40. Scarlet
Chapter 40
Scarlet
B astard.
She wanted to be angrier than she was, but her body felt like liquid. Her muscles quivered, and she ached inside in such a way she knew she’d feel him for days. She was more annoyed with the fact she hadn’t fought him at all when he reached for her wrists, distracted with the little affectionate kisses that were a complete juxtaposition to what he’d just done to her body.
Lucifer was gloriously naked, his skin a golden brown that showed no evidence of the marks of abuse left by Cassiel. The only hint was random patches of clear skin where there was once tattoos.
“I haven’t been back here in years,” he said, rummaging through the contents on the shelves. “Fuck me sideways! I thought I’d lost this!”
With a grin he turned toward her, a bright pink glittery bag clicking around his waist.
“You look ridiculous,” she lied, because she was pretty sure he could wear anything and his natural confidence would make it look amazing. His body was carved from stone, thick thighs rigid with muscle as he took his time posing with the bag. She couldn’t help her gaze drift down, his dick still glistened with a mixture of them both.
“Do you know how practical this bag is?” Lucifer frowned, as if offended. “Look at these zips!”
Returning to the shelf, he picked up the same book she’d thrown on the floor earlier. The screaming started immediately, quickly cutting off once Lucifer closed it with a snap.
“Sorry,” he said, unrepentant. “Some souls can be so dramatic.” He tossed the book back on the shelf, shrugging his shoulders.
“Wait what… they’re souls?” The fabric strained as she pulled.
“Yep,” he replied, popping the ‘P.’ “Some nasty fuckers who forfeited their souls a long time ago. I liked to put them in postage stamps and display them like some morbid sort of collection.”
Scarlet tried to roll slightly, her weight knocking against the cage on her wings. She must have made a pained noise, because Lucifer was immediately there, releasing her wrist with a simple tug. He helped her sit up, but it only bent her wings at an uncomfortable angle because she’d lost most of their movement.
“What the fuck is that?”
Scarlet stood on shaky legs, flinching when he went to touch it. “Please don’t.”
Lucifer’s expression was serious when he came to her front, his hand gentle when he nudged her chin up to meet his eyes. “I had you on your back,” he said, his voice holding a growl. “Why didn’t you say I was hurting you?”
“Because it didn’t hurt at the time.” She jerked her head away, and now she wasn’t so distracted with sex her wing anchors ached.
“Let me look,” he said softly, moving to her back. “Why is there a cage locked around your wings, Scar?”
It took her a moment to reply. “Because they’ve been bound,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
His touch was featherlight down her spine. “Angel…”
She recoiled, turning to face him. “Cassiel’s bonded them in such a way that if I try to remove it, it could –”
“Ruin your wings,” he finished for her. “Why would he do that?”
“Because I tried to stop him.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, not allowing herself to wallow in self-pity even as Lucifer’s expression softened. Her post orgasm hormones did not need that man to look at her like that. Like despite everything he cared.
“How long do we have to stay here?” she asked, purposely looking away.
“It’s night, which means Hadriel’s locked the realm.”
“Then how do we get out?”
“Wait until he unlocks it.” Lucifer shrugged, as if it was all normal. “We’re safe inside, nothing can get you past my wards unless you invite them.”
Scarlet looked around the small room, trying to stifle the panic that had been slowly building since she’d first realised Cassiel’s lies. “Where’s the bathroom?”
“Bathroom? My love, we’re in the Nether. A prison affectionately referred to as Hell. You’re lucky that I figured out how to have a sink with running water and a hole in the ground.”
Scarlet thought her face was perfectly composed, but from Lucifer’s bark of laughter clearly she was not. With a sigh she reached for some of the scraps of fabric, cleaning the sticky fluids from between her thighs.
“Stay here.” Lucifer disappeared through the hole towards the kitchen. He returned within moments, holding one of the crooked chairs that would fit her wings and a bowl that sloshed with water. Steam rose from it gently, as if it had been recently boiled. “Come sit down.”
Scar didn’t fight him, her legs still embarrassingly weak. Not that she would ever admit that in a million years, and yet he still smirked, as if he knew he was the reason.
“What are you doing?” she asked at the first touch of the hot water. It soaked into the feathers closest to her spine, easing the dull ache.
“What does it look like?”
“Please, just stop.”
Hot water dripped on her skin, Lucifer stilling at her words.
“It’s my fault you were captured and tortured.”
Lucifer moved to crouch in front. “And?”
“What do you mean ‘and?’ You were tortured because of me.”
Aeron had been killed and mutilated because of her.
Silas would never find peace, because of her.
Because she’d failed.
Lucifer watched her for a moment, the wet cloth brushing down her arm. “I used to collect souls. Well, not just collect. Consume.”
“Lucifer –”
“It’s how Daemons grow in power, and for a long time I fucking loved it. I loved killing, convincing myself it was the only way to survive. Tricking those that didn’t deserve it, and still it wasn’t enough.”
Scarlet frowned, and Lucifer looked up at her with a smirk.
“I never said I was the good guy.” The cloth gently rubbed her chest, cleaning the remnants of the blood she’d cut from him. “I was forced into becoming what I am, but it was my choices that made me a monster.”
“You’re not a monster.”
“Hmm,” he hummed. “You were forced into doing what you did.”
“I –”
“And yet you chose to try and stop him,” Lucifer interrupted, tossing the cloth scraps back into the bowl and sitting back on his heels. He was still naked but from the glittery bag, brows pinched. “Tell me I’m wrong?”
“You make it sound so black and white.”
His smile softened his features. “You’re so cute when you’re being a pessimist.”
Straightening to his full height he moved back towards the bed, rummaging somewhere before pulling out another T-shirt. Ripping the back he brought it over.
“This one’s mine.” Holding it open, he helped her slip into it.
“There was nothing wrong with the old one.” Tugging on the hem, she pulled it down below her knee. Lucifer began to wrap it slightly just below her wing anchors, securing it in place.
“It wasn’t mine,” he said with a touch of possessiveness. He walked out into the kitchen, and after a moment she followed only to find him rustling through the cupboards.
“Why aren’t you angrier with me?”
He didn’t stop rummaging. “Who says I’m not?”
“Then show me. I betrayed you, Lucifer. I was willing to give you to Cassiel for my own selfish gain, and you’re standing around like that means nothing.”
Lucifer’s shoulders tensed, the muscles along his back rigid. Slowly he turned to face her, the red of his irises darkening. “What do you want me to do, love?” He stepped closer, and she forced herself to stand her ground. “Want me to hurt you?”
Scarlet closed her eyes, only for them to be forced open with Lucifer gripping her jaw.
“Torture you like Cassiel did me?”
She wanted nothing more than to stop everything, but she made sure to meet his gaze. Those embers burned into an inferno, his anger so bright she felt it lick at her skin.
That was what she wanted. What she needed. His rage was something she deserved.
Lucifer’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Want me to kill you?” His hand moved down, his thumb adding pressure to the front of her throat. “Answer the question, angel,” he growled.
Her heart beat against her ribs. Her lungs filled with weight.
The guilt was eating her until there was nothing left, but did she want to die?
It was the easiest option, but it also meant Cassiel would win.
“No,” she said, his hold relaxing. “I don’t want to die.”
Lucifer just stood there for a moment, his lashes obscuring his expression. “It’s not simply enough not to want to die. You need to want to survive. To spit in the face of everyone that’s fucked with you.”
Scarlet took in a deep breath, finding she missed his touch as soon as he stepped back. She didn’t want to die, but she may deserve it.
Lucifer continued to search for something, pulling out hidden drawers and boxes. The cupboard door slammed before he turned towards Kyle’s space. “Fucker was always stealing my shit.” He fumbled along the furs, pulling out the mirror.
“Wait!” Her voice quivered, panic cramping her stomach. “Please, I can’t face my brother right now.”
“Your brother?” Lucifer frowned, holding the mirror against his chest. “Is that where you see him? In the mirrors?”
“That’s how the Null works.” It was like she was being lapped at by the ocean, each violent wave adding weight until she drowned. “It grounds with reflections. I’m the one that hid the mirror there, because it hurts Si when we’re connected.”
“Cassiel was the one who hurt your brother.” He said it like a statement.
Scar shook her head, the words a struggle. “No, his son.”
Don’t break, she whispered to herself, wrapping her arms around her waist as if that would keep herself from falling apart.
“It’s why you betrayed me. He was using your brother against you.”
Her nod was jerky. “But he lied, and now I’ll never be able to help him find peace.” She hadn’t realised her entire body began to shake until Lucifer closed the gap.
“Scarlet…”
“He was my only family, and I’ve failed him.” She no longer recognised her own voice, the sound void of everything.
“Angel, look at me.”
The weight on her chest disappeared, replaced with an emptiness that was so much worse.
“Scarlet!” Lucifer’s voice was a sharp bark, forcing her attention to him. “Where’s Cassiel now?”
“I don’t know, he wasn’t there after I finished with Kit. He said he didn’t have Silas eye, but I killed him before I could check. What if he was lying? And he had the eye and now I –”
Lucifer crushed her against his chest, arms wrapping around her as she finally broke. It was as if every suppressed emotion came out in a flood, pouring from her soul out onto the floor with each gasping breath.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered against his skin. “I didn’t know – ”
“You chose your brother,” he said, his chest a rumble against the side of her cheek. “I would’ve done the same thing.” Stepping back, he sat down on one of the chairs, only to pull her back onto his lap.
“What’s wrong with you?” She pushed against him. “You should hate me.”
“How could I hate someone who’s loyal to her family?” He pulled back, making sure she could see his eyes. “Trust me, I understand sacrifice. I understand there are things you had to do to survive, things that darken your soul and dull your mind. Things that will haunt you. You had to make a decision that would destroy someone weaker, and I could never hate you for that.”
LUCIFER
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying there, Scarlet draped over him like his favourite blanket. He’d moved them to the bed, making sure he was on the bottom and her wings remained untouched. She’d eventually exhausted herself to the point she hadn’t fought him. But once he’d laid down and placed her on top, he found himself unwilling to move. So he continued to stroke her skin until her pulse had settled, and her breathing wasn’t so ragged.
‘You should hate me.’
She’d sounded so vulnerable, his chest aching with the sorrow she was projecting. He’d done worse things in his lifetime, and almost every single one was for selfish reasons. Her choosing her brother was something he could never be angry at, because it had taken until he had his own family to understand that type of loyalty.
Feeling like there wasn’t long before the realm unlocked, he slowly slipped out from beneath her before padding to the kitchen. The mirror was exactly where he’d left it, face down on the table.
Checking once more that she was still asleep, he sat down and pressed his fingers to the cool glass. The symbols of the scry flared up immediately, and it didn’t take long before the familiar, uncomfortable hum at the back of his skull began.
Alice picked up immediately, her fractured irises meeting his. “Why has it taken so long for you to return my call?” she asked, and he could tell she was upset.
He’d felt her trying to scry him for a while, but he hadn’t been ready to leave Scar.
“Kyle there?” he said, nodding at Riley who appeared over her shoulder. “Tell him he’s a prick for me.”
Alice laughed. “Bloody hell, what did he do now?”
“He –” Lucifer felt the family sensation of the air shifting with a drift, and before Kyle had completely materialised, Lucifer had shoved the traitor against the wall.
Kyle choked as the mirror clattered to the table, Alice and Riley angrily shouting from the glass. “Nothing bad,” he managed to push out. “Just pay back for forcing me to play boardgames with him for months,”
“Keep your voice down,” Lucy warned, pressing Kyle’s windpipe with his forearm. “If you wake her up, I’ll fucking kill you. Also, you’re just a sore loser. Not my fault you’re shit at Monopoly.” Releasing him just as quickly as he’d grabbed him, he patted him on the cheek affectionately.
“Monopoly is the longest game in existence.” Kyle coughed, giving him a flat look. “And you cheat.”
“Do not.” Lucifer found himself fighting a laugh. Grabbing the mirror, he lifted it back up so Alice and Riley could see.
“What happened?” Alice asked, her nose almost pressed against the glass.
“I convinced the angel to tie Lucifer to the bed.” Kyle delivered the sentence with such a lack of emotion that it was borderline sociopathic.
“Yes, fucking hilarious. You do realise I’d just been tortured?” Lucifer glanced towards Riley, who was frowning. “Way to kick a guy while he’s down.”
“What’s the celestrial doing there?”
Lucifer didn’t hesitate, giving everyone a rundown of everything that had happened up until then. Except fucking Scarlet until she could barely stand, because that would be TMI. “She’s mine,” he finished. “I’ve never heard of a Daemon mating, or whether we even can. But she’s it for me, Ri.”
Riley didn’t smile, but his beast prowled behind his irises. “Good, then you have a reason to stay.” He was angry, and Lucifer shot a dirty look to Kyle over his shoulder.
“You told them,” he growled at his old apprentice.
“You mean he told us that you planned to syphon to more than one Daemon?” Alice added, lips pursed in disapproval. “We could’ve figured this out together.”
“Not before we all argued, which would ultimately result in the same decision. Because we don’t have another choice.” He glared at Kyle, who only shrugged in return.
Wanker.
“Does Scarlet understand what it means to be claimed by you?” Riley asked.
Lucifer bared his teeth in a feral smile. It didn’t matter if she understood yet, he’d convince her to choose him too.
“That explains why it smells like sex in here.” Kyle wrinkled his nose before Lucifer shoved him to the side.
“Ignore him. He hit his head when I smashed it into the wall.”
Kyle lifted his hand as if they were in school. “Question, why are you naked but for a bright pink bumbag?”
Alice’s smile was strained. “Luce, you good?”
Lucifer forced his own smile. “Of course.”
Riley’s gaze bore into his. He could do that, giving Alpha energy even th r ough a fucking screen. Lucifer loved to tease him about it even since before he was mated to Alice.
Looking back over his shoulder, Lucifer spotted Scar, and the slight weight across his chest eased. “I promise you both, I’m fine. A little torture is good for character development.”
“What about your celestrial?” Alice asked, her voice soft. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.” It was the only answer, reminding him that it was out of his control. “How long have I been out?”
“We’ve been looking for you for five days,” Kyle said. “This was the last place I expected to find you.”
“Bloody hell, is that why you all look like shit?” Both Alice and Riley looked worse for wear, their faces heavy with exhaustion. “Did you guys miss me?”
“Missed you like a hole in the head,” Riley answered, deadpan.
Lucifer chuckled. “What’s been happening while I’ve had my insides poked at? Any advances with Gideon?”
“You really shouldn’t joke about that,” Alice said, her nose wrinkling.
“What? Torture is just foreplay if you’re into the shit I’m into.”
Riley sighed. “Gideon has set more hellfire, which has already destroyed several boroughs. An evacuation of the immediate areas has been ordered by the government.”
“He’s declared the city his kingdom,” Alice added. “Wanting to rebuild it from the –”
“Ashes. Yeah, he’s a delusional prick.” Lucifer dragged a hand down his face, imagining the hellfire destroying everything in its path. “This is the first time he’s actively attacked the public, rather than sending his Skulls.”
Gideon had been keeping quiet for years, building up his army of Undead. The only reason he’d finally come out was because he believed he was ready.
“We’re out of time, if we don’t take him out now it’s going to be too late. The chalice has expanded his power reserve, but he’ll still need souls to consume.”
Kyle swore softly. “The syndicate’s temporarily released all contractors within a certain radius of the damage.” Kyle moved closer to the scry. “Rae’s been taking charge on taking down the Skulls.”
“Supernatural intelligence has also created stations,” Alice added. “The commissioner’s working with the local police enforcements which means you’ll see more Paladins on the streets.”
“What about the Council?”
Riley pursed his lips. “There is no Council.”
“They’ve fallen apart,” Alice said quietly. “There’s rumours Lilianna’s gone back to Asherah, abandoning her people. No one has heard from Xavier or Valentina, and Dyer isn’t sending any help.”
“What about the witchy lady?”
Alice sighed. “Ivy’s the only one to take a stand. She’s encouraged everyone who’s affluent with water spells to help with the fires.”
“It’s not going to be enough.” Wracking his knuckles against the table, Lucifer looked towards Kyle. “We’re going to have to use Titus.”
Kyle crossed his arms, his eyes changing from green to red, then back again. “Who’s going to anchor?”
“I am,” Riley said.
Kyle glanced towards the mirror then back again. “Everyone understands the consequences?”
“There’s no other way,” Lucifer quickly said before Alice could ask questions. “I have Leo, Blaze and Titus.”
“Someone renamed themselves as Blaze?”
“I know right? Lame,” Lucy snorted.
“Not as bad as Danger.” Kyle pursed his lips, his eyes flicking between the mirror then back to him.
“Shit, forgot about him. Danger makes five including you.”
“Danger’s dead.”
“Of course he is,” Lucifer said dryly. “What the fuck happened?”
Kyle shrugged, not admitting he was likely the one that killed him. “You think Riley will be able to anchor alone?”
“He won’t be alone,” Alice added. Riley went to protest, but she shook her head. “We’ve done this before, we can do it again.”
Kyle stepped closer. “A Guardian and the Horseman War, it gives you better odds...”
Of surviving… not that either of them would admit that out loud.
He had no intention of dying, but he definitely wasn’t going to risk jinxing it, either.
“Then it’s settled.” Lucifer clapped his hands, but he wasn’t sure whether it was because he was anxious, or excited. “Kyle, grab the others and take them to the Vault. It’ll be the perfect place to set up the circle because it’s fortified. Make sure they don’t back out.”
“How do you suggest I do that?”
“I don’t know.” Lucifer wiggled his fingers at him. “Use your head of an assassin guild skills. Just don’t kill them.”
“And what about you?” Alice asked.
“I’ll meet you there, I just have to do something first.” He concentrated on Scar’s pulse, beating comfortably along with his. “I’ll see you soon.”
Lucifer disconnected the scry, setting the mirror glass down on the table.
“You ready for this?” Kyle asked, tension evident along his shoulders. “There’s no going back.”
Lucifer swallowed the sudden rotten taste in his mouth. “Remember when we used to practice cutting off energy? Right at the beginning when you were dealing with your power surges?”
Kyle nodded.
“Good, because I’m going to need you to do that.”
“No.”
“What the fuck do you mean no? You have to.”
Kyle gave him a pointed look, the red of his irises beating the green. There wasn’t many that understood what Lucifer had gone through. Kyle unfortunately did.
“If I cut off the energy, it’ll rebound and kill you,” he said, an acerbic edge bleeding into his voice. “You survive the power because you’re syphoning from multiple points while connected to an anchor.”
“If I ask you to cut, you fucking cut.” Lucifer made sure his tone was dangerously quiet. “I don’t plan to die, but if it all goes to shit I will not take you all out with me. You need to trust me.”
“I trust that this plan will work, and that I won’t have to cut.” Kyle raised his hand when Lucifer went to protest. “But I trust you to make the right decision.”
Lucifer felt those words settle over him. “Good, now I need you to promise me something.”
Kyle took a moment to respond. “Anything.”
“If I fail, I need you to help Scarlet.”