by Maya Daniels
It’s dark outside and the crescent moon is lighting our path. The winds are picking up around us and the rustling of the trees sounds soothing in the quiet of the night. We walk slowly, as if out for a stroll, and I must admit that I enjoy it. Who knows? Maybe this is the last calm, peaceful time I will have. The wind has dried my hair already and right now it’s picking it up around my face as if it wants to play with it. I’m startled when Lucifer reaches out, tucking it behind my ear. I look at him.
“So I can see your face,” he says softly
“It’s the same face you’ve been looking at every day. It’s the only one I have, unfortunately.” I can’t help being a smartass.
“And I shall look at it every day after tonight, too,” he says simply, as if by saying it he will make it happen.
I don’t comment. We both know there may come a day very soon when he sees my face for the last time, but I don’t want to go down that road right now. I just want to enjoy this short walk and the night. I don’t know if it’s the energy from that light that did it to me when I touched it, but I feel whole somehow. I don’t feel like multiple people occupying the same body anymore. I hope it stays this way, but I doubt it will. I’m also all too aware of the hot-blooded angel next to me. His body’s heat penetrates my skin and makes me want to press myself closer to him. The butterflies in my stomach must be drunk again on tequila or something, because it feels like the ground is shifting under my feet and I feel faint. An urge to stop walking and pull him down so I can press my lips to his is so overwhelming that I pant with the effort it takes to keep walking. My hand trembles in his, but luckily he misunderstands the reason for it.
“Do not fear, Alexia. Whatever it is, it will need to go through me to get to you. I swear it.”
My breath gets caught in my throat, because that sounds a hell of a lot like an oath. He must have lost his mind to do that with me at uncertain times like these. It makes me want to kiss him even more... or punch him. I’m not sure which one is a stronger feeling.
“Never make promises to me, angel. Especially ones that you may not be able to keep.”
“I have every intention of keeping them. And to be clear. I do not say things because I doubt your power. With each day, I grow more proud to stand by your side, but do not mistake it for me letting you act on impulse and watching you die. I will fight even you if it comes to that. I will not lose you this time. I have waited for you my entire existence and will not let you go easily. On that, I will not compromise.”
“You think I want to die?” I ask, taken aback by his words and purposely ignoring his other comments.
“You tell me. Do you?” He turns his head towards me, looking at me with his star-filled eyes, and something tugs at my chest. The ruby around his neck starts glowing and the light bounces off our faces like it, too, wants to hear my answer. I open my mouth to say no, but I close it with a snap. That is a very good question. Do I? If he had asked me a year and a half ago, I would’ve said yes, without question. Now? I think of all the people waiting for us at the house. I feel his calloused hand holding mine gently, as if I’m made of glass, his eyes watching me with something I’m too afraid to name. Do I want to die? No. Will I willingly die for any of them? Yes, without question.
Luckily for me, we reach the house and I don’t have to answer. The door opens before we reach the steps of the porch.
“Ah, there you are. I was sent to get you to speed up. I thought I’d find you humping like bunnies, but I’m happy you saved me from years of therapy.” Jez rolls her eyes at us and walks back inside leaving the door open.
I shake my head and Lucifer chuckles, giving my hand a squeeze. I’m saved from answering. For now.
21
Lucifer…
“How do you feel?” Daisy frets around Alexia, and I smile.
She is watching the older witch with narrowed eyes, since this is the tenth time Daisy has asked her the same thing, but everyone can see the softness in her gaze. She likes it even when she doesn’t want to admit it. Slowly, I’m starting to understand Alexia more. There are little signs in her gaze, in the corners of her eyes or mouth or the way she holds her posture that tell different things than the words that she speaks.
For millennia, I believed there was nothing more complicated or more contradictory than a goddess—any goddess, I know them all. That was until I got to really know Alexia. I do not believe anyone has been able to keep me on my toes like the witch. She gets the blood pumping in my veins, either from passion or anger. Well, even when angry, I wish to rip her garments and show her that she cannot live without me. That thought makes my jeans too tight in certain areas and I shift on the pillow where I’m sitting. No need for everyone to see how she affects me even when she is sitting across from me. She tricked me when we walked in and she sat down between Remi and Faith before I realized what she was doing. The woman makes me lose my mind; I cannot think straight.
“I’m fine, I swear, geez!” Alexia proclaims. “Can we move on from that? I didn’t grow a second head, there was no pain, thank fuck, and I feel better than I can remember. Whatever it was, I really think it helped.” She swats Daisy’s hands and glares.
I chuckle and that earns me a glare, too. But that only makes me smirk. She doesn’t know how adorable she is when she is angry. Like every hotblooded male, I do love a challenge, and there is no bigger challenge for me then her. Inanna chuckles, too, shaking her head. She is sprawled between the light-workers, who look like lovesick puppies, staring at her adoringly. I should not make fun of them; I probably look worse when I stare at the witch. The goddess has her head leaning on Archie’s chest and one of her legs over Will’s thighs. Her dress is parted, revealing her entire bare leg, and not long ago, I would’ve found that inviting and very pleasing. Now my eyes shift to Alexia and I’m struck anew how not just her physical beauty but her essence penetrates my soul and leaves me breathless.
“It’s a good thing, what happened tonight, that was a gift from Enki,” Inanna says nonchalantly, and I suck in a breath.
“Enki, the god? Your drinking buddy?” Alexia asks incredulously
Holding my breath, I wait to hear the answer and see that all the women do, too. Ah, so they all know. At least that makes me feel little better. I’m not the only one keeping it from her.
“Yes, the god of the waters,” Inanna says simply.
I stare. She can’t simply leave it at that. Can she?
“Oh! Well, how nice of him. At least he didn’t include pain.” Alexia brushes it off as if not important “Or asked for an offering.” She shudders and glances fast at Meda.
I wonder what that is about and I clear my throat; Inanna glares at me. The rest of them do, too. I was about to speak when music blasts, making me jump, ready to tear to pieces whoever is here.
“Ummm, sorry. It’s my phone.” Philip stands up, waving his device at me and, placing it to his ear, he walks out of the room.
Alexia bursts out laughing, everyone else joining her. “Oh, sweet goddess. You should’ve seen your face! You were ready to chew up that phone and spit it out.” She gasps for air, doubling over from laughter.
I cannot help it. I laugh, too. It warms my heart to hear the peals of musical laughter coming from her. I wish to keep her laughing for eternity. That sobers me up very fast.
“About Enki…” I prod but Philip bursts in the room like the house is on fire.
“Put on the news. Now!” He waves his hand in a circle as if that will make all of us move.
Remi jumps up and grabs the control, pointing it at the screen hanging on the wall. I do not think I’ve seen it turned on more than once. The picture comes to life, and Remi presses buttons couple of times before it stops on a news channel. The reporter is standing in some parking lot talking excitedly, and it takes me a second to recognize the place. It’s the zoo. The blood freezes in me.
“We are in front of the Los Angeles Zoo where the most unusual break-in happened tonight. We ha
ve seen and heard of animal activists breaking in and freeing animals all over the world, not just here. But tonight, they didn’t come for the four-legged friends. Tonight, they ripped up the concrete and paths, dug holes and planted the most beautiful trees we have ever seen. This must have been planned for a long time, as it looks very well organized because all the trees are mature and it would’ve taken a big group of people to realize this plan. They also poured organic matter into the piranhas’ tank, making the fish dazed as though highly medicated but vicious in protecting their water. The authorities have had a difficult time trying to take a sample. Is this a new movement in the fight for animal rights? I will leave it for you to decide.”
The view changes and I blink. The entire path we took from the water tank where Alexia got hurt to the parking lot where we got in Remi’s car is now made of beautiful tall trees that sway as if dancing. Their branches are full of dark green leaves, unlike anything I have seen in this realm. There’s an entire line of them. Alexia gasps and I look at her. “Oh, no.” She puts her hand over her mouth, a horrified look on her face.
“What is it?” I jump up.
“I saw them.” She turns her wide eyes on me. “I saw the saplings when you were carrying me away, but I thought I was hallucinating from the blood loss.”
“They’re trees, not saplings,” I point out.
“They were seedlings first, but I saw them grow. My birthmark was pulsing, too. Was it me? Did I do this?”
I can barely hear her words. I look at Inanna. This must stop and we must tell her something.
“This is not important now. We have all come too far to worry about what the humans will think about trees growing out of nowhere. I guarantee it they’ll never say it’s magic,” Inanna starts.
“That’s not the point…” I begin but she talks over me.
“What is important, at the moment, is that we have the potions and Alexia can finally get to where the tablets are. When we finish this task, everything will be as it should.”
“We already know that we must go to Ishtar’s realm first.” Remi and Inanna both ignore what is happening, as well.
I look at Daisy, hoping that she will bring some sense into everyone, but she looks at me sadly and simply shakes her head.
“Am I the only one who cares how Alexia will feel when all this plays out?” I bellow and they all turn to me. “Well, am I?”
“It’s okay, Lucifer. Whatever is meant to happen will happen. I made peace with that tonight,” Alexia says, and I can hear the sincerity in her voice.
She really has made peace with walking blindly into the Underworld. And she doesn’t even know that’s where she’s heading. My heart pounds painfully in my chest and I clench my hands. I want to rip something apart, anything. I just do not want to see her hurt. My power surges and Alexia jumps up, coming to me and wrapping her arms around me. It calms me instantly, to my chagrin.
“Thank you. Just knowing you care means a lot to me. I’ll be fine, I promise. Let’s make a plan instead of arguing. It hasn’t gotten us far, but it does delay the inevitable.” Lifting her head, she looks at me. Her eyes flash blue and go back to brown.
“Since when did you become so wise?” I mumble, unable to tear my gaze from her.
“I have my moments of insanity. Plus, let’s not forget I got zapped in the lake. I think it fried my brain, but don’t get used to it. I doubt it’ll last long.” The corners of her mouth lift in what is barely a smile.
In the middle of all this, she is the one trying to console me. I want to howl to the skies about the injustices done to her, but if she is trying to be strong, I can do nothing but stand by her side. Wrapping my arms around her, I press her more firmly to my chest.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, witch”
22
Alexia…
“Well, since no one is willing to enlighten us with information, I say we just go for it. Let’s go to Ishtar’s realm and get this party started,” I say with a cheerfulness I don’t feel.
I look around at all the faces staring solemnly at me and I smile, hiding all the turmoil in my heart. This shit is happening, and like a perfect storm, I can’t do a thing to stop it. All I can do is hold on and pray we come out with our lives on the other side.
“Everything is ready. We have packs for everyone. Just say when and where,” Philip says, pulling Remi in front of him and wrapping her in his arms.
I can see his body trembling slightly, no matter how hard he tries to hide it. Looking around, I see it in everyone. They hide it impressively, but it’s there, in the crinkles at the corners of their eyes and between their eyebrows as well as the turned-down corners of their mouths. Subtle, but there.
Well, apart from Lucifer and Inanna. Lucifer looks pissed off, like he’s ready to tear the veil apart, and Inanna looks determined. I’m hoping I don’t have to worry about those two going at each other’s throats in the middle of this. I honestly don’t think I could deal with that.
“Okay, so we’ll open the portal. Let’s go see a goddess.” I turn and start walking out.
Without a word, everyone starts moving. Grabbing packs that they sling over their shoulders and walking out the door one by one, they’re ready for whatever awaits us in the realms. I wait, leaning my shoulder on the doorframe, watching it all with a detachment that surprises me. I guess I really did come to terms with the fact that we’re all going together into the unknown. Lucifer is the last to walk out, not carrying anything, but he stops at the threshold.
“Ready?” He reaches his hand towards me, palm up.
I look around the house I have called home for over a year now, the only place that has felt like home for a long time. The energy imprints of us all pulse around me, embedded in the walls, the furniture and the very foundation of it. The laughter, the tears, the joy and the sorrows all swirl together like they are saying goodbye. With one last fleeting glance around me, I turn and place my hand in his. Lucifer’s calloused fingers close over mine, gentle but firm. I tighten my hold like he is my lifeline and look into those eyes of his. He watches me like he’s seeing my essence, not just my physical presence in front of him.
“Ready!” I tell him and he leads me towards the woods and the circle there.
We walk hand in hand through the trees that sway gently on the breeze. I steal glances at his face, wondering what’s going through his head. Apart from being angry from earlier, there is a stiffness in his shoulders that tells me there’s more than just his being worried about me. It looks like he’s hardening himself about something, and I’d give my left kidney to know what it is. I did learn that curiosity killed the cat, though, so I keep my mouth shut.
As we approach the clearing, I see my sisters have already taken their places in the circle, so I release Lucifer’s hand and go to take my spot on the north point. Everyone is quiet and solemn, standing around with reverence, showing respect for the elements and spirit of this ground. We have come a long way from when we used to act like idiots around this area with our jokes and pranks. Or maybe it’s the gravity of the situation that makes us like this. I miss seeing their smiles and hearing their jokes around here, but I remain quiet, too. We just have to do this and then we can laugh and joke after it’s done as much as we want. I’m going to hold onto that thought with everything I have. I’ll make it happen. I must!
“Can we start, A-Ma?” Meda asks softly, standing closest to the altar as always.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I smile encouragingly at her.
Philip, Will, Archie, Daisy, Inanna and Lucifer stand in the middle of our circle as we start invoking the elements, inviting the spirits of each one to come bless and guide us. Meda is the last to invite the spirits of the land and our ancestors to complete it. Our magick is much stronger now and the dome of it shines like a rainbow of colors around us as it closes. The hairs on my arms stand on end from the sheer power inside it. The light-workers look at us in awe, shivering and twisting their necks to look at the e
nergy all around them. It makes me smile. They are the only ones who haven’t seen us do this together before. Daisy, on the other hand, has tears of pride shimmering in her eyes as she looks back at me. My chest feels tight, and before I start acting like an idiot, I figure I better get this going.
“Who will open the portal? Mother?” I look pointedly at Inanna.
“This is your path. I shouldn’t even be here,” she says absently.
I frown at her. What the fuck? It’s second nature, like breathing, for her to open a portal, and she will stand there like the goddess that she is and let us do all the work? I bristle at the thought. “Really? All you have to do is flick a wrist! You’ll make us waste precious energy to do it?” I snap.
She looks at me and widens her eyes as if she had just realized where she is. My frown deepens. What on bloody earth is going on? “Oh! Right,” she mumbles and flicks her wrist towards the middle of the circle.
I steel myself to feel the veil bend and twist before it opens. Taking a deep breath, I wait. And wait. And…nothing happens. Looking around, I see everyone has the same puzzled look as me. Lucifer scowls at the spot where the portal should’ve been as if it’s the ground’s fault that it’s not there. Taking a step forward, he flicks his wrist forcefully, squaring his shoulders as if daring the portal to disobey him. I steel myself again and wait. Nothing happens.
“What on earth…” Jez whispers under her breath but with the quiet around us, it sounds like she shouted the words.
Lucifer curses under his breath and flicks both his wrists, his power making my skin feel like it’ll peel off of my bones and I gasp, but nothing happens. He growls low in his throat and throws both arms in front of him ,sending even more power into his actions and I hear my sisters whimper in pain while Will, Philip, Archie and Daisy drop to the ground like rocks.
