LUXURE

The space between.

A fleeting moment that can last a thousand years. A rush so intense it can rip you apart and piece you back together in seconds.

In the Uitare plane, time means nothing to me. I can manipulate it to suit my desires, and anyone who knows me, knows I always suit my fucking desires. I don’t give a shit about anyone else.

You don’t know me, but I know you. I know everything about you. There’s nothing new, special, or unique about a single one of you. You’re all the same in the end—pathetic, weak, and unable to see what’s staring you right in the face.

Me.

I’m the voice in your head, the wet dream that wakes you in the middle of the night. I’m the reason for that slick sheen of sweat that covers your body and the dampness that pools between your trembling thighs. I’m your every dark and dirty desire. I am the most primal part of you—your basic instinct. The human race needs me, and it scares you half to death.

I can make people do anything, say anything, and discard the people they hold dearest for just one hit of the intoxicating pleasure I will freely give. You want me, you crave me, but there’s a part of you that doesn’t want to give in.

Why is that?

Because if you give in to me, if you open yourself up to everything I have to offer… who knows what you’ll be capable of? The depths you’ll sink to?

The world believes that the seven deadly sins are a concept, traits that need to be suppressed to be a ‘good’ person. It’s a lie. A huge cover up the ‘Almighty’ created so that humans would believe they have a chance of resisting us. If you knew the truth, it would be far too easy to manipulate any and every moment of your mundane existence, because you’d lose all hope and faith in yourselves. And we all know the guy upstairs relies on faith above all else. Take that away, and the churches will be empty on a Sunday morning. The prayers will stop. People will allow themselves to indulge their vulgar side—the side they keep hidden tightly behind a mask of propriety.

And what is the truth, you ask?

The seven deadly sins aren’t just an idea. They are supernatural beings, demons, and brothers. They live in the shadows, in the light, in your dreams, in your reality, and sometimes you make it so easy that they can stay in their realm and watch you destroy yourselves without any help from them. They wreak havoc on Earth using humans to amuse themselves. They are the marionettes of the Underworld.

No one is safe from my reach. The most powerful men in the world crumble at my feet. The purest of women melt into my arms. Trust me when I tell you that I can make you feel so fucking good, that you would gladly burn in the fires of hell for all eternity for one night in my bed. I can be anything you want me to be. I will fulfill your every fantasy no matter how depraved it is. I don’t judge, and I never say no.

I fucking love who and what I am. I take great pleasure in ruining the lives of humans… at least I used to.

Who am I?

I am Luxure, but everyone calls me Lux.

However, you know me as… LUST.

I am the deadliest of sins.

* * *

One thousand years ago

“The Vollstrecker are coming. I can feel them. We need to get out of here, Luxure.”

I pull her into the shadows freezing time and space around us. The quiver in her voice is causing a physical pain in my chest. “What’s wrong, Abiteth? Talk to me, my love. Why are you so afraid?”

She wraps her small, cold hands around my cheeks pulling me down to meet her lips and enrapturing me in a mind-altering kiss. I get so lost in the feel of her—her taste and smell. I completely lose myself, and with it, my grip on time. Everything starts moving, and I can hear the Vollstrecker closing in.

“I love you, Luxure.” I can see the fear in her eyes as her body begins to shake in my arms.

“Abi, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

“It’s Lucifer. He’s angry with me. He thinks I betrayed him.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing. I swear.”

I search her eyes, looking for any indication that she’s lying to me, but all I see is love, honesty, and fear. I grab her hand and run. She’s not a warrior—her body wasn’t built for it—she is all soft curves and delicate features. If we stay and fight, there is no way I’ll be able to save her from the enforcers who are hot on our heels.

The Vollstrecker are Lucifer’s army. They ensure his rules are followed to the letter, and if not, they enforce justice. There is no gray in their world. The guidelines are black and white, and if you deviate in any way, then they will see to it that you never disobey him again. They ensure you don’t survive long enough to try.

“Do you trust me, Abi?”

“With my life.”

“Then close your eyes, hold on tight, and I’ll take you to Uitare.”

She stops dead in her tracks. “I can’t survive there. You know that.”

“I don’t have time to argue with you or explain right now. Take my hand. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.” Her hesitation was all they needed. I can see at least fifteen of them closing in on us, and I act on instinct grabbing her around the waist, my fingers digging into her hips to make sure I don’t lose contact with her. I close my eyes, calming myself, ready to use every ounce of power I have to get her out of here. I only need ten seconds, and we’ll be gone. They won’t be able to reach or track us. My body begins to vibrate, the force of will needed to jump planes with another person is taking its toll.

I block out everything around us focusing only on Abi.

Four… three… almost there… two…

“LUXURE!”

She’s ripped from my arms as I begin to transition.

“No! Abiteth!” Her screams ring in my ears as I watch them drag her away, my name on her lips as she struggles in their hold. And then she’s gone. I’m gone.

I find myself in Uitare—alone. There is no sound in this plane. The silence is deafening. I scream and curse, but nothing comes out. I need to get back to her. I need to save my mate.

I quickly transition back to the Underworld freezing everything around me. The vultures are suspended in mid-air, and the flames surrounding me cease their incessant flickering. I’m frantic as I search for Abiteth and any trace of the Vollstrecker. They have vanished into the depths of Hell, and I have no option but to go directly to the source. I need to find Lucifer.

I manipulate the space around me jumping from place to place until I find him.

“LUCIFER!”

He would know my voice anywhere. He’s my best friend, and I am his second-in- command.

He turns with fluid ease, a sly grin pulling at the corners of his lips. “Luxure, my friend. To what do I owe this honor?”

“Where is Abiteth? Your overgrown apes tore her from my arms just moments ago, and I can find no trace of her in the realms. What is going on?”

Shaking his head, he slowly makes his way over to me troubled by this turn of events. He snakes his arm around my shoulder, and a cold dread spreads throughout my body.

“I’m so sorry, old friend. I know she was important to you. But…”

I shrug his arm off my shoulder turning to face him head on. “WAS? Where is she?”

“She betrayed me, brother. She betrayed us all. You know the penalty for that. I wish it could be different, but I can’t make exceptions. It would set a bad example.”

I don’t believe him. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t kill my mate not without consulting me. I’m his right hand, his friend, his brother.

His twisted, evil grin returns. “I told them to be quick. She didn’t feel much pain.” I lunge at him, rage consuming my every conscious thought, but he’s too fast. “Don’t do something you’ll regret, Luxure. I don’t want to have to send them after you next.”

“How could you do this to me? She was everything to me.” I catch him off guard, my fist connecting with his cheekbone shattering it with one punch. He’s up and on me in seconds pinning me to the ground.

“Do not cross me, Luxure. Remember your place. She was everything to you?” He leans down, his lips brushing my ear as he speaks. “I’m everything to you and don’t forget it. She had to go. She made you weak. I need you focused and strong and doing as I say.”

I flip him off my body, leaping into the air, and crashing back down on his chest. “My loyalty to you died with Abiteth.”

“Then you can join her, you stupid lovesick puppy.” He turns his gaze to the assembling army. “Get him! And don’t make it quick. I want him to suffer.”

The Vollstrecker descend on me in droves, Lucifer disappearing from beneath me. I take off at a sprint fighting everyone who gets in my way. It’s do or die, and if I don’t get away now, I’m done for. I’m not going to let that happen. I won’t give him the satisfaction. I use every advantage I have to put some distance between the army hot on my trail and me. I’m faster, my body less cumbersome, lither, but just as strong. I push myself to the limit glancing briefly over my shoulder to gauge how long it will take for them to catch up with me. If I’m wrong by even a second, they’ll use it to end my existence.

I come to an abrupt halt turning to face them—my arms outstretched in a show of surrender. It throws them off slowing them down just enough for me to concentrate. All I can see when I close my eyes is Abi—her face when she was pulled from my embrace. The pain is overwhelming, but I have to shut it out. I have to stop the onslaught of grief that threatens to take over if I’m going to get out of this alive.

They’re getting closer, more enforcers joining the chase with every passing moment. I ignore them, letting the familiar vibrations take over, breaking apart the pieces that form my physical body. I can sense how close they are, their bloodlust evident in the stench that emanates from every one of them. I keep my eyes closed and my breathing controlled hoping beyond hope that this works. Their screams and hollers become louder, and the moment I feel the cool metal of a blade slice into my abdomen, it’s gone. They’re gone.

I made it.

Uitare is deserted but for a handful of Masuulka—the guardians of this plane. I drop to the ground exhausted and wounded. I’ve never plane jumped so much in such a short space of time before, and my body is protesting as every muscle in my body throbs in agony. I can’t self-heal quickly here, but I can’t go back to the Underworld, and if I go to Earth, they’ll find me. My only option is to stay here and wait. Wait to heal and wait for them to stop looking.

I crawl across the rough terrain causing further wounds, but I don’t have the strength to hold my body upright. I eventually find a small cave to shelter me for the night. As I lay my head down to rest, it hits me like a lightning bolt—she’s gone—my Abiteth, the love of my life, the reason for my existence. He killed her. In the absolute silence, I fall apart, sobs wracking my body as I mourn the loss of my mate, my silent roars of grief lost in the void of the space between. When I become too weak to sustain the violent spasms of grief that rack my body, I slowly shut down allowing the healing process to begin. As I lose consciousness, there is only one thought going through my mind.

I will avenge my mate. I will bide my time, and I will kill Lucifer if it’s the last thing I do. He won’t even see it coming…