Page 73 of Fallen
Yellow light poured from under the door of a room at the end.
I could sense her presence behind the barrier.
Well, here goes nothing.
I straightened my shoulders, then used a wisp of my power to change my human attire to my normal crisp black uniform, complete with the ruby insignia at my throat. An urge to armor myself in Hellplate made my fingers twitch, but I resisted. I wanted nothing between Anna and myself except the truth.
She might give me a tongue lashing, but she's never been prone to violence.
Tucking my wings close together and against my back, I gave the door a hard rap of my knuckles.
A rustling noise inside the room broke the quiet.
Her shadow fell across the light leaking onto the floor from under the door, looming wider and wider as she moved closer, until most of the light disappeared.
I tried to quell the heavy uneasiness in my chest.
The door swung open, and she and I stood face to face for the first time in years. Tears tracked down her cheeks as her gaze met mine.
"Um. Hello." I offered a weak smile.
Her nose crinkled as if she smelt something unpleasant. Instead of responding, she only stared at me with unblinking eyes.
I cleared my throat. I needed to say something, anything, to break the uncomfortable gulf stretching between us.
"May I come inside?"
"Got to hell." She slammed the door in my face.
Well, that certainly hadn't been the warm welcome I'd hoped for.
I knocked again.
"What?"she yelled.
"I'd just like to talk."
"Talk?Oh, now the great Lucian wishes to speak with little 'ole me? You sure you wouldn't rather kill my friends and ruin my life?"
I leaned my palms against the door's frame. "I would rather we speak face-to-face," I said, lowering my voice. "Not screaming through the door for all to hear."
Realizing anyone still awake could hear Anna's side of the conversation, I muffled the conversation completely. It wouldn't do for someone to report Anna had been yelling and speaking to herself. Plus, it would keep prying little ears in their bedrooms and fast asleep.
The door jerked open. Anna's cheeks were a livid scarlet.
A moment of hesitation kept my foot from crossing the threshold.
I am Lucifer Elysium, the ruler of Hell, the judge of errant souls.Then why did the sight of her hard, angry face terrify me?
"I'd rather we never speak again, you son of a bitch."
Yes, she's angry.This would not be as easy as I'd hoped.
"Just listen to me." I pushed forward, inserting myself into the doorway so she couldn't slam it in my face again. "That day was just a big misunderstanding."
Her mouth fell open. "Amisunderstanding? Is that what you call the murder and maiming of people?"
"Please, Anna," I crooned, using the power to inject persuasion into my request.
