27. Elora
27
ELORA
I paced around the large dirt patch outside of Delyra. My bow was slung over my back, and the quiver hung at my hip. My horse, that I had fondly named Jericho, pawed at the ground at the edge of the road.
A few castle guards sat on horseback a ways up, giving me space but still within earshot should something go wrong.
I had insisted on coming here today.
Everyone had protested, Olam, most of all.
He had offered to come with me, but I had refused, so he had ordered a handful of guards to accompany me.
Now I stood, staring at the space I had stood not four months prior, face to face with a demon. Even now the pull was strong, and the ground seemingly pulsed beneath my feet.
Closing my eyes, I let my head fall back a little, letting the breeze wash over me.
Inhaling deeply, I envision Amon in all his glory. His horns, his hands, the way his amber eyes turned black as night when he touched me.
Exhaling, I let it all go.
The grief didn’t feel as strong, and although I knew that it would never fully go away, parts of me were healing.
My heart would never be the same, I knew that.
I didn’t want it to be.
I regretted none of it and would do it again.
For more reasons than one.
“Goodbye, Amon.” I whisper, taking one last long look at the patch of dirt before me. Turning, I walk to Jericho, patting him on the neck before mounting him fluidly.
I turn him back towards the castle, spurring him forward.
I had begun to make time to see my nephew, whom Olam and Ziterra had named Shemesh. He was a bouncing ball of golden hair and chubby cheeks, and I fell in love with him instantly. When I wasn’t riding the valleys or practicing with my bow, I was here.
Ziterra rocked Shemesh in her arms as she hummed a lullaby softly. The babe curled his fingers into his mother’s hair, his eyes closing lazily as he drifted off.
I look up from the arrow I was working on, smiling.
“Why don’t you lay him down? Go get some rest. I can watch him.”
Ziterra regards me quietly, a gentle expression on her face. I avoid her beckoning gaze, instead squinting to focus on the cresting as I wrap it slowly.
“You know,” she begins. “I never got the chance to thank you.”
It’s quiet save for the sound of the wood creaking as Ziterra rocked Shemesh.
“There’s nothing to thank me for.” I whisper, glancing up at her.
“I would do it again.”
The silence draws out between us once more, and Shemesh finally stops fiddling in his mother’s arms.
“I think I will take you up on that offer.” She says, standing to place the babe in his cradle.
He sighs deeply, his curly golden hair catching the sun.
“Of course,” I say, smiling softly. “Rest well, sister.”
Ziterra turns and walks from the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Returning my attention to the arrow in my hand, my mind goes to Amon. My initial reaction is to dash the thought away, but when my heart doesn’t constrict at the first thought of him, I relax.
Memories of amber eyes assault me, and I look up at Shemesh, who is still sleeping soundly. His breaths are shallow, his little face relaxed in sleep.
“Someday I’ll tell you about the story of a girl who gave up her life for someone she loved, only to fall in love with her captor.” My heart squeezes as I say the words.
I wasn’t sure when I realized I loved Amon.
I couldn’t figure out if it was before I left or after I came back.
Would things have been different if I had told him the day he sent me away?
“It’s a beautiful story.”
A deep voice startles me, and I snap up from my chair, whipping around towards the door. A moan stands there, so large that I can’t see the door behind him.
No, not a man…
He’s incredibly beautiful, with blond hair that falls just past his shoulders in loose waves, and eyes the lightest shade of blue I’d ever seen.
His face reminded me of old picture books that depicted sculptures of Greek gods.
Sculpted muscles decorated his body, and he wore a white tunic with a leather breastplate embossed with intricate designs.
Leather greaves cover his shins, and the vambraces on his arms were a mixture of leather and cloth ties. The thing that really took my breath away were the two large, white feathered wings that spanned behind him. The room almost couldn’t hold him.
I didn’t know whether to be afraid or awed by his presence.
He regards me, folding his wings behind him, and the action fills the room with a rustling sound. Words fail me, and all I can do is stare.
“Has your mouth failed you, child?” He chuckles, walking towards the cradle where Shemesh sleeps.
Wariness fills me as he does, and I lean over to set the arrow I had been working on in the chair behind me.
“Who are you?”
“It’s not the kindest greeting, but the only one I can seem to muster. I watch as he moves closer to the babe, leaning over the cradle to peer at him.
His eyes soften, and he doesn’t respond, watching Shemesh sleep.
“I would think you would know me from all your research and knowledge, young princess.”
His words are softly spoken, but his eyes belie the tone of his voice as they creep over towards me.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but for some reason the realization doesn’t hit me right away.
“I’m genuinely offended.” He feigns as he turns towards me.
“Lucifer, princess.” He bows gracefully in my direction, and my eyes widen.
Lucifer…
“Elora.” I respond, dipping slightly in acknowledgement.
“I know who you are, child.” He says as he turns back towards the cradle. His face softens once more.
“The girl who gave up her life for someone she loved…” he trails off, reaching in to swipe a golden curl from Shemesh’s face. “Only to fall in love with her captor.”
When his eyes meet mine again, they’re cold. It sends a chill through me, and I try to hide the tremor that passes through me.
His gaze is penetrating, and I can sense the malevolence in it.
Lucifer regards me for a moment longer before he starts to walk towards me slowly. “As I said, it’s a beautiful story, and one I would hate to have to end badly.”
I back up towards the wall, swallowing thickly as he advances on me, his movements slow and predatory.
“I-I’m not sure what you’re insinuating.” I manage to get the words out even as my eyes lock on him warily.
“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, child.”
The cool wall meets my back, and I place my palms flat against it as he towers over me.
“What would your father say if he knew his perfect daughter fell in love with a demon?”
I narrow my eyes at him then. “I’m not perfect.” I bite out.
He chuckles, placing an arm above me to plant a large hand against the wall over my shoulder.
“And what does it matter anyways?” I snap. “Amon sent me away. He didn’t want me.”
I raise my chin at him even as grief lances through me.
Lucifer looks down at me, his eyes glimmering with mirth at my stubbornness and nerve.
“It’s such a shame too, because you would have made a worthy match.”
He reaches out, fingering a lock of my hair. Leaning in, he inhales deeply before cupping my chin between his thumb and forefinger.
I try to fight his hold as he brushes the pad of his thumb over my lips.
Something in the depths of his eyes shift before he lowers his mouth to my ear.
“Make sure it stays that way, princess.”
He growls the words against my ear, and it sends a shiver through me. I clench my fists at my sides, setting my jaw.
Lucifer chuckles again, moving away from me and back towards the cradle. My stomach flips in nervousness as he reaches in, brushing a thumb over Shemesh’s cheek.
Looking back at me once more, he opens the door, ducking through it before disappearing into the corridor.
I glance at the still sleeping babe before rushing towards the door to look out into the corridor.
He was gone.