Page 46 of Client from Hell

“No, not at all. They’ll be given a habitat and nature will be allowed to resume its course. Adding to the sin doesn’t change the original sin, and these animals have done nothing wrong. They’ll live as natural a life I can give them in the conservatory. They won’t be reintroduced to Earth, however. It’s one thing for people to fight for the survival of a species, but it’s another to attempt to circumvent nature’s intent. Humans killed this species through its poor choices, and this species will find its new home to be a rather pleasant slice of my many hells.”

“But wouldn’t that make it humanity’s responsibility to restore what they destroyed?” I asked.

“If such noble intent were behind the animals in these cages, I might be inclined to agree with you, but it’s not.” Lucifer turned his attention to the Japanese river otters, and he relaxed and smiled. “One day, those will get to roam the Earth again. They are natural born, with numerous generations having been bred in captivity. They’ll stay in my conservatory until there is a sufficient population and a habitat in Japan suitable for them.”

“You can tell at a glance?” I blurted, widening my eyes at the power the Devil opted to display.

“I’ve learned I need to search the past to determine the future of these animals. We’ve come across a number of humans transformed into animals and then studied in the labs. Those we handle differently.”

“They’re converted into demons or devils, much like I was,” Jonas added. “That’s the only way Lucifer has of offering a new life to the victims. Sometimes, the victim asks to be killed and given a new life, once again human. He handles those cases.”

Lucifer stared into my eyes, and his full attention disconcerted me. “They’ve already experienced my many hells in their life, and He has a kinder touch with that. He’ll bring out an archangel to shepherd the soul to the afterlife and begin the process of cultivating the new seed. But the choice is in the hands of the victims.”

It took me a few minutes to understand his meaning, and the Devil waited with unnerving patience while I thought it through. “You wanted me to see the real reason you’re working on this and need my help,” I guessed.

“I did. Honestly, this is one of the better labs we’ve busted. They wanted the animals alive and in good health, although the lions and tigers made a mess of things.” Lucifer shrugged. “I’ll have fun with those fucking assholes once I get home.”

“And the person in the refrigerator?”

“That is for the humans to investigate. When that stage begins, you’ll be enjoying a nice bath in your hotel and whatever pampering you can coerce out of Jonas.”

“He’s proving resistant,” I complained.

“The hunt is more fun with a splash of desperation. You’ll have a great time.”

Threat? Promise? A little bit of both? I regarded the Devil with a frown, wondering if he’d taken sides, whose side he was on, and his general motivations.

Jonas snorted. “She still has healing to do first.”

“I really made you a little too well. I’m both disgusted and proud of myself. Jonas is among the best I have for things like this, and if he says you need to heal first, you need to heal first. I left you in his care because he’s the best incubus I’ve got for the job. Some of the succubi are as good as him, but you’d become uncomfortable the instant she started checking out your breasts.” Lucifer stared at my chest. “He was not joking around when he made you, that’s for sure. I guess I should warn you now. My wife loves breasts. She loves chests with perfect nipples, and she has an utter fascination with women’s breasts. Eventually, she’s going to grab you because she wants to verify they’re as soft as they look. I’m convinced she can’t help herself. Tell her no if it bothers you. She’ll do her best to stop. She’s not always successful at stopping, but she does try.”

I took a turn regarding my breasts with interest. “Honestly, I’m surprised they emerged through the cancer mostly intact.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Jonas replied with a shrug. “It just happened I addressed them first, as once the hospital’s painkillers wore off, the pain would have been excruciating at best. I worked based on severity and your discomfort.”

“Why are we talking about my breasts when there are animals to get settled into new homes and out of these stupid cages?”

The Devil laughed and headed for the otters. “We’ll start with these little angels. I’ve already got their habitat set up, and they can all share until I can get them separated by species.”

I pointed at the little otter on my shoulder. “She’s mine.”

“I will put some of the fucking assholes to work to build her a good habitat in a temporary residence for you.”

Jonas pointed at the second young Asian small claw otter, the one he claimed was a boy and should be kept with my girl. “That one needs to go with her.”

After a moment of examining how the cages were bound together, he opened the cage and caught the otter, who cried and whined. “Don’t fret over it, Sandra. I scare most mortal animals, and this little guy is a bit shy. He’ll warm up to me soon enough. Hand over your girl, and I’ll give them to Darlene to care for. That’ll keep her amused for ten whole minutes, I’m sure.”

I pet the otter to comfort her before handing her over to the Devil. He vanished.

“If he brings a handbasket to ferry animals off to hell, I’ll be done with today, Jonas. That’s my last straw.”

Jonas snickered. “He does not understand mortal fascination with his hells and handbaskets, but I’ve seen stranger things. Just hold on for a few more minutes. Our part in this is almost over.”

Eleven

I swear I’m not actually a vampire.

Jonas drove the Lamborghini, but I missed the ride, as the instant I buckled in, I clocked out. While I’d gotten used to transfusions, having one done in a hotel room with my donor, a younger man with dark hair and eyes, counted as a novelty. Diana paced, and she fiddled with a meter, one vaguely similar to the virus scanners the hospital used.