Chapter 26

Gabriel's POV

Being back here was difficult. This wasn't my home anymore. Right now I was behind enemy lines. And the enemy was my brother. A brother I had trusted and followed for eons.

"Well, how was it?" Micheal asked as I walked through the front door. He was standing on the balcony. Watching.

"It's going to take some time but she is trying her best Micheal."

I made my way over to the balcony and noticed his glass and a bottle of rum.

"So no improvements? How pathetic."

"Like I said, it's going to take some time. She grew up fearing it, it will be a while before she becomes comfortable with using it."

It took Catalina years to even acknowledge she had this gift let alone begin to use it. She was always so afraid of hurting people. Her whole life she had been told she was a monster and she fought every day to prove she wasn't.

"So what you're telling me is, she's weak." Micheal snapped at me.

"She is not weak. She is doing her best. Just give her some time."

Micheal turned to me and I could see the pure anger in his eyes,

"You have thirteen days left Gabriel, that is all the time I am giving you and her."

Thirteen days.

"Yes, brother."

"Good, now why don't you have a seat and have a drink with me."

I nodded my head to him as he poured me a tall shot of rum.

Thirteen days.

"What happens in thirteen days if I can't get her to control it?"

"Simple. I remove her from the distraction."

"What distraction?"

"You."

"You mean to take her? Where?"

Micheal slid over the glass to me,

"That is not your concern."

THE HELL IT IS!

"Would she be safe?"

Micheal nodded before taking his shot,

"Absolutely."

"So she'll be safe yet you won't tell me where you would take her?"

Nothing about that sat right with me. If she was going to be safe then why didn't he just tell me where he would take her?

"Try not to fret Gabriel. If she improves in the next few days then I won't have to take her anywhere."

"It's hard not to worry. She is my friend."

Micheal poured and finished another shot and began walking back inside, pausing at the doorway into the living room,

"Don't worry Gabriel, everything is going according to plan."

* * *

Catalina's POV

Training was great today. Gabriel had seemed a little on edge but then again he did see Micheal last night. Lying to your brother couldn't be easy, especially when your brother was an archangel who had been lying to everyone for eons. I was getting faster at manifesting my fire. Which was great but also scary. It was also the first time I didn't think about my past. The memories in those old homes died as they went up in flames. Manifesting that circle though made me so tired. I wanted to try and see how long I could keep it up but Lucifer could see I was tired and he was right. Just those few seconds made me so exhausted. So when I returned to our room I immediately got into the shower and tried to wake myself up. It helped a little bit but not a lot.

Leaving the bathroom I went to grab my clothes from the dresser,

"I would say today was a successful training day."

FUCK!

I turned and saw Lucifer sitting on the edge of our bed, smiling at me.

Clutching the towel around me a little tighter, he stood up and walked to me, placing his hands on my hips.

"I am so very proud of you." He whispered.

"You are the second person to ever say that to me." Besides Gabriel, no one else in my life had ever said they were proud of me. I tried so hard growing up to get someone to say. But nothing I did was ever good enough. Nothing I did was ever worthy of them to say they were proud of me.

"Weren't your parents ever proud of you and your accomplishments?"

HA!

I walked over to the dresser and put on my clothes. I could feel Lucifer's heated gaze on me as I dropped my towel, but now was not the time for it.

I put my clothes on and sat in the chair at my vanity,

"They barely knew anything about me. They paid little to no attention to me unless I was doing something I wasn't supposed to. I doubt they even knew about them."

Lucifer leaned back on the bed,

"So tell me about them."

"About what?"

Lucifer smirked at me,

"Your accomplishments in life."

"I doubt you want to hear them. They aren't big accomplishments."

"Try me." He said as I pulled out a wide toothcomb and started combing my hair.

"Well, once in the fifth grade I won an award in my class for reading the most books."

Lucifer smiled,

"How many did you read?"

"Six in one month."

He nodded, still with a smile on his face,

"Continue."

"In seventh grade, I had gotten really into writing and I had written a short story as part of an assignment and my teacher had said it was one of the most interesting stories she ever read."

His smile grew even wider and so did mine. It felt good to tell someone about them. Someone who did care.

"Oh and in my junior year of high school, I scored over 100% on my English test."

Lucifer laughed,

"How did you manage that?"

"I answered all the extra credit questions."

Duh.

We laughed as he got up off the bed and stood behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Then in my senior year, I won a scholarship for a poem that I had written."

"I didn't know you went to college."

I didn't.

"I didn't, my mother had other more important things she wished to pay for instead"

"Like what?"

"A new car for herself."

His grip on my shoulders tightened,

Before he could say anything I continued,

"But I made the best out of it I ended up finding a job at a bookstore before I graduated and I had the best time, There was plenty of time to read and scribble a few ideas down." I smiled remembering all the fun I had working at the bookstore. All the fun displays for new releases we did, and all the amazing authors that had stopped in from time to time.

"Graduation day was great, I spent the day getting my hair and makeup done, I spent a good amount of money on a pretty dress to wear, I-I even got a little sash to wear."

It wouldn't be a normal graduation but I still wanted it to feel special.

"It was perfect until the actual graduation ceremony. My family promised they would be there but of course they weren't, they were late even picking me up that day."

They always were. There was always something more important that had to be done. Something more important that needed their attention. I sat in that parking lot for hours waiting for them to remember me. I ended up just taking an Uber home that night.

Lucifer bent down to kiss the top of my head,

"I am so very proud of you and everything you have accomplished my Morningstar."

Morningstar. I Love it when he calls me that.

"You must be exhausted, let's get you to bed."

Gently, he picked me up from my chair and carried me back to the bed, pulling me close to him and holding me.

This is what I want. Forever.

He made me feel safe. Wanted. Loved. Cherished. I didn't have to have walls up around him. With him, I could be vulnerable and…soft.

"What about you?"

"What about me?" Lucifer asked as he laid me gently on the bed.

"What are some of your accomplishments?"

I watched as Lucifer took off his t-shirt and shorts and changed into his pajama pants.

No one should be allowed to be this hot. It's criminal.

Slowly he climbed back into the bed and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.

"I don't have many but my biggest accomplishment was finding you."

"You romantic son of a bitch."

"I mean it, Catalina. I have done many things in my life. Some things I am proud of, some things not so much. Yet finding you, having you here with me,"

He looked down at me as if I was the most precious thing in the world, as he cupped my cheek,

"You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars, without you I am nothing but with you, I can do anything."

A small tear escaped my eye. No one had ever said anything like that to me. Hearing those words did something to me.

Lucifer wiped a small tear that had rolled down my cheek,

"Why are you crying?"

"Because you can't just say romantic stuff like that and expect me not to cry."

Lucifer chuckled,

"Well then since telling you how I feel seems to make you emotional, how about I show you exactly how much you mean to me."

I like the way you think!

Gently Lucifer pressed his lips against mine as he slowly moved above me. His hands slowly roaming over my entire body. Too soon his kiss was gone.

"You are so beautiful. Everything about you is intoxicating."

"Lucifer I-"

he kissed me gently,

"I need you to be a very good girl and be very very quiet. Can you do that my Morningstar?"

I could feel my cheeks blush even harder as I nodded my head as Lucifer pinned my hands above my head. His hands tightly gripped my wrists as his mouth trailed down my neck.

"Good Girl."

This is going to be fun.

* * *

Lucifer's POV

Something isn't right.

I woke up with Catalina still in my arms.

She's safe. She's okay.

But something wasn't right. I had this unnerving feeling and I couldn't shake it. Something was wrong. I just didn't know what.

Fuck it.

I gently got out of the bed and made my way downstairs,

Everything was the same, except Gabriel was back and passed out, face-first on the couch. His arm hanging off the side, oblivious to everything around him.

Outside.

I made my way to the front door and looked around.

Nothing.

Everything was the same. Nothing had changed.

You're just being paranoid. Everything is okay.

I climbed back up the stairs to Catalina and I's room,

Glad to see she was still asleep. I crawled back into the bed and pulled her close to me.

Everything is okay. She's safe.

* * *

One Week Later

"She's improving," Gabriel said as he nudged me with his shoulder.

"I told you she would."

Every day Catalina had been practicing manifesting the circle and holding it. And every day she had succeeded.

She's getting stronger.

"Wanna try another circle?" Gabriel shouted at Catalina.

She was smiling.

I fucking love that smile.

She was learning to love her gift and not be afraid of it. She's slowly learning that she was never the monster her mother made her out to be.

"How long did I manage yesterday?" she asked.

"About 20 Minutes," I yelled back.

Every day was different. Yesterday was twenty minutes, the day before was only five, and the day before that she was able to go forty-five minutes. I was so proud of her. It didn't matter to me how long she could keep it up for. The fact that she was trying, that fact that she was smiling and getting stronger, That was all that mattered.

Catalina shook her head,

"It's still not long enough."

"Last week you could barely manage more than five minutes, and now you've doubled your time. That in itself is an accomplishment."

Catalina sighed,

"Well time for me today, I want to try and go for at least thirty minutes."

That's my girl.

"Very well then, I'll set a timer."

Catalina closed her eyes and within a few seconds, a circle of fire surrounded Gabriel.

"Starting the timer, remember to relax."

I grabbed my phone and set the timer for the thirty minutes she requested and watched as Catalina opened her eyes and the slight orange in her eyes shined through.

Beautiful.

She was always beautiful but there was just something about those orange eyes that drove me crazy…

I smiled for a brief moment before I felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Something is wrong.

That feeling from the other night returned. I could feel eyes on us.

Someone is watching.

I glanced around, but I didn't see anything. Instinctively I reached down for my dagger as Gabriel's eyes found mine as he glanced over at me,

"Everything okay?"

No, something isn't right.

"Yeah, everything is fine." I glanced over and saw Catalina looking at me, a look of worry plagued her eyes as she looked around me.

"Keep going, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

To make sure there isn't anything here that can hurt you.

"Don't worry about it just keep focusing and I'll be back before the timer is up."

"Please be safe Lucifer." She yelled as she turned her head back to Gabriel.

Something isn't right.

I could feel it but I couldn't fucking see it! Something was out there. Waiting. Watching. I searched for what seemed like hours, looking under and over every branch and tree but there was nothing. Yet that feeling never left.

Something isn't right.

Nothing. There was nothing. No sounds. No movements. Nothing. I started to make my way back to Catalina and Gabriel but a sound from the tree behind me caught my attention.

I grabbed my dagger that was strapped to my thigh and slowly made my way to the tree. Being careful not to make much noise. As I got closer I couldn't see anything. Nothing. Just as I was about to turn back, rustling coming from above the tree stopped me.

I looked up as a flock of ravens burst from the tree, they started off going to the left but ended up veering right.

That's not a good sign.

"Fucking shit."

If that wasn't an Ill-omen I didn't know what was.

I made my way back to Catalina and Gabriel just as the timer went off.

She's okay.

I turned off the timer and came up behind her and placed my hands on her hips,

"That's time, congrats you lasted thirty minutes."

She chuckled as she leaned into me,

"Still don't last as long as you do."

Oh Fuck.

"I'm literally standing right here," Gabriel said as he made his way over to us.

Wish you weren't right now.

"You know I'm fine with you two being together but please, I don't want to hear the intimate details."

"So I shouldn't tell you about the fuzzy pink handcuffs?" I teased him as he clutched his ears and made his way back towards the house.

I wrapped my arm around Catalina's waist and began walking back towards the house,

"The handcuffs aren't even pink." She whispered,

"Yeah well neither is the spreader bar but Gabriel doesn't need to know that."

She laughed as she playfully nudged my shoulder,

"I don't think I will ever get tired of that."

"Tired of what?" She asked and those perfect eyes of hers locked on mine,

"The sound of your laugh."

She smirked, a hint of that playful wickedness lingering in her eyes as she spoke,

"And here I was thinking the other sounds I made were your favorite."

Fuck it!

I bent down and picked her up and began carrying her to the house,

"I think I need to hear them all again just to make sure."

* * *

Gabriel's POV

"So you're telling me even with a week of training she still has no control at all?"

I nodded at Micheal,

"She is trying her best but something is holding her back and I don't know what."

"WELL FIGURE IT OUT!" Micheal shouted as he took a step closer to me.

"I think she misses Lucifer. I mean he has completely disappeared right as she learns about the knowledge of the lock."

Just keep feeding him lies.

Catalina had drastically changed and Lucifer was to thank for that. I didn't think burning down her old childhood homes would do much for her. It was also a tad dramatic but it worked.

"One would think she should be more angry then, Gabriel."

You obviously don't know women then.

"Then you do not know Catalina very well."

"I do not care to know her." Micheal retorted.

"Perhaps you should. It might be easier if you were..nicer to her."

"I don't give a damn about her feelings, perhaps you should do your job and train her so I can finally do mine, Gabriel."

Job?

"What job Micheal?"

"I told you before that she would make an exceptional soldier if she could get that Hellfire under control."

"A soldier for what Micheal?"

"THAT is none of your concern right now."

Micheal stiffened as he continued, a cold fury lurking in his eyes,

"Your time is almost up, if she does not get it under control I am taking over AGAIN!"

Before I could say another word Micheal's fist connected with my face and he picked me up and held me against the wall.

"Do not disappoint me again Gabriel. I have waited long enough and you better come with better news next time."

Fuck this is bad.

* * *

Lucifer's POV

I held on to Catalina extra tight last night. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I couldn't see it but I knew it was there. I knew something was wrong. I had been checking every night since I first felt it but I hadn't found anything. Something was out there and I couldn't find it. It was beginning to drive me mad.

As if hearing my thoughts Catalina stirred in her sleep, slightly backing up more and pressing her ass against me.

Fuck.

Last night she had shown me just how okay she really was. About four times to be exact. I loved her. I loved everything about this woman and I would go to the ends of the earth for her.

Fuck it one more check can't hurt.

I climbed out of bed and gently tucked the blanket back around her.

She's not even awake but I need her.

I went over and grabbed the pants from last night and made my way downstairs just as Gabriel walked through the door.

"Oh come on now you guys are just rubbing it in my face," Gabriel exclaimed.

I smirked at him,

"Maybe it's just hot in this house."

Gabriel finally looked up and I saw the black and blue bruise on his face.

"What the fuck happened?!"

"Keep your damn voice down!" Gabriel whispered to me as he walked over to the kitchen and grabbed an aloe vera pack from the freezer,

"Let's just say Micheal is not happy that Catalina has not improved."

"Gabriel I am-"

He raised his hand,

"Don't," he said as he sat on the counter

"Micheal is starting to lose his temper, he'll slip up soon."

That was always Michael's biggest downfall. When things didn't go his way, he flipped shit and things would go down. It was like watching a toddler throw a temper tantrum because he didn't get his way.

"He might have already," Gabriel replied. His words caused me to stiffen as a cold fury pulsed through me

"What did he say?"

"He mentioned something a while ago when he first started training Catalina, mentioned that she would make a fine soldier. At first, I didn't think anything of it, I just assumed he thought of everyone like that, just some kind of soldier that someone commands. But he mentioned it again today. Said that I should do my job and train her so he can finally do his."

He was right. Micheal did tend to refer to everyone as some kind of soldier. We were only here to fight for a cause. Just made to simply be mindless weapons and fight. Expendable workers for a bigger job.

Job?

"What job Gabriel?"

"When I asked him about it, he told me it was none of my concern."

Of course he did.

Micheal had slipped up. Not a lot but just enough. He needed Catalina for something.

"I don't like that."

"I don't either but we have no other information to go on and time is running out."

"So what do you suggest we do?"

Gabriel started to answer but before he could, she screamed.

"LUCIFER!"

I ran, faster than I had ever ran before. Hearing her scream did something to me, the only thing I could think of at that moment was to eliminate any threat to her. I didn't care what it was or what I had to do, that threat would be eliminated.

I kicked the door open to see Catalina, sitting up in bed, pointing to the open balcony doors.

Those were closed when I left!

"WHAT HAPPENED!" I yelled as I made my way to her.

"There was someone on the balcony."

No. He couldn't have.

"What did they look like?"

Her slightly orange eyes were wide and I could see the fear and shock in them as she remained focused on the balcony.

I grabbed her face in my hands and made her look at me,

"CATALINA WHAT DID THEY LOOK LIKE?"

She clutched the blanket tighter and pulled it closer to her bare chest,

"He had short dark hair, deep chocolate tan skin, really fucking tall, insanely light blue eyes, and there was a tattoo over his chest and large gray wings."

It wasn't Micheal….

"You're sure they had gray wings?" Gabriel asked her,

Without taking her eyes off mine she answered,

"I'm positive, I heard the door opening and I thought it was you coming back in-"

"Catalina breathe,"

She stopped and took a few breaths. The orange in her eyes slowly began to fade.

"Lucifer he was in here. In the room."

"What did he do?"

If that fucker put even a finger on her-

She shook her head,

"He just stood there watching me. He left once he heard you guys coming up the stairs."

"Gabriel, stay with her while I circle the area."

He's here. Somewhere and I was going to find him.

"No, I'm going with you," Catalina said and began to get out of bed.

"NO!" I yelled as I took both her hands in mine,

"Stay here with Gabriel I will be right back."

"But I can-"

I kissed her, to in the nicest way possible, shut her up.

"I need you here, safe with Gabriel. Please."

Because If you came with me I wouldn't be able to focus on anything except you.

She nodded her head and I glanced at Gabriel,

"If I'm not back in fifteen minutes, take her and get far away from here."

I didn't stay to hear what he had to say as I walked to the balcony and felt the familiar pain of my wings and jumped. I was going to find him. Find him and kill him. One way or another, this was ending tonight.

* * *

Catalina's POV

"Get in the bathroom and get dressed right now," Gabriel said as he tossed me a pair of shorts and a loose shirt.

"Gabriel, who did I see?"

I grabbed the clothes and made my way to the bathroom,

"I saw the look Lucifer gave you, you both looked worried."

"It could be Raphael. Another one of our brothers. He is one of Micheal's most loyal followers."

Micheal?

"Do you think Micheal-"

"I don't know but there is a very good chance Micheal knows about everything."

Gabriel took a quick look around the room,

"Very quickly pack a bag of you and Lucifer's things. Just the essentials."

He shot a glance toward the balcony,

"I'll be back in two minutes, I'm going to grab a few weapons from downstairs."

I nodded as he made his way to the door,

"STAY HERE AND DO NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM!" He yelled back at me as he made his way down the stairs.

I rushed to the closet, grabbed two overnight bags, and laid them open on the dresser. I opened the drawers and just started shoving as many clothes in as I could.

There was someone in here! Watching me!

Michael knew. He had to have known. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent one of his brothers to spy on us.

I put them in danger.

I put Lucifer and Gabriel in harm's way.

Lucifer was out there somewhere. He could be hurt at any moment. And Gabriel. I saw the bruise on his face and I knew who caused it. Both of them put themselves in danger every day for me. And that was not acceptable.

"You know, my brother has never been good at lying. It is one of his many faults."

Slowly I turned around and saw Micheal standing in front of the open balcony doors.

I took a step back towards the door as he took a single step forward,

"If I were you I wouldn't take another step towards that door."

Dammit, where the fuck was my dagger!

I glanced back to my bed and saw my dagger on the nightstand. Micheal was too close to try and make a dash for it. I was fucking defenseless! I needed something, anything!

Micheal took a single step toward me,

I wish I had grabbed my damn dagger!

Suddenly, a dagger made of fire launched at Micheal,

Holy Shit! How the fuck did I do that?

Micheal easily dodged it as he smiled, his eyes went dark,

"I knew it."

Before I could even say anything Micheal was standing before me and a familiar pain circled my throat,

"What a cunning little group of liars you and my brothers are". He reached out with his other hand and caressed my cheek.

"Fuck you," I said as his grip around my throat tightened.

Micheal grinned as he reached out and traced my bottom lip with his thumb,

"Such a filthy little mouth. I can see why my brother is so enthralled by you."

"Go to hell," I said as I tried to maneuver my head away from him,

"That fire in your eyes, the hate, the anger, I imagine you get that from your father yet it reminds me of my brother." He said as he twisted my head to look back at him,

"You're both the same, two monsters hiding in each other's shadow pretending to be something neither of you are."

"Lucifer's going to kill you and I'm going to laugh as he does."

Micheal's smile grew wider,

"Not if I kill him first."

No!

"Maybe this was all a trick to get Lucifer alone so my brothers could finally end him."

No no no no no!

"Maybe he's already dead. Bleeding out on the ground. Laying there like the trash he is." Micheal laughed as his grip tightened on me,

"It was such an easy distraction, so simple and he took the bait. I honestly expected more from him."

I tried to reach up to grab his arm and pull it off of my neck but he was stronger so I did the only thing I could think of. I raised my leg and kicked him. Right. In. The. Balls.

Micheal released me as he grabbed himself and groaned.

"You fucking bitch!" He seethed as I ran towards the door,

"GAbrIEL!" I shouted as I made my way down the stairs.

No answer.

"GAbrIEL!"

I jumped off the last step into the living room and saw him.

The man from the balcony. Holding a sword to Gabriel's neck and Gabriel on his knees.

I took a step back and hit a muscular front as two hands came from behind me and grasped my arms. The person leaned down and whispered in my ear,

"That was a very stupid decision."

The familiar warmth slowly began to fill my veins and as I looked up I could see the slight shock in the eyes of the Angel who restrained Gabriel. A small ember appeared at my fingertips. Micheal tightened his grip on my arms as the blade against Gabriel's neck pressed closer,

"No fire tricks or that sword will cut right through my brother's neck, understand?"

A thin trail of blood escaped Gabriel's throat,

"I understand," I whispered out as Micheal chuckled behind me,

"Good Girl, now let's fix this mess shall we?"

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