Page 72 of In the Devil's Shadow

“You’re in for it then, Birdie. Your father is known for his…activities. Get used to it now,” Bash suggested.

“This wasn’t down here when I still lived here…” Michael explained, taking in all the equipment… “I guess he didn’t want to see it anymore after we broke up?”

“I don’t want to see it anymore, period. I obviously can’t judge,” I said as I gestured to the five of us, “But I also don’t tell you about my sex life.”

“It’s really good, if you were curious though,” Ares offered, smiling to himself. “That’s the truth, not a brag.”

“ARES!” I screamed.

“A-Bomb, shut the fuck up,” Desmond said, smacking him upside the head. “That’s her dad…”

I felt my whole face and neck tint red with embarrassment. As unfortunate as it was, the guys found it hilarious. Ares and Bash laughed like they were front row at the Comedy Cellar. Zaz didn’t really look affected at all. I guessed after seeing a vision of your pseudo-father in a threesome, your perspective changed.

“I don’t even feel like we could judge, considering we’re all part of the Penis Parade, as you so aptly named us, Oisín,” Zaz commented.

“It’s the nicest among the terms I floated around,” Oisín deadpanned. “Diana, Dad is an absolute deviant. If you think I’m bad, you have no clue what you’re in for.”

Bash pointed to a wooden door at the far end of the room. “This is the only door aside from where we came in.”

Michael slowly approached the door, his mouth lifting in a half smile. He put his hand on in the center, and a green light glowed from beneath it. The door swung open to what seemed to be an office. He gestured for Ares’ torch, using it to light the sconces on the wall so we could get a closer look. There was an oversized, cherrywood desk with a high backed, tan leather chair. Bookshelves lined the wall, holding an assortment of old, collectible quality leatherbounds. His collection, from what I could see, was impressive. Shakespeare, Hemingway, Thompson, to name a few. Lucifer himself was nowhere to be seen.

The room was small, only allowing a few people in at a time. Michael, myself, and Azazel went in first, searching the room for a clue or lead.

“I know he’s here,” Oisín insisted from outside the room.

“He is…but something isn’t right…” Michael agreed.

I ran my hand along the shelves, inspecting all of the items on it with a careful gaze. There had to be a trick book or lever that led to another hidden passage. I saw a clear quartz crystal the size of my fist at the end of the middle shelf, and paused. It felt…weird? There was a magical aura about it that felt angry and uncentered. It stood out from the other items around it because even with just the little amount of light the flames allowed, it still had a brilliant sheen. I picked it up, holding it in my hand for a moment before an electric shock bolted up my arm. I winced and dropped it.

“Ow! That crystal zapped my hand, what the fuck?!” I exclaimed.

Ares came up to the door, taking my hand. He sniffed the red mark and kissed it. “All better,” he said as he handed it to Desmond, who gave it a much closer look.

Azazel picked the murder rock up, giving it a thorough inspection. If he got zapped, he didn’t react. “Y’all are going to want to see this…Michael take a look,” he said as he handed over the stone.

His gray-blue eyes bugged out when he peered into it, as if he saw something in its depths. Then his whole countenance morphed into a scathing scowl.Is something wrong…?He tapped on the stone as his brows drew together.

“Diana, your other father is trapped in there. The arrogant fuck went and got himself caught in a stone…” Michael snapped, handing it back to me.

I held it in my hand, trying to reflect the light from the fire sconces so I could see clearly. In the middle of the clear crystal was a tiny Lucifer grimacing at me with his arms crossed, seeming completely unamused with me. The stone must have been hollow for him to be able to move around. He was wearing the same outfit as when we summoned him.

“Well, we found Lucifer…” I said reluctantly. “He’s trapped in here. Oh my stars, how did this happen, and who put him in there? How do we get him out?” I asked. Inside, I felt a little panicky, but I didn’t want my father’s first impression of me to be that I was a crazy, out of control worry wart, so I tried to play it cool.

“I have no clue. We’ll take him home and figure it out. I don’t like it down here…” Desmond stated as he scanned the room again. “Let’s get out of here.”

I was about to agree with him, when Zaz gasped. I turned around, and saw his eyes shift to a milky white.

“Azazel…” I cautiously called his name while I ran my hand up and down his arm.

“Diana, he can’t hear you,” Michael said. “He’s mid-vision. Give him space so you don’t accidentally pull him out of it.”

I backed up, standing a foot or so away from him. The room was so small, that was the farthest I could be unless I wanted to get in Michael’s personal space. No, thank you.

Zaz came to, whipping his head around as he searched for me with a frantic look on his face. He grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me toward him. “We need to get home, NOW,” he shouted.

“Whoa,” I said, prying his fingers off. “What did you see?!”

Zaz’s eyes lost some of their focus as he recounted what he saw. “Images of Fortuna’s Garden in ruins flickered around me, smoke and fire everywhere, and people were running through the resort, screaming for their lives. Columns were smashed, crumbled on the marble floors. Judas’ security had their hands full evacuating people and fighting a horde of magical attackers. Some guests fought back, but I couldn’t see who the assailants were because most of them were masked…” He trailed off, looking away from me. I tried to turn his head toward me, but he wouldn’t budge. Something was up, and I didn’t appreciate him keeping secrets from me. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach was too strong to pretend otherwise.

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