Chapter 4: Choose my fate

Lucifer

              I enter my throne room and agitatedly pace around. Lana might not have been completely aware of it, but her angel was coming through. As soon as she asked me why I was pursuing her, her eyes began to glow, and her grace began to gleam across her body. For a moment, I found myself looking into Lana and her angel’s eyes. I could tell that Lana felt something as she began to change, but she was unsure of what it was.            

              After Bree informed me of Lilith’s involvement in Lana’s unique situation, I researched why Lana’s angel lived as a human but found very little information. When I asked Lillith to tell me more, she spat in my face and told me to sod off.

              At first, I believed that Lana might have been the progeny of an angel and a seer. However, after thinking it through, I realized that it was possible that Lilith was lying to Bree or the Seer lied to Lilith. 

              The more I analyze the situation, the more I conclude that The Creator knew of Lana’s existence.

              I just need to know why The Creator conspired with the Seer to make her human and place her within my proximity in such a manner.

              Not knowing what else to do, I spend the rest of the night looking through several volumes that I collected from Lillith’s home but cannot find anything relating to Lana.

              The next day I’m feeling even more frustrated. Needing to speak to someone, I teleport to Fallon’s home and grin slyly when I see that he and Bree are snogging on the couch. As soon as she sees me, Bree jumps off Fallon’s lap with a fright. “What the fuck, Lucifer!” she glares.

              Fallon adjusts his swollen groin and scowls. “Have you ever heard of calling first?”

              I ignore their murderous glares and slump down next to Fallon. “If you’re expecting an apology, you’ll be waiting for a long time. Now, can we move past this and discuss what I’m here for?”

              Bree places her fists on her hip and huffs out an outraged breath. “You’re such a shit,” she growls.

              Fallon takes her hand and sits her on his lap with a comforting pat. “You tell him, luv.”

              Clearing my throat, I give them a wolfish grin. “The longer you take to listen, the longer it will take for you to get back to your snogging.”

              Fallon shakes his head with exasperation. “Just say what you have to say, you sod.”

              I look at my son and grin. Fallon looks a lot like me with his dark hair and similar build. Things that have changed since he gained his soul are that his hair is shorter, and his fiery silvery eyes are more angelic looking than my ebony ones.

               His mate, Bree, settles back on his chest and pulls her long curls behind her ear as she waits for me to begin. Other than having hazel eyes and golden hair, Bree and Lana are not similar in build. Where Bree is voluptuous and short, Lana is tall and slender.

              “I need you to tell me what Lillith told you about Lana again.”

              Bree arches a brow. “Why?” she asks.

              I can see that she’s trying to gauge my intentions. I can’t really blame her because Lana’s her little sister. I have to admit, it’s a bit disconcerting to know that I’m mated to my son’s, mate’s, sister. If that wasn’t enough, The Creator, Lillith and a seer purposely made it so that they would be born kin.

              “I just wish to know why she’s in a human form. There has to be a reason why she knows who and what I am to her. Angels cannot just exist in the human body or even want to if they could.”

              Bree looks forward thoughtfully. “All Lillith said was that Lana would continue to be reincarnated into a human body until the day she found her mate. That even though Lana would be born human, her angel side would know of her forfeited fate due to your actions. I’m guessing she meant that Lana would know about all of your sins,” she looks at Fallon. “Which would include you bearing a child with a woman who wasn’t your mate.”

              “You said a seer asked her to place Lana’s soul inside a human body. Did she mention anything about The Creator?”

              Bree shrugs. “She said that Lana would have a destiny of her own. A destiny that cannot even be broken by The Creator.”

              I slump back on the couch thoughtfully. “That could mean anything. Did Lillith say anything else?”

              Bree shakes her head. “Not really. She just seemed pretty ecstatic about the idea of thwarting you. But she didn’t really say much else.”

              “Oh, bother, I was hoping there was more.”

              Fallon leans close and places a hand on my shoulder. “Perhaps you should talk to another Seer.”

              I shake my head. “I don’t think that would work considering a Seer has lied to me in the past.”

              Fallon clears his throat and grimaces. “I have another idea, but I don’t think you’re going to like it very much.”

              My eyes narrow with suspicion. “And what idea is this?”

              Fallon pulls Bree closer before he replies. I can tell he’s hesitant about what he is about to suggest. Bree wraps her arm around his neck and nuzzles his jaw. I have to say these two are disgustingly enamored with each other.

              “I think you should talk to Azazel,” Fallon states. Before I can argue, he holds his palm up and says, “I know that it’s the last thing you want to hear, but Azazel works for the Council, and he might have access to heavenly tomes that the supernatural public wouldn’t have access to.”

              Jaw tight, I release a frustrated breath. “Let’s say I agree to talk to that git. Who is to say he will help me?”

              Bree answers for him. “He might not do it for you, but he’ll do it for Lana. You know that Zoe, Lana and I are best friends.”

              Fallon nods. “Plus, you and Azazel established a truce after you helped us find Lillith. I can go with you and talk to him if you wish.”

              I consider his reasoning, then begrudgingly nod. “Very well, when would you like to do this?”

              Fallon rises from his seat, his arms still circling Bree’s waist. “Actually, we were about to stop into his home before we got…distracted,” he gives Bree a sly smile.

              Bree claps happily. “This is probably the best time to ask. Zoe’s back in town, so Azazel should be in a good mood.”

              I give her a droll stare. “I don’t bloody care about that git’s mood. Shall we go then?”

              Bree stops in front of me and waves her index finger beneath my nose. “Behave, Lucifer. Remember, it’s for my sister.”

              I chuckle at her matronly tone. “I’ll be a good boy, luv.”

              Fallon narrows his eyes suspiciously but doesn’t reprimand me for my irreverent tone. He knows that I’ll do as I wish despite their warnings.

              Before we leave, Bree texts Zoe and informs her that I will also be visiting.

               Zoe greets us at the door as soon as we arrive. “Hey!” she jumps into Bree’s arms excitedly. “Oh, I missed you so much!” Bree gleefully squeals and embraces her back.

              Once they’re done with their platitudes, Zoe gives Fallon a welcoming smile before she turns to me and glares. “Hello, Lucifer,” she mutters balefully.

              I give her a courteous nod. “Always a pleasure to see you, Zoe.”

              She snorts in reply as she leads us into the apartment.

              Considering all of the things I had done to her in the past, Zoe should hold a great deal of antipathy toward me. However, she doesn’t, which puzzles me greatly. From the moment Azazel defected, I set out to kill Zoe through several of her reincarnations and prevented her from ever meeting Azazel. Thinking back on it now, I know it was impetuous of me to let my anger toward Azazel reach such horrific measures. I know that if I could go back, I would never have hurt her. I guess what the American’s say is true; hindsight is twenty-twenty.

              “What the bloody hell are you doing here, you git?” Lucifer steps into the large room and glares. His golden hair weaves with the golden light as he steps across the gleaming wooden floors.

              Before he reaches me, Zoe stops beside him and presses her palm across his chest, halting his movements. “Calm down, babe, he’s not here to fight with you.”

              Amused by Zoe’s command, I arch a brow and approach the couple. “Hello, Azazel. It’s a pleasure to see you, mate?” Azazel’s expression sours at my congenial tone. I’m sure he was expecting me to make a rude comment, which is why I choose to be affable.

              “Enough of your feigned modesty, you sod. What the fuck do you want?”

              Zoe lightly cuffs him in the stomach. “Please, calm down, Azazel. He’s only here because he wants to talk.”

              Azazel’s lip curs with derision, “Alright, what is it that you want?”

              “It’s about Lana,” I reply.

              Zoe snaps up and gives us a questioning look. “Why would we discuss Lana with you?”

              Bree steps beside me and answers her friend. “Listen, Zoe, no one is as resistant about keeping things from Lana as I am. But with everything that has happened lately and Lana’s angelic alter ego blocking her memories, I think we need to take a different approach─Even if it means going behind Lana’s back to do it.”

              Zoe gives her friend a conceding not and gestures for us to take a seat in one of the comfortable-looking plush sofas. “Please, have a seat.”

              Bree and Fallon sit down on the heather-colored sofa while I take the lone chair across from them.

              Zoe moves to the wine cart next to the sofa and waves a couple of glasses. “How about we have some wine?”

              Everyone nods and takes a glass while Zoe pours.

              I take the bouquet, intrigued by the full taste.

              Zoe must see my look of delight because she smiles and says, “Do you like it?”

              I nod. “It’s amazingly crisp. What brand is it?”

              She tells me the brand. “Azazel and I bought it on our trip to Napa. I thought it was so good that I bought a case.”

              I nod. “You made the right choice; it’s delicious.”

              Azazel clears his throat loudly. “Can we please be done with the pleasantries and discuss why you’re here?” he mutters grumpily.

              Zoe puffs out an exasperated breath and nods. “Sure, so what is it that you wanted to discuss?” she asks me.

              I rub the back of my neck, feeling hesitant to discuss Lana’s business. However, I know that it’s important. My instincts tell me that it’s imperative. And I always listen to my instincts.

              “I’m sure you remember that the last time we were together, I discovered that Lana is not only an angel in a human body, but she’s also my mate.”

              They nod, affirming my statement.

              I look at Bree and continue. “Bree recently discovered that Lillith bargained with a Seer to continuously reincarnate Lana’s angelic essence inside of a human form until she met me.”

              Zoe looks at Bree, “Is that true?”

              Bree nods. “Yeah, she also told me that Lana was destined to always be born in my family line and that Lana had a destiny that not even The Creator could change. I don’t know what that means, but it sounded ominous.”

              Azazel’s eyes become hooded. “But why hide her in a human form?”

              Bree shrugs. “Lillith said that the seer might have been worried that The Creator would be angry over Lana’s existence.”

              Azazel and I shake our heads.

              Azazel answers. “Whoever told the Seer that lied to her. There’s no way that The Creator wouldn’t know of Lana’s existence. The Creator is the only one who can create angels. Even I know that, and I’m a demon.”

              I arch an agreeable nod. Azazel’s thought process is running in the same direction as mine. “As much as it pains me to say it, he’s right. Which begs the point, why would The Creator go through so much trouble to ensure Lana was reincarnated into a human form.”

              Zoe’s face pales as she raises her hand up in the air. “I think I may know a reason why.”

              Everyone’s eyes turn to her.

              Bree’s brow furrows as she asks, “How would you know?”

              Zoe’s eyes tear as she gazes into her dear friend’s eyes. “You know how I was having all of these visions about my past lives?”

              Bree and Azazel nod.

              Zoe swallows hard before she looks intently into my eyes. “For a while now, those visions became clearer, and I started remembering everything. In fact, the visions were so clear that I felt like I was watching my life play out on television. It was so crazy that I searched through public and historical archives to make sure that I didn’t imagine everything.”

              Azazel takes her trembling hands in his and rubs them comfortingly.          “But what does that have to do with Lana?” Bree asks.

              Zoe gives her a watery smile. “According to my research, Lana, Bree and I knew each other in all of our past lives. I also discovered that every time I would die, Lana would tragically die soon after.”

              Bree gasps with horror. “What?”

              Zoe rises from her perch, walks over to a bag strewn near the doorway and removes several large binders.

              Walking back to the sofa, she removes everything from the coffee table, opens the binder, and empties its contents across the table’s barren surface. Everyone slips forward in their seats and looks down at the pictures and files strewn across the table.

              She lifts an old black and white picture and holds it up for us to see. “In one of my previous lives, I worked at a fabric factory. On the same night that Lucifer murdered me, a fire started in the factory and killed five women. One of them was Lana.”

              She lifts another sheet. This one is an old journal entry that chronicles several deaths that occurred during the middle ages. “In this one, I was a servant girl at a castle. After I recalled the name of the castle, I researched and found out that the night after Lucifer murdered me, one of the other servant girls was beaten and raped by a group of marauders. During that life, I shared a room with two chambermaids. One of them was Lana, and the other one was Bree. Lana was the one that was killed.”

              Bree rises from her seat with a gasp. “But how is that possible? How would you have known that it was Lana? Or that it wasn’t just a coincidence?” she asks, her voice rising with her agitation.

              Zoe gives her a sympathetic look. “It was her, B. I know it was her because Lana has looked the same in every incarnation. She had the same eyes, hair and build. I know that this sounds like a coincidence, but all the research that I’ve found regarding our deaths matches my dreams.” She splays her hands over each sheet and shuffles around it, laying them out next to each other. “Every piece of evidence that I’ve found indicates that when I died, Lana died soon after. You, on the other hand, were spared in most of our reincarnations. Read it for yourself! 

              Bree searches through each article and journal passage, her expression becoming grimmer as she connects each death.

              “But how, and why would I be spared?” she asks.

              A sickening feeling settles inside of my chest as realization begins to dawn on me. I understand at that moment why Lillith said that Lana would know about her forfeited fate because of my actions. My discussion with Lana about actions having consequences appears at the forefront of my mind, but I refuse to verbalize my suspicions. The mere thought makes horror spread across my dark heart.

              Unfortunately, Azazel has no issue verbalizing what I already know. “Isn’t it obvious? The world works on a scale, and when things are not in balance, bad things happen. That’s why we need heaven and hell. As Lucifer was punishing me, destiny was killing Lana to balance Lucifer’s actions. You were spared because you had no involvement in our rivalry.”

              All eyes snap to mine. To my surprise, Bree jolts up from her seat, slaps me soundly across the face. “Did you know this, you bastard?” Fallon reaches for her and tries to pull her off, but she’s quite agile in her anger. Feeling that she has a right to be enraged, I let her vent her anger on my person until she exhausts herself.

              Zoe pats her shoulder and pulls her close. “It’s alright, B. Lana’s fine now.”

              Bree clings to her friend and continues to glare in my direction. “Yeah, no thanks to this asshole.”

              I look at Fallon, who gives me an aggrieved expression. “I always wondered why you were never made accountable for interfering with the sanctity of fated mates.”

              Azazel sneers in reply. “If there’s one thing that I know is that fate does not like to be thwarted. Oh, the irony of the whole situation.”

              My anger bubbles over at Azazel’s flippant tone. “Fuck you, you wanker. I didn’t even know that she bloody existed. So, you can shut your sodding mouth, you traitorous git?”

              Azazel’s face hardens as he stares me down. “You’re such a bloody hypocrite, Lucifer. Acting like a petulant child over a perceived slight when you’re the one who has committed the ultimate betrayal. Or did you forget how you ended up in hell?”

              I move in close, ready to pounce and release all of the pent-up emotions that threaten to strangle me. Seeing my intent, Fallon stands between us and gives us both warning glares. “Stop fighting, you bloody fools. This is not about you right now. This is about Lana and what might be happening to her.”

              Zoe and Bree stop next to him, their eyes full of disgust at our childish behavior.  

              I take a couple of indrawn breaths and nod. “You’re right, Fallon. This is not the time to argue. Lana is what matters right now.” I look at Bree and Zoe, “I know we can all agree that we want Lana safe.”

              Azazel and the women give me an agreeable nod and relax their shoulders.  

              Fallon rubs the back of his neck and scowls before he takes a step back. “I get The Creator wanting to punish Lucifer and balancing the scales. But it still doesn’t explain why she’s still in human form now that Azazel and Zoe are finally united. Shouldn’t she have turned back into an angel or something? No, there has to be another reason why The Creator would send Lana to live as a human?”

              I shrug, still reeling from Zoe’s revelation.

              “Do you have another theory as to why The Creator would place Lana in a human body?” Azazel asks.

              I shake my head. “No, I don’t. As I said before, I didn’t even know that it was possible. All I can think is that Lana will not be left unscathed by this.”

              Azazel must see something in my expression because he mutters. “You’re right. If there is one thing I learned, it’s that The Creator does not do a sodding thing without reason. If he did grant Lana the ability to be born in the human world, then there’s definitely a precept that comes with such a gift.”

              Bree’s brow furrows. “Do you really think that Lana will be made to pay the price for becoming human?”

              Azazel shrugs. “Have you ever known The Creator to be so altruistic?”

              I shake my head. “No, I have not. Though many humans might believe that The Creator is benevolent, those of us who were actually around him know better. The Creator may come off as an all-knowing being to some, but I’ve seen firsthand how he makes those who have disobeyed him pay. If he put Lana in a human form, it was most certainly not for her benefit. He most assuredly has a purpose and is playing a long game.”

              Zoe gathers all of the papers and neatly places them back inside of the binders. “I think we need to talk to Lana.”

              I nod. “I agree, but there’s still the issue of her angelic side’s unwillingness to reveal herself or even allow Lana the ability to know what she is.”

              At my words, everyone deflates. It seems that the biggest impediment to Lana’s situation is Lana.

              Bree throws her arms up with a discouraged huff and mutters, “So, what do we do? I mean, we can’t just let her walk around ignorant of who she is and hope that nothing happens to her.”

              Sliding my fingers through my hair, I think about what I can do to rectify this dilemma. “I think you should let me handle Lana.”

              Protests ring out around me, but I hold my hand up and halt their arguments. “If Lana’s going to remember who she is, it will be because of our bond, not because you think you can somehow will it to happen. I’ll simply continue visiting her and see if I can jar her memories.”

              Bree’s expression is thunderous as she interprets my comment. “Wait, you’ve been seeing Lana? I thought you said you didn’t accept the bond?”

              My jaw ticks at the prospect of revealing my desperate need to see Lana. It’s even difficult to admit to myself that I have been struggling with staying away from her. I’m not ready to bear my soul open, and I definitely will not do it with Lana’s family present. Instead, I grasp the only flimsy excuse that they’d be willing to accept. “Do not make anything of it, luv. I’ve only seen her because I wanted to know if her angel would reveal itself to me. Lana was not even aware that I was there,” At least not until I saved her the day before, but I’m not going to tell them that tidbit.

              My reasoning must put her at ease because she doesn’t reprimand me further. “Lillith told you that until Lana and I met, her angelic side would not be merged. Perhaps if I’m around her, this might occur. I can also speak to someone who might have some insight into The Creator’s intentions.”

              Azazel and Fallon arch a questioning brow. “Who would you speak to?”

              I snicker. “My brother, Michael, might know. Though, I’m sure he’s cursing my name after I placed Lillith in his care.”

              “Wait, are you talking about the archangel, Michael?” Zoe asks.

              Bree snickers at her friend’s awed tone. “Yeah, Michael is real, Z. Oh, and apparently he lives in France.”

              I shrug. “Michael’s also a wanker, so don’t get too excited.”

              Azazel snorts. “If you don’t like Michael and he doesn’t like you, then I’m sure he and I would get along quite well.”

              I ignore his comment as I rise from my seat. “While I work on Michael and Lana, would you speak to the Seraphim or anyone who might know why this is happening?”

              Azazel nods, “I can talk to Mathias and have Fallon contact you if we discover anything.”

              I nod. “Very well. I will take my leave and contact you if  I find anything else.”

              Fallon pats my shoulder and gives me an agreeable nod before I vanish out of sight.

              As I predicted, Michael is disinclined to speak to me when I call. Under any other circumstance, I would have shown up at his home without invitation. But Michael is already livid with me, and he can be quite the sod about sharing information when he’s in a mood. Opting to be cordial, I request to let him set a time and date. He begrudgingly agreed to meet me in two days.

              Once I’ve finished with Michael, I consult with my lords before returning to the Canyon and the woman who draws me like a moth to a flame.