What tumbled out of his mouth first was a laugh, throaty and guttural, rasping up into delightful mania — and it made no sense for him, why all the horror twisted into exultant humor. He threw his head back and did it, and it was loud enough that some angels began to step out of their houses, joining Baal and all those who had followed Lucifer. They watched him, but Lucifer didn’t bother to see what might be in their eyes; he pulled in a sharp breath, shuddered, felt something inside rip, like when Father had torn out his voice. Like Father and him, on the bed of flowers. He screamed in agony,
...more
