CHAPTER FIVE
Isabelle felt warm, her body infused with heat. Frowning at the sensation of heat pulsing through her, she stirred, her brain coming back online to sound of male voices.
“You shouldn’t have bought her here, Greed. She does not belong.”
“She belongs to me, understand?” The low, growled response sent shivers over her skin, but not of fear. That voice heated places deep inside her body, like fingertips stroking over her skin.
“Greed, I healed her out of respect for you. She can’t remain here. She is mortal. Her place is with her people.” A voice that sounded like rain drops on leaves seemed determined to send her away.
No, not just yet. So warm here, and his voice…the green eyed man. More voices invaded her floating dream, an argument beginning. Frowning, she opened her eyes, seeing what most women would describe as a room filled with male perfection on a stick. Five men stood around the room, all in very similar dress: jeans and t-shirts. One thing stood out about them all, however—the intensity of their eyes.
“Get her out of here, Greed!” The angry voice belonged to the one with the blue eyes.
Isabelle frowned again. Why was everyone so mad?
“If you don’t remove her, I will!” The tension in the air jumped a few hundred notches as the blue-eyed one took a step forward, his eyes trained on her like she was the devil.
A form moved before her. She knew in a second it was Mr. Grouchy, his voice stroking over her body as he spoke.
“You lay a hand on her, and I will tear you apart, Wrath.” There was such ice to his voice, it ripped a giggle from her.
All five voices stopped and five sets of eyes turned to her as she began to laugh hysterically. This was insane. She was in a room, feeling like she had just woken from an amazing sleep, to be confronted by five Adonis males, some of whom clearly wanted her gone, and one who clearly had no clue on personal boundaries.
“Out…” The deadly threat in Mr. Grouchy’s voice brought another giggle to her lips.
“She clearly has some kind brain damage, she needs to be in a hospital…” Mr. Silver Eyes from the party never managed to finish his sentence, as a pillow smacked him square in the face. A deadly silence filled the room.
“Don’t talk about people like they’re not in the room, Silver Eyes. It’s very rude.” Isabelle huffed and scowled in his general direction. At least she hoped she was scowling at him. Her head was still feeling a little fuzzy.
A snorted laugh came from across the room. “Forgive me little human. It is rare we have a female in the house, let alone a mortal.”
“Meh, you’re forgiven. Now please, can I go back to that warm place? Too many angry buff males in one room for my liking.” Then, before she knew it, her eyes closed again.
Lucifer watched from the doorway as Ze walked into the room a half smile on his lips. Greed looked more like a caged beast than ever before. Damn Hades for doing this to Mammon, no matter what he’d done, he never deserved to end up like this.
“Down boy. I’m just returning her pillow.” Ze murmured almost soothingly, as if he approached a cornered beast. Lucifer figured he basically was. Ze leaned down, lifting the little human's head and placed the pillow projectile under her head. Greed’s eyes never left him, not for a second. Lucifer had no doubt if Ze made a move to harm the female, his brother would attack, and he was pretty sure Ze would lose.
Okay, it was time he knew the whole story, “All of you out, let the human rest. Greed, that includes you. We need to talk.” Lucifer watched Tanus and Abbadon retreat from the room followed by Ze.
Greed however stood watching the human with utter confusion. He even reached out to brush a stray hair on her cheek, but stopped himself. His hand made a fist, before he growled and stalked from the room. Lucifer stared at the human female, she was a complication but he admitted she had brought out more emotion in his brother in the last six hours than any of them had been able to in the last six months.
He turned and joined the others, praying for calm, “Now explain to me again, Mammon. This time, Tanus, keep your mouth shut. I need Greed to talk, and when you rile him up, I can’t calm him down for half an hour.” Lucifer pinned his wrathful brother with a glare, and the demon snorted, flipping him off.
“Whatever, Lu. Like I give a crap. I’m out.” Tanus scowled at his leader and stormed across the room, snatching his jacket from the back of the couch. Heat waves of rage rose from his body as he pushed past Belor, nearly knocking him on his ass. He yanked the door open, and the wall shook as he slammed it shut behind him, bits of plaster cracking around the frame.
Lucifer took in a calming breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Tanus’s temper tantrums were going to be the death of him. His anger was getting worse. With each day that passed, he became less and less like the demon who had once been a protector. Now he raged at everything and everyone. Only those stupid games of his staved off the rage.
Belor looked from the door to his siblings. “I best go after him. You know what will happen if we leave him roaming the streets alone.”
Lucifer nodded in agreement. “Make sure he doesn’t kill anyone. I have enough to deal with right now.” Having to mind-wipe half the police force again after a Tanus bar fight wasn’t his idea of a fun Friday night.
“Kill anyone? Fuck that! Make sure he doesn’t inadvertently start World War III.” Abbadon sat his ass back on the edge of the couch, crossing his arms.
Belor rolled his fire-bright eyes, pinning Abbadon with a droll stare. “How about you go after him and I sit on my ass watching TV?”
“Enough!” Lucifer’s voice cut through the bickering pair with a flash of red flame over his skin. Hades help him, sometimes his brothers acted like children. “Belor follow Tanus. Keep me updated. Abbadon shut your mouth, or I’m going to cancel the HBO.”
Abject horror spread over Abbadon’s face. “You wouldn’t!”
“Try me.” Lucifer’s deadpan tone had Abbadon sulking and the rest of the Sins grinning from ear to ear. All but Greed.
Lucifer focused his attention on the main issue before him. “Mammon, explain to me again, please.” He was at least going to attempt to be somewhat understanding.
“I can’t. I wish I could. She’s mine. I don’t give up my things, not ever. She belongs to me. I know it, feel it. When those cursed souls attacked her, I harvested them. I intended to leave her to be found, but I couldn’t. No one takes that which belongs to me.”
Lucifer watched him as he sank onto the couch and rubbed his face. This had to be the most animated he’d seen Mammon in months. Had this woman awoken something in his little brother? Something that he’d begun to believe had long been extinguished? Still, having her here…her presence had already caused an issue with Tanus. He couldn’t allow one woman to break apart this brotherhood, he wouldn’t.
“This is dangerous, she’s mortal. Her being here is a bad idea.” For one insane moment Lucifer felt drained. He hoped no one noticed the wariness to his tone. He was Pride. Showing weakness in any form wasn’t an option.
“I don’t think she is one hundred percent human, Lu.” Ze spoke up, his voice bringing all eyes to him, even those of Greed.
“Explain, Ze.” So the plot thickens. This didn’t comfort him in the least.
“She ran into us, while we were under glamor. Humans avoid us. You know that. It’s something in their sixth sense keeps them from touching us and seeing us. She just ran into us. The glamour didn’t affect her at all. I get the distinct feeling she has a touch of the Sense.” Abbadon raised his eyebrows quickly.
“Sense, seriously? It has been a century since the last human showed any true Seer gifts. Why is it this female shows up now and happens to have the ability to see and hear demons while glamoured?” He crossed his arms over his chest, his gun metal eyes moving between his brothers. “Just seems mighty convenient, don’t ya think?”
“Okay, you lot are speaking my language. Yet I don’t understand a damn word you’re saying. Someone want to fill me in? Some of us were locked away for the last five centuries,” Greed growled to the others. They at least had the good sense to look a little sheepish at his words.
Lucifer cleared his throat and spoke. “Sorry Mammon. The Sense we have come to call it. Humans call it psychic abilities, watered down powers of the Seers. But true Seers have been extinct for years. Sometimes one human shows talent in one of the Seer gifts—empathy or future sight—but it’s rare. When the last Seer died three hundred years ago, Father began the hunt for more. Fewer and fewer were born until no more appeared in the mortal world. Their blood has become weak over the years. The true gifts that once made them powerful are parlor tricks and myths. To have one just drop on our doorstep, seems odd.”
Seers had been precious before his brother’s incarceration. It had been Greed’s mistake with that Seer five centuries years ago that had him put in the Pit. Lucifer knew they were coveted by gods and man alike. He didn’t want to think about what someone would do to get their hands on one now.
Greed was more than overwhelmed by information overload. He remembered Seers. The woman he had been punished for helping had been a Seer. What he was finding hard to believe was how much power had been lost to the stream of time. Five centuries was a long time to be away from the world. It was clear he’d not only missed the evolution of the mortal race into this mass of corrupt souls, but also the death of magical blood. The fact this human female, Isabelle, seemed to possess such power worried him. Was this the reason he was so drawn to her? The power in her blood? Was that all this was about? Desiring the Seer power and nothing more?
“So what does this mean for Isabelle?” Greed’s eyes turned to Lucifer. Every fiber of his being roared at him to claim her, keep her close, keep her safe. Yet he knew if it was in the best interest of the Sins, his brothers wouldn’t hesitate to separate them.
“It means she is not safe. Souls as pure as hers will always attract darkness, it’s inevitable. Those with corruption will be unable to resist the seduction. If she is indeed a Seer, she will have a gift only she possesses, unfortunately those wreathed in darkness will seek her out.” Lucifer turned his gaze to the door. “If we let her go now, it won’t be long before she’s taken again, this time by a stray god or worse—a lower level demon.”
Greed looked down at his hands, slowly making fists. He was shaking at the idea of someone taking her from him, someone using the abilities she possessed against her. The idea someone might hurt her for her power filled him with a rage he didn’t understand.
“No one will take her from me. I will destroy anyone who tries.” His voice promised the darkest of retributions. Greed raised his eyes looking between each of the Sins, this was new territory. None of them had ever seen him like this before, not even in the moment right after his release when his madness had almost consumed him. It was about time they realized their little brother was gone.
“It appears the choice is made, Lucifer. She stays.” Ze looked from their leader to Greed.
“Greed, you’re not to touch the female…” The growl from Greed shook the walls. “I didn’t say you couldn’t be in the room with her, just keep your hands off. If she is a Seer, she is out of your league. I need to contact someone about this.” Lucifer turned and walked from the room, muttering to himself.
“I am going to break his smug face one of these days.” Greed headed towards the bedroom.
Ze reached out and grabbed his shoulder. “She’s human above all things. Right now she is no doubt confused and scared. Seeing your ugly mug is hardly going to put her at ease.”
Greed pulled his arm from Ze’s grip. “I would never harm her.” He continued towards the room. He needed to be with her when she woke. Isabelle needed to know she was safe with him, that no harm would ever come to her. Then he would force himself to let her go.
Yeah right, like he could ever do that.