by Liza James
“You have to leave us? Live there?” Luna finally speaks up, and I notice the way her voice breaks in disappointment.
My eyes meet hers as sadness washes through my mind and across my skin. I hate that part, that’s the only thing I wish I didn’t have to do. “Yes,” I say quietly, hoping she sees how badly this hurts me as well.
“Technically, no,” Amelia speaks up and Lucifer’s gaze snaps towards her. “Right, Esme? They have another option.”
Just as Esme parts her lips to speak, Lucifer wraps his tight fingers around her throat and squeezes, cutting off her speech. His eyes snap to Amelia, “They may have tied you up, little one. But I’ll fucking destroy you.”
“At this point, I welcome death, old man. Fuck you,” she retorts and at the exact same moment, Nathanial, Elijah and Leon launch forward. All three of them ripping Esme from Lucifer’s grip and attacking. They become a mass of struggling voices and pained sounds, as they reach for Lucifer and he evades each grip. Suddenly, Esme reaches a hand forward and snaps her fingers, bringing all of them to a stop just as Nathanial wraps his hand around Lucifer’s throat.
“Stop,” she breathes, her eyes falling to Lucifer in hesitation and then to the others. “Amelia, explain.”
“They can astral project together. Now that they’re bonded, who knows how their abilities have grown. But they can at least stay here, and project there through the color pools in Hell or live there and project here.”
Esme snaps her fingers again, muttering a quick phrase as everyone regains movement. Lucifer leans back and vibrates with rage as he snaps forward and grips Esme’s hair in his fist, dragging her to him. She yelps out in pain and Leon rushes forward again in order to pull her away.
“Stop,” she breathes out, halting Leon’s movements as she places a hand in front of herself. “I’m okay.”
“Yeah, she’s perfectly fucking fine,” Lucifer adds as irritation thickens his voice. He pulls her up and holds her pinned to his side. He presses his teeth to her ear as he speaks loudly enough for us all to hear. “Now give me something, Witch.”
Esme’s eyes shut tight as she succumbs to his words. When she opens them again, they’re black, similar to how they were the night Lucifer used her body to speak to us. She slowly slides her gaze across everyone in the room and lands heavily on Amelia.
I watch in confusion as Amelia’s eyes slip back into red, those trails of blood pooling and slipping down her cheeks. Her back arches as her mouth falls open and she cries out in pain. Esme keeps her gaze trained on Amelia while she continues to cry, but it transforms into something shaper, a scream that rips through the room and my heart begins racing in my chest. Nathanial steps towards me and I immediately seek out his touch, looking for his connection as we watch what unfolds.
Luna and Elijah step together as well, and Leon’s face contorts with an emotion I can’t read. His eyes pinch together, but his body becomes incredibly rigid in what looks like discomfort.
Suddenly, Amelia’s screams turn into a bitter laugh as her head falls forward and her red eyes meet each of ours in a newfound peace. Her gaze lingers on Luna and me, curiously taking in our statures without saying a word.
“What the fuc—” Leon starts, but Esme’s voice breaks through the room.
“Sunan,” she says lyrically, as if she’s addressing someone new in the space. Amelia’s head tilts to the side, regarding her with tight lips and narrow eyes.
“You little fucking cunt,” Amelia’s voice snaps out, but Lucifer releases a wild, happy laugh at the reveal.
No fucking way.
“Okay, you win. This was a great fucking trade,” he says to Esme as he presses a hard kiss against her cheek. He releases his hold on her and claps his hands together as Leon stalks towards Amelia.
“No way,” he says, his voice hard and vile as he regards her. She watches him intently, and a smile breaks across her face.
“Little Leon, it’s been so long. Tell me, how is Nya doing?” Amelia speaks toxically, an icy slime that coats her voice in poison. It’s not Amelia though. My eyes fall back to Esme as she begins trembling just slightly, her gaze still hard and focused on Amelia. I think she’s holding the connection, forcing Sunan to the front of Amelia’s form with magic.
“Would you like to hear a secret?” she whispers to him, and he steps even closer, seemingly drawn to whatever she’s willing to share. “Would you like to know how Amelia did it? How she killed and tortured your sweet sist—”
Leon loses it. His hand shoots forward as he grips Amelia’s jaw roughly. His fingers bite into her flesh, the touch clearly painful and destructive as he wrenches her head up to meet his eyes. She laughs through the awkward angle he’s forced on her jaw, ignoring any sense of pain or discomfort he places on Amelia’s body. “Break it. Whatever goddamn spell or curse this fucking is. Because I’ll kill her, I’ll fucking kill this one if it means killing Sunan.”
“Wait,” Lucifer says as he steps forward and stands near Leon. Esme begins shaking and as Luna and I look to each other, we both step towards Esme to hold her steady. “Tell us what you’ve been doing Sunan. Have you been watching us through the eyes of your daughter?”
She doesn’t answer. She simply meets his gaze with a wicked smile on her face. He turns towards Esme and points to her, demanding the answer he’s searching for.
“Yes,” Esme responds flatly as a trail of blood slips from her nose and over her lips. It’s taking everything for her to hold on to this connection with Sunan. “She watches and speaks to Amelia in her head, forcing certain actions at specific times.”
“How long?” Nathanial demands, looking between Esme and Amelia.
“A very long time. It’s how Danner has kept his eye on Stella as well,” Esme says quietly, just as her back arches and she whimpers slightly in pain.
“He knew what the area behind the house looked like, because he had already seen it through Amelia?” I ask, realizing this must have been how Danner was able to construct the dream that persuaded me to leave.
“Yes, exactly,” she replies weakly.
“Break the fucking curse,” Leon spits out again and Amelia throws her head forward to try and break free from his hold.
“Don’t you fucking dare, Witch,” Amelia looks back to Leon. “I’ll make your life miserable, Leon. Don’t think I can’t. I know exactly what to do to ruin you.”
He steps closer to her, bringing his chest flush against hers as he tightens his grip around her throat. She struggles to breathe, I can see her chest rising and falling as she attempts inhaling more oxygen. But I don’t think it’s Sunan who is affected by it.
My heart thunders in my chest as I watch the pain radiating between everyone. Esme is struggling, Lucifer is trying to hold his control on Esme and Sunan, Leon is nearly about to kill Amelia, and Luna and Elijah are still hurt by both Nathanial and I.
“You’ve already destroyed everything you can get your toxic fucking hands on. You and your fucking insect of a daughter. Fuck you both, I’ll gladly watch you die together.” His hand tightens even more and I launch forward, leaving Luna to hold Amelia while Elijah steps in beside her.
“Leon!” I shout, pushing my way through both of them when I feel Nathanial’s own energy race through our bond. He’s already on it, stepping ahead of me and ripping Leon back while Lucifer enjoys watching the pain. He’s fucking hungry for destruction.
Esme cries out in agony and Lucifer’s glare darts back to her. She collapses, her eyes falling shut when the connection breaks. Elijah and Luna help her as she falls while Lucifer comes to her side and slides an arm underneath her legs and around her shoulders. He lifts her up, until she’s pressed tightly against him. I’d say it would be the first sweet gesture I’ve seen from Lucifer in regards to her, but it’s not. The irritation lining his strained movements tells me otherwise.
Amelia’s head falls back as she slips into a scream, when she finally stops her eyes are clear again and her gaze falls to
Leon. “What happened?” she asks him frantically, clearly oblivious to Sunan communicating through her.
“Your mother,” I step in, taking a place in front of Leon. Surprisingly, Luna walks up to stand next to me, the both of us taking control over the situation. Leon is teeming with uncontrolled fury and I know he needs space away from Amelia at this point.
“She was speaking through you. Did you hear it? Feel it?” Luna asks and Amelia’s eyes fall to hers as she begins shaking. I lean up on my toes and attempt untying Amelia’s arms so that she’s released. I’m struggling with the knots though and before I even have to ask, Nathanial is above me, reaching over my body to help untie her. Once she’s released, she drops her hands to her chest and pulls her sleeves tightly over her fists. Her eyes meet Nathanial’s briefly in gratitude before she looks back to Luna and I.
“No, not necessarily,” she starts and Leon scoffs behind me. Elijah tenses and steps up behind Luna, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her back a bit. Amelia looks to him, a mix of emotions warring across her face. “I knew something was happening. I…” she pauses. “I hear voices. I lose control, okay? But I don’t know exactly who it is. I didn’t realize it was my mother. I just know I get these fucking urges, that I need to do something. My body pushes forward when my mind logically tells me to stop. But it’s happened for so fucking long now, that I can’t tell the difference between the voices and my own head.” Her gaze falls between Luna and me. “It happened tonight, with you Stella. When I stabbed you. I couldn’t stop it, even though I knew I shouldn’t. The only way I could fix it was by having you bond to Nathanial. It was my only way out.”
Her clear eyes slide to Luna and I watch as tears build and slip through her lashes. “It’s different with you,” she whispers and then nods up to Elijah. “Because of him.”
Elijah’s grip tightens around Luna as she lifts her hand and slips her fingers through his. But my sister keeps her eyes on Amelia and listens quietly, letting her speak without judgement.
“I can’t change who I am. And I’m not a good fucking person. I’ve killed and tortured and hurt more people than I can count. My mind is broken and skewed with beliefs that I can’t get out of my fucking head. But I wish I was sorry, I wish I could be different for you all.”
My heart sinks with Amelia’s confession, her clear denial of being able to change astounds me. This is simply who she is, and I struggle to believe that she’ll never be anything more.
“Use her as bait,” Leon’s voice sounds out behind us, crumbling the tension that had risen in our space. “To lure Sunan. Break the curse, piss off mommy, and then we can kill her.”
“Now that’s an idea,” Lucifer chimes in with interest.
“Wait—” I start, quickly realizing that Sunan may be able to hear what we are planning. “Can’t Sunan hear this?”
“I believe it’s only when her eyes are red. That’s when Sunan is catching her glimpses into whatever Amelia sees or when she’s trying to manipulate her for her own use,” Esme answers through a weak voice. I nod in acceptance, but still don’t feel comfortable with the idea of using Amelia.
“No, that is a good idea. Use me,” she agrees and immediately accepts the new plan of attack.
“Absolutely not. We aren’t using Amelia to gain access to her mother,” Luna adds as well. Her voice is strained with reluctance and hesitation.
“Doesn’t matter what either you think,” Amelia says impatiently. “I’m doing this and none of you will get in my fucking way.”
Luna and I watch her with narrow eyes. I get what she’s trying to do, I do. She doesn’t think she can’t change who she is. It’s become clearer every single day that she holds so much hatred against herself as well as us. So, this is a way out, an escape. It’s also a chance at redemption when she doesn’t believe she deserves any.
Maybe she doesn’t. But I hate the idea of sacrificing her to her mother. I can tell Luna hates it as well.
But Nathanial feels differently, and by the look on Luna’s face as she watches Elijah, he does as well. The guys are in on this plan, realizing this is the best course of action now.
“When do we do it?” Elijah asks, looking back to Esme who still lays in Lucifer’s arms.
“Tomorrow night,” Amelia replies for her, with a certain finality in her voice.
“Esme will have to access incredibly dark magic in order to break this curse. I don’t think she’s strong enough to do it that soon,” I add as I look to see her quietly listening to the conversation while Lucifer holds her.
I actually like this plan. Sunan will show for Amelia, especially if her only tether to having her eye on us is broken. But who I’m truly interested in is Danner, and if he’s still with her, then I can get my hands around that sick fuck’s throat.
“She can draw from me,” Leon offers as he comes to stand next to Lucifer and Esme.
“My property, my fucking power. She pulls from me,” Lucifer steps away, putting distance between Esme and Leon.
“She can’t use you for this, Lucifer. It will drain you, even with your strength. It makes more sense to exhaust Leon of his power. You’re the actual ruler of the Underworld, you can’t be that weak,” I explain logically. He may be cruel, but it’s evident he holds an incredibly possessive grip on Esme. He needs control over her completely.
Lucifer’s eyes fall to Leon in a deadly glare. Anger and resentment radiate from his features while a cocky smile pulls at Leon’s lips. He likes pushing fucking buttons.
“All right, then what? What happens when she breaks the curse?” Stella’s heated voice billows through the room. I can feel her rage tainting her blood and electrifying my own. Her and Luna clearly don’t like this plan. Ever the fucking forgivers, those two. Amelia could have killed both of them at one point or another and yet they still aren’t willing to give her up.
“We take her to the warehouse on the corner of nineteenth, near the Capitol. Sunan will show for her there. Luna and Stella, you both stay back and wait for us, we can keep you—” Elijah speaks fluidly, stepping into his role as leader while I step back. I have another realm to rule over now.
“Fuck no,” Stella says. Of fucking course. I drop my gaze to her and flood her with my own irritated emotions. She doesn’t need to be there.
“You all are insane if you think we’re staying back. You and Nathanial need us. What if you need to alter the surroundings? You’re stronger with me. And what if Stella and Nathanial need to project? It’s safer for everyone if we come.” Luna directs her logic to Elijah, working it through him in both words and their connection. He crosses his arms around his chest in annoyance, but eventually agrees with a simple nod.
Mother fucker.
I reach forward and wrap my hand around the nape of Stella’s neck, dragging her back against me when I press my lips to her ear. “You stay the fuck with me, understand? I swear to God, Stells. You run off on some rampant burst of heroism, and you won’t sit on that tight little ass for a fucking month.”
Her lips pull tight into a flat line, but I feel the flicker of excitement that dances through her blood. She doesn’t respond though.
“Answer me, Stella.” I tighten by grip on her and pull back roughly, brushing my lips across hers.
“Yes, daddy,” she breaths out. A spark of sarcasm laces her voice, but I know she’s submitting, so I let the small act of defiance go. I claim her in a kiss that sears through the both of us. It’s in our touch, in our blood, in our fucking souls
“Good girl.” I release her and push her forward just a bit as I slap her ass harshly. Give her a taste of what’s to come if she disobeys.
“I don’t want Leon there,” Amelia finally speaks again, distracting my attention briefly as we all look to her.
Leon laughs, scoffing at her one demand. “No.”
“Yes, you’ll be weaker than you should be when you see her.”
“I don’t care. I’m coming. Even if I stand in the back and w
atch over everyone else, I’m going to be there when Sunan dies. If I can’t be the one to kill her my fucking self, give me this.” His voice is flat with unwavering strength. He simply gives Amelia no other option.
She watches him silently, a look of disappointment washing over her face as she gives in. “Fine, it looks like we’re all going to my mother’s funeral.”
We’ve spent the day gearing up for tonight. Amelia’s eyes ghosted over in red at one point and we immediately launched into action. Leon was the first to react, jumping forward and throwing her to the ground until Sunan released her hold and slipped away. Amelia cried out beneath him as Sunan fought for control. But it’s been quiet ever since she disappeared. None of us have slept, we’ve all hunkered down in the house in order to detail every possible scenario tonight.
Alf has been around. He’s been kind enough to bring us food throughout the day when we need it. It’s apparent we aren’t leaving until we have things hammered out. I did send Lucifer and Esme on a quick errand though, it was the least he could do now that I’m ruling a portion of his kingdom. They returned not long ago, and now we’re nearly ready to put this plan into action.
Stella sits nestled between my legs on the floor, her long red hair brushes against my biceps and I ache to drag her upstairs and have my way with her before we leave. But I hold off for now, and instead let her know exactly how I’m feeling through the bond we both finally share.
It’s mesmerizing, really. Being able to have such an intimate part of her on top of everything else that vibrates between us. I don’t hold myself back anymore, not now that I know we’ll be able to make this work. The astral projection information that Amelia revealed is a completely new and important aspect that I hadn’t thought of.
Stella and I can remain on the upside, while projecting to Hell or vice versa. As soon as I have the thought, I feel Stella’s hesitation through her blood. My eyes drop to hers while the rest of the group continues dissecting the impending events. Her head turns back slightly, meeting my curious gaze over her shoulder.
