Read See You in Hell (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 2) for Free Online Page B

server room, which had a wall occupied by blinking racks of equipment that looked like the office's computer servers. Blue umbilical network cables connected them through the ceiling to the whole corporation, and hanging from the cables were what looked like black bats.
    "Chip day, boys," Nybbas called, letting the door close behind them. Wings unfolded and leathery faces peered out, but none relinquished their grip on the cables. "Hold up the bags," he murmured to Mel.
    She did, but their response didn't change. Mel set the bags on the small, empty table in the middle of the room and ripped one bag down the front. The spicy smell of the salt wafted up, tempting even her.
    Claws ticked on the laminate as a bat landed beside her hand. The creature regarded Mel with soul-searching eyes that belonged to no bat she'd ever met. She smiled in response. It extended a claw toward her and she took it in her fingers.
    "Respect, lady," she heard the creature say, though its mouth never moved.
    "Thank you," her spirit replied, equally silently. She glanced at Nybbas. "Can the demon hear us?"
    "Demons poor soul-readers. Not like you, lady. For illusion-weaver, soul-talk is simple."
    "Illusion-weaver?"
    The creature showed her images of his people. "Unweave illusions for you, lady. Sptlk show?"
    Mel understood that the string of consonants was the imp's name. "Sure."
    Sptlk gazed deeply into Mel's eyes and she could feel the imp's soul touch hers. "Lady now can see illusion or reality. Respect, lady. See demon or batman." Mel followed the imp's glance to where Nybbas had stood only minutes before, but he appeared to have vanished. In his place stood a demon so dark he blended into the racks behind him, only visible because he blocked the blinking lights. With his pointed horns and wings, he did look cartoonish. Batman, indeed.
    She turned startled eyes on the imps above Nybbas' head. Instead of bats, they looked more like small, round, winged demons, in varying shades of red and black. Sptlk himself was deep burgundy and he sported a pot belly. He patted it happily. "Many chip days."
    Mel laughed and the sound was loud in the enclosed space. She blinked carefully and the imps were bats once more. Another blink and she saw Sptlk's very human fingers reach for a chip. He saluted her with it. "Thanks, lady." Sharp teeth demolished chip and chili salt quickly.
    "Just like you like 'em, right, Spike?" Nybbas asked, grinning at the imp.
    Sptlk nodded and the other imps seemed to decide this was their cue to celebrate chip day, too.
    "So these are imps? And they keep you hidden…how?" Mel asked carefully.
    Nybbas shrugged. "No idea how they do it. They weave some sort of illusion that people can't penetrate – it even works on us. Hell, they even do it in Hell. Lord Lucifer said they were living in Hell when he got there and they agreed to help him run the place. No idea what he offered them in return."
    Sptlk winked at Mel. "Illusion for illusion. Illusion-weavers build illusions for Hell. Illusion-weavers holiday here with humans. Illusion of intimacy and privacy. Much comedy. Lord of Hell very seductive man. Or woman."
    Luce in a skirt. No, Luce in stockings and a corset. Seducing how many while the imps watched and laughed? Mel managed a smile. "I'm sure he is," she replied silently.
    "Soul-reader who can see through illusions sees deep truth beneath lies. Respect, lady, and hope."
    "Thank you," she said, hoping the imp could sense the depth of her gratitude.
    The imp nodded sagely in response.
    "Wow – they sure like you. I've never seen Spike acknowledge anyone else who's come into the server room. You're not like anyone I've ever met, Mel." Nybbas blushed.
    "Maybe you don't meet many angels," Mel suggested.
    He shook his head. "No, I've met a fair few angels. None like you, though. You're definitely different. Hell, I don't know any angel who'd have helped me with my presentation. We should probably leave these boys to it and do that