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  Wyatt jumped up from his stool and punched Lucifer in the face, nearly knocking him from his seat. Lucifer licked the blood from his lip and grinned.

  “That was a warning,” Wyatt growled, standing over Lucifer, barely able to hold himself back. “Allydia was a mistake. Mock me all you want for it. I was stupid. But, when it comes to my wife, you shut the fuck up. If I even think you’re about to mention her again, I will end you.”

  Lucifer looked at Gabriel in amazement. “He’s really not afraid of me at all. I’m astonished.”

  “He’s not afraid of anything,” she declared.

  “I’m going for a walk,” Wyatt announced, grabbing his jacket from the hook and slamming the door behind him.

  “You had that coming,” she told Lucifer, who raised his eyebrows in agreement, rubbing his jaw.

  “Let me introduce you to a little thing we like to call ‘the internet’.” she said, handing him her cell phone.

  Wyatt walked briskly along the busy street, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, the autumn air feeling colder as winter approached. As he wandered, from the corner of his eye, he thought he saw someone he recognized. He turned to look, but she was gone. Strange. He thought. He stopped at a magazine stand to check the recent headlines. Anything to get his mind off of his altercation with Lucifer. Not the act of punching him; that actually felt really good. But, what he had said, calling Annie a ‘whore’, did not sit well with Wyatt. No matter what she had done, he still loved her, even if he’d never be able to forgive her. Gabriel had also called his wife names the night before, but it hadn’t bothered him, probably because, deep down, those were things he’d been thinking himself. ‘Selfish’ and ‘panicky’ just about summed up her actions. If he was being honest with himself, ‘whore’ didn’t seem like that big of a stretch, either, especially since, as far as he knew, she hadn’t even filed divorce papers yet.

  As his eyes meandered around at the various magazine covers, he suddenly felt an odd sensation. He got chills, the hair on the back of his neck standing up, and it wasn’t from the temperature. He turned to look around and saw, several feet away, a man hugging a trash can. He couldn’t be sure, but it looked like he was eating the contents. What made it especially odd was that the man was wearing a nice suit and recently shined shoes. Definitely not homeless. As the man stood, Wyatt noticed that chunks of his hair were missing. Large bald spots covered the man’s head. He turned around, as if able to feel Wyatt’s stare. He looked ashen and sickly, eyes sunken with dark circles underneath. He opened his mouth to reveal holes where teeth used to be. I’m seeing something weird, he thought to Gabriel. Just then, the man vomited profusely on the sidewalk. The contents of his stomach were mixed with blood and people walking by scurried away as fast as they could in an effort to avoid whatever disease it was they assumed he had.

  “Barachiel!” the man hissed in a voice that was not his own. Wyatt was shocked to hear the name. This was it. This had to be a demon. The man bolted down the street, bumping into pedestrians as he went, Wyatt chasing after him. He retreated down an ally as Wyatt followed. Now, he was trapped.

  “How are you here?!” the demon screeched. “You’re supposed to be in Heaven! I was told we’d have free reign! I was promised!”

  “Somebody lied,” Gabriel said, strolling up behind her brother. The demon made an animal-like shriek as she and Lucifer approached.

  “No!” the demon cried. “It can not be!”

  Lucifer rushed toward him, gripped him tightly and threw him up against the fence.

  “Where is my sister?” he demanded. “Tell me and I’ll do what I can to make this painless.”

  “I will never tell you, Watch Keeper!” he squawked as Lucifer’s hand wrapped around his neck. “She’s going to save us from your torment! She’s giving us our world back!”

  “This world was never yours, you pestilent rubbish,” Lucifer insisted. “Are you very sure you don’t want to make things easier on yourself?”

  The demon cackled. “Lilith will rid you from this place. She will have the humans worshiping at our feet, as it always should have been. And, when Father wakes, after we’ve exterminated the Earth of all those who oppose us, He’ll have no choice but to let us keep this planet. Lilith will have Him bowing to her.”

  “Oh, my,” Lucifer guffawed . “You are madder than a March hare, aren’t you? You have met our Father, yes? What in all of history makes you think that what you’re spewing could ever possibly occur? The Almighty would rather crush this world into nothing and start over than to ever bow before anyone. He would see us all burn before He would give up a monochrome of power. You forget of whom you speak. God is all.”

  “She is--”

  “She is a scourge on this Earth and a pain in my ass,” Lucifer proclaimed. “I will find her and when I do, I will not be gentle. As for you, since you’ve refused to be of any help to me, I’m going to do this slowly.” He slammed his hand to the man’s chest, a light glowing gradually around it. The demon shook, blood spurting from his mouth, his eyes rolling back in his head. He gasped for breath as what looked like a shadow seemed to peel off of him, slowly falling to the ground, shrinking and finally disappearing. The man collapsed unconscious to the ground below him, color now returning to his face.

  “Jesus,” Wyatt said under his breath.

  “Where?” Lucifer questioned.

  Gabriel laughed. “All right boys, can we please get along better from now on?”

  “Seems unlikely,” Lucifer told her. “I’m a bit of an ass.”

  “At least you’re self aware,” Wyatt poked.

  “See?” Gabriel said. “We’re all friends, right? A little bickering between siblings is to be expected. Come on, let’s get out of the cold. Oh, yeah, just one sec.” She knelt down and placed a hand on the man’s chest. His skin glowed, white light pouring out of his nose and mouth. His eyes opened wide and he shot up to a sitting position, scurrying away from them to sit up against the fence.

  “You okay, buddy?” Gabriel asked.

  “What the hell happened?” the man wondered, looking around wildly. “How’d I get here?”

  “I don’t know,” she lied. “We were walking by and saw you laying here. We were about to call an ambulance. You all right?”

  The man stood up, visibly shaken. “I think so,” he said, patting himself down and feeling his wallet, phone and keys still in his pockets. He looked at them suspiciously as he checked his wallet, finding the cash and credit cards all still there. He put it back in his jacket and nodded to them as he walked past. “Thank you,” he told them as he staggered away.

  “Is he gonna be okay?” Wyatt asked.

  “He’ll be fine.” Lucifer assured him. “Our dear sister reversed any damage the possession may have caused. As for the demon, he won’t be back.”

  The three walked back to the apartment in silence, all feeling a sense of accomplishment. No, this wasn’t the monster they were after, but it was a start.

  Chapter 10

  Lilith stopped to admire her reflection in a store window as she made her way back to the theater she currently called home. It was temporary, of course, but she just loved being on a stage, her adoring fans looking on. Soon, she thought. I’ll live in the finest palace this world has ever seen.

  While the demons that followed her made attempts to provide her with the food she required, it wasn’t enough to keep her satisfied. She had other desires.

  As she brushed her long blond hair away from her roseate cheek, she noticed a man watching her. She smiled at him and he awkwardly smiled back. She approached him, fluttering her big blue eyes at him as she held his gaze.

  “Hi,” she said sweetly.

  “Hi,” he said nervously. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t stare.”

  “It’s not a problem,” she told him. “I like to be watched.”

  The man grew more tense as he sat on a park bench. “I’m just waiting for my bus,” he explained.

 
“I’ll wait with you,” she cooed. “You know, you’re a gorgeous man. Just lovely.”

  He smiled apprehensively. “How old are you?”

  “Not much younger than you, I suspect.”

  “I doubt that. I’m twenty-two. If you’re not at least eighteen--”

  “Let’s say I’m eighteen.”

  “Are you?”

  She tilted her head and smiled broadly as she delicately touched his cheek. “I can be anything you want me to be,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. She leaned in and kissed him, softly at first, and then with passion. This is what she had been missing. She quickly reached for his belt, taking him by surprise. He pushed her away.

  “What are you doing?!” he asked. “This is a public street!”

  “You don’t want me?” she barked.

  “Not in front of the whole city!”

  “You’re ashamed of me?!”

  “What?!” he said, not sure of what the hell was happening. “There are people. We could get arres--”

  Just then, a twenty-something year old woman on her cell phone walked by and glared at them.

  “Is it her?!” Lilith yelled. “Would you rather be with her?!”

  “Oh, my God!” he shouted, standing up. “Am I being pranked? Is there a hidden camera somewhere?”

  Lilith cracked her neck as she stood. “Why did you have to bring Him into this?” She grasped the young man’s arm and pulled him to a nearby ally. He tried to get away, but couldn’t. She was unnaturally strong.

  “Stay here,” she commanded, using her mind to lift him a few feet above the ground and paralyze him.

  “Holy shit!” the man said shakily. “What the fuck?!”

  She walked back to the sidewalk in search of the woman. After a few minutes, she found her. She grabbed her by the hair and dragged her on the ground to the ally.

  “Is this what you like?” she asked the man, still suspended, forcing the woman up on her knees. She yanked the woman’s head back and tore open her shirt, revealing her large breasts.

  “Jesus Christ! Stop!” the man begged as the woman cried. Lilith watched angrily as his face grew more and more afraid. She slid her hand down the front of the woman’s pants.

  “Please,” the woman sobbed.

  “Don’t worry,” Lilith said as she fondled her. “It’s almost over.” She licked the side of the woman’s neck and face while maintaining eye contact with the man.

  “Leave her alone!” he shouted from above.

  “Do you love her?” Lilith wondered.

  “What?!” he howled. “I’ve never met her! You’re psycho!”

  “You know,” Lilith told him. “In my day, youth was prized above all when it came to choosing a woman. These,” she said, grasping one of the woman’s breasts with her free hand, then gently caressing the nipple. “Were merely icing on the cake.”

  As her nether regions were being violated, the woman, though she fought the feeling, couldn’t help but begin to orgasm. Tears streamed down her face as she came and she cried out in pleasure and torment.

  “Why are you doing this?” she whimpered.

  “Because, dearest,” Lilith replied. “Everyone deserves one last orgasm. My father’s most wonderful creation, wouldn’t you agree?” And with that, she whipped her hand out of the woman’s pants and plunged it into her chest, tearing her heart from her body in one shocking, violent motion.

  “What the fuck are you?!” the man screamed.

  She opened his pants and pulled them down along with his underwear. She lightly licked him until he was fully aroused.

  “Stop!” he demanded.

  She laughed as she slammed him to the cold ground. She swiftly removed her panties and lifted her dress, sitting down on top of him and placing him inside of her. As she rode him, she forced his mouth open and shoved the woman’s still warm heart into it. He let out a muffled scream as he looked at the dead woman’s body lying in a heap next to him.

  “Chew,” Lilith told him. He began to cry.

  “Chew!“ she yelled, using her telekinesis to make his jaw move up and down.

  “Yes,” she gasped, a feeling of relief washing over her as she climaxed. “Yes! It’s so good to be home!”

  Chapter 11

  “So audition,” Valerie said, losing her patience.

  “But, what about Corey?” the girl sitting across the desk asked.

  “What about him?” Valerie asked, visibly annoyed. “Savannah, you are fifteen years old. Corey is not ‘the one’, I hate to break the news, and if by some one in a million chance he is, do you really think a couple months apart would be enough to break you up? More importantly, if he’s the kind of boy that would hold you back from accomplishing your goals or chasing your dreams, is he worthy of you?”

  “I guess not,” Savannah admitted.

  “Listen, the school can make accommodations if you get through, so you don’t need to worry about that. If I were you, with all that talent, I’d be at that open call. In my professional opinion, girl, you should be singing.”

  “What do you know about music, Miss Moore?”

  “I know I’ve been listening to it since before you were born. Now, get out of my office, you know what you want to do.”

  They both smiled as the girl stood and walked toward the door.

  “Thanks, Miss Moore,” she said. “I’m gonna go for it.”

  “Good,” Valerie approved. “And have fun. Not everything’s life and death.”

  “Miss Moore,” another student said, entering the room, passing Savannah as she left.

  “Hey, Javier,” Valerie greeted the boy. “Have a seat. What can I help you with?”

  The boy sat, face beaming, grinning from ear to ear. “I just wanted to tell you, I got in.”

  Valerie smiled broadly. “Oh my God, Javier! Congratulations!”

  “It’s my dream school,” he told her. “I’m so excited. And I qualified for all the financial aid I need. I’m going to college and it’s all thanks to you, Miss Moore. Thank you.”

  “Boy, all I did was help you with the paperwork. This is all you. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thank you. I gotta get to class. Thanks again.”

  “Of course. You have a good day.”

  “You, too.” He closed the door behind him and Valerie sighed happily. Javier had struggled to balance school and his job, which he had to keep in order to help feed his younger siblings. The university he chose was close enough that he could live at home and still work part time. Valerie was thrilled for him. He really deserved this opportunity and she was just grateful to have been of help.

  Suddenly, she was startled by loud, incessant knocking on her door.

  “Come in,” she called.

  The door flew open, a woman wearing a bright red sweatshirt with a white turtleneck underneath, faded jeans and a necklace with wooden stars painted blue dangling from it burst in. She was clearly unhappy.

  “Are you Miss Moore, the guidance counselor?” the enraged woman squawked.

  Here we go. Valerie thought, doing her best to fake a polite smile.

  “Yes,” she replied. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m Travis Dean’s mom,” the woman snipped. “You can help me by telling my son that you made a huge mistake when you told him to quit football.”

  “Have a seat, Ms. Dean.” Valerie offered.

  “I will not,” the woman said stubbornly. “Call him to your office and fix this now.”

  “I’m not going to do that, Ms. Dean,” Valerie told her as calmly as she could. “Travis has been cast in the lead role in the school’s production of ‘Hamlet’, on top of which, he’s now the captain of the debate team and the Mathletes. He simply does not have time to waste going to practices and sitting on a bench at games. He’s just too busy.”

  “He’s a senior this year!” Ms. Dean proclaimed. “He’ll finally get a chance to play!”

  “No, he won’t,” Valerie informed her. “I�
�ve spoken to the coach. Travis is terrible. He’ll never see the field.”

  “How dare you?!” Ms. Dean exclaimed. “I’ll have your job!”

  Valerie stood as the woman turned to leave. “A little advice, Ms. Dean,” she said. “Appreciate your son for who his is, not for who you wish he was.”

  The woman grunted, storming out in a huff and slamming the door behind her.

  After a long day and what felt like an even longer walk home, Valerie finally made it back to her Hell’s Kitchen studio. She took off her jacket, letting it fall with a thud to the floor. She kept her keys, wallet, phone and pocket knife in the massive pockets so she didn’t have to carry a purse, making her less of a target for muggers. The neighborhood was pretty safe, but she could never be too careful. The apartment was small, but it was close to school and rent was reasonable. Gabriel had offered to buy her a bigger place, but she had refused. The worst thing in the world for her was feeling like she owed somebody something. She worked hard for everything she had in life and she wouldn’t let anyone, not even her sister, take that sense of pride from her.

  She put the bag of fast food that would be her dinner on the coffee table, took a fry, and turned on the small television. She watched the evening news intently as she swallowed the french fry and took a sip of soda. Just then, she was startled, her eyes growing wide as she dropped her cup in her lap. She was being gripped by a vision, and it was a doozy.

  It was dark, cold, and everything in sight was gray and bleak, seemingly covered in soot and ash. She could hear groans and wailing all around her and the feeling of despair was overwhelming. She could hear voices, but wasn’t sure where they were coming from. As she searched, noticing the strong stench of sulfur and the stone-like feel of the walls, she came upon two entities. She recognized one of them as Lucifer. She could tell the other was an angel, but she couldn’t quite place him.

  “The Gates close soon, brother,” the angel said. “I’ll no longer be able to come for these visits.”