Chapter 9 — All in now

Fallon:

I’m in disbelief over what just occurred. It seemed that Bree wanted to say something, but something held her back. I try not to dwell on what she wanted to say, yet a small part of me wishes that she would have chosen to stay in my home. It would be torturous to have her close, but at least I’d get to see her. Even going in that direction with my train of thought is quite maddening, I know.

Within moments, I reach Mathias’s home. Mathias is one of the oldest Seraphim to live on earth. He’s also the head of the Supernatural Council. My hope is that the Council might have hunted or seen similar creatures in the city.

Mathias and several men await me as soon as I reach his apartment. I nod in greeting, recognizing many of the males in the room. Rowan and Mikhail Cross shake my hand, followed by the vampire king, Tristan, and Azazel.”

“Blimey, mate. I thought we were done with your dodgy mug around here.” Azazel states bemusedly.

I greet him in the warriors’ olden ways, where we clutch each other’s forearms. “I wouldn’t talk, you tosser. I’m not the one who’s dead from the neck up.”

To the others’ confusion, we both break out in boisterous laughter.

Mikhail rolls his eyes and questions out loud. “I think he called him stupid, but I’m not sure. Why can’t British people speak normal English?”

Rowan and Tristan snicker while Mathias smirks. “You see? This is why I adapted American English centuries ago.”

Azazel sneers in reply. “And that’s why you sound so sodding dull.”

Mathias ignores him as he gestures for me to take a seat. “I hope you don’t mind, but I called the others once you contacted me. I thought they should be aware of any new threats.”

I nod. “I understand.”

Everyone takes a seat and waits patiently for me to begin. “Several days ago, I terminated two demons. What is odd about both of these demons is that they did not look like any of the demons I have ever seen. When I described them to Lucifer, he agreed that he had never seen such creatures either and sent out inquiries to see if anyone has heard or seen any new demon species.”

“What did they discover?” Rowan asks.

“No one has seen such creatures. However, the lower circles have reported that various demons have gone missing over the past two months.

I withdraw the list from my pocket and hand it to Mathias. “This is a list of demons who have been reported missing. But I should warn you that there might be more who have not been reported because some species, like shapeshifters, are solitary.”

Azazel slides forward in his seat with a questioning frown. “Why would you think that these disappearances might be connected to the new demon species?”

“Because most of the creatures shared at least two of the powers that the missing demons possess. One of the creatures that I encountered was able to shapeshift into a man and had the powers of a succubus. Shapeshifters do not have the power to seduce creatures into doing their bidding. However, most startling is that unlike the stitched-up monsters you discovered last year, these creatures do not look like they were made from parts. We believe that that a strong demon or mage might be taking their powers and somehow bonding them to make a new species of demon.”

Mathias’s scarlet brows furrow. “Do you think that the missing scientists might have somehow found a way to create more sophisticated creatures?”

I shrug. “Because humans cannot waltz into the seven circles of hell unless they have been condemned to one of them; It’s more likely that they have allied with powerful supernatural who can create the creatures for them.”

All of the men’s expressions become grave. They most assuredly understand the gravity of the situation. “Have any of you seen such creatures or heard of any attacking humans?”

Mathias pulls out a file and hands it to me. “One of my hackers did some digging into police records and found a handful of suspicious human attacks that might be supernaturally related. We made sure to sort any inconsistencies, and these stood out the most. One of the humans claims that her roommate was seduced by a snake-like creature who presented a man’s visage. She says that her friend met him at a local bar and took him home after. She didn’t make anything of it because her friend always picked up unknown men. That is until she got home and found the demon gorging on her roommate’s intestines. As soon as the demon saw her, he turned back into a man and tried to seduce her, but she ran to her neighbor’s house before he could detain her. She was fortunate that her neighbor owned a weapon and quickly discharged it into the demon until it ran away.”

“When did this happen?” I ask.

“About three weeks ago?” Mathias answers. “It’s all on the report.”

I look at the report and scowl. The demon described sounds like it’s the same one that attacked Bree.

I peruse the file grimly. Most of the reports show attacks from creatures similar to the ones that have gone missing.

“Is there anything else that Lucifer might know about this situation?” Mikhail asks.

I open my lips to answer, but before I do, my mobile vibrates. I look down at the screen and see that Lucifer is calling me. “It’s Lucifer,” I mutter before I hit answer.

“Father?” I answer evenly.

“Do you have a moment to speak?” he asks.

I look at the men. “I’m in a meeting debriefing several council members regarding the missing demons—”

“Brilliant! I will be there in a moment,” he interjects. Before I can argue with him, he appears in the room.

Everyone except Azazel and I quickly goes on alert.

Lucifer gives Azazel a searing smile as he stands before us. Jaw tight, Azazel rises from his seat and faces Lucifer. “Well, well, well if it isn’t the king of all sods.”

Lucifer snickers. “Coming from a knob head like you, I’ll take that as a bloody compliment.”

Mikhail snorts and amusedly muses from the corner of his mouth. “Seriously, it’s like listening to a foul-mouthed version of Downtown Abbey.”

Praying for patience, I stand between both men. “We’re not here to trade insults, father. Now, would you please take a seat and share what you’ve learned with us.”

Lucifer takes a seat on a nearby chair without breaking eye contact with Azazel.

Mathias clears his throat, drawing the males’ attention. Lucifer runs his gaze appraisingly across each man and stops when he faces Mikhail. “You are Samael’s son?”

Mikhail nods. “Yeah, you know my father?”

Lucifer nods. “He was one of my greatest lords. It pained me to lose him, but I owed him a life debt. Which is why when he asked permission to live on earth, I freely gave it.”

Azazel’s lip curls with derision. “I’m surprised you didn’t make him suffer for it.”

Lucifer’s lips curls with derision. “Samael was a loyal ally who never held a sacred sword to my throat,” he ignores Azazel’s pout and turns back to Mikhail. “I mourned his loss when I discovered that Lukan Garron murdered him. However, I am elated to know that Lukan failed, and Samael still lives. Tell me, boy, how did that come about?”

Mikhail shakes his head at the memory. “From what I gathered, the angel who was sent to murder my parents used a false sword to stab them and handed the recording of the “assassination” to Lukan before he sold my parents to the scientists who ran experiments on them. It was quite an elaborate ploy.”

Lucifer nods. “Well, you can rest assured that Lukan is suffering for all that he has reaped in his life, in hell. Give my regards to Samael.”

Mikhail smiles. “I will.”

Mathias rises from his seat and says, “Perhaps we should save any more of our pleasantries for after we talk about these new demons.”

Lucifer arches a brow and smirks. “What is it you wish to know, Seraphim?”

I inwardly groan at his tone. My father is not a fan of ancient angels, considering his status as a fallen. And it seems that he’s not in the mood to play nice with Mathias. However, Mathias doesn’t let my father goad him. Instead, he waves his hand congenially and mutters. “We would appreciate anything you can share with us.”

Lucifer must see something in Mathias’s is gesture because he visibly relaxes. “I’m sure my son has already told you about the new species?”

The men affirm his question with a nod.

Lucifer settles his leg across his knee and slouches further in the chair, projecting a feigned air of calm. “One of my spies has informed me that there is a new power roaming the fringes of hell. However, the creature has managed to cloak itself with magic. According to Belial and Azmodan, my lesser lords, the power the creature conveys is unlike any they have felt on hell or earth. Assuming that it’s not an angel because only fallen can go to hell, and the fact that angel powers are specific, we have to assume that this being isn’t from any of the three realms.”

“Could it be a witch from one of the sister dimensions?” Tristan, the vampire king, asks.

Lucifer shakes his head. “No, the power doesn’t mesh up. Witches can borrow power but only for a limited amount of time. And they most definitely cannot create sophisticated species such as the ones that Fallon has fought. It would defy the laws of the Creator.”

“Do you have a theory?” I ask.

Lucifer nods. “Yes, I do. But I don’t think you’ll be pleased with what I have to say.”

My ears begin to thrum as blood rushes to my head. Could it be? No, it can’t be. Bracing myself, I ask the question that I fear will be true. “Are you implying that Lilith is back?”

He nods. “It’s possible. Lilith has enough power to transfer powers from other beings and create beings. She did it many times while she was at the Nether. That’s how she gained her subjects. Due to her status as an incomplete creation of the Creator, she can toe life rules. When she created the Nether, she fashioned what the epitome of a grey area is.”

“But I thought you encased her in that power shell?”

Lucifer shrugs. “I did, but I always knew she’d find a way to escape.”

Azazel’s voice cuts through my turmoil. “Are we speaking of your mother, Lilith? The queen of darkness who absorbed hatred to survive?”

Lucifer and I nod.

“I thought you killed her?” Azazel asks while the men listen attentively.

“No, I couldn’t kill Lilith. Not when I had no means of containing her powerful darkness. If I had killed her, the darkness would have spread and caused insurmountable destruction on all of the realms.”

“Have you found a way to contain it?” I ask.

Lucifer’s lips grimly flatten. “I think I might have a way to do it, but we’d have to find her first, and I doubt she’d make it easy for us.”

He holds his palm up when he sees that I’m going to ask something else. “And before you ask, she’s not in the Nether. Over the past two nights, I’ve had men stationed there, and they all reported that her castle is quite vacant and damaged beyond repair. And with her abilities, she can fashion a new Nether anywhere.”

My hope shatters. If my mother is out there, I can guarantee that her plans are going to involve mass destruction.”

“Where did you send her after you trapped her?” Azazel asks.

“I sent her to the same corner of hell we rescued your mate from last year. That section was reserved as a wasteland for lost souls when I trapped Lilith. I assumed she’d remain undisturbed while tucked away deep in the mountains.”

At his words, Azazel stiffens. “She must have broken free after Sahara’s power began to destroy that section of hell.”

“I assume that would be the case. I sent one of my demons to look into it, but the landscape has changed greatly due to all of the damage it sustained, and he had a difficult time finding it.”

Feeling frustration, I slide my fingers through my hair. “If she’s out of her prison, we need to be wary. Lilith is not one to take what she views as our treachery lightly. She’s probably scheming of ways to end us as we speak.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, I realize that I will have to keep Bree close. If Lilith finds out that Bree means something to me, she’ll do everything in her power to destroy her.

Mathias’s voice cuts through my tumultuous thoughts. “While you search for Lilith, Tristan and I can send some of our enforcers to see if there are any rumors or sightings of Lilith and any unfamiliar supernaturals. You wouldn’t happen to have an image of Lilith lying around?”

Lucifer shakes his head. “Regrettably, I do not. Lilith and I were never truly close.”

I think it over. “I’m not very artistic, but I can probably create a rendering of her likeness.”

Mikhail raises his hand and signals for attention. “I can draw something up if you give me a good description.”

Azazel salutes him. “I can attest to that. Mikhail is an incredibly accomplished artist.”

“Alright.” I rise. “We will let you know if we discover anything new. All we ask is that you please do the same.”

Mathias agrees. “Yes, of course.”

Lucifer places his hand on my shoulder and pats me firmly. “I’ll call you if I receive any more information.”

“Don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out, you tosser,” Azazel states bitterly.

Lucifer reciprocates Azazel’s spiteful comment by conveying him with a venomous smile. “Oh, I won't, you manky prat.”

Mikhail and I snort at the sound of their bitter banter. It’s extremely amusing to see such powerful and ancient beings react in such a childish manner. There’s definitely no love lost between these two.

Once Lucifer leaves, Azazel’s lips curl into a sulk.

“Are you done fighting with the devil?” Mikhail reprimands him.

Azazel arches a brow. “You’d appreciate my dislike if you could see how blinking vexing he is.”

I roll my eyes. “You two really need couples therapy.”

He pushes my chest playfully. “Just be happy that I’m somewhat fond of you. You don’t know how difficult it is to like you, knowing that you’re related to that git.”

Mikhail throws his head back and laughs. “Jeez, Azazel. Sometimes I wonder if you’re making half of what you say up.”

Azazel scowls. “I am not making anything up, you wanker. It’s not my fault that you cannot speak proper English. I blame it on your savage upbringing.”

Mikhail scoffs in reply. “I guess I’ll just get an English to British dictionary. I’m sure there’s one titled, “How to speak English like a pompous asshole.”

I chuckle mirthfully. “It’s astonishing how you call my father vexing, and yet you also seem to annoy those around you.”

Azazel salutes us both with his middle finger as he leads us out the door. “Since my mate is out of town and Nevaeh has class until later, how about we go get something to eat?”

Mikhail nods. “Sounds good; I woke up too late to eat breakfast.”

Somehow, we end up at a diner near the campus. As soon as we’re done ordering, Azazel’s mate, Zoe, calls, and his mood instantly brightens. Mikhail and I observe as he cheerfully answers the call and walks away to speak to his lady.

Mikhail cuts him a sideways glance and says. “You can practically see cartoon hearts coming out of his eyes. I’d say it’s pathetic if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m sure I look the same way when Nevaeh calls me.”

My lip quirks amusedly at his realization. “How long have you been with your mate?”

“About four years. I met her my senior year in high school. It was hate at first sight.”

I give him an incredulous frown. “What?”

He nods. “She thought I was a thug, and I thought she was a snobby cheerleader. We were a modern-day Pride and Prejudice.”

I laugh at his amusing comparison. “Except in this version, she would be Mr. Darcy, and you’d be Elizabeth Bennet.”

He smirks. “Exactly.”

I have to say that this is the most amusing conversation that I’ve ever had. It’s also quite nice to feel a camaraderie between us. Mikhail and I are similar in certain ways. We both came from parents of different worlds and have faced prejudice from the supernatural world because of it. From our conversation, I can tell that his mate is his world. We’re also the type of males who do not trust very easily.

“How about you, do you have a mate?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I would have to have a soul to have a soulmate, and I highly doubt that the Creator would want Lucifer’s progeny to find happiness with another.”

His brow furrows. “Wait, how is it possible that you don’t have a soul?”

I grimace mirthfully as I explain how I was born without a soul and only exist with the shard that Lucifer gifted me with.

Mikhail’s expression is solemn and curious once my story comes to its conclusion. “That sucks, but it was cool that Lucifer made sure you had a piece of his.”

“I’m sure it’s odd to know that the king of hell has a heart, but he’s still a good father.”

He nods. “I get it, man. I don’t judge. Trust me, I know what it’s like to be discounted for what you are. I know that there are a lot of misconceptions about the devil and lords of hell. Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to get to be with my dad, and I know that he’s not evil just because he’s a demon. I mean, someone has to punish assholes, right? And your dad was relegated as the bad guy because that’s what he does, which is totally unfair.”

I consider his logic and nod. “You’re right. Lucifer might sometimes be cruel, but he can also be fair. Well, except when it comes to dealing with Azazel.” I say as Azazel approaches. “But I think his contemptuous behavior toward Azazel had more to do with my father’s abandonment issues.”

Azazel quirks a brow at my words. “Are you psychoanalyzing that git?”

I shrug. “I know Lucifer presents an impermeable shell when he sees you. However, I also know that he was bothered by your abandonment. You might not have thought so, but I believe my father fancied himself, your friend and felt your desertion on a more personal level, which is why he reacted so poorly.”

He doesn’t respond. However, he does look like he’s considering my reasoning. I know Lucifer, and I was there when Azazel left. My father may never have admitted it out loud, but Azazel hurt him with his abandonment. Of course, my father being the way he is became contentious and took it too far by punishing Azazel’s mate. This is why I can understand Azazel’s antagonism toward Lucifer.

I must admit that it’s quite pleasant to find myself immersed in a conversation with both males. Being the prince of hell did not endear me to the supernaturals who lived there, and with all of the backstabbing that would occur daily, it was difficult to establish any lasting friendships. I didn’t even interact with Azazel, who I now consider a friend. It was even more difficult in the human world because they have such limited life spans.

Mikhail takes out a drawing pad and proceeds to create an image of Lilith based on my description. Interestingly enough, even though it has been many millennia since I last saw Lilith, I still recall what she looked like. I see now that humans are telling the truth when they say that a traumatizing moment is harder to forget than a pleasant one.

Mikhail’s illustration is eerily accurate. Once I approve it, he sends the picture to Mathias. We part ways soon after with the promise to meet up again at the end of the week. I don’t know how, but somehow Mikhail convinced me to come over and play some kind of human video games.

As Azazel and I turn in the other direction, I lean close and ask. “What are Mario Brothers?”

Azazel laughs. “It’s an incredibly entertaining game where this cartoonish, Italian plumber goes through several obstacles so that he may save his true love.”

My brow furrows at the disturbing image, which makes him laugh harder. “Don’t worry, mate. I promise you’ll like it.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I grumble my goodbyes before I slip into my vehicle.

Over the next week, I keep a close eye on Bree. She doesn’t leave her apartment unless she goes to school, making it easier for me to set up surveillance cameras outside of her building while hunting any creatures hunting humans. Sometimes I’ll sit on the roof of her buildings, and other times, I’ll watch from the shadows of the streets. She texts me most nights to wish me good night or tell me when she’s home and will sometimes ask how I am, but that’s the extent of our communication. It’s a bittersweet feeling because I want to see her so badly.

I honestly am unsure how I spent so many months away from her because I’m ready to knock on her door by the seventh day.

It’s almost a compulsion that makes it nearly impossible to resist. Desperate to find a distraction, I activate the surveillance cameras outside of her building and travel to the other side of town to hunt. She texted me earlier to inform me that Mikhail’s mate and her friends were having a “girl’s night” and that she would be spending the night at their home. It took me several minutes to figure out what she meant. But I was able to decipher it after giving it a second glance. Every now and then, I’m amazed by American slang.

As the night progresses, I search the streets but find nothing. It’s after midnight, and my mind keeps wandering back to what Bree might be doing and if she’s thinking about me.

My mobile vibrates, breaking me out of my baffling thoughts. My heartbeat hastens, and I go on alert as soon as I see the name on my screen. It looks like my night is about to become more exciting.