Hero of the InBetween

by Erin Snihur

  Dina stops us before the desk and I feel the presence of the others come to stop behind me. As I gaze around, I’m struck by the fact that there are no windows and I try to calm my breathing as I realize this fact. Who knew my claustrophobia would rise up now? My thoughts race to the pit I’d been thrown into in the InBetween and I shudder at the thought of once again being locked underground.

  A warm, strong hand reaches out and touches my back. I instantly feel a calming relief spread through me. Turning to look over my shoulder, I smile into the dark sunglasses of Pascal, who smiles slightly back. Darius was right, he is a healer.

  Turning back to face the desk and typing woman, I peer down at Dina’s tapping toes as the woman at the desk continues to ignore us. Dina’s impatient foot tapping seems to annoy the woman as she finally looks away from her computer. The woman appears startled by the sight of all six of us as her shrewd eyes take us all in before landing on Dina.

  “He’s not taking any visitors today,” the woman’s somber voice speaks up finally, filling the once silent room. My eyes are drawn to the large double doors, the only doors in this place other than the elevator. Even through the door, I can sense something powerful and sinister lurking behind them.

  Dina smiles down at the woman coolly and tilts her head, “I’m sure he’ll make an exception once you tell him who his visitors are.”

  The woman pauses and I can see her clenching her fists above the white desk. As I scan her, my eyes take in the paleness of her skin once again. As I concentrate harder, the flicker of her shape melting away shifts before remaining solid once more. I try again to see through her illusion, but she is too strong. I faintly wonder if the others can see her true form.

  The woman finally huffs and stands, “He’s not in a very, angelic mood today, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  With that, the woman stalks off toward the double doors, knocks once and disappears inside the mysterious room. I pause, waiting to see if I can hear anything, but no sound emanates from the room beyond the double doors.

  Finally, after only a few seconds, the woman appears once more, this time, visibly shaken and pulls open both doors, extending her arm to us as she coolly smiles, “Please, go right on in.”

  As we walk past and the doors close behind us, I cast my gaze back and meet hers. Her gaze is filled with fear and funnily enough, relief. Perhaps she is relieved that she doesn’t have to be present in this room as well?

  Still firmly in her grasp, Dina pulls me through the gold doors. My eyes adjust slowly to the darkened room and I’m soon able to gaze upon our new surroundings. The walls on either side of the room are grey stone and torches line the walls, casting a faint glow across the room.

  The stone walls stop at the curved portion of the room in front of us. Instead of a curved stone wall, the wall itself is made entirely of glass. Beyond the wall of glass is darkness. My skin crawls at the sight and something has the hairs on my arms and neck standing on edge. I quickly realize it isn’t something, but someone. I take in a sharp breath at the sight of him.

  The large man sitting on a throne of rock, his skin as golden as the angels who now surround me in an obvious protective stance, though Dina keeps a firm grip on my arm. She is the only one who is relaxed. Even the golden man sitting atop his rock throne appears tense.

  He could very well be considered an angel given his features. He is large. Larger than Darius, Gideon and Ezekiel. His golden hair is curly and long, brushing against his shoulders. He doesn’t wear a shirt and the sight of his scarred chest is enough to send me on edge. You don’t have scars like those without being considered dangerous.

  Damn it, I need my dagger!

  The angelic man wore a pair of snug black pants and when he shifts in his seat, I see them. They blend in with the darkness that peers in through the glass. His wings.

  They remind me of Tarnins, though much more intimidating and impressive. Theses wings are leathery and large with sharp tips and edges. They jut out of his back and shift when he straightens in his throne. He doesn’t try to hide their impressive size.

  Only a few seconds have passed. The man’s bright, blue eyes take in each of us; and when he meets my gaze, I feel myself freeze at the look in his eyes. Recognition, perhaps?

  When the doors finally close behind us, the man shifts in his throne and moves to stand. He is even bigger standing to full height. His wings almost scrape the low stone ceiling as he steps off the dais that houses his throne.

  His gaze drifts to Dina and he takes her in, as if for the first time. He is practically drooling as he looks her over from head to toe. When this mysterious man finally speaks, it is only to Dina, who meets his lust-filled gaze with her own challenging one.

  His voice is deep and hypnotizing all at the same time. It reminds me of a voice that is used to lull one into a false sense of reality, “Dina. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

  Dina snorts and drops my arm, before taking a step forward, away from the safety of the group, “Didn’t you get my texts?”

  The man’s lips quirk upwards into a smirk as his eyes turn playful, “Can’t seem to find that confounded contraption you call a cell phone. You’ll have to get me a new one.”

  Dina snorts again and pulls a sleek iPhone from between her breasts. The man’s nostrils flare as he watches her tap away at her phone. When she finishes, the light of another cell phone flashes in the man’s front pocket and a song about a maneater begins to play throughout the silent room.

  The man shakes his head, still grinning, as he pulls the cell phone out of his pocket, ending the call. Dina nestles her phone once more between her breasts, hidden by the dress she wore, much to the mysterious man’s amusement.

  “Clever witch,” the man murmurs before pocketing the phone and turning back to his throne, “What do you want, Dina?”

  I stare at his back for the first time and am barely able to control myself before the gasp can fly out of my mouth. His entire back is littered with white scars. They remind me so much of Darius’ back. Only this whip had been much crueler to this mysterious man. I could tell from the cut of his scars; the whip wielder had been cruel.

  The way he purrs Dina’s name was enough to have me sending a confused look to Darius, whose eyes remain forward, glaring at the man. I look at the others and all of them are glaring at this man, except the blind Pascal. Dina has managed to keep the smile on her face as if she’d won some sort of victory. Before Dina can claim this confusing victory, Darius’ impatience won out.

  “We’re here to speak to one of your generals who was recently banished back to the depths of the abyss. He goes by the name Tarnin,” Darius says, his voice underlying his impatience with this whole spectacle. At Darius’ words, the man turns to face us once more.

  The angelic man does not take his eyes from Dina, nor she him. Instead, he sneers as he speaks, “Was I asking you, Keeper?”

  Darius growls and moves to take a step forward. I instinctively grasp his wrist, pulling him to a halt.

  Before he can stop me, I interrupt, “We need to speak to Tarnin, it is a matter of life or death.”

  Finally, the angelic man’s eyes shift to meet mine. He stares down at me so intensely that I wince at the feeling of power emanating from his stare. Darius growls in protest and steps in front of me. Effectively blocking the other man’s view. All around me the others tense and I hear Dina shudder a weary sigh.

  “Luc, please, focus. It’s urgent we speak to Tarnin. I happen to know you have him locked up in your cells down below as we speak. The fate of millions depends on it.” Dina’s words are spoken out of frustration and I freeze as her words wash over me.

  The angelic man’s name is Luc?

  “Don’t think you can play on my conscious, little angel,” the man, Luc, growls. “You all know I have no conscious.” The man pauses before continuing, “You, Keeper. Stand aside. Let the girl speak.”

  He is curious, this man. Perhaps because a
human has never spoken so brazenly to him before or perhaps, he has never seen an angel so protective over a human before.

  I watch as Darius struggles to reign in his anger as he steps aside, but remains close by. He takes my hand in his as a sign of his claim over me. I don’t balk at his possessive nature and, in fact, I appreciate it in this situation.

  Luc, the angelic man, steps off his throne dais once more and comes to stand only a few steps away from us. I have to crane my neck even further than I usually do for Darius to meet this angelic man’s gaze.

  “Elara Greer,” he croons my name as if I am wonderous piece of art or splendor. I feel Darius squeeze my hand for assurance. It helps, but only a little.

  “You’re a long way from home, Elara. Do you know who I am?” The man asks, his lips turning into a sinful grin as he stares down at me. It’s as if he is trying to read my very thoughts.

  I grow cold from his gaze and lower my own to the floor. I had never felt such power bearing down upon me before, it was almost stifling. How do the others not quake at the feel of it?

  The man chuckles and I risk a glance up as he laughs, “So new you are to the real world. It's a wonder you’ve remained untouched for so long.”

  Before he can elaborate further, Luc turns away from us, but not before brushing a curl from Dina’s face as he passes the clearly angered angel. Dina doesn’t move at his touch and merely stares back him, a continued challenge in her eyes.

  The man walks back to his throne and collapses into it with a dissatisfied grunt. “I am called Lucifer, Elara, or you can call me Satan, if you prefer. The favorite son. The powerful son. The vengeful son of the Almighty.”

  I lose my breath as the realization hits me. The man before me is an angel, or at least a fallen one. It all makes sense. The first fallen one. I’d read about research done on his fall from the Almighty’s grace. Though it was all mortal research, it gave me a bit of insight into his background. It would also explain his featherless wings and scarred back.

  Lucifer grins at my expression of shock and lets out a harsh chuckle. “So, you are the one who defeated my little minion, Tarnin.”

  Dina tenses in shock and sputters in outrage before I can respond, “Are you admitting that you sent Tarnin to trick Ambriel and destroy the InBetween?”

  Lucifer pouts, “My Dina, how could you ever think such a thing of me?” He holds a hand to his heart, or at least where his heart should be, and appears to look contrite.

  Before long, his grin is back as he mutters, “Those under my charge have the right to choose, just as you and the mortals on Earth do. If they choose not to follow my orders, they are banished from my protection. I am not to blame for Tarnins wrongful choice.”

  Darius growls, “Nor did you try and stop him, or at least warn the Archangels that he had masqueraded as a human in the hopes of stealing the Flaming Sword?”

  Lucifer glares, all hint of fun gone as his hands clutch the arms of his throne tightly. “My sword if you recall, Keeper. It was I who wielded the Flaming Sword first before it was taken from me by your precious Archangels, my brothers and sisters.”

  Dina asks her voice pleading, “Do you know where the sword is now, Luc?”

  When Luc’s angered face meets Dina’s, he visibly softens as he answers, “No. If I did, I would have taken it for myself by now.” His words seem truthful, but one look at Darius tells me he doesn’t believe Lucifer so readily like Dina.

  “We must speak with Tarnin. His followers are looking for it.” Dina pleads and takes a step toward Lucifer.

  Lucifer pauses and seems to be mulling over her words, before he suddenly stands and steps down off the steps of the dais, “I’ll allow it. For a favor.”

  “Ask it.” Dina murmurs, as if she already is aware of the favor he is about to ask. As if she has been asked this favor many times. I wonder if their relationship is sanctioned or forbidden. No one here would tell, that’s for sure.

  “A few minutes alone...with the girl. Elara.” As Lucifer speaks, his words serious and taunting all at the same time.

  At his words, Darius growls and pushes me once more behind him. The others, Ezekiel and Gideon, guard me from the sides. Pascal is still standing close to the doors, not even seeming to be present for this meeting. Lucifer obviously has no concern for the blind angel.

  “No deal,” Darius snarls and Dina stares at Lucifer shocked. I feel bad for her. Dina obviously thought his favor would be something more personal.

  I peek around Darius and watch the amusement flash across Lucifer’s face. He reminds me of none of the images I’ve seen depicted of the famous ruler of Hell. My eyes stray to the windows that showcase the darkness.

  Is that Hell?

  “No deal, no Tarnin.” Lucifer mutters and extends his hand to brush another wayward curl from Dina’s face. This time, she flinches and pulls back, disgust on her face.

  Dropping his hands to his sides, I watch as Lucifer’s eyes shift. He reminds me of Darius when we first met. How I’d been cruel to him and all those days wasted when we could have spent them together. Pushing past Darius, I step forward.

  “Let’s talk then,” I say, with as much fake courage and bravado as I can muster as I stand before the King of Hell. Lucifer’s eyes glint with a grin as he looks over me toward Darius. He’s enjoying the pain he’s putting the man I love through.

  “Elara, no! I won’t allow it!” Darius growls and reaches out to grab my wrist. I jump back and glare back at him.

  “We need the information Tarnin has. It’s only for a few minutes and he won’t hurt me,” I pause and sneak a glance at Lucifer, “Will you?”

  Lucifer nods, “I won’t lay a finger on you, sweet Elara.”

  I nod back and give Darius a pleading look, as I mutter, “It’s only for a few minutes and then we can go.”

  The doors to the waiting area open and the receptionist is waiting at the doors to escort the others out. I don’t miss the scathing glare Dina shoots Lucifer and the receptionist as she storms out of the room. Pascal quickly follows behind. It takes both, Ezekiel and Gideon to force Darius to leave. He doesn’t say anything and just drags his feet, never letting his gaze waver from mine.

  When the doors close, my heart sinks and I realize I am truly alone with the devil.

  8

  Elara

  With the doors closed, all is silent, except for my harsh breathing.

  Amused, Lucifer speaks first, “Are you going to pass out?”

  I shake my head and clench my fingers tightly at my side. I am determined not to show fear. I need to be brave for Darius and the others. And most of all, for myself.

  “That angel certainly loves you, if he’s willing to challenge me in my own domain over a few minutes of privacy,” Lucifer chuckles. He slowly saunters over to the window and arrogantly nods his head in the direction of the view. “Come here, Elara, and cast your eyes upon my kingdom. I know you are curious.”

  I was curious. Before I knew it, I have taken a step and then another in the direction of the windows. I find myself standing a few steps away from the King of Hell himself, staring down at his fiery kingdom.

  It reminds me of the world beyond the wall of the InBetween. Desolate, dark and scorched. Rivers and lakes of fire abound everywhere. Nothing grew here. No light, only darkness. I can see movement on the ground below and recognize soul-eaters and their shadowy tendrils as they roam the barren land. From what I can see there are no souls, much to my confusion.

  As if sensing my line of thought, Lucifer speaks, pride evident in his voice, “The souls are safely below ground. The soul-eaters patrol the lands to ensure none try to escape. A fate worse than death to be consumed by a soul-eater, even in Hell. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  My mind drifts to the one-armed woman I’d met in the InBetween, Renna. Did she survive or did she escape to Earth with the other demons? She too had been tainted by Tarnins darkness and had betrayed me in my hour of need. I clench my fists and shake my h
ead as my thoughts fill at the pain she must have endured.

  “No being should go through something so horrendous,” I simply say before turning my gaze away from his kingdom to stare up at the King of Hell. “Why did you want to speak to me?”

  “You intrigue me. I’ve never heard of a mortal wielding the Flaming Sword before. I suppose it has my brothers and sisters up in arms. To lose such power must be driving them mad,” Lucifer chuckles, clearly amused at the thought of the Archangels upset.

  “They hurt Darius,” I murmur, “For saving me, they punished him.”

  Turning away from the window fully, I stare around the room. It is empty and dark. Nothing like Darius’ throne room in the InBetween. My heart sinks as a voice whispers in the back of my mind, Is the castle even still standing after the demons had attacked?

  Lucifer makes a sound that resembles a scolding noise as he begins to circle me. The bottoms of his large wings drag on the ground and cause me to tense at the mere sight of them. They aren’t as alert as they were before. Perhaps because I am not a real threat like the others were.

  “Do I detect a hint of anger over an Archangel’s divine decision? They are after all the Almighty’s most trusted guardians of Earth and His protected realms.”

  I shrug and cross my arms, “They didn’t have to punish him. They could have punished me, but not him. He doesn’t deserve anymore pain in his life.”

  Lucifer hums in acknowledgement and when he circles to face me, a grin appears on his face, “Do you know where the Flaming Sword is, Elara?”

  “No. Even if I did, do you think I would tell you, the King of Hell?” I scoff at the ridiculous question.

  Lucifer chuckles and shakes his head, “You wielded the sword and blended your blood with its essence when you opened the gates to the afterlife and Earth. You will be sought after by many. Be prepared and do not trust anyone other than those who have brought you to me.”

  I shake my head at his statement. None of it makes sense, “Why? I don’t have the sword and even if I did, I wouldn’t use it for evil.”