by Amy Sumida
“I think I can change you.” Lucifer set the base of the scythe on the ground pointedly. “I think I hold your redemption in my hand.”
“My redemption?” Azrael laughed. “I need no such thing, Father. I rule the world. I am leading it into a golden age. And I have the woman I love at my side, her belly swelling with my sons. I cannot be any happier. Why aren't you happy for me? Or even proud of me?”
“You're confused, Son,” Lucifer said sadly. “Your mind has been taken by the fey magic.”
“Look at Vervain. Look at what you've done to our wife!” Trevor shouted through a werewolf mouth. “You've turned her into someone else. Is that really what you want, Azrael?”
I frowned in confusion and looked down at myself. I saw the changes but I thought them magnificent. I couldn't understand why anyone would dislike them. I shrank back from the hurtful words, my arms crossed over my belly protectively. Azrael noticed my reaction and his eyes flared ferociously.
“My wife is more beautiful and powerful and resplendent than she has ever been!” Azrael roared. “She is the woman she was fated to become. If you cannot accept that, you are not welcome here.”
A breeze blew Trevor back through the trees and out of sight. Kirill, in his werelion form, went running after him. Trevor. Kirill. Fathers of my children. My hands clenched on the stone crenelations before me. My whole body tightened and it was all I could do to stop myself from crying out. Inside me, something flashed silver. Azrael cast me a side-eyed look. I smiled at him shakily and he shifted his narrowed stare back to his father.
“I will fight you if that is really what you want, Father,” Azrael said. “But only you, and you must come into the courtyard to face me. Once in my citadel, you will not be able to trace away and your Demons will not be able to come to your aid. What say you?”
“So be it!” Lucifer roared and lifted the scythe.
The Demons of Hell joined their cries to Luke's and the sound became physical. I frowned and turned my face away.
“It will be a small matter,” Azrael took my hands to assure me. “You and our children will be safe. I promise you.”
“I know,” I said confidently. “But he's your father, Azrael. Are you sure that you want to fight him?”
Azrael frowned. “He wants to fight me, Carus. I don't want this, but I will do it to prove to them that I am stronger than they are, and then, hopefully, they will leave and never return.”
“Very well.” I agreed. “Try not to kill him.”
“I don't want to kill my father.”
I stared at him and determined it to be the truth. Azrael didn't want to kill Lucifer but it had more to do with the respect he believed children should give their parents than out of any love he felt. He probably did love his father but it was a hollow version of what it used to be. Something inside me shivered and cried in denial. Who was this man? He couldn't be the man I loved.
“Carus?” Azrael asked gently.
Something trembled in my chest and washed away my doubts. What was I thinking? Of course, I loved Azrael. He was my husband. The god who worshiped me. The man who had held my soul in his hands. In his... scythe. I blinked. Something stirred again—a thought. Lucifer held the scythe and he believed that it could somehow change Azrael back.
“Azrael,” I said urgently, “don't let that scythe touch you.”
Az frowned. “It won't hurt me, my love. Don't concern yourself with this. It will be over soon.”
The drawbridge lowered as the Faerie God took my hand and wrapped it around his arm. He placed his hand over mine reassuringly as we descended to the courtyard in a slow, noble stride. When we reached the portcullis, Lucifer Morningstar stood before it, looking more terrifying than I'd ever seen him. And I had seen him lead the Hordes of Hell into battle before. But this time, there was more at stake for him. This time, the Devil fought for his son's soul.
I stared at the glinting curve of Azrael's scythe and shivered with apprehension. I had a terrible feeling that my future balanced on the edge of that blade. The angelic script carved into its sweeping length glowed pale blue and cast an eerie light on the sinister features of the Devil. He stepped forward, his cloven hooves thudding over the drawbridge, and when he emerged into the courtyard, he spread his wings wide in an aggressive display.
The portcullis lowered behind him.
“Hello, Vervain,” Satan said.
“Hello, Lucifer.” My stare went from the scythe to his eyes and back again.
“One moment, Father,” Azrael said courteously.
Az turned me back toward the keep. A throne grew from the thick grass to one side of the keep steps. Made of saplings, it nonetheless gleamed gold in the sunlight. Azrael escorted me to it as a fine velvet cushion appeared on the seat, then helped me onto my throne.
He bent and kissed my lips tenderly. “I love you, Faerie Goddess.”
“I love you, Faerie God,” I said back. “Don't underestimate him.”
Azrael smiled at me adoringly, then turned to face his father. His wings spread to match Lucifer's challenge and the faerie dust on his feathers sparked with magic. His antlers gleamed and his eyes began to glow. He looked like the Faerie God he was—the Ruler of the World. Impossible to defeat and serene in his confidence. Az knew his victory was assured. And that worried me.
“Face me god to god,” Lucifer demanded. “No magic.”
“We are magic.” Azrael held his arms out as if to display it. “You ask the impossible.”
“I'm asking that you choose a weapon to use instead of the elements. A single weapon against the scythe,” Lucifer said firmly. “Grant me that at least, Son.”
“As you wish, Father.” Azrael held out a hand and a sword appeared within his grasp—a great sword with a double edge and a hilt of gold. It gleamed with magic, but then, so did the scythe. “Shall we begin?”
Lucifer roared and launched himself at Azrael. My hands clenched on the gilded armrests and the babes inside me kicked. Azrael spun gracefully like a matador with a bull, his wings tucked in against his back. Lucifer rounded and charged again, scythe swinging low. Az jumped into the air and as he sailed over his father, swung his sword. Lucifer hissed and spun about, his bicep spraying blood in an arc.
“All you have to do is concede defeat, and you may walk away,” Azrael said evenly. “I don't wish for your death.”
“Nor I for yours,” Lucifer growled and his eyes flared crimson.
The scythe sliced through the air, going straight for Azrael's chest. Azrael's sword lifted with a flick of his wrist and magic sparked as the two blades met. Lucifer recovered, grabbed the scythe's shaft with both hands, and attacked again. Azrael danced around his father's bulkier body, cutting bloody lines into the thick, rust-brown flesh. The Devil growled. The Faerie God grinned. Satan's blood hit the ground and steamed, blackening the grass.
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat and wrapped both arms around my belly; my sons were flailing inside me anxiously. One of them pressed against the skin of my stomach as if trying to burst through. I gasped to see the bulge of a tiny fist.
Azrael glanced at me, drawn by the sound of my distress, and Lucifer used the distraction. He brought the scythe down.
“Azrael!” I screamed and pointed.
Az lifted his sword just in time to deflect the blow, then narrowed his eyes at his father. “So, that's the way it shall be? You fight without honor.”
“I'm the Devil.” Lucifer shrugged.
Azrael stretched his shoulders and extended his wings. “And I am a true god. You will kneel before me by the time this is over.”
“That's never gonna happen, Son.” Lucifer shot forward.
The men twirled as if dancing. Metal clanged. Blood sprayed and I wasn't sure who it belonged to. But then, Azrael leapt back and grinned maliciously. He was whole—unhurt—but his father bled from more wounds than I could count.
“Kneel, Satan!” Azrael commanded.
“Not to you,
my boy,” Lucifer panted.
“Vervain!” Arach shouted at me from the other side of the portcullis.
My ex-lovers were packed onto the drawbridge with gods and Demons behind them. Their eyes were full of fear but also hope. I couldn't imagine what they wanted of me.
“You are the Trinity Star!” Arach shouted. “You are the Godhunter! You are the Queen of Fire!”
“You are the mother of Vidar, Vali, Rian, Brevyn, Lesya, and Vero,” Odin went on.
“You are Minn Elska!” Trevor snarled.
“La-La!” Re cried.
“Tima!” Kirill roared as he reached through the bars toward me, his lion claws slashing the air.
“You are a friend to all of us!” Thor's rumble came from the back. “You are the Goddess of the Moon and Lions and Love, Vervain!”
“I'm with you, Vervain,” Viper called in a calmer tone than the others. “Just let me in.”
A silver mist tickled the edges of my mind and flared, calling to something inside me. Another silver light blossomed in my heart in response. The two lights stretched toward each other.
Vervain, my star, I'm with you, the voice came from inside me.
I shot to my feet in shock.
Azrael's head jerked my way. His eyes narrowed and the voice, along with the silver mist, vanished. I met his stare guiltily and sat down. The Faerie God turned back to Lucifer and swung his sword; it sang as it parted the air. Lucifer stretched his bulging, monstrous muscles and lowered his head as if to charge. He ran for my husband but, at the last second, he leapt, his barbed tail swishing behind him, and brought the scythe down.
I gasped. Starlight shone bright enough to make me squint, but it came from inside me. I pushed it back as Azrael dropped to the ground and rolled. He came up swinging.
Lucifer fell.
The Devil dropped to the ground like a stone and lay there panting. Blood seeped from a terrible gash in his side. His deadly claws dug at the earth, scrabbling for the scythe. His hand closed around the shaft and gripped it tightly as my husband strode over to stand above him.
“Concede defeat and I will heal you.”
Lucifer met my eyes. My breath trembled across my lips. The Devil pushed himself up with great effort. Blood gushed. Massive forearms trembled. Satan gained his knees and faced the Faerie God. He set the butt of the scythe against the ground and used it to hoist himself up, dragging himself onto his feet. He stood but swayed.
Azrael shook his head sadly. “Get back on your knees, Father, or I will put you there.”
Lucifer roared and lifted the scythe. Azrael swung his sword. But instead of aiming at his son, Lucifer cast the scythe like a spear, straight at me. Azrael cried out in fury and fear, stabbing his father in the chest with one hand while reaching for the scythe with the other. He launched himself after it but missed and hit the ground hard. It didn't matter. Lucifer hadn't been trying to hurt me.
The scythe came to my hand as if I'd summoned it. As if it wanted to be there. I stared up at the arched, silver blade. The script winked at me and something inside me winked back. My whole being trembled.
“Vervain!” Lucifer cried out as he crumpled to the grass, Azrael's sword embedded in his chest. “Save him! Please, save my son!”
I looked at Azrael. His expression went slack in relief when he saw that I was unharmed but then tightened in confusion. He got to his feet while holding my gaze. The silver mist returned and my body began to convulse.
“Carus!” Azrael shouted and ran for me.
I'm here, Starlight, Viper's voice spoke in my mind while his strength bloomed in my body and his love filled my heart. Hold on to me. We'll do this together.
The light of two stars burst through my entire being, burning away the faerie magic that shouldn't have been there. My body reformed rapidly, cells shivering through the change, and my wings stretched out wide as I screamed in agony. Men shouted. Beasts roared. Butterflies swarmed inside me. But one voice spoke clearly above the cacophony, comforting me through the chaos.
I'm here. Let me share the pain. Just let go, Vervain.
Viper!
I've got you, baby.
The terrible wrenching torture lessened as Viper shouldered some of the pain, and I took a deep breath. It was enough to clear my mind and help me regain control. I embraced the shift back to my true self, welcoming the necessary pain. My body shrunk, condensed back to its normal size. Bones hardened, hair withdrew to my hips, and a strip of starlight appeared at my left temple. My magic came alive inside me, stretching as if it had been cramped. The Moon rose to shine with my star and calm came with it. I lowered my dragon wings and set my burning stare on my husband. No, this man wasn't my husband; he was the thing that held my husband captive.
“My love,” the Faerie God whispered in entreaty, one claw-tipped hand reaching out to me.
I narrowed my eyes, gripped the scythe with both hands, and brought it down. It tore through him. Azrael collapsed before me, shock slackening his features. The scythe's blade glowed pure white. I tossed it away and dropped to my knees beside Azrael. He clutched at his chest, convulsing. His body drew inward, muscles contracting along with his deadly claws. Sharp, fey features softened, long hair shortened, and the golden antlers disappeared as if they'd never been. On Azrael's cheek, the angelic symbol for his name appeared and began to glow pale blue. His eyes soaked in that light and the green was conquered, bleeding away until his irises turned opalescent and sparkled like diamonds.
I gently moved his claw-less hand away from his chest and breathed out in relief; he was whole.
“Vervain,” Azrael whispered in his true voice. “You didn't leave me.”
“Never.” I lowered my lips to his and kissed him tenderly. “I would sooner go mad with you, Angel.”
Azrael smiled and sat up, but then jerked around suddenly and shouted, “Father!” He jumped to his feet and ran to Lucifer.
Azrael's sword, pitted by Satan's corrosive blood, steamed in the grass. Nearby, Luke laid on his back, his eyes closed and one hand over his worst wound. I ran to the gate and flung the lever that lifted the portcullis. My husbands rushed forward with everyone else, but I didn't stop to greet them. Instead, I spun and headed to Lucifer and Az.
I dropped to my knees again, this time beside the Devil who no longer looked like the Devil. Lucifer had let go of his satanic guise and shifted back to his true form, probably in an attempt to heal himself faster. An angel who could have been my husband's twin now sprawled in the charred grass, blood in bright red splashes across his pale chest and over his glittering, white wings. Lucifer's expression was relaxed and shining with peace.
“Father!” Azrael cried and cupped Lucifer's face in his hands. “Father!”
“Move back!” Teharon shouted and pushed his way to the front of the crowd.
I moved aside for Teharon and he took my place. Azrael drew his hands away as Teharon replaced them with his. A glow seeped out of Teharon's palms and sank into the Devil. Everyone went still and quiet as magic infused the wounds, glowing within the deepest gash. Teharon frowned in concentration. Azrael's breath shivered on the edge of a sob. Everyone else went absolutely still.
Finally, the wounds began to close. Lucifer's chest moved as he took a deep breath. His eyes opened—diamond eyes to match Azrael's—and he smiled. A collective sigh of relief flowed through the crowd.
“Hello, Son,” Lucifer whispered.
“Hello, Father.” Azrael swiped away his tears. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Always.” Lucifer took Azrael's hand and pulled himself up with it, then pulled Az into a hug. “I will always help you if you need me.” Then he drew me into the embrace. “You did it, Vervain. You saved him.”
“No, I only swung the scythe,” I said. “You saved him. All of you.” I sat back to look at the people I loved and started to cry. “You saved us both.”
“I can't believe you challenged me to a duel,” Azrael said to his father.
“Well, I forgot to bring my golden fiddle.”
We all started laughing, mostly in relief. Then my laughter turned into screams and I fell backward, onto the grass.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Teharon shot from Lucifer's side to mine. His hands went to my forehead and belly as I writhed in pain.
“There's something wrong with the babies,” I panted past my clenched teeth.
Teharon moved both hands to my stomach and his magic flowed into me like cool water. His long, dark hair moved, a thin braid coming forward so that the red-tipped feather at its end lay against my side. The pain receded enough for me to catch my breath.