Authors: Valerie Twombly

Fall Into Darkness (14 page)

BOOK: Fall Into Darkness

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“I will take this to him,” she stated.

Lucifer touched her wrist and a burning sensation covered her skin, causing her to cry out. When he released his grip, she looked down. There, on her once unmarred skin, was an eye. It gazed up at her and she recognized the same black emptiness to be his.

“I will always know where you are and what you’re doing. When I summon, you will come. Go now to your mate and feast your eyes upon him one last time. For the next three hundred and sixty-five days will be a hell like you’ve never known. I will break you so bad he will never want you back.”

She summoned her wings and wrapped them around her. Darkness again overtook her, but this time it carried her back to the man she loved. All while the devil’s threat rang in her head.

E
li stood
outside his north woods home, hoping the cool air would help keep his head clear and that Ashley would soon come back. His heart was sick because she’d done exactly what she’d promised. Gone to Lucifer.

“Eli!”

He spun and saw Eva running toward him, her face distorted in pain and her cheeks stained with tears. He wanted to reach out to her, but he also wanted her soul. His hunger worsened by the minute, and he wasn’t sure he could hold out much longer.

“You have news of Ashley?”

“Seph is dead. Or he was.” She ran into his arms.

“What? Tell me what happened.” Her tears reached something deep that still held onto everything he knew was decent, and he wanted to kill someone for her. His fear over his own mate heightened, except he knew her to be alive. Their bond remained strong.

“Yes. I felt him leave me only moments ago, but then he came back. I think.” She buried her face into his shirt and wept. He stroked her hair, not knowing what else to do but summon the others.

Tegan was the first to show, followed by Lyzander. Eli looked at them over a crying Eva. “She felt Seph’s death.”

Movement caused them all to look into the forest, and their sighs broke the silence as Seph stepped into the open. Eva broke free from Eli and rushed to her mate.

“I thought you were dead.” She slipped into his embrace.

“I was, but Ashley brought me back. It’s a long story and I’m glad to be here.” He pulled Eva close to him, and Eli felt a sudden pang of fear for his own mate.

“Shit, we’re glad you’re alive but where is my daughter?” Tegan questioned.

“I’m here.”

Eli’s gaze fell to the glowing ball she held in her hand. Could it be? She moved toward them and held out the globe.

“I got it back.”

His gut twisted. “At what price?” Lucifer gave nothing away for free.

Her tears fell and hit the ground. Each one turned to blood as it splattered the emerging flowers of spring, causing them to wither. Her mere presence here on the mortal plane caused everything that was new to decay. As she held out the globe, he saw it. Lucifer’s mark on her wrist.

“He’s marked you,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes and shoved the sphere at him. “I had no choice.” When she opened them and looked back at him, the beautiful green that he loved so much had turned to black.

“How long?” he asked.

“What?”

“How long will you serve him?” He’d not meant to be terse, but his panic turned to anger. He was about to lose his mate after he’d only just found her. She looked to the others.

“I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll understand I had to do this.”

Eva and Seph nodded. Lyzander shuffled his feet and stared at the ground, but Tegan… Eli knew he fought to control his own rising panic.

“I would have done the same.” Tegan closed in on her and pulled her into an embrace, kissing the top of her head before he released her. “Be strong and always remember who you are.” He smiled with pride. “You are the Angel of Death.” He stepped back. “We should leave them alone.” Quietly they all disappeared.

“You never told me how long?”

She focused on him again. “One year. One mortal year I am to do his bidding.”

A year for a newborn––and that’s what she was in angel terms––would be hell. Lucifer would subject her to his horrors until she broke.

“Take it.” She pushed the soul toward him again. “Please.”

He reached for the gold thread and plucked it from her fingers while the eye on her wrist mocked him. The moment he had it in his grasp, it glowed a vibrant white. He pulled the stopper off the top, and immediately his soul returned to him. The hunger faded, and his wings turned back to their white, tipped with black. He felt whole again.

“It was worth everything,” Ashley whispered. When he focused on her, she was smiling and for a moment, he could almost believe things were normal. That they could have the life he’d always hoped for.

“It wasn’t worth losing you.”

“Heaven needs you, Eli.”

“I need you.” He grabbed her and pulled her to him. Slanting his head, he planted his lips on hers. Sweeping his tongue in, he tasted every inch of her mouth. She returned the kiss, running her hands into his hair, pulling him closer. He wanted her clothes off, but suddenly she was jerked away from his embrace.

“Eli.” She reached for him but was dragged backward. Back toward the gaping, black hole to Hell.

“Ashley. No, don’t go!” He tried to move toward her, but his feet were planted firm.

“I can’t stop it. I love you, Eli. Please remember that always,” she cried out. “The black ring around your aura, it’s gone now.”

He didn’t care about that. “I love you. When you reach your darkest hour, always remember that I love you!” She was gone. Sucked through the darkness. Had she heard him? Would his love for her be enough to carry her through the suffering she’d have to endure?

He fell to his knees. His screams of agony broke the silence of the forest. Lightning crackled across the sky and struck a nearby tree, sending it into flames. With every tear that fell, another tree was claimed and burnt to the ground until he was surrounded by smoldering ash. When he finally regained his composure, he slowly pushed to his feet.

“Mark this day, Lucifer. You have taken something that belongs to me. I will get her back, and I will make you suffer my wrath.”

About the Author

A
ward winning and bestselling author
, Valerie Twombly grew up watching Dark Shadows over her mother's shoulder, and from there her love of the fanged creatures blossomed. Today, Valerie has decided to take her darker, sensual side and put it to paper. When she is not busy creating a world full of steamy, hot men and strong, seductive women, she juggles her time between a full-time job, hubby, and her two German Shepherd dogs, in Northern IL. Valerie is a member of Romance Writers of America and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Romance Writers. She is also the founder of
Sexy Scribblers
, a group of romance writers who bring readers new and fresh stories every month.

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