"Kneel."
Lilim's body betrayed her. Her knees hit the concrete floor with a bone-jarring thud. Her hands trembled as she released the blade, her head forced down by an invisible weight. She gasped, clutching her chest as if her heart was being squeezed.
"How..." Lilim choked out, staring at the floor. "How… are you doing… this?"
Rudy leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. He looked past the kneeling demon to the terrified Maria.
"I know a lot of things, Princess," Rudy said. "I know your father's safe codes. I know the shipment of Mana stones arriving at the docks tonight is rigged to explode. And I know the true name of the pet demon you keep on a leash."
He picked up the glass of wine Maria had been drinking, swirled it, and took a sip.
"Now," Rudy said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "The Scarred guy over there annoyed me. Lilim, kill him and his men. Then we talk business."
