Awaken: Book two of Fallen Series

Chapter Eight

I followed my father to a part of his realm I had never seen before. And I guess it was for good reason. Bat first it didn’t look like anything special. Just a room full of mirrors. Wall to wall floor to ceiling was nothing but mirrors of different shapes and sizes. There was more than I could ever hope to count. But three stood out among the countless others. Three stood large and proud. The first one was beautiful. It’s golden framed design ancient and enrapturing. The craftsmanship of the design was flawless. The detail put into the piece was hypotonic in nature, as if it was meant to draw you into it.

The second was just as beautiful. The frame made of pure silver. It twisted and twined around the mirror in thick vine like ropes. Ancient runes and symbols were deeply engraved into the vine work making the design of the frame more enchanting. The frame was just as spellbinding as the first one was.

The last however, though hypnotizing in its own way, sent chills down my spine. The frame was just as massive as the others. It was made from thick, heavy black iron. It had been molded and formed into what looked to be a cell of some sort. Atop each spiked peg of the gate sat a skull. The iron continued down around the mirror completely surrounding the mirror casting thick shadows over the mirror itself. Somehow carved into the iron on the other side of the “Cell” or gate of the frame were screaming people. Hands reaching through the bars. It was very off putting.

“What is this place?” I asked in awe, my voice pitched low as if I was trying not to disturb some unknown entity that may reside within the walls here.

“This is the hall of mirrors. It is where I monitor all things. I can see all realms, through these three mirrors here.” He pointed to the three mirrors before me. “Through the gold I can see heavens realm, the silver earth, and the black hell.” My father smirked over at me when he saw me wrinkle my nose at the mirror to hell’s realm. “I thought it was funny.” He shrugged.

“You had these mirror’s crafted?” I asked, pointing to the objects in question.

“Yes. I needed a way to see into the realms without having to walk among them all the time. It wasn’t safe for the people for me to just dilly dally among them like I was one of them.” There was pain in his voice. Longing. He wanted to belong. I wish I could help him, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t take his power away; I couldn’t take his place. “Now come. Let’s see what is keeping your beloved from you.” Thanatos motioned me over to hell’s mirror. I obliged. Slowly.

“How do we do this.” I asked, stopping in front of the creepy hell mirror. The thing was worse close up. Still beautiful in its own rite. Beautifully crafted. But close up it looked as if those souls were reaching out for help. It felt as if I could feel their pain.

“Like this.” My father waved his hand over the mirror making it shimmer. A new realm came into view. There was no telling what time of day it was by looking at the realm. The sky was the brightest red of the fallen leaves of autumn. The sun a bright and blistering orange. The earth held little color and what color it did hold were earthy tones. I wanted to say from here the land was barren with no homes, demons or souls in sight but I’d be lying if I said this was the case. No. Thanatos opened the “Looking glass” to a scene of total c*****e. A war zone. Lucifer was locked in hell alone in the middle of a war with no one to help him.

Anger surged as my eyes scanned the war zone for one of the men I loved. So many have already fallen, so many more were fighting. Some demon, some looked human. Bat like creatures were fighting other humanoid, demon creatures in the skies. But that was when I saw Lucifer. When I looked up. His massive black and red wings beat against the sky as he fought against four inhumanly large men. The only thing that came to mind was archdemons. Lucifer said he was having issues with them. So they made their move. They locked Lucifer in hell and attacked.

“Get me to him.” I ground through my teeth. My eyes solely focused on Lucifer.

“Breaking the seal will take time. Teleport to him.” Thanatos told me, his eyes on me.

“Can I do that with hell being locked?” I tore my eyes from Lucifer to study my father this time.

“You are the daughter of death. You can travel realms freely; we already have proven this.”

“We have never tried a locked realm.” I pointed out.

“No better time than the present.” Thanatos smiled. “Concentrate on that spot over there. He pointed to a spot hidden from everyone’s sight. “Use your bow and shoot down anyone you can before they spot you.”

“I’ll try.” I closed my eyes and focused where he told me. I could clearly see that place in my minds eye and focused all my will on getting there to help Lucifer. He needed me, and I was the only one who could possibly help him. With my new powers, my marks and my fighting/weapons skills I would be more help than hinderance. As long as Lucifer will allow me to be.

When I opened my eyes again, I was thrilled to see I was exactly where I wanted to be. I quickly used my chameleon ability to conceal myself as I notched an arrow. Aiming for that bastard Mammon I urged the fire that blazed in my veins to take root on the tip of the arrow before I let it fly. Only I could see the arrow until it implanted itself into the center of Mammon’s chest. Everyone in the sky froze when this happened and watched.

From where the arrow implanted red through his veins in brilliant color. His skin seemed to go from tan to translucent, his black/brown eyes widened and his mouth fell open in a silent scream. His leathery wings couldn’t survive the heat that spread through his veins, so when it started to spread through his wings they started to burn. I shook my head quickly from my distraction and notched another arrow. Aiming while they were distracted, I let another loose. It again stayed concealed until it hit another of Lucifer’s attackers in the center of his chest. This one had long blonde hair.

“What the hell is this?” The red headed archdemon roared as the blonde demon fell from the sky, the fire burning through his leathery wings.

“You wanted a war Beelzebub.” Lucifer sneered, raising his sword. But he still had two more. The red head and another with silver hair that didn’t seem too interested in the fight. Lucifer was tired, I could see that much though.

“I do not want a war.” The silver headed one yawned. “I side with the winning side. My loyalty lay with the most powerful. And neither of you are that.” Somehow his eyes found mine, as if he could see me. How was that possible. “My side lay with the horseman’s daughter.”

“What?” Lucifer and the redhead shouted. Well, looks like my cover is blown. I left myself concealed until I got into the air. Notching another arrow and forming a shield around myself I dropped my concealment.

“How did you see me?” I asked, turning to the silver haired demon.

“I am leviathan. I am older than all things. Just as old as your father. You can not hide from me.” He smiled.

“Well, thanks for that.” I snarked, turning to the red head. “You. I swear to you one more move towards the man I love and I will end you.” I vowed.

“Man, you love?” The red head questioned, his brows furrowing in confusion. I rolled my eyes, slowly flying forward to stand by Lucifer’s side and face down this archdemon. Realization flashed in his eyes before anger and jealousy. “He is no man.” The demon sneered.

“Angel demon, devil.” I shrugged. “Either way he is mine. And you don’t hurt or touch what is mine.” I growled, pulling the string of my bow back further. “Lucifer. Should I end him? It would be as easy as the flick of a finger.”

“End this Beelzebub and you can walk away with your life.” Lucifer generously offered. I wouldn’t have.

“This isn’t over.” The demon sneered.

I dropped the arrow, long enough to shoot fire from the tip of my finger to scorch the side of the demon’s face. His screams of agony ripped through the air like a knife. “Do not threaten him after he just saved your pathetic life.” I hissed.

“You bitch.” The demon surged towards me.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The archdemon Leviathan laughed, making Beelzebub stop short.

“And why not?” He grouched. Leviathan just rolled his eyes, dropped to the ground to pick up some random demon and sly back to us. The demon twisted and writhed to get away but it was no use.

“This is why.” He laughed, picking up the demon’s arm and placing it on my bare skin. The demons’ eyes rolled to the back of his head as his breaths stopped. He was dead. Leviathan dropped the lifeless demon, his body flailing through the air until he hit the ground with a grotesque thud and sickening squelching sound.

“Was that really necessary?” I turned to him outraged.

“I had to prove a point.” The demon shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“Not like that you didn’t.” I fumed.

“Don’t worry my love.” Lucifer pulled me into a side hug. “That demon fought against us in this war.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? He just used me as a freaking death sentence for that poor creature. And the fighting was over.”

“How can you do that?” Beelzebub’s voice pierced through our conversation.

“Do what?” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest in annoyance.

“Kill people with a touch.”

“A curse.” I told him, not wanting to tell him who my father was. “Now leave, before I change my mind about your life.” I sneered. With one last hate-filled look, the archdemon fled.

"He has allies, this isn't over." Lucifer told me as we watched him disappear. "This was only the beginning." I stayed silent, my eyes still trained on the sky. I knew he was right. Not because I knew about hell or his archdemons. But because I had this sinking feeling in my stomach that we had somehow just made things so much worse.

Beelzebub:

That b***h and her lover won’t get away with this. I will take hell for my own one way or another. The apocalypse had started in earth and I had hoped to use that to my advantage to take hell. It didn’t work. I didn’t know Lucifer had a mate with such incredible power. I needed someone on my side with as much power or more. But who? The other archdemons were dead and even they were no match for her. The horseman would not leave their task to help me. Nor would those stuck-up angels help me take hell anyway. Who else was there to help me?

Racing through hell to my lair, I finally figured it out. A smile crossed my face as I turned and headed towards Soul Mountain. I came across them by accident once. I promised myself I would free them one day when I needed them. Today was that day. They would have to obey me if I freed them. If I could free them. They would completely destroy my enemies, destroy Lucifer and his b***h of a mate. Then I would finally get what I wanted. What I deserve. When I reached the mountain, I rushed to the cells I had found so long ago.

“Well, well, well. Look who’s back.” A smooth as silk voice reached me. “If it isn’t the little archdemon Beelzebub. To what do we owe the pleasure?” A man with rib-length-moon silver hair approached the cell bars. His skin was alabaster white, and his eyes as green as the forest floor. He had high cheekbones and a squared jaw. A straight upturned nose.

“I’ve come to free you. But I need something in return,” I told him.

“Oh really?” Another voice purred, his voice washing over me like warm water. I shivered under the sound of his voice. The first man smiled and moved out of the way as the other man approached. This one was deeply tanned with onyx-colored hair and deep purple eyes. His features were sharp, and his smile predatory. “Tell me.” He whispered, pressing closer to the bars. “Tell me what you want.”

“Hell.” I answered automatically. “All of it.”

“Let us out and you shall have it.” His voice was as soft as spun silk and I found myself wanting more of it. I’d never wanted a man, but I wanted this one. I found myself rushing to free them just to be closer to this man. I gripped the bars with all my strength. Pushing my fire into my hands, I melted the bars and pulled them from their place in the mountain walls.

“Excellent.” The onyx-haired man smiled as he stepped over to me. He ran his hand down the side of my face before resting it on my chest. When the pain hit me, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Pain radiated through me. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you about us?” The man laughed. “Greed is one of the seven deadly sins. It will always kill you in the end.” He laughed as he ripped my heart from my chest. The last thing I remember before darkness were the sins leaving their lifetime of imprisonment.