Steal the Light (Thieves #1)(92)

It stood to reason that Halfer had to trick me. I wouldn’t have gone into the trap willingly. But I wasn’t an ordinary mark. I’d been around this world long enough to be naturally suspicious. If he’d pressed me with anything beyond a fairly simple plan and a gigantic wad of cash, I would have looked more closely before I agreed. The problem with Halfer’s plans lay in the details.

I turned and faced the demon who had tried to trick me, and I gave him the same shit-eating grin he’d used on me.

“I invoke my right to a satan,” I said triumphantly.





Chapter Twenty-Five





“How may I be of service?” the small demon asked in a business-like voice.

He was small, almost cherubic, if it weren’t for the cloven hooves and small horns on his bald, red head. He was about as different from Lucas Halfer’s masculine threat as you could get. He was, of course, still a demon spawn. It would be a mistake to underestimate him and give in to the almost overwhelming desire to pinch those cute little cheeks.

In Hell, there is a small but important class of demons called satans. This should not be confused with the big guy. He goes by Lucifer, and you seriously don’t want to summon him. I’ve heard he doesn’t like to be bothered. A satan, however, can be summoned by anyone with a contract. Satans are the keepers and interpreters of contracts. If you have a contract with a demon and want clarification on anything from when the contract is fulfilled to how often your new demon master can perform a colonoscopy on you, you consult a satan. They are judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to contracts.

“Ah, Bri…,” the small demon started to use Halfer’s name. “I apologize. You prefer Halfer on the Earth plane. Now, what exactly is the nature of the argument?”

Halfer’s curved fangs made an appearance. “There is no argument. The girl is insignificant. My contract is now with the vampire.”

The satan turned, frowning and making a little disapproving clucking sound. “You are writing a contract on a vampire? Does the Council know? You’re not allowed to contract with a vampire without counsel present.”

“I have followed your rules, you paper pusher.” Halfer snarled, a disdainful sound. “You’ll find the contract will stand. Everything is on the table. The vampire is entering it willingly, and the Council will abjure him.”

“Then why have I been called?” His small cloven hoof tapped against the floor.

I stepped forward. “I called you because Daniel, the vampire, hasn’t signed anything yet. Since he hasn’t signed anything, my contract is still in play. I think I should have my argument settled before any other business is taken care of.”

“Zoey, stop this.” Daniel reached out for me, but I stepped away.

“Daniel, shut up,” I told him with syrupy sweetness. “This is my contract, and your will is of no consequence.”

Daniel started to pipe up, but his patron silenced him. “Let the girl try, Daniel. She is our only hope to keep you from killing yourself.”

Marcus didn’t sound like he had high hopes.

“The girl is correct,” the satan said, his voice an unctuous little whine. “All negotiations with the vampire must be suspended until her contract is sorted out and put to rights. Now, Miss Wharton, what is the nature of your argument?”

Halfer’s long sigh filled the room. I ignored him.

“It’s more of a clarification, really,” I explained. “I would like to know exactly what I’m supposed to deliver to Mr. Halfer under the terms of our contract.”

“You’re prolonging the inevitable,” Halfer complained under his breath.

“This was an oral contract,” the satan said as his eyes rolled back and he seemed to be looking inward. “I don’t like oral contracts. There are too many loopholes. It’s a sloppy way to conduct business. Yes, there it is.” His eyes rolled back into place. “You are contracted to deliver the Light of Alhorra to one Lucas Halfer.”

“Big surprise.” Halfer couldn’t seem to stop interrupting.

Details. Details. “And, what, according to my contract, is the Light of Alhorra?”

I heard Daniel’s surprised gasp as he figured out what I was doing.

“It is a medium-sized ornate box of faery origin,” the satan recited.

“I was hoping you would say that.” I walked straight back to the table where our kind faeries had left me a little souvenir. I picked up the box and carried it back to Halfer.

“I believe you’ll find I have fulfilled my end of the contract,” I said politely to the satan. I turned to Halfer. “Got your box right here, buddy.”

At first Halfer didn’t even look mad. He seemed to not understand what was going on. It took a moment for him to realize what I’d done. The satan examined the box. He took it from me and turned it over in his small hands. When he was satisfied, he handed it to Halfer, who took it without thinking.

“I pronounce this contract fulfilled, Miss Wharton.”

“No,” Halfer roared, finally coming to his senses. “This is not what we contracted for.”

“Yes,” the satan said, completely nonplussed by the demonic temper tantrum. “This is exactly what you contracted for. It was a sloppy contract, Halfer. I expected better of you. Perhaps you’ll have a better contract with the vampire.”