Chapter 1: To Fall and Break
Lana- 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 way from a dream is anything to go by, I definitely need to start interacting more with my group.
It also doesn’t help that I’ve personally been to hell and have met angels, demons and the freaking devil. That’s another reason why I came on this trip. Knowing what I know about the supernatural world became too much for me, and I needed to get away from all of the weirdness.
I try not to think too much about the clarity of the dream or the weird visions I keep having, which has been somewhat a failure. Seeing that I’m not going to get any more sleep, I rise from my bed and turn on my portable coffee maker. The scent of fresh coffee instantly permeates the tiny cabin. Other than dealing with weird dreams, the experience has been really great. It’s nice to breathe fresh air and experience the beauty of nature. As soon as we arrived here, we were all assigned an environmentally sound tiny house. The little log house is about one hundred square feet with a twin bed, single dresser and kitchenette that contains a propane stove range, a small bucket to put dishes in and a battery-operated coffee maker. Unfortunately, there are no private bathrooms or electric lights. We have to shower in a makeshift stall outside of the cabin and use the port-o-potty on the edge of the property. There’s a single picture window above the kitchenette with a frilly curtain that provides little cover from the outside. Strolling forward, I push back the curtain and look out into the starry night. Seeing that there’s still time before everyone awakens, I slip back into the bed and look at my cell phone. My mind instantly rewound to my sister’s surprise visit last week.
I had just come back from a long tour down the Colorado river when my sister and Fallon appeared before me.
Needless to say, when she told me all that she had been through over the past month, I was blown away. But she and Fallon seemed happy with the outcome, so I couldn’t complain.
I still can’t believe that Lillith kidnapped her and subsequently activated the Eru’s prophecy.
Confused? I’m sure you are.
Nearly a year ago, my sister, our bestie, Zoe, and I, were kidnapped by two crazy witches. Zoe met the love of her life, found out she was a Siren and discovered that my sister was part of a world-ending prophecy. Long story short, Bree met this hot guy named Fallon, who also happens to be Lucifer’s son. That’s right, he’s the son of the king of hell. Anywho, the prophecy states that my sister would give birth to a child who would end hell, and in the process, destroy the world. Once the witches were defeated, we needed to get out of hell, but I could only do it if I gave Lucifer a part of my soul. Oh, and let’s not forget that Lucifer is scorchingly hot, and I had to kiss him to seal the deal. To add insult to injury, he was my first kiss, and I haven’t been able to forget it because it was freaking amazing. Of course, it didn’t mean much to him since he has probably kissed millions of women. I might have omitted a few important things in my retelling, but I’m sure you get the gist of it.
Once Bree and Fallon left, I pretty much spent the rest of my night in a state of shock.
Though she’s fine now, I have made every effort to text or call her every day.
Pushing thoughts of my sister’s previous drama to the back of my mind, I look up at my bedroom ceiling and smile. It’s nice to know that my sister is happily in love after everything she has been through. Before I came on my trip, I tried to get Bree to talk about Fallon, but she was pretty closed-lipped about it. However, based on how they had looked at each other, I knew something was bound to explode between them, and it looks like it did. My sister deserves to be happy, even if it is with Lucifer’s son.
Oddly enough, I had an odd conversation with Lucifer before I left. Even after so many weeks, I’m still reeling from our conversation. The ass actually tried to forbid me from taking my trip like he had any say in my life. Anyway, I pretty much told him where he could stick his orders. The look on his gorgeous face when I told him to fuck off was more than worth its weight in gold. I mean, I know he’s the devil, but can he be any more full of himself? Seriously, who died and made him the boss of me?
Lying back on my bed, I close my eyes and try to fall back asleep. Unfortunately, as soon as I do, I see is a pair of onyx eyes, high cheekbones, plump lips and dark, ebony hair. Lucifer might be thousands of years old, but you would confuse him for a young man if you saw him. In fact, he and Fallon look the same age. If anyone would see them together, they’d confuse them as brothers.
I exhale deeply as I berate myself for such useless thoughts. I don’t know why I keep thinking about him.
Slumping back, I turn my thoughts to finding a boyfriend of my own now that my sister is happily settled. Some of my team members have invited me to a bar they visit in a nearby town, but I’ve always found an excuse not to go. Perhaps it’s time I stop isolating myself and focus on getting my own life. Once I make my resolution, sleep arrives swiftly.
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
Lana I drag my feet this morning as I make my way to the communal dining space. Tony, Jill and Kyle are already sitting down at one of the tables. Jill and Kyle are talking and eating while Tony quietly gazes down at the open book in his hand. Sitting beside Jill, I become startled when she hands me a bag of cookies. Taking the bag, I give her a grateful smile. “What’s this?” She smiles back. “Just thought you could use a pick me up.” Kyle looks at the bag and scowls. “Hey, I want some.” Jill rolls her eyes and slaps hi