Ooze-coated toes trailed up the side of her shin, and Mira bucked. Rooted in place, she could only yank her leg away to keep him from pushing inside the top of her boot. Her stomach churned, and she didn’t attempt to hide her disgust. “Can’t imagine what.”
“Really?” He stared at her, his expression deadpan perfection before he gave a dismissive wave. “Fine. If you insist on playing games, allow me to introduce myself. Perhaps you’ve heard of me.” He paused, as if waiting for a dramatic drumroll. Silence persisted. He removed a tattered pocket square and waved it with a flourish. “Lucifer, Bringer of Light.”
Mira blinked. Shit! The devil himself? She could think of a lot of ways to describe the thing before her, but Bringer of Light wasn’t on the list. Still, she refused to be cowed. She’d lived through the rent-a-family abyss. This guy could learn a thing or two from her. “Why am I here?”
“Dearie, I’ve been searching for you for an eternity.” His feet edged toward her again, and Mira pushed farther away.
“What’s special about me?” Her mark flared and she fidgeted. Maybe it was better not to know.
Lucifer formed a bland smile and shifted into a more traditional pose in his chair. “Dearie, I know your dirty little secret. Hell, I invented it.”
His head cocked to the side, his gaze flicking to her right shoulder. Red flames sparked in his pupils, and she fought a rising tide of panic.
“Haven’t you ever contemplated why you’ve had such an awful life, Mira? Why you suffered abuse, violation, when others escaped?” He leaned closer, his face inches from hers. This time she didn’t retreat, transfixed like a deer in headlights. “I must say your show at the club last night was most entertaining.” His nasty chuckle grated her already frazzled nerves. “How’s the song go . . . Fists and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me?”
She winced at the off-color reminder. His blackened tongue snaked out to scrape sandpaper-rough against her cheek. The Seal’s mark flared. She shoved him. He didn’t budge. “Stay the hell away from me!”
Her diabolical host appraised her with a roving glance. “I think you’re ready.”
Mira glared, the lingering odor of his breath worse than a brimstone explosion. “Ready to puke, you mean? Yeah, I’m definitely ready. You seriously need a mint.”
Lucifer relaxed back into his chair, ignoring her comment. “Of course, I’ll have to discuss it with the Big Gal first. Damned agreement and all.”
She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. “Look, whatever kinky fun you have envisioned, I assure you I’m not ready for it.”
Lucifer gestured to the space around them, his expression unreadable. He tried a different tactic. “Familiar with this room, Mira?”
She studied the strange markings. Rust-colored glyphs streaked the walls and adorned the ceiling. Paint? Blood? Something worse? A vague sense of déjà vu rattled, and a shudder passed through her.
“This is the room of your creation, dearie. Right over there, to be precise.” He smiled, pointing a grizzled finger toward a far corner. “All of you.”
Mira frowned. All of you? “What do you mean? I’m an only child, an orphan.”
“There’s seven Seals, dearie. Surely your Scion friends must have told you.” His patronizing smile made her temper sizzle.
Yes, Kagan had, the first night at his loft. She’d refused to believe him. A point scored for the Scion. Mira changed topics. “Remind again me where here is, please.”
“You’re smart. Sexy.” Lucifer’s sly grin grew wider. He polished a claw on his jacket. “The place has had a lot of different names through the years. My personal favorite is Gehenna. Great biblical ring, wouldn’t you agree?”
“But still a part of Hell, right? Must be if you’re here.” She crossed her arms. “Funny, I’m a pain in the ass sometimes, but I didn’t think I was that bad.”
“Gehenna is more of a lobby, a foyer. Not Hell proper. My dear, sweet Mira.” He glanced toward the door, his grin faltering. “I said you were created in this place. Not of it.”
“There’s a difference?”
Lucifer’s devious smile renewed full-force. “Ever notice how some people are born into a family, yet they look nothing like the others? Different actions and interests? Similar principle.” He gave a small shrug. “Oh, and you have a soul.”
Mira remained tense, waiting for the punch line. None came. “You’re serious?”
“As a tumor, dearie.”
Mira slumped in her chair, struggling to process the new information. Since her introduction to this world of preternatural craziness, she’d been forced to accept many things on faith. This was the whopper of them all. If he’d helped create her, was Satan her father? No way. She refused to contemplate the sick implications. Instead, Mira filed the information away under the heading of Never Again. Fuck.
Male voices echoed louder, approaching through the passage outside. Voices she recognized. Her heart leapt, and Mira’s attention shot to the doorway. Lucifer brushed a piece of non-existent ash from his jacket and awaited the arrival of their impending guests.
“Do you have any clue where we’re headed? My foot’s killing me.”
“I could smash your jaw too, amico. Maybe then you’d shut up!”
“Good to know I can rely on maturity from the two of you in a tough situation.”
The three Scion entered, and Lucifer glanced toward them with a flat expression. “’Ello, boys.”
Kagan struck first, hurling his dagger with deadly accuracy. The blade stopped less than an inch from its target. Lucifer lowered his raised hand, and the dagger fell to the sand below. “Tsk, tsk, Scion. No way to greet your gracious host.”
“Are you all right?” Kagan rushed to Mira’s side.
She glanced up, unsure what to say. Memories of their previous night flashed through her mind, and heat rose in her cheeks. Mira diverted her gaze to the fire. “I’m fine.”
“Aw. Isn’t this special?” Lucifer’s tone was loaded with melodrama. “A lovers’ quarrel.”
Kagan’s focus remained on Mira. “Shut up, stronzo.”
“Nice way to speak to your old friend, Scion.”
Xander moved to block Mira and Kagan from Lucifer’s prying eyes. “When have we ever been friends, Devil?”
Lucifer clutched his chest in mock pain then flipped Xander off. A muffled curse issued from the doorway. He leaned sideways to view the warrior still balanced against the entryway. “Damn, Chago! You get bigger every time I see you.”
“And you get uglier. Makes us even.” Chago limped over to join the others.
“I must be going. So much sin, so little time.” Lucifer regarded the warriors for a moment before rising. “Mira, dearie, we’ll talk soon.”
Xander grabbed Lucifer’s arm. “You won’t be contacting her again.”
“We’ll see.” He smirked, shaking off Xander’s grip like a bothersome fly. Lucifer glided toward the entrance, his demented whistling amplified by the cave walls. He waved a final time before disappearing.
At his departure, the vise-solid grip of trepidation squeezing Mira’s chest relented. She took a deep breath and rolled her neck, now aware of Kagan’s hand holding hers. Mira hazarded a glance in his direction and studied his profile—so strong, so masculine, so hers.
“How the hell do we get out of here?” Kagan yelled, scanning the room for viable exits.
Their infernal host’s voice rang through the air, his harsh tone infused with a large dollop of taunt. “There’s the rub, eh?”
• • •
Zoe strode down the busy sidewalk, her head throbbing. She’d struggled more with her abilities the past few days than any time before. She wasn’t sure what had caused the sudden spike in her psychic talents, but now that Wyck knew, she had to be careful. With her eyes trained on the sidewalk ahead, she raised her shields against the people passing by. The next time Zoe looked up, she was atop a large stone bridge across the Chicago River.
How long had she been walking? She shivered, peering over the railing into the churning water below. Air. She’d needed air. The excuse had satisfied Wyck when she’d left earlier. Now the need to return to the apartment overwhelmed her. Dread scraped her already raw nerves, and danger buzzed persistently in her senses.
Zoe pulled her coat tight against a gust of wind, ducked her head, and turned in the direction of Wyck’s place. Two steps later, she ran headlong into a black-suited wall.
She glanced up into a pair of mirrored sunglasses. Weird. The day was dreary. Cloudy. Snow threatened. She mumbled an apology and sidestepped the massive obstacle now blocking her path. Another man approached from her behind, grabbed her arm and yanked her forward. She struggled, her mind registering the odd fact that her assailants wore no coats despite the sub-zero temperatures. A good detail for the police, if she survived.
“You’re coming with us.” His crisp, flat voice reminded her of an android.
The syringe caught her attention too late to stop its descent. The needle plunged into the side of her neck. Its contents stung, her vessels rebelling against the foreign substance. A black sedan swished to the curb beside them just as her legs buckled. She vaguely heard her assailants reassuring the gathering crowd. No need for concern. Too much to drink.
They dumped her into the back seat and slammed the door. The last shreds of consciousness slipped, and she tried the only route left available. Zoe sent out a psychic SOS, a silent plea to the only other person who could help.
Chapter 14
“Are we headed in the right direction?” Mira had had enough of Gehenna for a lifetime.
“Hell if I know.” Chago huffed from behind her, barely visible in the gloom. “I can hardly see a thing.”
“At least your damned toe’s healed so we don’t have to listen to more bitching, amico. Ouch!” Kagan stumbled, cursing under his breath. “Why did you kick me?”
“Stop being an ass!” Mira’s words emerged in a sharp hiss, her desire for escape pushing bitchiness to the next level. “Don’t worry, next time I’ll aim higher.”
“Settle down, kids,” Xander’s calm reserve was the proverbial eye in the hurricane of their collective whine. “We’ve got to be close. It’s lighter ahead.”
“I believe your eyesight’s diminished in old age,” Chago grumbled. “There’s no light.”
“Tell me again why you can’t flash us out of here?” Mira cringed at the level of fatigue and crankiness in her tone. Contrary to popular belief, she didn’t enjoy being nasty, especially to those who helped her, like Xander.
Xander continued on, unfazed. “Would any of the residents here stay if they could leave whenever they wanted?”
“Remind me to rip Argus’s head off the next time I see him.” Chago stomped ahead, only to halt when a low-pitched hum sounded.
“What’s that?” Mira whispered, her attention darting between the desolate hallway behind and the ceiling. The growing hum intensified the flutter of fear beating in her chest. She stepped closer to Kagan, her muscles rigid and fists clenched, prepared to fight.
Kagan’s warm hand enclosed hers, his thumb massaging her stiff fingers. “Not sure, piccola. Stay close.”
“You ssshould not be here, Scion,” a voice hissed from the darkness.
“Why?” Kagan jerked Mira behind him, blocking her with his frame. “Show yourself.”
A rock pinged off the wall. An orange sea of eyes enclosed them. One particular set advanced forward. The sudden flick of a lighter threw the creature’s face into stark relief as he lit a cigarette. The undoused flame continued to blaze, lighting the cavern. “Xander knowsss.”
“I sssmell a human!” Another hiss from the crowd. Their collective murmurs grew louder, filling the tight enclosure.
“The human’sss mine!” the leader rasped to the others, the lighter flickering when the creature turned to face the horde.
“No. She’s mine.” Kagan inched back, encircling Mira within a fortress of three warriors. Mira crouched in the center of the circle while Kagan pulled out his daggers. Her martial arts training rushed into her mind—the smaller the target, the better her chances of survival. She swallowed the lump of terror in her throat and centered her courage. If she was meant to die, Mira refused to go down without a battle.
Above her, Chago grinned, firelight reflecting off his lethal machete. “This’ll be fun.”
“I haven’t killed any minions in eons.” Kagan palmed his weapons and glanced down at her with a reassuring smile. Mira returned the gesture, a new hope sprouting inside her, warm and comforting. Were her emotions true or simply the adrenaline talking?
Xander unsheathed a set of swords capable of making a samurai weep. His tone held an edge of excitement. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Kagan and Chago called in unison.
The trio assumed a battle stance and low-pitched hums transformed to high-pitched squeals as the minions encroached. Soon the lighter was doused and darkness and an unholy screech heralded the attack.
A minion’s razor-sharp claw slipped between the Scion blockade to slice into her flesh, and Mira covered her head with her arms. Blood trickled warm and slow down her flesh and she closed her eyes, praying for salvation.
• • •
Lucifer settled into the cushions of his leather dais to watch the proceedings on closed-circuit TV. He propped one leg on the seat and adjusted the picture, zooming in on the small cluster of warriors. Night-vision green cast the battle in eerie luminescence.
Xander slit a minion’s throat before gutting another with his opposite hand. One had to give the Scion begrudging credit. Lucifer knew they couldn’t see shit, yet still they held their own. Chago and Kagan hacked their way through anything moving in front of them and averaged a kill per swipe. Divinity’s words from their last meeting returned. I have faith in my Scion. He did too.
Mira crouched in the center of the Scions’ tight circle, attempting to protect her head and face from the flurry of razor-sharp claws. Her arms were covered with cuts and her blood flowed freely, inciting the horde’s frenzy. They always did love a good snack.
The horde stormed against the skilled warriors, a unified force of utter chaos and low-hanging fruit for the battle-hardened Scion. Lucifer had no concerns about diminished capacity. Minions were disposable. He’d make more. He only wished they’d use their pea-sized brains and show more initiative in the fight.
Speaking of initiative . . . He’d granted Argus a rare furlough, knowing he was a flight risk. The demon was a lot of things, but boring not one of them. Celestial transformations rarely worked in the long run, and Argus was no exception. Even the Sons of El couldn’t contain his ambition. Now, in messing with the Seals, Argus had officially crossed the line. Greed wasn’t something Lucifer generally frowned upon, but when avarice turned to mutiny, it became personal.
Lucifer returned his focus to the TV and sneered. The three warriors were covered in blood and grinning like fools, hacking their way through the mass of scaly bodies.
Xander shouted something. Lucifer punched the volume button higher. Dammit! He must remember to get sound on those cameras before the next massacre.
The girl pulled something from Xander’s coat pocket and raised it high above her head. Lucifer zoomed in. The object glowed brighter and brighter while she chanted.
No! It couldn’t be. The remote clattered to the floor. He ran toward the passage below, rounding the last corner just as a bright flash and a sonic boom brought the roof down.
• • •
Xander grinned as minions scattered like shards across the smooth rocks to disappear into the murky depths. Light broke through. The warriors turned to squint into the beam streaming from the hole above.
“Guess we found our way out.” Chago held a hand above his eyes.
Kagan scowled at the amulet still swinging between Mira’s fingers. “What is that thing?”
“We need to get her out of here.” Xander
sheathed his swords and grabbed the artifact, ignoring Kagan’s question. Antares was proving more useful than he’d imagined. He smeared greenish muck from his face and pointed to a pile of rubble. “We can climb up those.”
Chago nodded, waving Mira ahead. “Ladies first.”
Mira skittered up the rocks, followed by the warriors.
Once they’d all surfaced, Xander searched the area for something to plug up the huge hole. A new swarm of minions approached, arms and claws emerging from pit, seeking freedom. Kagan spotted a large boulder several yards away, and the three moved the rock into place with a heavy thud.
“Cristo! I forgot how bad they reek,” Chago said, surveying the accumulation of blood and assorted guts coating his body.
The group turned to leave, only to find their path blocked by Lucifer, the ground blackened and smoking beneath his clawed feet.
“Leaving so soon? I must admit to a few white-knuckle moments during the show. Overall, I’d give it an eight out of ten.” He gave a few claps of half-hearted applause.
“Get out of my way, culo.” Chago knocked into him, stalking across the field to disappear in a flash.
“Faccia di merda!” Kagan cursed, grasping Mira’s arm and flashing away.
Lucifer approached Xander, peering at the boulder-covered hole. He waved his hand to remove the stone then reformed the solid ground beneath. “Can’t have the little buggers getting out, can we?”
“State your business, Devil,” Xander said, his jaw clenched tighter than his fists.
“Where’d you get it, Scion?” Lucifer ran an appraising gaze over the warrior.
“To what are you referring?”
“Don’t play stupid, Xander. Antares.”
Xander pulled the talisman from his pocket. “You mean this?”
Lucifer eyed the burnished metal glinting in the setting sun. Lightning quick, he reached out to snatch the piece.
Xander was faster. He yanked temptation away and stuffed it safely in his coat. “I’m keeping the relic safe for Divinity.”
Seven Seals, Books 1 & 2 Page 16
