Page 133 of Lucifer's Redemption

They were worse for wear. Their bodies were blackened with scorch marks from the lightning that tortured them, and they were further humiliated with their forced nudity. Michael tried to shield Hera, to keep her body covered but his wings had been severely charred, so they didn’t do much.

“Now that the goddess of Marriage and Family failed in her domain not once, but twice”—he paused for effect—“for one unable to please her partner and two, not able to protect their daughter, I think it is high time for her to face a suitable punishment. I just need the girl of the hour and then we can witness Hera’s third failure”—Hera sobbed in the corner, looking to the ground—“the daughter she couldn’t control. The daughter she couldn’t keep hidden away to protect the innocent souls of the realms. The lives of every creature lay in her hands, and I will give her the ultimate choice.” Zeus threw his head back to laugh.

“She will get to choose; she can save the gods—her family—she can save the helpless humans, or she can save the supernaturals. Only one realm will be permitted to survive; it will be the most exciting thing to witness." Zeus rubbed his hands.

“You have gone bloody mad!” I roared. “What the fuck happened to you? You twisted—” A slap of lightning jolted through my face. My mother screamed, begging Zeus to stop. The bolts continued to rain down upon my face. Blood pooled to my collar bone before dripping down my torso.

“In fact, I’m even going to giveyoua choice, son of Hades.” Zeus pulled me up by my neck. He darted his head to my mother in the iron cage and back to me, while his sinister grin leaked an oozing black tar from his lips. “Summon Uriel here. If you don’t…” he paused looking at my mother, “your baby sister and beloved mother will pay the consequences.”

Father’s chains rattled as he howled in pain. “Don’t you fucking touch my mate!” Part of the chain ripped from the bolted floor. Five angels hurdled towards him, pushing him down, and quickly muzzling the snout he spouted.

Gritting my teeth, I rumbled through my own thickened chains. They sizzled, burning deeper into my flesh with every movement.

Zeus bent down, looking me in the eye. “Summon her.”

“Don’t listen to him!” Mother screamed. “Don’t bring her here! We will be fi—” Mother’s cries were silenced when the lightning struck the cage, causing a loud crash.

“The choice is yours,” Zeus hummed. “Bring her here, or they will pay the consequence.”

“I’m here.” A beautifully sweet, soft voice echoed through the chaotic halls. All eyes turned behind us.

Fates don’t let it be her. Not her. Not here. Not now.

Why the fuck didn’t she listen to me?

“You wanted to see me?” Her voice rang out quietly as Zeus’ sadistic grin widened on his face.

Chapter 57

Uriel

“Getup.”

A thunderous crack rang through the room. My chest rose heavily while I tried to sit up. My mark burned my fingers as they probed its form on my chest. Looking about the room, my tangled hair caught in my face. Brushing it away, I flung off the covers that Luci had meticulously tucked around my body.

Did he leave already?

The mark burned furiously with my thoughts of Luci running through my head. Dread swept over me the moment I rounded the bed. My bare feet slapped the wooden floors, and my hands pulled at the handles of the bedroom door. The heavy door cracked with a long whine; the pressure of its weight became unbearable.

“Hang on.” Loki’s voice came through the door. The combination of my pulling and his pushing forced the door open enough for me to squeeze through.

“Lucifer wants you to stay in there. The ward will keep you safe. I’m surprised you can move it so well,” Loki looked me up and down. Loki’s appearance was starkly different than before he first transformed into a raven. He was already taller than me despite only being ten years old.

Silas cleared his throat, his tentacles popping on the floor. “Goddess Uriel, your mate and the others have already left for the Celestial Kingdom. Our orders are for you to remain here with us.”

Silas’ small smile only made me grind my teeth. Sure, I wanted to be Luci’s ‘good girl,’ but if we were dealing with Zeus, I could help him. I’ve helped Zeus once before, and I could do it again. Having everyone else fight my own battles, over a prophecy about me, seemed silly.

Aren’t I the one able to change my own fate?

Silas’ lips frowned, as his non-existent eyebrows raised on his forehead. “Surely, you do not plan to—” Great thunder from outside the palace roared. It wasn’t the normal sound of thunder; it was more muffled like the loud sound filtered through a thick pillow.

“I didn’t think you could hear thunder in the sea.” Loki mused, walking down the hall to the first window.

I didn’t think so either.

The waves could be rolling on the surface of the water, but beneath the waves and the heavy currents, the ocean floor should remain untouched. This was not the case when we looked outside into the garden where the kelp was being uprooted, even though it was inside the large atmospheric bubble of Poseidon’s Kingdom.

“Master has our home mimic those conditions outside of the sphere.” Silas twisted his lips, his hand sitting on the window frame. “The ocean must be in great turmoil if the plant life here is being uprooted.”

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