Chapter 25: Into the fire

Zoe:

I blink my eyes as the door closes behind me. All I see is complete darkness. However, my sense of smell is perfectly fine. A cough escapes my lips when the scent of ash and smoke permeate my senses. My eyes burn and itch painfully, and my throat is dry. “Hello,” I whisper softly. Who knows what's hiding in the darkness. “Bree... Lana...” I call out again. But there's no response. All I hear is the echo of my own voice. Taking a few steps, I extend my hand in front of me and start walking. It's a bit unnerving because it's so dark. Then I remember something Azazel said about supernatural eyes. He said that Supernaturals could see better than humans. So I close my eye tightly, willing them to change like they did last night when I saw the corrupt power surrounding my apartment—then I open them again. Unfortunately, nothing happens. I don't see a thing.

I try a few times as I take a few cautious steps, but I get no results. Sighing in frustration, I continue to walk and listen for any sounds. It's eerily quiet. Not even a breeze stirs in the air. I'm walking for what I assume are minutes when it happens. A loud roar reverberates throughout the area. It sounds like a lion's roar but deeper. Suddenly, the air stirs around me with a loud whoosh. I look around, pulling my flailing hair from my face; I struggle against the wind. Fragments begin to fly around me, hitting me in the arms and legs. I cry out in pain when my skin begins to burn in every part the debris touches. That's when the darkness wanes, and an oddly colored sun rises on the horizon. The sun is red and black. It reminds me of a picture of the planet Mars that I saw at the planetarium when I was little. I look around warily now that I can see everything. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it's morning. Unfortunately, what I see is not pretty. The world is...dead. That's the best way to describe what I'm seeing.

The earth is covered in ash and blood. The trees are burned and gray with barren branches, and the sky is gray and covered with some kind of sooty fog. The wind is still going strong, whipping against my body. I look down at my body to see cuts and burns on my clothing. Something falls at my feet with a loud thud. I look down at it and nearly wretch when I see that it's a decaying human arm covered in maggots. I heave again, kicking at the arm to push it out of my reach. Gazing at the ground, I cringe in horror when I see other limbs scattered in front of me. All I can do is hope that those limbs do not belong to any of my friends.

I walk slowly, ambling over the body parts and cringing every time I hear the crunch or squishing sound of my feet hitting the ground. The stench of blood and decay heightens with every step I take. Covering my mouth, I try not to wretch and search around in hopes that I'll find a spot where there are no human remains.

Finally, I spot something moving in the distance and make my way cautiously to it in hopes that it's Bree or Lana. I continue to walk, keeping my eyes straight ahead as I make my way over a hilltop covered in blood and gore and continue past several dead trees. The stifling heat permeating the air does not help my sanity either as I continue to walk; tears of despair slide down my face. The whole place is horrific. I can't imagine living in this place without going mad. The thought that I might be stuck here suddenly strikes me. What if I don't find my friends? What if I do, and there's no way out?

My heart plunges with anguish at the thought that I'll never see Azazel again. We were so happy for those moments we were together. What if I never get to tell him that I love him? I'm nearing the moving figure when I spot the ring of crucifixes laden with dead bodies. Ducking behind a decaying tree, I silently scrutinize the area. There are several shadows moving around in different spots of this hellish place. Narrowing my eyes, I try to get a better look at the person pacing around the circle. That's when I get a better look at the... monster. I discern at that moment that the thing pacing around is most definitely not human. It's about seven feet tall with a human body. From a distance, you would probably confuse it with a bodybuilder. It has large, pale muscled arms and legs. However, up close, its head is not human. It's pointed with slits for eyes and a wide mouth surrounded by rows of sharp snake-like teeth. It doesn't have a nose or ears, and its arms have spikes that stick out of it. It's holding a large ax that it's dragging around the floor like a tail.

I observe it for a few more minutes, but it doesn't do anything but pace back and forth. That's when I notice the other monsters pacing in the distance. They're in various parts of the circle, and they all look the same. There are at least dozens of them. I look around the area in hopes of seeing Bree or Lana, but all I see are the monsters, and the bodies hanging in the crucifixes are too decayed to be discernible.

I consider for a moment what my next step will be when one of the... monster's nearby stops. I watch with trepidation when it raises its head up and sniffs the air. To my dismay, the monster extends its long green tongue out as if tasting something. It reminds me of a snake. Suddenly the monster turns its head in my direction and begins to approach. I take a few steps back and stumble. A scream lodges in my throat when I see that it's coming closer. Panicked, I rise quickly and break into a run. I don’t even care where I go because I know that if the monster catches me, it's going to hurt me.

I don't know how long I run. However, I notice that the further I get, the denser the air is. Eventually, the sun goes down, which tells me that I must have run for hours. Thankfully, my supernatural sight kicks in at that moment. I look back several times, but I don't see anything moving around. Unable to take another step, I slump down near another ashen tree and take a few deep breaths. My chest burns and my throat is completely dry from dehydration. I look off into the distance in hopes of finding a source of water or even my friends, but there's nothing.

I run a hand over my face feeling sweat and grime cling to my skin, then slumped against the tree's trunk, feeling exhaustion and dread. All I want to do at that moment is roll into a ball and cry like a baby. I lean my forehead on the palm of my hand and close my eyes, trying to compose myself for a moment. I can't afford to fall apart right now. Bree and Lana are counting on me to save them.

Taking another deep breath, I rise from my perch and continue to walk. I run my tongue over my dry lips, trying to lubricate them. That's when I see a large shadow from a distance. I blink my eyes taking a few steps closer when I see that it's actually a large mountain. It has jagged ridges that stick out menacingly from the top and a large crevice in the middle. The mountain is not connected to the ground, though. Its surrounding area is a drop-off. It looks like a moat, but instead of water, it’s surrounded by small rock needles. It reminds me of the mountain in the movie Lord of the Rings with its foreboding veneer and spooky looking rock moat. I walk around the edge of the rock’s moat in hopes of finding a path, but it's hopeless. One slip, and I'll become embedded in one of the needles.

I turn to walk away but quickly turn back. Something inside me tells me that Bree and Lana are inside. I walk around again and nearly stumble when I hear the scary roar again. This time it's coming from the mountain. I look around in hopes of spotting where it's coming from, but like everything else, I hit a dead end.

I don't know how long I walk around the mountain before I eventually realize that I have to find shelter. As soon as that thought strikes me, the sky begins to darken, and drops of blood begin to rain down upon me. I extend my hand out with revulsion as the blood slides down my palms. Looking around, I see that there's a tree with a large hollow opening inside it and quickly run inside of it. I huddle down inside the opening, trying to keep my body warm. It's a miserable and terrifying experience to see the ash-covered earth flood with blood.

Weariness, as I've never known, overcomes me at that moment. I try to stay awake for the next few hours as the deluge of blood begins to create a puddle near the tree. Unable to keep my eyes open, I close them and fall into a deep sleep. My dreams are clear of nightmares this time. I guess my brain could only take so much fear, so it's giving me a respite in my sleep.

I'm not sure how long I've been asleep when I startle awake. Thankfully, it's no longer raining blood. I crawl carefully from my hiding place and look around the blood sodden ground.

I'm about to head back towards the mountain when I hear the sound of a female voice behind me. “Hello?” The voice utters calmly. Wary of what might happen, I walk carefully towards the voice. It's a girl. She's beautiful with long ebony hair and emerald green eyes. She's wearing jeans, a long blue t-shirt, and white all-stars. “Hi,” I mutter hesitantly.

She turns to me, her eyes widening with happiness. “Are you Zoe?” She asks, determined. I nod. “Yeah. I'm Zoe. How do you know me?”

Without a word, she runs towards me and wraps me in her arms. “Oh my gosh. I'm so glad you're here. Azazel is so worried about you.” At the sound of Azazel's name, I tighten my arms around her and whisper happily. “Thank goodness. Is Azazel here? Is he okay? Where are we?” She loosens her arms and takes a step back. “He's fine, but he's not here. He couldn't come. You're in another dimension. You're no longer on Earth, honey. I think we're in hell or some hellish dimension. I'm Amara, by the way. Azazel called my boyfriend and me because you disappeared inside the building, and he's unable to get in.”

I consider her explanation for a moment. “How did you get in here then? Are you a supernatural too?” Amara nods. “Yeah, I'm a Breija. I can see things through mirrors and project myself through them too. I just need someone's personal belonging to find them. I have a few other powers, but these are the most useful so far.” I nod my head gratified that I'm no longer alone.

“Do you know how to get out of here?” Amara shakes her head. “I don’t. Technically, I'm not here either. Whatever you're seeing is a solid projection of me. The real me is sitting in Azazel's living room looking into a mirror. He and the others are working on finding a way to get you out of here. Did you find the other girls?”

I shake my head, pointing my hand towards the mountain. “I haven't seen them, but I think they're in there. I just can't find a way inside. I've been looking for a while.” Amara looks at the mountain, her face set in consternation. “Did you see anything else?” I nod, remembering the monster. “Yeah, there were these... monsters. They were seriously scary. They were pacing in front of a circle of crucifixes holding dead bodies. I think one of them smelled me. I ran before it could reach me.”

Amara nods her head. “I think I know what you're talking about. Was it carrying an ax?” I nod. “Yeah, it was horrifying. I ran as soon as it spotted me. Do you think there are more of those things out here? Because there were a lot of them guarding that circle of crucifixes.” I ask, even though the idea of knowing the truth freaks me out.

Amara shrugs. “I don't know. But I do know that there are other scary things that we have to watch out for. The last time I was here, I fell into a river of blood and human parts.”

My brows quirk in response. “Yeah, I saw that. It even rained blood last night. I need to find my friends before something bad happens to them. Can you help me?”

Amara agrees readily, her eyes glancing around, leery of what might appear. I can't say I blame her, though. “Thanks, Amara.” Amara gives me a gentle smile as she makes her way towards the rock moat. We both move from one end to the other, trying to find a way in. After a moment, Amara stops next to me and points to a really rocky area. “I think we can jump over each of those and be okay. The rocks are pretty close to each other, almost like a path.” I take a closer look and look back down. I see a flowing river of think liquid at the bottom of the moat, but it’s miles away, which is pretty scary. However, I don't let it matter. My friends are what matters at this point.

Brave Amara takes the first steps. I watch as she jumps over the stones, my heart dropping with every leap. But she makes it to the edge of the mountain without any trouble. Taking a deep breath, I do the same thing. I jump and jump, feeling trepidation, but I don't stop. Eventually, I land next to an awaiting Amara.

We both cling to the side of the mountain, gazing around. That's when I remember the crevice I saw earlier. I point Amara to it. “There's an open area up there. We should be able to get into the mountain from there. We both grip the side of the mountain and slowly begin to climb. “We have to be very careful that we don’t fall in where there’s a huge drop. And from what I can see, that’s not water.” I gesture down at the river of lava below us. It’s the oddest lava I’ve ever seen. Instead of red, it’s blue and white in color, but you can feel that heat from where we are and the flow as it glides through the bottom of the crevice. It’s almost hypnotizing to see its ebb and flow as we carefully make our way toward the cave’s opening. Thankfully, the opening is only a few feet above us. Once we're in, we both look into the darkened cavern. I listen to the sound of scuttling feet. It sounds like a million feet scrambling quietly over the floor. Amara and I look at each other, our eyes wide with terror. I lift an index finger to my mouth, motioning her to remain quiet and slide through the opening.

Amara follows quietly behind me. Thankfully, my supernatural sight kicks in at that moment. I can see the rocky floor and the slimy walls, laden with insects. “Don't touch the walls,” I whisper quietly to Amara. She nods, keeping her hands in front of her as she gazes warily around the rock walls. “Yeah, I see the bugs. So gross.” She mutters with disgust.

We've been walking for a while when we see an odd glowing light. “What do you think it is?” I ask nervously. Amara gazes toward the light with a questioning gleam. “I don't know. Just... just be careful.” I nod my head and take a few cautious steps. The urge to call out to Bree and Lana is almost overwhelming, but I resist.

We're nearing the glow when I see it. It's an oasis. Kind of like the grotto in Azazel's house. The water glows eerily beneath the dark cavernous walls. You can see the glow of the water reflecting from the ceiling. “It looks like water.” I utter, feeling my parched throat crying out for the soothing taste of fresh H2O. “I'm so thirsty,” I whisper to Amara. She doesn't reply as she moves closer to the pool. I step beside her, running my eyes over and around it. There don't seem to be any critters in this area. I want to dip my hand into the crystalline waters so badly, but I resist. Who knows what's beneath the water or if it's even water.

Amara looks over the water then looks at me. “Do you think it's okay?” I shrug my shoulders. “I don't know.” However, my words ring false. I can feel the Siren in me, pushing for me to touch the water. It's almost like a compulsion. My senses awaken at that moment. I can smell the fresh scent of pure water. Taking a chance, I dip a finger inside of it. It feels soft and gentle.

Amara gasps, her eyes looking right at me with wonder. “Holy cow Zoe, your eyes are glowing.” I place my hand on my face as if I can feel its glow. Then look down at the water and see my reflection. My eyes are glowing like a blue neon sign. They're large and shiny. I close them and open them in hopes that it's some kind of hologram, but they're still glowing like beacons. “I-I-I I've never seen them do this.” I stutter horrified. Amara shrugs. “Maybe it's a Siren thing.” I gaze at her dubiously. “Okay, then why would they glow now?” Amara gestures to the pool. “Well, Sirens are water creatures. Maybe it's your way of telling you that the water is fine.”

I nod my head, feeling that she might be right and dip my whole hand in the water. Lifting my hand back up, I take a sip. It's delicious. The freshest water that I've ever tasted. “It's good,” I say, taking another drink. Amara nods but doesn't take a drink saying. “I'm a projection, remember. I don't get thirsty or hungry in this state.”

I nod in agreement and continue to take a few more swallows. Thankfully, my thirst wanes. Pushing away from the pool, I look around for another entryway. “Let's go find the girls.” We both take a few steps when we hear the sound of footsteps. This time the footsteps are louder and closer. I look around for a hiding place and take Amara's hand. “Quick, behind the pool.” Amara doesn't question me; she simply scurries behind me and hides. It's horrible. I look at Amara, then do a double-take when I notice that she's fading. “Amara. What's wrong?” I whisper as quietly as I can. Amara shakes her head and looks down at her body. “I think I'm being called back.” Taking both her hands, I cling tightly to them as if I can keep her with me. Amara gives me a pitying glance as she begins to fade. “I'm sorry, Zoe. We'll try to find you. I promise. Just hold on...” Then, poof, she's gone.

I take a couple of deep breaths, trying to hold my tears at losing her in. I only knew Amara for a few hours, but it feels like I’ve known her forever. Now I'm alone again, and it's terrifying. Taking a few deep breaths, I listen for the sound of the footsteps I heard earlier, but I don’t hear a sound.

Taking that chance, I scuttle out of my hiding place and walk towards the opening on the other side of the cavern. I don't hear anything, so I assume I'm safe. I don't know how long I trek through the terrifying landscape of the mountain, but eventually, I stop. I look around in hopes that I'll see something familiar, but it all looks the same. For all I know, I might be going around in circles. Several large insects scuttle across the cavern floor with threatening hisses, and I come to a section where old bones lie in a pile. Feeling hopeless, I rub my hands over my face with frustration. I don't know what to do next. I’m overwhelmed with the fear that I might be stuck here forever. However, I don’t let it overtake me. I have to help my friend. Closing my eyes, I consider my siren powers. Maybe there's some way I can use them to find Bree and Lana. Lucifer said that Sirens were used to lure sailors at sea, and I know how to heal.

Maybe I can use my voice somehow. I look around the dark cavern to see if Sahara, Marina, or those monsters are around, but it's quiet. Taking a few deep breaths, I begin to hum softly. I'm too scared to sing out loud. Who knows what will show up if it hears my song. At first, nothing happens, then the scurrying creatures stop. They all turn and face me, listening intently. My heart speeds up as panic threatens to set in. I don't know what the things will do considering how corrupt my power is, but I continue to hum. The creatures move closer, their insect antennas standing on end. It's seriously creepy. Some of them look like a cross between a centipede and a scorpion. I think about my friends as I hum, projecting my need to find them. To my surprise, the creatures all turn and start to file towards another part of the cavern. The sound of their claws scraping against the cavern floor makes goosebumps rise across my skin. I try not to think about it when I take a deep breath and follow their retreat.

Too scared to stop, I continue to hum. Who knows what those things will do if I stop. Eventually, we make it to a large bright cavern and up a row of stone steps. To my shock, Bree and Lana are inside. They're both locked inside some weird stone dungeon.

“Zoe!” Bree cries out when she sees me walk into the room. Lana stands next to her with a relieved sigh.

“Bree, Lana.” I cry out, running to the bars. The insects split apart and scurry away as soon as I stop humming. Bree extends her hand through the bars with desperation. “Zoe. Oh, my god, Sahara's crazy. We were at home, and she...” My body grows cold when Bree stops talking and points behind me. All of the hair on my neck stands on end at her terrified expression.

“I knew you would come here,” Sahara mutters behind me. Turning slowly, I come face to face with Sahara's sneering one. She's wearing a black dress, and her long red hair is loose around her. However, she looks different. Her hair isn't as luminous, and her skin is ashen. She looks...older.

“Sahara,” I mutter in an even tone. Sahara crosses her arms and paces back and forth with her eyes narrowed in rage. “Here to save your friends, Zoe?” She asks with a snicker.

I shake my head holding my hands up in a helpless gesture. “Why are you doing this, Sahara?” Her face goes blank at my question. “Why am I doing this?” She asks. “Well, let me tell you something—Marael thought that she'd take my amulet and then take all of the power for herself. Well, the jokes on her because now I have something that bitch wants! I have her sacrifice and...” She waves her hand at me. “...with your help, I have her Siphon.”

I shake my head and take a few steps back, running into Bree and Lana's prison. “Don't do this, Sahara. What Marael is trying to do is crazy. Just let us go. The Council knows about Marael's plan, and when they find her, they're going to kill her.” Sahara shakes her head. “Do you think that I care about the Council? Those bastards are the first that I'm going to destroy as soon as I complete the ritual.”

I turn quickly, trying to somehow get the cage door open. But the doors are shut tight. Pain shoots through my head when Sahara grips my hair and pulls my head back. Her grip is strong on my hair. I cry out, feeling my scalp burn and my neck ache with every pull. “Let me go!” I scream out, hitting and pushing at Sahara. I can hear my friends screaming and hitting the bars with panic. “Let her go, Sahara!” They scream out in appeal.

But Sahara ignores their pleading and continues to drag me down the stone stairs of the cavern. I scrabble around the floor, my knees scraping painfully on the ground with every struggle. I go still when Sahara stops in front of a stone altar and lifts a deadly knife from the center. My heart stutters with terror at the sight of the knife. She turns the knife over in her hand, the sharp metal gleaming like a beacon in the darkness of the cavern. I pull my hair back when she moves the knife closer. I can feel the malevolent vibrations of magic oozing from the blade. Sahara's eyes glow like the fires of hell. They kind of remind me of Lucifer's eyes when he turned into a monster.

At that moment, I realize that Sahara is going to kill me. She pulls my hair back with a jeer, aiming the knife at my throat. I look into her glowing eyes, my mouth set in a tight line. “You can't kill me, Sahara. You know that I'm the Siphon. If you kill me, you die too.” Sahara's teeth clench with rage. At first, I think she's going to do it, but after a moment, she pushes my head away and releases her grip on my hair. I fall forward, running my fingers through my aching head with relief.

But my relief is short-lived because she takes the knife and turns to my friends. I watch in alarm as she opens the door and screams for my friends to get out. Bree and Lana step out, ducking away from the knife.

That's when a plan hits me. I don't think I simply open my mouth and begin to hum again. Like before, the insect creatures file in. This time I project the need to help my friends. The insects scattered across the floor, stopping behind Sahara. It's scary to hear the chirping and dragging sounds they make as they move closer and closer.

Sahara turns to the sound, terror clouding her eyes. “What the hell!” She screams out. Before she can say more, the insects attack, jumping on her arms and legs. I want to wretch when they stab her with their stingers. However, I don't break my concentration. Her mournful cries echo across the cavern as the insects drag her to the now open dungeon door. I take a few shallow breaths and continue to hum until the insects drag her inside. You can see blood dripping from her various wounds. I follow their movements until they have her trapped inside, then close the dungeon door. I can still hear her painful cries through the closed doors, but I don't wait for the creatures to finish with her.

Taking my friends by their hands, I hurriedly lead them out the door. “We have to go!” I yell out, breathless. No one says a word. We simply run out of the cavern until we're standing outside the mountain’s entrance. You can hear the sound of our heavy breathing as we trek through the rocky ground. Bree looks across the desolate landscape in alarm. Both their eyes are wide, and their mouths are open with shock at the realization that we're not home, or even on Earth. “Where the hell are we?” Bree cries out as she gazes down the mountain's edge towards the protruding rock path. I shake my head, stepping towards the path. “I don't have time to explain right now. Let's go.” Lana follows wordlessly behind, while Bree continues to gaze around in horror. We walk for nearly an hour until I feel that we're safe.

Bree slumps down an ashen tree stump. Her face is pale, and her mouth is set in a grim line. Lana takes a seat beside her looking just as weary. “What's going on, Zoe? Where are we?” She asks mournfully. I squat down before them, wiping my hands down my thighs. “This...” I say, waving my hands around the ashen ground and dark sky. “This is...hell. Sahara cast a spell on the building that brought us here.” Bree chuckles and shakes her head in amusement. “Okay, Zoe. Very funny. Can we go home now?” I shake my head with a grim frown. “I'm not joking, Bree. Sahara and Marina are witches.”

Bree gives me a chiding look and crosses her arms over her chest. “No. This is a joke. Witches don't exist, Zoe.” Lana rolls her eyes. “Open your eyes, Bree. Does this look like anywhere you've ever seen? Look at it!” She utters, waving her arms towards the landscape. “And how do you explain those... things dragging Sahara away.”

But Bree is not convinced. She simply tightens her lips and shakes her head stubbornly. Lana takes a deep breath at that moment and looks back at me. “Why are we here, Zoe?” I take a deep breath and look into Ailana's eyes with a guttural groan. “It's a long story, Lana.”

Lana shrugs and gestures to the terrifying landscape. “It looks like we’re stuck here until we find a way out, so we have time.” I nod my head thinking things through while my friends stand up and follow me across the ashen ground. “Do you remember the girls that were killed in the churches a few months ago?” Lana nods. “Yeah, there was a psycho that sacrificed those girls on some altar.” I nod my head, glad that she remembers. Bree simply follows behind us, listening quietly.

“Yeah, well, they were not sacrificed by some psycho. At least not by a human psycho. They were sacrificed by Sahara and Marina as a supernatural ritual to bring hell on earth.” I point to Bree. “You were supposed to be the last sacrifice. That's why you disappeared a few months back.”

Bree stops in her tracks, looking shocked. “What?” She sputters out in disbelief. “No, I fell and was taken to the hospital.” I shake my head. “No, Bree. You were going to be sacrificed, but Azazel and his friend, Fallon, saved you. They hid you until you were no longer in danger, then they released you once they thought it was safe.”

Bree shakes her head in disbelief. “No, that's crazy. Why would you say that?” I swallow hard before I respond. I don't know how to make Bree and Lana believe me. The story is just too outrageous to be true. But I know it's true. “It's true, B. I know it's true because I've seen what Sahara and Marina have done. And because I'm a supernatural, and so are you.”

Bree scoffs at my comment, while Lana remains quiet. “Are you listening to yourself, Zoe? What drugs has your boyfriend been feeding you to make you think you're some kind of supernatural creature?”

“It's true, Bree. I'm a Siren. I was a Siren before I met Azazel. Remember my singing, and how people would react to it? I have powers. And Azazel is a demon.”

I don't wait to refute Bree's argument at that moment. I know she will only believe me if I give her proof.

Thankfully, the proof shows up a moment later in the form of my demon boyfriend, the gorgeous prince of hell, and the king of hell.

Lucifer, Fallon, and Azazel appear before us, all dressed in leather pants and black t-shirts. Azazel's eyes home in on mine right away. “Zoe!” He cries out, taking me into the shelter of his arms. “Azazel!” I cry out, kissing him hard.

Lucifer clears his throat loudly with a roll of his eyes. “That's enough, you two. How about we save the snogging for later?” Fallon sighs at his father's interruption, but he doesn't comment.

“How did you get here?” I ask in surprise. Lucifer snickers, gesturing to Azazel and Fallon. “It's your lucky day, ladies. The cavalry has arrived. Not only do you get to see my gorgeous face again, but we're here to give you a ride home.”

Azazel's brows furrow as he gazes around the horrid landscape. “Are Sahara or Marael here?”

I shrug my shoulders gazing around warily. “We saw Sahara. She was crazed. I kind of used my powers to stop her. I think she's dead, but I'm not sure.”

Azazel shakes his head. “Then we better go in case she shows up.”

I look at Bree and Lana, seeing their eyes widen in shock. “Who’s...?” Lana asks, running her gaze over Lucifer and Fallon's masculine forms.

Lucifer turns to both women with a charming smile. “Well, hello there. Look Fallon, two lovely birds. I call dibs on the one with the silken hair. Although I do like curls too.”

Lana shakes her head with an incredulous scoff. “Wait, your name is Lucifer? As in the angel cast out of heaven by God?” Lucifer snickers. “First of all, little one. I'm the first son of God. Second of all, he didn't cast me out—I fell. But daddy was threatened by my power, so he offered me hell in exchange for my not destroying him. He figured it was a good way to keep tabs on me, the bloody sod.”

Azazel snaps his finger in front of Lucifer, returning his attention back to us. “That's enough, Lucifer! How about you focus on getting us out of here now?”

Lucifer shrugs, his face set in a smolder. “I can take both the Siphon and the sacrifice, but I will not take the angel.” He says, gesturing to Lana with a speculative gleam.

Fallon and Azazel turn to Lana with a questioning frown. “She's not an Angel,”

Azazel mutters, confused.

Lucifer shakes his head. “Yes, she is. I can see the outline of her wings and her angelic aura. Don't you see them, Fallon?” Fallon frowns as he runs his gaze over Lana in speculation. “I sense something, but I don't see it. How is that possible?”

Lana backs away from the men's speculative gaze, her face set in a scowl. “Are you talking about me?”

Lucifer nods, tilting his head sideways. “Yes, you, little one. And it's against hell's rules to help angels escape once they have fallen.”

Lana shakes her head. “But I'm not an angel. That's crazy. I would know if I was an angel.”

Bree steps forward and stands in front of her sister, protectively. “My sister is not an angel, if angels even exist. I know because I was there when she was born.”

Lucifer narrows his eyes at Bree, his mouth twisting into a sneer. “Listen, you little twit, I suggest you watch your tone before I rip you to bloody shreds.”

Before Bree can respond, Fallon steps in front of him and gives him a heated glare. “You will not do a bloody thing. Now get us out of here.”

Lucifer shakes his head. “You know that it's against the rules.”

Azazel nods. “I know, Lucifer. But I also know that you're the king of hell, which means you can change the rules. Please.”

Lucifer's nostrils flare, and his eyes begin to glow with anger. “You know that there are rules in place that even I can't bend, Fallon. The creator and I made a deal. No angel shall pass through hell lest he or she pays the price. If they do not, they shall be consigned to hell. You know this!” Lucifer's face tightens as he moves closer to Lana and gives him an appraising look.

“And I'm not mistaken, luv.” He points a manicured finger at Lana's chest. “You are an angel. An ancient one, from what I gather. It's not possible that you were born human. I sense many centuries inside of you, and I'm never wrong.”

Lana shakes her head in dismay. “No, this is crazy. Tell him, Zoe.”

Lucifer shrugs. “No, you're a Seraphim! And I can't let a Seraphim walk freely through my gates without restitution, so you'll have to stay.” Lana's eyes water with tears as she looks around the barren landscape with terror.

I shake my head at a loss. “You have to help us, Lucifer. We can't leave her here. Maybe... maybe Lana doesn't know what she is. Maybe her mother didn't tell her. Because I swear to you, Lana has never shown any angel tendencies.”

Lucifer doesn't respond as he thinks my words through. “Be that as it may, the angel stays.”

Bree and I cling tightly to Lana, unwilling to let her go. “Then you'll have to go without us because we're not leaving her behind.”

Azazel and Fallon shake their heads. “No, you will not stay.”

Lana shakes her head, tears running down her face. “No, you have to go. Just go. Leave me. I'll...I'll figure something out.” She murmurs with a brave tilt of her chin.

Bree and I shake our heads. “No, we're not leaving without you. None of this is your fault.”

Lucifer's jaw ticks as he observes us, argue back and forth. We must get annoying because the usually stoic Fallon raises his arms in frustration and yells out. “That's enough! There has to be a way that she can go. You said that she has to pay a toll.”

Lucifer nods his head. “Yes, there is a toll.”

We all grow silent and face him. “H-how?” Lana asks nervously. Lucifer rolls his eyes and runs his tongue across his teeth. “You will have to forfeit your soul to me.”

Bree and I explode in anger at his words. However, Azazel and Fallon remain silent.

“Won't that kill her?” I ask Azazel.

He shakes his head. “No. She's an angel. She won't die without her soul. She just forfeits her entrance to heaven. You have to have a soul to go to heaven.”

I bite my lip, looking at Bree and Lana. “So, when she dies, she'll come back here?”

Lucifer shrugs. “Perhaps. There are many reaches of hell where the dead are sent to their final punishment based on what kind of people they were in life.”

Fallon nods in agreement. “He's telling the truth. When Lana dies, she'll probably go to another part of hell.”

Lana's face is pale as she considers her fate. “I guess it doesn't matter because either way, I'll end up here.”

Bree shakes her head. “There has to be another way.”

But Lana is not having any of it. “Have you been listening to any of this, B? There is no other way.”

Before we can argue further, she turns to Lucifer. “Okay, I'll play along. What do I have to do?” She bravely asks.

Lucifer smiles. “You're a brave one, aren't you, sweet? Very well, all you have to do is kiss me.”

Lana's eyes narrow in suspicion. “Really? A kiss? That's all I have to do?”

Lucifer chuckles. “Yes, darling. Demons take power through sexual acts. I figure a kiss would be the tamest way to take your soul. Unless you want more...” He asks with a sensual droll.

Turning to Azazel and Fallon, I give them a beseeching look in hopes that they'll stop him. But once again, they do not refute Lucifer's claim. Azazel raises a questioning frown when I jab him in the stomach. “What? I told you that demon rituals are done through sexual contracts. A kiss is actually pretty tame compared to what he can ask her to do.”

Lucifer chuckles at Azazel's words. “Oh, the things I can do to you, luv. But I shall be a gentleman for once and just offer you a kiss. Do we have an agreement or not?”

Lana quirks a brow then asks with a sarcastic scowl. “I suppose to you it's not a big deal because you've kissed millions of women?”

Lucifer snickers. “Oh, I've kissed more women than that. Have you taken a look at me? I've at least kissed billions, and they've all loved it.”

Lana rolls her eyes with a jeer. “Well, it might not be a big deal for you, but you'll be my first kiss, so you better make it good.”

Lucifer's smile slips as he gauges her honesty, which makes Lana shuffle uncomfortably. I almost feel bad for her when her lip trembles, and she crosses her arms protectively in front of her chest.

After a moment, Lucifer nods to himself and extends his hand. “Very well. The deal shall be sealed with a kiss. Azazel and Fallon shall be my witnesses.”

Azazel nods as Lana takes his hand. Her hand trembles slightly as Lucifer pulls her into his arms and places a hand under her chin. His eyes are predatory yet tender at the same time. Lana closes her eyes and lifts her head up. Without another word, Lucifer leans down and kisses her.

I have to admit it’s hot how he takes her face between his large palms and kisses her passionately. And telling from the way Lana wraps her arms around his back and rises to her toes, she's enjoying it—a lot. The kiss lasts at least a minute. It's deep and sensual. Bree and I turn our backs, feeling like intruders in such an intimate moment. We hear Lucifer's soft husky groan and Lana's sweet mewl before Azazel clears his throat. “Alright. That's enough; the pact is sealed.”

Bree and I turn to see them both separate, looking dazed. What surprises me most is Lucifer looks like a man who has just found heaven. You'd almost think that he'd been poleaxed. If I didn't know better, I'd say the devil has met his match.

Lucifer shakes his head, losing his besotted expression, and scowls as he takes a step back. “Alright, then, the deal has been met. Shall we go?”

Lana doesn't answer, still completely dazzled by her first kiss. So, Bree and I nod and take her hand. “We're ready.”

Azazel nods as he takes his place beside Fallon and me and a gawking Bree. Time to go home.