Death's Apprentice: A Grimm City Novel by K. W. Jeter & Gareth Jefferson Jones

Author:K. W. Jeter & Gareth Jefferson Jones [Jeter, K. W. & Jones, Gareth Jefferson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Horror
ISBN: 9780312547714
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 2012-10-29T13:00:00+00:00

“What the hell does this mean?” Hank looked back at the Devil. “I’ve been seeing it all day. And now I find it here, too, on the desk and on that armor.”

The Devil’s gaze narrowed. “I’m not used to having people disobey me. Luckily for you, I know it’s your pantaphobia that’s to blame—which is still something that I need.”

Hank didn’t care. “And the symbol?”

“Very well—” The Devil humored the giant, and held his own hand an inch away from the eight-pointed star that Hank had drawn, as though admiring it. The symbol suddenly burst into flame, etching itself into the glass.

“In short, it is me…,” he said. “Or more accurately … it is God’s name for me. My crest. My truest, simplest symbol. At its purest, it is a symbolic representation of the primordial quasar that I formed on the first day of creation, from which all subsequent stars were born. But it is also the flag that my army fought under in Heaven. That is why those who serve me bear this mark.”

Hank nodded. “So, the little guy. If he has this on his ring, it means that he’s more than just your lawyer, right? It means that he’s part of something bigger. Something … bad.”

The Devil tilted his head to one side, studying Hank with narrowed eyes. “You could say that, yes. If you wanted to. But—” He began to grow suspicious. “Why do you need to know so much about him? I sense that you’re keeping something from me. Is that true?”

Hank shrugged. “Why would I do anything like that?”

“Possibly…,” said the Devil, “because you are not quite as stupid as you look.”

Before Hank could move away again, the Devil reached out and laid his hand on Hank’s brow to read his thoughts.

“I see a woman … and a child…” The Devil closed his eyes and pressed his hand tighter against the other’s forehead. “I see an obligation … and hatred, too … for the man I call my greatest friend…” The Devil opened his eyes and removed his hand. He looked at Hank with scorn. “I was wrong. You are a fool.”

“Why—” Hank saw no point in denying it now. The Devil knew why he was there, so he threw off the charade. “Because I care for someone?”

“No. Because you meddle in things that don’t concern you. And meddling like this will only get you killed.” He fixed Hank with his sulphur-blue eyes, as if staring down a rogue bull. “At any other time, I’d let you go ahead with it and destroy yourself. But I still need you, so I’ll give you a warning that I expect you to heed.” He lowered his voice to a threatening whisper. “The man who took that child has the ability to kill you as soon as look at you, even with your great size and strength. On top of that, he is under my own personal protection, so any move against him is a move against me.”

“And Ren-Lei?” demanded Hank.

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