It brought the scarlet fluid to Its lips and drank.
Saer wavered and crumpled completely to the ground.
A satisfied sound left his maker.“We’ll finish healing the rest of your wounds, my First.Once I have my army, we’ll prepare all of you for war.You’ll not fail me again.”
Saer hissed through gritted teeth.If Lucifer spoke the words to shame him, it only provoked the sin he’d been molded from instead.
With each wound healed, more of Saer’s blood spilt, and Lucifer didn’t waste any opportunity to pool the crimson fluid in Its cupped hands and drink.With each gulp, a glimmer of Lucifer’s luminescence resurged.
It was the last observation Saer had before consciousness fled.
The lights and darkness of Hell painted the backs of his eyelids differently from the surface.Flickering, rather than rising and falling.Flames, rather than…sun.
He’d not seen the sun past the overcast sky, but knew it lingered somewhere beyond.
What more hadn’t he seen?
Something gentle caressed his cheek, pulling him to full consciousness.Saer squinted his eyes open to find Neyu lying across from him, running graceful fingers along the lines of his face.
The tightness within his body loosened, a long breath leaving as he absorbed her touch.
Bliss.
Fire surrounded them on all sides, feeding him, closing the last of his wounds.He couldn’t see what chamber they rested in—couldn’t see anything beyond her, highlighted by the resplendent, flickering blazes of Hell…
…Lucifer hadn’t allowed them to be alone, together, for any length of time.The sudden and intrusive thought sped his heart.
Hellsfire, she was beautiful.So beautiful, it pained him to move away from her touch.Neyu stopped him with a hand on his jaw.“The quicker you’re up, the sooner we’re separated again.”
He stilled and met her gaze.
“Father sent Arek to the surface to gather more information after you returned.”Neyu’s displeasure sliced through her tone.
Father?
Saer’d never thought of the fallen angel as such.What changed?Was something ingrained in the others that hadn’t imprinted in him?Or did Lucifer ask for the title?
What’s more, Saer’s brow quirked as his tired mind fought to understand the rest of her revelation.Lucifer sent one of the Twins to the surface?Protective apprehension flushed through him.
“Is Arek—?”His voice scratched with disuse.
“He’s back.He’s fine.Without him, Alus was—” Neyu gave a short shake of her head, her gaze trailing down.“They were created together.I think it was a test, separating them.”She allowed the sentiment to trail off while a pensive frown took up the majority of her face.
A test or a punishment?Saer knew the methodology well.He also knew better than to question their maker.
The impulse to touch Neyu’s face and smooth the displeased lines there sputtered as she went on, “Arek didn’t let them see him, but he brought back more information for Father.He called them humans.”
Humans.Did Arek feel the same pull he had, that they might house the cure for their maker?He needed to talk to him—
Neyu’s tone warmed, her nails gliding along his mandible.“I didn’t know when I’d get you back.”Her infinite eyes would be the end of him—and he still didn’t know why.
If Lucifer separated the Twins as a test, It would certainly disapprove of Neyu’s proximity to him at that moment.Displeasure meant punishment.
“You shouldn’t be here.”Saer’s voice came rough with sleep.
Something defiant sparked in her gaze.“Father’s improved after ingesting some of your essence, but he hasn’t left the central chamber.He finishes another.A Fifth.”
Father.He.The words still struck as odd to him, though Saer couldn’t explain why, especially not when Neyu met his stare with both challenge and yearning.
