Gabriel exhaled slowly, “I’ll consider all our options and choose something soon.”
“Make it real soon,” Rave glared, “because I don’t know how much longer we can run around before we’re punished for not having answers.”
And that was the dropkick that shoved Gabriel’s guilt right back where it belonged: in his heart.
If he let the brotherhood fend for itself, Michael would eat them alive and he, Uriel, and Constantine wouldn’t be there to soften the blows, or heal anyone after Michael was done with them.
Gabriel was going to return – with or without the rest of them, he would fucking go back. His desire to be a leader rode him hard every day, with every breath he drew. Letting Lucifer take the entire blame freed the rest of them from suffering a traitor’s punishment. Death wasn’t the worst thing an Angel could suffer and they all knew it. Sometimes, death was the easy way out. A fucking mercy.
Raphael’s memory flitted into Gabriel’s thoughts once more. I… forgive you. He stifled a groan. Death was easy when done right. Death was peace and freedom. And that’s what Lucifer kept saying he wanted right? To be left alone and to be free.
Death would give him both of those things.
But what would become of Eve?
They could easily fake her death. Say Lucifer ate her. Set her on fire. Michael wouldn’t bother to hunt her down. She wasn’t important enough to be a blip on his radar.
“Go back,” Gabriel ordered. “Tell everyone I found Eve’s body chewed and destroyed down by the Lashing Beaches. Say I threw her body into the ocean in the deepest parts. Tell them….” Why was his heart beating so fast? “Tell them that I put a curse on Lucifer. Michael will appreciate the sentiment.”
Rave’s eyes blazed with anticipation. “And will you? Have you already?”
Gabriel felt dizzy from how his heart kept slamming in his chest, “I’m going to do worse than that to the Angel. You have my word. Now go and wait for my return.”
Rave nodded and took flight. Once he disappeared, Gabe cast his gaze to Uriel, “Trust me, okay?”
Uriel’s lips were a fine, tight line. Fury and hurt blazed in his eyes. “Don’t do this, brother. He’s a good one.”
“You think everyone’s a good one.”
“He did nothing wrong.”
“I never said he did.”
“Then don’t fucking do this, Gabriel.” Uriel grabbed his shoulder and shook him. They glared at each other for so long, the sun was setting by the time they broke away from each other.
“Trust me,” Gabe said one last time, “that’s all I’ve ever asked of you.” He pushed off and headed back to the cave.
Chapter 17
Lucifer tried to hide his pride, but it was difficult with the way Eve kept moaning. Every time she shredded another hunk of meat off the bone, she rolled her eyes in bliss and it stirred things in him. Deep, dark, hungry things.
“I still can’t believe you were able to catch this,” Constantine smiled from across the fire. “And the char on the skin is ridiculously good.”
Lucifer’s grin grew obnoxiously big. To be able to provide for everyone made him feel powerful and grateful. It was the least he could do, all things considered lately.
“What is that smell?” Uriel asked from the mouth of the cave. Gabriel landed right behind him. Both were empty handed.
“Lucifer caught us dinner,” Eve beamed.
Holy Hounds of Mercy, he could actually feel his heart swell in his chest seeing her smile like that.
“How?” Uriel asked.
“Climbed,” Con tore off another hunk of meat and talked while chewing. “You two weren’t back yet and Lucifer had a lot of pent up energy. He started scaling the cliff. Disappeared and came back carrying a huge whatever this is over his shoulder.”
“It’s a goat,” Eve chuckled.
Uriel’s jaw dropped, “You killed it with your bare hands, then scaled this cliff, carrying it?”
“Well I still can’t fly,” Lucifer grinned. He couldn’t help it. For the first time in forever he was in a good mood. Having a full belly had a lot to do with it. Other than snatching that pineapple the night they’d gone to the beach, which didn’t really count, this was the first time Lucy was able to hunt and kill his own meal.
It felt glorious and he wanted to share it with all of them. There was certainly plenty to go around, and if they were still hungry, he’d be more than happy to go back out and get another. It was the least he could do to say thank you for all they’d done.
Uriel spun around and glared at Gabriel. Whatever look they were exchanging broke off when Lazarus tossed a bone at them. “Eat up you two. Food is fuel.”
Gabriel sat next to Lucifer and pulled off a section of meat. Juices dripped down his fingers as he took a bite. “Mmph,” Gabe groaned, “It melts in your mouth. Damn, this is really good.”
“I can’t believe we’ve never had goat meat before,” Uriel shook his head and shoved a huge hunk into his mouth. “Fuckin’ delicious, am I right?”
Con sucked his fingers clean, “Michael never allowed us meat and now I understand why.”
“Why?” Eve asked.
“Because once you’ve had a taste, you’ll crave it for always.” Constantine picked off more and shredded it in his fingers, savoring it in small pieces. “I need this in my life from this day forward.”
“Amen to that,” Lazarus cracked a bone in half and sucked the marrow out.
Lucifer had no idea that he’d offered them something new. He had cravings all the time. Things that didn’t even make sense to him. When he saw that animal, he could tell it was going to be good. When he killed it, he didn’t even feel bad about it. And when he came up and cooked it in sections, the smell that filled his nostrils was proof that he’d done the right thing.
“Wait,” Eve frowned, “What about the big cats in the cages? Michael said they were lunch.” Her disdain was thick.
“For him. Not us.” Uriel shrugged. “But I set loose the two remaining panthers in the prisons when we got out of there.”
There it was again - Eve’s ridiculously gorgeous smile. If meat in her belly made her happy, hearing that Uriel freed those animals made her absolutely joyous.
“I wonder,” Constantine chuckled, “what other pleasures have we been kept in the dark about?”
“You’re gonna find out soon,” Lazarus tossed the bones and went in for another hunk of flank meat. “Denying your body what it needs is a crime.”
“So is indulgence, according to Michael,” Con frowned.
Eve cleared her throat, “Speaking of Michael. Did you two see anything out there?”
Neither of them answered at first, then Uriel said, “Gabriel, have anything to report?”
“No,” he said after swallowing his food.
The air felt… different. Lucifer looked from one Angel to the other, then to Eve. With a growl, he grabbed the other half of the goat and walked away with it.
“Hey!” Gabriel growled, “What are you—”
Lucifer tossed the rest of their dinner over the edge of the cliff. “If you think for one moment, Gabriel, that you can sit next to me… share a meal with me… and lie, you better think again.”
Gabriel stood and glared at Lucifer with his fists clenched at his side.
Lucifer knew that anger. To be so hungry. To have a small taste and then have it ripped away for good. Some of the other Cagers would do that to Lucifer all the time - waggle fruit in his face, just out of his reach, and then take a bite of it before tossing it away and wasting the rest while Lucifer was chained and helpless to go after even the scraps they’d tempt him with. The food they plucked themselves was never tainted, but Lucifer’s meals always were. Whether the Cagers knew that or not didn’t matter. Not then, at least.
“What did you see out there?” Lucifer growled. “Or should I ask, who did you see?”
Gabriel’s face said it all. “I didn’t lie. I have nothing to report.” He
stormed over to the edge of the cliff and looked down.
That goat was long fucking gone now and Lucifer felt a certain amount of satisfaction that he was able to punish Gabe. If that fucker wasn’t going to be honest, then why should he be rewarded? And here Lucifer had been so happy about having provided sustenance to them all. Now, with one toss, he’d taken away all their dinner – punishing the group because of one Angel’s actions.
Fuck. The goat meat was necessary for their survival. Lucifer’s fucking ego was not. He’d been too quick to act. And as a result, guilt - an emotion he’d never felt before in his life - simply took over his good senses.
Lucifer ran full-steam ahead and jumped off that motherfucking cliff. He didn’t care that his wings weren’t able to support his weight yet. He fanned them out and sailed into a herky-jerky free fall that was sure to be a crash landing if he couldn’t pull up in time and use what strength he had to soften his landing.
Wind whipped his body and bent his feathers at odd angles. As the ground approached faster and faster, Lucifer roared and fanned his wings out as much as possible. Then he roared even louder as fear set in. With a jerk, he caught a gust of wind and his body slammed into the side of the cliff.
Nope. Not cliff. Gabriel.
“Let go!” Lucifer roared.
The two Angels started free falling again and Gabriel snatched Lucifer by the armpit and beat his wings something fierce. Lucifer wanted nothing more than to bite his motherfucking hand off.
They landed on the beach and summersaulted across the sand.
“What the actual fuck, Lucifer?”
Luce struggled to draw in breath. He was furious with himself for pulling such a foolish stunt. And he was embarrassed that it was Gabriel who saw him be this stupid and weak. Not being able to fly was a blow to his pride and he hated that too. As much as he despised saying it, “Sorry.”
He walked over and grabbed the hunk of meat that had landed on a large cluster of stones.
Gabriel was absolutely furious. “Why would you jump like that?”
“I… I had no idea that guilt made someone so foolish,” Lucifer confessed. He stared at the hunk of meat all covered in sand and ruined. Shit he was a fool. “I regretted tossing the food, and only thought to retrieve it. Figured I had enough strength in my wings to keep me safe for the landing, and I know damn well I have enough strength in my arms to scale back up the cliff.”
“Guilt,” Gabriel huffed. “You wouldn’t be the first to jump from a cliff over that emotion. And you won’t be the last, either.”
“Thanks for helping me not catch the beach with my face.”
“Thanks for being honest about how you felt. And for hunting and providing food for us.”
“It felt necessary.”
Gabriel closed the gap between them. “Instincts really ride you hard, don’t they?”
“Yes,” Lucifer growled.
Gabriel looked like he was trying to really comprehend that idea. “You always go with your gut?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.” Gabriel shifted on his feet, “You have to know, I wasn’t keeping anything from you. I was keeping it from Eve. We did run into someone while we were out. A brother named Rave. He helped Con get Eve out of there, and he’s been leading some of the Angels on a wild goose chase for you.”
“And… what about you?” If they were all in trouble, Lucifer’s instincts said to protect them. Actually, Lucifer’s instincts said to do a great many things lately. “If you need protection, I’ll protect you.”
He watched Gabriel’s face soften then harden. “I’m not the one in danger, Lucy. You are. Michael blames you for all of it. He thinks you set this whole thing up – the escape, killing Raphael, stealing Lazarus, taking Eve, and most importantly stabbing Michael in the back before running out of there.”
Lucifer was speechless.
It made sense to put the blame on Lucifer. No one liked him. Most feared him. None respected him or thought he was a worthy Angel. He was just a monster that needed to be destroyed. “If he’s hunting me, he’ll find Eve too.”
“I plan to make her a non-issue.”
“How?”
“I’ll return and report that I found traces of blood and eventually her body.”
“Her body?” Lucifer’s stomach coiled and he almost puked his meal up. “How will you say you found her body?”
“Chewed up and half eaten. I’m going to say I tossed it into the deepest part of the ocean so he won’t bother wasting his time or energy on finding her. She’ll be gone. Free.”
“Alone,” Lucifer added. His heart plummeted to his bare feet knowing Gabriel’s plan was to pin Eve’s death on Lucifer. Everyone would think she’d been eaten by an animal… by him.
Holy Divine Light, he was going to be sick. Lucifer dropped the meat and fell on his ass where the beach met the water. The waves washed over his legs and his skin sizzled. The meat was destroyed. Sand and salt water covered it. He let it go and watched the ocean drag it away.
“And what about me?” Lucifer looked over at Gabriel and hated the pity in his eyes.
“Here are the choices,” Gabe walked over and sat down beside him in the sand. “I can return without you and say you got away. In that case, I’ll be sent out with all the others to hunt for you, which will continue until you’re found.” Gabe glanced out at the ocean before continuing with, “I could go ahead and chop your head off and present it to Michael on a spike like he’s demanding right now.”
Lucifer stiffened.
“Or,” Gabe swung his gaze over to him, “We take over the Brotherhood. Together.”
“What?”
“I didn’t stutter, Lucifer.” Gabriel blew out a frustrated breath, “I want Michael’s position. He’s done more harm than good to us and the brotherhood deserves better.”
“What makes you think you’re the best Angel to take over the Divine army?”
“I…” Gabriel’s brow furrowed, “I would be righteous, for starters. And fair. No Angel would suffer as we have.”
“You don’t know what suffering is,” Lucifer hissed.
“You don’t know anything about me, Lucifer. I’m well acquainted with suffering. And guilt. And everything in between.”
Neither of them said a word.
“I could make sure your death is quick and painless. If you wanted it.” Gabriel’s voice was calm and soft.
“You would kill me?”
“If you chose that, yes.” He looked down at his hands and sighed. “If you try to live on your own, I fear you won’t get very far.”
“I could get far enough.”
“No… you won’t.” Gabriel grabbed Lucifer’s arm to get his attention. “Look, there are things you don’t know about Michael. Things no other Angel outside our sect knows. He will unleash terrible monsters upon the world to find you, Lucifer. And once they catch you, which will happen eventually,” he squeezed Lucifer’s arm tighter. “You’ll beg for death long before it’s given to you. And when it comes, it will be slow and terrifying.”
“I can’t suffer torment worse than I already have,” Lucifer pulled his arm out of Gabe’s grip.
“You don’t get it do you? We saved you long before today. My brothers and I… we’ve been saving you since the day Michael forced you into chains.”
Lucifer pinned him with a glare. “Explain.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Gabriel rose to his feet and wiped the sand from his pants. “You need to make a decision. Whatever you choose, I’ll respect it and so will my brothers.”
Lucifer rose too. “And Eve?”
“I told you what I plan to do for her.”
“You give me a choice in my end, but don’t offer her the same?”
Gabriel paused. “I don’t trust her to make the right choice. Actually, I don’t trust her at all.”
“Because of her markings?”
Gabe nodded. “I’m familiar enough with curses to know those marks loo
k like a sign of treachery. A self-inflicted curse, according to her.”
“She’ll tell us her truth eventually. I know she will.”
Gabriel looked up at the cliff and frowned. “You’re confusing instincts with hope.”
“No, I’m not. I know her better than you. I’ve seen the tenderness under her hard exterior. She’s trying to insert herself into a life she knows nothing about. And she’s done it because she’s scared. She’s hiding from someone…” Lucifer leaned into Gabriel and growled, “Someone far more terrifying to her than Michael. Did you ever think about it like that?” By the look on Gabriel’s face, the answer was no.
“You trust her?”
“I don’t distrust her. But privileges must be earned with me.” Lucifer was jaded with good reason. “I trust myself and my instincts though.”
“And what do your instincts say about all of this?”
Lucifer stared into Gabriel’s angelic blue eyes and briefly wondered if they were the same shade as his own. “You might not like my answer.”
“I’d still like to hear it. And whatever it is, I swear I’ll respect it.”
For whatever reason, that made Lucifer feel so much better. “I go,” he stated.
Gabriel’s face fell, “Okay, then. So be it.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Lucifer said in a low tone as he grabbed Gabe’s shoulder and squeezed it, “I go… with you. I’ll fight with you.”
Gabriel’s wings flexed and his eyes flared with a surge of energy. “Everything changes. If we go do this… everything changes for the Angels here.”
Despite the dread taking root in his gut, Lucifer smiled, “For all our sakes, I hope so, brother.”
Chapter 18
Michael paced in his private chambers. Some of his warriors hadn’t returned, the rest were scattered around guarding and protecting the compound incase Lucifer returned to fulfill the prophecy.
Michael wasn’t going to fucking die by the hands of a Dark Angel. He rejected that prophecy with every fiber of his being.
But he also underestimated the beast’s prowess and ability to think and plan. Michael knew Lucifer was a danger to their kind – had seen the savage cruelty in that beast’s eyes more than once. Michael’s warriors were no match against that fucking abomination.
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