The Devil You Know

by Zahra Stone

  “To hurt me is my best guess.”

  “Dad,” I whispered, horrified. “That is wrong on so many levels.”

  “Your mother has always been very conniving,” Dad admitted, rubbing his chin.

  “Michael and Gabriel have the key to the gates of Hell,” I said.

  “What?” His head snapped up, and he was fully alert. Finally.

  I nodded. “It’s true. I hid the key in three vessels. They’ve taken them.”

  “We can’t let Hell fall. The gate holds…”

  “The essence of the Universe. I know. I won’t let it fall, but I need to be there, protecting it. I can’t be running around Earth hunting witnesses and trying to stop Mom. Or my brothers. You need to intervene, Dad. I know you don’t want to, I know you think Mom has a right to be angry, but she doesn’t have the right to do this. She needs to be stopped, and it’s unfair that you expect me to be the one to stop her. She’s my mom.”

  I bit my lip. I’d never spoken to my father in such a direct manner before, but we were approaching crisis point, and he needed to get his head out of his ass and into the game. Lilith was playing to win—she would see our realms annihilated unless we stopped her.

  “Returning Heaven to health took a lot out of me.” He practically pouted, and I frowned so hard my eyeballs hurt.

  Was my father truly a whiny little bitch?

  “Suck it up,” I scolded. “You said yourself this is all your fault. She’s doing this because you pissed her off. Fix it. It’s your mess. You clean it up, and stop relying on everyone else to do your dirty work.”

  His mouth dropped open, and his voice boomed, “Lucifer!”

  “No!” I shouted back. “You don’t take that tone with me! You are my father; you are God, creator of Heaven, Hell, and Earth. You don’t get to sit here on a gilded throne and not be responsible for your actions. You need to step up. Are you not hearing all the prayers? Even I can hear them, and I’m in Hell! The people are desperate. They need you. Don’t fail them. Not again.”

  His following words surprised me.

  “You are so like your mother.” There was pride in his voice, and his lips curled in a smile.

  I blinked. “And that’s a good thing?”

  He nodded. “Yes. It’s a good thing. She was a good woman, a loving woman, and I neglected her. I made her into what she is today, and you’re right. This is my mess. I’ll fix it. I’ll deal with her.”

  “And the witnesses?”

  Another nod. “And the witnesses. You return to Hell. Guard the gate, for if it falls, we all fall.”

  “Do you think she knows that? Why else take the key?” My voice was somber, laced with the pain of knowing that my own mother would do something that would hurt me.

  “She could quite possibly know,” Dad admitted. “I never hid anything from her. She could have seen the blueprints. But we have time. I’ll find her. Talk to her. Make her see reason.”

  I was skeptical. I doubted anything my father said would appease my mother, but there was one thing we did agree on. He had to sort this out with her.

  “And Michael and Gabriel?” I asked. “You do know she gave them back their powers?”

  “I’ll deal with them after I’ve dealt with Lilith.”

  “And what is it you think you’ll say? To Mom, that is, because I don’t think sorry is going to cut it.”

  “I’m going to tell her that I love her.”

  “Do you?”

  “I always have. My vows meant something to me. They still do. She’s my wife. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t realize I was neglecting her, even when she told me, I didn’t realize, didn’t take her pain seriously.”

  “Until she left.”

  “Until she left. And then it was too late. I couldn’t get to her. I couldn’t speak to her. I couldn’t show her I loved her. Still. Always.”

  “Yet you find it in your heart to forgive her, to love her, despite her locking you in a tomb in Hell for thousands of years?”

  “You know the power of love and forgiveness, Lucy.” His voice was as soft as a whisper, yet it resonated around us as if he’d shouted the words. “Love trumps everything.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Upon returning to Hell, I sought Levi out. Dad’s words touched me. Love and forgiveness. For although Levi and I were back together, I felt there was much left unspoken.

  “You’re back.” He smiled in greeting, cupped a hand around my nape, and kissed me. That’s when it truly dawned on me, the power this man had over me. Emotion flooded my body, making me warm all over. I kissed him back and then slowly eased away.

  “I love you, Levi Forrester,” I whispered, resting my forehead against his. “You are my everything, and I will fight for you.”

  “Hey.” He eased away and cupped my face in his hands. “What brought this on?” He grinned. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  “I was talking with Dad about him and my mom. And get this, he still loves her. He’s always loved her. Yet, he let her leave him. He didn’t fight. Not hard enough, anyway. And now look at the result.”

  Levi was silent a moment, digesting what I’d said. “I love you, too. With all my heart. Both human and demon. I know I hurt you, and for that, I’m truly sorry. You’ll never appreciate how deeply sorry I am.” His eyes glistened, and my breath caught in my throat.

  “You didn’t mean to. I forgive you,” I whispered, kissing him again, my own tears sliding down my cheeks.

  “You are my world. Without you, I’m nothing.” His words breathed against my lips and made my knees buckle. I felt it then, our bond, growing tighter. He gasped, and I looked at him.

  “What is it?”

  “My mark.” He tugged at his shirt, trying to see his shoulder. “It burned.”

  “Let me see.” I turned him around and pulled his shirt up to reveal my mark on his shoulder.

  “Wow,” I mumbled, tracing my fingers over the symbol.

  “What is it?” He peered at me over his shoulder.

  “You know how it was black?”

  “Mmhm.”

  “It’s now gold.” I placed a kiss on the mark and smoothed his shirt back down.

  Turning back around, he asked, “It changes colors?”

  “Apparently.”

  “The closer we get, the more it grows.” He nodded as if it all made perfect sense.

  “I’m still not sure about the whole kid issue,” I admitted, knotting my hands together.

  He wrapped my hands in his, stilling my agitated movements. “Babe, we have all the time in the world. We’re both immortal. There’s no rush. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll try for another baby.”

  “We didn’t try for this one,” I pointed out.

  He grinned, giving me a wink. “Exactly.”

  “Wait!” I peered at him with narrowed eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

  “It will happen when it is meant to happen. Stop stressing. You’ll make an awesome mom. When the time is right.”

  “It’s scary how you have utter faith in me,” I grumbled, taking him by the hand and leading him toward the bedroom. We were almost at the door when the building shook. I gasped, bending my knees to keep my balance as everything around us vibrated.

  “Earthquake?” Levi guessed, his eyes round.

  “No. Someone is attacking the Gate. I’ve got to go.” Before he could reply, I spread my wings. I materialized moments later at the Gates of Hell, only to discover my dragons in battle with my brothers.

  One dragon remained steadfast in front of the Gate while the remaining two grappled with my brothers overhead. I flew in to stand next to the grounded dragon, sword drawn should he be defeated.

  “Michael. Gabriel,” I shouted over the clang of swords and the harsh rush of beating wings. “Enough!”

  They both glanced my way and then at each other. Moments passed in silent communication before they nodded and then descended to stand in front of me. My dragons remained in the air, o
n guard and breathing fire. They were not happy that two angels had made it this far, had made it to the Gate, and the fury in their eyes told me they were seconds from turning Michael and Gabriel into crispy critters.

  “You don’t want to do this,” I told them, not missing how their gazes lingered on the Sword of Souls still grasped in my hand. I didn’t want to use it on them, but I would if they backed me into a corner.

  They backed me into a corner.

  With what I can only describe as a warrior yell, they launched at me. I swung my blade, clashing it against Michael’s while overhead, the dragons unleashed their fire. Amongst the chaos of screams, searing flesh, clashing swords, and beating wings, we fought. Michael stayed on me, despite his burns, while Gabriel took on the dragons. Distracting them, drawing them away. A smart tactic, one I would have used myself if our positions were reversed.

  I had the upper hand. Dragon fire did not hurt me; I was immune to flame. Michael was not, and although he had healed himself, he’d used precious energy to do so. When I ducked low and darted behind him, he swiveled to follow, losing his footing. One simple kick to his knee, and he toppled. I stood over him, the tip of my blade resting against his chest.

  “Do it,” he puffed, eyes dark with hate. “Kill me. End it.”

  I hesitated. I couldn’t do it, couldn’t kill my own brother, and from the way one corner of his lip curled up, he knew it. Despite everything, he was my family.

  “Still as weak as ever, Lucifer,” he drawled. “But don’t be fooled. When the time comes, I won’t hesitate.”

  “You’d kill me?” His threat surprised me. Sure, we had our fights, our disagreements, and I thought he was a total douche, but I never thought he hated me so much that he’d kill me.

  “Wouldn’t hesitate,” he confirmed. “Unlike you. Now!”

  His shout startled me just as much as the sweep of his arm that dislodged my sword from his chest did. He unfurled his wings and flew out of reach while I stood in stunned disbelief as a tear appeared in Hell’s veil.

  Angel after angel flooded into Hell, swords drawn. He’d created an army. Or Lilith had.

  “Ashliel!” I yelled, shooting into the air and engaging in battle. “Reinforcements to the Gate.”

  If she responded, I didn’t hear over the noise.

  Swooping through the air, I dispatched angel after angel, only to have another three take their place. We were vastly outnumbered, and my heart chilled at the thought that Hell could very well fall. One of my dragons crashed to the ground, dozens of swords protruding from his body. His gaze tracked me, bleak and full of apology, as his dying breath left his body in a puff of smoke.

  “No!” I screamed, racing to his side, but it was too late. They’d killed my dragon. The four of us had been together since day one. I’d never expected to lose one and not under these circumstances. Steeling my spine, I returned to the fray, anger fueling me, when a sudden influx of angels in black armor flew through the rift, led by Dacian. Reinforcements at last.

  “Ashliel! Where the Hell are you? Respond!” I barked the order, knowing she could hear me through our connection. Why wasn’t she responding? Had something happened? Was Hell HQ under attack also? But if that were the case, she’d have sounded the alarm. Had they captured her? Rendered her helpless, or worse, killed her? And if they had, what of Levi? I had left him in the penthouse, was he also captured?

  My imagination went wild, distracting me with worst-case scenarios, so I wasn’t prepared when an angel landed on my back, locked his legs around my waist, and drew a sword to my throat. With my wings incapacitated, we tumbled to the ground, falling hard. Although I had the wind knocked out of me, I didn’t hesitate, pushing up and dislodging the angel, swinging my sword hard. My weapon connected with his neck, and his head toppled, hitting the ground with a thump and rolling away.

  “Lucy! Watch out!” Dacian shouted, and I swiveled, raising my sword in time to deflect a blow aimed at my head. Dacian landed behind me, and we stood back-to-back, slowly circling and dispatching angels one by one. Covered in sweat and panting with exhaustion, we kept going. Their numbers were dwindling; I still had two dragons in play who turned the angels into barbecued snacks. The stench embedded in my nostrils, and the air was thick with smoke. Ignoring the sting in my eyes, I sharpened my focus.

  “Urg.” The grunt from Dacian, followed by the sound of him crashing to his knees, caught my attention.

  Keeping my sword raised, I maneuvered to him, doing my best to keep the angels at bay. But they sensed weakness, they smelled his blood, and knew, just as I did, that his wound was severe.

  “I’m hit,” he gurgled, looking at me with surprise in his eyes while blood trickled from his mouth.

  Shit.

  “Can you heal?” I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him to his feet, but he was dead weight.

  The angels circled in closer.

  “Dacian?” I whispered, fear freezing me. “You can’t be dying.” I shook him. “Heal yourself!” I cried out, deflecting a blow meant for him. I stood over him, a foot on either side of his hips, as he leaned forward onto my thigh, his blood seeping through my pants and bathing my skin in warm wetness.

  “Dacian? Dacian?” I screamed, nudging him with my knee and gasping when his body fell back, his eyes open, staring at nothing, his chest immobile. I froze, my gaze locked on the body of my best friend. Without conscious thought, I dropped to my knees and released my sword to cradle his face in my hands.

  “Dacian? Come on, please, heal yourself…heal yourself…” My whisper was choked with tears as I rubbed his cheeks, his eyes blank, not seeing. He’d never see anything again. He was gone, and my heart shattered. I’d lost too much today. My faithful dragon and my best friend. I couldn’t allow this to continue, my brothers had crossed the line, and despite my earlier reluctance to kill them, now all I wanted was their blood. I would kill every last one of them.

  I was reaching for my sword and didn’t see the blow coming. Thundering pain sliced into my temples. Then I began to fall into the deepest darkness.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Come on…wake up.”

  It took me a moment to place the sweet feminine voice near my ear. My head pounded, and I sent a shot of magic to the source of my pain, felt my scalp repair itself, and then slowly blinked open my eyes. Del leaned over me, concern on her face.

  “Are you alright?” Her voice shook ever so slightly, and I gave her a reassuring smile.

  “I’m fine. All healed.” I sat up, and she moved back, giving me space.

  “Where are we?” I asked, glancing around, trying to place the purple room, only to realize I’d never been in it before. It was as if someone had vomited purple, for the walls, floor, even the ceiling, was bathed in it, except for one wall, which was clear glass. Outside the glass window was a corridor, grey with a gold stripe running down the center. On the opposite side of the aisle was a room identical to this one.

  Pressing my face against the glass, I peered farther down the corridor. More rooms. Just like this one. Only they weren’t rooms…they were cells. But we didn’t have cells like this in Hell. Or Heaven. Or Earth.

  “We don’t know,” Del replied, moving to sit next to Jase, who was sitting on a single bed that was pushed up against the wall. Duke was curled up by his side. The key was here—together and alive.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? That’s a lot of blood.” Jase pointed at my pants, and I glanced down.

  Yep.

  A lot of blood.

  Dacian’s blood.

  The memory of his death flooded my brain, and tears welled up. I struggled to comprehend he was gone, that my brothers were responsible for his death, that they’d stoop so low. It all happened so fast, and I hadn’t been able to heal him.

  “The bloods not mine.” Using my magic, I cleaned myself up and changed outfits. “My magic works, so I propose I get us out of here. What do you say?”

  The only response was a low, feminin
e giggle, and the sound knotted my muscles with fear.

  “That sounds like a wonderful plan, Lucifer, my dear; only you should know that you can’t leave here. Not without my permission. And I do not give it.” It was a female voice that spoke from outside our cell.

  I gulped. “Mother?”

  The woman who had given birth to me strolled regally down the walkway between the cells. She was dressed in a purple and gold gown, complete with a crown on her head and a staff in her hand. She looked like a queen, and my mouth dropped open at the sight of her. It sounded corny, but she was magnificent like she’d stepped straight out of a fairy tale. And clearly, she was a lover of the color purple.

  “Welcome home.” She stopped outside my cell and smiled at me. I saw myself in that smile. In appearance, we were very similar. But as far as I’m concerned, that was as far as it went. Inside, where it counted, we were a sword and feather. Different, in every way.

  “Let me out,” I demanded, unflinchingly meeting her gaze.

  She chuckled and shook her head. “Sorry, my darling, I can’t do that. You’ll try and stop me.”

  “Because you need to be stopped.” I stabbed the glass with my finger. “What you’re doing is wrong.”

  She banged the staff down hard on the floor, and the crack shook the walls, making my ears ring. “Silence.” Her voice dripped authority and ice, and I swallowed, unnerved. “This is my realm, and you will respect me as your Queen.”

  It was an order. One I couldn’t follow. I didn’t voice my thoughts since I was reasonably sure that she was unhinged and antagonizing her wouldn’t be the smartest move.

  “Thank you for not harming them,” I said instead, indicating Del, Jase, and Duke, who sat huddled together on the bed, staring with wide eyes.

  “Pft. They are of no importance. I took them to lure you here, but you didn’t take the bait. And now, I don’t need them at all.”

  “You don’t?”

  “Hell has fallen. It is no more. Therefore, I don’t need the key.” She waved a hand in dismissal while my mouth hung open.