Hell's Requiem (Book 2)

Chapter 27

“Why yes, that he is indeed.”

The shock on the faces of my two companions, and on my own, only increased when the voice that spoke confirmed my words.

The file dropped from my hands, the papers bursting free and fluttering to the floor, and I backed away from the door several steps. Shock and dismay had my heart pounding in my chest, though I was not nearly so afraid as I might once have been to have him catch me snooping around in his private office. Having both Frank and Lucas there with me helped with that somewhat, had I been there alone I may have felt different, I was confident we could hold the upper hand, three against one, no matter what tricks Malick might be hiding up his sleeves.

“I see you've taken it upon yourself to rummage around in my private files. I'm guessing you've found what you were looking for? Was finding out who fathered you really worth all of this?” Malick stared at me as he idly ran his long, spindly fingers over the loose papers now strewn over his desk.

I did not shy away from his gaze, rather stared him down in defiance. “Hardly. Though I've got to admit it's created a boatload of new questions I need to start asking, like what the hell is the Revelator's Requiem? And why would Lucifer be fathering Hybrids?”

“My my, you have been busy haven't you. Or have you been here far longer than I was led to believe?” His beady black eyes flicked behind him and I looked back to see Lucas slinking further away, as if trying to hide in the shadows. My eyes widened as I took in his meaning and Lucas shook his head.

“You! You told him we were here?” I asked, or more accurately yelled; suddenly furious with my supposed old friend. “I should have known when you were so eager to help, when you turned up out of the blue. I should have guessed you were just out to get me again. Every man for himself, right? That's how it works down here. I should never have been so stupid as to trust someone other than myself.”

“No, no, Rayne, you don't understand. It's not like that.” Lucas tried to plead his innocence, but I wasn't buying it.

“Did you tell him we were here, or not?”

“Well, yes, I did....but...”

“Then it's exactly like that. You betrayed me, and I should have seen it coming.”

“If you could put a halt to the pity party for just a moment,” Malick interrupted us, the scorn he was feeling for us all evident in his voice, “perhaps we could discuss what is really the issue here. As you seem so determined to find out information that is not privy to so, not matter how much I've been trying to keep it from you, perhaps it is time learned the truth. It may prove to be more useful to you than any fantastical tale you're formulating for yourself. Sit!”

I was reluctant to do anything he said, not to mention I was seething with anger at Lucas, so I stared hard at the pair of them, crossed my arms across my chest and shook my head.

“Why the hell should I believe anything either of you say.”

“You don't need to believe them,” Malick said as he sank himself leisurely down into his carved wooden chair. “But while you're here, you do have to sit and listen. You're intruding in my personal chambers, it is the very least you can expect to have to do. Whether you choose to believe what I tell you or not is entirely on your own head. But you will sit, and you will listen, is that clear.”

I wanted to argue, I did not wand tot just blindly obey him. This wicked old demon had been out to get me the whole time, I didn't trust him, he'd turned someone I thought I could trust against me, and now I was expected to just do whatever he said. I opened my mouth to say about as much when Frank spoke up for the first time since Malick had entered the room.