Im far too real, he said. Touch me.
I tried not to jerk away at the thought. Id touched him already, and the feel of his smooth, supple skin beneath my hands was disturbing. Never mind. I believe you.
So arent you going to ask me about the other part of what Beloch said?
I dont remember. A complete lie. I remembered exactly what hed said, and his words had sent a shiver through my body, though not, I had to admit, a shiver of revulsion.
He said its not everyone who gets to fuck an angel.
That same heated shiver sliced through me. I chose my words carefully. I presumed he was being facetious.
And yet you didnt think he was being facetious about the angel part.
I leaned back, summoning every ounce of control to appear relaxed and faintly curious, when my entire body was tingling. This wasnt an intellectual discussion. This was going somewhere, and I wasnt sure that I wanted to go along. Then again, I might not have a choice. Why dont you explain it to me? Everything. Such as why youre planning on handing me over to people who arent going to leave anything when theyre done with me.
He didnt even blink. I wish I werent forced to give you to the Truth Breakers. Id much rather find out what I need to know without bringing them into it.
What do you need to know?
Its really quite simple. I need to know what you know about Lucifer.
I already told you
He shook his head, and his silky black hair danced against his pale face. Im not talking about the tired mythology youve parroted to me. The Lilith knows where Lucifer has been interred. You were imprisoned nearby, as a punishment for questioning the word of God.
I guess there was a lot of that going around. Is that why you fell?
He didnt even blink. No. I was the second to fall, along with twenty of my friends. We had been sent to earth to teach humans about metals and farming, and we made the dire mistake of falling in love with human females. The God of that time was an angry, vengeful entity, and we ended with eternal damnation.
I stared at him, dumbfounded. That was the last thing I expected, I said finally. I would have guessed you didnt even know the meaning of love.
He looked at me, and for a moment I couldnt
move, caught in the deep, fiery longing in his rich blue gaze. Yearning, sorrow, and the pure dark heat of sex flamed in his long, slow look, and I felt shaken inside, my assumptions shot to hell. His expression seared me, and for a moment I could feel my body quicken in response.
And then sanity returned as his lids lowered and his expression grew cool and distant. I quickly tried to change the subject. What do you mean, the God of that time? Are you going to try to convince me theres more than one?
There are as many gods as people can envision, but in the end theyre all the same, the Supreme Being who finally granted humankind free will and then stepped back to let them flounder on their own.
Thats not so bad, is it?
No, not compared to the harsh taskmaster who created the world. But he left the archangel Uriel in charge to enforce his word, and the results have been less than optimal. There is no chance of forgiveness or redemption, merely eternal damnation.
So youre damned?
As are you. Raziel leads the Fallen now, and he bade me bring you here to the Dark City to find out what you know. I have no power in this place. Sooner or later I will be forced to hand you over to the Truth Breakers, and theres nothing I can do about it. Theyre ruthless and unstoppable.
I stared at him in surprise. Why would you want to do anything about it? I thought you wanted me dead.
He looked uncomfortable. I have my reasons. But in truth, as long as you lived far away and your life didnt come in contact with mine, I was willing to wait a few hundred years.
Im not going to live a few hundred years. Im human.
He made a sound of disgust. Theres no hope for you as long as you keep up this game. Youre not human, and havent been for millennia, not since you defied God and were cursed. By the end of the week, the Truth Breakers will take you and you will be destroyed, and I cant change it.
So why are we even having this discussion?
He leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes, and I watched the still, elegant planes of his face, the high cheekbones, the narrow nose, the angry, tempting mouth. There may be a way out. He spoke so softly I almost didnt hear him.
Which is?
If you tell me what you know, I might be able to find a way to sneak you out of here. You could go back to Australia, or anywhere you want to go, as long as you keep out of my life.
Being part of your life has never been a priority of mine, I said, my voice icy. Youre the one who was stalking me , remember? I sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair. And I dont know anything. You keep insisting Im an ancient sex demon, and you wont believe me when I tell you youre wrong. I have no idea where they buried Satan
Lucifer, he corrected sharply.
I have no idea where they buried him. I cant help you.
Then I cannot help you .