Page 57 of An Unexpected Ascension
The God of War sighs, the dramatics all too much for him.
“And here we thought you the almighty one,” he retorts.
Fire burns inside Achaz’s eyes, the time for poking fun isn’t now. Garroway stands from his blackened throne, drifting toward Lucifer and Ada.
With a snap, just as the God before him had attempted, he wills the two to dust. Again, nothing happens.
He merely shrugs. “Must be the fruit. Just damn them to Hell and get on with it.”
A blustering cloud of vexation explodes from the deity before he says, “Yes, then. You will spend eternity in Hell for your disloyalty and transgressions.”
Though it’s not what was expected, it’s a better fate than eradication?—
“Without your woman.”
Lucifer’s eyes cut to his, a venom swirling around his irises. He grips her tighter by his side, but the God is already pulling her to her feet.
“And what purpose does it bring to separate us now?” he demands.
“Hrmph! There the human goes again, ordering about his God.” He gives Ada a perusing look, his chest rumbling in approval. “My sons have grown bored, what a pretty little plaything you’ll turn out to be.”
“And you call yourself right! How you hold us to such a standard that you yourself will not bother to match! Damn her, eradicate her, but do not whore her to your filthy sons!”
“ENOUGH!” Achaz bellows. “Garroway, now. The sight of this vermin is making me ill.”
In an instant, Lucifer is engulfed in flames that lick taller than the Gods themselves. Ada screams, dropping to her knees despite Achaz nearly tearing her hair out from his grip at the top of her head.
As Lucifer vanishes, so do I.
Chapter 18
The Demon
“Fuck.” There’s a searing fire in my chest stronger than any other calling I’ve felt before.
It burns me, between each breast right in the center setting my sternum ablaze. My hand clutches at my shirt as the sensation sharpens.
“Lynx?” Lucifer calls out from his throne.
I shove at my chair beneath me, stumbling from the war room. As I fall to my knees at his feet, the God of Hell meets me.
“Lynx? What’s the matter?”
“I-I don’t...” I release a roar of pain before it dulls again, tugging at me from the inside of my body. “I need to go.”
He brings me to my feet, and I shut my eyes, listening to the call. In a blink, I’m surrounded by vibrant greens and lush flowers. In the distance, I see the Fentonelli girl.
“Fuck.” I groan again, the pain lessening the closer I get to her.
There’s a cyclone of wrath above us, the clouds clashing together, creating a horrific noise. I fight through the wind, coming up behind her, her hand glued to the fruit hanging from the Tree of Knowledge.
Acting quickly before the Gods can find her, I close my hand overher mouth and yank her from her trance. A bout of hot breath tickles my fingers as she lets loose a muffled scream.
“You sent off alarm bells, Angel.”
In her right hand, I see the little plum nestled inside and rip it from her palm, slipping it into my pocket. “Let’s not get greedy here.”
Descending in a flare of flames, the fluids in my stomach whirl, but I’ve made this journey countless number of times. Briar has not. By the time her feet find the rocky terrain of the canyon, she convulses, vomiting a thick, clear substance.
