Page 85 of Lucifer's Redemption

My hands blackened, feeling my mate’s sorrow.Her parents might be complete idiots, but this would devastate my mate, and I could not have her unhappy.

“What are our plans?” I directed my question to Father.

He leaned back in his chair, the smoke still pouring from his body. Mother continued to console him, sitting on his lap, and kissing his cheek. Still, the smoke flowed out the office doors and into the hallway.

“I am not High God. I have no say,” he spoke to himself. “Uriel will have to speak at the trial, but I’m sure Zeus will consider her wishes.”

Hermes laughed, picking up the glass of whisky on the table. “Zeus hasn’t exactly been the same since he returned from the Underworld,” Hermes mused.

Father’s head picked up in question.

“Yeah, he came back with this devilish smirk and uttered something like, ‘what a show this is going to be.’ I don’t think he will consider Uriel’s feelings.”

“But Uriel helped him,” I spoke. “She helped him forgive himself using her grace.” Sitting back down, I rested my elbows on my legs, burying my face in my hands—things were falling apart quickly.

Zeus could forgive himself with Uriel’s powers. He should have felt his burden lighten, not the desire to see a ‘show,’ whatever that meant. Surely, Zeus couldn’t be the evil that was supposed to take my Uriel.

Uriel

Letting go of Luci’s hand, I raced down the hall. The big, angry, warrior demons followed me slowly, watching me run to my pretty, white door. Pushing on the handles, the warriors chuckled as I growled angrily before finally pulling the door outward. I grunted, falling on my bum before pushing off the floor, clambering into the room, and slamming the door.

I hardly even got up off the floor. I just sat there, curled up against it while the tears filled my eyes. I hated crying. When I cried, glitter got everywhere, and it made such a mess. Wiping them away with the back of my hand, I sniffed trying to keep the snot out of my mouth.

I was such an ugly crier, big fat tears with a red face and snotty nose. There was nothing pretty about it, and I didn’t want Luci to see me like this. I heaved again, processing the revelation that my mom and dad would do something like this to me.

How dare they! I listened to everything they said; I obeyed like a good girl, and they hid me and kept the powers I was supposed to have away from me.

Slamming my fists on the carpet, a heavenly breeze brushed my hair away from my face. For a minute, it smelled like my mother: light vanilla with a hint of coconut.

About to sob again, I felt a gentle touch land on my chin. My glittered eyes glanced up and saw, none other than, the woman I had so many questions for.

Chapter 34

Uriel

Thegentletouchonmy chin lifted my head slightly. My eyelids widened at the woman before me. Mom stood there in her pretty white sundress with her favorite gold laurel crown on her head. Her eyes held that same warmth I witnessed every morning when I woke, her cheeks were rosy like she had been smiling too much.

"Mom?" I questioned.

Did I fall asleep again? I wouldn't doubt it because sometimes a great long sleep followed after a good cry.

"Hello, Uriel," her knees bent down to meet me on the floor. "Your father and I wanted to check on you." Her voice held the softness she had when she put me to bed before reading to me every night. I had a whole mess of information to sort out, and she was the first person I needed to talk to. I bit my inner cheek, trying not to remember the happy times when I was utterly ignorant.

"You've kept secrets from me," I whispered, turning my head and standing. Walking towards the bed, I picked up Mr. Rainbow Farts and clenched him to my chest. Mom only sighed, walking towards the bed. The apparition she cast was translucent in appearance and didn't disturb the bed when she sat beside me.

Picking at my unicorn's hair, the room became deathly quiet. My mom took ragged breaths. "I had to," she whispered. "I had to, to keep you safe." My heart didn't ache or feel the pinprick of a lie. She honestly believed she had to keep it a secret from me to keep it safe.

"You should have told me when I was older," I murmured as I braided the unicorn's hair.

"Being a child, I would understand you keeping things from me, but I'm twenty-five years old!" my voice rose. "You kept me as a child, so innocent and locked away from the world. I trusted you! You and Dad were all I had!" I threw the unicorn to the ground, and hearing the flop of him hitting the floor; I winced.

Sorry, Mr. Rainbow Farts.

"You are a part of a prophecy—" I cut her off, growling at her. Mom's eyes widened at my outburst. She was trying to explain, and I almost snarled at her.

"I know what I am a part of, Mom." I hissed. "I know all of it, every bit, and those plants you kept in the house, which you made me water every day, kept me from growing up!"

Mom shook her head, dumbfounded. "What?"

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