He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. Those deep, warm golden eyes he adored were glazed over, the pupils dilated to the point only a rim of color showed around their inky depths.
With strength he didn’t know she had, Diana yanked away from him and strolled into a large opening. Past it, two of the worst specimens of evil known to the universe stood around an open pit swirling with what appeared to be galactic energies of imploding stars. A kaleidoscope of colors burst from the hole to shimmer all around the open cavern. The intensity of it drilled holes into his armor, the metal seeming to ignite and melting off his body. The two demon princes—and Diana—were unscathed.
Horrified, Lucifer lurched forward to grab her again, but his feet wouldn’t obey. Looking down, he found his armor had indeed melted off his body, to harden in a pool of molten metal at his feet, imprisoning him.
“Diana!” His voice—once strong and authoritative—shrieked, echoing off the walls.
Her steps paused for a moment until she stood before the demon prince duo. Her body didn’t tremble in fear as she should’ve done... as anyone would’ve done. Instead, she gave each demon a curt nod of her head.
Asmodeus—shiny jet-black hair spilled down his back in cascading waves; skin kissed by the sun; dark eyes so black, but inviting, it was like being lured into the abyss; and his physique, covered in the finest materials of inky silk. It was woven into long sheathes that clung to his legs to highlight the bulging muscles underneath, with a shirt opened to reveal a sculpted chest. Lucifer had never encountered the demon before, but there was no doubt in his mind that standing before him was the personification of lust.
The leech, Asmodeus, took Diana’s hand and raised it to his lips. “Charmed to meet you, my dear. Your beauty and virtues”—the last word was said with dripping disdain and a cutting stare to Lucifer—“are renowned the universe over, but the truth is far more glorious than I could have imagined.”
Rage erupted from Lucifer’s soul, along with a howl that shook the mountain itself. Rocks fell from the cavern ceiling. The ground rumbled underneath his captured feet working his shackles loose, little by little. “Let go of her!”
The other demon prince glanced over to him; his eyes were such a deep crimson, Lucifer would’ve sworn they were black as ebony, if not for the brighter red where the whites of his eyes should’ve been. His complexion was ruddy, his black hair slicked back neatly. His attire was that of a warrior with golden armor smudged with soot, and the sandals of a warrior laced up his calves.
Sathanas’s lips curved upward. “Yes, feed that anger until you cannot tolerate a moment more. Let it flow through your veins. Once it burns out the light within, then can you endeavor to reclaim your lady love. Only then can you be worthy enough to take what is yours, what has been denied to you for eternity.”
He grabbed Diana’s arm, swinging her around until her back was pressed against his chest and his hands were roaming over her body, cupping her breasts. His eyes never strayed away from Lucifer, seeming to relish his visceral reaction.
The fury felt good, but it was an emotion he was not supposed to give in to. He—above all others—should be immune to the toxins flaring in his soul. He was the Archangel of Light! Love was light.
Then why were his bones prickling with the need to decapitate the demon princes, peel the flesh from their vessels, and bathe in their blood?
Because of her.
But why wasn’t she jerking away from the demon’s hold?
Asmodeus leaned over to trail his lips up her neck while Sathanas held her still. Diana didn’t flinch nor cringe. Instead, her head fell back against her captor’s chest, exposing her neck further.
“Such a lovely lure, isn’t she?” Sathanas said, sliding one hand down to her hip.
“Let her go!” Lucifer bellowed again.
More rocks fell; a large one even toppled into the giant pit in the center of the room, but nothing spilled out. The rock vanished into the ether. The clump of metal encasing his feet shook loose, though. Soon, he’d be able to wrench free of its hold.
He’d changed his mind. He didn’t want to slice the demons’ extremities or even rip them from their bodies. No, he wanted to tear them off with his bare teeth, bit by tiny, excruciating bit.
“Diana, please, wake up! You can’t...”
Both demons chuckled, then shrugged in unison.
“He still doesn’t get it. I thought this one was supposed to be the best Heaven itself had to offer. The smartest, the most beautiful, the Archangel of fucking Light, after all.” Asmodeus cupped Diana’s chin as if he were going to pull her in for an intimate kiss, but his eyes cut over to Lucifer. “I do believe we’ve been sold a faulty bill of goods, my brother.”
“No, have patience,” Sathanas replied with a sneer. “He’s naïve, but not stupid. Once Lucifer figures it out, then he’ll understand the depths of betrayal.” Releasing Diana to Asmodeus’s embrace, he marched over to Lucifer. His blood-red eyes were wide and brimming with curiosity. “You are a mystery, Lucifer. We were told you were the unbreakable one. But look at you now.” He jerked his head toward Diana, whose eyes were glossed over a milky white color. “All it took was one woman... one... and you’re undone. I’m astonished how easily you fell for her charms.”
“Let. Her. Go!” A tinge of uncertainty cut through his fury. Had Diana seduced him to bring him low? Had this all been intentional?
Lucifer shook his head vehemently. No, he did not believe she’d betray him in this way.
Wasn’t that my exact thought earlier?
In the distance, the clash of swords and the shouts of soldiers fighting to the death signaled a battle had erupted. The stench of spilled blood wafted from the outside, through the tunnels, and into the spacious cavern to fill Lucifer’s nostrils. It provoked the roiling rage that had risen in him, incited him to spill more blood.
“Hear that?” Sathanas’s face was inches away from Lucifer’s own. The demon’s breath was as scorching and pungent as death. “Your men will all die. You thought you would trap us here, but all along you were the prey, not the predator.”
A wail from deep within Lucifer’s chest rose up to burst from his lips, louder and more cutting than a banshee’s cry of impending death. Everything quaked around them. Rocks rained from overhead. Giant fissures cobwebbed along the ground. The rumbling intensified until along the far wall, cracks opened and spewed forth blinding red and orange flames of magma.
