What was wrong with me?
I swallowed. Why had I been born the Cursed One?
Don't touch, speak, or listen to me, and never, ever love me.
I never knew another name, until I became a Fallen Angel and dared to believe that a creature like me was worthy to claim one.
Midnight.
As dark as my hair, eyes, wings against the paleness of my skin, and the blackness, in which I was hidden away.
"Cursed One," a boy angel once hissed at me. "I see the wickedness bleeding from you."
I'd drawn back, certain not to touch him. I'd infect him. Then he'd be cursed and unloved as well. I'd wrapped my wings around myself, flushing. My heartbeat had been too rapid, and my breathing had become ragged.
Was the curse in my feathers? The tumble of my hair or the strangeness of my mind?
Scalds tilted up my chin; I hadn't even realized that I'd ducked my head. "Never drop your gaze, see, that's for cowards."
I studied the furious gleam in Scalds’ black eyes. His hair was molded like gleaming oil, but he was quivering. I didn't know whether with rage or fear for me. He wore the chocolate blazer of all the FF, which was open over his bronzed muscled chest, and bondage trousers with a thick belt. I glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the regiment who were the devoted enforcers for Lucifer. Today, I should've been standing at their side, rather than hanging in chains.
I gazed longingly at Scalds’ feathered tattoo that marked him out as an initiated FF. The tattoo was inked on his neck, as if his loyalty to his king was the only way that he could breathe.
Lucifer was my breath, even if today, he stole mine.
I tilted up my chin. "I don’t lack courage, Commander.”
Scalds considered me. “You only lack everything else.”
I flushed. Why had I failed the test? I’d fought hard, taken the trial, and studied almost without sleep for the exams. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself demanding that on the heart of pain tell me how I could’ve still failed.
Yet defiance when you were bound for punishment only made things doubly worse.
I could be a good solider in the war against the angels. I'd stand at the wings of my friends; I'd die for them...for my king.
I was more than the Curse corrupting me inside. I was a Fallen warrior. If I could only prove it.
My chest was tight. My pleading gaze met Scalds' hard one. Did I imagine the way that the creases of his eyes softened, just for a moment?
Give me one more chance...
Yet Lucifer was more likely to tear out his own fangs than to give second chances.
When brightness flared above my head, haloing across my eyelids, I blinked. Lucifer's Lights buzzed like fireflies along the roof towards me: Lucifer’s spies.
I gasped, recoiling against the column and shivering as its coldness shocked my naked skin.
Was Lucifer watching?
I twisted in the chains, wrenching at my wrists. Pink prickled across my cheeks and down my neck to my chest. By the shadows, I felt more naked than when dad had stripped me, before leading me in here, like I'd been reduced to a child again who wasn't even able to remove his own clothes.
Or didn't deserve to.
When the lights buzzed around my shoulders, I gritted my teeth, waiting to be seared. Yet the static of their spark thrilled through me like it was stroking me.
Scalds' eyes widened, and he shifted, unsettled. "This unworthy recruit failed the trial." He swung to the FF, clicking his heels together. "How shall I punish him?"
This was it. Let it be over quickly.
All of a sudden, the room shook. I choked, as dust tumbled from the roof. The bone wall glowed violently, before peeling back like ribs in an autopsy.
Had Lucifer truly seen and come here to...what?
I shivered, and the Lights buzzed even louder.
Lucifer stepped through into the Crypt.
My king, king, king...
Was Lucifer here to punish me himself or save me?
Save me, my king. I’d give my life to serve as your knight.
I bit the inside of my cheek viciously. No one saved the Cursed One.
I lifted my chin. I wouldn't look down. I wasn't a coward. Yet why did I have to be chained naked to a column for our first official meeting?
Although, I had noticed that Lucifer enjoyed his angelic lovers to be bound...
The FF straightened, prowling to stand in uneasy ranks.
"Oh goodie, do I get to pick?" Lucifer leaped onto a crypt.
I couldn't help the way that my tongue swept my lower lip at the way Lucifer’s tiny black shorts hugged his behind and how his leather shirt hung open to reveal FIRE branded from one pink nipple to the other. It was a fine sight. I shuddered at the memory of a vivid dream, in which I'd licked across each of those letters, tonguing them as Lucifer had writhed beneath me. At the same moment, Lucifer's Lights flickered across my nipples, and I arched, panting.
Did I only imagine the smirk that Lucifer hurriedly hid?
When Scalds stepped in front of me, I didn't know whether it was to protect or hide me. "My son failed the—"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but as much as I love a spectacle," a howling power that could transform angels to ash flared in Lucifer's eyes, as he leaped off the crypt and stalked towards Scalds, who quivered but didn't back away, "this is my Court. I get to pass judgment, punish, and all that jazz. Hmm, perhaps someone made you king without me knowing? Aren't you the naughty one?"
Lucifer waved his hand, and his leather outfit transformed into sleek black armor like he was going to war. I ached to be the soldier that he wanted at his side.
He was glorious.
His wings surged with demon fire. Over his spiky ash blond hair, a flaming horned helmet flared, as the regiment drew closer like they were enthralled.
Lucifer's Lights surged to meet him, flying to join the fire in his helmet, until his horns touched the ceiling.
Scalds' wings quivered, and he dropped to his knees, ducking his head. I gaped at him.
Was dad a coward now? Had he always been the true coward?
"F-forgive me, my king, I won't f-forget again. I'll obey. You have my loyalty." Scalds' hands clenched on his knee.
Lucifer winked at me, twirling around Scalds like it was the Commander who was the invisible shadow that I knew myself to be. Did Lucifer not know who I was?
By my fangs, don't let him find out...
I didn't expect the gentleness with which Lucifer gripped my chin, stroking my cheek.
He was finally touching me...
He smelled of bonfires, and his wings were warm. My eyes fluttered closed, and my breath quickened.
Touch me again...
"You beautiful, broken thing," Lucifer murmured. "Aren't you lucky that I have a weakness for collecting broken things?"
My eyes snapped open. The world exploded with the sudden brightness of hope.
Want me...
Lucifer clicked his fingers, and the chains melted. He caught me in his arms. The thud of his heart steadied mine.
"He's brought me nothing but shame," Scalds’ voice was hard. "He's cursed."
Hope withered and died. I struggled to back away, but Lucifer's hand clamped around my neck, refusing to let me go. I dreaded his words of rejection and hate. My anguished gaze met his.