Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(29)
Lucy could feel the enamel rubbing from her teeth as she ground them. “I have clients to take care of.”
Kalli’s eyes brightened like two giant amethysts. “I have styled many famous people’s hair. I can handle a few haircuts and perms.”
“What sort of experience?”
Kalli’s eyes glazed narrowed in thought. “Back in 1788, I styled Marie Antoinette’s wig.”
“Before or after they chopped off her head?”
Kalli rolled her eyes. “Before, of course.” She continued her résumé. “In 1534, I served Anne Boleyn.”
Interesting trend. Lucy snickered. “I suppose you styled Mary, Queen of Scotland’s hair, too?”
She crossed her arms. “I assure you, it was completely coincidental.”
“Darn. Because I would gladly let you style Mrs. Carlson’s hair.” Then again, that wasn’t very nice. No one deserved their head on a chopping block, even that old bat.
Kalli turned her glance to Rafe. “You can take Lucy home and teach her what you know. I’ll stop by after the shop’s closed to continue.” She turned to Lucy and flashed a wide smile. “And before you worry about sleep, demons don’t sleep, so we can train all night long.”
“No sleep?” Hell no! That was her favorite part of the day. Her lips curved downward even farther. “That sucks!”
Kalli shrugged. “If it’s something you wish for yourself, then it can be done. But why you’d want to do that is beyond me.”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than sleep.” At least that’s how it used to be. Ever since she laid eyes on that crazy chest, sleep was the last thing on her mind. “I consider it a hobby. I enjoy it.”
“It’s time to find a new hobby,” Kalli said with a quirk of her pierced brow.
Lucy put her arms behind her head and stretched out her legs. “I’d like to stay here for a few hours. I need to take care of a couple of things.”
Kalli bounded from the chair. “Fair enough. I can show you your new equipment.”
“Equipment?” she asked, her eyes bugging out.
Kalli jogged to one of the stations. “Yep. You’ve been upgraded.”
Chapter 8
Kalli pulled out a curling iron from the holder attached to the front of the counter. “Check this baby out.”
She held the curling iron out to Lucy, its shiny rod glinting against the bright fluorescent lights. “Notice anything about the barrel?”
She took the instrument and ran her fingertips across it. Besides the top, which had been carved into a sharp point, it resembled an everyday curling iron. She was supposed to stake demons with a curling iron?
“It’s silver!” Kalli, apparently thrilled by her ingenious invention, beamed. Then she whipped out a pair of shears. “But these may work better.”
Lucy arched an eyebrow. The idea of using scissors that she’d used to hack up a demon on a client left little to be desired. “I don’t have to cut hair with them, do I?”
“No, the silver is in case of an emergency, when an unwelcome demon attacks.” Kalli handed them to her.
“I take it silver and demons don’t mix?” Why couldn’t they have intolerance to some other heavy metal—like lead? It would be so much easier if she could just load a couple slugs into those pesky demons. Alas, life is never that simple.
Kalli nodded. “Fortunate for us less voracious fiends, we can take silver in small doses.” She twirled her labret piercing with her tongue—which, of course, had even more silver. Small doses?
Kalli handed her more items, all as silver as the ones before. A comb, a pick, even a bobby pin. “Even a touch of silver can cause the Infernati pain.” She placed the silver bobby pin in Lucy’s hand.
Maybe she could do them in by giving them a new hairdo. “Won’t it hurt me? I don’t think any angels have blessed me lately.”
“Good point.” Kalli glanced down at the fingers still gripping the pin. “Guess not,” she said with a pat to her back.
“Odd.” Rafe’s voice, even just that one word, teased Lucy’s ears, sending her into fits of excitement. He stood behind her, looking over her shoulder. “There could be a logical explanation. It’s best we exercise caution. She may be descended of the sect of Sexubis that severed.”
“How many sects do demons have?” Sect this, sect that. Here a sect, there a sect…
“Two,” Rafe replied, examining Kalli’s handiwork. He drew his fingertips against the shiny blade of the scissors and took the weapon in his hand. How Lucy wished it were her he stroked. Ugh! This sex demon stuff had to go. “The Infernati and the Paladins. Those who chose the dark path are Infernati, and those who strive for redemption choose the latter.”
Kalli nodded. “Lilu, the Sexubi king, chose the Paladins, but there were several who weren’t happy with that decision. They chose to join Belial, instead.”
Sexubi? Why were they worried? Obviously she was one of the good guys, right? Taking in both Kalli’s and Rafe’s serious expressions, there had to be more. “Okay, spill it.”
Rafe blew out a long breath of air. “You have yet to choose your side, and Belial can be very persuasive.” His warm gaze swept over her, calming one side, yet driving her naughty side bonkers. “You need our protection.”