Page 91 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
Nick eyes went to deadly slits. "You want a fight, I'll fucking give you one."
"You aren't human, Julian," Dru said. "None of us are. We're immortals, chosen by the Goddess to bring about the Apocalypse. It's our duty."
"Fuck duty." Julian released Nick back with a shove and reclaimed his seat, grabbing the bottle and drinking from the neck. "And fuck the Goddess if she even exists anymore."
"He has a point," Bane said from where he'd sat quietly taking in the interaction. "What about free will? Don't we have a right to choose? We've followed duty for a millennium, and now that the Goddess has forsaken us, and...the other...gaining power. Why must we do her bidding? Where is it written?"
"You know how this works," Nick spat, rubbing his neck. "The humans have given her power by their beliefs, their fears. She's been around for over two thousand years, propagated fear and damnation until they drank the Kool-Aid. We committed to bring about the Apocalypse. It's the reason we fell from Heaven, to act as guardians, protectors, and destroyers if called upon. We knew this day would come. I, for one, am fucking excited that it has finally arrived. The humans have ruined the earth and forsaken the feminine divine. They don't deserve to inhabit this planet anymore."
"So it's up for grabs?" Bane countered. "We just destroy everything, kill everyone, and then hand it over to someone like—"
"Don'tsay her name," Dru cautioned. "Not when you're talking treason. And it isn't up to us who takes the reins."
"Why isn't it?" Julian asked. "We were employed, if you will, by the Goddess. She's abandoned us and the earth long ago. I never gave my fealty toLucifer."
They all three winced when he said her name aloud.
"I am beholden to no one," Julian finished.
"Stop this. We knew that bringing about the Apocalypse wouldn't be a fucking cake walk," Dru said, standing next to Nick and looking down at Bane and Julian. "Man up, you pussies."
"That's exactly what I'm doing." Bane calmly sipped his drink.
"What I've done."
"What are you talking about?" Nick asked. "Whatdidyou do?"
"Last night, when I lay with Tierra in the Standing Stones, I bound her to me."
"You...fuck." Nick buried his hands in his hair and stared up at the ceiling as if looking for divine intervention.
Divine intervention didn't answer.
The stench of over-priced perfume, much like a smoker bathing in toilet water to cover the smell of stale cigarettes saturated the air. Lucy slithered into the room on a whiff of sallow smoke that grew until it solidified into the image of a dangerous woman. Dressed this time as a dominatrix, her blond hair permed and ratted high around her like an eighties porn star, Lucy also sported metal spikes in her ears and a whip coiled at her hip. Killer high-heeled boots that reached mid-thigh completed the intimidating outfit.
"Hello, boys," she greeted, her lips exaggerated in a puffy pout and painted a deep blood-red. She eyed each one of them slowly, taking in their expressions and stance. "Do I sense contention among the ranks?"
Silence stretched until it was as taut as the string of Nick's bow. They each felt the arrow nocked and aimed to pierce.
Bane stood and faced Lucifer, taking her attention off his brothers.
"Nice outfit. Trying to make a point?"
"Subtlety isn't my strong suit, though I've dabbled when it fit my purposes." She ran her hand over the leather corset that thrust her cleavage up to her throat.
How did she breathe? Not that she needed to, Bane mused.
Lucy sauntered toward him, putting extra sway into her hips. "Tell me, my dark reaper, what have you sown for me today?" When he didn't answer, she waved her black silk-gloved-hand toward Julian. "To date, the scoreboard has Julian leaving you all in the dust. And here I thought brothers were competitive."
Julian lurched to his feet, turned his back on Lucy, and weaved his way to the liquor cabinet. He grabbed a bottle of vodka this time. Bane didn't think he cared what he drank, just needed the highest proof and most numbing of what was available.
"Yes, Julian, please pour me one," Lucy purred. "No ice. You know how much I enjoy theburn."
Julian jerked at her words, but he splashed a tumbler full and staggered on his way to hand it to her, cradling the bottle as if protecting its contents for himself.
She narrowed her kohl-rimmed eyes. "Oh, no, Julian, tell me you aren't plagued with demons. Africa hasn't taxed you, has it? Your work was so creative, that of an artist really. I couldn't be more proud."
"Go back to Hell." He fell back into his chair and took a long draw from the bottle.
