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

the strength to tell her family no. Whether she’d turn her back on her life on Earth for a life with Lucifer in Hell.

All I want is him. Nothing else matters.

“What if I refuse to give you that?”

“Then I won’t allow you to see whoever it is you want rather than me.”

Her lip twitched, nails digging into her palms.

“Won’t allow me? You don’t rule my life. I am not someone you can just dictate terms to.”

His pale eyes regarded her with a neutral expression. If he thought she was going to submit to him, he was sorely mistaken. How could her mother think she wished to marry such a man? He was showing his true colours now. Even if she accepted his terms, Lucifer would never allow it. He wouldn’t share her.

“I can and I will.”

“You know what, fuck you. You can tell my mother I’m done. Done with you, her and her entire court.”

Who the hell does he think he is? How can my mother think this man is a suitable match for me?

She was so angry, she could barely contain her fury. It was time to leave. She could see this would never get them anywhere. She didn’t get a chance to step towards the door. Theodus descended on her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to him.

“You think we’re done? We’re not even anywhere close to being done,” he said.

His mouth crashed against hers. Bile and revulsion rose in her stomach. His lips weren’t soft like Lucifer’s. She was too shocked to push him away.

Pain radiated from the mark on her ankle. It tore up her leg. Her skin was burning, on fire. Pink smoke flared out of her hands, slamming into Theodus’ chest and pushing him ten feet away from her. She panted, the pain in her leg almost crippling her.

What the fuck? Why does it hurt? What did Lucifer do to me?

“Don’t fucking touch me!”

Putting one foot in front of the other, she limped from the room, throwing the door open and slamming it shut behind her. Gallian stood up from the chaise lounge in the hallway, his eyes full of concern. She threw herself down onto his recently vacated seat, pulling up her trouser leg. The mark was no longer black. The lines were bright red and angry. Like he’d burnt her skin with a branding iron.

“What happened?” Gallian asked.

“Theodus is a piece of shit, that’s what happened.”

He sat down next to her, waving a hand over the mark. White smoke poured from his fingers, soothing away the pain. The mark was still red and raw, but she couldn’t feel it any longer.

“Dad, I need you to take me to Hyde Park.”

“We need to talk about why that happened.”

He pointed at the mark.

“There is only one person I’m going to get answers from about it. Take me to Hyde Park.”

Her father sighed before standing and waving his hand again. More smoke poured from his fingertips and the next moment, a purple light shimmered before them. She stood, taking his hand and stepping through the portal. They landed in a secluded area of the park.

“Candace… What did Theodus do?” he asked, putting a hand on her arm to stop her from leaving.

“He suggested after I give him a child, I could go off and be with someone else whilst still remaining married to him. When I told him no, he tried to dictate crap to me, and you know no one tells me what to do. I told him I was done and he kissed me.”

Except that’s not strictly true. Lucifer tells me what to do in the bedroom and I like it. Fuck do I like it when he takes control. When he punishes me for disobedience. I need it. All of it.

“Did the mark start to burn when he kissed you?”

“Yes.”

The realisation dawned on her. Lucifer’s mark meant more than just him claiming her. He owned her and if anyone else touched her, she’d suffer for it. A part of her was furious, but the other side understood and accepted it. A strange sense of calm descended over her.

“I have to go now, Dad. I’ll phone you later. I promise.”

He released her arm, letting her walk away. It didn’t take her long to find Lucifer’s portal to Hell. She’d memorised the location when he brought her home this morning. He’d told her how to activate it. She muttered the words and a purple light shimmered in front of her the next instant. She walked through and out into the corridor. Mall was just coming out of her office.

“Oh, hello again,” she said.

“Where is he?” Candace asked.

“In the throne room.”

“Is he alone?”

“Yes… What’s wrong?”

Candace shook her head, striding towards the throne room. There was no time to explain to Mall nor did she want to. This was between her and Lucifer alone.

“Don’t let anyone disturb us.”

She didn’t wait for Mall to respond. She threw the door open. Lucifer sat on his throne, his chin propped up on his hand whilst he looked down at his tablet. His gaze flicked up to her, eyes widening a little. The door slammed shut behind her. She walked over to him, up the stairs before she knelt at his feet, her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap.

“Candace, what are you doing?”

“I need to be punished.”

“What?”

“You need to punish me.”

“Get off the floor and look at me. What are you talking about?”

There was no going back from this now. She’d known the minute she realised what Lucifer’s mark signified.

“No. I am yours. I was reminded of that very fact today when Theodus kissed me because you claimed me. Marked me. Branded me as yours. I let someone else touch