Page 129 of Guarded
I paused, noting how all the demons had frozen. I didn’t give a shit that it was because I’d mentioned both the Seraphim and Lucifer’s sons. I’d invoke whoever it took to get what I needed.
My voice was deafening as I laid down my warning. “You have five minutes to bring him to me, or it won’t just be the ramparts feeling the brunt of my power.”
Chapter 33
Jeremiah
When I reincarnated, I immediately wished I hadn’t. Death would be preferable to being back here.
The room was as familiar to me as my own body. There were no windows and just a single door. Stone floors and walls made the sounds echo, while the torches along the walls cast ominous shadows.
Those things didn’t tend to bother the beings who found themselves in this room though. There was no point worrying about what was lurking in the darkness in here.
Not when the face of their nightmares was in the process of torturing them.
The key difference between being here now versus before was that I wasn’t busy sorting through the weapons, choosing my tools.
No, I was strapped to the table, waiting to learn my fate.
Talk about karma catching up with me.
“Ah, you’re awake. Marvellous.”
Many would think this voice a charming one. Attractive, even. It was rich, deep, seeming to wash over your skin like music.
It didn’t sound like that to me. It couldn’t, not when it was the voice from my nightmares.
Lucifer stepped into my eyeline. Bile filled my mouth when I spotted that he’d tied his hair back.
He only did that when he planned to make a real mess.
I didn’t bother to try and escape. These restraints were spelled to prevent that very thing. All I could do was wipe my expression clean.
I might have been fucking terrified, but I’d be damned if I let Lucifer see it.
“Here you are at last.” He hummed, trailing a finger along my face. I fought not to cringe. He could get fucked if he thought he could break me. “Back home, where you belong.”
“This isn’t my home,” I spat. “My home is on earth.”
Maybe if I pissed him off enough, he’d go ahead and execute me. I’d rather that than have him torture me.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t take it. With any other demon I probably would’ve gritted my teeth and coped. But this was Lucifer. His cruelty had no limits, nor did his creativity. Even his wife and children hadn’t been able to escape his hatred.
Unfortunately for me, Lucifer just smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll remind you of your true place. I’ve cleared my schedule for the near future so you can have my undivided attention.”
Fucking fabulous.
“Are you forgetting that I successfully bartered my way out of here?” That’s right, I wasn’t giving up that easily. Lucifer’s temper was easily provoked. All I had to do was find the right string to pull. “Your own sons agreed to a deal to let me go topside.”
The flames in the room flickered, but Lucifer’s expression didn’t change.
“Even your own children can’t stand to be around you,” I continued, disgust coating my words like venom. “Can’t blame them, really. You call this place ‘home,’ but there isn’t a single being here who wouldn’t choose to go somewhere else. You’re alone, Lucifer. Completely and utterly alone.”
“I know what you’re doing,” Lucifer drawled. “Sadly, it’s because of said deal that it’s not going to work.”
I froze. What did he mean?
He tutted. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the exact wording. I thought I’d raised you better than that.”
