Falling Into Darkness

by L. M. Brown

  The latest vote—at the behest of Raguel, once again—had been the closest yet. Michael had abstained again, but he feared the time would come when he could no longer do so. The day would arrive when he had to make a choice, and he dreaded it.

  Thinking of the vote reminded Michael that his relationship with Raphael may never again be as it once was. When one of his oldest friends had changed his mind and voted for the ban Michael had felt the betrayal like a punch to the gut.

  Michael grabbed a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses and guided Mac out through the back door of his house and onto the beach. The building had changed a great deal over the centuries, while the peaceful beach remained the same as ever.

  They sat on the sand and Michael poured them each a glass of wine. Michael took a sip and noted that the alcohol was stronger than he had thought when he had purchased the bottle on his last trip to Earth. Perhaps it would help loosen his tongue. Save for when he reported to Gabriel, he hadn’t spoken of Lucifer directly in such a long time. He didn’t like to remind the rest of the archangels of his continual failure to bring his lover back into the light.

  At least Mac already knew Lucifer was alive. Michael wouldn’t have to convince him of the truth of that.

  They talked of Tristan, and specifically of his need to feed from an angel to satisfy the incubus which resided within him.

  “Could Lucifer be persuaded to let Tristan feed from him?” Mac asked.

  Those words were the opening Michael needed. “I doubt it. Lucifer tends to do as he pleases and for all his faults—and believe me, he has many—infidelity is not one of them.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Michael smiled. “He’s a terrible flirt, but he would never be unfaithful to me.”

  Mac nearly dropped his glass at Michael’s words. “What?”

  “Lucifer and I are lovers,” Michael explained. “We were together before he fell and despite what he has become, I cannot give him up.”

  Mac sat in stunned silence as Michael proceeded to tell him all he needed to know about his relationship with Lucifer. The wine had certainly done its job in loosening his tongue, and Michael suspected he might have ventured into the realm of too much information, but Mac didn’t stop him. He listened intently until Michael had finished.

  Michael answered his questions, and when there was nothing more to be said, he rose and silently cursed his inability to hold his alcohol. Maybe if Lucifer was really angry at what he was about to do, Michael could simply plead drunkenness.

  “Now, how about we go set your Tristan to rights?” Michael said.

  “What do you mean? You have a way to help him?”

  “Lucifer is my lover, in every sense of the word. He is also as much a prisoner in the Underworld as Tristan.” Michael didn’t explain about Lucifer being permitted on Earth, provided an archangel accompanied him. Lucifer still considered himself a prisoner at such times, and he made no secret of the fact he hated the position he was in.

  “You have a way to get to the Underworld?”

  Michael held out a hand to Mac. “Come. Let us go where most angels fear to tread.”

  Michael led Mac along the beach until they arrived at the cliff where Michael opened the cave with his mind.

  “Be careful of the steps,” Michael warned. “They’re very worn.”

  “Had a lot of use, have they?” Mac teased.

  Michael glanced over his shoulder and winked. “Oh yes.”

  Unlike his beach house, the stairs to the Underworld hadn’t changed at all. The cold, hard stones were lit by the same ancient sconces they had always been. There was no modern lighting here.

  Finally they reached the end of the stairs and Lucifer’s quarters. Although the room was little more than a cave, there had been some changes here. The luxurious bed had been a recent purchase and Michael had spent many hours with Lucifer, breaking it in.

  “Michael, is that you?” Lucifer’s voice came from the bathroom. Michael suspected he was still trying to sort out the plumbing. For some reason, modern facilities didn’t seem to want to work properly in the Underworld, no matter how much time Lucifer spent swearing at the equipment. The shower ran hot for only a few seconds before the user was doused in icy water. It was, in Lucifer’s words, ‘bloody ridiculous’. How could the hottest place in any realm refuse to deliver basic hot water?

  “No, it’s your other lover,” Michael called back. He nudged Mac and smiled. He was still feeling ever so slightly tipsy.

  Lucifer laughed loudly. “I’ll be there in a minute. I want you naked and ready for me.”

  Michael’s face heated. Maybe he should have warned Lucifer he intended to bring Mac into the Underworld. No, he reasoned, if he had mentioned his plan to him, he’d have refused, just as he had before. Wait a minute! If he wanted Michael naked he was probably stripping off himself right about now.

  “I’ve brought company,” Michael shouted quickly. He didn’t want Lucifer strolling into the room with everything on display. “You’d better be decent when you come in here.”

  Lucifer appeared a moment later, thankfully dressed. “Michael, you know the rules.”

  “You once told me rules are made to be broken.”

  “Nevertheless, I can’t have angels wandering around the Underworld as though out for a morning stroll.”

  “Tristan needs him. You know he does.” Michael stepped forward and ran his hand up Lucifer’s arm. “I know you remember what it’s like to be separated from the other half of your soul, because I remember it myself.”

  “Does Machidiel wish to turn demon?” Lucifer asked.

  “No,” Mac replied immediately, his voice firm.

  “Then you have no business here in the Underworld.”

  “Lucifer,” Michael murmured into his lover’s ear. “No one would ever know if you were to allow them some time together.”

  “You’re going to be difficult about this, aren’t you?” Michael hid his smile as he heard the wavering in Lucifer’s tone.

  “Yes.”

  Lucifer sighed. “How difficult?”

  Michael had found just one way to truly manipulate Lucifer, and that was to withhold sex from him. He just hoped Lucifer didn’t figure out Michael was bluffing. “I’ll be too busy consoling Mac after the loss of both of his lovers to spend much time down here for a while.”

  “You enjoy being with me too much to stay away for more than a few days.”

  “Mac will be devastated for weeks, if not months.” Michael shook his head sadly. He couldn’t meet Lucifer’s eyes. His lover would know he was lying.

  “Months?” Lucifer glared at Mac.

  “Maybe even years,” Michael suggested. “Alastor has been reborn. He could live to be a hundred before he’s able to return to Heaven and help pick up the pieces.”

  “You know as well as I do, you could not stay away from me for so long.”

  “I did once before,” Michael reminded him. “It was many centuries from the time you turned demon to the last night of the battle.”

  “Damn it, Michael.” Lucifer pulled him into his arms and turned to Mac. “You’ve got one hour.”

  “I thought you had more stamina than that,” Michael teased, even as he wondered if he might be pushing his luck.

  Lucifer mock-glared at him. “Fine. I’ll summon him back here later.”

  Without a word, Lucifer sent Mac from the room.

  “You’ve sent him to Tristan’s chambers?” Michael asked, just to be sure.

  “Don’t you trust me?”

  Michael nodded. “Yes, of course I do. Now, I believe you mentioned something about getting naked.”

  Lucifer’s cock rose to poke him in the stomach at Michael’s words. “Get undressed and on all fours on the bed, now.”

  Michael hurried to comply. He could tell Lucifer needed to take charge this time. While they had been equal in the bedchamber for centuries now, there were times when Lucifer needed to exert his authority. Espec
ially when Michael had successfully manipulated him.

  Lucifer followed him onto the bed and immediately dove between Michael’s buttocks, licking at his hole and nipping the exposed flesh. Michael keened as Lucifer rimmed him thoroughly.

  “Ready?” Lucifer asked.

  They hadn’t used lube, but Michael didn’t care. He needed Lucifer in him and he had to have him now. “Fuck me,” he begged.

  Lucifer entered him with one swift thrust and Michael howled as his arse stretched and burned.

  Michael held still as he forced himself to relax. Gradually the pain subsided and the pleasure began. “Move, Lucifer, please, I need you.”

  Lucifer pounded into him relentlessly and Michael loved every second of it.

  “Bringing angels into my domain,” Lucifer growled. “Do you think I can’t tell when you’re manipulating me?”

  “Hoped,” Michael gasped.

  Lucifer increased his pace and Michael’s cock brushed against the covers beneath him. Pre-cum dripped onto the silk sheets and he could tell he would come without his dick being touched.

  “Manipulative archangel,” Lucifer shouted. “You need to take your place at my side here. I can’t live without you much longer.”

  “You have me.”

  “I want forever. Angels aren’t supposed to manipulate, but you do it so well.”

  Michael shut his ears to Lucifer’s pleas. Instead he concentrated on the feel of Lucifer buried in his arse, his lover’s balls slapping against his buttocks, the hands gripping his hips, holding him in place.

  “Fall for me,” Lucifer cried. “Michael, you’ve made me wait so long. Join me forever.”

  Michael screamed as he came. He would have collapsed onto the bed, except Lucifer held him in place as he continued to fuck him.

  “Yes!” Lucifer yelled and Michael felt the heat of his lover’s release in his arse.

  They fell onto the sheets in a sweaty, sticky mess.

  Lucifer wrapped around him and sucked on his ear. “Soon, Michael,” he whispered.

  Michael shivered a little. He didn’t want to admit Lucifer made a valid point. He had used rather underhand methods to get Mac into the Underworld. His actions weren’t entirely worthy of an archangel, even if they had achieved the desired result.

  * * * *

  Michael played with Lucifer’s hair as his lover slept. He should leave soon, but the feeling of contentment made him reluctant to depart.

  Lucifer stirred and blinked sleepily at Michael, a smile slowly spreading across his face. “You have to admit, there are some advantages to having a sex demon on the throne of the Underworld.”

  “But does the rampant sex drive outweigh the increase in crimes of a sexual nature?” Michael asked.

  Lucifer ran a finger down the length of Michael’s cock, which rose instantly at the touch. “Even you couldn’t get it up again this quickly without our current king.”

  Michael chuckled. “You’ve been sleeping for nearly an hour. I’ve been half hard for most of the time, and my arousal has nothing to do with your current king.”

  Lucifer sat up. “An hour?”

  “Yes. I should be leaving soon.”

  Lucifer scowled but didn’t try to talk him into staying. Michael smiled to himself when he thought on how much progress he had made with his lover over the years. A few centuries ago, Lucifer would have tried his best to talk him into staying in his bed.

  Michael kissed Lucifer deeply, thrusting his tongue into his mouth and moaning in pleasure. A few more minutes of this and he wouldn’t need Lucifer to talk him into sticking around, he’d be throwing him down on the bed and fucking him into oblivion. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the increased sex drive was due to Tristan being on the throne. In the months since Michael had first brought Mac to the Underworld, the young king’s powers had grown at an alarming rate. The repercussions of letting Tristan feed from an angel couldn’t be ignored for much longer.

  * * * *

  Michael arrived back in the realm of angels to find Gabriel on his beach.

  “Have you been waiting long?” Michael asked.

  “Not very, but I wanted to speak to you before you began your shift.”

  Michael checked the time and cringed. They only had a few minutes.

  “You’ve been spending a lot more time with Lucifer recently,” Gabriel commented in a deceptively casual tone.

  Michael bristled defensively. “I’ve not been neglecting my duties.”

  “I never said you were, but I’m worried about you.”

  “There’s no need to be. I’m perfectly well.”

  Gabriel took his arm and swung him gently round to face him. “Are you?”

  Michael nodded, but he knew the response was automatic. “I’m not sure.”

  “What’s bothering you?” Gabriel asked.

  Michael didn’t know how to put his concerns into words. It sounded so silly when he thought about the problem. Too much sex with his lover seemed a ridiculous dilemma to have.

  “Ah,” Gabriel said.

  Michael scowled. “I wish you wouldn’t poke into my mind without warning.”

  “I know you don’t like me to, but sometimes you’re so hard to read and you never were one for confiding in others.”

  Michael couldn’t deny that Gabriel spoke the truth. “What do you think? Am I being ridiculous?”

  “No. The effects of the present king of the Underworld are felt on Earth and it stands to reason the impact would be even more powerful in the Underworld itself. It’s simply a matter of time before we feel the ripples here too.”

  “You think so?”

  “It’s a certainty.”

  “We can’t go on this way,” Michael said. “When I’m in the Underworld I can barely keep my hands off him.”

  “That’s always been a problem for you,” Gabriel teased, nudging him in the arm.

  “Not as bad as this,” Michael admitted.

  Gabriel sighed. “I’ve called a meeting of the archangels’ council for midnight tonight.”

  “You have?” Michael could tell from the harshness of Gabriel’s tone the reason for the meeting was serious.

  “I think we need to consider separating Machidiel and Tristan.”

  Michael had been thinking the same thing.

  “Tristan’s powers grow as long as he feeds on Mac,” Gabriel continued. “You should think about things before the meeting.”

  “I don’t need to,” Michael replied. “I hate to say it, but I should never have taken Mac to the Underworld. If I had known what would happen throughout the world by letting Tristan feed from him, I’d…”

  Gabriel patted his shoulder. “You had no way of knowing. None of us did. This situation is completely unprecedented. You did what you thought was for the best, reuniting the two of them when they needed each other.”

  “I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept I made the wrong choice.”

  They had arrived at the training grounds, where Michael’s latest recruits waited for him to show them the best way of handling their new wings.

  “I’ll see you later,” Gabriel said, leaving Michael to greet the new angels before the council meeting.

  * * * *

  Michael could see the fury in Mac’s eyes, even from across the room. He wished he had had the opportunity to speak to him before the council meeting and the unanimous vote to separate the angel from his demon lover, permanently.

  A part of him wished he could avoid the confrontation he knew would follow the meeting, but Michael had never lacked courage and he saw no point in putting off the inevitable.

  He let Mac rage at him and kept a tight rein on his own temper as he calmly explained the reasoning behind the decision.

  Throughout it all, he wondered how he would have reacted if the archangels had voted to separate him from Lucifer. His fury would have been legendary, and who knew, it still might be one day, if the worst ever happened.

  In the h
ere and now, however, what was done was done, and all they could do was watch and wait to see what happened when Tristan could no longer feed from his angel lover.

  * * * *

  Lucifer groaned, and not in a good way.

  “What is it?” Michael asked. He had just opened a bottle of wine, but from the scowl on Lucifer’s face, he wondered if he should have bothered.

  “Machidiel is talking to Irdu and Ardat about me.”

  Michael cringed. He had guided Mac into the Underworld for the last time, to say a final goodbye to Tristan now his reign had ended, the only way it could, with his death. Irdu and Ardat, the incubi and succubi leaders, had been with their king at the end, but what had happened in the few minutes since Lucifer had sent the angel to Tristan’s chambers?

  “Damn it,” Lucifer snarled. “He’s told them I’m alive.”

  Sometimes Michael thought it might be better if Lucifer couldn’t hear everything his demons said about him. He knew Lucifer shut out the voices most of the time, but occasionally, such as now, the conversation was too important to ignore.

  “What are you going to do about it?” Michael asked.

  Lucifer raised his hand to halt Michael’s words and Michael let him listen to the discussion happening elsewhere in the Underworld.

  “I have to go to step in,” Lucifer said. “Your angel is determined to track down Tristan.”

  “Didn’t you just send Mac to him?” Michael questioned.

  “To his body,” Lucifer confirmed.

  Michael rolled his eyes. “He needs to speak to him properly. You know I meant to send him to his soul.”

  “I’ll be back shortly,” Lucifer said.

  Michael waited impatiently for Lucifer to return. He filled his glass and took a drink of the wine while he worried what was happening.

  A few minutes later Lucifer returned, with guests. Mac, he recognized, as well as the newly deceased Tristan’s soul. Thankfully, in the Underworld, the souls of the deceased remained corporeal, the better to inflict punishment on those who deserved it. For Tristan it meant he could cling to Mac after so long apart. The other two stunning demons were strangers to him. He guessed they were Irdu and Ardat, the male and female leaders of all sex demons. They were truly beautiful.