“What if Lucifer crashes the party?”
My Darkness reacts to the name, coming forth in my eyes as I swear, “Beck deserves this. I won’t let anyone ruin it for him. If someone attempts to spoil it, I’ll rip out their heart and feed it to them.”
The Keep becomes abuzz with excitement for Becky and Beckett. The wedding is set to happen immediately, according to Alice. Ten o’clock the next morning to be exact. Things are brought to The Keep that I’m sure had to come off the island. There are flowers galore. The corridors are fragrant with scents The Keep has never had.
The energy produced by the anticipation fills me with delight. The Throne Room is rapidly transforming, but I’m shoved away from peeking. Evelyn snuck away with Becky for a dress, Theodora in tow for backup in case something happens. I’m anxious for them to return safely.
Beckett stops me in the corridor, “Thank you.”
I shrug. “I didn’t do anything.”
He smiles, “You did. You did everything. I could never repay you.”
I assure him, “You’ve earned every bit of it.”
I give him a quick hug, warning him not to go near the Throne Room for his own sake as we part.
Ezra exits the café as I approach, “Nice hair.”
I scowl, “You are so dead. You wait.” He snickers, walking away. I call after him, “Thank you for going to Red Meadow.”
Freezing in his tracks, he regards me over his shoulder, “Which time?”
My mouth tilts to the side. “Both.”
He gives me a curt nod, resuming his path.
Jack comes out of the café, following Ezra. My smile falls. His eyes lock on me for half a second before he looks away. It’s as if I’m nothing but a passing stranger. I want to reach out to him, but I don’t. I let him go. I want to smooth things over once his anger subsides. I hate that I’ve hurt him. He deserves better. I give him space, lingering in the corridor before heading back to my room.
A light symphony of violins and cellos resonates through the Throne Room. Alice had a few of the Griffins install a surround sound system. It excites me for future opportunities to turn the Throne Room into a ballroom. The stereo is not the only thing that has changed. My throne of obsidian stone upon the dais is elegantly clothed in white with light pink roses, deep red dahlias, and baby’s breath. Backless, wooden benches line each side of the white aisle runner with rose and dahlia petals scattered over it. Each column is entwined with the same wreath of flowers decorating the room. Tracing the columns to the apex of the room, there’s a thin mesh of material full of petals waiting to be released. Alice and Evelyn truly outdid themselves and did an amazing job putting things together in just a few short hours—something I don’t think would be possible without their Enochian origins. I never would have believed the Throne Room could look so refined. I contemplate keeping it this way after the wedding.
Raphael stands at the topmost step of the dais in a white robe, his extraordinary white wings settled behind him. Beckett is quite dashing in his black suit. His hair is tied back at his nape, and his wings are tight against his back. He wrings his hands nervously as the crowd fills the Throne Room, finding their seats. There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen. Everyone is equal here.
I’m yanked between Alice and Theodora on the first pew to the left. Cassius takes the aisle seat next to his sister, and Alice is sandwiched between Eric and me. Solas takes a seat directly behind me. I search the room for Jack, finding him with his parents and Ezra across the aisle.
The chatter dies as everyone takes their seats. The music changes to a non-traditional march, and Beckett breaks a sweat across his brow. Alice squeezes my hand, and I hide a tight smile. The doors of the Throne Room open, the threshold empty. Just as I begin to worry, Becky steps into view. I only catch sight of her for a split second before the room stands for her. I never realized how much of a vantage point I had on the dais until now.
Once I am finally able to see her, I am in awe of her beauty. Her caramelized locks, adorned with a hint of baby’s breath, are pulled up in a beautiful French braid twist. Her gown is just as stunning. It's a romantic cap-sleeve dress with a cameo back. The lace over the tulle skirt creates a shadow effect of elegant butterflies. As she turns to face Beckett, her belt of lace and crystal glints in the light.
Becky smiles softly at Beckett, and his body relaxes. He takes her hands. The room hears him whisper, “You’re the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
The love between them suddenly surges through the room like an atomic bomb. Each and every person in the room feels the weight of their love and how important it is. Tears brim my eyes. It’s odd for me. I’m not one to cry over romance or weddings or the like. Becky and Beckett’s love is strong, though.
It makes me question my own feelings. Is that what love is supposed to be? I reach out with my empathic ability and feel for their emotions. When it hits me, it’s more familiar than I thought. That’s true love… I have that. It’s so simplistic. Easy. But what is one love when your heart breaks for the other?
Watching Becky and Beckett exchange their vows, I imagine myself with someone in their place. It feels right. It’s our fate. We were meant to be together. If I block out everything else in this world where only he and I remain, everything is perfect. I want to look over my shoulder and tell him how much he means to me. I want to tell him how I’ve been such an idiot to not realize what was staring me in the face all along. The butterflies dance in my core once again, a frenzy of excitement. The next time my lips meet his will be like the first time all over again.
I know I must do the right thing and tell the other the truth. He deserves it from me. I itch to jump into the arms of the one I love, yet my decision will be hard to admit to the other. I decide to allow Becky and Beckett to have their day. Tomorrow can be mine.
Pink and red flower petals fall from the ceiling as the room rises to applaud the first kiss between the couple as husband and wife. I’m tearing up again and can’t seem to stop. Theodora glances to me as we clap. We notice the happy tears in each other’s eyes and laugh at ourselves. Becky and Beckett, run down the aisle to the exit hand in hand. I catch sight of Solas over my shoulder and shrug at the ridiculousness of my tears. I look for Jack across the aisle. When our eyes meet, he holds his gaze. I mouth to him an apology. He gives me a tight smile and nods. We lose sight of each other when the crowd begins to leave, so I make my way back to my room to change.
Becky and Beckett leave the island for a honeymoon in Scotland. The Keep cranks the music to permeate the corridors and drinks fill every hand. While there’s much to celebrate and be excited for, my body disagrees with me to join them. I fall asleep while everyone celebrates until the early hours of the morning.
I wake with a horrid sickness in my stomach. It twists with vile wretchedness. I instantly know what’s happening. They’re coming. I open my mind to Solas, They’re coming!
There’s no reply. I leap from my bed, changing into the appropriate attire for combat, and strap on my weapons. Just as I open my door, the sickness has me doubling over. I vomit in the corridor. I try to get through to Solas’ mind again. With no reply again, I have no choice but to face our guests alone. They’re already here.
I emerge through the fog devouring The Common of The Keep. My Darkness presents itself through my countenance, my jaw set. I stride with determination, demanding fear in my enemies. A pair of sai are strapped to the outside of my thighs over my black, leather pants. The split tails of my hooded duster billow beneath my outstretched wings as if wings themselves. The polished fulgurite charm cradles at the center of my chest, reflecting my surroundings. I know the Griffin sentries are lifeless and broken behind me. I can’t worry about them yet.
The fog parts for our guests, revealing Lucifer flanked by Mephistopheles on his right and Cora on his left. I stop feet away. Lucifer coos, “So nice of you to join us, Princess.”
I sneer, “If you haven’t noticed,” wh
ipping my sai from their sheaths, “I’m no princess.”
Mephistopheles growls at my threatening stature. Cora scowls, “Then I won’t give you the dignity of killing you like one.”
I cock my head to the side, “What do you know of dignity?”
Cora counters, “More than you by the show you gave at The Tunnel.”
I ignore her jab, addressing Lucifer, “You did a superb job finding a replacement for me.”
He smiles. It’s beautiful and warm. “She is more than meets the eye.”
Mephistopheles adds, “Loyal as well.”
I declare, “I was never meant to be loyal to you.”
Lucifer probes, “The Darkness inside you tells a different story.”
The leather of my gloves whines against the grips of the sai in my hands. “The Darkness you see belongs to me. I am loyal to it, and it’s loyal to me.”
Mephistopheles chuckles, “Darkness is not loyal. It is not sentient. It acts of its own nature.”
I contradict, “Yet it comes to me when I call, leaving its host.”
Cora whines to Lucifer, “She has to pay for what she’s done.”
Mephistopheles informs, “We must hurry. The others are near.”
Lucifer questions over his shoulder, “How many?”
“Three hundred…plus four Original Archs,” he notes.
If I had not been watching Lucifer closely, I wouldn’t have noticed the tiniest tick in his eyes, flaring his red irises. I mock, “Did you expect to take me back to Sheol and force me to do your bidding?”
Cora grins, “We have other plans for you.”
“I promise you won’t win this time,” I pose.
Her smile grows wider than should be possible. “You have no idea what you’ve got coming.”
My vision revealed their plans to burn The Keep down with everyone inside. I have a split second to do something. It may be the stupidest decision I’ve ever made, but it’s better than the alternative.
I pull my Darkness back inside, my true eye color shining through. I drop my sai on the ground, then raise my hands to the sides slowly as I take tentative steps toward them. “You’re not stupid, Lucifer. I’m not trying to prove myself to you. I don’t need to. You know I could destroy all three of you in a blink of an eye.”
He snickers, “I believe you have overestimated yourself, Princess. I am still The Morning Star.”
Mephistopheles warns, “They are close.”
I offer, “I want to make a deal with you.”
The Devil’s smile grows with a flare of vehemence in his blazing eyes. He silences the Fourth Duke with a raised hand. “Make your claim.”
I root my feet in a wide stance, fully confident in my claim. “I will fight Cora and Mephistopheles. If I lose, I will surrender my abilities as well as all the Darkness I contain and pass them to you.”
His expression reveals the intensity of his intrigue. He clarifies, “If you do not lose?”
I relax my arms to my sides. “If I win, I want this to be over between us. I will give you the dignity of continuing your life for so long as you leave me and mine alone.”
I take a step forward, plucking a feather from my wings and slashing a deep cut through my rank with its quill. Lucifer steps forward. I hold the quill out to him. He hesitates, “You remind me of myself in many ways.” I don’t respond. Lucifer takes the quill and slashes the rank in his arm. We grip forearms, our blood oath settling into us. His eyes flare at me and my own black out in reaction.
Lucifer steps away. Solas finally calls to me in my mind, “Ivy! What are you doing?”
I command him, Ward the door. Don’t come out until I say.
“Bullshit!”
Do it, Solas!
“Dammit, woman!”
The end of the end was never meant to be aided by the legion. I know that now. I have to do this on my own.
“You better come back to us, Ivy,” he says with dismay.
Mephistopheles bum rushes me as Lucifer retreats. The balls of my feet dig into the ground, creating culverts in the ground. My nails dig into his shoulders. I whip my wings around him, slicing his back open. His back arches and I kick him in the chest. He flies back, and Cora plows into me from above.
I crash to my face but manage an elbow into her rib. She locks my arms behind me. I roll over, pushing my wings into her face and forcing her back into the grass. With my feet, I pounce off the ground and manipulate my body to back flip over her head. I land in a crouch and punch her across the temple with a sharp knuckle.
Mephistopheles snatches my left wing and swings me into the face of the mountain. I land in a heap, surrounded by broken bodies of Griffin sentries. For the first time, I realize they are alive. Their bodies are catatonic as they heal from their injuries. I want to heal them, but know I need my energy. Something else I find questionable hits me; Every sentry on The Common still retains their Darkness.
I snap my wings inside myself and spring off the mountain as Mephistopheles comes for me, effectively kicking him across the face. I twist my back away from the mountain, not wanting to be pinned in place. Cora leaps onto my back, locking her arms over my throat. I leap into the air and crash down on top of her with as much force as I can. Her bones crack and splinter, yet she remains secured to me.
My Darkness manifests, my mouth agape, gasping for air. I rock my legs up to Cora’s head and cross my ankles behind her neck. Mephistopheles picks us up as a unit and flings us toward the mountainside of The Keep like a cannon ball. We collide and the mountain quakes, rocks falling all around us. We are separated when we hit the base of the mountain. I cough, gathering myself on my hands and knees.
The face of a conscious Griffin catches my attention. His outstretched hand reaches for me, conveying a sense of urgency in his eyes. I assure him as I push up to my knees, “This is my fight.”
Cora punctures her fingers into the sides of my throat. My eyes widen with the sharp pain. I know that I will be dead if she removes her hands. My blood will leave me so quickly, I will be vulnerable for an ultimate death. Lucifer will rip my wings from my back and Mephistopheles will take my head. The face of the one that I love flashes behind my eyes with a warm smile, the sun glinting over his wet skin. I want to tell him how sorry I am. I want to tell him how much I love him.
Cora pulls her fingers from my neck. She laughs, and it twinkles in the air like a child. My blood flows out of me like a waterfall, and I grip my neck to stop it. It’s no use. I collapse to the ground beside the Griffin, clenching my neck. I want to call out for Solas, but I refuse to let him watch me die. I coax my Darkness instead.
My eyes lock with the Griffin across from me. I flex my abilities to heal myself, yet I don’t feel strong enough. My energy is draining too quickly. My body stills, my breathing ragged. A tear slips from the Griffin’s eyes as he reaches for me again. This time, he whispers, “Take it.”
He’s offering me the Darkness of his essence. The Darkness he felt should remain his burden. I imagine my hand moving to his, but my body doesn’t react. I feel for him through my empathy. I reach out to him through the earth as we are all connected. I reach out to each Griffin laying stagnant on the ground. I feel their insistence for me to take their Darkness and save us.
So, I do.
The Darkness floods me with power, healing me instantly. I heal the Griffins in return, leaving the Light of their essences intact. I rise to my feet, expanding my wings. I’m ready to fight and know exactly how to take my enemies down. The Griffin sentries rise around me. I urge them, “Stand down.”
Lucifer’s beautiful smile morphs into anger, causing Cora and Mephistopheles to face me. Mephistopheles’ eyes widen. He murmurs, “Impossible.”
Cora screams in a shrill voice, “Why won’t you die?”
I ground my essence through my feet, through the soil in the ground, and reach for her and the Duke, “Because I’m not finished yet.”
I release the wrath of my Immortal Pestilence
with my Darkness fueling its power. It surges through my empathic connection through the ground like an electric current. Cora and the Duke gasp as it shoots through their bodies in unison, falling to their knees in pain. I dig and twist and pull for their essences, determined not to leave an ounce of them behind. Their heads snap to the sky. Their arms dash out to their sides, a sacrifice for me to take.
Black smoke rises in tendrils from their eyes, noses, ears, and mouths. They form into two ghost-like horses with menacing red eyes. The Horsemen of Pestilence and War rear up with defiance, intent on destroying anything in their paths. I demand the essences to obey, forcing them to strike into me. I crash into the face of the mountainside again, my body seizing as it hits the ground. The Horsemen rage inside me, but I am able to choke them into complacency for the moment.
A Griffin offers a hand to help me to my feet. Cora and Mephistopheles lay motionless and gray where they fell, then disintegrate into the dirt below them. I hint to Lucifer, doing my best to remain strong against the Darkness fighting me inside, “We had a deal.”
He sighs heavily. “I will not bother you or yours for so long as I wish to live.” His words are what I want to hear, but there is a hint of mischief to them.
I warn, “Don’t make me regret allowing you to live. I’m not afraid to hunt you down. I’ve made friends while I was in Sheol. There is nowhere you can hide that I won’t find you if I see fit.”
In a blink, Lucifer is gone.
Chapter 25
I fall back down to my hands and knees, purging the overflow of Darkness inside me. I know better than to deplete my resources and I retain a good portion that I’m able to keep under control. The black tar pours from my mouth, splattering in the grass. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and rise to my feet. One would think vomiting in front of a slew of Griffin sentries would be embarrassing, yet I see the fear in their eyes when they realize I’ve basically eaten a being’s essence, chewed it up, and spit it out.
The Helio Trilogy: Volumes 1-3 Page 98
