Lucifer's Cage (After Dark Book 6) by Sarah Bailey (short story to read .txt) 📗

do with portal magic. She was sure that would be the best way of getting out of here. There had to be some way to bend the rules.

Flipping through the book, she landed on something she’d never seen before.

Et inferorum regnum. The Kingdom of Hell.

It was an entire section devoted to the place. She scanned through it. There was a lot of stuff she didn’t really understand, but one thing stuck out to her. Porta ad infernum. It spoke of how to open a gateway to Hell. It was a complex spell. She wondered if she could reverse this and create a gateway to Earth.

There was only one thing for it. She had to show this to Mall.

Slipping a bookmark into the relevant page, she closed the book and leapt out of bed. She was wearing sleep shorts and a t-shirt, but she couldn’t be bothered to change. It wouldn’t matter. She’d show this to Mall and come straight back to bed. Hopefully she could sleep after this.

Keeping the book close to her chest, she slipped into the hallway. When she got to Mall’s door, she knocked twice. There was no answer. She tried the handle and it opened. There was no one in the room. She sighed. That was a bust. Perhaps Mall was busy.

Closing the door, she was about to go back to the bedroom when she heard the faint sound of voices. She looked towards the double doors at the end of the hall. One of them was slightly ajar. Lucifer told her she wasn’t permitted in his throne room.

Curiosity got the better of her. She tiptoed over to the opening, looking through the crack. She could just about make out a huge, hulking demon with large horns. She stifled a gasp.

“With all due respect, my Lord, this matter has gone on for long enough. Your reassurances are meaningless without proof you are doing something about it,” the demon said.

“As our Lord has told you on several occasions. This is not a simple task.”

That was Mall’s voice.

So that’s where she is. I guess I should come back later.

She was about to turn and leave when the demon turned his head. His black eyes met hers. Her pulse spiked, fear running through her. She backed away, but the demon stormed over to the door, pushed it open and grabbed her by the arm. He tugged her into the room and threw her down at the steps that led up to the dais where Lucifer’s throne sat. The book tumbled out of her hands, clattering on the floor loudly. Her knees hurt from the impact with the floor.

She looked up slowly. When her eyes met Lucifer’s, she knew she was in the shit. He looked oddly calm, his expression almost bored. He was leaning on his fingers, the other hand drumming on the arm of his throne. He looked every bit the King of Hell dressed in a neat black suit. She knew underneath that façade he was angry.

“What is this human doing in your private rooms?” the demon asked.

“Is that really any of your business, Beleth?” Lucifer replied, his tone neutral.

Candace was frozen on the floor, unable to look away from him. She didn’t want to say anything to make this situation worse.

“It is when we have spent months being unable to leave and suddenly, a girl turns up.”

“She is none of your concern.”

“No? Then you won’t mind me taking her.”

The demon grab her hair and haul her up off the floor. She struggled against his grip, but he wrapped a hand around her neck.

“A pretty little thing, aren’t you?” he said in her ear.

She froze, staring at Lucifer with wide eyes.

Was he going to do anything to stop this?

§

Beleth was sorely trying Lucifer’s patience. He was touching Candace. His hand was on her throat. It enraged him, tension rippling through his body, but he kept a lid on it.

“Release her,” he said.

“Why? She is a worthless human,” Beleth replied, his smile gleeful.

“Because she is mine. You are well aware I do not share my toys with anyone.”

Candace’s eyes flashed with anger. He didn’t acknowledge it. Beleth looked at the girl.

“This little thing? I thought you had more refined tastes, my Lord.”

Lucifer’s hand curled around the arm of his throne. The only outward expression of his anger. Candace was not a little thing. She was beautiful, alluring and he could barely keep his hands off her. Beleth didn’t need to know any of those things.

“I will not say it again. Release her.”

Beleth ran his other hand down her front. Lucifer was going to rip his hand from his wrist in a moment. Candace was his and his alone. He didn’t care what she said. He owned her body and having Beleth put his grubby paws on her drove him crazy.

“I suppose she might have her assets. I could sure use a distraction.”

“Beleth, take your hand off her. Now.”

Something caught his eye. Pink smoke swirled in Candace’s hand. It moved up her arm, turning it blue in the process as it curled up around her shoulder and underneath Beleth’s hand on her throat. A moment later, Beleth roared and threw her away from him, clutching his hand to his chest. She fell to the floor, scrambling away towards the stairs.

When she looked up at Lucifer, her face was a picture of fear and anger.

“Come here,” he said.

She got to her feet and walked up the steps. When she reached him, he grabbed her arm and tugged her into his lap. She yelped, turning around to glare at him. He turned her face back towards the demon.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll play along,” he whispered in her ear.

He could feel her trembling, but she