“Damn right it’s not,” Gabriel seethed. “We were built to protect, are you saying you’re one of us now?”
“Always… was….” Raphael dropped to his knees because of how hard Gabriel was squeezing him.
“Gabe!” Uriel warned. “Let him go.”
“Do it,” Raphael croaked, his cheeks darkening with how hard Gabe’s hand was around his throat. “Do. It. I’m done. I… forgive you.”
Gabriel froze and released him immediately. “Forgive?”
Raphael coughed and sputtered at the same time Uriel slammed the key into the lock and got that fucking collar off of Lucifer’s neck.
Now free, Lucifer didn’t hesitate to grab the sword from the ground and plunge it right into Raphael’s belly. Growling, teeth exposed, he pushed and pushed that blade in until Raphael laid on his back and blood pooled beneath him.
Wrenching the sword free, he whispered, “I’m sorry,” then took off out of the dungeon and up the steps.
Constantine ran like the wind with Eve in his arms. Foam gurgled out of her mouth. Snake bites riddled her body. Redness streaked her ivory skin.
“Hold on, Eve. Hold on, okay?” he pushed his healing energy into her and stumbled as he ran.
Holy earth, wind, and fire, he was in up to his chin and didn’t know what to do next. Something had snapped in him – he’d lost his damn mind.
Once in a clearing, he shoved off and took to the skies, cradling Eve close to his chest. Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die. Flapping his wings, Constantine surged higher and higher until he was lost in the clouds and concealed. He needed to get her to safety, and short of going into the human realm, he didn’t know where else to take her except: The cave we used for Uriel.
Destination in mind, Con only looked straight ahead as he flew to the one place that offered some semblance of safety. It was out of their sect, semi-secluded, and straight ahead.
The cave was high on a cliff with a good vantage point. To fly was the only way to reach it and the mouth opened to a stellar view of crashing waters that surged with unrelenting storms. Rain pelted down and soaked him. By the time his boots hit the ledge, he and Eve were both drenched.
Daylight only reached so far, which meant halfway into the cave, everything became black. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his face let alone any lurking predator that might be using this place as a nest or den. Placing Eve in a corner to keep her safe, Con pulled out his sword and started yelling to hopefully spook anything hidden in the darkness. Once satisfied they were alone, he turned his attention back to Eve and brought her over where the sun still shined, so he could see her injuries better.
“Fuck,” his eyes couldn’t latch onto any one bite mark. There were so many. Too many.
Anger lanced his gut and his hands balled into fists. Michael was an unjust ruler. A selfish, vile, monster with too much power and no conscience. Eve had done nothing to deserve this.
“I’m going to help you,” he promised. “Just stay with me, okay?”
He placed his hands over the first few bite marks around her legs where the snakes struck the most. Small bloody pricks marred her skin. Constantine closed his eyes and concentrated on pushing his healing energy into her. Once those bites disappeared, he moved onto the next. Then the next. Then the next.
Holy Mother of Light, she was ruined.
He had no clue if the larger fangs had stronger venom or if the smaller punctures held the most toxin, so he could only work his way up her body, one bite at a time.
Closing a lid on his emotions, Constantine got a fucking grip and worked harder. Faster.
Her thighs were cold, wet, and swollen. Blood seeped out of some of the bites. Con’s stomach tightened as he continued to work on her. “I’ve got you, Eve.”
His hands trembled with the fear of losing her. These weren’t just superficial wounds or crushed bones. He also needed to use what he had to counteract the venom pumping in her veins.
She was barely breathing. Her eyes naught but slits – barely open and unseeing. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
He should have acted sooner. Damn him for his hesitation!
But seeing Eve tied up and naked had done something horrifying to Constantine that was too disgusting to ever admit and a viciousness rammed into his chest that was nothing short of terrifying. He should have been used to it, but this time his emotions were too strong to subdue. Too loud to ignore. Too vibrant to look away.
When the snakes coiled and wrapped themselves around Eve, Con became entranced with the sight. He held his breath and didn’t move a single muscle.
To be punished by Michael wasn’t something new for any Angel Warrior. For Eve to be part of those rituals? It stirred many things in Constantine – pride, fear, and curiosity were at the top of his list. The snakes were a test, and Con, for a fraction of a heartbeat, wanted to believe she was going through an initiation to become part of the Brotherhood of Angels.
But then everything changed the minute Michael threw that first apple at her because Constantine made sure that fucker didn’t get a chance to throw another.
And now… now he was going to pay the ultimate price for his betrayal.
As he looked down upon Eve and continued healing her, Con thought, “Worth it.”
Chapter 10
Lucifer took off like a bat out of nowhere and anything in his way, he took out. Guards, statues, glass windows – nothing stood a chance against him. When he plowed through the last door and the sunlight finally hit his face, he blinked against the brightness and instinctually tried to fly. He felt so much lighter with all the chains gone. Flexing his wings, he shoved off with his feet…
Only to realize his wings were still clipped and he was going nowhere up.
Time to change tactics.
Males started yelling and he spared a quick glance behind him only to see Uriel, Gabriel and…. Holy fires, they pulled Lazarus into this too? The damn Angel’s wings glittered like a thousand yellow stars and the reflection was either going to blind someone… or attract attention.
He needed to get out of here. Now. But first—
Senses heightened, and no longer able to be in flight mode, Lucifer would fight until he could run. Looking around, he noticed no guards were in sight. That was odd. Maybe Michael didn’t keep the outside as heavily guarded as he did the cages. It would make sense. There were no threats up here. Threats were kept buried down below the earth and locked away…
Lucifer’s nostrils flared and he caught the whiff of something bitter and tangy… laced with sweet exotic nectar. Eve.
“We have to go!” Uriel barked. “We’re gonna get caught.”
Lucifer growled. “I must find Eve first.”
Gabriel grabbed Lucifer by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall. Bits of stones and earth fell around them. “You need to get out of here. We’ll get Eve.”
“Not on your life,” Lucifer knocked Gabriel’s hands off him.
“Where are you going to go, Lucy? Even if you find her, you can’t crawl and carry her at the same time.”
Yes, he could.
“And if Michael turns up? How are you going to fight him, protect her, and escape with those clipped wings of yours?”
Lucifer hated that Gabriel was right.
“Lucy fights in black with night as light.” Lazarus sing-songed behind them.
“Uri, shut that motherfucker up before we’re caught,” Gabriel spun with his sword out and ready.
Lucifer took it as an opportunity to shove the fucker back and then he followed Eve’s scent because he wasn’t leaving without her. Maybe she wasn’t too badly injured. He smelled the faintest scent of blood. Whatever that other strong odor was, it wasn’t Eve.
“She’s in the black hole,” Lazarus wiggled his fingers, “bubbles are bubbling.”
Uriel rubbed his face with his free hand, while keeping a good grip on Loony Laz, “Please don’t make me regret freeing you, Laz. Shut up.”
/> “Where’s the black hole?” Lucifer got all in Lazarus’s face, “Where is it?”
“Where the birds don’t fly and the wolves can’t reach.”
Does this asshole always speak in riddles? Lucifer exhaled and said, “Take us to her.”
If Lazarus made a wrong turn, Lucifer would know because they’d follow Eve’s scent. But if Lucifer didn’t have to track it, he’d have more focus on any enemy that tried to stop them.
“Where the fuck is everyone?” Uriel looked around. “Something isn’t right. This doesn’t feel right.”
“That’s your panic talking,” Gabriel hissed. “Now run!”
The four of them took off again. As they booked it around the backside of the buildings, Lucifer saw the courtyard. There were small lumps on the ground. A tree with a rope. He didn’t waste time continuing to look. With no obstacles ahead of them, they kept running. Out of the courtyard. Out of the training area. Out of the fields, then out of the forest. Finally, they made it out of Michael’s territory all together.
“This way, brothers,” Lazarus pointed with both fingers – one pointing up, the other down.
“You aren’t making sense!” Uriel snapped.
“Follow me,” Laz sprung like a panther and was far faster than any of them anticipated. It was work trying to keep up with him.
Lucifer didn’t know if he could trust these Angels or not. All because they helped free him doesn’t mean they don’t have other intentions too. And Eve. Why was he risking his chance of breaking free from all the Angels, just to make sure she was okay?
There will be other chances to leave, he reminded himself. These Angels carried nothing on them that could stop Lucifer. Not even their swords would be able to slow him down. But he needed to make sure Eve was okay first. Her screams still echoed in his head.
They ran across thorns and jagged rocks. Lucifer had lost her scent. It infuriated and scared him. Was Lazarus lying? Were they all tricking Lucifer? Were they luring him away so they could do something to him and had used Eve as bait?
Desperation had Lucifer wanting to howl – even though he knew no one would answer him. Honor had him on his feet, running fast as the wind. Stupidity had him trusting the Angels he was with.
“The cave,” Gabriel announced. “They’re in the cave.”
“Shit,” Uriel ran his hand angrily through his hair. “We’re going to have to carry you two and fly up.”
Lucifer’s hackles raised, “Stay the fuck away from me.” He held the sword he’d stolen from that Angel guard, Raphael, and pointed the business end at Uriel. He smelled no scent. Heard no voice. Felt nothing. “You all lied. She’s not here. And she’s not in any cave. You betrayed me.”
“The fuck we have,” Gabriel snarled. He knocked Lucifer’s sword right out of his hand with the force of his own much larger blade. “We risked our lives, our very existence, to help you escape, you stupid piece of shit. We have no reason to lie to you. If Lazarus says she’s up there. She’s up there.”
“EVE!” Lucifer called out.
No answer.
“EVE!” The thunder and waves swallowed his voice.
“Sound doesn’t carry here like it does everywhere else, Lucifer. This place is an in-between,” Gabriel sheathed his sword and looked up at the cave. Without saying a word, he pushed off and flapped his massive wings. Lucifer watched him take flight and swallowed a tremendous amount of jealousy that he could go where Lucifer could not.
Inferiority was a calamity no Angel should suffer.
He growled enviously, watching Gabriel reach the cave in a matter of seconds. For Lucifer to reach the same point, he’d have to swim against the waves and hope he didn’t bust his body on the rocks that surrounded the fortress. The cliff was so steep, it was nearly straight up. There wasn’t much to hold onto if he scaled it. As far as protection from predators, it was a good spot. But if one had wings, this place wasn’t going to shield them from much… and all Angels had wings. Damnit.
The idea that Eve might be up there and Lucifer was stuck down below infuriated him. Everyone else could get to her but him. Well… him and Lazarus since that idiot’s wings were clipped too.
Gabriel disappeared into the cave. Uriel and Lucifer kept their focus on the mouth of the black hole while Lazarus stuck his feet in the ocean. “This feels so lovely,” the daft Angel announced, then he took a piss in the water and hummed. They ignored him.
“There,” Uriel pointed, “See? Con’s there with him.”
Lucifer’s grip tightened on his sword. Yeah, Con was with him, but not Eve.
They watched as the Angels swan dived off the cliff and sailed gracefully down to the beach, beating their wings hard to slow their fall.
“She’s up there,” Gabriel said.
Lucifer prowled over to Constantine and inhaled. Eve’s scent was all over him. As was blood, spit, and sweat. Rage roared and he latched onto Con’s throat, “The fuck did you do to her?”
“Get off him!” Uriel tried to pry the two apart.
Lucifer cocked his fist back and punched Con in the face. Blood poured out of the Angel’s nose as someone pried Lucifer away. “What did you do to her!”
“She’s been poisoned! Con’s been up there healing her, asshole.”
“Poisoned? How?” Uriel asked.
“Snakes,” Constantine said while healing his own nose. “Michael had snakes bite her. She’s got so much venom in her system, it’s damn near impossible for me to counteract all of it with my energy.” Constantine’s hands trembled something fierce, but his expression was impassive. Reading that Angel was like staring at a stone.
“Take me to her.” Lucifer’s pride wasn’t hurt at all when he said it. “I need someone to take me to her. I need to see her.” Another day, he might feel the pang of embarrassment for asking a fellow Angel to carry his ass, but it wasn’t going to be today.
Strength was knowing when to ask for help. Lucifer was strong and he needed fucking help.
“Please,” he turned to Gabriel. They were almost the same size; Gabe was the only one with a prayer of carrying him that high.
With a clenched jaw, Gabriel snatched Lucifer by the forearm. Shoving into the air with Lucifer dangling, the winds whipped and thunder rolled. Ocean spray made their hands slick and their hold slipped. Lucifer screamed. Gabriel grappled to get a better grip, but it was a losing battle. “I can’t fly us higher, you’re too heavy! Our hands are slipping!”
Lucifer didn’t miss the tone. Gabriel was annoyed that he couldn’t carry Lucifer.
Weakness, one more thing a warrior Angel would not tolerate.
The harder they held onto each other, the worse their grip. It was fucking futile. They started sinking down towards the ocean. “Fuck!”
Something hard pushed Lucifer from behind, “Got you! I got you!” Uriel snagged Lucifer’s other arm and they were able to redistribute his weight. Lucy’s heart beat so fast and he wasn’t sure if it was from fear of the fall, adrenaline from the flight, or the sight of what was in that cave when they landed.
“Eve.” He crawled over to her.
Constantine arrived a heartbeat later with Lazarus. “There’s our flower,” the lunatic whistled like a canary and hopped around in circles.
“Eve,” Lucifer swept the hair from her face, “Eve, look at me.” Why wasn’t she responding? Was she even breathing? He bent down to smell her face and feel if air was coming out of her nose. His mouth brushed against hers as he tried to figure out if she was truly alive or not. Her lips slightly parted and she exhaled.
Eve’s warm breath on his lips unleashed something upon his body. Holy Mother of Divinity…
“What the fuck is that?” Uriel came closer.
Lucifer frowned. Had they sensed what he just felt? Better play ignorant. “What’s what?”
“That?” Uriel jabbed a finger at Eve’s arm.
“Holy what the fuck,” Gabriel crouched down and gently grabbed Eve’s arm.
; Her number was dripping off of her skin.
Constantine was the last to the party. “Let me see it,” he swiped his hand over her number, and more of it smeared across her skin. “It’s ink,” he frowned.
They all stared at the unconscious female with various degrees of confusion and anger.
“For the love of all things holy,” Uriel sighed, “why on earth would she draw her number back on?”
“Because she’s hiding something,” Gabriel and Lucifer said at the same time.
Chapter 11
Michael clenched his teeth and held the most painful of his wounds. He’d been stabbed repeatedly.
He’d also been betrayed.
The courtyard was cleared out and whatever happened between tossing that apple and getting stabbed was a blur. Stumbling forward, holding his side, Michael roared with fury. Most of his warriors were at their posts and knew better than to abandon it. But those who were off rotation gathered around to see Eve’s punishment and once the snakes attacked that stupid bitch, Michael bet not a single warrior stayed to watch.
All it took was one strike of a snake for his warriors to cave. As if they couldn’t stomach seeing an Angel put in her place. Eve would never become a warrior now. Not if she could stir compassion and pity amongst his army.
He trained his warriors to be merciless. And today, they showed mercy… to themselves.
Female or not, Eve would eventually have gone through the initiation process like every other Angel in this sect. Seven lashes, seven days of sun, seven hours of washing impurities and cleansing the mind, body, and divine energy.
Michael prided himself in raising the best of the best – that meant his warriors were perfect in every way.
If they tucked wings and turned their heads just now, he failed as their leader. And failure was intolerable.
With a growl, he looked around the courtyard and stared at the tree with the ropes severed and no Eve to be seen. Mother. Fucker. Someone tried to murder him and took Eve.
Only one would be so foolish to do something like that: Lucifer.
Raise Hell Page 8