Broken Wings (Hidden Wings Series Book Two) (29 page)

“Shit!
” I gasped and pulled my hand back.

I felt wea
k and backed up to Samuel. I felt his hand on my shoulder, steadying me. I turned to him to see if he had any answers for me. His brow was furrowed and his eyes showed deep concern.

What the hell! This cannot me happening to me!

Ethon looked at his hand. He was confused. I was confused. How the hell could this happen? How could this even be possible?

There had to be some kind of explanation. There was no way I could be destined for two completely different people!

But maybe that was it. Maybe that was the answer to the question. I was part Angel and part Fallen. Maybe the good part of me was drawn to Kade, and the Fallen part of me was drawn to Ethon. Danyel told me that one day I would have to choose a side, but I’d bet he didn’t expect this to happen. I don’t think anyone did.

Maybe I was wrong. But something was wrong. This was ALL completely wrong.
I’d have to sit down and have a long discussion with Alaine and Samuel about this when we got back. 

“Ethon,” Samu
el said, snapping Ethon from his confusion.

With just that one word spoken, I coul
d sense stress in Samuel’s voice. Samuel knew exactly what had happened between us, and I could tell that he didn’t like it. What father wouldn’t be concerned, especially knowing that his daughter had just been zapped by the son of Satan?

Ethon’s head s
napped up, his brow was still furrowed.

“Come. I will take you to see my father,”
he said, stepping around me.

I could hear
my heart beat loudly in my ears, and could feel his eyes on me, but I dared not look. As soon as he walked past us, I felt my body begin to relax a bit.

Hooooly crap!!!

The five
Fallen remained quiet in their seats. Ethon opened the golden doors and motioned for us to enter. Samuel took hold of my hand again and I was glad. I needed him to steady me, and I was glad he was here with me. We’d already gone through so much together and my love and admiration for him had grown to overflowing. He was my hero. My protector. My father. He was here to make sure I was safe, and now steady.

Chapter 17

As we passed through the doorway, there was another long, dark tunnel that led downward. We followed Ethon in silence, and I noticed him flex and release his hand a few times. I wondered what he was thinking, and if he’d ever experienced those feelings before. Whether he did or not, he didn’t utter a word about it. 

W
e soon made our way into another large room, which was like nothing that I had expected. It was a huge underground cavern, the kind you’d probably find large bats in. Jagged rocks lined the roof and walls, but the floor was covered in a beautiful black marble, like that of the first room we entered. The air was a little less thick in here. A lot cooler.

“
Father!” Ethon called. His voice echoed throughout the cavern.

Horrifying growls
and barks returned, and instantly reminded me of the Hell Hounds. I backed up, and reached for my dagger, expecting to see fiery eyes appear. But instead, a huge, black, two-headed dog bounded towards us. As soon as it saw Ethon it stopped growling, and two huge tongues hung out of each mouth. It jumped up and down, as if it were happy to see him. Both heads kept glancing at us, and then back to Ethon, confused as to who we were.

Before the creature reached us
, Ethon stepped in front of us and held his arms up. The dog jumped into his arms, and knocked him to the ground. Ethon laughed and wrestled the beast it as it licked his face. Both slobbery tongues completely soaked his face.

Gross. 

“Dum Dum! Get off, you big, stupid dog,” he said, pushing the two heads away. The dog backed off and then suddenly, both sets of eyes were glaring at me and Samuel. Two sets of sharp teeth were bared, and deep growls rumbled through the cavern.

Ethon
walked up to the creature and smacked its heads. “Get outta here,” he scolded. It yelped and ran away.

“Sorry. I don’t kn
ow why my father keeps that worthless creature around.”

“Well, it, or they,
seemed to love you,” I giggled.

“
Yes, because I’m the only one that gives it attention,” he laughed back, attempting to wipe the slobber from his face.

“Ethon?” a low voice called.

We turned as an older gentleman, who had strong resemblances of Ethon, made his way toward us. He was about six feet tall, and very handsome. His hair was salt-and-peppered, clean cut and nicely combed back, with a matching mustache and goatee. He was slim and dressed in an all-black suit, but his eyes…. his eyes were a deep crimson red, much darker than Ethon’s.  

“Father, you have visitors,” Ethon
said, bowing his head.

So this was Lucifer? The Devil?
The one multitude’s feared?

He didn’t look so bad. B
ut then again, I’d also seen what the Lucian looked like before he morphed into his horrifying, evil mode. 

Ethon walk
ed up to Lucifer, and Lucifer placed his hands on his shoulders and gave him a nod, but also a stern look of…who are they? Behind the look, I could see that Lucifer cared for Ethon. That was a plus on our side, and something we could definitely use to our advantage.

“And who
m, may I ask, has my son escorted into my forbidden chambers?” There was a bit of sarcasm mixed with anger, especially when he annunciated the word forbidden.

“Father this is-”
Ethon started to speak, but Lucifer held up his hand to stop him.

“Can they not speak for themselves?”
he questioned.

“
Yes, we can,” Samuel said with a bow of his head. “My name is Samuel, and this is my daughter Emma.”

I didn’t know whether to bow,
or wave, or just stand there and smile. I mean, he was the leader of the Fallen Angels, but Samuel never told me how I should address him. His eyes steeled on mine, so I stood there, frozen.

I heard a quiet laughter and turned to see Ethon turn away from me with a smirk on his face.

Why was he laughing? Was he laughing at me? 

Lucifer glanced at Ethon and cleared his throat.

Ethon’s expression suddenly changed from playful to serious, and I fought to keep a grin off my face, which he noticed.

As soon as Lucifer turned from him, he glanced at me and
rolled his eyes. 

Lucifer
turned his gaze to Samuel and slowly paced towards him. I suddenly felt fearful for him. With each step my pulse began to race faster and faster.

“Samuel?
” Lucifer asked.

“Yes.”

“Why do you look so familiar to me? Are you not one of my warriors?”

“I am,” Samuel answered.

“And your daughter. She is not a Pureblood?”

“No. She is a
Nephilim. One of the last in the mortal world, which is why we’ve come to you,” Samuel replied.

“Nephilim?
” Lucifer paused, and then circled him slowly, and as he came around his crimson eyes set on me. “Well then, I guess the next question should be, why haven’t you been executed?”

Luci
fer’s eyes were locked on me, and it was really beginning to creep me out. I could see a look of concern flash through Samuel’s eyes which made me feel even worse.

“
Lucian did order my execution, and those orders were carried out on Montem Mortis, but somehow, I survived,” Samuel answered. “But, that is not why we are here. We’ve come because Lucian has given a command, to execute all Nephilim that exist. We have word that he has succeeded to kill all but three. Emma, Ethon, and one other. The other is in a safe house in the mortal world, but the Midway has made it very clear that they will not get involved. Right now, Lucian has gathered his army, and is seeing to it that every last one is wiped from existence. Once Emma and the other are dead, they will come for Ethon.”

A
deep, echoing laugh rang throughout the cavern and sent a prickling chill down my spine. I guess Lucifer thought that was funny.

“
The Midway? Those good for nothing bastards. They never want to dip their hands in the affairs of the wicked. As for Lucian… that deceitful betrayer is no threat to me, and he will never, ever, touch one hair on Ethon’s head,” Lucifer answered. His voice was dark and evil. “If he sets one foot in my domain, I will rip off his wings, sink my hand into his chest and yank out his black heart. Then I will laugh as he takes his last breath, and watches his heart being crushed in my hands.”

“F
ather, I cannot stay in Hell forever, and when I do travel into the mortal world, Lucian will be there, waiting. How much do you think he would give to have the head of Satan’s son on a platter just to prove that he is greater than you? I will never be safe until he is dead, and you are the only one strong enough, and smart enough, to kill him.”

Was
Ethon siding with us?
I watched as Lucifer’s demeanor changed. 

He
paused, and for a brief moment I saw a look of compassion wash over his face as he glanced into Ethon’s red eyes. They looked oddly alike, like they could actually be father and son.

There was a long, deep pause and then
Lucifer stepped away from Ethon. 

“This is w
hat I’ll do. I will gather an army together that will take care of Lucian and the rest of his betrayers, BUT -” he paused again and started to slowly walk back towards us. His eyes again set on me. He came inches from my face, but I remembered what Danyel said. I stood and tried to show no fear, even though my insides were trembling.

“But
, what?” Samuel asked.

“But
… I want this beautiful child in exchange. She will make a perfect mate for my Ethon. Two of a kind, and who knows what kind of power could come from their progenies? The power of two Nephilim. Now that would be something to behold,” he said slowly, his eyes still locked onto mine. He raised his hand and his hot fingers traced the lines of my face. “She is very beautiful, Samuel.”

“
Thank you, Lucifer, but I cannot agree to that exchange,” Samuel replied.

“My price is high, Sam
uel. I will not send my warriors out there for a matter that is really of no concern to me.”

“Father!
I’m of no concern to you?” Ethon loudly rebutted.

Lucifer closed his eyes.

“Of course you are, son,” he answered, and then pointed to me. “But
this
child means nothing.”

“Then do it for me. Send your army to defeat Lucian once and for all. This has been long in coming, father. He blatantly betrayed you, and led many of your warriors a
stray. It is time that Lucian is put back in his rightful place. A place of submission to you.”

Lucifer crossed his arms over his chest and smiled widely at Ethon. He shook his head and laughed. “
You have such a wonderful way with words my son, and remind me so much of myself. I would love nothing more than to see Lucian fall, but I have no time for him, nor his treacherous affairs. I will make sure that you are safe Ethon. You will never have to worry about that.”

“And, what about Emma?”
Ethon questioned.

“What about, Emma? You’
ve only just met her, Ethon. You are a Prince of the Underworld, and she is but a mere Halfbreed.”

I looked
at Ethon to see what his answer would be, and he looked back at me with a look that I couldn’t read.

“If you will not send your army to defeat Lucian, then I
will leave with Samuel and Emma, and will try and protect them myself,” Ethon said, turning to face Lucifer.

“Why, Ethon?
What makes you want to protect these who you know nothing about?”

I wanted to know the same thing. Why was he doing this for us? And then,
Ethon walked over to me and took hold of my hand.

Electricity surged through my arm and throu
gh my body, filling me with that wonderful feeling of euphoria, confusion, and warmth. I felt a strong pull towards him, and tried to shake his hand free, but he held tight. I gasped and he suddenly let go.

I didn’t realize
that I had shut my eyes, until I opened them and both Lucifer and Samuel were staring back at us with wide looks of bewilderment and concern.

“Because of that father. I don’t understand what it is about her, but when I touch her, I feel
something that I’ve never felt or experienced before. It’s like a current that flows from her to me. It draws me to her like moth to a flame. I feel as if we are connected, somehow.”

Ethon did exper
ience the exact same feelings I did, and he was just as confused.