by Maya Daniels
“I need my hands free to open the portal,” he says like he is talking to an imaginary friend. I have no idea what kind of berries Jezzinta gave him. I look at her and she nods, so I go and untie his hands, leaving the rope around his chest and securing it to the chair. He starts chanting, then stops and gives us a glazed stare.
“Well? Go on! Bring the human back!”
“I forgot how to open that portal,” he says with wide eyes. My head snaps to Jezzinta.
“Did you fry his brain with those berries, Jez, or is he lying?” I ask her.
“I have no idea.” She narrows her eyes, watching him all thoughtful. “I asked for help and the earth pointed me to the berries. When I asked if it would kill him, the answer was no. I didn’t think to ask if he could open portals.” She huffs out a lough, shrugging sheepishly.
“Wonderful,” I say, plopping down on the ground. Now what? I have no idea what to do and time is running out.
“I’ll open the portal. Just make sure the warlock pulls the human out fast. I doubt that Lucifer will be happy that we used the portal of his realm like a swinging door.” We all turn to Meda. I can tell there’s determination on her face.
“I think it’s our best shot,” Remi adds.
I know it is, but I’m not sure things will go as we plan. They never do. With no other options, Meda stands in the middle of the basement, too close to Thomas for my liking, but I’m watching him. If he tries anything, that’s where his story ends in this lifetime. She chants and circles her arms for a couple of minutes and I see drops of sweat form on her forehead. We all wait. There is nothing else we can do. Slowly, the shimmering starts, and the portal widens enough for a person to walk through it. This is it.
“Get him out, warlock,” I tell Thomas.
He waves his hands. I can see the straining of his muscles and his face, but nothing is happening. No one is coming through the portal. I can see that Meda can’t hold it open for very long, so I do the only thing I can think of. Yup. I step through the portal myself. My plan? If the warlock can’t pull him out, then I’ll push him out and follow right behind him. Well, that is the original plan. As soon as I walk through the portal, while hearing Remi and Jezzinta scream “No!” on the other side, I realize my first mistake. I think Derik will hang around the portal waiting to be rescued. My second mistake, if you were wondering, is forgetting that this is a realm of a fallen angel, and it never occurs to me that he will take an interest in a human, or a witch in this case, because I’m staring right at him, standing there in all his beautiful, powerful glory with his arms folded across his chest. Shit! It looks like we’re in a sleeping chamber because it’s a huge room with a big bed in the middle, and on it, Derik is sleeping while Lucifer is watching the human with fascination. Well, until I decide to pop in, because right now he’s observing me with narrowed eyes.
“I came to take the human back,” I say stupidly, and point at Derik as if there are a bunch of them running around in this realm. Well, what else should I say? His power rises and crackles in the air like electric whips, but I don’t dare move or make another sound.
“Is that so?” he asks.
Up to this point, I’ve been in the presence of gods and goddesses, as you well know, but this is totally different. His power feels unlike theirs, and so does his presence. It’s more powerful, for a lack of a better word..
“Well, yes. He was pushed through the portal, not of his own choosing but only because he was trying to help me. I came to take him back,” I try to explain. “It’s a good thing he’s still unconscious. He won’t remember anything,” I add helpfully.
Lucifer throws his head back and laughs. It’s such a joyous and beautiful sound that I giggle a little. At my giggle, he turns back to me.
“You are either too smart or too stupid, witch,” he says casually.
“Yeah, I wonder at times myself, to be honest,” I tell him truthfully. That makes him laugh again.
“Come.”
He starts walking away as if I have no choice but to follow. I’m contemplating grabbing Derik and bolting to the portal, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to do it fast. So, I follow behind him, praying Meda will be able to hold the portal a little bit longer. We walk through hallways made of stone like some medieval castle, not a single soul in sight.
“Do you live here alone?” I ask him. I don’t know why I blabbed it out, but I don’t like the silence around the angel. It’s heavy and it’s choking me.
“Yes.”
That’s the only thing he says, and he glances at me over his shoulder. We keep walking, with me speeding up my steps. He walks fast, eating up the distance with purpose. I have long legs myself, but compared to him, with his six-eight height, I’m a joke . We enter a big hall-like room with a long wooden table and lots of carved armchairs around it. He sits at the head of it pointing at the seat next to him.
“Sit,” he says.
It’s an order, not a request, so I obey. I lower down, folding my hands in my lap, and stare at him like he is staring at me. He looks just like you would expect an angel to be. Too perfect to be real. With as messed up as my life is, at least I can gaze at all these beautiful creatures and admire them. I’m wondering if he can read my mind, because his eyes narrow while he is studying me. I raise an eyebrow in question, and he bursts out laughing again.
“I find you fascinating, witch,” he tells me after his laughter stops.
“Thank you,” I reply, and I’m thinking, look at me, all proper and lady-like. I need to get out of here, like yesterday.
“I do apologize for coming here unannounced. I truly am sorry. I want to say it was not with ill intent, but I honestly need to take the human back. He never asked for any of this. He saved me once from thugs and this time tried to save me from a warlock. He only got thrown into a different realm as a reward,” I say the last part almost as a whisper. Poor Derik, nothing but bad things have happened to him thanks to me. “I do not mean harm and I do not wish to anger you. I just want to take him back to where he belongs.” I raise my gaze to Lucifer and I’m angry at myself that tears are pricking my eyes, but I can’t help it.
He studies my face while I speak and as I stop, his eyes soften. “Don’t fret, witch, I’m not angry. I, too, am misunderstood,” he says with a sigh.
“Alexia,” I tell him.
“What?” He raises both eyebrows.
“My name. It’s Alexia,” I repeat.
“Defender,” he says thoughtfully.
“I would love to sit and talk to you, but I don’t think my friend will be able to hold the portal open for much longer. I need to go back,” I tell him sadly. “With the human,” I add in a rush. He smiles.
“She is not holding the portal open any longer.” Well, damn. I’m stuck here. My heart starts beating wildly.
“I am,” he adds, and my jaw drops while I stare at him. He laughs again. “I’m not the evil creature the humans make me out to be, Alexia,” he says my name with a lilt to his voice and makes it sound exotic.
“I am forever grateful for your kindness,” I tell him truthfully, at which he cocks his head to one side and looks at me strangely.
“How did you come to the conclusion that it’s kindness? I might ask for something in return.” At his words, I think of Sin and I shiver, which he notices, of course.
“Calm down, Alexia, I mean you no harm either,” he says.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” I say, more to myself than to him.
“As you asked earlier, I live here alone, so I have a proposition for you.” He leans back on his chair. I hold my breath and wait. “I’ll hold the portal open and you will have dinner with me. After that, in return for your company, I will let you take the human back to your realm.”
“That’s it? I keep you company, have dinner with you, and you’ll let me and the human go back?”
“That is all. It gets lonely here sometimes, and rarely do witches decide to just visit,” he says “vi
sit” sarcastically, and I get the point. I did barge in here, after all.
“Okay, it’s a deal,” I tell him. “Can I at least let my friends know?” I don’t want them to worry and destroy the house in the process.
“They already know.”
Startled I gap at him. Is he telling the truth, or is he playing mind games? Well, it’s not like I can do anything at the moment, so I sit back as well and flick my gaze around the room. There are tapestries hanging on the walls with intricate designs of scenes showing fights between angels and demons, and gods fighting each other. Human armies, too. It’s like everywhere I turn, someone is fighting someone else.
“You don’t like the décor?” Lucifer asks, and I’m about to say it’s nice when he stops me. “You scrunched up your nose while looking at them.” he waves his arm, gesturing at the tapestries.
“Well, it’s rather gruesome, to be honest. It’d lighten up the place if you put some pictures of Aphrodite relaxing on a seashell, for example.” I laugh a little, trying to be funny since I just insulted his taste in decorating his home.
“She’s not exactly my type,” he says, and I jerk my head up to stare at him. Shit. I really had to go there, didn’t I?
“Relax. Neither are you,” he adds, and I realize I’m clutching the chair with my hands, so I pry my fingers open one by one.
“Sorry, I’m a little jumpy,” I tell him.
“Yes, I can see. Who has frightened you so?”
I’m debating whether I should say anything, but at the last second, I figure why not? “Tiamat is searching for the potions so she can find the Tablets of Destiny. She killed my grandmother to find them and thinks I know where they are as well. She and her warlock have been after me,” I tell him honestly.
“Tiamat? She hasn’t given up yet, I see. I thought Sin hid those potions,” he says thoughtfully.
“Yes, he did,” is all I say. I’m not telling him that I know anything.
“There is something different about you, Alexia.” He is studying me again. “I can’t place it yet, but you are definitely different than any witch I know.”
“Well, maybe because I’m Inanna’s vessel,” I supply helpfully.
“Mmmm, I don’t think so,” he answers, shaking his head. I need to change the subject.
“When are we eating?”
He laughs at that. “You are that hungry, huh?”
I laugh with him. “Well, I just came back from the beach, and swimming does make a person hungry.” As I finish the sentence, he waves his arm and the table is full of all types of dishes, from pastries that make my mouth water to meats, veggies, fruit salads and even seafood dishes. Everything in front of me looks so good that I don’t know where to start, to be honest. Fresh baked breads appear from nowhere, with bowls of sauces and gravies with little ladles popping into existence by the mashed potatoes and peas. Pitchers of wine and water sit close to us where we can easily reach them. Everything smells wonderful.
“Go ahead, eat,” he says.
“Am I eating alone?” Pulling my eyes from the food, I focus on him.
“No, I will join you as well.”
Scooping piles of food on his plate, I can’t imagine ever eating that much, but with all the muscles he has, I suppose he needs a lot more food than I do. Plopping some food on my plate, I take a bite, Lucifer watching me like it’s the most fascinating thing he has ever seen.
I stop with the fork in front of my mouth. “I’m not going to get stuck here and not be able to leave if I eat, am I?” At that, he roars a laugh so loud that it makes me jump. “What? I’ve read mythology, thank you very much,” I tell him while smirking.
After laughing for a few minutes, he stops and stares at me with shimmering eyes. “Obviously you have, Alexia, but they are just that. Stories.” He smiles devilishly, and I’m not sure I trust him.
He laughs again, shaking his head. “Eat, witch, I will not hold you here against your will. I must admit, though, you are good company and I regret making that deal already.” He winks at me and attacks his food. I shake my head and follow his example, and we eat in silence until we are both full and sit back in our chairs.
“Well, for an angel, you’re a pretty good cook, I must say,” I tell him, and he grins.
“Yes, I have slaved in the kitchen for you, m’lady.” He inclines his head regally, and I can’t help but laugh. I truly like the angel, and there is something about him that puts me at ease. As much as I like him, I do need to get myself and Derik back.
“I truly enjoyed this, and I have no words to describe how happy I am that I’ve had the opportunity to meet you and speak with you,” I tell him, hoping he can hear I really mean it. “But I need to go back now. I hope Derik isn’t awake already,” I tell him.
“He is not,” Lucifer says, but now it sounds cryptic. Meeting his eyes, he avoids mine.
“He is alive, right?” My heart is in my throat, and I think the food is going to come out.
“Relax. Yes, he’s alive,” he tells me, and I sit back, taking a deep breath. I think that was a little too soon. “He might be a little different when he wakes up, but he is alive.” He offers me a sheepish tilt of his lips.
“Different how?” My mouth is dry.
“He was awake when he came through the portal, so I restrained him to find out who he was and what he was doing here. And if I’m to be honest, he’s lucky I was bored or he would’ve been dead.” I don’t doubt him for a second on that. “So, he told me what happened and how he ended up here. He is very fond of you, you know,” he adds.
“Yeah, I know,” I sigh. That’s why he almost died. Because of me. I don’t like myself very much at the moment.
“You see, I understand love, Alexia. So, I gave him something. It is up to him to tell you, not me, but I do find the human mind fascinating,” he says, gazing into the distance.
I want to ask more but he stands up and I do the same. We walk in silence back towards his chambers, but this time it is not a bad silence. I enjoy it. As we enter, I see Derik sitting on the bed, holding the back of his neck with his hand. He jumps up when he sees me and runs, grabbing me in an embrace.
“Oh, thank God you’re okay,” he says, and Lucifer laughs from behind me.
“It’s not your God that saved her, human, and you’d better remember that.” He’s talking to Derik, but as I peer over my shoulder at him, he winks. I guess his sense of humor is as peculiar as mine.
“We need to go.” I pull on Derik’s hand, and he follows me towards the portal. I push him through it first, and before I go through, I turn to Lucifer. “Thank you very much for everything.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Alexia. And next time you go for a swim in the ocean, go a few miles out and sing. You’ll be surprised by what a beautiful song can attract, especially one sung by the gift of the sea.”
He smiles, and my eyes fill up with tears from the sadness I see in his. He knew everything the entire time I was here. He could’ve held me here and used me to get the potions and the tablets, but he didn’t. He even helped me figure out how to find the merpeople.
“Thank you.”
With one last look at him, I walk through the portal and it closes behind me.
Chapter 19
I search around the basement and see Remi sitting there, leaning on Philip’s shoulder, both of them on the ground with their backs against the wall. No one else is here.
“Where’s Derik? Actually, where is everyone else, and what’s Philip doing here?”
This is like I’ve fallen in a twilight zone. Save one person and the rest go missing. My heart starts beating faster. Remi jumps up, runs to me, and hugs me tightly while Philip gets up slowly, giving us space, I guess. Remi is shaking in my arms and crying now, which is really making panic grip my chest.
“What happened, Remi?” I pull away from her enough to stare into her eyes, which are full of tears, but she manages to speak. “Derik went home and the girls are upstairs.”
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br /> I stare at her. When did they have time for all that?
“And the warlock?” I give Philip a quick glance. I have no idea how much he knows. “And why is he here?” I gesture with my chin towards him while talking to her.
“Thomas is gone. We tossed him off the property before he could get his powers back. We had no other option apart from killing him, for which I voted yes,” she says, daring me with her eyes to say something, but I wait to hear the rest. “But since I was outvoted, we tossed him out like the piece of trash he is.” She rubs her eyes.
Philip comes up and rubs her back, and she leans into it. Did I come back to an alternate reality? Nothing makes sense. Derik probably couldn’t get away from here and from me fast enough. I can’t blame him. Any normal person would do the same.
I see these two, and my chest feels tight, I’m so happy for them. If anyone can deal with Philip Stamelos, it’s Remi, and if anyone has the balls to stand up to her fiery temper, it’s him. They really are a perfect match. I smile when they see me eyeing them. I truly am happy for both of them.
“So how did everyone have the time—” I start.
Jezzinta cuts me off, coming down in the basement. “Remi, you guys should go upstairs for a bit. I’ll keep watch for a while so all the good stays in da hood.”
She turns the corner of the steps, sees me standing there, and starts crying instantly, flying into my arms from the fourth step from the bottom. I catch her and we both almost end up on the floor.
“Easy, Jez, you’ll break me,” I say, but she’s not listening to me. She’s hugging me tight and bawling her eyes out like someone has died. Dread creeps into my stomach.
“Okay, enough with this shit. What the fuck is wrong with you guys? Is Meda okay?” And just like I’ve summoned her, she comes running down the stairs and repeats Jezzinta’s move, jumping at me from afar. I’m confused as hell. Something is not right.
“If someone doesn’t tell me what’s going on, I swear, I’m going back where I just came from!” As I finish, all three of them yell “No!” and grab hold of me as if I really would walk through a nonexistent portal.