Page 62 of Falling for the Devil

He felt the difference in his body and spirit. Whereas unlimited power had coursed through his veins for eternity, he now knew fatigue down in his bone marrow. He understood putting someone above all others, including himself, including the Creator. The realization that he had caved to his baser urges and made love with a woman—albeit a sexy, yet virtuous goddess—only solidified the agony of knowing he’d fallen to temptation.

But when the temptation was that sweet, how could he have resisted her?

She was right about one thing... he wasn’t assured the Creator’s forgiveness. Having carnal relations with mortals was forbidden. He’d rather assumed that applied to other immortals, such as goddesses. No one had ever really spelled out if there was a difference. Up until now, he’d never cared, because it hadn’t impacted him directly.

Amid the angels who had trespassed against the Creator before, some had been forgiven and welcomed back into the fold. Others’ sins had been too great, and they had failed to even request atonement so, of course, they had been booted from the heavens into the unknown ether. No one seemed to know where they went or what happened to them after that. If he hadn’t discovered the decapitated and dismembered corpses of those angels writhing still with lustful intentions, Lucifer would’ve happily believed that angels who had sinned ceased to exist. The alternative seemed far worse than being shoved into obsolescence.

He had to be forgiven. Surely, his father would not deny him.

But what should come first? Vengeance and then seeking forgiveness—his actions verifying his love? Or should he ask forgiveness first and hope to restore the power that had leached from his spirit?

He decided on the latter.

If forgiven, he’d avenge his fallen legions and gain the Creator’s gratitude. Then came the hard part. Even though he did not believe what he felt for Diana was filthy in any way—it went far beyond lust—in order to remain in his father’s good graces, he would have to give her up... something he was not willing to do.

Lucifer closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, willing the love of his father to wash over his soul. But nothing happened. No tingles of divine energy enveloped his body, sinking into every molecule of his being.

He was truly alone.

Yes, he’d need to beg forgiveness before he could battle Asmodeus. Considering what little he did know of the demon prince, Lucifer would require all the extra mojo he could get. There was only one way to get it. When this was all over, Asmodeus defeated, and angels once again safe... and better equipped to deal with fiends like him... then he’d beg Diana’s forgiveness.

To kill the beast, he’d have to become one. Divinity might guide his wrath, but once done, he’d deserve all the punishment the goddess could dish out... or he’d be forced to part from her forever to secure readmittance to the heavens. Would forgiveness be meted out a second time?

In the end, would he even want it?

He pivoted back to Diana, who had sunk to the floor, her cheeks stained with tears. Sadness pinged in his consciousness. He was the cause of her despondency. But it was brushed aside by anger.

Not at her, for she wasn’t equipped to understand the complexities of divine intervention when in the midst of battling a formidable foe. Nor could she comprehend the allure of remaining at the right hand of the Creator of the universe! How being separated from that kind of love etched away at his soul until a hole remained that not even Diana could fill.

Taking one last glimpse outside at the hauntingly glorious beauty of creation itself, Lucifer straightened his spine and thrust his shoulders back. “Take my hand, Diana, and I will show you the hidden wonders of how my father knit together the cosmos. An erratic creation with what appears to be without rhyme or reason to its manufacture is not individual parts haphazardly placed here and there, but a well-connected whole.” He helped her up to her feet. Then, focusing on everything visible outside the protective crystallized liminality, he pointed to a bluish-green fireball that was almost too tiny to be seen. “There.”

He stepped forward, pulling her with him. Colors whirled and blurred until they coalesced into a solid gray. A moment later, Diana gasped.

A few steps away were what remained of his legion on Methuselah, camped next to a stream of gentle, rolling water. Everyone was present, including one addition. One Lucifer hardly believed he was relieved to see again.

Olivier!

Which meant two archangels, plus a dozen of his prestigious elite soldiers. Perhaps that whole redemption strategy could be postponed until he discovered what it was he truly wanted—heavenly grace, or Diana?

Chapter 29

A Not So Joyous Return

Long, wiry arms swept Diana up and swung her around until she begged Puck to put her down. At least someone was happy to see her. The other angels eyed her with suspicion and took up defensive stances—as if she could harm any of them! None more so than Olivier. His glowing aventurine eyes narrowed on her; his lips pulled down into a deep frown.

But when Olivier glanced up at Lucifer, his expression opened up as if he was gazing at greatness, pure adoration. In a way, perhaps he was considering Lucifer was the Archangel of Light, the most beloved of the Creator, and so on and so forth. Diana pushed down the groan edging up her throat. Olivier’s eyes widened, as did the others when they beheld Lucifer.

As well they should. He was not the same angel he had been before they’d fallen into that portal. He was changed. She sensed that in every molecule of her being. Even in the dreary gray light of the liminality, it was clear something was amiss with him. His once golden skin had paled to a creamy ivory. His chestnut hair, previously sparkling with auburn highlights, giving the illusion of a halo of light around his head... gone; a dark mahogany color had replaced it. But it was his eyes that conveyed the true transformation. They were no longer like rays of sun, but as pitch-black as the abyss that had once threatened to claim them both.

The changes had been subtle at first, while they were hopping through portals. However, now they were back on Methuselah, the contrast was undeniable and alarming.

Would they blame her? Obviously, Lucifer did. And she had to admit, she blamed herself, too.

“Brother!” Olivier jumped up to embrace Lucifer, seeming to ignore the obvious. “We had given you both up for dead or lost for eternity. I’m sure you’ve had quite an adventure.” Throwing his arm over Lucifer’s shoulders, his head snapped back to stare wide-eyed at his changed comrade.

After a pause where no one dared to breathe, Olivier’s eyes cut to Diana with a smile that didn’t match. “My lady! I am delighted to see you in one piece and just as beautiful as ever.”

Sure. Beautiful. Her tunic dress had been ripped, sullied, soaked, and her skin and hair could not have fared much better. But at this point, she’d take whatever compliments she could get to bolster her bruised ego.

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