Chapter 16 — Pacing does not work

Bree:

Fallon has so much goddamn nerve. I can’t believe he did it to me again. Just when we get close again, he runs away. I swear that if he was here right now, I’d choke him.

I guess I should be thankful that this time he doesn’t leave me to starve to death. I might be bored, but at least I have a comfortable bed and some food that one of the demon servants dropped off earlier. Unlike the cellar I was in, this room is quite luxurious. It has a large king-sized bed, several well-lit windows with silky curtains, and a beautifully handcrafted vanity reclines near one of the walls. The hardwood floors are well polished, and the walls are painted an eggshell white.

Taking one of the combs from the bathroom, I comb through my hair and slip into a fresh set of clothes that I find in the closet. The clothing is obviously for Fallon, so I just borrow a pair of boxers and a plain black shirt.

At first, I try to open the doors but quickly realize that it’s locked tightly and have the same results when I try the door. When the demon comes to drop off dinner, he warns me that it’s futile to attempt escaping because all of the windows and doors are warded.

Not giving up, I try to pry one of the windows open with one of the rods that hold the bed’s box spring but only end up sweaty and frustrated.

Seeing that I’m getting nowhere, I sort around the room until I find a worn novel thrown haphazardly in the back of the closet. As I settle on the bed, I wonder how Lilith became the owner of such a beautiful home. Did she kill the previous owners? The mere thought horrifies me.

Come evening, I hear the hum of conversation coming from downstairs. Rushing forward, I bang my fists against the door and call out for help, but after nearly an hour of screaming, I realize that it’s not working.

As time passes, I rest my ear against the door and try to listen to what might be occurring, but I can’t hear a thing. Frustrated, I slump back on the bed and strike the pillows until I’m too exhausted to move.

I don’t understand why Fallon is not questioning what he’s been doing all of these years that Lilith has been locked away. I understand that he no longer holds his memories, but It makes no sense that he’d agree to kill Lucifer so willingly. When we last spoke, he made it obvious that there was no love lost between him and Lilith. So why would he help her? I’m missing something, and it’s killing me that I don’t know what it is.

As I lay under the comforter, I consider what to do next. I need to convince Fallon to speak to Lucifer. I also need to know what the damn prophecy says because I feel this has to do with what the oracle told him.

It’s late into the night when I hear the sound of the door opening. Sitting up, watch as Fallon stumbles inside. My breath hitches when I see what he’s wearing. There’s no doubt that a naked Fallon is a breathtaking sight. But seeing him in a suit can be quite as exhilarating. Through half-closed eyes, I watch as he removes his suit jacket and throws it in a nearby chair before he turns to the bed. My heart races when he walks around the bed until he’s hovering over me. I’m lying sideways, and my hair covers most of my face, but I can feel him moving behind me. A shiver works up my spine when his finger caresses my bare arm and pushes my hair out of my face, but somehow, I manage to keep my breathing steady.

“I know you’re awake, little human.” His deep voice breaks the tense silence. “Look at me.”

Shaking my head, I turn on my back and face him.

Fallon takes a seat beside me and places my arms over the side of my head. “You are trouble, aren’t you, little human.”

I look at my restrained arms, then back at his molten ones as I swallow down my desire. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter huskily.

Fallon gives me a wicked grin, which makes heat build between my legs. Even when he’s an asshole, he takes my breath away. His eyes gleam like flames as he leans close and whispers. “You are quite a temptation, luv. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

Seeing that he’s softening toward me, I ask the question that has been ringing in my mind. “Why are you doing this, Fallon? Why do you want to kill Lucifer?”

Gaze shuttering, he sits back and releases his hold on me. “Because if I don’t, I will lose the only chance that I have of gaining everything that I wish for.”

My brow furrows with confusion. “But why?”

His jaw ticks as he looks away distractedly. “It’s what the Oracle told me. What she prophesized.”

I sit up next to him and circle my arms around my folded knees. “What does the prophecy say?”

Fallon’s eyes become hooded as he gazes intently into my eyes. “Why do you wish to know?”

I shrug. “I guess because I want to understand. You may not care or believe me when I say this, but Lucifer really loves you.”

Fallon looks down at his lap and mutters. “It doesn’t matter if he loves me, little human. It’s what it is meant to be. Lucifer must die so that I may become what the Creator made me.”

He leans close and whispers, “Soulless son of the morning star. What you seek is not in this time or in this place. When the blood moon rises, the Erue will rise into the human world, and the Creator’s champion will be entwined the North Star in war. The Erue will seek to reap death upon the fallen one, and destruction will befall all, but hope can be restored if the bringer of the Erue can restore the soul of the fallen one’s begotten. Find the North Star, and ye shall find the Oracle and the bearer of your soul. Fail to do so, and your soul and hope for freedom shall be lost. A true sacrifice must be made, and once the soul is restored, the enemy shall fall, and the offspring shall be redeemed. Take heed, soulless son of the morning star. For your path will begin once you reunite with the north star. You will rule as you desire and vanquish all enemies.”

I think about what the prophecy might mean, but I can’t make sense of it. “I don’t understand why killing Lucifer is so important. Before Lilith came around, you were living fine with just a sliver of Lucifer’s soul to tether you.”

Fallon shakes his head. “No, you don’t understand, little human.” He bangs his fist against his chest. “The truth is I don’t plan on redeeming myself. I do not want my soul. I want to reap death and destruction in the Creator’s world. And the only way I can do that is by destroying those who stand in my way.”

I reel at his honest tone. “But I don’t understand. You never complained when Lucifer gifted you with a fragment of his soul.”

He scoffs. “Gifted me or thrust upon me?” he asks. “Because I highly doubt that I asked him for it.”

I’m at a loss. The Fallon that I knew did not feel this way. But then again, he has no soul, which means he lacks empathy and hope. Now I understand why he was adamant about not losing the part that Lucifer gifted him when we met up again.

“Please, Fallon, don’t do this.” I plead.

Fallon’s corresponding smile is so malevolent that I have to catch my breath. I guess I hoped that the Fallon that I cared about was still somewhere inside of him. But as I look into his soulless eyes, I realize that is not the case. Fallon means exactly what he says. He does not care if the world burns.

Tears gather in my eyes as I contemplate what will happen to the ones that I love. Leaning forward, I place my hand in his and whisper. “Then let me go. You don’t need me. Just let me die with everyone else.”

His lips tighten into a cruel line. Before I can say another word, he pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around me. “I regret to tell you that I cannot do that, my little human,” his fingers trace my jaw caressingly. “You are far too instrumental in our plans. But I can promise I will end you quickly.”

Fallon’s breath fans across my face as he captures a stray tear that glides down my cheek and tastes it. “Your tears are delicious,” he whispers in my ear. “Give me more of your pain.”

At his cruel tone, I try to push away from his hold, but he clutches me tight. “You’re a bastard,” I mumble tearfully.

Fallon chuckles, completely unaffected by my hateful words. “It looks like now you understand who I am, little human. Perhaps if you’re good to me, I will let you live a bit longer.”

A sob escapes my lips at his unfeeling tone. Pushing back, I swat at his chest and curse him. “I’d rather die than be your little toy.” Not giving heed to my emotional outburst, Fallon tightens his grip on my chin and slams his lips against mine. His kiss is rough and filled with rage. I know that I should resist him, but my traitorous body has a mind of its own.

Within moments, I’m draped over him, and my legs straddling his waist. “I hate you,” I mutter between kisses.

“I know you do, luv, and I’m thoroughly enjoying your hate.” Fallon laughs at my weak outrage as he pulls me closer and devours my lips. God, he’s such a bastard, but he’s right. Feeling desperate, I circle my tongue around his and bite down on his bottom lip.

Fallon twists and places me on the bed, stretching his large body over mine. The way he rubs his muscled chest against mine as his hands travel across my body feels amazing. Breaking the kiss, Fallon strips my shirt off. His lips descend down my jaw and throat, leaving a hot trail of pleasure in its wake. “I want to taste you,” he mutters as he continues his trek down my chest.

Arching my back, I open my legs and sift my fingers through his hair. Fallon flicks my nipples with his smooth tongue and swirls it around my belly button, making me pant with delirium.

Closing my eyes, I savor the feeling of his tongue against my folds. There is no doubt that Fallon’s oral skills are awe-inspiring. My eyes roll to the back of my head as his tongue flicks my clit. Soft moans and mewls escape my lips as bliss builds inside my belly, making my body jerk and spasm with every brush of his tongue.

Fallon runs the flat of his tongue across my clit, circling it until I’m nearly out of my head. Sweat beads my brow as the rapture builds inside of my core. With one last swipe, the dam holding back my pleasure explodes inside of my body in pulsing waves of bliss.

As my orgasm abates, Fallon kisses his way up my body until he reaches my lips. “Your hate is delicious. Now tell me again how you’d rather die than be my toy.”

He must see my intent because he grips my hands tightly and holds them above my head. “If you strike me again, I will retaliate.”

Rather than answer him, I clench my jaw tightly and ignore him, which seems to amuse him even more. Once he sees that I’m not going to strike him, he rises from the bed and begins to remove his clothes. Feigning exhaustion, I reach for the t-shirt that I was wearing, but Fallon takes it from my hands. “I’d rather you sleep naked.”

Before I can argue, he tosses the shirt away and covers me with the comforter. “Do not worry, little human. I won’t molest you while you sleep. My body heat is so high that I prefer not to lie next to someone who will sweat all over me at night.”

He ignores my glare as he slips out of the last bit of clothing and slips in beside me. I stick to the corner of the bed, but Fallon disregards my attempts and pulls me close to his chest. His chest rumbles with humor at my futile attempts to keep my distance. “Oh, come one, luv. You weren’t acting this shy when I had my head between your silken thighs.”

Color rises up my chest and face, but I don’t argue. There’s no point when I know that he’ll just find more amusement at my expense. I don’t know why I keep reacting to him this way. Maybe it’s because I’m experiencing some form of Stockholm syndrome. It would be a good reason if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve had feelings for Fallon since the moment I met him. I guess I’ll remain in denial and say that it’s the former.

For the next five minutes, I try to resist becoming comfortable, but when the jerk slides his hands up my back and begins to rub my spine, my body quickly melts into a puddle. Closing my eyes, I sigh as every brush of his palms brings me closer to sleep. I must imagine it because just as my eyes finally close, I feel his lips settle across my temple.

Like my waking moments, my dreams are full of turmoil. I keep remembering the few moments that Fallon and I shared before he forfeited the fragment. He wasn’t as cocky or rude as he is now. Yet, he wasn’t gentle or sweet either. If I had to describe him, I’d say he was standoffish. It was only once we warmed up to each other that he let down his walls. I’d say that at that point, he was broody and bossy. I guess what bothers me the most now is that even though he’s a murderous asshole, he’s still so damn tempting. And it doesn’t help that he continuously does things that confuse me. Just when I think he’s going to kill me, he kisses me. And the way he cared for me after discovering me in that cellar makes me feel like he cares. I just don’t know what to make of him.

Unfortunately, as the night progresses, my memories twist into nightmares. It starts well enough with me sitting in class and texting my sister. Suddenly, all of the lights in the room go off, and the ground begins to shake. Rising up, I look at my classmates, surprised to see that no one is moving. As the floor continues to rumble, pieces of wood and plaster fall from the ceiling, crushing students around me. Screaming with horror, I rush out of the door, but just as I reach the commons, the ground cracks open, and lava begins to gush around me. My body rocks and jostles as the opening yawns wider.

Looking up, I hear my sister, Lana, calling my name as she extends her hand out to me. But before she can reach me, her body falls into the crevice and is engulfed by flames.

“Lana!” I sob as I try to reach for my dying sister.

Cries of anguish escape my lips until I’m choking.

“…Brielle…Brielle!” Large arms shake me, waking me from my sorrowful nightmare. Sobbing, I sit up on the bed and look into Fallon’s flaming eyes. My chest heaves with my sobs, and my tears fall freely. Seeing my terror, Fallon wipes my tears and pulls me into his arms. As I cling to him, I don’t think about our contentious relationship. I simply let him hold me. To his credit, he doesn’t make any insensitive comments or push me away. Instead, he rocks me until the nightmare fades into the fringes of my mind.

Once my tears have abated, I bury my head in his bare chest and curl my body closer. I know that this is wrong and that I shouldn’t tempt fate, but I can’t help myself. Taking comfort from his body, I let my lips touch his velvety skin, and my nails dig into the balls of his shoulders.

“What was the nightmare about?” he asks once I’ve regained my composure.

I don’t release him. Instead, I burrow deeper into his chest as I recount the horrific nightmare. “...Lana was being burned alive, and there’s nothing I could do,” I mumbled weakly. “There’s nothing that I will be able to do when it really happens.”

At my words, Fallon peels me from his chest and lifts my chin up until I’m looking into his fiery gaze. I inhale raggedly as I wipe my tears. “I know that there’s nothing that I can say that will stop you from doing what you plan, but…” I sniffle. “…but can you grant me one thing?”

Fallon stiffens but remains where he is. “What?” he asks warily.

I wipe the back of my hand across my face as I answer. “Before you…before you end everyone. Will you…will you let me see my sister. You don’t have to let me go. Just…just let me see her one last time.”

His jaw ticks as he processes my request. After a moment, he nods his head and pulls me back down on the bed. “Promise me,” I whisper. “Promise me that you’ll let me see her before you strike me down.”

His Adam’s apple bobs before he replies. “I promise,” he answers. I try not to read too much into how unenthusiastic his promise sounds. Instead, I tuck my head beneath his chin and hope that when the time comes, he will keep his promise.