Now this was something he could relate to. Demons had to report to the angels every quarter with Neph numbers. It was their sole purpose in this realm. "What are the Nephilim numbers like in this area? The city seems to be decently populated. Where do they hide themselves during the day?"
Raum shrugged, leaning against the counter. "Actually, the numbers aren't very high here. Nephs like to stay in the wooded areas. There are few parks around this area they stick to, but like I said, the numbers are pretty low. Those that do inhabit this area remain mostly in the sewers and storm drains. They keep a low profile."
Pain settled in his chest as they discussed Nephs. A Nephilim was a nasty creature with no conscience or reasoning for right or wrong. They were purely animalistic, and they knew they needed blood for survival. Where the blood came from was of little consequence. The fact that the Nephs were beginning to reason, staying hidden for self-preservation, spoke of evolvement, though he was damned certain they couldn't reproduce.
The archangels had put out the order that demons from the second fall were required to keep the Neph numbers down or face the Abyss once again. It was a never-ending cycle. It was no secret that human women appealed to demons. Lust was a powerful driving force which threatened even the strongest of resolves, and for that reason the Nephilim problem would never go away.
"Do the Rebels work for money, as they did in the fifties?"
Raum shook his head. "Most of us have learned investing techniques, and our money makes money. Others work out of boredom, or they may suck at handling money. Fucking Samael worked at an accounting firm for a few years."
Naberius nodded, laughing. "We busted his balls for years after that."
Asmodeus cupped himself. "Sounds painful."
Raum barely kept the smile off his face. "Nah, busting balls just means we gave him hell for the job he was working."
Asmodeus sighed, putting his mug down. Exhaustion wrapped around him and it wouldn't be long before his eyes closed of their own accord. "I'm going to check on the witch. I'll be right back."
"It's too bad she's human. She's hot."
He turned back to Raum. "Hot?"
Raum and Naberius laughed. Naberius quit smirking long enough to say, "Hot, as in good looking. But then again, there's always condoms."
When Raum and Naberius started laughing again Asmodeus shook his head and left the kitchen.
Learning the new language wasn't the issue. It was staying around long enough to learn the new language they were speaking that posed the biggest problem.
When he stepped into the living room he paused by the entrance. Brianna was on the couch, curled into a ball, her hair fanning over the pillow. He wasn't anywhere near her, yet his body was already reacting to her presence. The itchy denim restricted the hardness of his cock, a dull reminder he shouldn't be reacting to her at all.
No, it wasn't the language barrier that posed the biggest problem in his life.
First thing tomorrow morning he would have her summon Michael. The last thing he needed to do was take her as his body demanded. He had only brought her with him to complete the summoning and possibly keep her safe from the angels.
It had nothing to do with lust.
The couch in Naberius's living room was probably the most comfortable piece of furniture Brianna had ever had the pleasure of laying on. The plush beige dream wasn't the cause of her inability to sleep, far from it. In fact, she wished Valencia, Naberius's insanely attractive girlfriend, had given her a cot on the floor instead. Perhaps she would win the battle to stay awake if she were uncomfortable. How could she go to sleep in a house full of demons?
Asmodeus, Naberius and Raum had disappeared into the dining room shortly after they had arrived, leaving herself and Valencia to sit in the living room in awkward silence. After ten minutes of said silence, Valencia had indicated she needed sleep.
Brianna was covered in a cashmere blanket, lying on a sofa that likely cost more than her car, unable to keep her sleep-laden eyes closed.
It was too bad her plan to break free from Asmodeus had failed. Slipping away from one demon had to be easier than slipping away from three. She also had to call Kelly back, knowing her friend would be in hysterics by now.
Unfortunately for her, Asmodickhead had confiscated her phone. And the knife.
Without a phone, the knife or her spell book she was completely hopeless. Or, as her grandmother would put it, shit out of luck.
There had to be a way to send him back. Surely the book she had used to summon him would have a spell that contained the power to counteract her mistake.
She attempted to close her eyes again. The second she did the vision of Asmodeus popped in her head. She forced her eyes open again. If only he weren't a demon, a chauvinist, or…hell, who was she kidding? None of those realities kept her from thinking he was, hands down, the most handsome man she had ever had the pleasure of setting eyes on.