Retribution (Redemption Series) (16 page)

"They?"

Luther wasn't given any time to reply
before our feet were touching solid ground, and I knew the moment the foul
smell hit my nose who
they
were.
Hellhounds.

I gagged and stumbled, righting myself
as
Marcas
' arm came around me just long enough to
lend support before my hand was in his again, his back straight as he faced the
two hounds panting in front of us. I recognized them instantly.

"Brim, Ember . . ."
Marcas
said with a nod.

The hounds moved out of the shadows,
their red eyes unsettling against the black back drop. We were in a wasteland
of murky, empty streets, the cobblestone roads as dark as coal.
 
The streets were familiar, but the lampposts
from our previous trip had changed. There were fewer now, and the ones that did
exist emitted a strange greenish glow that highlighted a blanket of thick fog.
The mist was everywhere, a blanket of vapor that circled anything and
everything in a sickly grey shroud.

"You are not welcome here,"
Brim growled, his sharp teeth visible as the skin drew dangerously back from
his snout.

The only difference between the two
hounds was the color of their fur, and it was a subtle difference at that.
Brim's coat was completely black while Ember's coat was streaked intermittently
with red. Both of them were massive, both of them occasionally exhaled smoke,
and both of them looked entirely capable of killing us.

Ember sat back on his haunches, his
sometimes yellow, sometimes red eyes locked on
Marcas
.

"You're a traitor," the hound
said simply. "Returning now ensures your death."

Marcas
stood straight,
his head held high.

"Traitor?
It's a harsh
word, Hound, and I'm not sure you truly believe I'm the villain. I am not the
one who controls you, who feeds you the lies you are forced to follow."

Ember shifted, his eyes going red, smoke
pluming from his nose.

"You tread on dangerous
ground," the hound warned.

Marcas
appeared
unfazed.

"I seek an audience with Lucifer.
Tell him I'm here to issue a challenge."

Above ground, the idea of challenging
Satan had sounded so much better than it did now, but I didn't falter despite
my fear. I came because I needed to see this to the end, because I couldn't
handle the idea of staying behind wondering if
Marcas
had succeeded. I think
Marcas
knew that. I think he
knew I owed it to myself to see this finished, to know that no matter how it
ended, it was over.

Ember's gaze swung to Brim and his head
dipped.

"As you wish," Ember said
before backing into the shadows, his red eyes the last to fade as he ducked out
of sight.

I started to tremble. It was only small
shudders to begin with, but they built with a ferocity that surprised me. I
felt
Marcas
' hand tighten around mine, and I knew he
felt the quivering, felt the way my hand quaked in his. Even my teeth
chattered, and I couldn't seem to control the weakness that gradually overcame
me. A hand settled on my shoulder, and I knew it was Luther's.

"She doesn't have your Demon blood
in her system anymore. He will have a bigger affect on her now," Luther
said quietly.

I wanted to ask him what he meant, but
when I tried to open my mouth, it was forced closed by the spasms that now
consumed me.

"It's an interesting feeling, isn't
it?" a low, mesmerizing voice asked.
"Weakness.
Such beauty, weakness."

I didn't have to turn around to know who
was behind us. His voice was like chocolate, smooth and decadent, and his
presence alone made my heart stutter.
Marcas
moved
closer to me, and I could feel Luther doing the same on my opposite side.
Lucifer laughed.

"I am disappointed really,
Naphil
. I thought for sure the daughter of
Bezaliel
would have better control."

"This isn't about her,"
Marcas
said coldly from beside me.

Lucifer paused.

"No," he said finally. "I
suppose it isn't. You're here to challenge me I understand?"

One moment there was darkness before us,
a sinful voice behind. The next, Lucifer was suddenly inches away, his
masculine face a scary reminder of why he was the ruler of the Underworld. His
hair was as black and as long as I remembered it, silky and alive, framing
sharp cheekbones and eyes that shone yellow.

I wanted to move away, to put some
distance between us, but
Marcas
and Luther remained
still, and I knew they couldn't afford a show of weakness. It was bad enough
that my trembling seemed only to grow stronger with Lucifer's proximity. His
yellow eyes stayed glued on me.

"Tell me,
Marcas
,
what kind of challenge do you intend to issue?"

Marcas
placed a leg in
front of my leg, using his back to shield part of me from view. His hand
remained locked on mine.

"I want the hybrids you've marked
for death."

One of Lucifer's elegant eyebrows rose
slowly.

"Do you? I see."

Lucifer didn't move. The trembling
intensified. There was a buzzing sensation in the back of my head, and I rubbed
at it. Lucifer grinned.

"Damned nuisance not being able to
get inside," he murmured as he tapped his forehead with his finger, his
yellow eyes cutting into mine.

I rubbed at my head again.

"This is between you and me. I want
the hybrids,"
Marcas
said forcefully.

Lucifer sighed. "Yes. I see that
you do. And what will you give me for them? I have killed many of them already.
Do you really think it wise I release the rest?"

Marcas
smiled. It was
an eerie smile, confident and calm. Lucifer watched him.

"I think you can't afford to lose
them, but I will have them,"
Marcas
said.

There was no emotion on Lucifer's face,
but his anger was obvious. I could
feel
his discontent. The buzzing in my head was strong enough now to send me to my
knees, but I remained on my feet. Somehow I remained on my feet.

"And what will you do if I
refuse?" Lucifer asked.

The amulet at
Marcas
'
neck began to glow, and I knew by the slight furrow between
Marcas
'
eyes that Lucifer was attempting possession. Luther remained still but
watchful. The way his gaze studied his brother made me wonder why Luther had
come along. Had
Marcas
told Luther to kill him if
Lucifer was able to take his mind? It was a thought I didn't want to consider.
Lucifer stared at the amulet.

"I really should recruit this witch
of yours. Incredible her powers with averting control."

Luther tensed next to me, but he didn't
comment.
Marcas
' gaze grew hard and his jaw
tightened.

"I'll make you a proposition. You
give me the hybrids, and I'll promise no war in Hell."

Lucifer looked amused.

"Really?
No war in Hell?
Do you think I fear your war, Demon? The hybrids belong to me. They are part
Demon after all. I control them."

Marcas
stood strong.

"And you could release them. What
will it take for you to let them go?"

Lucifer's gaze swung to me.

"How do you feel about your
Naphil
here,
Marcas
?"

Marcas
' grip on me
tightened.

"The
Naphil
is not up for debate."

Lucifer's brows rose.

"You say that with such self-assurance
when I know you are aware of Heaven and Hell's interest in the girl. She is an
anomaly. My Demons have long since been enjoying the pleasures of human flesh,
producing hybrid Demons for the cause. Heaven refuses to allow its Angels such
pleasures. And any Angel who partakes is considered Fallen. How appropriate.
And the children of the Fallen are as evil as our own Demon hybrids. Imagine
Heaven's surprise when our
Naphil
here was
discovered. Imagine my
own
surprise.
I am fascinated. Truly I am. I wonder, my dear, if you can be corrupted."

Lucifer stepped forward, his face close
to
Marcas
' as he gazed over the Demon's shoulder at
me.

"I have felt your anger, Young One.
I know you are aware of the prophecy. The love between an Angel and a Demon will
destroy the world. Where does that leave you? Come to me. Here, in Hell, there
are no rules. You can love who you desire."

It was a tempting offer, but one I could
easily refuse. I loved
Marcas
, true. It was a love I
couldn't walk away from, a love that I couldn't deny, but it was also a love
that healed. It had healed me. I was pretty sure it had healed
Marcas
. I couldn't see how that love could be destructive.

"I will always refuse you," I
whispered.

It took a lot for me say those words. My
fear was great, but my loyalty to
Marcas
, to myself,
was greater. Lucifer's eyes darkened at my refusal, and I could see flames
dancing in his eyes. It was an eerie effect that I was sure he used to disturb
me. His gaze moved to
Marcas
.

"I will release the hybrids if you
endure three trials."

I stiffened. If this was anything like
the duel we'd fought in Petra, this was an unfair game played by Lucifer that
he couldn't lose.
Marcas
stared unblinkingly into
Lucifer's eyes.

"What are the trials?"

Lucifer stepped back, his eyes on the
man he'd once offered a tremendous position of power.

"Those are to be determined. You
accept or refuse.
Your choice.
I can promise you this.
The trials will be fair. You overcome
them,
I will
release your hybrids but only the hybrids born from Cain and Lilith."

Marcas
nodded.

"It's a start."

"Then you agree?" Lucifer
asked, his hand rising slowly.

I grabbed
Marcas
by the arm, my fingers digging desperately into his skin.

"Not alone," I said
frantically. "I'll go through the trials with him."

Lucifer froze as Luther tugged on my
shirt.

"Dayton . . ." Luther began.

"No," Lucifer intervened, his
eyes on me. "This is interesting. You would be willing to endure the same
trials?
Do you not think that unfair,
Naphil
?
Everyone is stronger together."

"Dayton . . ."
Marcas
sighed, but Lucifer would not be interrupted. I had
his attention now, and he wanted an answer.

I glanced at
Marcas
,
at his red tinted eyes, at the tortured glint in his gaze before shifting my
attention back to Satan.

"I will endure whatever he endures.
Together.
Combined we may be stronger, but you know as
well as I that it also creates weaknesses."

Lucifer's yellow eyes had bled to black.

"And you would be willing to make
Marcas
weaker?"

"I would be willing to bank more on
our strength," I answered honestly.

Lucifer's gaze shifted to
Marcas
.

"And you?"

I gripped
Marcas
'
hand harder than I have ever gripped it. Something felt wrong. I had a feeling
if we were
separated,
something was going to go very,
very wrong. I didn't have Monroe's ability to see visions. I didn't have
Maria's Sight, but I had a power circling within my chest that came from God
and it was telling me something wasn't right. I was banking on that.

Marcas
looked down at
me, his gaze searching mine. I made sure I didn't blink. I was still trembling.
That couldn't be helped, but I definitely didn't blink.
Marcas
nodded and looked back at Lucifer.

"Three trials it is as long as the
Naphil
is allowed to endure them with me."

I heard Luther groan, but I ignored him
as Lucifer looked between us.

"So be it," he said before his
hand rose. "Let the trials begin."

His hand came down, and the world went
black.

Chapter 17

Lucifer is a cold villain. He is sinister. He is
subtle. He uses temptation and human weakness to wear away mankind's greatest
strengths. In the end, he leaves a person bare. Those who survive, those who
are able to rise above are the heroes.