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"Well-"
"Not interested," Mym said, rising from the table.
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r r
Satan hastened to stay with him. "Of course there could be lagniappe. For example, this borderline soul,
the Princess Ligeia, could be made available to you in Purgatory."
"No!" Ligeia cried.
Satan glanced darkly at her, and she shrank back, silenced.
Now Mym looked at her. "Satan requires that you remain with us; I do not. I came to help you, not to
oppress you. Certainly I would not take you to the Castle of War if you objected."
"Oh, no, Mars," she protested. "It's not that! You are a prince, and there are things that only nobility
understands. I am sure you would be compatible, and I would gladly go with you, but-"
"But not at the behest of Satan, as part of a corrupt bargain," Mym concluded.
Mutely, she nodded.
Mym liked her attitude. She was correct: there was a camaraderie among those of royal status that
commoners accepted but seldom truly grasped-things like the importance of appearances, the routines of
palace existence, and the use of concubines. There was much that he would never have to explain to
Ligeia, just as he had not to Rapture, and much that she would not have to advise him of. But more than
that, it was fitting that royalty consort with royalty. This was one thing that had kept him from dealing
with Lila or any other woman. He had to establish a relationship with one of his own station first; then
the rest would fall into place.
Certainly Ligeia was loath to establish any relationship with him by Satan's directive. Only her father
had the authority to make such a commitment for her. Or, since her father was in another realm, herself.
She would make her own commitment, in her own fashion, or make none at all.
"We can arrange other habitation for you, woman," Satan said. "Your mortal rank carries no significance
here."
"Let her be," Mym said gruffly. Satan had just demonstrated the ignorance and insensitivity of the
commoner. "Isn't it enough that you hold her here illicitly, and that you used her against her will to bring
me here? Why try to force further corruption on her?"
"This is my domain. Mars," Satan said evenly, "The determination of treatment is Mine. This slut is
overdue for a touch of flame."
Slut? Mym controlled his blaze of anger. There would be a reckoning for such insults in due course.
Satan raised his hand. Ligeia shrank away from him, terrified. Satan pointed, and flame appeared. The
fire followed the line traced by his finger, moving toward the woman. Mym stood abruptly, flinging the
chair to the rear, and stepped into the path of flame. The fire touched his cloak and turned back, unable
to penetrate. "Let her be," Mym repeated.
"You accept my offer?" Satan asked. "The woman's consent does not matter; she fears the flame and
will cooperate without limit to avoid it."
"I reject the offer," Mym said.
"Then you may remain the guest of this establishment indefinitely-and she will burn while you
reconsider." Satan gestured, and a sheet of flame appeared. Ligeia whimpered.
Mym put his arm about her, enfolding her within his protective cloak. The flame leaped up about them
both, harming neither. "I believe it is time to see that this woman has a fair hearing," he said.
"You may not be touched," Satan said. "But she is Mine. You can not hold her." He lifted one hand and
snapped his fingers.
Huge, menacing demons appeared at the entrance to the restaurant. Some had horns and tails and snorted
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r r
fire; others had huge crab claws in lieu of hands. They closed in on Mym and the girl.
"Get a good hold on her," Satan directed them. "His substance is not subject to our power, but hers is.
Take hold and pull; he will let her go, lest she be torn apart."
Mym bit his tongue. He was here in spirit only, but he felt the pain and tasted the blood. "Do not touch
her," he warned the demons.
"No, I will go with them!" Ligeia protested. "It is another trap for you, Mars! Satan means to-"
Six demons pounced, converging. Two grabbed for her feet, hauling them up and apart. Two more [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]