Free Redemption (Book 4, The Redemption Series) by S.J. West Page B

Mammon,” I say, knowing that if Baal is hiding from us Mammon will be too. It was just basic logic.
    “I know,” Malcolm says in resignation. “But we at least need to tell them that we couldn't find Baal.”
    Malcolm phases us back to the sitting room where we find Jered and Desmond waiting for us.
    “We weren't able to find Baal,” Malcolm tells them. “Were you able to find out anything in Virga that might help?”
    Jered reaches behind his left ear and pulls off a neural memo.
    “Mammon left this for you with one of the women in his harem,” Jered tells me as he hands it over.
    “He has a harem?” I ask, not even knowing what to say about such a thing.
    “Apparently,” Jered says, looking somewhat embarrassed that he even had to use the word in front of me. “It's a message for you.”
    I take the neural memo and place it behind my right ear.
    A holographic image of Callum Ellis appears. Callum was handsome, young and always cock sure of himself. He was tall, well over six feet, with light brown skin and eyes to match. His hair was short, almost making him appear bald.
    From what I understood, Callum was a daredevil of sorts, always looking for the next challenge and constantly risking his life, to his poor father's annoyance. Emperor Edgar Ellis was nearing his 85th birthday and many thought his son's reckless behavior was his way of accelerating his father's demise. Everyone knew Callum was eager to ascend to the throne of Virga, but Edgar wasn't so sure his son was mature enough to accept the responsibility. Most assumed Edgar was simply holding on for as long as he could, hoping his son would rise to the maturity level of a great leader. Unfortunately, Edgar would never get to realize his greatest dream for his son. For all intent purposes, Callum Ellis was dead now and in his place stood a Prince of Hell.
    “Greetings, Anna,” Mammon says in his new form as the prince of Virga. “By now you realize Baal and I have your son and maid. Sorry about that, but we didn't feel like we could come to you without having something to hold over your head to make sure you behaved. Belphagor was the first of us to suggest we make a deal with you and hand over the seals that we have so you would spare our lives. Too bad that didn't work out better. You could have gotten what you wanted, and we would have gone on to live out our lives in the human forms we've chosen. Anyway, this is your chance to make things right. Tomorrow at the wedding, Baal will meet with you so he can give you his seal of his own free will. After that, Lucas will be returned to you. Once you've recovered from absorbing Baal's seal, I will meet with you in a location and at a time of my choosing to give you my seal. Then, I'll make sure the maid makes it back home safe and sound. Hope this deal sounds good to you because that's pretty much the way things have to be if you ever want to see your loved ones alive again.” Mammon's eyes narrow like he's looking straight at me. “If, at any time, we feel like our lives are being threatened, we will kill Lucas and the maid. Don't try to pull any funny business, Anna. Just do as you're told and you'll get everything you want.”
    The message ends. I hand the neural memo to Malcolm so he can watch it too.
    “I don't think they'll back out of the deal,” Jered says after Malcolm has watched the message.
    “So you think we can trust them?” I ask skeptically.
    “No,” Jered hedges, “I wouldn't say that either. But, they hold all the cards right now. They have the seals, and they have Lucas and Millie. We really don't have much choice but to do what they tell us to.”
    “I hate to agree, but I do,” Malcolm says. “We'll have to wait and see how this pans out.”
    “I still think we should try to find out where Lucas and Millie are on our own,” Desmond says. “If we can find just one weak link in any of the people around Baal and Mammon, we might be able to learn where they've hidden