Page 179 of Crimson Promises
I could feel her confusion swirling through the bond. Rolling waves of trepidation.
“Has Bennett, who charged through Hell to save you, shared his past with you?”
“Yes,” she responded steadily. “I know he’s an angel. Or a fallen angel. Clearly, he told me that both Heaven and Hell exist.” Her eyes flit briefly to me for a moment. “He shared that he was cast out of Heaven for his decisions. Decisions made with the best intentions.”
Lucifer steepled his fingers together. “And that was all he shared with you about that time in his life?”
“Yes, there were a few minute things, but those were the major points.”
“Interesting, interesting,” he murmured, tapping his two index fingers together.
Aurora’s brow wrinkled.
“Well, that explains a lot.”
“Explains what?” Aurora questioned. “You keep taunting us. Can you just get on with it already?”
Lucifer’s eyes danced with mirth. “Remember Aurora, you asked for the truth. Consider this part of your betrothal gift.”
He resumed his pacing, solely addressing Aurora now. “The night Stephen brought you home for the first time, Bennett Caelum was summoned outside your home, requiring that he watch after you until you were twenty-one. Sound familiar so far?” Lucifer asked, waiting for Aurora’s nod of confirmation before continuing. "In exchange for watching over you and ensuring you remain mortal, Bennett would be granted the power of The Gifted class. That kind of bargain can only be offered by an archangel. No matter what I have tried to uncover over the years, no one or nothing can reveal who that figure is."
He arched an eyebrow in mock curiosity.
"So, why would an archangel associate themselves with a lowly fallen angel to watch over a mortal girl? I’m sure Bennett has shared his suspicions with you, but his lack of education and power was likely unthorough. As I doubt the archangel would share their true intentions. Bennett is just a pawn in a much bigger game. He’s barely on the chessboard. But we will revise that shortly.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I spat out.Deny, deny, deny.
“Aurora’s arms are particularly lovely. I imagine those fingers can do wicked things to a man. If you’d like to see them remain attached to her body, it would behoove you to avoid lies. Let’s leave those to the professionals, shall we? I would rather not resort to forcing the truth from you.”
“That is the truth. You and I know I am bound and cannot reveal their identity.” The only way I could think to demonstrate my remorse to her was to finally be honest.
“You had to ensure I remained mortal?” Aurora burst out. “So, nothing you said was because you thought it was in my best interest? It was what you needed to say to access the power you so desperately sought. Power that was more important than me. Than us.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but a tight grip along my vocal cords prevented me from enunciating anything coherent. Clutching my neck, I struggled against the pain.
“Ben!” Aurora cried.
Black spots began to float at the edge of my vision. With the lack of sustenance, rest, and the myriad of emotions I’ve been battling, trying to hang out to consciousness was getting more challenging.
“Stop it. Whatever you’re doing, stop. Ben isn’t doing anything. He’s just sitting there. You are hurting him," Aurora said to Lucifer.
“Oh, alright, but it is so entertaining watching him writhe in pain.” The pressure that had clawed at my throat instantly vanished.
I let out a few coughs to try and lubricate my throat again. I managed to croak, “I’m okay.” Hope raised its head tentatively at Aurora's concern for my welfare.
She gave me a brusque nod of acknowledgment. Guess caring if I lived or died didn’t equate to forgiveness at this point.
“Ah, Bennett," Lucifer sneered, his icy gaze boring into mine with undisguised amusement. "Did you truly believe your pitiful secrets would inspire sympathy? No, Aurora has more taste than that. She seeks honesty, courage, and strength—not the cowardice of a man too afraid to confront his own shadows. She's beginning to see you for what you truly are—a half-hearted hero who brings nothing but disappointment and pain. As I predicted, imagine her reaction when she finds out the rest.”
“The rest?” Aurora asked in disbelief.
“Yes, Little Star. I haven’t even begun to unleash the Pandora’s box of secrets that your beloved Ben has been keeping from you.” Lucifer's eyes locked onto hers.
Her expression cut to me; her eyes filled with pain. She grimaced at the naked regret and shame I didn’t try to hide anymore.
Lucifer was an evil fucker, but he was right about one thing. I had been a coward. There had been plenty of opportunities for me to come clean. I chose to enjoy the rare slice of peace we had found. I could have shared the truth at any time, but I was afraid that it would drive her away from me. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t have her forever, but for a little while, it was nice to trick myself into thinking that people like me got to have a happy ending, that letting someone in would end in anything other than me causing them pain. Jos, my mother, the squadron, and now Aurora were all casualties of my inability to be anything but a stubborn ass who only ended up putting himself first.
It was my own fault. I crucified myself. It was only fair I manned up and witnessed the wreckage of my own creation.
