Page 19 of Falling for the Devil

She struggled against the gravity weighing down her eyelids, to pry them open. Surely, death was not so dismal as to trap her in perpetual darkness. But perhaps that was what happened to dead deities. No one had ever bothered to return from the dead to explain that part. Mortals, of course, had their own versions of death—Heaven, Hell, Hades, the Elysian Fields, nothing—for every ideology held their own beliefs. She had always been of the opinion that they were all a little right and a little wrong and no one could claim to know the ultimate answer... not even angels. And no one had ever dared to question that the gods were anything less than immortal.

What had happened?

Still unable to open her eyes, Diana mentally recounted her last memories. Olivier had made a joke about one of her brothers. She’d giggled, all the while peeking between her lashes to see if the other archangel noticed her. There’d been a brilliant ball of light that crashed through the protective bubble Lucifer had placed around them for the trip through the wormhole. Then... nothing. There had been no time for fear or surprise or contemplation of scenes from her life. Just death reached for her.

Nothing. Wasn’t that odd?

A weak thrumming noise echoed around her, breaking the silence. It grew louder until she could feel the vibration against her skin. If only she could open her eyes!

Someone called her name, so low as if the voice were travelling across a great distance. It reminded her of the first time she’d sensed prayers from the mortals. It had started off soft and sweet, and then gained momentum until she’d slammed her hands over her ears and cried. That had been before her mother had taught her how to protect her own energy and tune out the onslaught. She appreciated the prayers, of course, and would tune in when she had sufficient time to attend to them. But, she admitted, she had been quite neglectful lately.

Perhaps now it was the prayers of her acolytes, her followers, which drifted across time and space... all the way into death. If, indeed, she was dead.

But if she was deceased, would her body feel so battered and bruised? A pounding in her temples drove out all thoughts of no longer being among the living. Surely, death did not come with such agony unless one went to Hades or Hell or any other end-of-days torment.

“Diana.”

Her name, spoken in a whisper, was no longer far away but a breath in her ear.

“Diana, please wake up.”

That voice... she knew it, would know it anywhere.

If only the gods would remove the weight over her eyelids!

Despite the heaviness that held her immovable in its grip, a moan passed her parched lips.

“That’s it. Come on.”

Something cool and light, like a swatch of silk, caressed her cheek.

A subtle warmth pricked at her eyelids, diffusing the pitch-black for a muted golden light that didn’t scorch as it would if sunlight was falling upon her face. The light called to her in a such a way that even with her eyes closed, Diana knew she was safe, for he was here with her. Lucifer had found her and now held her in his embrace. Even if this was death, with him, she’d welcome it.

“Diana.” Her name was carried on warm, sweet breath.

The light against her eyelids began to burn, not painfully; more like being kissed by the residual heat of the waning sun. If she could just force her muscles to obey her will.

Open!

A luminous glow penetrated the fragile skin covering her eyes, prying her eyelids apart. It was daylight itself, without the harsh brightness. It enveloped her in its beam of beauty. Not darkness, but radiance unlike anything she’d ever witnessed in life.

There he was... the Archangel of Light himself!

Diana shot up; her mouth opened to scream...

For it was not Lucifer in the flesh holding her in his embrace, gazing on her with his dazzling burnt umber eyes. There was no flesh, no physical body at all. Just his image outlined in a golden beam of divine light.

Yes, death must have indeed come for her. Come for them both.

DAMN, HE SHOULD’VE warned her, he supposed. Looking upon him in his spiritual form was not for the weak-hearted. It could be overwhelming... or at least he’d been told. It was the reason angels took on physical vessels when dealing with mortals and other non-angelic immortals.

Lucifer yearned to comfort her, but Diana jumped back from his embrace as if struck by lightning. Her mouth opened in a perfect circle, but no sound emerged. The last thing he’d ever wanted to do was to scare her. He’d been so relieved when she’d shown signs of waking, he hadn’t considered the consequences of her seeing him this way—a being of pure light.

“It’s... it’s okay. You’re alive. I won’t hurt you... I would never.” The words sounded hollow in his own ears. Of course, she’d be frightened.

Diana’s chest rose up and crashed down like the waves against a rocky cliff during a fierce storm. Beautiful, honeyed eyes bristled with tears. Her arms stretched out in front of her body to keep him away. A rejection of his true self laid bare for her alone.

Agonizing moments passed while he waited for her mind to process all that she beheld.

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