Chapter 26: Out of the frying pan…

Azazel:

A sigh of relief escapes my lips as soon as we appear inside my temporary home. Unfortunately, my relief is short-lived when Lana slumps onto the floor with a painful cry, her hands covering her ears. Lucifer lets out a roar and falls next to her with a mournful cry. Everyone rushes towards their writhing forms, surprised and horrified by their excruciating cries.

However, before we can even touch them, Lucifer changes into his devilish form, covers Lana’s squirming form with his and snarls in a warning. Everyone flinches back in shock.

“What the hell is going on?” Bree calls out in terror as she tries to reach for her sister. However, she stops when Lucifer lets out a horrifying roar and opens his jaws to reveal his razor-sharp fangs. Fallon and I look at each other, puzzled by Lucifer’s reaction.

It isn't until their bodies begin to glow with an unearthly light that their connection makes sense. “Bloody hell, she’s his mate!” I call out to Fallon in disbelief.

Fallon’s brows rise in surprise. “What? No, that’s not possible. The creator cursed Lucifer to live without a mate after he was cast out from heaven.”

I shake my head feeling as confused as Fallon, and I gesture to the couple on the floor. “Look at him, Fallon. He’s in a rage, and they’re both wrapped in an angelic mating glow. She’s his bleeding mate!”

Zoe stops next to me and grips my forearm with alarm. “What does it matter? She’s in pain. Why is she in pain?”

I shake my head and look at Fallon for an answer. Confused, Fallon gazes down at the couple, bewildered by the turn of events. Lucifer’s devilish form goes back and forth between letting out a pained cry and growling protectively over his mate. Lana’s body arches and shudders as wings begin to sprout from her back, and her eyes begin to glow.

“Oh my god, do something!” Bree cries out as she watches her sister’s back bow as another inhuman cry escapes her lips. We watch helpless and search our minds for an answer.

“Wait!” I call out in alarm. “He took her soul when we were in hell. Demons cannot take their mate’s soul because they will both die.”

Fallon nods. “Bollocks! We have to transfer her soul back to her body.”

Fallon squats down in front of Lucifer, keeping a cautious distance as he mutters steadily. “Father, can you hear me? Lana’s your mate, you have to give her soul back, or the pain will worsen.” Lucifer blinks several times and listens steadily. “She will die, father!” He mutters urgently. At first, it looks like Lucifer’s going to attack, but after a second, he clumsily pulls back and takes a couple of deep breaths. We watch warily as he leans over Lana again and places his demonic face near her tear-stained one. Seconds pass as Lucifer breathes her essence back into her body.

Once he’s done, they both instantly fall into an unconscious stupor. Lucifer’s form reverts back to his human one as he falls lifelessly across Lana’s chest. Bree and Zoe rush over to Lana’s slumped form, while Fallon and I rush to Lucifer’s. Both are breathing but are completely insensible. It’s a bit terrifying when we try to wake them, and there’s no response. Thankfully, we’re familiar with soul transferals and understand how draining it can be. “It’s alright, luv. She’s just knocked out. Soul transferals can be draining, especially when they’re between mates.” I mutter comfortingly.

Bree and Zoe frown and look between Lana and Lucifer. It’s odd to see Lucifer’s head lying innocently against Lana’s stomach. Anybody who’d see them would see young lovers in an intimate repose. He looks like any young man you’d see on the University campus.

“This is crazy! How is this even possible? My sister has wings!” Bree mumbles out, nearing a hysterical level of fear. I can tell by the expression on her face that the truth of her new reality is finally dawning on her.

Zoe must hear the panicked tone in her friend's voice because she wraps her arm around her shoulder, and calmly replies. “Listen, Bree, what I was saying is the truth; Azazel is a demon, Lucifer is the devil and Fallon... well... Fallon is also supernatural. They're here because they're trying to stop Marina, aka Marael and Sahara, from bringing hell on earth. Sahara and Marael have been keeping you and me stationary until they can use us for their spell.”

Bree slumps on the couch and rubs her fingers against her temple. “So, the nightmares are real?” Zoe sits down next to her and takes her hand. “Are you talking about the night terrors you've been having?”

Bree nods, tears glinting in her eyes. “I always see it. It has glowing eyes and snake teeth. And I'm running from it, but before it can kill me, I'm saved by...” Bree stops, her gaze landing on Fallon. “...you. It's you.”

Fallon nods a tick, gently working his jaw.

Seeing a barrage of questions glinting in her eyes, I step between them and gesture to the slumbering couple. “Let’s lay them on the guest’s bedroom upstairs so we can talk privately. They probably will not awaken for a while.

Lucifer is a lot more powerful, so he might wake up, and who knows how he’ll react.”

Fallon halts me before I take Lana in my arms. “Don’t! Don’t separate them. The glow is still surrounding their bodies. It might be dangerous to sever their bond.”

Bree settles her hand on her waist with a scoff. “What do you mean it might sever their bond? Don’t you know?”

Fallon shakes his head and gives me a beseeching frown. “Let’s lift them together.” I nod my head and follow Fallon’s lead as he lifts Lucifer in his arms and slowly carries them both to the guest bedroom without disconnecting them.

Once both of them are tucked in bed, I wipe my brow and exhale in frustration. When did my life become so complicated?

Zoe places her hand on my forearm and pulls me toward her with a weary exhale. “Talk to me, Azazel. Do you or do you not know what’s going on?”

I shake my head with a shrug. “I’m not sure. The closest to a union like this that I’ve heard of has been between a demon and an angel. Lucifer is the only one of his kind, which means there’s no precedent for this kind of mating. Hell, I wasn’t even aware he had a mate.”

Fallon nods. “Lucifer always said that the creator did not grant him a mate because of his betrayal. He has no reason to lie.”

I clench my jaw with a questioning frown. “What exactly did the creator tell him?”

Fallon shrugs. “Umm…from what I can recall, the creator told my father, from that moment he betrayed him, his only home would be hell and that no mate will be gifted to him due to his treachery.”

His brow furrows as he thinks back on what he has learned. “The only thing that makes sense is that she was meant to be his before his betrayal. I imagine after that, the Creator decided not to “gift” her to him.”

He stops talking and gazes back down at Lana’s form in puzzlement. “What if she’s an ancient Seraphim? Most young angels are either half-breeds or of a different caste? Ancient Seraphims are rare, aren’t they? It would make sense that he created her and changed his mind after Lucifer’s fall.”

I think his words through as we walk out the door and make our way back to the living room. “There is some logic to what you’re saying, mate. The creator can be an enigmatic bloke. It would be an ironic way for him to seek reprisal by assigning Lucifer’s mate to protect the one who’s destined to birth his destruction.”

Bree’s panicked voice breaks through our musings as she and Zoe step into the room behind us. “Wait, hold on a minute. What do you mean by birth? Are you talking about me?”

Bree’s face pales, and her body sways with a near faint. Zoe reaches for her with an alarmed scowl. “What the hell are you two talking about? You better explain this situation to me before I go nuclear on all of you!”

Fallon releases a resigned sigh and raises a speculative brow. “What have you told them about this?” He asks evenly.

I look at both women, who are standing there anxiously before I reply. “Zoe only knows that Bree is the sacrifice. She knows nothing about the Erue.”

Zoe’s mouth flattens into a thin line. “What’s an Erue?”

Fallon raises his brow, signaling for me to answer. I’m put on the spot, and I don’t like it because I don’t want to hurt Zoe. Our fledgling relationship is still too precarious, and I worry that she might not trust me. However, she and Bree do deserve to know what’s ahead for them so they can prepare.

“Very well then, here’s what we know. An Erue is the child of a reincarnated Oracle and a chosen champion of God. It’s our version of your Messiah. He’s supposed to save both our worlds from annihilation and be the one to end Lucifer’s reign in hell. Humans say that Jesus was the Messiah, but that is not actually true. Jesus was a mythological being created by human kings and prophets. Mary and her virgin birth were fictional. The story is actually taken from the Supernatural’s version of the Erue. And according to one of the Supernatural world’s ancient Seers, Bree is going to be the creator of the Erue. If Lucifer finds out who she is, he will end her, which is why Fallon is protecting her.”

Zoe’s face flushes further while Bree slumps down on a side chair with an incredulous laugh. “Are you kidding me right now? Not only am I the oldest virgin in the world, but now I have to worry about sleeping with some champion because I might get pregnant and give birth to a supernatural Messiah. No, this is a mistake. It’s not possible. I don’t even have powers.” She mumbles incredulously.

Fallon shakes his head with a note of finality. “It’s not a mistake. You have been marked by the hand of God. I’ve seen it. There’s no doubt about it. You bear the mark of the Northern Star in the back of your neck. That’s why I’m protecting you. My father must never know this. No one must know that you’re the Erue’s vessel. He would kill you on the spot. So, for now, mum’s the word about any of this.”

Tears gather in Bree’s eyes at his words as she raises her hand and rubs the area where the star is located. It’s heartbreaking to see her struggle. “No, no, no, I can’t. This is crazy. I’ve never even been in love.”

Zoe takes her friend in her arms with a consoling hum. “It’s okay, B. We’ll figure it out. Please don’t cry.”

Fallon’s face falls in the face of Bree’s misery. I can tell that he cares for her, perhaps more than he should. Bree wipes at her tears and sniffles. “So, who is this champion? Did this seer say who my baby daddy is supposed to be?” She mutters with an underlying tone of sarcasm.

Fallon and I shrug in reply. I don’t blame her for her disbelief, considering that she just learned about Supernatural beings in the worst way you can think of. Being kidnapped and taken to hell is definitely not the best introduction, so I try to be gentle in my response. “We don’t know. The prophecy only speaks of the Oracle and the Erue. The only mention of the Erue’s forebear is when they say he’s a champion of God. I’m assuming the Champion is one of his Seraphim, especially considering that your “sister,” Lana is also a Seraphim.”

Bree shakes her head in disbelief. “Why me? Why am I the Oracle? I don’t even feel powerful.”

Fallon replies. “I assume that your powers are dormant until you lose your innocence.” Bree’s chin trembles, but she refrains from falling apart. I admire her for that. Not many people would handle finding out they were the supernatural world’s version of the Virgin Mary as well as she has.

What I don’t expect is her response, or Fallon’s when she straightens her shoulders and mutters. “I guess I won’t have sex with anyone then. My poor vibrator’s going to have to do for the rest of my life. Of course, there’s also oral sex. I can’t get pregnant like that!”

Fallon’s eyes heat with desire at her words. It’s almost amusing to see his pale cheeks flush and his mouth gape open in shock. However, Bree continues to speak completely, unaware of his reaction. “Oh, and let’s not forget that my little sister is some kind of angel who just happens to be the Devil’s mate. Doesn’t anybody else think this is completely crazy?”

Everyone remains quiet as they let her absorb her new reality. As we stand there, I can’t help but consider the fact that things are going to get worse for all of us.