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Hold on, Jia We’re al on Jia could tell from the hushed, excited voices of those around her in the banquet room, but she didn’t dare ask Since her arrival in hell, her strategy had been to draw as little attention to herself as possible

When she’d first arrived, she’d discovered she’d gone froer form, she’d shifted back

Darafer had tossed her on the floor in front of a throne "Master, I bring you a live hostage"

When she’d looked up, she’d seen a beautiful face with eyes so cold and dead that she’d shivered

Lucifer had given her an indifferent glance, then leaped off his throne and backhanded Darafer, sending the de back so hard that he’d crashed into a stone wall "You failed The kingdom on earth you promised me has not coive ed up on me--"

Lucifer had kicked him "You let those bastards banish you a second tiet even with the those wretched vampires and shifters with them We can trap them here Torture them"

Lucifer had straightened, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, as if he’d sive you if Gabriel comes For millennia, I have wanted to make him suffer"

Darafer had scrambled to his feet "We’ll turn him! We’ll make all of them evil!"

Lucifer had cast Jia a dubious look "I fail to see why they would want to rescue her, but we shall see" He’d waved at two guards "Take her to a holding cell until I call for her"

As Jia had been led away, she’d almost wished Russell and Rajiv would leave her be She couldn’t bear the thought of the her into a small room, a servant had tossed her a red robe She’d put it on and paced about Ti before her door was opened The servant and guards had led her down one hallway after another, then up a flight of stairs Now they were in a large room, lined on one side s that overlooked a central courtyard Two long banquet tables extended down the length of the rooht and left sides They lounged on Roman-style couches

At the far end of the rooed and picked at his food as he watched the others Jia recognized Darafer, as sitting on the first chaise to Lucifer’s right The other guests were unknown to her, except for Master Han, as sitting on the last chaise lounge on the left He gave her a solemn look, then frowned at the platter of meat and fruit in front of him

Lucifer and Darafer were dressed in cri life and power But the other guests, including Han, were different Their skin and clothing were in drab sepia tones, as if they were only negative photographic ied inwardly These were dead inhabitants of hell