41. Scarlet
Chapter 41
Scarlet
H ell was awful.
Not that it was totally unexpected considering it was named after a place where the dead were punished for their crimes. It wasn’t supposed to be a fun time, but she really didn’t expect the air to be so uncomfortable, making every second an effort. What was the strangest – not counting the sky, which was such a deep red it was almost black – was the lack of wind. There wasn’t a single breeze, the dust kicking up from her steps barely moving.
It was as if everything held a weight.
Lucifer watched her from the corner of his eye, but she refused to acknowledge how uncomfortable she was. His place had been built into a cave on the outskirts of the town, the ground so flat she was sure she could see for miles in every direction if any light travelled that far. From what she could see using the torches that were strategically placed, there were no trees, or any greenery at all. There was nothing but rocks. The thick stones seem to erupt from the earth in jaggered sections.
The town seemed to have been built from scraps, whether it was wood, metal or bone. One-story dwellings with wards and spells painted along their walls. Lucifer was uncharacteristically quiet as they walked through the deserted square, the armour he wore making him seem more like the savage warrior she imagined him to be. It was black, and cracked, covering his chest, legs and arms in a mixture of leather and scales. The bag didn’t match, but it had made her smile. For a man that was unapologetically masculine, he pulled off bright pink and glitter effortlessly.
He didn’t have anything that would fit her size, so the T-shirt was it. Luckily he managed to wrap some leather around her feet, saving her soles from the dust.
She really wished she had her bow, especially when a howl erupted in the distance. But the knife would do.
“I grew up learning about Hadriel,” she said, feeling the need to fill their silence. “About how he was cast out of Aetherna and imprisoned with his own power for going against the other Archangels.”
“He did it for love.”
Scarlet stopped walking, Lucifer taking a few more steps before realising she’d stopped.
“Love?”
“What else would cause a man to risk everything?” He gave her a toothy grin, which only added to the feral look. “He didn’t come into his power until he met the Unseelie princess, Aerwyna.”
“How do I not know this?” Her people literally told stories of Hadriel to warn children from misbehaving.
“She was an absolute bitch by the way, right up until Alice made her go pop.” He chuckled, holding out his hand for her to take.
Scarlet didn’t hesitate in accepting, allowing him to guide her.
“Aerwyna, along with her sister, was rumoured to be the ones that gifted humans the ability to manipulate magic, creating the witches and mages. She was the bad twin, and gifted the ability to harness power from blood and death.”
“So did she gift Hadriel the black magic too?”
Lucifer smiled softly at her. “It’s unspoken knowledge that Hadriel used that magic to manipulate druids, likely resulting in people like me.”
“So what’s his imprisonment got to do with love?”
“Because they weren’t allowed to be together.” His eyes met hers for the briefest second before he turned forward. “Both the celestrials and the Fae courts agreed they must remain apart, because together they were affecting the rules of balance. And rather than listen, Hadriel and Aerwyna plotted to destroy Aetherna, as well as Asherah of Far.”
“So Hadriel was bound to this prison because he couldn’t be with the woman he loved? What happened to Aerwyna before Alice made her pop?”
Also, what the fuck?
“She was forced to give up her memories, what remained was then put in a box to be kept locked away. She spent an eon trying to get them back.”
“Did she get them back? Her memories, I mean.”
“She remembered Hadriel, and together they almost destroyed all the realms… again.”
“Then Alice made her go pop?”
“Yeah, then Alice made her go pop.” Lucifer chuckled. “I want to point out that I helped. I’m not entirely useless.”
He stopped them walking in front of a large building made from stone. The columns were thick trunks made from a single piece, carved with intricate designs that echoed the ones found on his skin.
Releasing her hand he took a step inside, his back rigid. The surroundings had come to ruin, the stone inside cracked like black veins that oozed a dark liquid.
The stone opened up, and in the centre sat Hadriel more bone than flesh. He slumped in what looked to be a throne, high on a pedestal. Dark veins matching those found in the stone pulsated beneath grey, papery skin, and his wings had lost all their feathers, limp and useless on each side of his seat.
“What’s wrong with him?” she whispered, Hadriel more of a statue than a living being.
“He’s in mourning. The realm needs a constant source, and before his power was connected to all the other Daemons. Now everyone is free, his own powers are destroying him.”
“Can he even die?”
Lucifer shrugged. “Unlikely. He is the prison. He’ll always be stuck in this vicious loop.” He held out his arm slightly, gesturing for her to stay a step behind.
Scarlet nodded, allowing Lucifer to take the lead.
Hadriel didn’t stir, not until Lucifer reached the bottom step of the pedestal. He then seemed to jolt to life, the bones in his fingers clicking as he moved them one by one from the armrest.
“Oh how the mighty have fallen,” Lucifer said, the deep timbre of his voice rumbling around the room. “You look like shit.”
Hadriel lifted his head, the skin of his neck ripping with the movement. “Xahen,” he growled. “I see Zurz hasn’t destroyed you yet.”
“Not from lack of trying.”
Hadriel seemed to laugh, dust bursting from his parted lips. “Are you here to kill me?”
“Maybe.” Lucifer moved to the first step. “But first you’re going to give me Zurz’s full summoning name.”
Hadriel managed to sit up further, his shoulders rolling to loosen some of his bones. It was as if he was gaining strength just from Lucifer being there. “You’re bound, even if you knew it, you could never use it,” he said, his voice stronger than it was a minute ago.
“No, I can’t.” Lucifer gestured to her. “But she can.”
Scarlet froze when Hadriel turned his full stare in her direction, the depths of his eyes harrowing when they dragged down her body. Her fingers ached with how hard she held the knife. “It seems, Xahen, you’ve already tested the laws of balance. How the Fates will weep at the result of your union.”
“Name the price,” Lucifer growled.
“His name, for my death,” he said, pulling his arm from the throne and holding it out towards her. Half the skin had been moulded to the chair, tearing as he lifted.
Scarlet waited for Lucifer to nod before she approached, stopping just out of reach.
“His name, for my death,” Hadriel repeated, turning those haunting eyes towards Lucifer.
“His name for your death,” he agreed.
Curving his fingers Hadriel beckoned her closer. His breath was cool against her face, the nightmare of her Breed nothing by a weak old man when he leaned forward and whispered a single name into her ear.
Lucifer quickly pulled her away.
“The bargain, Xahen. Fulfil it or the balance of magic will strike you where you stand.”
Lucifer gripped her hand, turning to look at Hadriel over his shoulder. “I am, by leaving the realm, and taking away the last source of your power. Without it you’re going to continue to decay and rot on that throne, thinking about every horrifying thing you’ve ever done.”
“It was in the name of love!” Hadriel snapped, his wings lifting from the floor. “You should understand.”
Scarlet tightened her grip on Lucifer’s hand when he stiffened.
“It was in the name of greed and power.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Your wife has already met her fate for her crimes, and you will too. Eventually. I hope it’s fucking painful.”
“Xahen!” Hadriel screeched, the sound of flesh ripping as he attempted to stand. “You can’t leave me!”
“Oh, but I can.” Lucifer’s chuckle was dark. “Also, just so you’re aware. The last Guardian has found his mate, which means you don’t even have them to drain anymore.” With a final smirk Lucifer tugged her against his chest. “Enjoy suffering alone.”
With that, he drifted them out.