Chapter 21
Saer curled his fingers against the coarse grass under his palms, the ground cool and hard. “Master.” He repeated Neyu’s address, proud that at least to his ears, he didn’t sound afraid.
Errshek’s body expanded its wings, and released a quiet, approving groan. The clawed fingers stretched before relaxing.
Quiet fell. Saer’s mind scrambled. He hadn’t been aware his Master could embody—possess?
—any of them. He knew Lucifer couldn’t come to Earth’s surface in Its celestial form, but there the curiosity always stopped.
Was It strong enough where It hadn’t been before?
Why here, why now? Why Errshek? Could his maker jump from living creature to living creature?
Was the Sixth being punished, made to be some sort of example? To what end?
Saer couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “Master, have you come to witness our harvest?”
Envy’s hooves stepped towards Neyu. A razor sharp claw grazed the side of Lust’s face, leaving a thin white line on her porcelain complexion.
Neyu shut her eyes and, to her credit, she remained otherwise still.
The hand dropped, and a voice slid through them.
Errshek’s lips didn’t move as Lucifer’s calm, quiet tone echoed in their minds like silk on skin.
You haven’t been to see me in a long while, my Saerkhanum.
The hairs on the back of Saer’s neck stood to attention. “No, Master.”
The hooves shifted again, but didn’t leave Neyu’s side. My Neyuukhan has carried your messages well.
Neyu’s eyes opened at the sound of her name and she swallowed, but otherwise stayed staring at the ground.
“Yes, Master.” Saer fought to keep the uneasy confusion out of his voice, though he struggled. It had been a long time since he’d addressed the fallen angel directly—countless years.
Why? Lucifer asked.
Breath caught in the First’s lungs. The question teetered between curious and accusing. They’d been granted the ability to work alongside one another. That’s what Neyu told him, over and over again.
Had something changed?
“Master, I’m not certain what you’re asking.”
The hooves jerked. Saer squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for some sort of blow to land.
None did.
Instead, a quiet growl trickled into Saer’s ears, of Envy’s throat but not.
Hot breath brushed his cheek. The searing warmth of his youngest brother’s frame hovered over and behind him.
A honeyed voice mixed with that same rumble tortured him in the most delicate way.
I’m not here to play word games, Saerkhanum.
Do you know this hurts your kin? Do you know he’s screaming inside his own body right now? Does that delight you?
“No, Master, I didn’t know these things and I don’t delight in them,” Saer breathed his answer with haste, heart pounding in his chest.
He does it because it pleases me.
A lump lodged in Saer’s throat.
Because Errsheken knows I am his Master.
The First turned his head halfway towards Neyu, hoping to catch her attention, to see if she had any inclination to where the fallen angel led them.
Not her, look at me!
Saer snapped his gaze upward. The black, swirling pools of Lucifer’s attention ensnared him, a snarl on the Sixth’s face.
The moment they locked eyes, Errshek’s brow softened, rage melting into sorrow. You were always so good at following orders, my Saerkhanum. Errshek’s lips didn’t form the words, but they did pout.
Saer’s heart squeezed into a block of ice and fractured, all at once.
Errshek’s hand touched Saer’s jaw tenderly, as though it might shatter at any moment. My cunning shadow. This is the price of my love. The pain you give me.
Lucifer had always been mercurial, though this rang different in his frenzied mind. Not safe. They weren’t safe. What changed?
Lucifer’s voice quieted, a breath of an echo in Saer’s mind. Do you have nothing to say for yourself?
Did their maker know? How did It know?
Saer swallowed to wet his dry throat—and to buy time. “Master, I have many things to say for myself, but I admit I’m at a loss of which of those things to say.”
A flash of scarlet flared through Errshek’s eyes before they tumbled again to black.
I believe you, Lucifer answered. Errshek’s body shifted and stood to its full height. Choose your words carefully. Tell me why you’ve caused me such pain.
Blinking, Saer shook his head as though to clear it. “Master…”
Errshek’s head dipped down to the side, acknowledging and waiting.
What did he say? How much could he say?
“I’ve not intentionally caused you pain.”
That’s not what I asked, Saerkhanum.
“I...would have to guess what has caused your pain in order to try to explain it, Master.”
I’m waiting. No patience lived in the statement.
Saer wanted to scream, his chest tightening with the impulse.
These riddles. He had no talent for them and he hadn’t had to play this game for decades, but he also couldn’t betray Neyu’s trust in him—her refusal to allow him to return.
He needed to keep her safe. “If you’re in pain because I’ve not come to see you for so long, Master, it was because I was too preoccupied here to come back. ”
Lie. A whispered warning in Saer’s mind as Lucifer stared down Its First.
Neyu shifted and Errshek’s head turned to her. The fallen angel’s attention on his love forced words to his lips. “I knew Neyu would do an exemplary job of keeping you apprised, therefore I didn’t find it necessary for me to repeat her work.” Me. Focus on me, he willed.
Lucifer stared at the Second too long for Saer’s liking. Its voice echoed in their minds while It remained trained on her. Partial truth.
Saer raised his volume, desperate to regain his maker’s attention. “I’ve come to enjoy it here, Master. I’m good at what I do.” Errshek’s head twitched some, but Lucifer didn’t remove Its attention from Neyu. “I’ve created a life here, Master. I’ve created a...home.”
Neyu held her breath. Her fingers flexed and dug into the ground.
The string wound tighter.
At last, like a sigh in their minds, Lucifer whispered, Truth.
The fallen angel fixated on Saer again. In the swirl of black, pin-points of red ignited.
Saer pressed on, despite Neyu’s silent discomfort.
“Once I found my home, I desired to stay. It was no reflection upon you, Master, or the love I have for you.” His maker brought him life.
He dedicated himself to It. He loved It.
Surely, this would convince the fallen angel.
Envy’s wings flared and his face twisted with Lucifer’s lip curl.
The first part truth, the second a lie.
Saer thought he’d told the truth.
Pride was, and always had been, very good at lying to himself.
What do you love now, Saerkhanum? Lucifer growled in Saer and Neyu’s mind. Errshek’s body bent down, a stalking animal. Slinking forward, the fallen angel used Envy’s throat to produce a low rumble while It spoke into their minds, Who do you love now, Saerkhanum?
Saer’s breath sped with his heart rate, clambering for some semblance of a safe answer. “I love my life here, Master. I love the counterpart you made for me. We do good work together.”
The growl continued. You love Neyuukhan more than you love me. Another shiver ran under Saer’s skin, though without a question asked, he remained silent. But then, Don’t you, Saerkhanum?
The world slowed. Saer’s heart plunged into his guts while desperation clawed up to take its place. He shut his eyes to keep from glancing at Neyu, despite the instinctual urge to leap towards her, scoop her in his arms, press her against him until neither of them could breathe.
What could he say? If he stalled, what good would it do?
Saer let out the answer in a breath, not even a whisper. “Yes, Master.”
Truth. Errshek’s body raised upright, leisurely and resigned. That will have to be corrected.
Both Saer and Neyu spoke at once.
“Master, if—”
“Father, please—”
Silence. Not a loud command, but the word broached no argument. We have a decision to make, Saerkhanum and Neyuukhan. You must be separated, that much is clear.
Saer bit down on his need to protest to avoid agitating their maker further.
Errshek’s chin lifted, brows quirking, an expression of consideration on his face. But how. How, how, how. The words came quiet in Saer’s mind, as if they weren’t meant for him, but for Lucifer to Itself.
It’s worthless to keep one of you near me at all times. If I merely separate you, what’s to stop you from disobeying me? No. Errshek’s head shook, the expression sluicing from pensive to solemn. No, you’ve both forced it of me.
Saer’s mind worked overtime, looking for a way out. If they transported by Hellsfire, it would take them to the Hells—where Lucifer inevitably waited—before they could go anywhere else. Could they make it in time? Could they run? Where could they go where their maker wouldn’t—
Saer’s entire body slammed backwards as the Sixth’s claws dug into his shoulders, Errshek’s hoof against his gut, just under the sternum. The massive appendage shoved down and Saer choked. His stomach spasmed to force up food while the pressure prevented it all at once.
“Master!” Neyu leapt to her feet and rushed to them.
Blood oozed where Errshek’s claws dug, bright pain springing from each razored tip. Ribs crunched and cracked. Saer’s lungs seized, though he pushed at the hoof crushing his torso. He dug his heels into the ground to wriggle or shift.
He couldn’t move.
“Father, please!” Neyu’s hands grabbed Errshek’s elbow and pulled.
The arm Neyu pulled at flipped up. Errshek’s clawed hand wrapped around her throat and shoved her to the ground next to the First where Lucifer pinned each of them, side-by-side.
Why should I do what pleases you? Lucifer’s voice shrieked, murderous between their ears.
Either of you? You have each failed me, betrayed me!