Lucifer (Book 3, The Redemption Series) (9 page)

“
If that’s the way you want to justify your feelings for us, I guess there’s really nothing else I can say that will change your mind, but I’m more human than you might want to believe. I have human frailties and insecurities. I might be more powerful than most because of who my ancestors were, but my humanity is what gives me the strength to carry on. It’s what makes me special.”

I stand up.

“I’m marrying Malcolm today,” I tell him. “I would like for you to come to the wedding.”

Lucifer’s head jerks up as he looks at me
in surprise. “Why would you want me there? You know I don’t approve of you marrying that mongrel.”

“
Because you’re my father,” I tell him, calling him by his true position in my life. “And you should be there on the most important day of my life to wish me luck despite your misguided opinion.”

“
And what if I just come to try and talk some sense into you?”

“
There’s nothing you could say that would change my mind about marrying Malcolm. It’s what we are meant to do. It’s the one thing in the mess that my life has become that makes sense.”

Lucifer stands up.
“And what if I can prove to you that this wedding shouldn’t happen?”

“
There’s nothing you can say or do that will stop it.”

“
Nothing
I
can say…” Lucifer says, mulling my words over in his mind. “Fine. Then I’ll just have to figure out a way to make you see reason.”

Lucifer
phases and I see his phase trail leads directly to the palace in Cirrus.

His choice of destination worries me. Why would he go there? What proof does he hope to find that will make me call off the wedding?

Chapter 7

I phase back to Heaven, hoping no one noticed that I left.

Of course, someone did...

Jess is
leaned up against the porch railing with her head bowed slightly as if she's deep in thought. When I appear, she looks up at me and slowly begins to shake her head in disappointment.

“
Why would you go there, Anna?” She asks, clearly thinking I won’t give her a good enough explanation for my trip to Hell.

“
How do you know where I went?” I ask.

“
There’s only one phase trail that looks completely black. Now answer my question.”

“
I needed to see Lucifer,” I tell her, suddenly feeling guilty for my little trip given Jess’ obvious disapproval. “He was remembering the day he married my mother, and it was causing them both a lot of pain. I wanted to try and talk some sense into him.”

“
Lucifer is as stubborn as Heaven is infinite,” Jess tells me with a heavy sigh. “I think one of the only reasons Amalie was able to make him admit his feelings for her was because she was even more stubborn than he was.”

“
Jess, Malcolm told me that you tried to help Lucifer ask for forgiveness once. Why do you think he didn't? What stopped him?”

“
Lucifer doesn't like to admit his faults; no one does really, but him least of all. He thinks that if he admits he's been wrong all this time, everything he's done, everything he’s given up will have been for nothing. His legacy would mark him as a failure, and for Lucifer, I think he would rather die than do that.”

“
You were the only true human he ever felt connected to. Do you think it was just because you were Michael's vessel?”

“
I've always believed that it was
me
he cared for,” Jess says. “Having Michael's spirit inside me might have drawn him to me in the beginning, but it was
Jess
he always came to talk to. I think I was the only human he ever tried to get to know. After we got close, I think he began to doubt what he's always believed about humans. Realizing that you were wrong is hard for anybody. But, for Lucifer, I think it made him begin to doubt himself in a way that he never had before.”

“
He just tried to justify what he feels for me and my mother by saying we weren't completely human.”

“
He'll do and say anything to make sure he doesn't have to admit he was wrong. My best advice to you is...don't push him. He has to go to God of his own free will or it means nothing.”

“
That's pretty much what he told me,” I say. “But how can I make him want to do that willingly?”

“
You can't,” Jess says sympathetically. “I know how much you want to help your parents, Anna, but, all you can do is be there for Lucifer if he decides to go to his father. He's the only one who can change his fate.”

“
Not if Helena has anything to say about it,” I grumble.

“
Helena?” Jess asks. “Oh my god... has Hell given itself a name?”

“
And a body,” I tell her. “A beautiful one but still really creepy.”

“
Hell, Helena, whatever the bitch wants to call herself, I don't care. You stay away from it. You need to stop thinking these little trips to Hell are like going down to the store or something. It's not. That place wants to consume you, Anna. It's hungry for power, and you are becoming extremely powerful. We all feel it.”

“
You feel it?” I ask, puzzled by this revelation. “What do you feel?”

“
There's an energy surrounding you that none of us have experienced before,” Jess tells me, looking me up and down. “And your aura is becoming...darker. We used to be able to see you on Earth because your light was so bright. We still can to an extent but ... it's like you're pulling away from us somehow. It's kind of hard for me to explain.”

“
I think I sort of understand,” I say. “I think it's one reason why Will had such a hard time reviving me the last time I died.”

“
It could be,” Jess agrees. “Normally, the soul of the descendant comes to Heaven for a short period of time when they die on Earth.”

“
Really?” I ask. “I guess that makes sense. I just never thought about it before. So, the last time I died my soul didn't make it up here?”

Jess shakes her head.
“No, it didn't.”

“
Where did I go?”

“
I don't know, sweetie,” Jess says, sounding completely baffled. “Will wasn't even sure. He said it was like you were being hidden from him. That's why it took so long for him to finally pull you back.”

“
That's kind of scary, actually,” I say, my heart racing after learning this new information.

“
Well, why don’t you just try to stay alive down there, ok?”

I nod.
“Yes, ma'am, I will do my best.”

Jess smiles and
walks up to me to place one of her arms across my shoulders.

“
Now, let's go back inside and get to the gift giving portion of this shindig.”

“
Gifts?” I ask in surprise. “Does Heaven have stores?”

“
Hmm, not exactly,” Jess says mysteriously. “But we put some things together that we thought might help you out back on earth.”

Jess and I walk back into the house and find the others
sitting in the living room. Lilly is the first to see me.

“
Everything ok?” She asks, looking between Jess and me from her chair by the fireplace.

“
She made it back from her impromptu trip to Hell in one piece, if that’s what you’re asking,” Jess says. “I would say that’s a small miracle. Oh, and apparently Hell has given itself a drop dead gorgeous body and a name, Helena.”

“
Not exactly original,” Caylin retorts. “But easy enough to remember I suppose.”

“
Well, I for one would much rather talk about happier things right now,” Utha Mae says. “I want to give my baby the gift Tara and I made for her.”

Utha Mae waves me over to the empty spot between her and Tara on the couch.

After I sit down, Utha Mae hands me a medium size glittery green box tied with a silky white ribbon. I pull on the ribbon and the box and ribbon disappear in a wisp of white smoke leaving only the gift inside it sitting on my lap. It's a beautifully bound brown leather book with 'Family Recipes' stitched with gold thread on the front in a fancy script.

“
We thought you might like some of the recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next,” Utha Mae tells me with pride.

“
This is perfect!” I say, becoming excited that I might be able to surprise Malcolm by cooking something he wouldn't expect me to know how to cook. “Thank you so much.”

“
It's not just any cookbook either,” Tara says, reaching over to flip the cover open to reveal the first recipe.

Each page
has two recipes written in long hand on note cards bordered with gold cording.

“
Touch one,” Tara says excitedly.

I touch one of the notecards and instantly hear Utha Mae begin to speak about the ingredients I will need to prepare an apple pie. I touch the card again
, and it instantly stops the oration.

“
It's well enough to have a written recipe,” Utha Mae says, “but sometimes you just can't tell everything by reading one. Good cooking is an art form, Anna. After all the time you spent with me in the kitchen, I kinda thought you might be able to cook, even if
some
people thought I was just wasting my time making this for you.”

“
I didn't say it was a waste…exactly,” Tara says. “I just figured it would end up collectin' dust is all. Didn't I help you make it in spite of that fact?”

“
Reluctantly, yes,” Utha Mae replies.

“
Well, I had no doubt in my mind you would be able to use my gift,” Caylin says, handing me a small rectangular white glittery box tied with red silky ribbon.

I sit the box on top of the book and pull the ribbon. The white box
and ribbon disappear leaving only a silver handled paintbrush with off-white bristles.

“
If you're ever in need of something,” Caylin tells me, “just close your eyes, visualize what you want in your mind, and paint it in the air. When you’re done painting it, it will materialize.”

“
Anything I want? Can it make people appear?” I ask, thinking this might be a way to get my papa back.

“
No,” Caylin says regretfully. “It can't transport people, only inanimate objects. Also, the object can only stay solid for about 2 hours. It's not permanent.”

I feel a little let down by this fact but try not to show it.

“Here, kid,” Jess says tossing me a small purple glittery box tied with black ribbon.

The box lands on top of the recipe book. I pull the
ribbon and find myself in possession of a black leather bracelet that has a silver angel wing charm on it.

“
Tell Malcolm I had Caylin swipe that out of his vault for me,” Jess says. “I think it might come in handy one day.”

“
What does it do?” I ask, assuming it has some sort of magical properties.

“
When you wear it,” Jess begins to explain, “you can ask it to let you know how someone is feeling. But, be prepared to feel what they are because their emotions will come at you totally unfiltered. So be careful. Don't ask if you don't want to know.”

I slip the bracelet on
to my right wrist as Lilly walks over and hands me a box with a baby blue bottom and pink top tied with a ribbon which has a swirl pattern of the two colors mixed together.

“
I know you will need this,” Lilly says confidently.

I untie the ribbon and find myself in possession of a silver
dumbbell shaped baby rattle. I pick it up and hear the crystal clear chime it makes.

“
Guaranteed to make any baby stop crying almost instantly,” Lilly tells me with a smile.

“
Girl, that thing right there is priceless!” Tara exclaims. “Don't you dare lose it if you want to keep your sanity with twins around the house.”

“
I wish I'd had one when I had my twins,” Lilly says in all seriousness. “It would have saved Brand and me some sleepless nights.”

“
Thank you all so much for my gifts,” I say. “I love them all.”

“
Well,” Lilly says standing from her chair, “although I would love to keep you here longer, I don't think Malcolm would appreciate me making you late to your own wedding.”

“
Is it time already?” I ask, thinking I'd only been in Heaven for a couple of hours at most.

“
Time in Heaven moves differently than on Earth,” Lilly tells me. “You should still have plenty of time to prepare yourself for the ceremony.”

We all stand up and the
ladies take turns giving me a hug goodbye.

“
You take care of yourself down there, baby girl,” Utha Mae says, looking nervous about what the future holds for me.

“
Don't worry,” I tell her, even though it's something I can't seem to make myself do either. “I won't let you down.”

“
Oh, child,” Utha Mae says, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “That possibility never even crossed my mind. Just take care of yourself. That's all I ask.”

After the goodbyes are
said, Lilly phases me back to my bedroom in Malcolm's house.

“
Oh!” Millie says, jumping slightly as she walks out of my bathroom just as Lilly and I phase in. “Gracious, you two almost made my old heart stop on the spot.”

“
Sorry, Millie,” I tell her, guiltily finding her reaction a little amusing. I place my gifts down on the nightstand by my bed.

“
No worries, my sweet. I’m just glad to see you back. The ceremony is only a couple of hours away. We should probably get started on getting you ready for it.”

My eyes are drawn to something laying on my bed.
It’s an exact duplicate of the wedding dress Levi destroyed when I went to Cirrus to retrieve it.

“
Oh, Millie,” I say, reaching out a hand to touch the silky fabric. “I can’t believe you made me another one so quickly!”

“
Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Millie says proudly.

“
It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Lilly says looking at the dress. “Malcolm won’t know what hit him when he sees you in it.”

“
Can you stay for the wedding?” I ask her.

“
No,” she says with a shake of her head and a wistful smile. “Caylin and I thought that we should stay in Heaven for this event. This is your special time with Malcolm. We wouldn’t want our presence to take anything away from that experience. Just know that we love you both and wish you a happy and long life together.”