Lucifer’s Daughter(43)

Scary as I am, I knew that couldn"t be the case. Taking a deep breath, I turned around.

My sword fell from my numb fingers, as the promise I"d made took hold of my body and will, forcing me to obey.

I fell to my knees as Azazel"s master approached.

“Who are you?” I asked. I tried to see within the shadowy cowl that masked the would-be usurper.

The voice, when it came, surprised me. Light and almost musical in tone, I couldn"t decide if it belonged to a male or female–or maybe even an „other."

“Bastard daughter of Satan, long have I watched thee. I had almost wondered if perhaps thou had escaped the curse of thy father"s blood. But I smell the stink of man upon you. Unwed slut, you art no better than thy mother. It pains me to think I must touch thy flesh, unpure as it is, but thou hast something I need.”

“Show your face, coward. Why do you hide?”

Chiming laughter like bells rang forth from the hood and gave me chills. Such dulcet sounds should not belong to the evil I sensed in this being.

“I will reveal myself when the time is right. A pity thou shall not live to see my grand victory.

Goodbye, daughter of Lucifer.”

I wanted to fight. My body strained at the invisible bonds of the pact I"d made, but they bound me tight to my word. Azazel"s master approached. I stared up into the dark recesses of its cowl, trying to see its face. I saw nothing but shadows. The figure reached out a slender, pale hand, the skin translucent and unblemished. It pressed its seemingly innocuous hand to my forehead.

Unlike the battle where I"d laughed off my pain and injuries, this time I screamed in pain.





Chapter Eleven


Once the pain started, I thought it would never end. Crushing and debilitating agony consumed me. I began praying for death, anything to escape the unbearable torture. I couldn"t tell how long I screamed, but eventually I did finally stop, and found myself lying on the ground twitching uncontrollably, as if caught in a grand mal seizure. I was unfortunately still aware, inside my prison of pain–barely--and sharing this awareness with me was that parasitic monster Azazel called master. Like a leech, this monstrous being sucked at my power, and it didn"t simply drain it from me; oh no, it savagely ripped the force from me, leaving me feeling weaker and weaker.

Through my head flashed memories, so fast I couldn"t see them, as the being sifted through my mind as if searching for something. Back, back in time; Azazel"s master looked „til it found the day I came to live with my father, Satan.

I sensed the monster"s excitement as it halted its mind-rape and slowly moved my memories back a day. The day my life changed forever. It eagerly attempted to access those memories that even I could not remember, and suddenly shields slammed down in my head and a powerful voice screamed, “Be gone.” A flash of bright light followed, and I found myself flying weightlessly through the air before crashing to the ground.

I shook my head dazedly. I lay with my face and arm hanging over the edge of the abyss. My body throbbed painfully, covered in bruises and cuts, while my head ached horribly. I could hear voices through the ringing in my ears. I turned my face with great effort, and I opened one bleary eye to see the robed figure pick itself up off the ground and come striding towards me angrily, Azazel at its heels. I"m ashamed to say I whimpered.

I looked longingly at the abyss; just a little effort, and all my pain would be gone. I couldn"t be sure the abyss wouldn"t hurt just as bad, but right now, caught between certain pain and death and possible pain and death, I knew which I chose. I heard the beating of wings above me, and cries from all sides. Ignoring them all, I drew on my last reserves of strength and rolled my body into the chasm. And hopefully oblivion.

I heard a familiar voice bellow, “No!”

It had sounded like Auric; an impossibility, I knew, and probably a product of a hallucinating mind. Auric was half dead, but safe in my bar. I"d saved him. It had to be a trick.

Too late anyway, I"d fallen into the abyss and my limp body tumbled down weightlessly.

Then my descent abruptly stopped. Powerful arms gripped me, and I heard the ponderous sound of wings beating. I opened my eyes, and through a haze, I thought I saw Auric, his visage fierce and angry. His lips were drawn tight and his green eyes blazed with fury. If I hadn"t hurt so much, I would have smiled; he looked so handsome. Sprouting from his back, I caught the impression of dark wings.

“Auric,” I murmured weakly, “You got your wings back.”



And then the pain became too much again, and I passed out.





Chapter Twelve


I woke, snuggled in a pair of familiar arms, cradled protectively. I was glad for their strength because I felt so weak.