Page 123 of Lucifer's Redemption

“Look at all, you guys! You are outstanding!” Loki raised his fists in triumph. “Anyone wanna play some video games?” A feather flew out of his mouth as he coughed in excitement.

Luci wasn’t scared of the big spider guy at all. He pulled me up and gripped me around my waist. “Listen herespider, she’s mine,” he growled. His heavy pants blew my hair in front of my face as I spat it away.

“Arachne,” I whispered.

The spider clicked his chelicerae in agreement, and Luci’s eyes caught mine.

“He is an arachne, and his name is Galen.” I smiled up at the not-so-scary spider. He leaned backward, sitting back on his abdomen. The noise in his throat chittered and squealed as he backed away.

“It means ‘calm,’ in Greek. I think your mate would appreciate that.” I hummed, pulling Luci back to me. Now that he was here, I felt safer, wrapped in his arms. Luci sighed heavily, pushing his hair back.

“Why do you even put shirts on?” I questioned him. “You always rip them off. What does your mom say when you do it all the time?”

He chuckled, pulling me into a kiss. “You’re something else, you know that?” He shook his head. “And I guess since we are bonded now, my wards don’t work on you.” Luci’s attention was drawn to Loki who was trying to take Rhos out the door to play games. Rhos’ loud hooves against the granite did nothing to conceal their actions.

“Loki,” Luci barked, waving him back in. “We have a mission. Now isn’t the time.” Loki rolled his eyes, walking back in.

“Well, can we at least take these guys?” Loki indicated to the monsters behind him with his thumb before he moved to poke at one of the snakes.

Luci cocked a smile and nodded. “I don’t think it would be a bad idea at all.”

“No!” Poseidon stated as he strolled in, wearing his full god-like battle attire. It consisted of a sheeted white cloth held to his body with a thick eel leather belt. He held a triton in one hand and a ball of water in the other.

Chapter 52

Poseidon

Theafternooncarriedonquietly as I stared out from above in the highest tower. No one could find me here, not even my most trusted friend, Silas, who was now tending to the needs of our guests.

My hand gripped the railing, and the fish flew by like birds in the sky. I gazed at their streaks of colors that blinded my peripheral. The bioluminescent colors of the garden sparkled, letting me know the surface was losing its light.

How many years has it been since I had surfaced and graced the sandy shores with my feet? Far too long and yet, not long enough.

My cold feet felt the coolness of the hardened stone tower, the small torch radiating enough light that I could feel the burn on my back.

They shouldn’t be here. My guests would be far better off hiding somewhere amongst Bergarian, in the palaces of the supernaturals there. I wasn’t here to entertain and protect. I couldn’t. It brought up too many sour memories of the many times I had sought comfort in fellow gods only for them to use my gift of molding new life to their advantage.

Hades stayed away too. He sunk into the abyss of the Underworld and gave me no reason to hate him, but I distrusted them all. How terrible of me to believe that, but my heart couldn’t take another betrayal.

A fire erupted fifteen feet away from me. It wasn’t large by any means, but the fire gave way to small electric sparks that made me growl in frustration. The last time I received a letter like this was when Zeus had tried to put a stop to me creating new beings. Of course, I did not listen, and they all hide here beneath the waves, but the creatures that I have made were nothing but honorable towards any other living creature.

They weren’t made with the evil that many of their predecessors exhibited. They were taught to have their own opinions, their own mind, and to discover the life of lies, deceit, and truth. The one thing I could not show them, or have them understand, was that of love. Because I did not even know what that was like.

The lightning sparked the scroll, launching it towards me, pushing it through the thick air as I grabbed hold. The lightning static dissipated, leaving me nothing but a scroll baring Zeus’ wax seal in hand. Grumbling, I pulled it apart, finding something I hoped I would never see: a summons to the Celestial Kingdom for a trial, or a pre-trial of sorts, to determine if a trial was agreed upon by the gods. Reading further, I found that Uriel’s parents, Hera and Michael, had deceived Uriel by keeping her hidden, poisoning their own daughter because of a prophecy—a prophecy that hangs in the balance between life and death of all creations. I grumbled again, pinching the bridge of my nose.

I had not been to the Celestial Kingdom since Zeus had taken over. I wouldn’t even know the proper etiquette that was required.

Do I wear clothes that humans wear? A suit with a tie? My original robes?

Pushing away from the banister, I turned hastily and trotted down the stairs. My feet hit the cushion of the mossy carpet as I trekked further and deeper into the palace. I did not understand why such a convening was necessary. It should be quite simple: Uriel was poisoned by another and it demanded punishment.

As I rounded the steps, hushed arguments flowed from Lucifer and Loki as they spoke to Silas. Every detail I had questions about spilled from their mouths. Silas’ mouth hung in shock at the accidental poisoning and the prophecy that rode on Uriel’s back.

Leaning against the wall, I eavesdropped like a coward instead of walking straight into the conversation. I was the God of the Sea, the one who controlled the mighty waves and all the creatures within, yet I could not face my brothers and sisters in such a manner.

Lucifer whispered hurriedly, explaining that their message needed to be sent to Ares within the next hour: to find out if Kronos was still in Tartarus.

Kronos?

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