Page 159 of An Unexpected Ascension
The sound of Lucifer clearing his throat demands our attention. “I fear that we don’t have time to argue right now. I’m sorry, but we must move this very minute, or it may be too late. I’ve already sent the first wave of soldiers.”
It kills me to drop this debate, but the Devil is right. It’s only a matter of time before the other Gods know what I’ve done.
As I follow Lucifer out the door, I narrow my gaze at Lynx drilling it into him how pissed his choice makes me. But it ishischoice.
Together, the three of us descend into the dungeons.
Chains scrape along the stone floor as a beast the color of obsidian looms forward. Lucifer unlocks his shackles, and they drop to the concrete with a loud clatter. The monster turns his head, stretching his neck and the muscles beneath his leathery skin twist with the movement.
My stomach sours at the sight of him, of the glowing yellow eyes and horns like spears. He towers over uslike a black hole ready to swallow us into its darkness. It also makes looking up incredibly uncomfortable with what hangs between his legs.
I shudder.
Lucifer raises the alabaster sword, and the monstrous thing actually stiffens. Cowers from the weapon just as I knew he would.
Lynx looks to me impressed and gives me a little nod of approval. As much as I hate to admit it, that nod was everything.
And then we were gone.
Chapter 56
The Angel
For a worrisome second, I almost think we’ve crashed back down to Hell. The amount of red that paints the grounds, the walls, the marble stone of the palace – it’s as if the blood sun is still swallowing a world whole.
Except, it’s not the sun’s reflection that has stain these pristine lands, it’s blood.
I find a few familiar faces as we sneak into the castle, wishing we could help them, heal them. Only, doing so would drain the Devil who’s facing monsters just as terrible as the one we brought.
Those poor souls will have to wait.
Groans of agony echo down the corridor masking our quickening footsteps. I can feel the heat from Lynx’s body bleeding into my back. He’s not entirely used to letting someone else lead, but he does so reluctantly.
The further we journey into the castle, the further the screams of torment sound. At the foot of the stairs, Lynx grabs my hand.
“Where are you going? I can’t imagine they’ll be in the tower.”
A small grin graces my face as I take in the look of confusion on his face.
“I know.” I squeeze his hand in mine. “I’ve seen this moment just like I saw Heaven erased. And if that came true, then this will too.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You will. Come on.”
I tug him up the steps with me and we ascend floor after floor until we reach a level with a certain warmth. A warmth like synthetic heat. It nearly resembles life, but we all know that’s not possible.
Yet, it gives them away.
“What about Lucifer?”
“He has Greygore, he can wait another minute or so.”
Lynx growls quietly, “I don’t like this.”
I can feel the tension in his body as we stall outside a certain door. I can only imagine how he’s feeling right now, standing mere feet away from the Gods who’ve tortured him for months.
“I need you to trust me, okay?”
