Page 45 of An Unexpected Ascension (A War Between Worlds #1)

The Demon

Despite my heart feeling as though it is engulfed in flames.

Despite the terror ripping through me.

Despite two hundred years of utter loathing.

I walk into the Throne room revealing nothing but the smirk I left Briar with.

“I want to say I’m shocked to see you, but that would be a lie.”

Although, it’s really not.

Lucifer sits stiffly in his throne with Ada half hidden behind it. They’re both drenched in blood, but from what I can tell, not from either of them.

The Devil catches my gaze before returning it to the Angel before us. A smug grin, similar to my own, plays on the face of a man I planned on never seeing again. He stands a healthy distance from the dais with his hands behind his back.

“Son.”

My eyes narrow on the now-stranger. In every way, other than the grey of his hair, he looks like me. The navy of his eyes, the straight slope of his nose, even the way his beard is trimmed enclosing around a mouth that knows nothing other than evil.

My hand clenches the handle of my sword with a strangling grip.

Without breaking our stare, I nudge my head behind me to the door.

“Ada, leave.”

My father tsks.

“Not so fast. I was just preparing to say hello, Lynx.”

I nearly wince at my own name slithering off the tongue of a serpent.

“She doesn’t care to greet you. Ada, leave.”

The soft patter of her feet behind me tells me she listens. I can nearly feel the relief from Lucifer as she disappears and joins Briar.

“You know, I always knew you would end up in Hell, son. It was very telling, well before you took your own father’s life.”

“Father?!”

Without warning, a scoff escapes me.

“You were a drunk that knocked up a woman who deserved so much more than you. You’re half the reason my sister died. It baffles me how a monster like you can end up in Heaven.”

He quirks a dark brow.

“Oh, and you think it should have been you to end up there?”

Now I laugh.

“No, I’m right where I belong.”

He creeps forward.

“Mmm. Yes, yes you are.”

His approach forces Lucifer to his feet.

An evil creature disguised by all white feigning to be an angel, that’s what he is.

I see right through him.

“What do you want?”

“Well, you stole something that wasn’t yours and now you owe the Gods.”

My heart thunders inside of my chest. I do not fear this man, Ambrose Cromwell. However, I have recently discovered a great weakness within me and that is Briar Fentonelli. I beg the universe to be just in this moment, to grant me this one thing: to keep her safe.

“Ada was never theirs and they know it,”

Lucifer speaks.

Ambrose’s eyes never waver from mine as if he can taunt me through just his stare. Daring me to relive all those horrible memories from my childhood. All the beatings he’s bestowed, all the cuts and bruises he’s colored me with.

Hatred curdles my stomach the longer I look at him, and by the way his lips creep up tells me he knows it.

“Her welcome was worn out anyway.”

He waves his hand in dismissal.

“Something about the same cunt is a boring cunt.”

“Fuck you!”

Lucifer lunges toward him, but I stop him with an outstretched hand.

“It seems you’ve already taken more than you are owed. See, we only stole one life whereas you took upward of two hundred. Far from even, but I don’t think we owe the Gods a thing. Your presence is unwelcome.”

Another ruthless smile slices along his darkening features.

“Ah, but there’s something in this story you’re missing, Lynx. Think long and hard.”

I glower at him, unwilling to say another word.

Ambrose slips around me, his chest now touching my shoulder as he whispers in my ear.

“The Gods don’t give a fuck about the redheaded cunt. Take the used whore.”

His eyes flick to a seething Devil.

“No, it seems there’s another woman that’s slipped through their fingers.”

My left eye twitches and it’s all he needs to know he’s right on target.

“Ring a bell?”

In a flurry of motion, I unsheathe the sword at my back and swing it over my head, bringing it down on the monster dressed in white. There’s not an ounce of stolen blood on him, but I’ll be sure to stain him red.

The world around us slows as my blade cuts through the air and by the time the edge of my sword is mere inches from my father’s neck, it’s deflected with a weapon of his own. The clank of metal rings out in the throne room as our blades clash together.

He meets my growl with a satisfied smirk, and I can already feel the rage searing my veins. Pure hatred inflates my lungs, and a fire sets my control ablaze. I can’t tame the murderous beast he awakens inside of me. I want nothing more than to kill him all over again, to wrap my fists around his neck and to suffocate him until those blue eyes fade to nothing.

“Focus!”

Lucifer barks as my sword nearly slips from my hand.

Ambrose pivots as I lunge forward ready to spear him and spill his guts as he did all those demons in our Great Hall. I miss and it only infuriates me further.

“The only thing you ever did better than me, son, was drink.”

“I didn’t know angels could lie so easily,”

I snarl, charging at him again.

He spins, ending up behind me and as I turn on my heels, his blade slips past mine and right into the center of my stomach. He lifts up, tearing into me, splitting my skin and spilling my blood. The pain is nearly unbearable as he yanks me to him with the leverage of his weapon.

I look down to the gaping hole inside of me. My fingers twitch as they come to the wound and wrap around the blade of his sword. I tug, but my strength betrays me.

“Lynx!”

“Briar, no!”

I can hear Lucifer warn her off, but it’s too late. Ambrose’s gaze finally tears from mine to find my angel fighting her way toward me.

“Is that her?”

Ambrose’s voice echoes in my ears.

I shake my head, but it’s no use. Not when Briar is screaming for me and abusing the Devil holding her back.

Lucifer gives me one last pitying look as he reads my face. He nods, then disappears with Briar behind the door, leaving me to my father.

With her gone, I fall to my knees, letting the blade slip even farther up my torso. Blood spews from my lips and drips down my chin.

He leans his face down next to mine.

“I can’t return empty handed. I guess the Devil’s Second in Command will just have to do.”