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

acting up again? Is this your idea of punishing me? I’ve told you a thousand times I did not want to make such a deal with your life. You are my only child, but I had no choice. Is this why you’ve run away? Is facing your duty so abhorrent to you?”

She deleted the rest of the messages without listening to them. There was no point. It was time she faced the music. She pulled on a coat, sticking her phone in her bag. She dropped by a cafe on the way for brunch before jumping on the Underground and making her way to Marylebone. Stuffing her headphones in her ears, she boarded a train to Oxford.

An hour and one taxi ride later, she stood outside her father’s house. Gallian Highmore lived in an expensive townhouse. She’d grown up here but moved to London at eighteen to get away from the Grand Coven and their insufferable rules.

She let herself in, hung her coat up in the hall cupboard and kicked off her trainers. Her slippers were still sitting by the door. She stuffed her feet into them and trudged through into the kitchen. Her father would be in his study, but she might as well bring him a cup of tea.

When she’d made a teapot, complete with a little jug of milk, two teacups on saucers and the sugar bowl, she carried the tray upstairs and didn’t bother knocking. Her father turned around at the sound of her barging into his study.

She put the tray down on a side table and poured two cups with sugar, setting them on his desk. She was about to sit down when her father moved and wrapped his arms around her. He held her whilst she stood stiffly in his embrace.

Um, what? He never offers me affection.

“Where have you been for two months, Candace?” he said, his voice a little tense.

“It’s a long story, Dad.”

“Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? You disappeared without a trace.”

She patted his back, unsure why he was still holding her.

“I know. I didn’t have any way of contacting anyone. I’m sorry.”

He released her, putting his hands on her shoulders and staring down at her. His brown hair was greying at the sides and his rust brown eyes were full of concern. He was at least half a head taller than her.

“Why did you leave?”

“It’s not my fault. It’s Jax… he sent me to Hell.”

“He what?” Gallian stepped back, running a hand through his hair. “Does he have any idea how dangerous that is? Why on earth would he do such a thing?”

“Because he knows.”

Her father gave her a sharp look.

“You told him?”

“How do you think he’d feel if I dropped off the face of the planet on my birthday? He’s my best friend.”

“That boy has always been infatuated with you.”

She almost choked on her own breath. Jax wasn’t infatuated with her. They cared about each other, but it had only ever been as friends. And he had Sam. They were happy, even if Sam didn’t like her very much. Jax would never throw away their friendship over a girl.

“No, he’s not.”

“I’m going to have strong words with his mother.”

“Dad, no. He made a mistake. He knows that.”

Her father walked around the desk and sat back in his chair, taking the teacup and sipping at his tea. She slumped in the chair in front of the desk, looking at him with a tense expression.

“Why did you not return straight away?”

“I couldn’t. When I got there, I discovered no one was allowed to leave. All the portals and the gates had been sealed. I’ve spent the past two months trying to get around that, but it was only when I accidentally summoned Jax that we were finally able to return home. I got back last night, so I came as soon as I could. I promise, Dad, I didn’t do this to get out of anything. I know my duty.”

“You summoned Jax to Hell? How did you stay alive down there?”

She stifled a sigh. How would she explain where exactly she’d been? She didn’t need her father finding out about her and Lucifer.

“You know I can’t do portal magic. It wasn’t on purpose. And I stayed alive because I’m resourceful, besides, they appreciated my help in fixing what God did.”

“What?”

“God sealed them in Hell, at least that’s what Lu… I was told.”

Her father’s eyebrows drew together in a frown.

“Does it matter what happened? I’m back now and in time for my birthday.”

“I’m still not happy with that boy for sending you there in the first place, but it’s not a matter you need to concern yourself with. Your mother knows you’ve been missing.”

It was the last thing she wanted to hear. Her mother was the reason her life wasn’t her own. She picked up her teacup, taking a huge gulp before setting it back down.

“Why did you tell her?”

“How was I to know you’d return home before your birthday? I will speak to her. Preparations have been made in your absence. The ball will be held and you will go.”

His expression told her everything. He was disappointed in her yet again. None of this had been her fault, but that never seemed to matter to him.

“I know, Dad. You don’t have to look at me like that.”

“And just how do you think I’m looking at you?”

This was a dangerous line of conversation. They’d argued over this so many times, she’d lost count. It always came back to the same thing. He’d never once told her he was proud of her nor made her feel like she was adequate.

“I can’t do anything right in your eyes.” She stood abruptly. “I’ve done everything you asked. I’m even