Encounter with the Devil

by Maya Daniels

  I wish I had told Helena that she owns my soul. Even destroyed, it’ll belong to her, no matter where it ends up. Regrets that I never told her the truth will haunt me even when I’m irrevocably gone. She deserves better. Maybe Colt will do better than I ever could. As the tendrils grow on his hands, my eyes search for my mate. I want her face to be the last I see before I am no more. The brawl has pushed everything around, and I can’t even see a lock of her hair from where I’m sprawled on the floor. Closing my eyes, I recall her smiling face and brace for the pain that will come. Holding my breath, I wait.

  And I wait…

  When eternity passes, and I still feel every broken bone in my body, I crack my eyelids open. My father is still standing where he was, his face twisted in a mask of anger I’ve rarely seen on him. His arms are lifted to the sides, palm up, but no tendrils swirl around them. No darkness crawls toward me, ready to devour my soul.

  The pain must be messing with my head because he looks like he has grown another set of arms. No, wait! It’s legs. What in the fates? Blinking fast, I try to clear my vision, but the legs are still there. Scanning the rest of his body, my eyes widen when I see a familiar dagger pressed under his chin. The damn Trowe is also clinging to his leg, baring his teeth and hissing.

  “Are you planning to take a nap first or are you going to get your ass up, monster boy?” Helena pokes her head out from behind my father.

  With a groan, I lift myself up. She is wrapped around my father piggyback style, her steady hand pressing the dagger to his jugular. While his eyes swirl with silver, he hasn’t moved or tried to dislodge her. Bracing on the closest sofa, I finally stand up on my feet.

  “Don’t hurt her.” Stumbling a step, I reach for her. “Do what you will with me but leave her be. She thinks she is helping me.”

  “I am helping you, asshole.” Scolding me from behind his shoulder, she presses the dagger harder. “We learned that sharp pointy things can even cut through the mighty Lucifer, just like a knife through butter.” With her free hand, she slaps him none too gently on his face, shocking me stupefied. “Didn’t we?” she asks sweetly.

  “I might’ve misjudged the situation.” His words make me blink once. Maybe I am dead. “Let us all calm down and discuss this.”

  “A few drops of blood and everyone wants to calm down and talk.” Snickering, Helena lifts her eyebrows in question. “Should I remove the dagger?”

  Reaching for her again, I nod once. “Come to me, Hel.”

  Jumping off him, she backs away slowly until I pull her in my arms. To my delight as bad as it may be, she places herself protectively in front of me, the dagger swirling with power in her hand. The symbols blink like a light show, one after another, in a mesmerizing display. I catch my father watching it with interest, too.

  “Helena, I think I need to explain.” Regardless of what happens, I don’t want her harmed if I’m not around to protect her.

  “No need, I heard.” She doesn’t look away from the target of her anger.

  “All of it?” My gut tightens.

  “Enough of it to call bullshit.” Pointing the dagger at my father’s chest, her voice gives me chills. “No one severs any bonds if they value their lives. You might be powerful enough to kill me Lucifer, but I will take as many of you as I can before I die.”

  Helena

  Hearing that you are a hybrid, born from a demon and an angel that got their rocks off, is one thing. Understanding that you are the actual Devil’s spawn is entirely different. I’m not feeling particularly proud of fainting when I was told my father is Satanael.

  Or, Satan, if you will.

  When the name passed Lucifer’s lips, the first thought that hit me was: Eric and I are related, and I slept with him. It was followed up by the confusion of Lucifer talking about himself like he is two different people. Well, entities if you want to be specific. All that happened from one breath to the next, turning the lights out for me.

  I consider it lucky that it only lasted no longer than a minute. Coming around just in time to overhear part of their conversation would’ve been enlightening if I knew what the hell they were talking about. Sticking to my decision to make my own mind up on things, I used Lucifer’s distraction when he tried to kill Eric to my advantage. Even now, he is still watching me like I’ve grown another head for sneaking up on him, close enough to leave a thin slice on his neck.

  The dagger in my hand sends a pulse of energy through my arm. It got animated after feeling Lucifer’s blood on its blade. I’m just adding it to the creepy factor of this road trip I’m taking through Hell.

  “Shall we…”

  “We shall not,” cutting off Lucifer, I wave the dagger in his face, not moving away from Eric. “It’s obvious you don’t want me dead, or I wouldn’t be standing here now. That being said, let’s get a few things clear.” Leaning forward, I lift both eyebrows mockingly. “You are not my father.”

  Now I feel like a nerd making Star Wars references while Lucifer jerks back as if I’ve slapped him. Shrugging a shoulder, ignoring the fact that Eric’s arms go slack around me, I don’t look away.

  “I never implied that you were my daughter.” Speaking slowly with a confused expression, Lucifer is scrutinizing me like he wants to judge my sanity.

  “You said my father is Satan, okay, Satanael.” Maybe I should’ve paid closer attention when Hector kept going on about scriptures and entities.

  “Have they told you nothing?” Anger flares in his eyes when he looks first at me, then over my shoulder at Eric.

  “They may have.” Shrugging again, I shuffle my feet self-consciously. “I was more interested in how to hit my mark than quoting passages and remembering names.”

  Rubbing his forehead as if I’ve given him a headache, Lucifer walks up to one of the sofas, plopping on it ungracefully. He was so composed until this very moment that it’s startling to see him act almost normal. When he looks up at where I’m still standing like a human shield in front of Eric, he looks tired. Exhausted, actually.

  “There were seven of us that fell first, as you would know it.” Waving a hand, he prompts us to sit. Eric groans with his movement, pulling me with him and seating us both opposite Lucifer.

  “The seven sins.” He nods at me grimly.

  “Beelzebub, Leviathan, Mammon, Asmodeous, Belphegor, Satanael, and me.” One side of his lips lifts at the corner. “We didn’t fall. Balance was needed if His creation was to continue. He chose us for this. Appointed each of us to rule our domains, me leading them all to keep order.” At my skeptical look, he chuckles. “Chaos has the greatest order of them all.”

  My mind is spinning, trying to remember things that Hector spent days teaching me. “Your domain is pride.”

  “So it is.” Nodding approvingly, that domain is unmistakable in his intent gaze. “Humans are simple creatures, and mistaking Satanael and me as one and the same made no difference.”

  “There is more to this. If you were chosen, why are you and the angels trying to kill each other?”

  “I never said we didn’t lose our way, forgetting why we are here. Forgetting who we are.” Quicksilver shimmers through his eyes. “That is why Satanael and Sedakiel decided to create you. So you can remember and find our way back to ourselves.”

  “Raphael said my father was a demon god wrath, and my mother an angel of mercy.” My hand blindly reaches for Eric, and his fingers tangle with mine, anchoring me. Too many emotions are making me dizzy although I’m sitting down.

  “Satanael’s domain is wrath.” Tilting his head slightly, he zeroes in on the dagger still clutched in my hand. “Sedakiel, or you may have heard of her being called Zedkiel, is known as the mercy of God.” A genuine smile makes him look blindingly beautiful. He points his chin at my hand. “You carry the weapon she is well known for. Satanael has been keeping secrets, because I see his symbols on it, too.”

  Raking my brain, I frown at him. “Zedkiel is a man.”

  Laughter shakes his
shoulders, pebbling my skin. “She is all female, I assure you. She is no more a male than Satanael and I are one and the same. As I said, humans are simple creatures. Lost souls looking for redemption.”

  “Let’s say I believe you.” Everything in me believes every word he said, but I refuse to acknowledge it. “What’s my purpose, apart from bleeding so you can waltz in through the gate on unsuspecting humans? To play a shepherd and guide you out of memory loss?” Snickering, I shift my butt uneasily on the sofa. “Here is Helena, therapist of the fallen. All appointments made right after you get your ass to Hell.”

  “Your blood can open any gate, you are made of both. Not just Hell.” He looks insulted, and my brain screeches to a halt.

  “What?” Lips parted, I gap at him. Eric’s fingers tighten around mine, almost crushing my bones.

  “Your blood can open the gate to Hell, or Heaven.” Lucifer squares his shoulders, lifting slightly from his perch. “You look troubled.”

  “But Michael can go to Heaven whenever he wants,” mumbling through numb lips, I can’t even blink.

  “Speak, girl.”

  Like a hawk, his focus is so intent I find myself spilling every thought and doubt that’s been nagging me for weeks. “After Michael abducted me, I thought he would kill me so you can’t use me to open the gate or keep it open. He didn’t obviously, but I kept wondering the whole time I was locked up what was his point. I mean, how much blood does he need to keep Hell open long enough to face you in battle.” Gulping air, I prepare myself to continue talking. Lucifer jumps angrily from the sofa, and I almost swallow my tongue.

  “Mammon will cease to exist for this!” Spinning around, he roars, causing my ears to ring. “Colt!” The doors burst open, Colt shouldering his way through them, poised to fight. “Call Leviathan. I was right, the bastard is using jinn.”

  Eric jumps up, a painful grunt coming from him. Not knowing what is going on, I look at all of them, ignoring the Trowe that decides to yank on my hand at that moment.

  “Jinn?” The dread in Eric’s question curdles the blood in my veins.

  “What the hell is jinn?” Grabbing his hand, I jerk him towards me. “What’s going on?”

  “Jinn are shapeshifters.” All the life drains from me before he is done talking. “If Mammon is using jinn, it may not have been Michael that held you prisoner for two weeks.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it!” Jumping up as well, I whirl on Eric. “He was inside Sanctuary when I first met him. With all Elders present might I remind you. The wards were strong enough to prevent that.”

  “The same wards that prevented me?” Distractingly, he glances at me, then turns to watch his brother bolt out of the room like his ass is on fire. “I was there, too.”

  Scrubbing a hand over my face angrily, I blow out a breath through puffed out cheeks like a chipmunk. Lucifer starts pacing in front of the roaring fireplace, adding to my anxiety. At least he forgot about wanting to kill Eric, or sever our bond. I might’ve been troubled by the fact I had no say in becoming his mate, but that doesn’t mean I want anyone cutting it. With or without choice, it’s mine. Plus, I almost said the L word earlier.

  There is that.

  “Let me get this straight.” Wrapping my fingers around Eric’s forearm, I turn him towards me until our gazes lock. “What you are telling me is, this started long before Michael showed up to tell me that I’m dead meat?” When his lips press into a thin, white line, my stomach jumps in my throat before dropping at my feet. “Is it one jinn? Please say it’s only one of those bastards, or I’m going to die of tachycardia right now.”

  “It’s not one.” Lucifer chirps while continuing to wear a path in the floor, ignoring all of us.

  “Nobody asked you.” Snapping at him, I don’t look away from Eric, begging him to contradict the jerk that is trying to kill me with words while not even looking my way.

  “I should’ve suspected it.” Eric gets on my shit list, agreeing with his father. I should’ve let Lucifer kill him. “It makes me wonder what Mammon has promised to get them involved in this.”

  “Now you are interested in comings and goings in my realm?” Like a dark cloud, Lucifer is pacing one second, and the next he is looming over Eric.

  It’s not a conscious decision when my dagger is pressed under his chin. Finding myself plastered to Lucifer’s chest, I snarl at him. “I wanna know what’s going on, who these jinn are and how I can send them back here and out of my world. Let’s concentrate on that, huh? And unless you are planning on killing me first, get out of his face. Eric will not be dying by your hand. Not if I can help it.”

  “You have chosen well.” Excitement sparkles in Lucifer’s gaze, replacing the rage. “If I wanted to kill my own son, he would not be standing here, girl. He needed a lesson, one I thought he learned a long time ago.” Slowly he pulls away from me, turning to look at the glass frame holding the mesmerizing wings above the mantel. “I had to be certain he is willing to protect you at all costs. That he will not turn his back when you need him like he has done to me.”

  “Oh, well”—Pitching my voice to sound like I’m a bubblehead with no brain, I continue pissing him off if the clenched fists at his sides are anything to go by—“that explains everything.” Eric frowns, watching me warily, and Lucifer only turns his head my way. They both look like they’ve never seen me in their life. Good! “You see, you are a jerk that likes to push people around. I wouldn’t stick around either. Me, on the other hand, I have a vagina. It trumps being an ass any day.”

  Lucifer opens his mouth, then closes it with a snap, turning his attention to Eric with his brow up in an arch. “Did she get damaged when you passed the portal? She seemed lucid to this point.”

  Lips twitching, Eric’s green eyes soften and twinkle when he looks at me. I want to slap him. “My mate has a temper.” Lucifer grunts as if that explains everything.

  “First of all,”—Pointing the blade at Lucifer, I scowl at him—“that was not a nice thing to say. Second,”—The sharp, pointy thing turns Eric’s way, making his grin broaden, the asshole.—”I have a temper only when I’m dealing with jerks who think little girl Helena needs to be told what to do, or when they are trying to kill me.”

  “Satanael will be proud.” Lucifer keeps poking that little tidbit that I’m doing everything I can to ignore.

  “And let’s not talk about my parents.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I purse my lips. Mature, I know. “Jinn. One of you was going to tell me about these jinn bastards.” The Trowe chuckles gleefully. A creepy sound that almost makes me jump out of my skin. I forgot about him.

  “Go fetch Beelzebub.” Power blasts the Trowe when Lucifer addresses him, singeing my skin.

  The creature whimpers, baring his teeth. “I don’t serve you, Lucifer.” Hissing, he crawls on all fours, stopping at my feet. “I have a mistress now.”

  Eric laughs, covering it with a cough at Lucifer’s thunderous scowl.

  The fact that the creature disobeyed Lucifer makes me giddy. I’m disturbed by its presence and attachment to me, nonetheless. “Yes, Lucifer. He has a mistress now.” Baring my own teeth in a mockery of a smile, I nudge the Trowe with my foot. “Go, do what he asked.”

  With a squeal, the creature disappears from the room, the banging of the door shutting the only thing proving he was even in the place. I didn’t know it could move like that. Then again, I don't know anything about him or anything else here by the looks of it. That brings my thoughts back to what we were discussing before I got sidetracked, as usual.

  “Now that no one is trying to kill each other, and apparently we are waiting; can anyone explain to me what exactly is going on.” I start moving back to my sofa but think better of it. Snatching Eric’s arm, I drag him with me, away from Lucifer. Plopping us both on the soft cushions, I raise my eyebrows at the fallen angel watching us with amusement. “You were telling me about the jinn. What kind of demons are we talking about here?”

  �
��Not demons.” Following our example, Lucifer gingerly sits opposite us. I’m happy his chair got smashed to splinters because it makes me feel more on equal ground like this. “Not exactly. They are separate from both realms. Created to keep us on track with our tasks. The Creator uses them as spies. They are his eyes and ears in all the realms.” Both his brows dip, forming a V between his eyes. “They never should’ve gotten involved in this mess.”

  “I can’t see what Mammon can promise to make them agree to get involved.” Eric muses next to me, staring unseeing at the flames of the fireplace.

  “What’s Mammon’s domain?” Feeling lost, I glance at Eric. Lucifer answers me.

  “Greed.”

  “How appropriate.” Drawling dryly, my mouth twists in a grimace. “I should’ve guessed.” Spearing my fingers through my hair, I grab a fistful, yanking on it to clear the hundreds of thoughts floating in my head. “I’d think some of us would’ve noticed if we are faced with anything other than what we can see, no?” Alternating between Lucifer and Eric, I search their faces for clues. “I mean, Michael used his powers. Surely these jinn have a tell we can use to identify them. Right?”

  “Not necessarily.” Lucifer sighs, his words spoken cautiously. “One must be aware such a thing is in the works so we can look for tells. They were created to mimic any of us perfectly.”

  “What you are telling me is that anyone can be a jinn and not who we think they are?” Stupid hope unfurls in my chest. “Maybe Amanda and Hector were jinn? Jared?” I’m too afraid to turn to Eric, so he doesn’t destroy the fragile idea blooming inside me.

  “Not Hector, no.” Regardless that I ignore him, he still opens his mouth. “He smelled too much like a human to be anything but.” Tilting his head left and right, not seeing my glare, he scratches the stubble on his jaw. “I can’t be sure about your friend. I didn’t pay her that much attention considering the situation.”

  “Judging by this conversation, anyone can be a jinn.” As soon as the words pass my lips, I jump away from Eric, stabbing the air in his direction with my dagger. “You could be a jinn, too.” He jerks back like the blade pierced his skin. “You’ve been acting weird ever since we got here.”