Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

“I hope not,” Mia said in English.
The beauty provided Mia with slippers before asking Mia to follow her.
Mia did so, interested in what was going to happen next.
The woman Mia met in the washroom sat on a throne of cushions, yet her posture was amazing.  She looked Mia up and down.  “You will do.”
“I will do what?” Mia asked in Demon.
The only surprise the woman showed was a brief flicker in her eyes.  “I’m sorry, I meant that you were presentable.  Are you not the woman that my lord brought in over his shoulder?”
“That would be me,” Mia admitted.  “But I was tossed in a cell.  I’m baffled by the pampering you have given me.”
“I too am baffled.  Are you not his human lover?”
“I’m more of a human thorn in his side,” Mia admitted.
The woman smiled widely.  “Oh my, that is a relief.  I told my ladies to make you as beautiful as they could, so I could see if you were prettier than I.”
“Obviously, I’m not,” Mia said.  “Your handmaiden is more beautiful than me, as are most of the others I have seen.”
“Why did my lord bring you into his apartments then?” she challenged.
“I don’t really know.  Except, I’m in a lot of trouble, and he may have been trying to protect me.”
“He has a kind heart but a vicious temper,” she warned.  “If you stand across from him in battle, prepare to die.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Mia lied.  “Speaking of battle, you wouldn’t have seen a small sword - a dagger, if you will, a small knife - or my boots anywhere?”
The woman looked at her handmaiden who shook her head.
“I’m afraid not,” the golden woman said.
“Thank you.  I’m Mia…”
“Cooper Martin,” Abigor finished from behind her.
Mia dropped to the ground as did the other women.  She kept her forehead pressed to the floor.
“Leave us,” he commanded.
Mia stayed prostrate.  She heard the others scurry away.  Her heart hurt for the head concubine. She was sure the indignity of the running away wore on the woman.
“Mia, rise to your feet and place your hands out, palms up.”
Mia did so.  She waited until she had enough nerve to raise her head and make eye contact.
Abigor’s pupils were widened with lust.  “She lied, and you lied,” Abigor said.  “Give me permission, and I shall put a beautiful daughter in your belly.”
Mia had to think quickly.  “Your daughter would be a Nephilim crone. I cannot do that to her.  I have crone genes running through my body.  Thank you for your offer.”
“Who did this to you?” Abigor asked.  “Surely not Michael.”
“Raphael.  He did it to save my life.  There was an imbalance.”
“It’s all my fault for existing,” Abigor said, his eyes gleaming.  “They built you to kill me.  Michael kills the demon in you, and Raphael fills the void with crone.”
“I’m the Mia potato head.  Put wings on.  Rip them off.  Put another set on…”
Abigor moved closer.
Mia, who was nervous, babbled, “A Mia nesting doll, open me up, rip out the demon, put in a crone.”
He took her face in his hand and looked into her eyes.  “Have you come to kill me?”
“No.”
“Have you come to kill Lucifer?”
“No.”
“Why have you come?” he asked.
“I needed help,” she admitted.
“My help?”
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“You wouldn’t have known, would you?”
“Search my thoughts. I give you permission to enter my mind house.”
“No.  Not necessary.”  He led her to the chair. He sat down and pulled her onto the arm.  “There, now I don’t have to look down at you.”
“Thank you,” Mia said, very uncomfortable by the closeness.  Abigor wasn’t predictable.
“Tell me, who did you think was going to help you?”
“You see, my son sent Mbengar to the pit.  It was a big mistake; it was supposed to be Aosoth.  Anyway, Mbengar told me of his humiliation by the keepers of the pit.  I thought that they could help me sort out the demon-with-no-name, or kill me.  Either way, he wouldn’t be set loose on humankind.  He intended to use my cousin as a vessel.  I saw an immediate danger, and I had to act.”
“So, you volunteered to be his vessel.”
“As long as he called off Lamia.”
“But he didn’t.”
“That was my error.  I thought all demons were honorable.”
“He’s a fallen.  He used to be an angel.  He can lie with impunity.”
Mia’s mouth dropped open.
Abigor felt for her.  “My poor creature, were you under the understanding that angels didn’t lie?”
“I feel so embarrassed.”  Mia popped off the chair and faced him standing.  “I feel humiliated, used, and angry.”
“Angry enough to change sides?” Abigor asked quickly.
Mia didn’t answer.
“Mia, answer me.”
Mia turned back to the handsome demon.  “But not all of them lie, and not all of you tell the truth.”
“Yes.  Are you going back up on your fence?”
“I don’t know.  Kind of hard to straddle a fence in this dress,” Mia said.  “It really is something, isn’t it?”
“But you didn’t think of me when you saw yourself, did you?”
“No.”
“Tell me, how can he have your heart?  He has no armies, no gold, and he looks like a hawk.”
“He does not.  You don’t really want me forever, do you?”
“Oh, no.  I wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink.  I’ve feared you since you’ve been born.”
“There’s that.  What if I fell back into programming?” Mia said, drawing her finger across her throat.
Abigor laughed.  He clapped his hands.  The handmaiden came running.
“Give Mia clothing fit for a warrior knight.  I shall not ravish her today.”
The woman nodded and left.
“Mia, I’m not sure what will be decided, but I’ll not have you die dressed as a concubine when you are