exactly ready to accept his apology about the whole “pet” thing—which was pretty freaking offensive—so I just nodded. We left the library and retraced our steps to the top of the spiral staircase where the carpet began in the right hand hallway.

  “This half of the Citadel is reserved for Lord Laish’s private living quarters,” Belial explained in a subdued voice. “Please make yourself at home and I will have a selection of bathing products sent up to you presently.”

  “Thank you,” I said shortly. Then, feeling bad because he looked like an old dog that had been kicked I added, “And thank you for the tour. It was very interesting.”

  The old demon brightened up a little bit.

  “I am so glad you enjoyed it. I do love to show people around the Citadel. And…” He hesitated for a moment. “And I do hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive my ill chosen words about your mortality. After all, if Lord Laish has chosen to open himself to you and offer you the Sacrifice of Blood, I