Epilogue
Lana (many millennia ago)
“Apolliana. Awaken my child.”
I look up at the barren walls of my prison and see The Creator materialize before me. My thoughts fly around my head like whispers that I cannot manage to hear, and my body aches painfully. I curl up in the corner of my bed, my torn wings fluttering behind me and my small bloody frame trembling. My eyes hurt from the light now beaming around us. It’s been so long since I have seen anything but darkness. There have only been a few situations where I’ve died and experienced respite. But I soon reemerge into my angelic shell and cycle back into my madness. I don’t even know how long I’ve been locked inside this non-existence. Many would say that angels cannot be vicious, but I’m drowning in my pain and death. My long golden hair covered in blood and gore falls around me like a bloody pelt, and my torn robe hangs off my mangled form. I try not to blink too much, but the light is unbearable.
Memories of tearing through angels besiege me as my rage threatens to consume me again. I look at my soiled hands and see dried blood rings beneath my torn nails before I look back up at the two beings standing before me.
“Is it time…is it time for me to die? Is death coming?” I ask dazedly as I rock in place and quote words that I’ve heard The Creator say.
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead? The body that is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power, and it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
The Creator’s large form wavers back and forth before mine. Unlike angels, The Creator has no true shape or gender. The Creator is light and darkness. The Creator just is. Some call him father and some mother. But there’s no acknowledgment of which is correct. The other archangel stands stall, his muscled body and sword arm stiff as he readies to attack. I try to see him, but my vision burns to the point that it’s difficult to see anything clearly. I only know what he is because the monster inside me cries for me to tear him apart. His grace extends from his body, scratching my skin like gravel and making my hunger for death and blood unbearable.
“You have been living in non-existence for centuries, my child. I had hoped that your madness had waned, but you have continued to tear through your own body until you’re mere ribbons. ”
Using my matted hair as a curtain, I seethe and curl my fingers inside of my palms, fighting the urge to lunge at the creature who has placed me in this prison. It has been so long since I’ve felt anything but madness and fear. I am the first of my kind. A female archangel, created to mate with The Creator’s favored son. But my fate was irrevocably changed by the one I’m meant to be with.
I laugh a manic laugh as the irony of my situation flits through my mind.
The archangel stiffens further and takes a step forward. “Her madness has declined.”
My laugh grows into a cackle as I slide closer to the angel and grit out. “Come to me, angel. Let me taste your grace.”
His gasp of horror echoes inside of the tiny cell.
“My child, it is time for you to find your peace. You cannot continue to exist in this manner.”
My eyes fill with tears as the madness swirls in my mind. “I did not ask for this! You made me this way!” I scream out. “I can’t die. You will not let me die! This pain will not cease!” I scratch at my chest as my soul burns inside of me painfully. “Please, send me to the fade?”
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead? The sown body is perishable; it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power, and it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
I repeat over and over as I try to find solace and center my muddled mind.
The Creator denies my claim. “I know you are in pain, but I cannot undo what has been destined. Lucifer made his choice, which I know doomed you as well. However, I do have a way for your situation to change.”
The angel interjects heatedly. “As much as I wish to, we cannot release her, your grace. She has already cut through our ranks. She slaughtered Galatael, Tramiel and many others. If you let her go, she will continue to murder our brethren.”
The Creator’s like slashes the air, making my eyes burn further. “Enough! I know what she has done, my son. No one knows this better than I.”
I chuckle with derision as I slump to my knees on the ground and crawl toward The Creator. “You made me this!” my lip curls as I gaze up into The Creator’s lights and let it burn through my retinas. “You are the reason for my madness!” I gasp as the pain burning through my eyes becomes unbearable. It feels like glass is tearing through the thin membrane of my eyes. I can feel blood pouring from the sockets as they continue to burn.
The Creator doesn’t argue further. “I know, my child. If it’s any consolation, I did not expect that Lucifer’s fall would do this to you. But I have a way for your soul to be free of his and his sins to no longer plague you.”
I blink helplessly, but my sight is gone. “But I am tied to Lucifer. I have to do penance for his sin. A balance has to be reached.”
“You are correct; a balance does need to be reached. I know that your road has not been easy and that it has not been by your choice... but there is a possibility. If the Eru’s prophecy comes to fruition and the sacrifice is made, an order can be restored, and you may be free of your cursed ties.”
The angel retorts. “But that’s not possible, your grace. We have tried and failed before. Destiny has spoken. Lucifer forfeited his happiness when he fell. You tied her destiny to his without consequence. Lucifer’s sins are her sins, and her madness cannot be remedied.”
The Creator’s form leans close to my broken one. “But there is a way for her to be unbound. She can become human.”
The angel flinches back with shock, his steps faltering. “But how? It’s not possible. Angels cannot become humans.”
I flinch at every word as my anger, and jumbled thoughts threaten to choke me. I look at the angel as he continues to argue with The Creator, but I can no longer hear a word. All I can hear is a loud ringing in my ears, followed by thunderous waves. Seething with rage, I spring on the angel and claw at him. However, I am no match for the angel in my damaged state as he lifts me by the neck. His eyes gleam with guilt and sadness as he aims his flaming sword at my chest.
As the thunderous sound in my ears overwhelms me, I close my eyes and let the angel give reprieve to all of my anguish.
Chapter 1: To Fall and BreakLana- Present I snap up from my pillow and gaze around my tiny cabin with a frown. Sweat gathers around my brow, and my heart is pounding wildly inside my chest. Rising from the twin bed, I walk over to the little mirror that I hung above my camping stove. Closing my eyes, I take a couple of deep breaths and rub my palms across my eyes. I try to recall what I just dreamt about, but the memory fades into the back of my mind, leaving only fragmented images. I’ve been at the Grand Canyon researching environmental pollutant issues of water, plants, and animals for a month. Even though I’m here with some of my classmates, I’m sure my isolation is getting to me. If waking up this wa
Lucifer I watch from my perch on top of a hill as Lana leans over a small refuge near two rock formations and places a vile beneath the stream before she labels it with a pen. I have to admit, the Canyon is stunning with its rust-colored limestone plateaus, blue skies and winding river. It reminds me a bit of hell, without the demons. For weeks, I’ve been watching Lana traverse through the Canyon and gather data. I make sure to cloak my presence because I don’t want her to get the wrong idea. I’m not a bloody stalker. I just want to make sure she’s safe. My eyes drink in her athletic form hungrily as she traverses through the water. I might not want to be mated to her, but I can’t deny that she’s extr
Lana Lucifer doesn’t say a word as we make our way back to my cabin, which gives me the chance to really take a good look at him. It has been weeks since I saw him, and my eyes are soaking in every inch of his masculine frame. His silky, dark hair is curled back in a trendy style, with the front being longer than the back, his dark eyes are shadowed by his long lashes, and his pouty lips are as luscious as I remember. If I had to categorize Lucifer, I’d say he’s a pretty boy with his Roman nose, high cheekbones and youthful features. Though his face may look young, his body is all man. At a couple of inches over six feet, he’s quite the specimen with his swimmer’s build and powerful aura. His chest is broad, his waist is narrow, and his legs are long and muscular. I can sing many praises to his firm ass and muscular arms. But what really catches my attention is his mac
Lucifer I enter my throne room and agitatedly pace around. Lana might not have been completely aware of it, but her angel was coming through. As soon as she asked me why I was pursuing her, her eyes began to glow, and her grace began to gleam across her body. For a moment, I found myself looking into Lana and her angel’s eyes. I could tell that Lana felt something as she began to change, but she was unsure of what it was. After Bree informed me of Lilith’s involvement in Lana’s unique situation, I researched why Lana’s angel lived as a human but found very little information. When I asked Lillith to tell me more, she spat in my face and told me to sod off.&n
Lana Rising early the next day, I heat up a breakfast sandwich and head out of my cabin to meet the rest of my group at the picnic tables. Since we arrived at the Canyon, we’ve agreed to eat as a team and talk about our findings. It’s a good way for us to connect with each other and diminish the feeling of isolation. I yawn with exhaustion as I step out of my door. I spent most of the night tossing and turning. And when I slept, my dreams were a mixture of oddly discomfiting dreams where I was having an unknown conversation with a glowing entity, and the other dreams starred me lying naked in a bathtub with a sexy devil. I growl at the reminder. In one of the dreams, Lucifer’s hands washed more than my hair. I s
Lucifer I look down at my mate’s crumpled form as she struggles with madness. She’s covered in demon blood, and her eyes are glowing like the sun. But there is no lucidity in that light. Despair, as I’ve never felt, fills me when she repeats the same phrase over and over again and claws at her delicate skin. “Lana, look at me…” I kneel down and gaze into her maddened eyes. “…please, look at me…” Lana is too far gone as blood pours from her lips, and she begins to gag. Seeing that she might die if I do not do anything, I place my hand over her head and make her insentient. As soon as I do, all of the tension leaves her body, and she collapses into a faint. Reaching down, I carefully lift her into my arms and flash us out of the cave. Unsure of what to d
Lana I look at my bloody hands and tighten them into fists as fire crawls across my skin. But I don’t burn, which is strange. Laughter roars from my lips as I stroll through a dark forest and run my fiery hands across the trees and the grass, lighting everything up. With each stroke of my hand, the grass burns and the trees turn to ash. It’s only when my sister, Bree, rushes toward me and the fire consumes her that screams of terror burst from my lips. That’s when I’m awakened from my nightmare. Shooting up from the bed, I clutch the cover tightly to my chest and look around the room, worried that I&
Lucifer Once I flash out of Lana’s room, I partially shift into my devil form and hone my senses until I reach the destination Azazel instructed me to go to. The earthquake occurred in the Arcata forest. Using my night vision, I try to find the entity that caused such havoc but see nothing. I land near a copse and look around for any signs of what it could have been until I reach a large section of the forest that looks like it was burnt to a crisp. The trees, dirt and grass around the ragged opening are scorched. Within minutes, Azazel and Mathias appear beside me. Mathias squats down and touches the scorched ground. The dirt glows where he touches it. He turns his hand and looks at his blood-soaked fingers. “What is