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carpet, I was fine with buttering him up.) “I have been required to serve,” I said, my eyes on the oversized flowers woven into the rug just in front of his feet.
    “Ah, yes.” He sighed. “But I do not forget the daughter of the royal house, albeit a minor daughter of a concubine, not a wife, of my devoted worshipper.”
    There was only one royal house Marduk acknowledged, which worked very much to my advantage. Marduk would not forget my regal heritage.
    “I crave a moment of your time, Lord.” I made my voice as humble as I could. “If you would be so good to grant it to me.”
    He took my elbow and steered me toward the balcony, where we had a bit of privacy. “Why would you request audience of me?” he asked formally.
    “I have heard that you might have use for me,” I told him. “I have heard that you are to be restored to your former glory under Satan, and that you might find a use for a handmaiden who speaks your mother tongue and knows the rituals of the old world.”
    “Then Satan has released you from your vows?” he asked, with some surprise. “You are Her Chosen handmaiden.”
    “That is true always, Lord,” I agreed. “I had heard that you required assistance to render Her the best.”
    Marduk sighed. “My little Lilith, it does you credit that you come to me. Both your loyalty to Satan and your loyalty to your Babylonian roots. And while I know that you did study accounts when you were a Priestess, I really need someone who is an expert in double-entry bookkeeping.”
    Marduk’s official position in the Hierarchy was the head of the Budget and Finance Department of Hell. Looking for accountants was well within the scope of his normal duties.
    I bowed my head again. “I am sorry. I heard that you might need more generalized assistance.”
    He seemed confused for a minute or two, and then his features relaxed. “Oh, indeed. You must have heard that Tahidra is transferring to HR.” He waved his hand. “You would be utterly wasted in Budget and Finance, my dear. Let alone as the HR officer of the department. Now, if you could get that lovely greed demon Sybil to leave the Upperworld and join us, she is a financial genius. She, possibly, could get us through this spate of overspending. But your loveliness would only be wasted, and I think you would be unhappy doing the work of our department.”
    “Overspending?” I asked. Satan cares deeply about budget. Her pockets are deep and She believes that all Her minions should live well, but She does not approve of bad management.
    Marduk sighed again. I spotted a waiter circulating with a tray of gin and tonics and nabbed two. I handed one to Marduk. “You look like you could use a drink,” I said, handing it to him.
    He poured it down his throat in a single swallow.
    I took his empty glass and traded it for my full one. That he began to sip, not delicately but at least he didn’t chug the whole thing.
    He rubbed his eyes and looked at me, and for the first time I noticed that he looked vulnerable and tired.
    “I have a problem, Lilith,” he said. It must be the drink, I thought. “There is money missing from our reserves.”
    “Missing?” I asked. I didn’t know what this was about but something told me that it was important.
    He nodded slowly. “No one knows yet. I have auditors looking. I have only just discovered this. But there are only a few demons who have the authorization to draw from the Treasury, so it must be one of a very small number. But for what? Satan would approve any legitimate expenditure. For personal finances? The higher ranks of Hell are all well-heeled. No one needs to steal. And who would have the nerve to steal from Satan?”
    I agreed that that seemed unlikely. Satan is the best boss and the best friend ever, but She does not forgive transgression. And stealing from Her Treasury would be unpardonable. Anyone, even the highest demon, caught with a hand in the till would be cast into the lowest pits of torment