The heat from Hell restored some of the strength he’d lost, and he attempted to get his shaking limbs under his body.
“I’ve got you,” Neyu whispered next to his ear as she curled an arm around his torso.Incessant, crimson fluid poured from the deep wounds, but her touch soothed him in a way he fought to ignore.The demoness aided him to a shuddering stand, raising traitorous bumps on his flesh while she dipped her head under his upper limb for better support.His blood painted her ebony skin, and Saer suppressed the urge to lean into her.
Across the cavern, Lucifer’s beautiful but tremulous hands swept under the strong cheekbones of Its nextDaemoenic, the final touch on one of an identical pair.Masculine, no less muscular than the First, but leaner.Lucifer had finished them in Saer’s absence.
How long had he been on the surface, in and out of consciousness?It felt like forever, but Saer would have anticipated more to show for that time frame.MoreDaemoenicawoken, more of Lucifer’s army complete.
Did time pass slower in Hell?Tired as he was, it flared more pain between his temples to think about.
Saer took in his new kin with a grimace.
The fallen angel didn’t char their skin to black as It had done for Saer and Neyu.Instead, the flesh of the Third and Fourth carried a rich, golden hue.Spiraling, brass horns framed theirheads.Claws, wing talons, and their hooves carried the same copper tint.
Saer and Neyu slowed their pace as Lucifer angled in and kissed the Third’s eyelids, then leaned over to repeat the ritual for the Fourth.With those touches, a new sound thundered along the walls of Hell.Bestial and resonating, joyful and frightening.
Laughter.
Saer couldn’t help the lightness it brought to his aching heart, a touch of contagious happiness in the oppressive heat and flickering shadows of the underworld.
Lucifer wrapped Its hands around the Third and Fourth’s spiral horns, Its forehead pressed to one of their temples—the more stone-faced of the two who hadn’t yet uttered a sound.“Areknaryutintarrek.My Areknar.Welcome.”
A pang of unease swept through Saer to hear an airiness carrying through his maker’s voice, percolating when a smile touched Its radiant lips.The sudden urge to protect his new kin flared through him, worried for their safety.How could they know Lucifer’s tempers from Its love?
Lucifer shifted to touch Its forehead to the mirror’s brow.This one couldn’t hide his deep, throaty chuckle, the owner of the laughter.“Alustaranyallkris.My Alustar.Welcome.”
Stern, wry Arek.Jovial, beguiling Alus.Greed and Gluttony—the Twins.
As Saer and Neyu drew closer, she murmured into the First’s ear, too quiet for Lucifer to overhear, “Did you find the cure?”
He bit back a snarl of frustration.How could he find what his maker needed when no one told him what to look for?The creatures who attacked him flashed through his mind, and again, a vague tickling in his mind tormented him.Were his instincts correct?Did they have it?
Instead, Pride clenched his jaw.“Not yet.”
In a repeat of Its ritual, Lucifer walked Greed and Gluttony through their vows of fealty.
The two darted glances Saer’s way, and there he observed another difference between them.Arek—Greed—exhibited distinctly violet irises.Alus—Gluttony—had eyes the color of reflective steel, which laughed in their own, silent way.
The instant Saer and the Twins acknowledged each other, he lifted his chin.Battered as he stood, he made a show of strength, earning a respectful nod from Arek.
Something about their kinship with one another, but also the way in which Alus’s gaze invited others to share in his exuberance, settled the disruption in Saer’s core.They were a worthy addition to Lucifer’s army.
Brothers.The word struck in his mind, the connection solidified.Different from Neyu.Kin, still.Family.All soldiers in Lucifer’s army, all created by It.Yet she called to a hungrier, animalistic piece of him.A piece that belonged to Neyu, and Neyu alone.
Who were the Twins to each other?Did they feel like brothers?Or something else, as Neyu was to him?
Why did it matter?
As though she could read his thoughts, Neyu dipped her head closer to Saer’s throat, her breath tickling the sensitive skin there.How could they be surrounded by smoke and lava, yet she smelled like lavender and roses—flowers he’d never seen, much less scented?The touch spurred his heart to race in equal parts fear and desire, but he kept his focus locked on the back of Lucifer’s head in case he needed to push her away.
“Your first task will be to resume where Saerkhanum left off,” Lucifer said to the Twins, his tone weary but still somehow bewitching.“Gather materials for the throne Neyuukhan builds for me.Build my dais.Carve tunnels with your claws if needed and create the rooms of our home.Go.”
Arek paused as though assuring their maker could stand under Its own power, then nodded.“Yes, Master.”He drew Alus away, whose eyes still laughed, even if his voice remained silent.
When the Twins moved past Saer, Alus offered him a mischievous wink while Arek muttered under his breath, “We stand behind you, Eldest.”
The reassurance was short-lived; he might not have a body to stand behind, before long.Still, Saer offered a quiet growl of gratitude as they moved past.
Lucifer braced Itself on the nearest rocky wall and waved Its other hand.“You’re dismissed, Neyuukhan.”
