Page 11 of Fallen
Chapter 6
Lucian Elysium
Eight Years Ago
Ileeredatthenewly arrived politician cowering under Malachi’s touch.
“So, Senator Deering. I’ve been trying to imagine a fitting punishment for all those ruined lives when you took money and bribes from Big Pharma.”
“I-I never—”
“Uh-uh.” I wagged my index finger. “Donotlie to me.” I stretched my wings and shot out a hand, gripping him by the throat and lifting him off his feet. “Because of you and the lobbyists you worked for, thousands of people died from cancers that could’ve been cured had your greed had been less.”
“I wasn’t the one who denied their treatments.”
“No?” I crooned, dragging him closer and squeezing his windpipe.
A strangled cry slipped between his lips as his fingers desperately clawed at my hand.
“You just made sure no one but the wealthy could afford the medicine.”
He gasped and tried to speak.
“I know.” I trailed a finger across his jaw. “It is hard to face your flaws, is it not?”
Malachi stared intently, his gaze filled with longing or excitement.
“Malachi, call out the ghouls.” I turned back to Senator Deering. “Cancer is a hungry, relentless beast—eating a person from the inside. My little soldiers get so hungry, and like cancer, they do not discern when it comes to eating the body.”
Deering’s eyes pleaded.
“I suppose I should prepare their first bite.” Smiling, I dropped my hand to his chest and paused. “Did you know in Hell, organs are not necessary to exist, but a body will still feel pain when damaged?”
From behind me, a dozen lesser demons swarmed around my lower legs, their sharp teeth gleaming with drool, their beady eyes intent as they peered at the Senator in anticipation of their dinner.
Whimpers escaped the gag, so I removed it.
"Puh-lease. I beg—"
“Begging will do no good." I turned my attention to the slobbering ghouls. "Are you ready for your first taste, yes?”
They exposed their razor teeth. Clear lines of saliva dripped from their fangs, and their excited non-sensical babble rose in volume.
"Start with the juiciest parts, my children. Really tear into him." In one swift movement, I punched through the Senator’s sternum and grasped his warm, beating heart. The wetness of his blood and the smooth fiber of muscle squished between my fingers.
"How so very fragile the heart can be." The senator's bulging eyes fixated on my wrist, his breath a wheezing, whistling shriek. "It can break in so many ways, but to have it eaten right out of one's chest?" I clicked my tongue. "That's just poor design."
I twisted the organ free from its fascia and blood vessels, taking delicious delight at his scream.
I smiled at my ghouls. “Feast for as long as you like. I’ll reform his body once you've eaten his nerves. His punishment will be long and tormented, not unlike his victims’ excruciating, drawn out deaths.”
The politician’s shrieks continued to fill my throne room with beautiful music.
I flicked the released heart to the nearest ghoul, who pounced on the organ with glee. The others climbed the senator’s legs, their teeth gnashing as they ripped enormous chunks of skin and muscle from his thighs—clothing and all—and swallowed it whole.
I sauntered to my throne and sat, relaxing into the obsidian glass. After using ether to cleanse my hands, I steepled my fingers under my chin.
‘Lucian? Are you there?’Anna’s voice invaded my thoughts.
