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

She hadn’t wanted to be dropped into Hell, especially not right on top of Lucifer. She wondered what the rest of Hell looked like.

Lucifer’s bedroom was relatively modern. His bed, which was huge, took up most of the back wall. His desk was black with chrome legs. The walls were midnight blue and there were several bookshelves lining them. His bedroom was more suited to an expensive penthouse in London than Hell.

She eyed him again. His hands were still flat on the desk, his dark eyes roaming across her. There was something about the angel which set her hair on end. Goose pimples rose on her arms. She wished he’d stop looking at her like that. As if he wanted to devour her whole. There was no way she would ever let him get near enough to her again to do such a thing. Absolutely no way. Not even the memory of his skin on hers would shake her resolve. She shivered at the thought.

Nope. I don’t want him touching me again. Nope. Not at all. Even if it felt deliciously wonderful. Nope. Get a damn grip! He is dangerous.

“Don’t get me wrong, I know I shouldn’t be here. It’s just I can’t create portals, so you know, I might need some help returning to Earth.”

She didn’t want to ask him for anything, but she had little choice in the matter. The Devil was her only way out of here as far as she could tell. She wasn’t about to go wandering around Hell to find another way.

He was silent for several long moments, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

“There’s one little issue with that,” he said, straightening and looking down at his nails.

“And what would that be?”

Wasn’t he going to help her? She wasn’t sure why she was surprised. He was the Devil after all. He didn’t seem like the type to offer his assistance to anyone.

“You see, someone changed the rules in Hell after a little incident on Earth last year.”

“The rules? What incident?”

What is he talking about?

She hadn’t heard of anything happening recently, but she tended to stay out of supernatural politics. It was bad enough being dragged into witch business given who her father was.

“Not up to date with the end of the world news? Hmm, well, never mind. It is hardly relevant now. No, you see, our ever-illustrious creator decided no one gets out of Hell any more. I’m afraid you bagged yourself a one-way ticket here.”

Chapter Two

Candace stared at Lucifer for what seemed like eternity. What did he mean she couldn’t return to Earth? Demons had free reign up there. She’d met more than enough in her short twenty-four years.

“Are you seriously telling me I’m stuck here?”

“For the time being, yes.”

Her legs almost buckled. She slumped down in his desk chair, putting her head in her hands.

“Fuck.”

Stuck in Hell. How had this happened? She really was going to kill Jax. How could he do this to her? Unless he hadn’t known. But it was Jax. He always knew what he was doing.

She raised her head, looking up at Lucifer with wide eyes. His expression was neutral.

“But I’m not supposed to be here,” she said.

“That can’t be helped now. No one is leaving any time soon.”

“Not even you?”

He rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue.

“No, not even me. I might be an angel but even I have to answer to God’s Will.”

“You’re telling me the only person who can fix this is God himself?”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

Cryptic much?

How was she going to get out of here? When she’d gone to deal with a feud between a witch and a fae, she did not expect to encounter her best friend there. It had escalated way beyond her control. She supposed that’s what she got when her father insisted she be an emissary to the fae. Being half witch made her relationship with them difficult.

“Well, fine. What are you going to do with me then?”

It was a pertinent question. She didn’t fancy seeing more of Hell than she had to. Would he hand her off into the care of one of his demons?

“It would not do to have you roaming around getting into trouble.”

“Who said I would get into trouble?”

“Would you like me to toss you into the viper’s nest, so you can find out?”

“No, but what are you going to do?”

He grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief.

“The options are endless, but I imagine you don’t wish your stay here to involve any sort of punishment.”

Punishment from demons? No way. But the thought of punishment from him sent her pulse into overdrive.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Not going there.

“No.”

“You’ll just have to stay right here.” His eyes raked across her chest. “With me.”

She spluttered. With him? Was he for real right now? There was no way she wanted to spend her time in Hell with the sinfully attractive Devil.

Absolutely not. Under no circumstances can I be in the same room as him for the foreseeable future. How can I when he looks at me like that?

His dark eyes were magnetic, roaming across her with unconcealed admiration.

“You’re not serious.”

“Where else would you like me to put you?”

He walked around the desk with slow, measured steps. If she had any willpower, she would’ve got up and moved as far away from him as possible. He tucked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“You see, Candace, there is no safer place in Hell than with me, the King.”

Here with Lucifer was most definitely not the safest place she could be. She slapped his hand away, scowling.

“You say that like you’re some kind of