The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2)

by Rachel McClellan

  “Aiden is my brother,” he blurted.

  Alana’s expression didn’t change—hers never did.

  Charlie gasped. “Why didn’t you tell us this before?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just watch the tape,” Alana said, before Lucien could answer.

  “There’s something else,” Lucien interrupted. “Together, my brother and I did some horrible, unspeakable things. But I am not that same person.”

  “So you raped and pillaged a village and then burnt it to the ground. Who hasn’t?” Alana took the disc from his hand and popped it beneath the TV’s screen.

  “I’ll wait outside,” Lucien said.

  Charlie watched him leave, looking both angry and confused.

  Just as Lucien ducked out, Eve’s recorded screams echoed from the silo. He closed the heavy metal doors and his hearing to the voices.

  Alone in the dark, he paced the dirt road, hands opening and closing. To avoid thinking of Eve and the torture she’d endured, he forced himself to figure out how he was able to fly. He’d never heard of vampires flying before. But it wasn’t really flying. It was more his body moving so quickly that gravity had no pull on him. The movement reminded him of hummingbirds who seemed to materialize like bursts of smoke, pausing for a few seconds before disappearing again.

  Lucien wasn’t sure how his body had accomplished the strange transformation, or more importantly, how it was even possible. To prove his point, he leapt into the air. He obtained more air than a human ever could, but still returned to earth. He jumped several more times, but each attempt landed him back on the ground. He tried sprinting as fast as he could, hoping speed would somehow airlift him, but that didn’t work either.

  Because Lucien was concentrating on his attempts at flying, he forgot about what he wasn’t trying to hear. Eve’s terrified cry pierced the night, causing him to stumble. He fell to the ground in anguish, knees in the dirt. His chest tightened, and he struggled to breathe. Eve had been captured because the sins of his past had finally caught up with him. She was paying the price when it was he who should be suffering.

  In a crouching position, he leapt into the air. For just a brief moment, his body tingled and began to change. It was if his mind had exploded a bright energy to all the parts of his body, igniting it with power.

  “What are you doing?” Alana asked below him.

  He fell. “Jumping.”

  “Whatever gets you off.” She turned to go back inside. “We’re done watching.”

  She hadn’t noticed his brief pause in the air. Lucien brushed himself off and followed her through the doors. Charlie faced away from him, toward the black screen of the turned off television.

  Alana spoke as if she’d neither seen nor heard anything devastating on the tape, but Lucien noticed she wouldn’t look him in the eyes. “Eve definitely knew you were in the room with her.”

  “How do you know?” Lucien asked.

  “When you must have left, she’d said, ‘Don’t go’. Aiden thought she was talking to him.” Alana shuddered as if remembering what Aiden had done to Eve.

  “Did she say anything that would help us?”

  “She didn’t, but she got Aiden to. Eve did very well, considering the circumstances.” Alana picked up an empty vial and twisted it between her fingers.

  Lucien glanced at Charlie. His face was pale.

  Alana continued, “Aiden told Eve they were taking her to where the Devil’s Soldier first gave him new life. I can only assume he’s talking about the Cliffs of Moher. Then he plans on handing her over to the Devil’s Soldier. He says something big is planned for her. They also intend on killing you and making her watch.”

  Lucien remembered now. Aiden had said it only once before when speaking about Boaz as if he was a God. “It’s Boaz. Boaz is the Devil’s Soldier. He’s going to turn Eve back into Alarica.”

  Charlie finally looked at him.

  “Why would he do that when the first time was such a disaster?” His tone was bitter and full of anger.

  Lucien shook his head, unsure. “Did Aiden say anything else?”

  She withdrew the disc from the TV. “There’s going to be a helicopter on the North side and at least twenty vampires guarding the main entrance to the cliffs.”

  “Charlie, how many men can you round up?” Lucien asked.

  “Within the next couple of hours and this late at night? Probably not more than ten. The Ireland Deific branch is small, and we don’t have enough time to send for men from London.”

  Lucien walked toward the front door. “Get whoever you can, have them distract the guards at the entrance. You and Alana watch the helicopter. If I fail, then there’s a chance you can still save her.”

  45

  Charlie dropped Lucien off a couple of miles away from the Cliffs of Moher without saying a word. Lucien was grateful for the silence as he was trying to imagine every possible outcome and ways to prevent the one he couldn’t handle—Eve’s death.

  Making sure he was downwind, Lucien raced up the steep hill toward the cliffs. It was a clear night, and the stars gave off just us much light as the half-moon hanging above him. The roaring of waves crashing against the cliffs below were like a growing crescendo in a deadly symphony. The air smelled of the sea with a hint of something darker. Lucien had smelled it many times before: evil. Evil always had a distinct smell. To him, it smelled like burning flesh.

  He wished Aiden hadn’t chosen the cliffs to meet, though he knew why he had. There were no trees or thick vegetation to plan a surprise attack and one could easily see their surroundings from the top. But it wasn’t just the lack of hiding spots that had brought Aiden here. It was the romance of the cliffs that allured him.

  Lucien had come here many times before with Aiden, always in tow with a human victim. Aiden would role play the night he was turned by Boaz, forcing his captured human to stand in certain positions and say specific things. All the while Aiden would hum a tune. Lucien never learned what song he was singing.

  The first few reenactments, Lucien had watched with mild curiosity, hoping to find a reason for Aiden’s strange behavior, but he could never come up with one. Eventually, he refused to come anymore, despite Aiden’s pleadings.

  Crouched low, Lucien made it to the top of a ridge, where he could see Aiden over a hundred yards away. Aiden stood on the next rise over, close to the edge of a cliff. He was speaking low to the same woman who’d been in the room earlier with Eve. The woman wore a long black gown that whipped around her body like an angry shadow. Her brown hair mimicked the gown’s motion.

  Lucien searched for Eve until he spotted her crumpled body next to Aiden’s feet. She was wearing something red that shimmered in the moonlight. Her head was face down into the folds of the crimson material.

  Unsure how many vampires Boaz, who had not yet arrived, would bring with him, Lucien decided to make his move now. He stood tall and walked down the paved path normally used for tourists. The trail led him down a small hill before it took him back up to the cliff where Eve lay. Both Aiden and the woman’s head turned in his direction. Eve remained motionless.

  Aiden spoke first. “Sabel, I don’t believe you’ve ever met my brother, Lucien.”

  The woman in black, Sabel, eyed him up and down. “There is a similarity, but I must say, he got the looks in the family.”

  Aiden’s smile disappeared.

  “I’m here, Aiden,” Lucien said. “Let Eve go.”

  Eve’s head rose. She was pale, and her eyes were drained of all emotion.

  “Stand up, Eve,” Sabel ordered. “Your black knight has arrived.”

  Eve struggled to her feet. She stumbled into Aiden who shoved her hard.

  “Don’t touch me! You reek of death,” Aiden said.

  Lucien lunged for Aiden, but Sabel stretched out her hand, hitting him with an invisible blast of energy that sent him flying back several feet.

  “Lucien!” Eve cried.

  Lucien quickly stood, d
espite the pain. The last thing he wanted was for Eve to worry about him. He took a few steps carefully back toward Aiden.

  Eve stood fully upright. She’d been dressed in a long red gown that exposed most of her breasts, and her hair was done up elegantly into a French twist. Though she was beautiful, Lucien did not like it. The outfit stole something from her.

  Sabel glanced up at the moon. “He will be here soon. I think it’s time your unruly brother is contained.”

  She twisted her finger in a circular motion. Aiden’s lips curled up as if he knew what was about to happen.

  Something nudged Lucien’s feet. He looked down but saw nothing. He moved his foot away, but again a force pushed at his leg, harder this time. The pressure continued to wind up his body like a snake, trapping his legs. He fought it with his hands, desperately trying to push the invisible energy away, but soon it had engulfed even his arms. He stood motionless, arms by his side, unable to move any part of him except for his head. He grunted in frustration.

  Eve stepped forward to help him, but Sabel jerked her back.

  “If you try to help him, daughter, we will only kill him that much faster,” she told Eve.

  Lucien’s eyes flashed to Eve’s in sudden realization. Sabel was her mother! Not only did Eve have to endure torture from Aiden, but she also had to endure the presence of the woman who had inflicted all the pain of her youth. Lucien fought harder, desperate to break free.

  Eve stared at him helplessly.

  “Why are you doing this, Aiden?” Lucien growled, trying to buy some time. He glanced around for anything that might free him.

  Aiden’s face turned to one of confusion. “Why wouldn’t I do this? The real question is—why aren’t you doing it with me? When did you start thinking you were good? You are exactly like me, only stupid.”

  “I am nothing like you!”

  Aiden crossed over to him. “Remember those nights in London? You killed hundreds of plagued humans with your own hands. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it!”

  “I was sparing them …” Lucien’s voice became part of the wind. He knew it was a weak explanation, and Aiden did, too. Lucien couldn’t look at Eve, afraid of what he might see in her eyes.

  Aiden snorted. “Say what you want in front of your girlfriend, but I know the truth. Together we killed millions, and we could do it again if you would only drop this ridiculous charade!”

  “The only thing ridiculous is you, Dark Prince.”

  Aiden punched his face hard. Lucien rocked back, but the invisible force brought him back upright. His gaze met Sabel’s. She was staring at him intently as if focusing on the magic that contained him. Maybe he could distract her long enough to release the grip she had on him.

  “How could you harm your own daughter?” he asked her.

  Sable’s eyes flickered to Eve and then returned to Lucien. “What’s happening to Eve is a means to an end. She must accept her destiny at Boaz’s side."

  "She would never choose Boaz," Lucien said.

  “You’d be surprised what Eve would do. There is a bond between them, a thick cord that can’t be broken.”

  Lucien glanced at Eve. She was staring at the ground, emotionless. Just then her head snapped up and turned to the left. Panic etched her expression, and her whole body seemed to recoil. He followed the direction of her gaze.

  Just over the ridge, a head appeared. A tall, dark-haired man walked toward them. Lucien looked back at Eve and just as quick as the fear had come, she was back to looking empty, completely emotionless. She kept her eyes fixed on the approaching figure that could only be Boaz.

  Boaz strolled toward them with regal confidence. Lucien felt Boaz’s power, which seemed to strangely grow as he drew near them. Boaz’s hands opened and closed in tight fists as if he, too, could feel his power strengthen. His black hair was short, falling just to his ears. He wore a long black jacket that was buttoned up, and in his hand he carried a silver case. Boaz kept his eyes on Eve, as though unaware of the others around her. He walked straight to her.

  “Eve, my love. You look more amazing than ever,” he purred. He lifted his hand holding the case in Aiden’s direction. Aiden took it obediently. Boaz stared at Eve thoughtfully and then frowned. “What did you do to her, Aiden?”

  Aiden paused, and Lucien sensed Aiden’s fear of Boaz. “Only what you asked me to do. She is incapable of using magic … for the time being.”

  “That’s good,” Boaz said, but then his hand shot up and punched Aiden squarely in the jaw.

  Aiden’s eyes burst open. “What was that for?”

  Boaz pulled him close. “So you’ll remember that if you ever touch her again, I’ll kill you.”

  Aiden lowered his gaze. Boaz released him, and Aiden stumbled back.

  Boaz returned to Eve. “I apologize for what you must have endured under his”—he motioned to Aiden with his head—“psychotic hands, but it was necessary, you see. I had to make sure you couldn’t use magic against me. I’ve heard you’ve become quite the little witch.”

  She remained expressionless.

  Boaz reached out and took her hand.

  “Don’t touch her!” Lucien yelled, unable to control himself.

  Boaz whirled around.

  “Lucien. Must I deal with you so soon?” He closed the distance between them. “So it is you that has captured Eve’s heart. What is it about you that Eve finds so attractive? You are a vampire like me after all.” His hand shot forward and Lucien stifled a cry as Boaz’s nails dug into his shoulder. “You feel the same inside as I do.”

  “Boaz, please,” Eve begged from behind.

  Boaz closed his eyes tight, and his jaw muscles bulged. He snapped them back open and stared at Lucien. “Do you hear how she begs for your life? This will only make it that much sweeter.”

  “What are you going to do?” Lucien asked.

  “You will die, of course, but it will be by Eve’s hand, or I should say Alarica’s.”

  Boaz held out his palm. “Aiden, the necklace.”

  Lucien’s eyes flashed to Eve. The terror was back in her face, and she shook her head slowly.

  “It’s okay, Eve,” Lucien said gently.

  Boaz turned around to face Eve. “Don’t worry, love. The necklace won’t cause you pain like last time. We’ve made some special modifications.”

  Boaz approached the necklace, turning his back to Eve.

  Everything happened all at once.

  Eve looked at Lucien, her eyes boring into his. “Lucien.”

  He heard the word in his mind.

  Boaz was still talking. “Last time we attempted this, we didn’t have time to properly understand the powers of the necklace, but I couldn’t waste any more time playing Mr. Wonderful. It was excruciating to pretend.”

  While Boaz spoke, as if he were with an old friend, Eve said in Lucien’s mind, “I’m proud of who you’ve become, Lucien. Your past means nothing to me.”

  Lucien shook his head; a growing feeling of apprehension tugging at him.

  Eve stepped backwards toward the cliff.

  “Don’t let the past define you,” her voice breathed inside his head. She smiled warmly and took another precarious step.

  Lucien panicked.

  “The history of the necklace is really quite interesting.” Boaz pulled the silver chain from its case and admired its beauty. “Lucien and Aiden would appreciate it the most.”

  Aiden’s head turned in Boaz’s direction, but Lucien kept his eyes focused on Eve.

  “Why should I care?” Aiden asked.

  “Because it was your great grandfather who made this,” Boaz said.

  Eve slid back another step; this time she caught the attention of Sabel.

  “Boaz!” Sabel cried.

  Boaz whirled around. Eve was only a couple of steps from the cliff’s edge. “What are you doing? Get back here!”

  To Lucien, Eve said silently, “I’m sorry, but I can’t become Alarica again.”

 
“There’s another way!” Lucien said aloud.

  Boaz looked from Eve to Lucien, and, after realizing they were communicating silently, exploded, screaming at Eve, “Get back here!”

  Aiden watched eagerly. “Do it. Jump!” he muttered under his breath.

  “You will never touch me again,” Eve said to Boaz.

  Her foot slid back. She was inches from death.

  Eve’s eyes met Lucien’s once more. Sorrow in the form of tears spilled from her eyes.

  “I am so sorry!” her silent voice said again.

  Suddenly Lucien’s body tightened as if a part of him had been sucked right out of him. It wasn’t painful, but it caused his body to spasm. His head jerked back, and his eyes rolled into his head.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Sabel asked to whoever was listening.

  Boaz stretched out his hand to stop Eve with magic, but Eve pushed back by using her own. Boaz’s eyes widened.

  “A little help here, Sabel,” he said, struggling against Eve’s force.

  “If I help you, then I’ll have to let go of Lucien,” Sabel said.

  “Do it!” Boaz commanded.

  The invisible band around Lucien dissipated. Lucien, weakened by whatever had been removed from him earlier, bolted for Eve, but she raised her other arm and stopped him, too.

  Her face looked peaceful as she stared Lucien in the eyes. “I love you, Lucien. Now, run.”

  Lucien stepped forward. “Please, Eve, don’t do this. I’ll—”

  Eve stepped off the cliff.

  Aiden stood by the edge, giggling quietly as he peered over, watching Eve fall.

  The second Eve’s barrier dropped, Lucien rushed after her, but Boaz grabbed him, stopping him inches from the cliff’s edge.

  “She is mine! Do you understand?” he screamed in Lucien’s face.

  A short distance away, Eve’s bones crunched when her body bounced off rocks on her way down.

  “That had to kill her!” Aiden said, his voice louder than he probably intended.

  Lucien shoved Boaz away and dove from the cliff. At the same time, he retracted a wooden dagger from his sleeve, and while falling through the air, he rolled onto his back and glared at Aiden who was grinning ear to ear. Aiden’s expression turned from excitement to terror when he saw the dagger fly from Lucien’s hand directly toward his heart.