Page 56 of Falling for the Devil

Both hands on the mantel of his sword, Lucifer took a deep, cleansing breath. Would the Creator forgive him if he incinerated all the monster-birds with divine light? He rarely used his most lethal weapon. Doing so came with serious repercussions, given that extinction events were considered last resorts for already dying species... or if a particular species committed such atrocities as to deserve annihilation. But that decision had to come from the Creator himself.

Still, what wouldn’t he do to save Diana?

“Any grand ideas?” she whispered into his ear, clutching one of his arms.

“No good ones.”

Her response was a single long, ragged exhale.

“Don’t make any sudden movements.”

For a long moment, they didn’t move, except for Diana’s long red hair whipping in the wind. The birds didn’t move a muscle either. The only sound was the breaking of waves against the rocky shore far below.

A lone, piercing shriek from behind him had Lucifer spinning. Too late.

A majestic black creature with a wingspan greater than the width of the coliseum floor on Mount Olympus swooped down and grabbed Diana in one of its claws.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The bird shot up higher until it was a blip against the backdrop of the blue-gray sky. At a breakneck speed even Lucifer hadn’t known he was capable of, he took off in pursuit. The birds—seemingly as one—spread their wings and took off after him, their terrifying squawks beating against his eardrums. The only noise louder than their cries was Diana’s screams.

Jagged claws reached for him, but he dodged their grasps with minor effort. One creature the size of a giant dog with scars slashed across its narrow face collided with him, knocking Lucifer off course. He swung his sword in one hand while willing another to appear in the other. His wings furiously beat the air in an attempt to correct his path and gain on the monster holding Diana.

While he flew, he sensed his body going through the motions of battle without having to deter from his prime objective. The movements and strategy were ingrained in his nature. No thoughts were required of him. His will forced the primal elements of battle to react even as he focused on something else. The sword in his right hand sliced through claws, legs, beaks, and bodies of the creatures. The sword in his left hand did the same. His wings thrust forward then back with his entire strength to pick up speed, racing faster after Diana.

He wasn’t immune to the sharp talons and beaks attacking him. Blood ran down his body, mingling with his sweat. One clever bird ripped a chunk out of his wings, but didn’t live long enough to enjoy its success as the sword slashed out ending its triumphant cry. The pain that Lucifer should’ve felt failed to register. He was beyond feeling anything other than the fear of losing her.

Closer now, but not close enough. He could barely make out Diana flailing against her captor. Dammit! If she kept thrashing like that, the monster could drop her.

He watched in horror as his fears sprang to life. She continued to beat against the talons wrapped around her. The monster opened its claws and she plummeted toward the water far below. At this height, the impact would shatter every bone in her body.

With one giant push of his wings, Lucifer tucked them in and dove for her like a shooting star. The only sound in his ears was the thumping of his own blood. Relief washed over him when another bird—not as large as her initial captor—plucked her up then tossed her body to another.

Still too far away to intervene, the creature flipped her over to another, then another. Every time he got within striking distance, they’d pitch her. It was a macabre game of catch as they seemed to circle back toward the tiny patch of land that was now a mere speck in the distance.

Worst of all, Diana no longer screamed. Her limp form dangled from the talons of two creatures that were busy tugging her back and forth between them. If he didn’t act soon, they’d rip her apart.

He spiraled toward her, still slicing through any creature that got in his way. The bird with her arms clasped in its talons released Diana unexpectedly, throwing the other’s momentum off so it also let go. Lucifer’s heart stopped, but instinct took over. He raced for Diana, focusing on the blur of red hair against the smoky gray sky. The indigo-blue surface of the water rushed up at an alarming speed. Even if he got to her in time, it would be too late to avoid slamming into the water.

A swell of shadows darkened the surface below. Risking a glance up, Lucifer’s blood froze. Thousands... millions of the gruesome birds flew in formation above him, blocking out the light. He returned his focus to Diana, but something opalescent caught his attention—and it was glimmering underneath her.

He dove for her, throwing one of his swords away in order to wrap an arm around her. There was no stopping their descent, but if he could just change direction a little... Yes! There it was! The portal lit up from underneath with iridescent, swirling orbs of light.

With Diana tucked into his side, he hurdled for the energetic opening and prayed the flying monsters pursuing them couldn’t pass through.

The portal light flickered.

If the gateway vanished before they reached it, they’d both smash into the water, their bodies to be picked apart by the bestial flock.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Lucifer braced for impact, wrapping his wings around Diana’s slender body. He knew how strong she was, but in this situation, she was as frail as a hummingbird against the onslaught of crows.

Long moments passed where the cries of the birds died away in an instant. A brutal wind threatened to tear Diana from his embrace. Then... silence.

A FIERCE, BRIGHT LIGHT burned Diana’s eyes, even with them closed. The pain startled her. She shot up—at least, she attempted to—but was held down by a massive weight. Slowly, she pried her eyelids open against the blinding light.

Glorious, divine light wrapped around her in the form of the most beautiful man to ever have existed. It was like looking into the face of a living star at its peak of illumination when it first burst forth during its birth. Sure, her father would rip off bolts of lightning whenever he was caught in a temper tantrum. But that paled to the beauty before her.

Long, black lashes cast the tiniest of shadows against the creamy perfection of his cheeks. A moment of fear sliced through her soul. Lucifer was golden in every conceivable way. But now it seemed as if all the color had bled from his skin. Her hand rested against his chest, which rose and fell in perfect rhythm.

Thank the Creator, he was alive! Perhaps it was a simple case of the light playing tricks.

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