March 29, A.L. (After Lucifer)
I wake up in a sea of dove grey sheets twisted around my waist, basking in the morning sunlight streaming through a nearby window. There are no bars on it anymore. It isn’t made from soundproof glass. This is no longer my jail cell. It is my home. And the male sleeping beside me is the love of my supernatural existence.
I’m tempted to poke him and wake him up, maybe even slink under the covers and make this a proper good morning with my mouth. But instead, I cherish the feel of his sweltering heat against my cheek and listen to his abnormal hummingbird heart. I just need a little more time to remind myself that he’s here and he’s alive and he is free from the captivity of evil. He is still a demon, but he is no longer tormented by the pain and misery of others. And he is mine.
It’s been months, but I still have to pinch myself to ensure this isn’t a dream. After New Orleans, rebuilding our home in Chicago seemed like such an unobtainable feat. The Se7en didn’t know how to press on after Jinn, especially Phenex. While we had all lost so much, we also gained a new outlook for the future. Life was short, even for immortals, and we were determined to let Jinn’s memory live on through all of us.
I kiss Legion’s bare chest and silently thank God for this gift, just as I have done every day since that fateful night in the cemetery. The feel of my lips caressing his skin welcomes a soft peck on top of my head and a playful pinch on the side of my naked breast.
“I was trying not to wake you,” I giggle, squirming. Honestly, I go a little overboard just so I can brush my leg against his pronounced erection that’s currently tenting the sheets.
“Why would you do that?” Legion responds, his voice still gruff with sleep. “When it’s so obvious that I’m already up.”
He moves his hips suggestively and we both laugh at his corny attempt at juvenile humor. But it only takes seconds before our laughter gives way to moans when Legion shifts my body onto his. His thick, unbelievably hard cock bobs against my ass as he pulls me closer to draw a nipple into his mouth. I gasp aloud and cradle his head, feeding him more. He hungrily sucks and nibbles each breast so thoroughly that I’m dripping wet within seconds and grinding my clit against his pelvic bone to create slippery friction.
“Put me inside of you,” he commands around my pebbled peak.
I lift my hips upward just enough to do as I’m told, eager to be full of him. Then I position my knees on either side of his hips and bear down, crying out at the feel of his pulsating cock ravaging my tight walls.
“Oh…God,” I moan. “Why are you so much bigger in the morning? I feel like you’re going to rip me open.”
He flexes his hips upwards and groans, “Because I want you to walk around for the rest of the day and feel me echoing in every step you take.”
I reply by squeezing him from the inside, causing him to jerk and pulse wildly. “And when you walk around for the rest of the day?”
“I’ll be getting hard counting down the hours before I can touch you and taste you and feel you again.”
He knows how it drives me crazy when he sucks and flicks my nipples, so he doesn’t stop while I ride him until I’m dizzy. And when my hips get weak with a needy orgasm, he grips my ass and pumps into me, spearing me with every long throbbing inch of him. With one hand grasping his hair and the other pressed against his chest to support my quivering frame, I come so hard that every bone in my body turns elastic. Legion is right behind me, baring his teeth against my breast as he empties himself into my womb.
I collapse onto his chest, our combined racing heartbeats intertwining. Legion kisses my forehead as we catch our breath.
“You’re going to be the death of me.”
I press my lips to his neck. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. I’m going to live and die wanting you. Forever seems like a speck of time. It will never be enough.”
I consider my own questionable mortality and realize that his forever may be much longer than mine. But I won’t burden this moment of bliss with hypothetical theories of the next fifty years. If the last months have taught me anything, it’s that we’re all susceptible to fate one way or another.
“Then I guess we better make every second count.”
We shower together which leads to Legion pressing my front to the shower wall and taking me slow and deep from behind. When we’ve finally gotten our morning fill of each other, we join the others in the vast open living room. The Se7en have worked tirelessly to restore their penthouse home to its former splendor, with a few renovations, of course.
“Nice of you to drag your butt out of bed,” Sister beams at me from the huge, plush sectional. Then she quickly turns her attention back to the massive television where she and Toyol are currently battling on whatever latest and greatest game console the tech-savvy demon has modified.
“Morning, Eden. Your sister is kicking my ass, per usual.”
“Whatever. You’re probably letting me win because Cain is sitting here,” she jibes.
“That too.”
Cain throws Legion and me a glance and shrugs. Having Sister here with him has definitely softened the scarred demon’s demeanor. I’ve never seen him smile more, laugh more. He’s even been—dare I say—nice to me.
I look over towards the kitchen to find Phenex quietly rummaging through the refrigerator. He pulls out some eggs, bacon, and sausage, and then he grabs a frying pan. But when he begins to tap an egg against a mixing bowl, he pauses to take a deep, painful breath.
Cooking was Jinn’s passion, and nothing brought him more joy than preparing a meal for his brothers and sister. We’d all been so busy restoring our home and helping The Alliance rebuild the city that I hadn’t really had time to wonder if the ghost of Jinn was haunting those cabinets and drawers. The kitchen was his realm. Cooking was his escape from the constant turmoil and violence. And even though he had no tongue to taste his delicious food, he took pride in being able to provide his family beautiful meals.
I give Legion a quick peck on the cheek before crossing the room into the impressive, open kitchen space. Wordlessly, I grab another bowl and gather the ingredients for pancakes. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’m willing to try if it’ll bring Phenex some semblance of comfort. He looks away from the egg and the empty bowl and glances over at me. I simply smile and return to my task. Seconds later, I hear the gentle tapping of eggshell against porcelain.
We’ve been working in silence for a few minutes when Lilith enters the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Then she comes to stand beside Phenex and reaches over to grab the package of bacon.
We cook like it’s the most natural thing in the world for us to do. Phenex scrambles the eggs. Lilith prepares the breakfast meats on an electric griddle. And I fumble my way through enough pancakes to feed a football team. Somewhere during that time, Andras joins us to toast and butter a stack of bread, and Sister hands off the controller to Cain to prepare a fresh fruit salad. Even Legion contributes by grabbing dishes and silverware to set the table.
This is the memory of Jinn. This is the legacy he left behind. Love and warmth and unity, even when it hurts. Even when the world is falling apart outside our window, he always made sure our bellies were full and satisfied.
“Before we eat,” Legion begins after we’ve all sat down at the table covered with steaming hot platters of food. “I just want to say how much it means to me that we’re all here right now, honoring Jinn’s memory. And wherever he may be in whatever afterlife he has found, I pray that our brother has found peace everlasting.”
I peer over at Phenex who smiles softly as he stares down at his empty plate. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
“Amen,” Legion acquiesces.
“Amen,” replies the rest of the table.
We dig in, and soon the solemn mood of the table is lifted and replaced with the sounds of forks scraping against plates and lighthearted banter. As usual, Lilith and Andras are bickering like close siblings, while Toyol and Cain talk sports and cars, although Cain glances over at Sister every few seconds to include her in the conversation. Things haven’t been as easy between Phenex and Legion, but I’m hopeful that they’ll return to normal with time and healing. I hadn’t told the others about Phenex’s visit that day before I left for New Orleans, and I would take that secret with me to the grave. He needs his family’s support now more than ever, and I wouldn’t risk them looking at him as a traitor.
“Well, sorry to eat and run,” Toyol says, rising from the table with his empty plate. “But I’ve got plans.”
“Meeting up with Crysis?” Legion inquires.
“Nope. He’s going to Irin’s to see Saskia,” Cain throws out before Toyol can come up with a story. I suck in my lips to keep from laughing.
Toyol shoots Cain a sinister look then explains, “I just want to ensure she’s handling the whole humanity thing well. She’s afraid of herself and what she may do out in public, and I’m helping her control her abilities.”
“Sure, sure. That’s why,” Cain taunts, earning himself a finger flick from Sister.
Now I really have to stop myself from laughing. I swear, sometimes they act like teenagers, trying to hide their pot stash from Dad. And while Legion is a natural leader, I can’t even imagine them treating me like the matriarch of the household.
“Well, be careful. And tell Irin I said hello,” Legion responds, driving the idea of Legion as the ultimate DILF even further home.
He turns and frowns as I try like hell to keep from choking on my mouthful of OJ.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just wondering if you were going to give him lunch money.”
He lifts a curious brow. “Huh?”
“Never mind. Are you done? I want to hit the stores before it gets too crowded.”
Legion finishes off his last strip of bacon and nods. “Anything for you.”
“Where are you two headed?” Sister asks as she piles more pancakes on Cain’s plate. She still gets a kick over how much these demons can eat.
“Wedding shopping,” I reply.
“Oooh, fun. Let me know if you find something good. And if you happen to pass a flower shop, grab some, please. I realize that I’m the only human here, but dang! Can a sistah get some living things up in this piece?”
I finish placing our dishes in the kitchen, then go to kiss her on the forehead. Her face has healed nicely, but she still has a little ways to go on some parts of her body. Cain has been incredible with her care. I have to admit, he is a blessing. For her and for me.
Although it’s only been a few months since Chicago was ravaged by rogue demons, you would never know, judging by the life that still vibrates through the city. Legion and I head out to The Magnificent Mile, which seems like the most reasonable choice considering I have no idea what I’m searching for. Weddings have never really been my thing. And since I haven’t had the chance to attend one, let alone one of this caliber, I let Legion lead the way.
“So what should I expect?” I ask him as we step into Neiman Marcus hand in hand.
Just last year, I could barely afford rent. Now I’m shopping for designer wares at luxury department stores. Crazy. I try not to balk at the prices, especially since Legion made it clear that money was of no consequence. I’m still getting used to that, although I definitely don’t intend to make this a permanent thing. As much as I love him, I refuse to become completely reliant on him or anyone else.
“Well, I’m guessing flowers, a white gown, some vows, maybe a band,” Legion prattles off.
“You know what I mean,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s not just a royal wedding, it’s a Dark royal wedding. Do the same rules apply? What kind of gift do you buy for a warlock prince and his newly undead human wife? A crockpot?”
Legion chuckles, bringing my hand up to brush against his lips. “Are you nervous?”
“Hell yeah, I’m nervous. We’re going to a palace in Skiathos. A freakin’ palace. I’ve never even been to California. And I have nothing to wear that’s even remotely fancy enough to be amongst royalty.”
“That’s why we’re here. Besides, you look incredible in anything. Especially in nothing at all.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Niko and Amelie would love if I showed up in my birthday suit.” I release a nervous sigh, not quite understanding why I’m so anxious.
“What’s wrong?” Legion asks, a slight frown between his brows.
“I don’t know. I just…I want everything to go smoothly, and I’m so used to things going wrong that I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it’s Niko. This is his time, you know. He’s earned the right to be obnoxiously happy. He’s finally a bride after so many years of being a bridesmaid.”
Legion starts to nod, but dips his head to the side. “Wait. What?”
I shake my head and smile. “Just a joke between us.”
We hit the jewelry section first, since I suspect it’s probably a good idea to skip the lingerie department for a bridal gift. Somehow we find ourselves taking a peek at diamond rings that look a bit too formal to serve as a fashion piece.
“You ever think about it?” Legion asks, his eyes roaming the backlit cases filled with glittering jewels.
“About what?”
“The whole marriage, family, white picket fence thing.”
I shrug nonchalantly, but inside, I’m freaking the fuck out. “Not particularly. You’d have to have a stable, serious relationship to consider that level of commitment. And up until a few months ago, I thought that meant crushing hard on the guy who used to come into my store every night for tea and mints.”
We both laugh, but mine is mostly one of nerves. Of course, I’ve thought of spending the rest of my life with him. But marriage seems like something completely out of reach for me. And for him. He’s a demon. I’m a half angel hybrid. I can’t imagine that our union would be anything but blasphemous. And even if we could take that step, would he really want to? Considering that he’d be committing himself to someone who could grow old and die in a matter of decades?
I shake the thought from my mind. We’ve had a few drama-free months. I’m jumping way ahead of myself when I should just be living in the moment.
Luckily, we divert our attention to clothes shopping, and I almost release a sigh of relief. I’ve never been out of the country, let alone an island off the coast of Greece. I don’t suppose my usual wardrobe of Chucks and hoodies would do the trick, so Legion insists I grab everything from formal wear to sundresses to shoes. And of course, I throw in a few sexy little pieces for him to tear off with his teeth.
After we finish up at Neimans, we stroll along the Mile, fingers intertwined, smiling like idiots under the newly bloomed spring sun. We nearly pass an upscale flower shop before I remember Sister’s request.
I feast my eyes on the exotic blooms. “I don’t think I’ve ever purchased flowers outside of a grocery store. What should we grab?”
A salesman overhears us and suggests some funky looking houseplants along with orchids since they’re pretty easy to maintain. I look to Legion who shrugs before pulling out his credit card.
“Hey, what’s that?” I inquire after spying a potted shrub with pale purple flowers. There are no other plants in the store quite like it, and it seems to be displayed on its own, away from the featured flora.
“Oh, you don’t want that,” the shop clerk insists, trying to steer me towards the more colorful blooms. “It’s deadly nightshade. The belladonna.”
There’s something about that lonely shrub, something that draws me to it. I’ve seen belladonna before, yet for some reason, I feel like this particular one is different. I lean it to scent it despite the salesman’s warning.
“Careful, it’s very poisonous.”
I almost laugh. I’ve been through twenty-two years of juvenile hell, only to go to actual Hell. I’ve battled demons, angels, and possessed humans. I’ll be damned if I die by flower.
Its scent is delicate, yet there’s something so unexpectedly hypnotic about it that I have to wonder if its hallucinogenic properties could be airborne. I sniff it again, and I feel a twist in my gut and a nudge along my temple. Not from the poison. This is something deeper, something familiar yet I can’t describe it. A brush of déjà vu that unearths a jumble of memories in the dark corners of my mind that I can’t quite reach.
“I’ll take this one too.”
The clerk frowns. “Are you sure? It’s not much to look at.”
“I don’t care. I like it.”
We check out, and with our arms full of clothing bags and plants, we head home, deeming the shopping day successful.
“Sorry you had to endure that,” I remark on our way back to the Se7en’s penthouse headquarters.
Legion tears his eyes from the road for just a split second to ask, “Endure what?”
“Shopping. I know most guys hate that shit.”
“I don’t mind it. Actually, it was nice. Normal.”
“You want normal?” I question with a touch of disbelief.
“I’d take fifty years of normal with you over eternity roaming this earth alone, without question.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
“How so?”
“Because you’re a big, bad ass demon assassin. And the world needs you.”
“But what if I need you?”
“Then you’ll have me.”
“All of you?”
“All of me. Even if that means fifty years, or five hundred.” I scoot as close as I can possibly get without straddling the stick shift, and trail soft kisses along his jaw until I reach his ear to whisper, “I may inhabit this body, have control of my mind, and be owner of my soul. But you, Legion, are the ruler of my heart. And forever you shall reign.”
“Fifty years or five hundred,” Legion muses.
“And we’re going to love and live every second like the world will burn to ash tomorrow.”
His jaw shifts against my lips and I don’t have to look to know he’s smiling. I place a kiss against his dimpled cheek before leaning back in my seat to watch my city whiz by from my window.
Chicago. The place of my birth, my death, my resurrection, and my redemption. The city where I met a man in a gray beanie on a dark, cold night who turned out to be my captor then my lover. And one day, maybe in the not so distant future, it will be my children’s home, and their children’s, as well.
Forever is not promised. There is no defying fate, no matter how hard you fight. But love…
Love will make me immortal.