The Devil You Know (Ceasefire Series Book 1)

by Claire Marta

  A rage unlike anything I have ever known before swarms through me. Red veils my vision. So strong everything takes on a crimson glow.

  Music. This time it’s different. More savage, driving my fury. My pain. It curls around my being. Blood must be met with blood.

  I’m on Talia in a blur. Baring teeth, I jam the barrel of my gun flush against her chest. Pulling the trigger, she jerks.

  An agonized roar leaves her throat. Clawing at me in desperation, it offers no protection.

  A single shot to the heart would have done it, but I want this bitch to suffer.

  Trukun’s shout of alarm is drowned out by the song still playing through my head.

  Firing a second time, I unload into Talia until all the bullets are spent. Red soaks through the pristine pure white of her pretty dress.

  “Kill her!” Her sister shrieks with such anger it has her minions cowering.

  I ride Talia down as she hits the ground, her mouth opening and closing as she tries to draw in air. The burn of the blessed metal will be eating away at her insides. Destroying every demonic gene in its path. In the meantime, she’ll bleed out before they can save her.

  Crouched, I reload a clip.

  “Leo.” I barely recognize the sound of my own voice. It’s guttural, low.

  Snapping out of his shock, he nods jerkily, tears in his eyes. “I’ve got this.”

  “Cass, get your arse back inside the building.” I don’t wait to see if she complies.

  Seven demons go sailing through the air as Leo tosses them about with his telekinesis.

  Surging up, I fire in rapid succession, putting neat little holes in the heads of the two demons I only wounded before. Even before they crumple, I take aim, bringing the third one down.

  Leo’s playthings tumble into the Christmas tree, bringing it down with the force of their weight. The fight spills out onto the street.

  “Mavi!”

  Cassandra’s panicked cry jerks my attention her way.

  Trukun has her by the arm, talon like claws digging in through the puffy material of her coat.

  Bringing up my weapon, I make to shoot. When the girl is used as a shield, I hesitate. Even though I want the succubus bitch dead, I can’t hurt Cass.

  “That’s the difference between you and me.” Trukun laughs, blood still dripping from her chin from where she’d eaten Caesar’s heart as if it was a tasty treat. “I wouldn’t waver. I’d pull the trigger and take you out, splattering this little kitten’s brains all over the ground in the process.”

  “I’d rather eat a bullet than be like you.” I growl back, oozing contained violence.

  The symphony of destruction is still building in my head. It’s a compulsion I’m having a hard time denying.

  “Oh sweetheart, you’re just like me. You’re exactly where I was before I moved against Lucifer. In his bed, under his control, and a pawn in a game he’s a master of. The only reason you’re here is because he has some delusion that you’re capable of taking us down. You’re living in a fantasy land if you believe it’s anything else.”

  I keep the pistol trained on her, waiting for the tiniest opening to make the bitch bleed. “I’m really not interested in what you have to say.”

  Noting the way Cassandra has one hand fiddling nervously in her pocket, I find her gaze. For once, I see clearness. Not the clouded blue.

  Whatever she sees in my own seems to give her courage.

  Movements erratic and jerky, she thrusts up her hidden hand.

  Stabbing a metal key into Trukun’s face, Cass catches the succubus right in the eye.

  She shrieks, releasing her hold. “You little bitch.”

  Scrambling free, Cassandra dives away from her. A clear shot now available, I take aim. Before I even get a chance to pull the trigger a heavy weight crashes into my side. Taking me down, pain lances up my shoulder as I’m slammed into the concrete.

  “What is this, arse holes united?” I complain, threading my fingers through my assailant’s hair and yanking his head back. Berserker demon. Veins bulging beneath his skin, the full dilation of his eyes tells me he’s already out of his mind on bloodlust. When they’re like this there’s only one way to deal with them. As he deliberately crushes me with his considerable strength I line the barrel of my pistol up under his chin. The bullet I let lose burrows its way through his skull destroying everything in its path. Blood and brain matter spray my clothes and face.

  His frame goes limp.

  Using a knee, I roll the dead male away.

  We’re drawing a crowd.

  People are clustered about watching the fight, but not intervening. They don’t want to get involved. Not their business, but still nosy enough to watch the entertainment.

  Wincing, I remove the sword I’m carrying, ridding the discomfort of the strap cutting into my flesh through my leather jacket. Placing it down beside me, I check on Leo.

  Two of his opponents are, from the look of it, out cold. The third is a mean looking fucker he’s tossing around in the air like a kite.

  A few bystanders next to me scamper clear as I get to my feet.

  I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the shop window. Ruby red eyes stare back.

  My smile is unhinged, demented as the urges running rampant through me with the beat of the song. I want to make Trukun suffer. Do such depraved things that people will whisper my name in fear for centuries to come.

  Scanning the area for the succubus, I catch her slinking back down the alley where she first appeared. Barrelling past me, two of her soldiers almost take me off my feet as they race to join her. That’s when I notice the sword. Clasped in his hand, one of the fuckers has the angel killing blade.

  Fuck. Bringing up my weapon, I open fire. Managing to clip him on the arm it’s not enough to bring him down.

  Dashing after them, I round the bend.

  One of the berserkers has my brother over his shoulder.

  Sword in hand, Trukun gives me a wave, blood running freely from her damaged eye. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done. You’ll have your brother back in pieces.” Drawing her close under his arm, the big male vanishes, taking them with him.

  No no no. This was not the way things we’re supposed to go.

  “Nathan!” Screaming, I drop to my knees, jamming the knife into Talia’s corpse. I don’t stop until her flesh is cleaved open and her inner juices are draining out of her making a mess on the pavement.

  There’s blood on my hands. It’s everywhere. Where once it would have given me satisfaction it leaves me cold. Stray notes of the song of death linger as the rest fades from my mind.

  “Puddin’, we’ve got to get you out of here.” Leo’s voice is muted. He says the words slowly as if talking to a child or someone who’s gone crazy. Maybe I have. I don’t feel like myself. Things are more intense. Sharper. I sense his fear. It’s delicious and sends pleasure shimmying down my spine.

  “Do you understand me? You’ve just stirred up a pot of what-the-fuck in public and this is really fucking bad.”

  I’m aware of frightened faces watching us from a safe distance. Whispers of alarm and dismay. Sanity fades in and out, giving me brief seconds of clarity. Things have gotten out of hand. Caesar is dead. It’s all my fault.

  “You’ve just violated the law and must be punished.”

  Seraphs. That’s all we fucking need. These particular angels are used as guardians to uphold the laws drawn out by Heaven and Hell. Four of them emitting an inner glow and beautiful to behold. Snowy white, their wings are tucked up against their robed backs. Towering over us like mighty Amazons, they fix us with merciless stares.

  “They drew first blood.” Leo protests. “We were just protecting ourselves.”

  I’m exhausted. “They took my brother.” Speaking slowly, I’m barely able to form words. Unsteadily, I manage to make it up onto my feet. I need to hunt Trukun down. Stop the bitch

  before she can kill Nathan.

  Brushing past Leo, t
hey move him firmly aside. “Take her.”

  Glaring at the one who spoke and who I’m guessing is in charge, I back away before they have a chance to grab me.

  Leo’s drawn pale face swims into view just behind the rabble. “I’ll go get Gabriel. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.” He warns me quickly before turning and running.

  With a few steps, the seraphs invade my space, crowding me back.

  “You’re an abomination.” One spits at my feet. “One that never should’ve been allowed to live or even step foot in this town from the start. I was against it from the beginning and knew you could never truly be trusted. Gabriel should’ve known better.”

  Voice raised in unison, the crowd observing gets bigger.

  Shock renders me speechless.

  They knew? What the fuck am I? I don’t understand. I can’t grasp the magnitude of the situation as the sound of blood races in my ears. I need to escape. Flee from their disgust and accusing eyes.

  “If you don’t back off I’ll snap off your God damn wings then shove them down your throat until your shitting feathers for the next decade.”

  Raziel.

  Beefy arms folded over his chest, the handsome fallen angel is a formidable sight.

  Cassandra cowers back against the wall to my left. She doesn’t seem to know which way to run.

  An arm comes around my waist. Startled, I look over my shoulder. The Devil. Sweeping me up against his chest, his powerful frame moves with a primal male grace. “All that blood looks good on you, my darling.” Eyes, red as my own, stare down at me with an icy calm.

  I shiver. Not sure what scared me more; myself or him.

  Wariness dances across the Seraphs’ expressions, along with fear.

  “She’s broken the first rule of Cease Fire. In the treaty we agreed the sentence is death.” One of them informs him, licking his lips nervously.

  One dark eyebrow raised, he barely spares them a glance. “Then we have a problem. She’s serving me and her task is yet to be completed.”

  Puffing out his chest, the leader of the bunch takes a step closer. “The treaty clearly states—”

  “Fuck the agreement and if you have a problem with that then talk to Gabriel.” Turning on his heels, Lucifer carries me swiftly away. “Raziel, bring the Oracle and Mavi’s weapons. If they try to stop you carve out their hearts and leave them bleeding in the street.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Head lowered, water streams over me as I watch the blood wash away at my feet.

  The sound of frightened voices are still ringing in my ears.

  Abomination. Freak. Monster.

  I don’t know who or what I am.

  Everything I thought I knew has shifted, crumbling around me like sand for the second time.

  It’s all a lie.

  A bloody, fucked up lie.

  Eyes screwed shut, I’m overwhelmed with clashing emotions.

  Hopelessness sinks in.

  All my feelings are crashing, spinning out of control.

  My sobs echo around the bathroom as tears race down my cheeks.

  Breathe.

  I can’t breathe.

  I’ve never felt so weak. So lost.

  All I want to do is curl up and find calm in the storm.

  Strong arms wrap around me from behind.

  I know it’s Lucifer even without looking. My body is so attuned to him now. It belongs to him.

  Warm lips kiss the curve of my neck soothingly.

  He’s such sweet poison. Like the tide, he changes so quickly, making it unclear what he truly wants with me. I’m so confused.

  Drawing me into the safety of his naked chest, he turns me so I can press my cheek against his firm bare flesh.

  We don’t say a word, just stand there holding each other, hot water cascading all around us while I cry.

  I’m wrung out. Fragile, cradled in his arms.

  The Devil is giving me comfort.

  And it feels so right.

  Caesar is dead. My friend and workmate.

  My brother in arm’s.

  Caesar gave his life to save me.

  I feel his loss. It’s ripping me apart inside, I just didn’t let anyone see it until now.

  I need to avenge him.

  Wreak havoc on the one responsible.

  The succubus who still has my brother.

  He’s probably dead now too. Sliced up or his life force sucked dry.

  Trukun will die at my hands.

  Whatever it takes, I intend to finish this.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I’m still trying to process the last two days. I’m numb. No longer have anything left to give after spilling all my emotions in the shower. I’m embracing the nothingness. Disconnected by the white static which has encompassed my being. It’s better this way. A temporary anaesthesia.

  Lucifer hasn’t said a word after letting me fall to pieces, which I’m thankful for. Even afterwards, when he dried every inch of my wet skin before laying me in his bed. I’ve never felt so cosseted.

  What surprised me more was the fact he hadn’t once tried to initiate sex. He just held me. Enveloped in the protection of his muscled arms, I had listened to the strong reassuring beat

  of his heart. I’d found solace. A sense of peace. Nestled there, I eventually fell into an exhausted dreamless sleep.

  “Where’s Cassandra and Mavi?”

  Gabriel’s voice is unmistakable as I make my way towards the main hall. Waking to find Lucifer gone and fresh clothes waiting for me was not what I had been expecting. Then again, nowadays, I rarely can anticipate what comes next.

  “Why are you here, Gabriel?” The Lord of Hell himself asks, his tone icy. “I sent no invitation.”

  “Why do you think? Mavi! After what happened in Cease Fire I need to see my Granddaughter.”

  “Why? So you can feed her more lies?”

  “I’m not the only one who’s been lying.” Gabriel snaps back. “Playing with her heart was never part of the deal. This was supposed to be strictly business. Her services ridding you of your problem. You were never supposed to fuck her.”

  Not bothering to knock, I pad into the room.

  “You’ve been playing her for years so don’t try to judge me.” Lucifer growls. Seated on his bleached throne of bones, he’s a daunting sight. Shadowy robes seethe around his impressive physique with an insidious life of their own. His crimson eyes track my movements as I head towards the warmth of the fireplace.

  Leo and Snatch. Two people I did not expect to see again so soon are flanking my ex-boss.

  “Mavi, are you ok Puddin’?”

  I ignore Leo. I’m far from fine and we all know that.

  “How is this possible than I’m a demon?” I direct the question to Gabriel.

  Standing there in all his biker leather he looks as if he might be carved from an unforgiving slab of stone. His ruggedly composed countenance tightens. “Half demon. Your father is a full blood. It makes you a half breed of immense power.”

  “You knew? This whole time you knew?” I’m a demon. That fact keeps pounding through my head until it feels like it’s about to explode.

  “Your father figured out who I was and impregnated your mother while pretending to be human. I didn’t know. I thought it best not to interfere in my children's lives. Neither displayed any angelic powers. When I realised what had happened we hid you from him. Kept your mother in the dark. The day of your brother’s rape she realised what you were. That’s why she didn’t want anything to do with you afterwards.” His voice is strained. Low.

  More secrets are coming to light. Now it all makes sense. Why Lucifer has taken such an interest in me from the start. I’ve terminated plenty of targets in the past. Excelled at my job. Yet it’s been bugging me why he never used his own assassins to deal with his ex-commanders. Why he blackmailed me into this from the start. I should be angry, but nothing penetrates my emotionless bubble.

  “Where’s my sperm
donor now?” I don’t want to use the word father. Whatever he is I'll never recognize him as a parent.

  “No longer breathing.” Lucifer replies with such certainty I know it must be true.

  It makes me wonder if he was one of the demons I’ve put down in the past. There’s no guilt or remorse at the thought. Just emptiness.

  “You haven’t been trying to activate the angelic genes inside me, it’s the demonic ones.”

  “Yes.” He replies without hesitation.

  Gabriel looks like he wants to say more. For a second I think he will until he presses his lips together in a thin white line.

  “What else are you keeping from me?” If he doesn’t answer I will resort to violence for the information I need.

  He must have sensed my intent as he responds quickly.

  “There was a chance that stimulating both sets of genes would drive you insane. That your psyche would be too fragile to cope, or it would send you into a coma. But he still went ahead anyway.” He sends the Devil an accusing glare.

  Lucifer stares back at me fathomlessly. There’s no regret. No guilt. Nothing.

  It turns my heart to cold embers in my chest. Has everything been a power play? The way he held me gently in the shower? In bed? Another manipulation to get what he wants? I’ve barely scratched the surface of how devious and calculating he can be.

  I haven’t been myself for weeks. Since the night I first laid eyes on him. Everything is no longer black and white. Cut and dry. Now everything is blurred.

  I turn to watch the flames leaping and crackling in the hearth. “Does Trukun know about my brother?”

  “We don’t think so. Come back with me, Mavi. We can sort this out.” Gabriel tells me calmly.

  “I’ll be executed if I go back to Cease Fire.”

  “I can talk them around. It was self-defence. I’m sure I can convince them. You’re my Granddaughter, after all. My blood.”

  Shaking my head, I look back at him. “I can’t. I need to bring Nate home first.”

  Snatch and Leo glance at each other uneasily beside him.