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

would inform him if anything was amiss in Hell, but things had been quiet. Who knew what kind of plotting was going on between his demons. At that moment, it didn’t matter. Provided they didn’t do anything too disruptive or involve him, he was content to let them roam as they pleased.

“Are you here because you wish to speak to me?” said a voice from behind him.

“What makes you think this is about you?”

Azrael sat down next to him, his legs dangling off the side. Lucifer wasn’t in the mood for talking, but he also didn’t want to fight with his brother.

“This is still where I stay when I visit Earth. I’ve been watching you.”

“Then you know what I’m doing here.”

The other angel put his hand out.

“Surveying the world now you’re free?”

“Freedom came at a cost.” My heart. My heart was the biggest cost of them all.

“Doesn’t it always when it comes to our Father?”

Lucifer bit his lip on a retort. Our damn Father. The crux of everything. He looked away, his eyes falling on the buildings in the distance.

“What do you want, Azrael? Shouldn’t you be off telling a bunch of humans their time is up? Or have you come here to gloat?”

He didn’t much care what his brother wanted. He’d prefer it if Heaven’s minions left him in peace.

“Something strange is going on with Father.”

He turned his head towards Azrael sharply.

“What do you mean?”

“He is… restless. I’ve heard Him mutter your name on several occasions. I fear something is amiss.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

It didn’t make any sense. Why would his brother come to him when their father was up to something?

“Contrary to what you might believe, I hold no animosity toward you. Besides, I thought you might want to know so you could keep… her safe.”

So he does know about Candace. I wasn’t sure if he’d admit to it or not after he told me he’s been watching me.

If Azrael really had no ulterior motives, then he should take the warning seriously. What could his father possibly be restless about?

“Since when did you care about my personal life?”

“You have my wife to thank for that.”

“Is that what you’re calling her now?”

A stupid human tradition.

He sincerely hoped Candace wouldn’t force him into engaging in such an idiotic practice. It wasn’t something they’d ever discussed.

Azrael grinned at him.

“No, but I didn’t want you jumping down my throat over my ‘obsession’ with a human.”

“The only immortal human in existence you mean.”

Lucifer didn’t like it. It was all very well having creatures such as vampires technically being immortal unless you staked them, but humans? He’d never done that for anyone before. It wasn’t jealousy he felt, surely?

Fuck, I’m not jealous. That’s ridiculous. She’ll live hundreds of years so I don’t have to worry about that now.

But he did. The thought of not having her was like a knife to his heart. Lifetimes passed in his world within a blink of an eye. Why did he have to feel this way about her? Feelings never sat well with him.

I miss her and she’s only been away from me a couple of hours. I’ve fallen foul of emotions.

Emotions.

Feelings.

Those were human things.

He didn’t like feeling human. He was an angel. And yet, it was Candace. How could he regret falling in love with the girl who soothed away his pain with a simple look?

“Well, it wasn’t as if I asked Him to grant me that. Besides, she’s given up most of her life to live amongst angels.”

And I’m asking Candace to give up hers to live with demons. How fucking ironic that both of us should find ourselves in a similar situation.

This couldn’t be his plan. Did he think his sons needed to be taught how to love? How to care for someone other than themselves? Did it even matter? He was done with God and his plans.

Before he had a chance to answer Azrael, something buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out.

“Another human contraption,” Azrael muttered under his breath.

Candace had given him the phone so she could get in touch with him when she was finished with her friend. There was a single text from her.

‘Please come get me.’

He frowned. Something about it bothered him. She hadn’t asked him to go back to her flat. Get her from where? He typed out a response.

‘Where are you?’

A minute ticked by and there was no reply. He looked back up at his brother.

“Where is she, Azrael?”

“Where’s who?”

“Candace. I know you can track her down.”

Azrael rolled his eyes.

“Still can’t hear their thoughts then?”

“No.”

Except he could hear hers when they kissed each other. He’d never stopped to wonder why that was, only that it worked in his favour. It was how he discovered her true feelings towards him.

“Fine. Don’t know why it’s so important you find her now. She’s not in danger.”

No, but something is wrong.

Azrael went silent for a long moment, his eyes glazing over slightly. It wasn’t the first time Lucifer wished their father hadn’t taken away his ability to hear human’s thoughts. He didn’t have time to track her down via her brand nor did he want to hurt her by doing so. It would burn her again, just as it did when that idiotic prince kissed her.

“She’s in that vampire owned bar,” Azrael said. “The one in Soho.”

Lucifer stood, his wings flaring out.

“Before you disappear off. Just be wary of whatever it is Father is planning.”

“I’m always wary of our Father and His games. You can never let your guard down when it comes to God.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, taking to the skies and flying straight towards