by Laurèn Lee
Liam, backed into a corner now, hurled more fire and ice orbs at the demons before him. Dozens of demons fell victim to the orbs and seized on the stone floor until they fell silent and still. Harry ran off in the opposite direction, much to Liam’s dismay. Infuriated that his only loyal servant fled his side, Liam tossed an orb toward him, hitting Harry square in the back.
Even though half the population of demons lay motionless on the ground, Adriel, Henley, Bentley, and Tori strode toward Liam as desperation painted itself across his expression.
“The end is near, Liam! Give up now!” Adriel shouted above the chaos.
“Never!” Liam replied, fury etched into his face. He leaped off the stone above the height of the tables in the hall and landed mere feet away from Adriel.
Adriel put his hand up, signaling to the other demons to stop and listen.
“We can end this right now, Liam. You’re not going to win. Look around you. No one wants you as their fearless leader,” Adriel said. “Give Lucifer back his ring!”
Henley, Tori, and Bentley stood behind Adriel with their arms crossed, ready to defend Adriel at all costs.
Liam smiled wickedly. “And where’s your fearless leader? Huh? Huddled in the back of the room while all of you fight his battle for him? Really brave. Quite the chivalrous demon.”
“You are not the Devil. Never have and never will be,” Adriel said. “Instead of wasting any more demons’ lives, let’s keep this between us, as it should be.”
“Want to fight me? You? Me?” Liam doubled over with laughter and howled with glee. “Oh, this will be good!”
Adriel grimaced. “You may be stronger than me, but I have more reason to live.”
“That’s right,” Liam said. “You stole my fiancé from right under my feet. Well, you can have the little slut, but leave me and my throne alone. I may even let you live if you call this whole thing off.”
“Afraid to lose to someone less powerful than you?”
Charlotte listened to their banter with fright. Could Adriel really beat Liam one-on-one? She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists.
“It’s going to be okay,” Lucifer whispered.
“How do you know?” Charlotte asked.
“I believe in Adriel, and you should too.”
Charlotte opened her eyes, and Lucifer winked.
Liam stepped toward Adriel and sneered, smoke rising from his body. “Let’s have it your way then.”
Adriel waved to his crew, and they stepped back, creating a circle around himself and Liam. Adriel parted his legs a bit to have a stronger stance. Liam, unfazed, put his hands on his hips.
“This is going to be like taking candy from a baby,” he said.
“Never underestimate those below you. They have more reasons to put their lives on the line and fight,” Adriel replied.
Liam produced another icy orb and bounced it up and down in his hand.
“No magic!” Adriel said.
“I don’t play by anyone’s rules but my own,” Liam said. He tossed the orb at Adriel’s feet and jumped back to avoid its deadly touch.
“Not all rules are bad, Liam. In fact, without rules, the universe would be chaos,” Adriel said.
“Nothing wrong with a little chaos,” Liam replied. He charged toward Adriel and struck him in the jaw with his right hand. Adriel stumbled back, clutching his face with a grin.
Charlotte closed her eyes again, unable to bear witness as the love of her life and former love faced off against each other. Lucifer didn’t need to watch the fight; his main priority was to protect Charlotte. He’d grown fond of her since they officially met, and as unbelievable as it was, he felt a twinge of guilt for literally dragging her into Hell. He could see why both Adriel and Liam loved her. It would be hard for anyone not to.
Adriel sprang into the air and caught Liam’s temple with his elbow. Liam, off balance, stepped backward and a grisly scowl appeared on his face. “Nice shot.”
In the next moment, Liam charged toward Adriel, taking him to the ground. Flames and smoke swirled around them as they fought, exchanging punch for punch and kick for kick. Tori bit her lip watching and wished she could see better, but the smoke clouded everyone’s view. The demons roared with either agony or hatred, or both. Nervous twitters sprang within the demons watching, unable to see exactly what was happening. Charlotte couldn’t contain her anxiety any longer and stood to try and get a better look.
“What’s happening?” she cried. “I can’t see anything!”
Lucifer turned around too and furrowed his brow. “Anything could be happening.”
Adriel cried out, and Liam returned the call of pain. The flames surrounding the hall grew even higher, licking the tall ceiling of the Underworld. The demons closed in around Adriel and Liam, attempting to gain a better perspective.
At long last, the smoke wavered, and the scene cleared just a touch. Charlotte clapped her mouth as Liam stood tall, rising from the smoke. Adriel was nowhere to be seen. She shrieked and flung herself away from the wall, but Lucifer caught her. She struggled against his grasp, but he held on tightly.
The demons whispered and nudged each other. Where was Adriel? Had Liam defeated him? Was he dead?
Liam smiled sleepily and tottered in his place. Tears sprang from Charlotte’s eyes. She clutched her heart and sobbed into Lucifer’s chest. Even Lucifer bowed his head as he patted Charlotte’s back.
Liam opened his mouth to speak, but his eyes rolled back inside his head, and he fell backward onto the ground.
Henley gasped, and a few shouts erupted too. The demons squirmed to get even closer to see the destruction.
Without warning, movement disrupted the smoke hanging lazily in the air. Charlotte heard the shuffling and craned her neck to see what was going on.
Adriel, worn and weary, rose from the ashes and smoke to stand before them all. He was alive and held a silver ring with a black stone high above his head.
Charlotte pushed Lucifer out of the way, and even the Devil couldn’t hold her back. She rushed across the hall, pushing demons aside left and right. Her heart thudded inside her chest, and hope exploded from her soul. She jumped into Adriel’s arms, nearly knocking him over. Adriel caught her and clung to her like life support.
“You’re alive!”
“I am. I had to see you again somehow,” he said.
The hall erupted with cheers, and Lucifer strode over to Adriel and Charlotte. Adriel put Charlotte down and waited for Lucifer to approach him.
“You’ve done well,” Lucifer said.
“Thank you.” Adriel tossed Lucifer’s ring back to him.
With glee, Lucifer put the ring back onto his finger, and before the eyes of all witnesses, Lucifer’s body strengthened, and life returned to his face. The Devil was back in business.
“What happens next?” Charlotte asked. “What will become of Liam?”
All the souls in the hall looked to Lucifer for confirmation.
“I will take his demonhood away as he should never have been granted a place below the Earth. I will ensure he never sets foot in Hell again to try and reclaim his powers. After today, he’ll never even want to return. I apologize to all of you. I promise to be a better ruler going forward.”
Murmurs of acceptance rumbled, and all the demons bowed to Lucifer, even Henley, Bentley, and Tori. Charlotte smirked and nodded toward the Devil.
Everyone backed away again as the smoke finally cleared completely. Liam lay still and quiet on the floor. Lucifer hunched over him, speaking ancient words under his breath. The flames in the hall flickered madly, and all the demons hushed and stood still.
A faint red light glowed from Liam’s chest, and as though magnetized, it floated directly into Lucifer’s hand. He put the energy in his pocket and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Is Liam dead?” Charlotte asked into Adriel’s ear.
“Worse,” he said with a smirk.
Perplexed, Charlotte returned her attentio
n to Lucifer and Liam. Lucifer placed his long fingers on Liam’s arms and shook him. Liam’s eyes fluttered, and he groggily opened them.
Once the realization of what happened enveloped his consciousness, Liam sprang up into a sitting position. “Get your hands off me, old man.”
Lucifer obliged and stepped away from Liam. Liam held out his palm and attempted to conjure another blue orb to blast them all away. But nothing happened. He looked up and found Charlotte at the front of the crowd. His eyes were no longer a furious red; they’d returned to their original frigid blue. He grasped at his finger to find Lucifer’s ring was no longer there.
“Charlotte!” he pleaded. “Help me!”
“You’re human again,” she said, matter-of-factly.
Terror fused itself onto Liam’s heart. He was no longer the King of Hell, no longer a demon, no longer powerful.
“What should we do with him now?” Lucifer asked the residents of Hell.
Adriel cleared his throat. “I think Charlotte should make that decision.”
Lucifer studied Charlotte intensely and beckoned her forward. Adriel let go of her hand and nudged her closer to Lucifer. She looked back at Adriel, and he nodded. Charlotte stepped closer to Lucifer and Liam without breaking eye contact with Liam. It’d been a very long time since she saw him so desperate and eager for help. Maybe she’d never seen him like that, to be honest.
“Charlotte, please,” Liam begged. “Save me!”
“What should we do with him?” Lucifer asked, rubbing his hands together. “If you wish for him to be dead, I will see to it that the deed is carried out.”
Addressing Liam, Charlotte cleared her throat and turned her hands into fists. “I loved you once, you know? You made me the happiest woman in the world. I thought I was going to live a long life with you, give you babies, make memories. But you betrayed my trust and let evil take hold of your soul. You murdered before you even became a demon. I’m grateful, though, that I finally learned the truth. I’m happy I cast you away like a bit of trash. You were not the love of my life and will never have the chance to become that.” Charlotte looked back to Adriel and smiled.
“While you deserve nothing good to ever happen to you again, I will not be the reason for any more evil or death to happen. I will not be your executioner, Liam. You may not deserve to live, but I won’t kill you. At one point, I wanted nothing more than to see you lying cold in a nameless grave, but now, now I can’t handle any more loss.”
Liam looked to Charlotte with shock and awe. “I knew you wouldn’t kill me!”
“Shut up! I didn’t say you could speak,” she replied. “Just because I’m showing you mercy doesn’t mean you are off scot-free. Yes, you are human again, but you will dedicate the rest of your life to good, Liam. I will make sure of it. You will help the families of the victims you killed, and you will donate time and money to benefit the rest of mankind. You will never lay a finger on another person again unless it’s to better their life. Do you understand me?”
Liam nodded feverishly. “I do. I do!”
“Good. Now get out of my sight.”
Several demons seized Liam, putting their hands underneath his arms and dragging him out of Hell. He’d never set foot in the Underworld again.
Adriel pulled Charlotte back into his arms. “You’re amazing. I don’t deserve you,” he said, nestled into her body.
“I love you, Adriel. I’m so happy this is finally over.”
The demons all around them clapped and cheered; however, Lucifer appeared as though someone stole his puppy. He wanted revenge on Liam for all he trouble and destruction he’d caused, but he knew he owed it to Charlotte to let her make the final decision.
Tori ran toward Charlotte and tapped her on the shoulder. Charlotte let go of Adriel and pulled her best friend into her arms. Charlotte breathed in the familiar scent of her best friend, and happy memories flooded back into her mind.
“I missed you,” Charlotte said.
“I missed you more,” Tori replied, nuzzled into Charlotte’s neck.
They let go of each other, and for the first time in a very long time, Charlotte felt free. Free of any burdens and guilt. Liam would never hurt anyone else, and life could finally go back to normal. Well, as close to normal as possible now.
“One more thing,” Lucifer said. He patted his pocket and pulled out another orb of energy. This one was bright yellow and glittered for the entire hall to see.
“Your soul, m’dear,” Lucifer said. He let go of the orb, and it floated gleefully to Charlotte, penetrating her chest and disappearing from view. Charlotte’s breath caught in her throat, and she clutched her heart. She was finally whole again, once and for all.
“Ready to go back to Buffalo?” Adriel asked.
“Of course,” Charlotte replied. “There’s no place like home.”
Epilogue
“Today’s the day!” Charlotte called to Adriel from the kitchen of their studio apartment in the city.
Adriel sauntered into the room and wrapped his arms around Charlotte from behind. “Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready. Are you ready?” she asked.
“More than ready, babe,” he said, spinning her around.
She looked into his eager eyes, not a hint of fire in sight. She pulled him close and rubbed her nose against his, leaning her forehead against his. She looked down to her ring finger and smiled as the subtle yet sparkly ring on her finger dazzled her again.
It was the second time in her life she’d worn an engagement ring, and she intended it to be her last. And after today, she’d have a wedding band to match.
Before ascending from Hell, Adriel asked Lucifer to remove his demonhood once and for all. Lucifer bribed Adriel to stay, but in the end, all he wanted was to be with Charlotte, even if that meant becoming a boring human again.
Tori also requested to return to her human form. She knew having her humanity returned to her would be excruciatingly painful as she’d have to finally deal with the loss of Adam, but without pain, there’d never be the appreciation for when it finally faded away.
Charlotte resumed her position at the magazine after explaining her condition which kept her in the hospital for several weeks to her bosses. They took her back; though skeptical, they’d saved her spot just in case she reappeared. She made it her goal to prove herself to her bosses and eventually became the most sought-after entertainment writer in the industry. She even scored the first interview with the Buffalo Sabres after they clinched their first Stanley Cup trophy, causing Buffalo to erupt and unravel with happiness.
With everything falling back into place, Charlotte couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle, or rather walk across the courtroom floor. She and Adriel decided not to have anything too fancy, just them, their closest friends and their vows.
Charlotte wore a simple knee-length lace dress and ivory pumps to match. Adriel wore khakis with a black button-down and a white tie. Adriel asked Cyndy to be his best man, or rather, best woman, and she stood by his side. Tori kissed Charlotte on the cheek and went to stand next to Mary Elizabeth, who nearly outshone everyone except the bride. Henley and Bentley were there, too. Bentley and Cyndy made googly-eyes at each other, which was another good thing to happen from their whole mess: Cyndy found love again. Or, rather, she found the idea of falling for someone not so terrifying.
Adriel held Charlotte’s hands in his as a tear slid down his cheek. “Today is the happiest day of my life,” he announced. “Today, I get to marry my best friend and soul mate. Everyone here knows, especially me, how much this woman endured by my side. It wasn’t always easy, or a straight path, but eventually we made it here. I love you, Charlotte. I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
Cheers erupted in the courtroom, and Charlotte’s heart fluttered with the comfort of knowing that fate brought them together. She was exactly where she wanted and needed to be.
After the ceremony, Charlotte and Adriel threw a party at one of the most s
ought-after rooftop bars in Buffalo, which happened to be owned by Cyndy. She couldn’t wait to be behind the bar again, serving her favorite patrons. A few of the old bikers from The Hairy Dog still visited, but now Cyndy mainly served young professionals and couples out for a date night. It took some getting used to, but in the end, she embraced the change.
Everyone danced the night away under the moon and stars. Shots were poured all around them as happiness and love exploded like the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
“Are you happy?” Adriel asked Charlotte as they leaned over the railing with champagne in hand.
“I’ve never been happier, Adriel,” she said.
They kissed and squeezed each other’s hands. Charlotte felt truly whole again, in mind, body, and spirit. Little did they know, a blond man watched the couple from inside the bar. He held a broom in his hand and stared longingly at Charlotte. But he could only watch from a distance; he’d never be a part of her life again. He knew he didn’t deserve her. Hell, he didn’t deserve to be alive. And yet, the woman he nearly ruined showed him mercy. Maybe there was more good than evil in the world after all.
THE END.
Acknowledgments
Becoming an author has led me to meet some incredible people in my life and it’s brought me closer to some I already knew.
I want to first thank the people who have supported me and especially those who have purchased all of my books. It means so much to me, I can’t describe it. And, I’m a writer :)
Thank you to all my author mamas including Mary, Krista and Sylvie. I’m so grateful to have all of you in my life!
Thanks to my author besties, Lisa, Amy and Chelsea. I would be lost without you ladies.
Thank you to all of my beta readers for helping me! You all are seriously amazing. Thank you, Ari, Sal, Megan and Stephanie! I couldn’t have finished this series without you.
Thank you, Krista for continuing to be my rockstar editor and mentor.
About the Author
