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Blame
My tires squealas I turn the corner a little too hard. After meeting with Madame Solheim and having my moment of reflection, I know what needs to be done. I rushed back to my loft and dusted off the old Ford pickup that’s been rusting away under a sheet in the barn.
Having spent my existence as an angel who flew everywhere, learning to drive hasn’t come naturally, and for the sake of the other drivers on the road, I typically choose to walk—or run—everywhere. Unfortunately for any unsuspecting human in my path tonight, neither walking nor running is an option now. I have to go too far, so the trusty black beast gets to put its wheels to the pavement.
I’ve been driving for an hour when finally, a mile up the road, I see the entrance to St. Joseph Cemetery. The fact that I’ve spent entirely too much time in cemeteries as of late isn’t lost on me.
The iron gates are open as if expecting my visit. Typically, they’re closed at sundown, and I expected to need to break in. At least one thing has gone my way tonight. I pull in and drive to the very back, out of view from the road. The truck rolls to a stop and I cut the engine, jumping out and shutting the door as quietly as possible. The cemetery is in the middle of the country, away from prying eyes, but I still don’t want to attract any unwanted attention, including that of the spirits who roam the cemetery.
There’s a chill in the air, and a light blanket of mist hovers over the expanse of the grounds. The mostly full moon overhead shines down, giving the area just enough light to cast shadows between the tombs. On a typical night, St. Joseph’s would be creepy, but tonight, there’s a foreboding energy twirling through this place, causing goose bumps to pebble over my arms.
These grounds have acted as the setting to a demon bloodbath once before. It’s the very place I was first called by Luke. Tonight, the tables are turning and I’m summoning him.
“Lucifer,” I call out, arms spread above my head as if I were worshipping on a Sunday morning at church. “I know you hear me,” I accuse, not really knowing if it’s true, but hoping like hell it’s that easy. “I need you,” I say, trying to not squirm at the blasphemy.
“I never thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth,” Luke says from behind me, and the intense relief that he of all people came almost makes me sick, but this one time I actually do need him.
“You and me both,” I quip, turning toward him.
Seeing him has the same effect it always does. It’s the equivalent of my breath rushing out of my body on an exhale. Falling from the sky, wings splayed out as I glide to earth, ready for battle. Equal parts exhilaration and liberation. Completely concerning and something I need to work to suppress.
The reminder of my thorough lack of self-control changes the mood from civil to hostile in one second flat, and Luke doesn’t miss the shift.
“Still blaming me for all your issues, love?”
My face burns in outrage. “Because itisyour fault.”
“Do I have to remind you of that little thing called free will?”
“I’m not a human.” I bite the words. “You and I both know that even here, I’m nothing more than a pawn. If I act out of place, God won’t hesitate to end me now. There’s no predestined fate to protect me.”
He puts his hands up, shrugging in his arrogantmaybe so, but it doesn’t change the factsway. “I never forced your feelings.”
I choke out a humorless laugh. “Say what you want, but you were controlling our every interaction when you conned me into falling for you.”
The cocky smile drops from his face. “I might have the ability to bend you to my will, love, but I never would. When you fell, that was your choice. I never forced your hand.”
I take a threatening step toward him, finger raised in anger. “You pretended to care. You fooled me into thinking you were my soul mate.”
My hand drops to my side and my head snaps away from his intense gaze. Admitting that’s how I felt—to him, of all people—is humiliating. If I felt like a fool then, I feel even worse now.
“Ineverpretended to care, Victoria. I meant everything I said. All of it.”
“Stop,” I whisper, turning my back to him. “Everything bad that’s happened is your fault.”
His heavy breath is at my back, and I stiffen at his proximity. “If pinning this all on me helps you, then I’ll gladly shoulder the burden.”
I inhale deeply, trying to control my shaking body. I came here for reasons more important than rehashing our past. It would do no good to stay on this carousel of pointing fingers. A war is upon us, and in a twisted turn of events, I need to work with the devil. Just this once.
There are worse things than Lucifer ruling Hell, and the recent changes prove that theory.
“Thank you,” he says, proving he’s once again in my head.
“Ugh! See? Get out of my damn head.”
I spin around, and he’s mere inches from me. Taking a step back, I put some much-needed distance between us.
“You’re distressed. I was trying to uncover the source.” He’s not playing around. His eyes are narrowed and his mouth is in a straight line, as though he’s trying to rein in his temper. “What’s wrong, Victoria?”
