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

giving up my life because of you and her, but that’s not good enough for you. Do you think I want this? Chained in servitude for the rest of my existence. It’s not my fault you had a secret affair with her nor that I was the product of it. Do you know what it’s like to be scorned by both witches and fae just because I’m a half blood? No, because no one would dare say a bad word to the leader of the Grand Coven about his daughter.”

The words tumbled out in a rush. After everything she’d been through in the last two months, her ability to keep her mouth shut was shot to pieces. She’d been fine with all of it until she’d met Lucifer. Met him, fought with him, had mind-blowing sex with him and worst of all, fallen in love with him. Now, it all made her angry.

She paced away, clenching her fists.

“Candace, do you really believe that?”

“What else am I supposed to believe when all you do is tell me how much I’ve disappointed you? I know when you look at me you see her.”

The seconds of silence ticked by. Her heart was already shattered. It broke the moment she left Hell. What did it matter if her father never gave her the love she desperately craved from him? She’d learnt long ago there was no use arguing with Gallian Highmore. No use pleading with him.

“I’m going back to London. I only came to tell you I’m home.”

“Candace…”

“Don’t, Dad. There’s nothing to say.”

She walked out of his office, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. There was only one thing she wanted to do. Drown herself in booze and not think for a while. Not remember Lucifer’s hands on her or his mesmerising dark eyes. Nor think about her conversation with her father or her fate. All of it broke her heart further.

She didn’t want to go to ObliVion and run into her mother’s lackey who always seemed to take up permanent residence there. No, she’d go somewhere else away from humans. Away from witches. There was only one place they rarely ventured where she could drown her sorrows and it wouldn’t get back to her father.

Fright Night.

Chapter Fourteen

Darkness had fallen by the time she arrived back in London and made her way to Soho. Trudging down the steps into the basement bar, she didn’t bother checking her coat. She sat down on one of the bar stools and eyed the bartender who was serving someone else. It wasn’t particularly busy this early, but she was glad of that.

“You look like shit. Bad day?”

She glanced up. Neave was leaning against the bar, grinning.

“Bad everything,” she replied rolling her eyes. “Just give me something strong.”

She’d been in the bar quite often and had gotten to know the vampire who owned it. She didn’t much mind them, unlike her witch counterparts. It was a centuries old hatred which she thought was idiotic.

Neave moved away for a moment, selecting an expensive bottle of scotch.

“Is this the type of thing you’re looking for?” the vampire asked.

“Sure.”

The cost didn’t bother her. It was her father’s money. What did she care how much she spent of it? Especially after today. Neave poured some into a whisky tumbler and slid it across to her. She took a sip, grimacing a little. It was strong and burnt on the way down.

“I’ll just leave the bottle here. I know you’re good for it.”

The vampire smiled before walking away to serve another customer. Pulling out her phone, she fired off a quick text to Jax.

‘Just a warning… Dad’s pissed at you.’

A few moments later, a reply came.

‘Where are you?’

‘Drinking myself into an early grave.’

‘That bad?’

‘Worse, but don’t worry about it. I’ll deal.’

‘We need to talk about what happened in Hell.’

She stared down at her phone. There was no way she was having that conversation with Jax. She tucked it back in her bag. He could just wait.

Taking another sip of scotch, she sighed. Drinking alone. This was a new low, even for her. She usually did this with Jax, but she knew he needed to spend time with Sam and she didn’t particularly want to have it out with him about Lucifer.

Why the fuck am I thinking about him again?

The pain in her chest was unbearable.

Picking up the tumbler, she downed the rest of it. Her father would scold her for drinking a single malt in such a way, but she didn’t give a shit right then. She poured herself some more and sipped at it.

“Didn’t expect to see you in here,” came a voice she recognised.

She looked over at the dark-haired witch who took a seat next to her.

“I could say the same of you.”

Alistair grinned, tipping an imaginary hat at her.

They’d known each other a long time.

Alistair had always been a bit of a lady’s man. His conquests included Candace herself. One drunken night not long after she’d moved to London, she’d been out clubbing with him and Jax. One thing led to another and she’d ended up back at his. Both of them agreed never to mention it again. It was one of the few things she swore she’d never tell Jax about.

She was glad he’d finally settled down with someone. Although, she knew very well his mother completely disapproved of his choice. She’d been there the day the Grand Coven had sentenced Ophelia. Stripped of your magic and permanently frozen in time was not a fate she wished on anyone.

“How’s Grace?” she asked.

“Oh, she’s fine. Still refusing to entertain the idea of marriage, but I’m sure she’ll come around in her own