Chapter 3: Destiny?

Fallon

              Wiping blood from my blade, I tuck my sword back into its sheath and gaze down at the bloody creature with satisfaction. For months these supernatural assassins have been coming out of the woodwork to kill me. Being the son of the devil has definite downsides. For one, Lucifer’s enemies will do anything to hurt him by hurting me. It’s no secret that despite some differences in fundamental opinions that he and I have, my father cares for me and respects him.

              The night air stirs around me, followed by the smell of human waste and rubbish covering the dark alleyway stirring me from my thoughts. Pulling my jacket close, I shoot off a ball of power and burn my enemy’s remains until there are only ashes. His odd weapon remains on the ground, so I pick it up and tuck it into my jacket before I project myself back to my father’s domain.

              The creature that attacked me didn’t look like any supernatural being I have ever seen on earth. It seemed intent on disabling me rather than kill me. That’s why I’m here. Perhaps my father can shed some light on this mystery.

              As he usually does, Lucifer is lounging on his throne, his brow furrowed in deep thought. This look is different than the cocky, self-satisfied one he usually wears. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my father look anything but assured. Lucifer is a lot like the snake described in theology. He’s cunning, slick, and volatile.

              He doesn’t give me a moment to ask what is wrong before he hops up from his throne and begins to speak. “I bloody told her not to go anywhere, and the little witch defied me and left. She left! Can you believe that? No one, and I mean no one, has ever gone against my orders. Yet, she didn’t even blink.”

              I arch a questioning brow. “Who do you speak of, father?”

              His mouth tightens into a grimace. “Alaina, that’s who. The little spitfire went to the bloody Grand Canyon for some idiotic trip after I told her she couldn’t go.”

              My brow furrows with confusion. The last time that I saw Lana, she and my father had decided to part amicably. In fact, it was my father’s idea to reject their mating and let her go. “Wait, I thought you didn’t want to be her mate?”

              “And I don’t!” He roars adamantly. “But that doesn’t mean that she gets to leave whenever she bloody wishes. She’s supposed to stay in that rubbish flat that Azazel leased to her and her sister. She didn’t even tell me that she was leaving! Azazel told me!”

              I don’t know what to say; other than that, I’m utterly confused.

              Lucifer paces around the room, his hands on his hips and his face set with anger. I didn’t think that the word flustered would ever describe Lucifer, but it seems that he is. His dark hair is always styled to be short on the back and long on top, but right now, it’s tousled, and his eyes keep changing from its obsidian color to a scarlet ember.

              “I… don’t understand,” I reply, unsure of how to proceed.

              Lucifer paces toward me and stops until we’re nearly face-to-face. “What is there to not understand? I don’t want her, but I need to know at all times where she is and that she’s not with someone else.”

              He sounds so reasonable that I have to blink several times to make sure that what I heard was right. However, no matter how many times I think about his words, they still come out sounding selfish and unreasonable.

              “Let me get this right. You don’t want her, but you don’t want anyone else to want her. And you also do not want her to have a life outside of you. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

              His laconic smile widens, and his head bobs with affirmation. “Exactly,”

              I almost laugh out loud. Leave it to Lucifer to think his point is valid regardless of how unreasonable he sounds. And trust me, he’s nowhere near being reasonable.

              “Are you listening to yourself, father? Do you honestly believe that Lana would just sit around and mourn your non-existent relationship while you do whatever you wish?”

              Lucifer arches his brows and nods again. “Did I bloody stutter?”

              This time I cannot hold my mirth. I’m not the kind of creature who is easily amused. But when it comes to my father’s arrogance, I can’t contain myself. Oh, the devil can be quite audacious when he wishes to be.

              “You do realize that this is not how it works. Regardless of her affiliation with you, you have rejected your connection, which means she has the right to be with whoever she wants and do whatever she wishes with her life.”

              My father reels with shock. He genuinely looks astonished by my logic. “But that’s not what I wish.”

              I shake my head. “What you wish doesn’t matter in this scenario, father. You gave up your claim, which means Lana is free. How can you not understand that?”

              His lips pucker at that moment as if he has tasted something sour that he doesn’t like. He looks almost lost. I guess he has spent so many millennia unopposed by his minions that he doesn’t understand that Lana will not agree to his edicts.

              When I think of it, there haven’t been many who have opposed my father’s decrees. Azazel and I were the only ones he allowed to challenge him, and Azazel had to pay a gruesome price until he found a way to free himself from my father’s retribution.

              “She can’t do that to me. I will not allow it!” He roars belligerently. His jaw tightens, and his chest swells as he throws his arms up. “If she lets any git touch her, I will rip his hands off and feed them to the wanker.”

              His serious tone makes me stiffen with wariness. My father may be the devil, but he’s usually more composed than he is at this moment. I won’t say that he has been rational in the past because that would be a lie, but this stillness alarms me.

              “Are you serious? Listen to me, and listen to me well, father. Lana. Is. No. Longer. Yours. You chose not to be with her, and now she’s free to be with someone else. That is unless you accept that she’s yours. Is that what you want?”

              Lucifer shakes his head. “Of course not. I have no desire to be tied down to that termagant.”

              I shrug. “Well then, there’s nothing more to say. Let her live her life, and you live yours.”

              His jaw ticks, and his expression is still grim, but he doesn’t argue further.

              Instead, he swallows hard, almost as if it’s difficult to absorb the truth. His chiseled jaw ticks with unrestrained fury, and his broad chest heaves.

              Looking to change the subject, I present him with my attempted assassin’s weapon. “There was a strange creature that attacked me tonight. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Would you happen to know of any new creatures?”

              Lucifer narrows his eyes and shakes his head. “No, I was not made aware of any new creatures terrorizing humans. There were creatures that Azazel warned us were being created at that clinic, but he and the Halo prince shut that clinic down. What did the creature look like? Perhaps it was a stray from the clinic.”

              I think about the creatures that Azazel warned me about several weeks ago. Apparently, a human scientist was kidnapping supernatural creatures and using their parts to create various grotesque experiments. “I don’t believe this was one of the creatures. For one, this creature was not made of parts. It looked whole.”

              I review the creature’s features in my mind. “It was more like one of the fire phantasms that live in the fringes of your kingdom, but not quite.”

              His head tilts to the side. “Was it corporeal?”

              I nod. “No, but the bloody thing was able to touch me.”

              He frowns in consternation and shakes his head. “It can’t be the phantasms because they cannot solidify or apparate on earth. I will have my couriers send word around the seven circles to see if there’s any news of any new creatures skulking about.”

              I’m disturbed by my father’s lack of knowledge regarding the creatures of his kingdom, but I choose not to comment on it. I don’t want to give him another reason to sulk.

              “Very well, I’ll leave you to it,” I say.

              Lucifer narrows his eyes. “Leaving so quickly then? Don’t you wish to spend any more time with me? Or is there another reason for your hasty retreat? A certain human beauty with golden ringlets, perhaps?” He mutters snidely.

              My teeth grind, and my jaw pops at my father’s curious tone. I hate that he knows about Bree and that he senses my attraction. I’ve tried to keep things professional between us because I don’t want my father to learn my true motive for protecting her. It would be disastrous. Plus, it’s not like my attraction would lead anywhere due to the prophecy that she’s connected to. Bree is a ticking time bomb that might detonate under certain circumstances. If she breeds, it will not only be the end of hell but of all humanity. However, it doesn’t stop my foolish body from desiring her. Bree is a stunning creature with long golden hair, hazel eyes, and the body of a goddess.

              Similar prophecies were shared by other Oracles. Some of the interpretations state that the Oracle would bear the Erue after mating with the champion. A Seer was able to interpret my role in the prophecy. She said that if I save the North Star/Oracle, who is, in fact, Bree, I will gain my soul. I have yet to gain my true soul, but I am unconcerned because I have a fragment of Lucifer’s soul. If I have learned something about souls, it is that if I don’t gain my true soul, I will revert to who I was. In our world, a soul is not just the keeper of emotions and such as empathy, love, and reason. If I lose my soul, I will become who I was before Lucifer gifted me with a life of hope.

              Nearly a year ago, Azazel, Lucifer, and I went to hell and saved Bree, her sister, Lana, and Azazel’s mate, Zoe. Not soon after, I said my goodbyes and crushed every torturous instinct that screamed for me to go back to her. Of course, it doesn’t help that she told me in no uncertain words to leave and never come back. I’m still confused and irritated by her angry words. How dare she infer that I was stalking her. I was bloody protecting her from certain death, and the little witch refused to even show a modicum of gratitude. These bloody humans and their stubborn pride. Regardless, without her knowledge, I have continued to look out for her. It’s unavoidable because she is the key to regaining my soul. At least, I’d like to think I’m doing it.

              Pushing thoughts of the beautiful human out of my mind, I head home, strip down to my boxer briefs, and swim laps in my Olympic-sized pool.

              For several millennia, I had fought by my father’s side as his top general. I was a war machine with very little remorse until one day, I realized that I was ready to leave and explore the human world. It wasn’t easy for me to tell my father of my wishes, and Lucifer wasn’t very happy about it because he worried for me. In fact, once I left hell, he’d consistently hound me until I put my foot down and made a deal with him. If he’d let me live in the human world, I’d become his earthly mercenary. In other words, I’d hunt down any escaped demons, lords, or prisoners for him. Thankfully, Lucifer agreed, and I was able to live on earth.

              For centuries, I traveled the world, experienced human life, and learned from many cultures. It was exciting until I became bored and had to figure out ways to fill my time. I fought with the Trojans, Spartans, and Mongols. I fought with gladiators and spent time training with the Mayas and Incas before their civilizations were destroyed. It makes me glad that I never followed through with destroying humanity. One thing that I learned from the Mayans was their swimming skills. They were incredible warriors who used the land as their training fields. I enjoyed swimming in the ocean and the feeling of freedom it gave me. Over the years, I’ve ensured that I’d be near a body of water anywhere I live. Before I bought my home, I asked the realtor to only show me homes with swimming pools.

              As soon as I saw this house, I knew it was the one. Other than sex, swimming is the only thing that relaxes me.

              I’m on my hundredth lap when I sense an uninvited presence in my home. I guess my relaxation time is over. It’s time to kill whoever has had the gall to shatter my peace.