Lucas: Origins Of A Demon by N.P. Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

at the bar beside him. Words are exchanged, then Frank knocks one of them out cold with a single punch, done with a speed that surprises Lucas and makes him smile. He watches as Frank grabs the other guy by the tie and headbutts him. The city guy crashes to the floor beside his buddy, both now unconscious. Lucas heads downstairs when he sees the bouncers move in towards the Watcher.
     
    It takes a bit persuading before Frank agrees to join Lucas upstairs in the office. The promise of whiskey finally changes Frank’s mind.
    “Take a seat,” Lucas says, gesturing to the red couch. “My name is Lucas, by the way.”
    Frank stands over by the window, ignoring Lucas’ offer to sit down. “You got that drink there...Lucas?”
    “Sure.” Lucas pulls a bottle of whiskey out of a drawer in his new antique oak desk, along with two glasses. He pours a sizable amount into each glass and hands one to Frank, who smells the whiskey in his glass.
    “Expensive,” Frank says before sampling the whiskey, then he nods. “Very nice indeed.”
    Lucas smiles at Frank, unsure of what to make of the Watcher. On the surface, Frank seems the abrasive type, used to rubbing people up the wrong way, no doubt. Lucas imagines Frank gets into a lot of arguments with people, but he also can see how others would take Frank the wrong way. Underneath the blunt antisocial behavior, there seems to be a decent man. Time will tell, Lucas thinks, and joins Frank by the window.
    “This a nice set-up you have here,” Frank says. “Who’d you kill to get it, the guy whose meat suit you’re wearing?”
    Lucas shakes his head at Frank’s bluntness. “You certainly live up to your reputation, Frank.”
    “Yeah, what reputation would that be?”
    “Of a man who cuts through the crap, who gets the job done.” Lucas focuses on Frank. “I’m hoping you live up to that second one.”
    “You’re hoping I can sort out this ‘demon problem’ you’re having, you mean.”
    “Indeed I am.”
    “Let me ask you this. If you have a demon problem, why can’t you sort it out yourself? I mean, you’re a demon after all.”
    “It’s not that simple. I can’t really be seen interfering with the work of other demons.”
    Frank laughs to himself. “Why not?”
    “You might find this hard to believe, but I call this world home now. I spent long enough in Hell to know I’d rather be here.” Might as well be honest with the man. Frank doesn’t strike Lucas as the type to tolerate bullshit.
    “So what, you expect me to help protect your cushy number, is that it? No thanks.” Frank downs the rest of his drink, is about to put his glass on the desk when Lucas steps in his way. Frank stares at Lucas and Lucas can see the violent intent build in his eyes.
    Lucas does not want to antagonize the Watcher. He can’t afford to, especially since he can’t just reach into the man’s mind and gently persuade him to do his bidding. Watchers tend to be immune to that sort of thing, unless you go hard on them, risking brain damage, which would kind of defeat the point of bringing him here in the first place. So Lucas raises his hands and gives Frank a slight smile. “Relax. This isn’t just about me. The problem I have concerns the safety of the whole city. Why do you think I called you?”
    Frank walks around the demon and pours himself another drink before planting himself down on the couch. “Okay. You have my full attention. Tell me what’s going on.”
    Lucas nods, puts his hands in his pants pockets while he stands over by the window, surveying the busy club below. “There’s a gang of demons running around the city at the moment, deliberately causing havoc, taking over businesses, killing people.”
    “What’s new? Isn’t that what you demons do anyway?”
    “Not exactly, Frank. You know as well as I do that we mostly influence. Anything beyond that and your kind—Nephilim—step in. Most of the demons on Earth stick to that rule.”
    “Well, it