by Lori Aisling
“What the fuck is that? On her neck?” I pointed and Lucifer bent down to look closer.
“Well I’ll be damned, those are fang marks from a viper. From one of my hounds.”
“Yes, and they aren’t fresh. That is repeated strikes, Luc. Do you have some explaining to do?” I questioned, feeling the twinges of suspicion casting doubt on the man currently staring at me with wide-eyes.
“No, I don’t have anything to explain, and If you are insinuating I have something to do with this and for some reason allowed one of my hounds to strike her, you are sorely mistaken. I strongly suggest you check your tone, if you haven’t noticed, I came here to help, remember? Because without me, The Light is fucked and although I can’t figure out why, I chose to give a damn today.”
“Then how? Why?” I asked, still not sure if I should be confused or suspicious of this new riddle.
Calling one of his hounds over, Lucifer stroked her muzzle, looking into her trusting eyes, murmuring the nonsensical words he used only for his beasts. The hellhound leaned forward and sniffed at the wounds on Ariel’s neck. Putting her heads to the ground, she began weaving around the room, noses tracking over every surface.
Suddenly, her body stiffened and she honed in on her trail. I watched in amazement as the dog followed the scent to the far corner of the room and began pawing at a large piece of sheet metal propped against the wall. Jeremiel grabbed it and pulled it aside, revealing a door. The dog dug at the frame, whining.
Lucifer grabbed the handle, jerking the door open then stepping back in shock, his hand covering his mouth. Cautiously peering out from the dark room, was a large hound. Luc fell to his knees, holding his arms out in front of him. “Nessa, my girl. Come here, baby,” he said softly. The dog who emerged was unlike any others from his kennels. Although just as large and formidable, this two-headed female was light in color, almost blonde, only her lower legs were dark. Her viper was also solid black, the red venom pits visually striking against the tar-colored scales. The hound walked into Lucifer’s embrace, placing both her heads on his shoulder as he pulled her close to him. Her eyes closed and she melted into her master’s arms.
“Umm, care to fill us in on this reunion?” I questioned. “I can see you are fond of her, but I was under the impression no one ever controlled or bonded to one of your hounds except you, until you gave me Lue.”
“Nessa is one of my first hounds. She had been with me for centuries,” he said, still holding his pet close. “She was pursued and hunted by Michael and was reported dead by one of my demons. I could no longer feel her bond, so I believed she had been killed.”
“She would be dead, if it were not for me!” Ariel interjected. “She was drained of blood and hacked almost to pieces when I found her. It took me years to heal her, even injecting her with some of my angelic blood in an attempt to speed her healing process. As you will see, half of one of her rear legs was completely severed. I couldn’t sew it back on because I could never find it. Michael probably took it with him as a trophy. Can you not see why things needed to change?”
Lucifer swung his head to look at the angel currently singing her own praises. “If you were so concerned about her, why would you not return her? She was bonded to me.”
“If you cared for your dogs so much, why did you let them get slaughtered by our brethren? Why did you not protect them? You’re just as bad as Michael and his posse. You don’t deserve the hounds. They are better than you,” she sneered.
“I don’t deserve them? I made them. They are literally a part of me. I used my own flesh and blood to create my hounds. They are the only living creatures I truly care about. For you to keep her from me, locked up in this shitty realm...what were you using her for? Tell me, or she will.”
“I was only trying to save her. That’s all. I care for all creatures and when I see one left behind and abandoned, it hurts me. It’s my divine duty and calling.”
I saw Jeremial stiffen, then he nudged Luc with his toe as he nodded toward the dim room. Lucifer looked over the back of the hound into the darkness, before he turned his head and looked at me. “Amara, umm. I think you should come here, ok?”
Lightning Crashes
I ran over, tripping over a tipped trash can, while my heart beat triple time in my chest. I knew what was in there. Not what, who. Jeremiel grabbed my arm before I could charge into the room, pulling me to his chest and grabbing my chin in his hand. “Honey, you need to brace yourself. We are here for you, don’t forget that.”
Shoving my palms against his chest and fiercely jerking myself free from his hold, I barreled through the doorway as a cry tore free from my throat. Lying on the filthy, busted tile floor was my mate. His leg stuck out at a 90-degree angle from his body, his torso bent to the side where his spine had been broken. Coagulated blood dried black under his frame. A ratty burlap sack was tied loosely around his neck, disguising his features and I fell to my knees, crawling across the short expanse as uncontrollable sobs racked my body.
Ripping the rotted sack from his head, I cupped his cold face in my hands, my tears dropping onto his cheeks. Bruises, lacerations and cuts marred his handsome features. My hands raced over his body, touching him, feeling him, mourning him. I grabbed his hand and pulled it to my face, attempting to straighten two of his broken fingers.
I felt my grip on sanity slip and I began straightening his clothes, wiping the blood from his mouth, and smoothing his hair. Some broken piece inside of me felt if I tried, I could somehow fix him. I vaguely heard shouting and yelling, followed by piercing screams, but I didn’t care. Everything was going to be okay. I found him and it was all going to be alright.
His shirt was crooked, which would drive him crazy- he was always such a sharp dresser. I tugged at the collar to pull it down into place and my eyes fell on a now familiar sight. I ran my fingers over the injury while the part of my brain that was still attempting to function scrambled to put the final pieces together.
“Damn you, bitch. Tell me where the fucking book is! The book that taught you how to steal his power. I swear you will never know suffering of the likes I will provide,” Lucifer snarled, as he interrogated the rogue angel.
“I really don’t know!” she cried. “Belial took it! He was going to hide it, and then you killed him! It’s lost forever!”
“Foolish liar. Belial is not dead, not yet. He will be though, that I can promise. When I let Amara pull his soul into this realm and slap him into your worthless vessel, I will relish the sight of the two of you fighting inside that pathetic husk for eternity.”
“She wouldn’t do that! She is The Counterbalance, she doesn’t torture souls!” Ariel tried to sound confident, but her voice shook as fear began to creep into her psyche.
“Oh, she wouldn’t? Let me show you a sneak peek of Amara’s tolerance for betrayal.”
I knew Lucifer was showing Ariel some of his memories from the time we spent in his prison, and judging from her horrified cries, his methods were working. But it wasn’t important. She had nothing to tell us I didn’t already know. “Luc. Come here,” I said, my voice sounding dead to my own ears.
He walked up behind me and squatted down. “What can I do, Amara?”
“There is no book,” I said blandly.
“What do you mean? She must have siphoned his power somehow.”
“Which is why she held your hound, look.” I moved to the side and Lucifer growled when his eyes took in the numerous puncture wounds all over Callon’s neck and chest. Viper punctures. I knew they were the same width as the ones on Ariel’s neck. “You told me yourself your hounds have a bit of succubi in their DNA. It was designed to pull the emotions from those you choose to do your work, remember? She used your hound to pull the power of Death from him, then Nessa fed it back to her. Lue fed me her strength today when we were fighting. Ariel poisoned Callon and when he was sedated, she used your hellhound as a medium.”
Lucifer slumped down onto the floor next to me. “All th
is time, we thought it was some grand secret and great scheme. It was just one of my dogs, a crazy angel, and a greedy demon. Fuck. How could we have been so wrong?”
“It’s ok, Luc. It’s easier to believe in grand ideas. It makes us feel better about ourselves, I guess,” I said quietly. “I wanted to kill her myself, but I’m not ready to leave him. If she doesn’t have a soul, she should die. If not, I’ll kill ‘er later. Imma stay here for a while, but I want her to die slow, okay? Will you please do that for me? And for him?” I could tell my speech was a bit slurred- shock was settling in pretty solidly.
“I would be honored, Death. I’ve never desired anything more,” his somber voice replied.
The sounds of Ariel’s screams would live on forever in my greatest memories. Lucifer was true to his word and her suffering was legendary. Metatron and Jeremiel stayed to bear witness and they never once tried to intervene or stop Satan from doling out the punishment he deemed necessary.
All the while, I laid next to my mate, stroking his chest, running my fingers through his hair, telling him everything I could think of to just make the time last longer. I never wanted to leave him.
I heard excited whispers and then rushed footsteps crossing the room. A familiar voice reached my ears, but I couldn’t make out the words. Some cursing and then more footsteps, this time more shuffled came to the room’s entrance. “Amara, my precious child. Please allow me to help you. Come sit with me and let me assist you in healing from this monumental loss.”
“Thank you, Sire,” I answered The Lord. “I’m glad you’re safe. Please let me be. We are fine here for a while longer.”
The conversation was stalled when Ariel’s beautiful screams resumed. They were much nicer than talk, anyway. I heard her cry and beg her Lord for mercy and I smiled when He refused. Taking it a step farther, I heard him tell Lucifer, “Give me that sword. It was my error of judgement which allowed this treason, I will end it.”
“See, baby? It’s all going to be okay now,” I murmured. I squeezed his hand, making sure to avoid the broken fingers, and I swear I felt him respond. It was tiny, but it was there, I was sure of it. I smiled and snuggled closer as I listened to God go down the list of Ariel’s transgressions. Revenge felt so sweet saturating my bones as the ‘whoosh’ of the long sword slicing through the air ended with a solid ‘thunk’, followed by the sound of a round object rolling across the floor.
Curled tightly around the broken body of my mate, I reached for him like I used to do through our bond. I couldn’t feel him, so I used my power to push into his mind and I nudged, pushing deep into the corners and unsearched caverns. I pushed my intent into the search, I knew there was a part of him in there, somewhere. You have to believe, Amara, he used to tell me. And I did believe. I believed with every last bit of my soul.
Until there it was! It was so tiny, so microscopic, but it was there! Just the littlest fragment of my mates essence, his power, him. I focused on that bit of green I could feel with my intent and I prodded, pushed, and caressed until I felt it respond. I can help, I can give it more. I pushed, harder, growling as my mind strained under the stress. Give him...some... of mine.
It was working, but it made me so weak- so tired. I felt his fingers ever so gently squeeze mine. I sat up, looking at his face, my fingers running up and down the beard that had grown since he was taken from me. His eyelids moved, just a bit. Let me give more.
My vision danced behind my lids with the last push of energy I held driven into him, stars blurring my vision. But his eyes opened, recognition in their depths. “Hey, baby,” I cried. “That’s it, we’ll take it slow, ok?”
I heard movement behind me as they responded to my assurances to my mate. “Amara, what are you doing?” The Lord asked, moving to squat down next to me.
“I’m helping him. There was the tiniest spark of his power left, enough for me to grab onto. With that link, I can give him some of my power! He’s going to be okay! See?”
God put His hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing. “That’s not how it works, darling. We don’t have enough power, or grace, for two vessels. What you’re doing is only weakening you. It will never be enough to awaken your mate.”
“That can’t be true! When we bonded, he shared his power with me and it was enough for both of us! This is the same thing.”
“No, Amara, it’s not. The bond creates a duplicate. His power was replicated, not shared. This has to stop, child. We can’t lose you both. What you’re doing is dangerous.”
I laid next to my soulmate, contemplating The Lord’s words, and the feeling of desperation returned. “He has no soul. If I can’t save him, he will die forever.”
God sighed, and I heard him stand. “That is right, my child. He does not possess a soul. We must trust The Beginning and its design. Callon was a loyal and steadfast member of the afterlife and he will never be forgotten. But he will live on in you, Amara. You have to believe that.”
I was silent for a while, thinking, remembering, reminiscing. The Lord was right and I knew it. I wasn’t crazy, in fact, I was thinking more clearly at this moment then I had in a long time. Focusing on the tiny thread of life in my mate, I nudged it and it responded, much quicker this time. Wrapping my arms around my love’s neck, I squeezed him tight, gritted my teeth and pushed. Take it, love. My God, how I love you- Take it all.
“Amara, NO! What are you doing?” I heard Jeremiel’s frightened voice and he came up behind me, pulling at my shoulder. “Didn’t you hear Our Lord? This is dangerous for you!”
I rolled my head to look at him over my shoulder and I saw Luc and ‘Tron at the door, their faces anxious. “I love him. I have loved him since the moment I saw him, and I’ll love him until the moment I die. I wasn’t born to this life, this duty. I wasn’t created to be Death. He was. I have a soul, and before I came to be his, I was destined for my next cycle. If he dies, he’s gone forever. If I die, I will live on.”
“You don’t know what you are saying, Amara. Your grief is talking. He’s not carrying the mantle right now, you will move into limbo with all the other souls and he won’t be able to find you! Can you imagine what this will do to Callon? Think of him!” Lucifer cried.
“I am thinking of him, Luc. He’ll find me. I know it won’t be this cycle since I’m technically still Death and, in effect, I’ll reap my own soul but someday, some cycle, he will figure out it's me he’s reaping and we will be reunited. I know him. He’ll never give up on me.”
“Someone stop her. Jer, move out of the way and let me in there,” Luc snarled. “She’s talking crazy. She can’t do this. I won’t let her.”
“I don’t think this is our decision to make, Lucifer,” God said softly.
I grinned, feeling so sleepy. “Jer, thank you for being my friend, I love you. Luc, you said not to trust you, but I’ll tell you a secret. I kinda do. You’re my friend, even though you’re a total dick. The contract will be null and void, as Callon will be returned to his role as Death. I will no longer owe you anything, and you will hold no claim on me. I hope you’ll consider letting Callon keep Lue; she’ll sense my presence through him and since we have the same power, I think it will be easier on her. If not, I know you will love her. Can you let her in here, please?”
“You sneaky little shit. Did you plan this?” Lucifer teased, and I saw his eyes were glistening as he led Lucinda through the door. My hellhound snuggled up next to me, her heads nudging me, feeling my weakness, and she whined in concern.
“It’s ok, Lue,” I whispered. “You are going to watch this happen and you will know he’s your master now. You’ll love him and take care of him until I come back, won’t you?”
Holding tightly to my mate, I took a deep breath and focused on the much larger glow of life in his chest. I gathered every ounce of intent I owned and shoved my power into his. I watched his aura swell, throb and grow and I reveled in the gorgeous green glow as it began to spread through his body. Yes, my love.
Lucinda wh
ined again and began licking my face while I pushed again- even harder. “Goddammit, fucking let me go!” yelled Lucifer. “Someone stop her, don’t let her do this! Amara, baby, please!”
One more push and I felt Callon’s heartbeat under my cheek. I was too weak to pick my head up- no, dammit. No, I wasn’t. I would do this. I wanted to see his beautiful eyes again. I pulled my head up and I was met with silver orbs that flashed with recognition, love, and relief. He shot a look to the entrance of the room and back to me, confusion now clouding those pretty pewter pools. I smiled weakly as I laid my head back down on his chest.
“I love you, baby- so much. This much,” I whispered and I felt his arm wrap around me, pulling me tightly against him and his heart sped up.
Intent. One. More. Push.
Callon’s voice sounded like it was coming from the other side of a tunnel, he sounded so far away. “One of you help me, dammit! Oh, no. God, no! Amara, love, what did you do?” I felt myself smiling, everything got really quiet, turned black, then simply faded away.
Epilogue: A Thousand Years
I breathed an exhausted sigh as I stared out the large floor-to-ceiling window at the foot of my bed. I elevated it so I could watch the double moons crest the horizon. They were full tonight and I wanted to see them, possibly for the last time.
I was old. One hundred twenty-six, to be exact. ‘You're not old!’ the physicians exclaimed. ‘You can live another twenty years!’ Pfft. ‘With your financial situation, you can be fitted with the latest PCD and maintain a wonderful quality of life.’ Yeah, right. Personal. Containment. Device. If your idea of ‘quality’ is living in a bubble. The PCDs controlled all your bodily functions and maintained your physical body. I knew people who succumbed to their fear of death and seeing them in those God awful plastic and silicone pods, why they were nothing more than meat marinating in a pot! It was enough to convince me I made the right choice when I turned that down flat. Gross. Besides, the industry wanted to keep us old farts alive long enough to milk us of every credit we ever saved. Screw them, anything I have left will go to my family and charity.