by Piper Stone
“My existence? To them, the spawn of Satan are just a myth.”
“Are they?” Lucifer asked, a slight smile crossing his face. “Think about Sadie’s... father and what the man attempted to do.”
The glitch in my father’s voice was purposeful. “He knows.”
“About his daughter’s place in hell on Earth? Yes.”
Why did I have the terrible feeling he wasn’t telling me everything? “What else?”
“As I said, choice. Ruling by your side will calm the ebbing tide, forcing the demons back into their cages. For a time.”
I could tell that Lucifer was more broken than I’d thought, his years of ruling the dark kingdom coming to an end. I wasn’t going to feel sorry for him. He’d enjoyed a good life. Whether he was feigning remorse or not quite frankly didn’t matter. I refused to be lured into his lies any longer.
“And Judas and Cain?” I finally asked.
Lucifer let out a long breath, a slight sneer. “They are clueless but worthy opponents. They will come for you as well.”
“As if they already haven’t.”
“They will come for you personally, for that is the only way to defeat you.”
I growled under my breath. “Then I will be ready.”
Choice. I was fearful that I’d broken her trust all those years ago. When she remembered the abrasive acts of passion, the ugliness of her incarceration, she would certainly flee. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I had a single choice.
“Remember, my dear son, while there are many in our kingdom who long for the End of Days, the cataclysm that will be created will alter our kind forever. There will never be peace. You must bring us our queen.” He reached into his jacket pocket, removing a cloth. “This belonged to your mother, protection against the same creatures who were determined to take her away from me.”
I let out an elongated breath before taking the roll from his hands, pulling back the simple cloth. The jeweled dagger was beautiful in design, hand crafted.
“A gift from my creator,” Lucifer said casually. “This will keep you safe. I also have a crude map of the facility in which you should find the key.”
As he handed me a scroll covered in a blood-red ribbon, I glared into his eyes. “Why is this important to you? Why would you help me, old man?”
He tilted his head, his expression softening. “Whether or not you believe I adored your mother no longer matters. She taught me many things, including about compassion and love. I made a promise to keep her children safe. The only way I can do so is if you ascend to the throne. Be wise with your powers, my son.”
I nodded, beginning to understand why I must succeed to the throne.
“There is one more thing you should know.”
While I didn’t want to hear the damning words shared, the story of a father betraying his daughter, I knew in my gut what he was telling me was the truth. James Mullins was the true epitome of evil and one day, he would meet his maker.
And that had absolutely nothing to do with God.
* * *
Present time
I snarled as I eased Sadie into the car, scanning the area surrounding her dorm. I could still feel him watching. Waiting.
Hunting.
My father had been right; demons were already hovering over Earth, consuming certain lives that were deemed acceptable. In other words, gaining more disciples in preparation for the End of Days.
The creature I was sensing was indeed the monster sent to hunt and imprison Sadie, no doubt attempting to annihilate me in the process.
This demon had no idea about my capabilities; even with diminished abilities I had powers that could extend the earth and skies, propelling demons straight into a hell they’d never escape from. I expelled my heated breath, issuing a silent warning. As if the beast would heed. He would continue hunting for her, barely thwarted by my protection, but I would be ready for the ultimate fight.
Which would occur.
The monster would remain in the shadows only long enough to determine if I had success finding the key. If not, he would make his presence known in ways that would destroy the entire city of Cambridge.
I’d struggled with my vows, those given to my father and my kingdom. What did I care about running the dark kingdom? Even after what my father had told me, I was beginning to question my own loyalty, maybe even my sanity, but I was no human. No matter the bindings they’d placed on me or the hindrances I faced, I was pure evil.
Then why did my entire body ache with desperate need? Why was I flinching at the thought of what might occur on Earth? And why couldn’t I care less about the throne? These were all questions that had no answers.
At least not at this time.
However, the clock was ticking, certain decisions necessary. My anger knew no bounds, my mind reeling with possibilities. I moved to the other side of the car, hesitating one last time before sliding into the driver’s seat. There was a wall of force surrounding my property, but only a thin veil in comparison to the strength of the hundreds of demons already sent to Earth.
Preparing.
Craving.
As I started the engine, I heard a single moan pulsing past Sadie’s lips. She remained frightened of me, perhaps more from the warning her friend had issued, as well as the awakening of her past. I’d contemplated handling the situation, removing the threat, but that could only prove to shove my beloved into a catatonic state. She was fragile, her mind shutting down in an effort to process what she’d learned.
Possession.
Sadie was now in my full command, her will pushed beyond normal boundaries. She was awakening to my powers, as well as her own, uncertain of the dreams she continued to have, images that refused to leave her mind. She was remembering the delicious week of incarceration, the very moment she’d allowed the blossoming woman inside to be free.
And she would be again.
However, trust was another issue. Could she push aside the past, allowing for freedom of choice?
My cock ached, the longing becoming insatiable. I wanted her.
I would taste every inch of her, bringing her back to life. I would teach and admonish, praise and discipline as necessary in order to make her my queen. She had to be prepared, for the ensuing battle would be arduous, taxing in every manner. She would be put to the test by everyone, human and demon alike.
Angels would call for her, trying to sweep her away from my clutches but I would keep her safe, imprisoned if necessary, until control had been secured. Salvation. If that word truly existed, we would exalt in the wondrous glory together.
As if that could truly happen.
I’d sensed the danger surrounding her the moment I’d left the house, the demon hungry to feast on her luscious skin, gnawing her to the bone. I’d felt his presence, a vile and wretched creature who’d been sent to retrieve her and he would stop at nothing to fulfill his duties. What I hadn’t been able to decipher was who’d been the one responsible for sending the gargoyle, the most treacherous of all creatures in the underworld. I’d sensed only one, at least at that time, but there would be more. His appearance was most disconcerting, but my father had prepared me years ago for the ultimate betrayal of my brothers.
Time was already running out.
My only method of protecting her was keeping her close. The damning beast wouldn’t dare cross the son of Lucifer.
Or else.
What time we had on this earth was limited but vital. Obtaining the key would no doubt take her help.
The moment she grasped my hand, the connection we shared solidified, burning so deeply that I needed to taste her in every manner.
Death was all around us, including the demise of the professor. Or should I say his murder. Only I had nothing to do with his death. What game was the gargoyle playing? Or had the man’s death been caused by one of my brothers? In truth, that would make sense, a removal of the single person who could lead me to the path of the prophecy. And to think, I’d deliberated k
illing him myself in order to take his place.
Exhaling, I sped away from the university, my eyes constantly scanning the road. In killing the professor, a chain of events had been set in place, and could result in my securing the key. I had to assume the gargoyle had done the bidding of either Judas or Cain. One thing was certain.
I would hunt him down before he had the opportunity to kill again.
She remained quiet in the car, a far cry from her usual demeanor. When she finally spoke, every word seemed haunted. “Who are you, Christoff? Tell me the truth. Are you some creature from hell here to destroy everything I know?”
I wasn’t thrown by her question, although I suspected that her friend had given her some general ideas. The death of the professor would lead to speculations, but from what I knew, his identity hadn’t been announced to the press yet, pending notification to whatever family the man might have. My hesitation in ending his life had made his demise more horrific.
There was no right answer or one that would comfort her in any manner. “Just a man prepared to keep you safe against the vile evils of this world.” I certainly wasn’t going to explain the prophecy here.
Very slowly she turned her head. “Against what? Monsters? Demons? The crap my father expounded over the years? The exact thing that is being taught in this university? Is that really why you’re here? And which section would you be teaching, paying homage to the devil?” A laugh bubbled up from her throat, filling the dense space.
I said nothing at first, concentrating on the drive.
“Of course, you won’t tell me. Will you? Let’s try another question. Does this have something to do with the End of Days, some keys that need to be found?”
Now I was rattled. My grip on the steering wheel became tighter. She was learning far too quickly, her understanding more innate that she could understand, fueled by words from her friend. “There is much evil in this world, Sadie. You know that better than most. The End of Days has been told from early Christianity, a belief that many follow. Whether or not it’s true is not for me to determine.”
There was no satisfying her, no answer that would shut down her fear, but for now, she accepted.
Or so I’d thought.
“A typical answer from you, Christoff. You’re skating around my questions. What are you hiding from me?” Sadie slunk closer toward the door, taking deep and very ragged breaths. “You were there.”
“Where?” My hackles were raised.
“In the woods that night three years ago.” Once again, she shifted her gaze in my direction.
This was a test, to learn if she could trust me. “Yes.”
“You abducted me against my will, keeping me prisoner.” Her words were perfunctory.
“I protected you.” I slowed for the light, able to reach across the seat, grasping for her hand.
She yanked it away, crowding even closer to the passenger door, her fingers gripping the dashboard. “Don’t touch me! You are truly evil. You’re nothing but a monster. While you may not be the devil’s spawn, no decent human being would ever do that.”
While I would have expected fear wrapped around every word, instead, there was a strength I’d yet to hear, even during the days of opening her eyes to the world of pleasure and pain.
“I am not who you think I am.” I resisted the growl pushing up from my throat, determined to make my way toward the house in order to finish the conversation.
“No. You’re not. You’re an asshole but I refuse to be afraid of you any longer. You did everything you could to destroy my life.”
“And tell me this, Sadie. What was your father attempting to do?”
Another laugh encased in bitterness filled the cab. “Just what I thought you’d say.”
I snarled under my breath, fighting the raging emotions that shoved me to the edge. I had to keep full control until she began to understand. With the professor dead, there would be an outcry from the various priests throughout the world. I could only imagine their reaction. The second I hit the accelerator, she did the unthinkable, yanking open the door and jumping out.
“No!” My scream was cut off by myriad horns from other vehicles, cars swerving and several jamming on their brakes. I watched in slow motion as she fell to the pavement, hitting with a hard thud. I slapped my hand on the steering wheel, my anger turning vicious, riled to the point my beast managed to claw through the surface of my skin, exposed to the world. “No. No! No!”
Sadie struggled but managed to pull herself to her feet, taking off running. She was terrified. She was unsafe.
I had no recourse. I had to find her. I had to save her. The creature would be waiting and if he managed to get his sharp talons around her, he would drag her straight to the depths of hell.
I swerved around several cars, planting my hand on the horn in an effort to get them the hell out of the way. When they refused to move, I lost control. With a single wave of my hand, vehicles were blasted to the side, firebombs rocketing into the air. An intense roar escalated into a savage bellow.
I left the Ferrari in the middle of the street, the engine still running. As soon as I exited the car, people scattered away, screaming in terror. They’d seen the true beast within for a brief second. I was mortified, enraged with myself for the moment of failure. Another twist of my hand and everything in time and space moved to a crawl, molecules suspended.
They would have no memories of my presence, no recollection of what had occurred after my departure, only a desperate need to feel safe. I walked in the direction where she’d gone, my eyes sweeping the streets from right to left. “Sadie!”
She could hear me as well as feel my heart beating. She knew exactly what I was thinking, the hunger that had become unbridled, brutal in every manner. Fear that I would devour her remained, heightening her senses even as her own level of desire continued to blossom. Yet her longing for self-preservation, the very human traits I’d come to adore, refused to let go of their tethered hold. I’d underestimated her in every manner, something I would never do again. She would learn about obedience one way or another.
Her punishment would be necessary.
Her training absolute.
Her submission without question.
Her rein exactly as required by the great prophecy.
Bitterness grasped at my mind, even as the various passages from the ancient books had already began rolling in, fueling my fire. I was the only son my mother had trusted with the throne, and she had started preparing me just months after I was born. Without her patient training and her love, I would lose all resolve, taking out my wrath on Earth.
However, the gargoyle would be sent back to the depths of hell.
I controlled my anger as I walked, combing the silent city streets. Using this amount of power would weaken me, but I had no other choice. The danger was real. The monster lurked, no doubt in a feeding frenzy. If he caught his prize, he would be rewarded with treasures beyond his imagination.
He would also take a taste of her. Consuming.
The thought left horrific images in my mind.
Although there was no answer, I knew she was close. Every inch of me could sense her fear, could feel her scattered breath whisking across my face. “Sadie.” My deep baritone boomed, echoing, shooting through my mind. I was almost desperate to find her. I ached for her. Longed to taste her, hold her.
Fuck her.
Consume her.
A flash caught my attention, the single glimpse of her enough to ignite every dormant cell, my cold blood sizzling. Then I heard the sound of wings descending to Earth.
She was being chased.
The gargoyle had followed, biding his time in hopes of a mistake. In his human form, he rounded the corner, taking his time, his long strides still able to keep up with her. I could hear her ragged breathing, agony rushing into my own body as her fear escalated.
Now within two feet, I thrust out my hand, railing at the monster.
“You. Will. Stop.”
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The creature did as commanded, stopping long enough to tip his head in my direction. When he spoke, his tone was husky, barbaric. I was easily able to hear him. “You have no right to stop me, Christoff. You are nothing in the eyes of our people. You will soon learn the wrath of our true king.”
“And who is that?” Confirmed. He was working for one of my brothers.
“She belongs to us. She is of our kind.” He could tell I wasn’t buying his bullshit. A knowing smile crossed his face before he darted down an alley, chasing her openly. I didn’t need to know the city streets to realize that he would soon corner her. One touch was all it would take.
A rush of adrenaline kicked into overdrive, fueled by disgust and rage. I powered across the street, jumping over several cars before managing to make it into the alley. Then I heard her woeful screams, pitiful and biting.
“Sa-die!” There was nothing human about my cry, the harsh sounds floating into the dense air above the buildings.
The gargoyle was within two feet, crowding her, forcing her against a brick wall. Her entire body was shaking, but her eyes held the same shimmer of rebellion. She threw out her arms, taking a fighter’s stance.
“You will not hurt me!” she insisted.
The gargoyle laughed, dragging his tongue across his exposed, sharp teeth.
“Sadie,” I called again.
I was on him in seconds, yanking him away and tossing him against the other building. The noise was thunderous as he dropped and rolled, dust flying in the air. I advanced, ready to finish him off. While the force dented the bricks, shaking the earth around us, the demon bounced back immediately, snarling as he released his true self, massive wings spreading and tentacles gilded in gold.
She cowered against the wall, her body shaking. “What... are you?”
“Your master and soon, you will die,” he managed, slithering the words from his forked tongue.
“You’re the one who will die.” My answer was direct, brimming with rage. What he didn’t know was that I hadn’t come unprepared, heeding my father’s warnings. The majority of demons had no knowledge of my true powers, even now stripped by an aging council.