by Darcy Town
Dahlia kissed his neck. She unbuttoned his shirt. “Be with me.”
He shook his head. “I cannot.”
Dahlia let her tears fall on his bare chest. “Love me.”
He looked up at her. “I do, always, forever.”
“Then be my partner, my equal, healed and whole.” She brought his face to hers and kissed one cheek, then another. “Be with me.” She kissed him on the lips and pulled him to the ground, tearing off his shirt.
Lucifer broke the kiss and gasped; the air grew warmer. “I cannot do this.” He brushed away her tears. “Please do not cry.”
Dahlia’s lip trembled. “My lover is tortured and I can do nothing but watch. In this I am guilty for now I am the one that does nothing.”
“No.”
Dahlia’s eyes dimmed. “If you cannot join me, then I must join you, for I cannot bear to be apart any longer. If your chains are despair, then my clothing will be misery. Your bonds are guilt, and so my tethers will be remorse. In sorrow we will be one.”
“No!” Lucifer sat up and pulled her up with him. “Do not!”
Dahlia looked at him sadly. “I cannot do any different. We are intertwined.”
Lucifer gripped her, panic-stricken. His heart beat wildly. “You must not!” He cupped her face in his hands. Fire raced along his skin. “Bright star, do not go dark. My Evenstar, linger in light.”
“I cannot blaze if the Morningstar never rises.” She looked away. “We have gone through the darkness of the night and approach the day. You must ascend or I never will.”
“I do not remember how to be loved.”
Dahlia kissed him and touched his belt. “I will show you the way, if you follow.”
“I will always follow. I am ever yours to lead.”
Dahlia wrapped her arms around him and drew him down to the ground. She sliced his belt in two with a fingernail and grabbed hold of his pants. He held her wrist to stop her. She put her lips to his ear. “You will follow me.”
Lucifer let her hand go and raised his eyes to meet hers. “Yes, but—”
“None of that.” Dahlia kicked off his pants. She slipped out of her skirt and lay beneath him, naked. She took his hands and placed one on her hip, the other on her breast. She slipped her hand in-between her legs and rubbed; a soft cry slipped out of her lips and reached his ears.
Lucifer watched her, mesmerized. She reached up to guide him into her. His limbs locked. “I cannot.”
“You can.” She trailed a hand up his leg. “I want you, I have missed you.”
“I have missed you, but I cannot.” He felt her heartbeat through her breast. He sank down and kissed the place above her heart. His tongue darted out, tracing her nipple. Fire lit inside him. He clenched his jaw and shook his head. “No…”
Dahlia arched towards him. “I am here, Lucifer. I am waiting.”
He closed his eyes. “I cannot, I am sorry.”
Dahlia reached down and placed her hands on his lower back. She spread her legs and rubbed against him. He gasped. She kissed his lips and worked her way to his neck. She massaged his back, lulled him into her embrace until he relaxed once more. Dahlia locked her ankles around his waist. She smiled into his skin and pulled him into her. They both gasped.
Lucifer sputtered. “I—I—”
Dahlia put her finger to his lips. “Follow.” She moved beneath him and he was lost to sensation. Building desire took over. His skin lit golden-white; blue fire flicked across the surface. Dahlia’s red light mingled with his. She held him tightly, not letting him go.
Lucifer thrust and kissed her, locking their lips together. Euphoria crashed over them in waves. Her desire mixed with his, making the division between them unclear. They moved together, knowing each other, remembering. Lucifer clutched her to him. He pressed every inch of his body against hers, needing her to be his once more.
Dahlia’s breaths grew faster. Her cries fueled him onwards. Every sound she made healed his broken pieces and mended the soul deep fractures that bent and warped him. With each pulse and movement, he regained what he had been, what he truly was. He smiled into her skin and the shadow that covered his life began to peel away.
Dahlia scratched her nails across his wing scars. He cried out and moved faster, harder. Sweat made their skin slick, their movements frenzied, and their kisses deep and lingering. He held her in a steel embrace, no longer thinking of what she could or could not handle. He had to have this and it had to be deep.
Dahlia knew what he required. Where her hands and hips guided he could not help but obey. She brought him closer, kept him on the razor edge of ecstasy, until he begged for release. She held him in place with her hips and whispered into his ear, “I love you.”
She pulled him inside of her as she cried out. His voice joined hers. The fire from his skin surged through the room, engulfing them in flames.
Gaea’s tree erupted into life. Energy rushed outwards.
***
The planet stilled. It recognized this force, this connecting of two things. Berith and Apple reached the surface. The sunlight appeared brighter, the air crisper, the colors more vibrant. The plants around them bloomed in restored life. Animals surged with strength and ran faster, flew higher than they had ever before.
Berith and Apple grinned at the sight. Both had stripped out of their armor. Berith looked around. “That was not five minutes.”
Apple kicked him in the knees, sending him the ground. “Who cares?”
***
“There has to be a reasonable explanation for what occurred in Tennessee!” A politician spoke towards a TV camera. “We have scientists working on it.”
“What occurred is the beginning of the Rapture!” A minister waved a copy of the Bible from his seat. “The End Times are here and all of you will suffer! Those of us good enough to remain must be vigilant and watchful. The Tribulation is upon us!”
“Hello, America.” The moderator stepped in and the camera focused on him. “If you are just joining us now, we are speaking about the disappearance of over seven million people—”
“Not disappearance, Rapture!”
The moderator raised his hands. “Pastor Williams, we need to let our other—”
The pastor stood. “At the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. This is—”
“But everyone there was taken!” A celebrity guest rolled his eyes. “Besides that, what do you make of the fact that the one that brought about your so called Rapture called himself Lucifer and grew horns!?”
The pastor went red. “That was a sign from God, an image to warn us!”
“To warn us of what?”
“That the Devil is among us and the final war has started!”
A man in white and iron, silent until this time, finally spoke up, “It is true, the final war is upon us, and Satan is with us.”
The pastor nodded. “Thank you—”
The man stood up. “The Solomon Soldiers have been preparing for this for millennia.”
“The Solomon who? What are they?”
The man ignored the question. “There are two sides to this battle. Our side, the side of the angels, fights to rid this planet of demons and make it a paradise for humanity. The other side is that of the Fallen. The Fallen and their children, the Lilliam, are here to destroy this planet and overthrow the angelic order! They have infiltrated every level of society. The Luc Industries Corporation has its hands in every pie. It is under Satan’s control!”
The other men gaped at him. He ignored them and continued. “My brethren have been hunting down the Lilliam since humanity began its life on this planet. Now it is time for the final purge!”
“The Fallen?”
The politician frowned. “Lucien Morcavi is Satan? His company has given us very nice donations in the past.”
“In Phoenix and in Portland you witnessed w
hat they could do! In Arizona, the creature that fought with the angel, she is the demon Belial! She destroyed that city with her madness! Nothing remains there but ashes. That same scenario will occur in all the cities of man if they are left unchecked! You heard what she said, the Fallen stalk the Earth! Their devil spawn have lived among us, poisoning us with their magic and lies! Even now, they attack us! Revelations is upon us, but that was not the Rapture! Satan has begun his purge of humanity. We are soldiers of God and must fight against him!”
The room shook. The men went silent. Cracks appeared in the studio. Someone off camera shouted about an earthquake. Plants burst through the walls and filled the room with foliage. Everyone ducked or ran for cover as the screen cut to darkness.
***
In the Sanctuary, Paimon and Furcas were embroiled in ecstasy. The walls around them changed, shifted. Colors moved, lights flickered. Gems grew out of the stone and burst into dust. The dust coated the two on the floor in glittering powder. Furcas and Paimon did not notice, their thoughts and actions solely locked on each other.
Liquid metal dripped from the ceiling. The floor rolled. Ice burst in the air and new creatures took form, ghostly things that sailed through walls and swam through the air like jellyfish. The room hummed with life and possibilities made manifest.
***
Jacob ran down the Grand Promenade in leaps and bounds. He panted, out of breath, unable to fly anymore from exhaustion. Around him, the City broke out in madness. Those that were not locked in lovemaking were reveling. Children, the only ones unaffected, ran by in droves, partying while their parents and family were occupied.
Jacob heard laughter and turned. He gulped and held up his hands. “Okay, you win.”
The sylph girls giggled in the air above him, openly ogling him. In their midst they’d captured the only other male sylph he knew of.
The man shrugged and smiled at Jacob. “You tried.”
Jacob dropped his hands and smiled slightly. “So, what now?”
The girls dove for him, caught him, and carried him into the air as the City was enveloped in another wave of euphoria.
***
Tokala and Celeste stood in the sparring room staring at each other. Tokala switched from a fox to a man. He shuddered in pleasure and looked to her. “You’ll need to run.”
Celeste folded her arms. “I think you should run.”
The prince stood up tall. “I will not run. I want this, Celeste. If you do not, I suggest—”
Celeste laughed. “I let you snuggle with me and no one snuggles with me. So yes, come. I want it.”
Tokala laughed like a bark and jumped at her. The two crashed into a stand of swords and tugged at clothing.
***
Helion and Whitney flew together high above the palace. The pair avoided the other flying couples who gave themselves over to passion. Whitney held her sides. Helion reached for her. She pulled away.
Helion frowned. “What is wrong? You are hurting.”
“I can’t hurt, I’m undead! I checked. I don’t have a heartbeat! I don’t even need to breathe!”
Helion flipped to his back and flew underneath her. He looked into her eyes. “So? Many of the Lilliam are undead, especially now.”
Whitney made a face. “Doesn’t that gross you out?”
“Why would I be grossed out by that? You are lovely.” He smiled. “Now we can fly together, though I will continue to carry you, if you would like.”
Whitney laughed. “Only if we can dive bomb everyone with pinecones again.”
Helion shrugged. “Well, I do not know about pinecones here, but we could probably find something to drop on their heads. May I kiss you?”
Whitney blushed gray. The air grew warm. “Come here, I can’t be self pitying anymore. I’m going to burst.”
Helion swept her up. He looked at her tentatively. Whitney smiled and kissed him. He carried her to an empty aerie.
***
Andy drove his palms into his eyes. A whine escaped through his lips. He could smell Belial. He could hear her breathing, so soft and close. She was helpless, gripped by the bliss that surged through the walls and air. He listened to her moan and thoughts of reaching out and touching her raced through his head. He punched himself in the face and knocked himself into a daze.
Belial curled into a ball, watching his every move. Sweat poured down into her eyes as the air temperature scorched her body. Her lungs burned. Her muscles ached as she strained against what they wanted to do.
Andy screamed and turned away from her. He shook as pleasure, energy unreleased, turned to discomfort, then agony.
She reached out with a shaking hand. “Andy?”
“Do not touch me, Belial! I can’t take it.”
Belial snatched her hand back. Warmth and ecstasy surged through her. She shook with it; she needed some kind of release. She felt his pain as if it were hers. Tears poured out of her eyes. She sobbed.
Andy pushed himself up on his elbows. He looked at her and struggled not to jump on her. “Why are you crying?”
“I hurt you. I hurt everyone! It is all I can do!”
Andy closed his eyes. His arms gave out and he fell back to the pillows. “No, it’s not your fault.” He bit into a pillow and chewed. She drew closer. He turned to her with his eyes squeezed shut. “Get away.” Cool lips touched his cheek, burning his skin as they soothed. He pulled his arms to his chest. “Get away from me, Belial!”
She kissed his other cheek.
Desire tore through him. He panted and held his arms. Andy’s eyes snapped open. “You are torturing me. Get back!”
Belial looked at him, eyes half-lidded. “No.” She leaned forward to kiss him.
Andy searched her gaze. “No. No, you are not yourself. Stop.” He grabbed her wrists and held her back. Belial kissed his hand. Andy head butted her and pressed her back with his shoulder. “You will not like yourself once you are regained. Stop this!”
She writhed beneath him, in full possession of the energy around them. “It does not matter. Now matters.”
“No!” He sucked in burning air. “I will not do this.”
“Just kiss me.”
“No, Belial!” He turned his face from hers. Having to be this close, touching her now was maddening, but he gagged at the thought of what Uriel had done to her. He was nothing like Uriel. He could and would control himself. He held on to that thought. His will was unbreakable; he rode waves of euphoria with his mind intact. He shut out the sensations of the flesh and concentrated.
Belial fought against him. Andy turned her away and wrapped his arms around her. He locked her hands to her chest. He held her in place like a vise. “Just breathe, Belial.”
Belial struggled, senseless, but she calmed as she felt his breath on her neck and his heartbeat against her skin. Her eyes opened. She remembered where she was. She turned her head to look at him. “You are not going to…”
“Of course not.”
Belial closed her eyes. “Why?”
“I am not like him. I will never do that to you.” Andy relaxed his grip. “Are you all right now?”
Belial nodded. She turned in his arms and laid her cheek on his chest. “You are far too good for me.”
He wrapped her up. “That is stupid, there is nothing about me that makes me any better than you.”
“I remember what I once was, innocence. Mine was stolen, but you still have your heart.”
Andy kissed her forehead. The two became absorbed in the sensation. He pulled back and struggled to speak, “You have not lost your innocence. It just went on a vacation.”
She sighed. “Andrealphus, you’re so dumb.” She pressed into him and closed her eyes. The two lay still.
In the grips of desire, when all others gave over, they felt content. Belial smiled. “This is what it is supposed to be. What it should have been between us, if…”
He held her tighter and let her speak. She kissed his chest through his shirt. “I did
not think I could tell you before, because of what I am, but I love you, Andrealphus. I always have.” A weight lifted from her chest. She meant the words. She smiled. “I love you so very much.”
Andy felt like his heart would burst. The madness of the flesh gave way to a body high and an overwhelming sense of peace. He kissed her cheek. “Then everything will be fine. We will get through this together and you will be okay.” He squeezed her tighter. “I can wait for an eternity more. I want you to be whole.”
Belial spoke into his shirt sadly, “You are happy?”
Andy closed his eyes. “Happy as the day I saw you for the first time.”
She nodded and hid tears from him. “Then this was a good thing.”
***
Dahlia and Lucifer were locked in an embrace of fire and ice, of blue and red. Mindless, the joy and energy between them grew with each caress and touch. Dahlia held on to him and called out his name as she shuddered in pleasure. Lucifer held her and moved as she shook. He whispered words of love into her hair.
Dahlia flipped him to his back and straddled him, hips pumping. She arched her back. He held on to her, his eyes locked on her face, watching her every moan, smile, and breathless gasp. He pulled her down to him and kissed her as they moved together.
The world around them shifted and awoke.
Mountain ranges shook as molten rock churned deep beneath them. Seas burst with new creatures as the evolution of small organisms erupted, filling the seas with fresh life. Plants bloomed and cycled through the seasons in minutes. Winds picked up and clouds streaked the sky, bringing rain to the dry places, the deserts that had not been touched in a very long time.
Gaea sat on an empty tropical island of sand and trees. Her feet descended into roots that hung in the water like mangroves. Her tendrils reached and touched living things across the planet. She felt the change, the surge. Her worn and tired features were renewed. She blinked and lost age. She smiled, a bright-eyed girl once more. The pain that wracked her body ceased. She stretched, able to stand tall. She glowed with an emerald green fire. She laughed and pulled her roots in. She twirled as trees and flowers bloomed around her. She sang into the air for her brother.