Page 7 of These Monstrous Ties

I can’t do this. I freeze in Kristof’s arms.

Not for the first time, I think of Lucifer. I think of how he’s done this to me. How he fucked me over, sent me here.

He had crawled out of the pits of hell on Halloween night and damned my entire fucking life.

Chapter Four

Halloween, One Year Ago

Raven Park isfull of people.

Still oddly hand-in-hand, Lucifer and I dodge our way through cars parked haphazardly on the gravel lot, the sound of music thudding in the woods ahead of us.

He glances over at me as we walk down a gravel path. I know the gravel will soon end, and this trail will lead us to Raven River. Another to a creepy little merry-go-round. I used to run here, when I gave a shit. But I’ve had this date marked for months. I no longer give a shit at all.

The sun has set. I see several fold-out tables with drinks and food, and there’s a small fire in the center of it all.

A fire.

In the middle of a state park.

Lucifer drops my hand. I turn to stare at him.

“There’s a fire.” I throw my hand vaguely toward it. “A fire. In the middle of the fucking woods!”

He doesn’t laugh. “Buckle up, Lilith. This is hell. That’s where fire is born.”

Okayyyy...someone took their Halloween costumes a little too seriously. But who am I to judge? I have a real-life gun on my thigh.

Someone calls Lucifer’s name. By actually shouting, “Lucifer!”

That cannot be his name.

I would have laughed if it wasn’t all so...strange. A guy breaks away from a gaggle of girls and comes striding toward us, a beer in his hand. He isn’t dressed up, save for the fact he’s wearing a t-shirt that hugs his shoulders with a creepy skull on it.

His eyes narrow my way, but he doesn’t speak to me when he says, “And who’s this?” He doesn’t sound thrilled I’m here.

Lucifer’s shoulder brushes mine. “She’s here tonight. For Lover’s Death.”

I arch a brow, but this dude’s eyes suddenly light up. The corner of his mouth twitches in a menacing smirk. He nods, takes a pull from his beer.

“Fun,” he purrs, and then turns to walk away.

“Atlas,” Lucifer calls after him. Turns out they aren’t all demons of the underworld here. Some guide the way down.

Atlas halts, turns back.

“She’s mine.”

Atlas frowns. “That’s not how Lover’s Death goes, and you know it.”

Lucifer takes a step toward Atlas and I swear he almost flinches. “It is tonight.”

Atlas looks like he wants to argue but instead he only nods. “Whatever you say.” His eyes flick to me. “Shame, though.”

He walks away with a shrug and a girl runs over to him, slinging her arm around his shoulder. He turns to look at her and whatever she sees, she moves away. Real quick. She glances at Lucifer and I can’t be sure in the dark, but I swear she glares at me.

I look to Lucifer. “Do you wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?”