Page 31 of Witch's Rebirth
"Again, it's my pleasure, Deja." Lucifer inclined his head toward me. "I suppose I should let you go back to where you are needed. But before I do, I have a parting gift for you, dear."
"Oh?" I said, surprised.
He gently unwrapped my arm from his and took a step back, making a twirling motion with his finger. "Turn around and show me your back, please."
I humored him, turning until I faced away. In the next moment, his voice was near my ear. "I need to touch your bare skin. Please don't mistake it for getting fresh with you."
"Wouldn't dream of it, old man," I chuckled.
The next sensation I felt was his warm hand against my spine. He muttered some ancient language under his breath as I felt his power pulse through me. It was humbling. He probably wasn't using the power in his smallest fingernail and it still made my knees buckle. A slight, sharp pain like a cat scratch sliced through me, and just as quickly it was gone.
"There," he said with satisfaction, pulling his hand away. "Take a look, dear."
I looked over the lagoon we stood next to, now empty of people and the surface reflecting like a mirror. Looking over my shoulder, I lifted the back of my shirt and gasped at what I saw.
"Lucifer!" I breathed, pulling my shirt higher and twisting around for a better look. "They're beautiful!"
He placed sigils on my spine. The symbol of each of my men contrasted with my skin in dark, magical ink. But there was one I didn't recognize.
"Who's that?" I asked, pointing to the one in question.
"That is the demon Set," he answered. "He is Seth's namesake and one of the ancient forms of Beelzebub."
I opened my mouth to protest but he held up a finger to silence me.
"Set is where Seth drew his strength and tenacity to break away from Beelzebub's control. Unknowingly, Beelzebub injected most of Set's powers into Seth in the womb. The ancient Egyptians regarded Set as the god of storms, which I thought you would find appropriate."
Of course. What better demon to fuel the power of the stormy eyed man who struggled so much, who somehow made me feel so much for him?
"The tattoos will remain on you, no matter which body you're in. I heard you once yearned to have all of your men's sigils on you," Lucifer added with a wink.
"Thank you," I said graciously. "I love them. I'll be happy to wear them forever."
With a final grin, Lucifer leaned in and planted a fatherly kiss on my cheek.
"Hopefully it won't be too long before I see you again, my dear daughter."
And with that, I felt an inexplicable pull on my body and soul back to the world of the living.
14
DEJA
Ilanded unsteadily on my feet, windmilling my arms and taking a few shaky steps from the rush of coming back from Hell. The forest surrounded me with its familiar smells, sounds, and the pulse of its magic. I felt under the back of my shirt and sure enough my sigil tattoos were there, pulsing with the gentle warmth of Lucifer's magic. I couldn't wait to show the guys, but I had no idea where I was.
I spun in a slow circle, looking for any familiar landmarks and realized this was the exact place where the angel's kiss hit me. There was the flattened trail of grass where I rolled down the hill until I crashed into this tree. This was where I died and was reborn.
Sunlight shone, filtered and dappled through the tree canopy. It was night when the guys and I were here and I had no idea how much time had passed.
With surefooted steps, I made my way back up the hill. If the guys thought I was dead, they probably wouldn't be out here anymore. But I could find the boulder me and Ash hid on, then find our trail to where he parked the truck, and hopefully follow that trail back home.
I was no tracker, but easily retraced my panicked run through the woods. Those branches were torn from me running through them. That muddy footprint was where I slipped and almost fell the first time.
The boulder was easy enough to spot but I didn't see the man sitting with his back to the rock until I was almost right next to it. He looked up with stormy gray eyes at the sound of my feet crunching on the ground.
"Deja?" he said in a hoarse whisper, wiping his eyes that looked puffy and red. "No fucking way. Is that you?"
"Seth," I breathed. A rush of emotion filled me. His sigil nearly burned on my skin. I wanted to say so much but nothing would come out.
