Blurb:
"I'm Lucifer." The voice made Uriel shutter involuntary. It was then, Lucifer realized who she might be to him. Glancing back at his mother and Parisa nodded her head frantically, but there was no smile, just one of worry.
"I'm the goddess of Innocence; what are you? Everyone has been asking me mine; I think I should ask you too!" Uriel giggled.
For once, Lucifer felt embarrassed. He wanted nothing more than to strike fear in those around him, but with this small woman, he didn't want to tell her. "It isn't important," he adjusted his collar. Uriel stared back blankly for a moment until her head popped up.
"Ok!" Putting her empty plate down with extra honey from her dessert, she took his hand and shook it frantically. "Nice to meet you! I'm going to see what the kids are doing outside! Oh, you tickle!" She almost snorted and left without a care in the world.
Lucifer was left standing in shock. Those tickles were the tingles his mother warned him about. No doubt in his mind that the innocent goddess was his mate.
Hades and his true mate Parisa, gripped each other, waiting for Lucifer to say something, anything. A good minute passed by until the uneasy crowd parted, and Lucifer walked out the door and into the garden to follow the strange woman prancing out the door.
****
Lucifer
The boughs of hell, the burning of skin and flesh, pierced my nose into the night. With such heat, many would think that the flames would cast light upon the tattered souls, but it doesn’t. Black magic reeks around every corner of hell, giving you a bittersweet taste of your fear as you think your torture for the day is done.
It never is. Your torture will never cease. Just because the night of hell has fallen, the deep red sun dusting the rusty-colored grass as it sets for the evening means nothing to you. The screams of the night, the howls of pain twisting your soul into odd positions give me strength. For every fear that pops into your mind, my hands make it a reality.
Flames of blue, red and white, hot enough to melt any earthly metal sweeps across my nails. The fire jumps from side to side as if hell’s small doe jumping through the ominous forest. One touch could make you feel pain for weeks, yet to me, it is my sweet burn of menthol across my chest. Breathing deeply, smelling your skin crisp under me that everyone here deserved, fuels my lust for destruction.
Anger rising with in the depths of my gut of how humans, supernaturals and whatever the damn gods decide to create had me fixing their nasty work. The ones that got away from the light, seeking revenge among their own kind, hurting the innocent, craving to rule over their bodies like cows for slaughter.
I am the god of destruction, the bringer of death and despair. I will not just destroy buildings, the soil, the physical bodies, I will destroy their minds, twisting them in ways they could not deem possible. They will scream for me to rid myself of their mind, but I only laugh at their pathetic cries of absolution of fear.
They are mine to control, my father, Hades, deemed it so. The torture, the destruction and ending of a soul was the greatest high I could ever get. No matter how much my mother instilled the kindness and empathy she tried to teach me, the fates had already chosen my path. Destruction.
Another whip of the silver chains, slashing through another damned werewolf alpha, clacking of my foot steps sauntered to the middle of the cold metal platform. The alpha’s head was bowed, his hands chained behind his back, blood dripping from his brow. His wolf, just as evil as he was, panted in the back of his mind from the wolfsbane gas. No creature would go unpunished.
“Your Mother has been in labor for eight hours and yet you still waste time beating this pathetic wolf.” My Father’s leather shoe stepped in the deep red trailing of blood into the grate. “She would be most disappointed to know you didn’t wait for your sibling along with the rest of the family.” My lip curled in amusement. Little did he know the only screams I did not want to hear was that of my own Mother. She was too perfect.
Born a wolf herself, she endured hardship being sold into a trafficking ring at a strip club working as a waitress and maid. Father found her and eventually they mated. Mother was one of the first werewolf supernaturals to be mated to one of the twelve original gods of ‘Olympus,’ as the humans called it.
“She would be furious, wouldn’t she?” I chuckled. My Father grabbed a rag from a nearby hook, tossing to me to rid the blood from my bare torso.
Mother was mated to one of the most powerful gods of the Celestial Kingdom. Once soul bonded, she inherited his god-like qualities. Hers being that of empathy and the ability of pairing souls like Selene, The Moon Goddess. It was the biggest uproar in both realms. Now Selene had her time to find her own mate, the old fashion way, by being a wolf herself.
“Let’s go back, hm?” Father slapped my bare back. “I know the fire roars inside you to destroy. It is part of who you are, but don’t let it control you. There needs to be a balance.” He sighed, rubbing his chest.
“That balance will only come if I get a mate, and I don’t need one.” I let out a harsh breath, taking my chain, hitting the Alpha once more, knocking him to the ground. All the females I had ever met never gave my soul ease. They all wanted one thing: power, sex, and a title. My mate wouldn’t be any different, no matter how much my Mother lectured me. The alpha’s grunts and cries no longer gave me the excitement. Now my thoughts traveled to always being alone. It was better that way to be alone.
“I think you forget everyone is paired with someone,” Father walked with me off the platform. “Being the son of Parisa, the goddess of empathy and bonding, you should know that.” The crowd that watched the humiliation of an alpha at his knees faded. His fear leaving the arena and now blackness became his torture. No longer seeing the light, always being alone.
Loneliness was the only way to survive in this world. Mates will continue to bring you down, my Father once known to be a terror in everyone’s eyes, had now softened to a family man. That was good for him, but I could never be the person he now was.
There are days I could not control my lust for pain to rip across my next victim. The grip of the whip in my hand, my on claws ripping across someone’s chest made me groan with pleasure. Being buried in a part of my father’s work was now my new normal. Running as soon as hell’s sun crossed the tops of the blackened forest and not returning until the blood-red moon was high in the sky.
It was all I needed.
….
Large bursts of cries came from the room next door. My Mother’s screams finally ceased but not that of my new sibling. Loki, my younger brother, still of adolescent age, was hiding from his nanny. We had been through fifteen in the past three months. Many getting killed or quitting from having to deal with the God of Mischief. “Master Loki! Where are you?” She squealed. It was another demon mistress trying to get into my suit pants. Every single one of the lust hungry demonesses in their short damn skirts.
“Oh, Master Lucifer, have you seen your brother Loki?” Her eyelashes fluttered towards me. Her sharpened fangs almost damn sparkled.
He’s under my damn seat.
Rolling my eyes, I stood up, moving to the couch. “There you are, Loki!” She squealed in excitement, like she enjoys the job. Does she forget I inherited my father’s ability to read minds of his creations? Crossing my arms over my chest, I silently counted in my head.
“Yes, here I am. Will you please let me out?” Loki’s sweet childlike voice trailed to her ears symphonically. The red demoness smiled, her hand reaching down, planting her rear up seductively in my direction. Still counting, Loki reached out his hand. Once her fingers touched the tip of Loki’s finger hand a giant hell hound grew from Loki’s body, knocking the chair over. A half second shrill of a scream was hushed as Loki’s hound ripped her vocal cords. Blood splattered on the floor, only for me to groan in annoyance at the mess Mother will complain about. Taking a black handkerchief from my suit, I wiped away the blood absentmindedly from my shoe.
“Did you see the look on her face!” Loki squealed excitedly from the closet on the other side of the room. “Look at that, already turning to dust!” Cerberus walked by the waiting room, Father’s constant companion besides Mother. He shook all three of his heads, continuing his stroll down the hallway, not amused at Loki’s tricks.
Loki’s giggles filled the room, his arms around his waist to contain his breakfast from this morning. “Oh, come on,” Loki looked to me with a smile plastered to his face. “That was comedic gold!”
My head laid back, hitting the wall. Loki grabbed a broom from a nearby closet, sweeping up the dust from his former nanny. “Do you have one of your wing feathers stuck up your butt? Is it permanently embedded around your sphincter hole and you can not get it out or something? Even for a destroyer, you are utterly depressing.”
I stood up, putting my hands in my pockets, walking past the mess of dust scattered on the floor. She would respawn in Father’s demon pool, to be re-summoned, pardoned and sent back to the demon’s cities. That was the only reason Mother had not locked him in his room for the next century. Not that he wouldn’t get out, he was smart. One had to be if they were going to be a trickster.
My feet lightly tapped the red carpet, leading to Mother’s room. The cries had softened from my new sibling, just gentle hummings from Mother. I fixed my black tie, leaning back on the wall next to the door. Several moments later, doors opened, with a team of doctors and nurses walking out. The door stayed open, enough for me to listen and maybe peek at my parents, who have a few moments alone with the newest addition to hell.
“I worry for him,” Mother spoke to Father. “I’ve tried everything. I even tried to coddle him as a baby, but his sternness, his seriousness, I can barely get him to smile even at me anymore.” My Mother silently sniffed.
“I do as well. Are you sure you do not see his mate yet? I’m sure that would calm his beast.”
“No,” she whispered. The baby made a sucking noise, while Mother hushed the baby back into its sleep, eating.
“My theory,” Father wrapped his arms around Mother, staring down at the baby in her arms. His finger traced the chubby cheeks already being filled with milk. “Still stands. I think Kronos’ blood is running in his veins.”
My hand gripped my chest, my back now flat against the wall. Kronos, my grandfather, was evil upon evil and here I was, boiling in his blood. Kronos ate his children, my own father. It was rumored he had no heart, not even his poor wife could calm the fury inside him. Kronos was still trapped in Tartarus, but could he be planning something with me?
If his wife could not calm him, how could a mate calm me? It wouldn’t, it couldn’t.
Many times have I heard Father bring up Kronos. Even when I was a child, I heard his worry. Now that I am older, I can already feel more power running through my veins. Looking at my hands, I gripped my fists. I must not let it control me. I must not let my heritage decide my fate.
That fate one day, I may have to cease to exist.
My twelve-hour days torturing should turn to eighteen, letting out every bit of the rage inside me. I would die if anything happened to my family, my Mother. Sweet angels, my Mother, if anything happened to her I’d rip out my own heart over and over for all eternity.
The one woman I really loved. I would be so much worse if I hadn’t been raised by her. She refused to have nannies take care of me because she noticed I was different, noticed I had a sick way of destroying everything in my path. My anger, the tantrums they grew so much and she had yet to yell or punish me physically. Who knows what I would have grown up as if she had done that to me.
“Lucifer? Is that you?” My Mother’s voice trailed into the hallway. Loki ran in front of me, jumping on the bed right beside her, smiling gleefully at the baby in her arms.
“Come Lucifer, come say hello to your new sister.” Mother’s eyes were tired, her breath labored at the pain she must be feeling. Father only looked on to his newest addition. “Her name is Lillith.” Loki tapped her nose. In return a small bubble of milk escaped her pouty lips.
“She’s beautiful, Mother,” I spoke calmly. Gazing into the half slit eyes, my sister lifted her head to look at me only for them to close again and nuzzle back into Mother’s chest.
“So, when can I play tricks on her?” Mother glared, Father not too happy either as his black smoke trailed out of his body.
“Never, just like your older brother, Lucifer. I mean it, Loki.” Mother stared firmly, pursing her lips.
“Aw, that’s cause Luci can’t take a joke!” My teeth gritted. I fucking hated that name. Fire welled up into my fist. Loki squeaked, running out of the room in terror. He’s felt the punch in the gut before and he wouldn’t want it again.
“Lucifer,” Mother grabbed my flame-free fist. “It’s alright, calm down, love.” Taking deep breaths, the fire abided my fists. I would need to stay away from Lillith, Loki and the rest of my family until I learned how to control it all.
Uriel“That was terrible!” I plopped my head on my gigantic fluffy heart pillow. A hot tear ran down my puffy face. “I can’t even finish the movie, if that poor little thing has to live on like that.” Taking the remote, I stopped the movie and tossed remote to the other side of the room. “That poor little deer lost his mom and had to go live with his really serious dad. I’m not finishing that. He looked waaay too grumpy to be a happy ending and I am all about happy endings.Sliding off the bed in my white nightgown, I glance at the clock to see if I could come out of my room. Mom and Dad have been waiting on the stork for a new baby brother. They said I wasn’t allowed to come downstairs all night long.The stork works the night shift, apparently.That was so hard too, because I like my midnight sneaky snacks. I had a fun little hiding spot right in the kitchen that Mom doesn’t even know about.
LuciferMy Father couldn’t look at me. His smoke tendrils wrapping around his body said it all. He was angry, and unable to control the emotions floating through him. I knew I had struck a nerve. My Father had tried so many times before to keep his cool. He shouldn’t have to, not when I’m his son. He should be allowed to punish me, to beat me into obeying like the young god I was, but now my power was equal to his, something unfathomable to think about for the God of Hell. Especially the first born of Kronos.“Lucifer,” my Father said calmly, his eyes glowing red. “You still have time. I believe this. If I lock you up now, what am I to tell your Mother? She calls for you constantly. I have to lie and tell her you are working else where besides that pit,” he spat.My wings retracted with the gust
UrielIt didn’t take long for me to find the portal. It was the center of the Celestial Kingdom. Many angels walked in and out of it like it was nothing. The large stone archway was decorated with lightly colored granite, only to look like an oversized mirror that was twenty feet wide.I stood behind the corner of the bakery Mom likes to go to on Sunday mornings to plan my studies for the week to keep me busy. It was small and only had a few tables, and she said the carrot cake was delicious. I licked my lips, peaking inside, wanting to taste something sweet and savory, but the itch in my wings made me flutter at the real reason I was out here.To go to a party!That will have a lot of free snacks!My wings fluttered again, them not looking at all the same like the other angels. Many female angels don
UrielI continued to squeeze through the crowd, not paying attention to Queen Parisa standing on the balcony. The cake looked so delicious to be ignored, and no one was even looking at it. My wings tucked close to my body still hit someone gently on their shoulder."I'm so sorry," I whispered. My wings shuttered, I was too nervous about pulling them inside my body, but the large man in front of me looked down with bright blue brilliant eyes. "It's quite alright. Are you okay?" This man was really muscular, wearing a light tan suit and flowing white hair that graced his shoulders. The white stubble on his face was a shade darker than the hair on his head. His hands steadied my shoulders, looking me in the eye."You look familiar," he tilted his head. "Yet, I have never seen you before. I know all the angels and gods. What is your name?" I
LuciferStepping out of the front palace doors, many continued to glare holes in my back. The heat of their stares only magnified my mission to find this girl, figure her out. Surely there had to be a spell cast on her, to deter my emotions and seek some sort of revenge on me and my family.There was no secret. My father was, in fact, the God of Hell, but he wasn’t as evil as the souls he tormented. After my mother being saved from a sex traffic ring, he sent his own demon soldiers to act as humans, finding entire rings of darkened souls for them to feed upon. The soul eaters became father’s new favorite creation. They suck the lives of worthless humans or supernaturals, sucking them straight to the doors of torture. Bypassing the judgment table and earning a number one spot session with me.Bodies fell completely to the floo
UrielEverything was going great. I made a new friend, even though he had a bit of a potty mouth. He even offered me candy! But of course my stomach and chest had to hurt when he said it would taste so good. I might have had too many honeysuckles and honey. I’ve never had a problem with too much sugar before.Maybe I was just too excited to be here! Yup, I was because I got to see some outstanding puppies and got to play in this exceptional garden full of flowers I had never seen before. The Underworld was an amazing place for sure and I didn’t want the party to end so I could explore more.Things with Loki patched up nicely. I was worried about giving up my first potential at a proper friend, but he changed really quick. It made my wings warm at the promise he made me, a real promise. Now I would have someone to go with me and give me a tour around the entire estate! The flutter in my wings made me giddy until a bright light flashed at the front of
LuciferLoki looked shamefully at the ground as he was being scolded by Uriel. I kept my face disinterested to the whole thing, still not sure how to face the situation. Uriel was my mate. Her mother had kept her from the other gods, goddesses and angels all while she grew up. She knew nothing of the underworld, deemed too evil. The only reason I met my fated mate was because of a simple misunderstanding.Since the gods started claiming mates just twenty-five years ago with my Mother’s new gift, babies had been born left and right. Taking part in either their mother's or father’s original form at birth, so there would be no natural-born mix of whatever species the parents were. My father, being a god, it was only natural for my mother’s werewolf genes to morph and make her immortal, thus giving her the power of bonding to help Selena, the Moon Goddess, making mother a goddess herself.Mother had had plenty of gatherings so that the new gods, an
Lucifer“Aren’t you still an archangel, Michael? What happened to the bad-ass archangel from twenty-five years ago? You gotta take your mate by her ass and tell her how it is. Chicks dig that kinda shit.” Ares plopped down on the thick leather chair, not caring that sweat and blood dripped on the expensive upholstery.“Can’t act like that anymore!” Michae threw his hands up in the air. “I’ve got a daughter now. I’ve got to be a bit more civilized than that.” Ares huffed, rubbing the sweat off his brow and slapping the table. Opening his mouth, he paused, whipping his head back to Michael.“You got a kid? Fuck man, congrats!” Ares stands up, goes to shake Michael’s hand before my father exploded.“If you were at the party, you would have known!” Ares scratches his head.“Oh, was that today?” Father rolled his eyes, falling back in the chair. Mariah,