A loud screeching caw echoed around us, and as I looked up, I saw Ash circling outside. A shot of adrenaline and hope surged through my veins.
In the confusion, Thomas picked Alex up and hurriedly carried him down the hall toward Alaine’s room.
Through the gaping hole in the ceiling, a black, smoky mist slowly crept in. It rapidly began to swirl like a whirlwind and then took form. Everyone in the room, angels and beasts alike, paused and watched in utter awe as Lucifer stood in their midst.
Huge raven wings spread out and folded across his back. His body had transformed from normal to almost beast-like. Muscles and veins bulged from his bare chest and arms. In one hand he held a very long, very sharp sword. The other was empty, but his fist was tightly balled shut. His eyes were blood red, flickering with flames of rage and destruction, and they were narrowed on Lucian.
“Lucifer,” Lucian scoffed. “I’m shocked to see you here. Were you invited or did you merely crash the party?”
“Disloyal traitor,” Lucifer growled, his words thundered through the house, shaking the ground and sending debris falling from above.
Lucian smirked. “I knew one day we would run in to each other. I just didn’t think it would be here.”
“The girl is mine. She is bonded to my son,” Lucifer snarled.
“I see you are still living up to your name, Deceiver. The girl is not immortal, therefore cannot be bonded. She is Nephilim, and she is mine.”
Two beings from the beginning of time stood confronting one another. Once allies, now archenemies. The two squared off; Lucian slowly unfurled his wings, knowing what was to come. This would be the battle of all battles.
I could see it in Lucifer’s eyes. The century old feud was about to be dealt with head on. He was face to face with the very one to whom he entrusted his Fallen army. The one he put in charge of all of his executions, including his own brother. The one whose pride overcame him, making him think he could do a much better job of ruling the Underworld.
“You will die before this day is done,” Lucifer threatened.
“Not if I kill you first,” Lucian answered.
Lucifer flew at Lucian, their swords collided and sparks rained down around them. Each engaged moving effortlessly around the other, using their wings and swords as weapons. Lucifer took to the air spinning, his wings outspread. Lucian managed to avoid the deadly attack, but four unsuspecting Fallen did not. Two of them were instantly decapitated, one was sliced in half, and the other lost an arm.
When he stopped, Lucian attacked. With a flap of his wings he shot forward, his blade missing Lucifer by inches. As the momentum carried him forward, he wrapped his arm around Lucifer’s legs, yanking him downward. Both went crashing and tumbling in a massive heap. Black feathers filled the air around them, gracefully and silently floating down.
Lucifer kicked Lucian in the gut, throwing him backward, but Lucian spread his wings and stopped the momentum. With a loud swoosh, Lucifer flew at him one more time, and swords crashed together repeatedly.
By this time, most of the room had emptied out.
They looked as if they were dancing, but this dance was deadly and as old as they were, they were moving unbelievably fast. Their strikes were so hard, it was almost ear piercing. Each attack was given with a centuries worth of hate, resentment, and revenge.
Everyone watched these two ancient warriors engage from a safe distance. Even the blind Grimlock made their way outside to avoid the bloodthirsty battle unfolding before them.
Then a team of Lucifer’s Fallen descended from the hole in the ceiling. I saw the remainder land around the perimeter outside, some engaging immediately with Lucian’s Fallen.
Alaine had disappeared, probably to help Alex, and Samuel had made his way up the stairs to the third level. I still didn’t see Malachi, and hoped he was alright.
Lucifer kept his part of the deal, but it was something he already wanted from the beginning. He was waiting for his moment to confront Lucian, and we were simply the means for him to do so.
The battle was raging, and war was all around us.
“Emma, let’s go,” Kade said.
I gasped as a familiar rush of tingles overcame me, making me dizzy.
Ethon was near.
As I glanced up, Ethon appeared floating gracefully down from the hole in the ceiling. After pausing briefly, he flew toward the stairway.
“Emma,” he called. “I know you’re here. I’ve come for you.”
Kade held tight to my hand. “Don’t,” he said. “Why would he want you to come to him in the midst of danger?”
“Emma, we have to seal the bond before it’s too late,” he announced. “Come to me, let me keep you safe and take you away from this danger.”