Raise Hell

by Briana Michaels

  How he’d been able to do it, Michael didn’t know, but it had to be him. That animal was capable of more than Michael wanted to admit.

  Hobbling forward, Michael made his way down to the dungeon to verify his suspicions. He couldn’t grasp what just happened. One minute he tossed an apple, the next Michael was in severe pain on the ground. One second his brothers were watching, the next they all abandoned him.

  Why?

  Eve was nothing special. She was just an Angel like the rest of them. They never turned away from Michael’s rituals before – no matter how grotesque or brutal they were. It was an honor to be under Michael’s blade. An honor to show your worth. An honor to be in the Brotherhood.

  Michael reached the bottom step and stopped. His lips peeled back in a snarl. Lucifer’s cage door was wide fucking open. Broken shackles and chains lay coiled on the ground.

  “Fuck.” It was hard to breathe with his stab wounds. Blood spattered the floor where 666’s chains had been hacked away. Michael half expected to see a limb or two. He knew animals would gnaw their own feet off to get free of a trap. But no. Nothing of Lucifer’s was left behind other than his blood.

  Michael studied the mess. Pieced it together. Raphael lay face-down on the ground. His sword was gone. The links of the chains were hacked and melted – most likely by fire and steel.

  Lucifer fought hard and fast to get out of there.

  Had that beast coerced some fool to help him, or acted alone? There were many ways this escape could have gone… but that didn’t matter anymore. What’s done was done. Now it was time to hunt that fucker down and put him back where he belonged.

  It shouldn’t be hard to find Lucifer. All Michael needed to do was send out his finest hunters and have them follow Eve’s scent. Wherever that bitch was, Lucifer would be right with her.

  Michael’s mouth quirked into a smile. Some Angels had nothing to trace, while others were incredibly hard to miss.

  Eve would be hard to miss.

  Michael picked up the collar from the floor. The spikes set on the inside of it were bloodied and bits of flesh clung to it. No way on this green earth could Lucifer have ripped it off his throat, which was why –

  Ah yes, there’s the lock, with the key still inside.

  Only one other had the keys to Lucifer’s chains.

  Michael glared at the Angel lying in a pool of blood on the floor. If Raphael was healing slowly from that savage belly wound, Michael would kill him again when he rose. If he was dead, then good fucking riddance. Raphael was one of the Dark Angels - no matter how white his wings were, that fucker’s hair was black as midnight, and had once been on Michael’s suspicious list of threats until he’d passed all the tests, taken the oaths, and pledged his fealty to Michael. Honestly, he was a fine warrior, but he’d been bested.

  By an animal.

  If Raphael couldn’t keep an already locked beast in its place, then he was a disgrace to the brotherhood who deserved to die. If a warrior couldn’t do his job, what purpose did he have to keep breathing?

  It was then, Michael realized, how incredibly quiet it was down there. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to look through the bars and down towards the other cells. It was too dark to see anyone.

  “Laz,” he spoke loudly and with authority. “Lazarus.”

  No answer.

  What the fuck? Michael left Lucifer’s cage and headed in the direction of where he kept his prized possession. When he saw the cage door hanging wide open and Lazarus also missing, Michael started to laugh.

  He’d been bested by a beast and a lunatic.

  Lazarus, an Angel Michael forced to drink from the Cup of Knowledge, knew everything. Every. Thing. That much knowledge had cause his mind to go soft, but he would know how to escape… he just hadn’t had the courage or the focus to do it on his own.

  Which was how Eve had come into play. She’d not only trained Lucifer, but had guided Lazarus. They’d just been down here biding time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to make their move.

  “You little bitch.”

  Eve fooled him. She came into his territory, deceived him about her purpose in coming, and he’d not seen through her lies. Instead, he gave her a chance.

  He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Michael should have known she was going to be trouble. The moment she stole those oranges from his bowl, Michael should have cut her arms off and tossed her over a cliff. Instead, he chose leniency. Another mistake he’d never make again.

  “Sire!” Rave came down the steps with his sword drawn. “Eve is gone! What hap—”

  Michael struck Rave in the face with the hilt of his sword. Rave sailed back from the force and the crunch of his head striking the stone wall was music to Michael’s ears. Michael was so furious, he roared until his lungs caught fire.

  Two others came running into the dungeons. He couldn’t kill them yet. He still needed them. But they all would be punished for this. He didn’t care that they looked genuinely surprised. Didn’t give a fuck that one of his best warriors was lying in a pool of blood on the floor.

  “Sire, you’re wounded!”

  Michael smacked the warrior’s hand away. Rising to his full height, he glared at each Angel before him and smiled as they sank down on their knees and bowed their heads. “What will you have us do, sire?”

  “Hunt that animal down.”

  Chapter 12

  Eve couldn’t breathe. A sharp jab kept shooting through her ribs. Her veins felt like ice freezing her in sections. Pretty sure a tusked elephant was sitting on her chest.

  “She made a noise,” someone said. The voice was deep and gruff. Familiar.

  “Let me see her,” said someone else.

  “Her breathing is labored. Is that normal?”

  “Give her to me,” said a deep voice. Lucifer.

  Eve’s heart sank. She’d been put back in the cell with Lucifer. Her return wasn’t what disappointed her. It was that Eve no longer had the strength to get herself out of a shitty situation that she’d ultimately gotten herself into in the first damn place. But she had to try. No way was she staying a minute longer in Michael’s territory. And when she figured a way out, she needed to take Lucy and the others with her.

  A second attempt to open her eyes was a little more successful. Warm light danced around the cage, causing stinging tears to fall from her face. Or maybe that was fear and sadness causing her eyes to leak.

  “Eve,” Lucifer’s warm hand brushed her forehead. “She’s shivering,” he said with a hushed tone.

  “Let me see her,” said another male.

  All the voices sounded familiar, but far away. Eve used all her strength to raise her hand and rub her eyes. There was something dried all over her lashes and around her mouth. It felt stiff and gross. Blinking again, Eve managed to catch a glimpse of the Angel holding her.

  He looked positively feral.

  Eve’s movements were so sluggish, there’d be no point in trying to run. Besides, she wasn’t just surrounded, she was trapped. Lifting her head again, Eve’s belly lurched from the pain. Holy moly, her skull pounded like a stampede was running through it. She rubbed her head and stilled immediately.

  Shit. Her number was gone from her arm. No, not gone… smudged and half wiped off. Shit! Shit! Shit!

  Dread choked her. She didn’t know what to do and she was surrounded by males of the Brotherhood and back in her cage in the dungeon.

  This was it. She’d been found out. Michael discovered her secret and that’s why he tied her to that tree and set the snakes on her. This is just the beginning, she thought. Eve knew very well how punishments worked. They were terrible and then they got worse.

  Looking around, she only saw shadows and crazy big silhouettes. If her guys were here with her, then…

  Oh no. They’d know the truth now too. And they’d likely cast her out and—

  “Eve, can you hear me?”

  She squinted in the direction of that dark, gravel
ly voice. The minute Eve saw Lucifer’s silhouette loom over her, she exhaled a shaky breath. Lucy might understand. He might be the only one who would listen. Then maybe… maybe he’d still protect her.

  No. As much as Eve wanted to, she couldn’t hide behind him. It wasn’t fair to Lucifer and he’d been through too much already. All because he would protect her didn’t mean he should. Eve needed to fess up and stand on her own two feet. No way would Eve drag him down with her. She wanted Lucifer safe and free… even if she never would be again.

  Michael wasn’t going to let this go, not until he got a full confession. Eve knew that now. She understood the way Michael worked. He was no better than the bitch who ran the Purity Sect. Holy Hounds of Mercy, how could she have ever thought coming here was a good idea? Her fear and heartache hurt more than her bones did now.

  Lucifer squeezed her hand. “We’ve got you. You’re safe. We’re out.”

  We’re out. What did that even mean? Eve tried to take in a deep breath and sit up. She needed to wipe her eyes again. They wouldn’t stop watering and stinging. Every bone in her body ached. With her free hand, she pushed herself up and noticed the ground was filthier than usual. Things smelled different too. Fishier. Saltier.

  Was this the aftereffects of the venom?

  “I don’t understand why I can’t see right. Nothing feels right.”

  “Maybe give her one more push of healing energy, Con, just to make sure she’s good.”

  Eve froze and concentrated on her breathing. Constantine was here? Well of course he was. He probably came to heal her so that she was able to endure the next test with Michael. Eve shrank back when cold hands pressed on her chest. It was at that precise moment she realized she was naked.

  Nudity didn’t bother her until it made her feel vulnerable. Like right now. But to show vulnerability was a weakness she wasn’t willing to show anyone here.

  “I’ve got you, Eve.” Lucifer whispered in her ear.

  His deep voice sent shivers down her body. Positioned behind her, Lucifer pressed his chest to her back. The contact made her dizzy. A fresh wave of nausea washed over her when Eve remembered exactly what else was on her back.

  “Relax your wings,” Lucifer grumbled in her ear. “Relax, Eve. You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Eve shook her head, “You can’t say things like that.” But she took courage from him anyway and obeyed. Exhaling slowly, she relaxed her wings and they became more pliable and softer.

  “He broke them,” a tear slipped down her cheek. “He broke me.”

  This was the price she’d have to pay for her fuck ups. Michael must have found out. And after she passed out from those awful snake bites, he verified her deceit by wiping away her number and seeing her truth. Or her lie.

  Same, same.

  “I’m sorry,” she croaked. Eve didn’t know what else to say. Her guilt felt heavy and thick in her lungs, making it hard to breathe.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Lucifer grumbled. “Now hold still and let Con do his job.”

  Constantine’s hands slid over her body. His cool touch was a stark contrast to Lucifer’s burning one.

  Lucifer’s chest rumbled against her back when he spoke. “You have nothing to fear, Eve.”

  “I… I know,” she lied. Warriors were supposed to be fearless. And even though she knew she’d lost the chance to train in the brotherhood, she would still keep the façade of being a fighter. She needed to be brave in order to face whatever came next. She wasn’t going to give Michael the satisfaction of seeing how petrified she was. “I’m not scared.”

  Lucifer growled in her ear, “Never. Lie. To me.” He buried his face against her neck and inhaled, “I can smell how scared you are.”

  “Only animals smell fear,” she tried to keep her quivering voice strong. “You’re not an animal, Lucy.”

  “You don’t know what I am.”

  “You’re the Devil,” she half-smiled, feeling better with every swipe of Constantine’s hand.

  “That’s right. I am. And according to you, a Devil protects, right? So, I’m going to protect you. You have nothing to fear so stop being afraid.”

  So simple, yet so impossible. She was never going to not be afraid. She’d been on the run too long and now she was at a dead end.

  Constantine’s voice was soft, “Hold still for me.”

  Eve sucked in a sharp breath. It felt like ice water filtering into her veins. Constantine’s hands sailed all over her body in a pattern. When he brushed her breasts, Eve’s nipples hardened. No one said a word as he continued to touch her body all over. As his hands sailed up around her throat, to cheeks, and finally her face. Pressing his palms gently over her eyes, Constantine let out a small exhale. Eve instinctually let go of Lucifer’s hand and grabbed Constantine’s forearms. They were thick and smooth. Hard as stone.

  Constantine cleared his throat and finally pulled away from her. “Better?”

  Eve blinked several times until her vision completely cleared and she stared into Angelic blue eyes. “I can see you,” she smiled.

  Oh sweet relief! If there was one thing Eve feared more than anything, it was not knowing when something was coming. It made being tied to that tree with her back to the world so fucking terrifying. It wasn’t the snakes. It wasn’t the Angels. It was facing a barrier and not being able to turn around to see what was coming at her. Michael could have had a whip, a sword, a box of scorpions, and she wouldn’t be able to brace herself enough for it.

  Instead, he used a fucking apple.

  Who would think a piece of fruit could cause so much damage? That one apple hit her wing, she’d taken that step, and the snakes went into attack mode. Sweet Divinity, there’d been so many snakes…

  Eve looked down and saw she didn’t have a single bite mark on her. She cast her gaze to her forearm and frowned at the smeared ink that smudged her number. They all saw it too, even if they weren’t saying anything about it yet.

  Were they going to ask? Yeah, probably.

  Was she going to confess? Eve wasn’t sure. Maybe she could just skate around it for a while until she had a plan. Speaking of—

  “Where are we?” She looked around the space they were huddled in.

  “In a cave,” Lucifer answered.

  A cave? “What cave?”

  “Just a cave,” Constantine stood and swayed on his feet.

  “Damn, Con.” Uriel gripped his arm and helped guide him closer to the fire burning in the center. “Sit down before you fall down, brother.”

  “Thanks,” Constantine landed hard on his ass and eased onto his side with his cheek in the dirt.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Eve wanted to go over and offer him comfort, but she wasn’t certain she should. Lucifer’s grip on her hips was tightening, preventing her from budging.

  “He just gave a lot,” Uriel shrugged. “He can’t help himself. Does it every fucking time one of us is hurting.”

  Now Eve felt guilty for causing Constantine to weaken. No Angel should give everything he has away…

  She placed her hands over his and tapped them. “Let me go, Lucy.”

  He obeyed, but growled.

  Uriel’s brow shot to his hairline. “Lucy, huh?”

  “It means Light,” she explained.

  “I know what it means,” Uriel sat down by the fire and warmed his hands. “Lucifer sounds stronger though.”

  Ignoring Uriel, Eve leaned forward and crawled across the dirt floor. Lucifer let out another growl and she instinctively snapped her wings tight to her back, covering everything from her shoulder blades to her thighs. Crawling over to Constantine, Eve caressed the tip of one of his black wings. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome,” he whispered back. Then Constantine’s eyes fluttered shut and he conked out.

  “What happened?” Eve asked Uriel. “How did we get here?”

  “You don’t remember anything?”

  Nope.
Nada. “After Michael broke my wings and threw that apple… everything seems like a big blur. I think I might have passed out.”

  “Small mercy, then,” Uri frowned and stared into the fire.

  “He also cut your feathers, Eve.” Lucifer sat down beside her.

  Yes, she remembered that part too, she just didn’t want to mention it. Her wings being impaired meant no flying for a while. Healing magic couldn’t help with that. If it could, Lucifer would have regrown his feathers already. Now they were two flightless Angels…

  “What a pair we make,” she leaned on Lucy’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”

  “What do you have to be sorry for?”

  Eve wasn’t ready to answer that.

  Chapter 13

  Gabriel perched on the ledge of the cliff and stared at the storms over the ocean. At this height, the waves were loud, but not deafening. He’d been out here for a while now. Had left the others when he couldn’t stand the sight of that female anymore.

  Her body was destroyed with bruising and bites. To know a fellow brother had done that to her was just… fuck, there were no words. Michael was a cruel Angel. That was no secret in the brotherhood, but tonight was a game changer.

  It took so much of Constantine’s power to heal her and still her body bore the marks of a war zone. Even after the punctures healed and bruises faded, her breathing remained labored and skin too fucking pale for his liking. It turned Gabriel’s stomach because he knew damn well this was the tip of the iceberg. Michael’s wrath would be unleashed any moment and then they’d know what true suffering was.

  It was a blessing Gabriel hadn’t been there when Michael tied Eve to that tree. According to Constantine, not a single Angel was able to stomach watching what Michael did. The few who watched quickly left the minute the snakes were provoked. With the first bite, the first Angel turned his head. Then another, and another. They all left.

  Worst part was… Gabriel didn’t blame them. Michael made life terrifying for everyone in the brotherhood. Never had an Angel been able to stomach watching a complete session with Michael. And that was a double-edged sword.