The Long Way Down

The Long Way Down Cover

> Nobody knows the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas like Daniel Faust, a sorcerer for hire and ex-gangster who uses black magic and bullets to solve his clients' problems. When an old man comes seeking vengeance for his murdered granddaughter, what looks like a simple job quickly spirals out of control.
>
>
> Soon Daniel stands in the crossfire between a murderous porn director; a corrupt cop with a quick trigger finger; and his own former employer, a racket boss who isn't entirely human. Then there's Caitlin: brilliant, beautiful, and the lethal right hand of a demon prince.
> A man named Faust should know what happens when you rub shoulders with demons. Still Daniel can't resist being drawn to Caitlin's flame as they race to unlock the secret of the Etruscan Box, a relic that people all over town are dying -- and killing -- to get their hands on. As the bodies drop and the double-crosses pile up, Daniel will need every shred of his wits, courage and sheer ruthlessness just to survive.
>
>
>
> Daniel Faust knew he was standing with one foot over the brink of hell. He's about to find out just how far he can fall.
>
>

## Summary

Daniel Faust, sometimes gangster and professional thief, is hired by Jud Punkow to investigate the death of his granddaughter, Stacy Punkow, who was found drowned in a storm tunnel. Faust begins by investigating the tunnels, and a homeless man tells him that a pair of cops dumped the body. He finds the remnants of Stacy's ghost, but parts of her spirit are missing. While on the street he's approached by a man that he recognizes as a Cambion who tells him the Hound is gone and the Cambion don't need to play by the rules anymore

Stacy worked for the porn director Artie Kaufman, so Faust visits the Love Connection, to see what the films are like. The owner, Paolo, warns Daniel that the films she was in were violent and degrading. Paolo is willing to set up a meeting between Kaufman and Faust. On his way home he is taken to Nicky Agnelli, a Cambion who runs the Vegas underground. He tells Daniel to stay away from the Punkow death. When he meets Artie and his guest Detective Carl Holt, he realizes that they match the descriptions of the cops that dumped Stacy's body. Kaufman has bound a demon named Caitlin to his will, and is currently forcing her to act as a servant and sleep with Holt- as a succubus she can make him feel addicted to her. Faust burns Caitlin's contract, releasing her to kill both Holt and Kaufman. She tells Faust she could kill him, but is choosing not to.

Faust watches Kaufman's recording of Stacy's death and learns he attempted a ritual to trap her soul, but he botched the job. He also discovers that Artie's house is owned by the Carmichael-Sterling Group through his brother, Sheldon Kaufman. Visiting the office reveals that Sheldon and Meadow Brand, the head of HR, have magical talent.

Daniel is kidnapped and threatened by several Cambion, who want to punish him for setting the Hound free. Caitlin rescues him, and as they leave, Caitlin explains that as the Hound she represents her Prince on Earth, acts as a diplomat, and polices and protects the local Cambion population. Faust asks why she signed a one sided contract, and she answers vaguely, saying they had possession of an old item that gives them power they shouldn't have access to. Faust realizes Nicky Agnelli likely set Caitlin up to be the imprisoned succubus to improve his father's standing in Hell.

Faust eavesdrops on the conspirators and learns that the group is made up of Lauren Carmichael, Tony Vance, Sheldon and Meadow. A panicked call from Nicky's seer informs him that the group will be going after his friend Spengler next. Faust rushes to Spengler's house, who tells him the item the group wants is the Etruscan Box. Daniel is repulsed when he sees it, feeling that something old and full of hatred is inside. The legends say the box can give you whatever you desire, you just need to figure out how to unlock it. Spengler is attacked and killed by Meadow Brand. Lauren paralyzes Faust then forces a malignant energy into his chest. They leave him to die. Faust manages to call for help before falling unconscious. He dreams of when he was twelve and his father beating his little brother Teddy. He tried to kill his father, but he survived and blamed Daniel for Teddy's injuries.

He wakes up on a mortuary slab, his chosen family around him after removing the poisonous energy. Based on the evidence they realize that the souls the group is collecting are for opening the Box- and only Tony still needs to make a sacrifice, his daughter Amber. Faust rushes to save her, but is too late. He finds Vance at the Enclave construction site, and kills him. Daniel goes to Caitlin and tells her that the only voice he wanted to hear after murdering Tony was hers and they have sex. Caitlin lets him know that Lauren has the Ring of Solomon, which allows the wearer to control demons, which is how she captured Caitlin.

Caitlin's research shows that Lauren went to Nepal in college to help excavate a temple complex that predates known human languages. Only she and her mentor, Dr. Eugene Planck survived, though Planck was committed after attempting suicide. They visit him, who tells them he literally cannot speak about what he saw on the research trip. The travel in his dreams instead. Lauren investigated the temple on her own and met some men in black suits with a black void instead of faces. They tell Carmichael that Belephaia is imprisoned in the Etruscan Box, and that she will need five souls to open it. When she does she can save the world.

Caitlin recognizes the name. Belephaia is an angel, but her judgment is black and white. No one would be found worthy to live. If she is freed Prince Sitri would need to come to earth to battle him, which would be the end of the world.

Faust takes Caitlin to meet his chosen family and ask for their help. They're suspicious of her, but trust Daniel. Together they make a plan to stop Lauren. Corman, who specializes in astral projection, will be on overwatch, Margaux will take down the wards with her spirits and Jennifer will accompany him inside. They break into the resort just as the sun is setting and encounter a group of Meadow's mannequins, the resulting fire separates them. Faust travels to the top floor alone, where he finds their ritual circle. He realizes he needs to be clever to stop them, and reveals himself. While fighting Sheldon, he takes an opportunity to replace one of the soul traps with the one containing the remains of Stacy. They open the box. Or at least try to. They don't have five souls and Belephaia remains trapped. The released spirits kill Sheldon while Lauren and Meadow escape. After Faust is released from the hospital he releases all of the trapped souls and returns the remnants of Stacy's to her ghost. He's upset when he learns she won't be going to heaven, but Hell.

In the epilogue, Stacy stands in a torture chamber in front of Artie. She tells him that what she will do to him isn't revenge, but her audition.

## Major Characters and Organizations

The following character summaries only contain information contained in *The Long Way Down*.

* Daniel Faust: The main character of the Faust series, Faust is a skilled magician, conman, and thief. His weapon of choice is a pack of anointed playing cards that he can use to attack or even defend from bullets. While he has few qualms about the people he's killed he still has his own moral standards. When he finds what Kaufman and Holt left of Stacy, he sent Jud home so he wouldn't be implicated in their deaths and didn't pursue full payment. He values the lives of those he doesn't judge as evil. While he had an abusive childhood and spent many of his teenage years in rehabilitation homes, he has been able to build a new family.
* Stacy Punkow (Stacie Velour): Stacy Punkow, stage name Stacie Velour, came to Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a star. She instead ended up working for Artie Kaufman as a porn star, and he bound her and his other stars to him with sympathetic magic. Kaufman killed her to be a part of opening the Etruscan box, he determined she was the person he loved the most. Stacy doesn't have a voice through much of the book, but at the end it's revealed how she will get her revenge.
* Bentley and Corman: Bentley and Corman brought Daniel into their lives when he was living on the street to provide him a loving home. They also taught him magic- both real and stage magic. The couple owns Scrivener's Nook, a bookstore, in Las Vegas and live in the apartments above it. Daniel describes them as acting like newly-weds when no one is looking, even though they're both in their seventies and have been together for decades.
	+ Bentley: Bentley is expert escape artist and magician. He's a thin reedy man, but has a backbone of steel. He frequently makes Daniel alchemist's clay.
	+ Corman: Corman's specialty is astral projection. He was a boxer in his youth and has maintained his stout, powerful build.
* Mama Margaux
* Paolo
* Artie Kaufman (Daddy Warbucks)
* Nicky Agnelli
* Justine and Juliette
* Jennifer Juniper
* Caitlyn Brody - Wingtaker
* Detective Carl Holt
* Sheldon Kaufman Foresaken hand style
* The Prophet [get cult name]
* Carmichael-Sterling Group: The Carmichael-Sterling Group is a devlopment firm based in Seattle. It's recent interest in Las Vegas is converting the old Silverlode Casino into The Enclave, a luxury resort and casino.
* Meadow Brand
* Lauren Carmichael CEO
* Tony Vance
* Teddy Faust
* Dr. Eugene Planck
* The Smoke Faced Men

## Important Locations

* The Tiger's Garden - Amar
* Skrivener's Nook
* The Love Connection

## Important Items

* The Black Amulet
* The Etruscan Box
* Ring of Solomon