“Very satisfactory,” Lux replied dryly.
Scelestus threw back her head and laughed that perfect evil cackle he’d always been partial to.
“It was my husband’s idea,” she said darkly and sat back on one of the sofas, spreading her gown out around her. “He is such a bore. As if ten years in this palace is anything to celebrate.”
Jinn hobbled across the room to where a cantor and several glasses sat on a small table. He poured something dark into tall glasses, and brought a glass over to the Lady first, then Lux.
He took it willingly, but before taking he drink, he sniffed. It smelled of Scotch, but that only meant that he couldn’t smell any poison, not that there wasn’t any.
“You don’t trust me.” A corner of her mouth curved up as she watched him inspecting his drink. “I like that.” In response, he threw back the drink in one quick gulp, and she laughed loudly.
“Thank you.” He handed his empty glass back to Jinn, then sat down on the sofa across from Scelestus. “Shall we get down to business?”
“Yes, I suppose we’d better,” Scelestus agreed reluctantly. “I have to get back to that dreadful party before they notice I’m missing.” With that, she finished her own drink. “Did your master explain to you what you’re to do?”
“No, he was very secretive about the whole thing.” Lux crossed his leg over his knee and settled more deeply into the couch. The Scotch hit him warmly, and the beautiful sorceress across from him had him almost forgetting the earlier kiss entirely.
“Good.” She twirled the glass absently in her hand, watching as the light refracted through it. “It’s very important that we keep this all quiet, at least until everything is finished. My husband must never find out. I told Valefor to send the one he trusted the most, and he sent me you.”
“For good reason,” Lux smiled, feeling a hint of pride at being chosen by his master. “I keep my secrets.”
“Excellent.” Scelestus looked at him fully. “I’ve made an arrangement with Valefor. You are to take my step-daughter to him.”
“That’s all?” Lux raised an eyebrow. He’d been expecting a task far more difficult. If there was one thing he could do, it was getting a girl to leave a party with him. “I don’t need to return anything in exchange?”
“No, Valefor will take care of that part himself.” She smoothed out the silk of her dress and sat up straighter. “It’s absolutely imperative that he get her as soon as possible, and he get her in mint condition.”
She stressed the mint part, and while that might be a bit of inconvenience for him, he could manage. He didn’t have to sleep with every pretty girl with a pulse.
“Done.” Lux shrugged. “Now how should I find this lucky girl?”
“Her name is Lily.”
For a second, Lux didn’t breathe, but he forced his expression to stay even. His hand wanted to go to the back of his neck, to touch the hair she’d been twirling her fingers in, but he made it stay down on his down at his side.
His mouth felt stiff and dry, and he couldn’t understand what had come over him. The mere mention of her name, and he fell to shambles.
“Is there a problem?” Scelestus eyed him suspiciously.
“No, of course not.” He smiled and shook his head. “How… how will I know her?”
“She’s down in the ball somewhere, probably hiding in a corner. She keeps to herself.” Scelestus didn’t even try to hide the disgust in her voice. “She has on a white gown, long dark hair, and her skin is as white as… well, a lily. She’s quite pretty, I’ve been told, not that she ever has any suitors. She’s as scared and timid and dull as a field mouse. She is an absolute bore, just like her father.”
“It shouldn’t be too hard to get her away then,” Lux heard himself saying, and he was grateful that his words sounded normal and didn’t belie the panic he felt.
“I wouldn’t think so. She’s a half-wit, at best.” The sorceress shrugged. “Be sure you don’t make a scene. I thought a party would be the best way for her to slip out unnoticed. By the time her father realizes what’s happening, it will be too late.” She smiled again, a sight that had been pleasing to him seconds ago now revolted him.
“What does Valefor want with her?” Lux asked. He shouldn’t even be asking. He always made a point of not knowing the things his master did. It made his life so much easier that way.
“I’m not sure exactly. Whatever it is he wants with any young girl, I suppose.” Scelestus shook her head, as if it hadn’t even occurred to her why someone like Valefor would want her virginal step-daughter. “You know better than I the things that your master wants.”
“That I do.” Lux breathed deeply and tried to remind himself that this didn’t matter. That she didn’t matter. His purpose in life had nothing to do with a silly girl or her well-being.
“I should return to the ball,” Scelestus sighed and got to her feet. “And you should retrieve Lily before the attendance starts to dwindle.”
“Yes, of course.” Lux stood up.
“Do you know how to get back to the ballroom? It’d be best if we didn’t return together.” She smiled, attempting something seductive, but it fell short.
“Yes, I do,” Lux nodded, but he didn’t feel certain of it.
He didn’t feel certain of anything. In the course of half an hour, his entire world felt tipped upside down. He wanted a moment to collect his thoughts, but he didn’t have the time. Scelestus expected him to do his job, and more importantly, so did Valefor.
Valefor was the last person on Earth he wanted to upset. That meant he had to do what he was told, the same as he always had.
Lux would’ve liked to say that he had felt uncomfortable about the things Valefor had asked him to do in the past, but he hadn’t. Since deciding to serve him, Lux hadn’t second-guessed anything. Some of things he did weren’t pleasant, but that was the price he paid, the price he had chosen to pay.
As he walked out of Lady Scelestus’s secret chambers, Lux found himself thinking that, for the first time, he might not be able to go through with his orders. All because a ridiculous girl had decided to wrap his hair around her finger, and he couldn’t get her out of his head.