"The Sacrifice:;The Sacrifice Trilogy"[Book 1.]

12.Beauty Behind the Gray Madness

Savannah

Black disturbing darkness greets us as we land, until something warm and strangely inviting replaces it: sunlight. Alanna gave me my head back for a reason unknown to me, now I see why. As the supposedly hellish place settled into view, I realized maybe my definition of hell could be in entire contrast to my two companions beside me. Picnic tables line a cafe-like area, and drinks of various kinds sit atop each table in rows that were a sight worth beholding: three, which wouldn't seem much to the naked eye, but when you lived for even the slightest moment in The Underworld, you long while praying for the days of old. "This isn't hell, guys! Hell is far from this beautiful place," I say contently but they don't answer me. Looking at them with concern plain on my face, their faces remain frozen and unchanged, while worry is like an object trying to bury me alive. Wind starts immediately and some sort of empty, lonely but familiar dreary wickedness engulfed the once lovely sight like a blanket covering babies. "Noah? Braiden, are you two alright? Answer me!"  Suddenly, my neck prickles with awareness as hairs stand on high alert, an unseen force like gravity tugged inside my heart and made me come to life. Then that force spoke: "Your friends cannot hear you, pretty. Only I can," the deep sinful voice is behind me and I turned: that single fluid motion seeming easier than normal, like gliding.

Oh. My. Sweet. Lord! The man could not be described by beauty alone, I think for the very first time in life, no words escaped my lips while I stared upon him. His dark hair and amber eyes compliment the scar running along the stranger's right cheek, like two angler lines invading each other. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. My name is Lucien Grey, and I know exactly why you're here, though I cannot fathom your reasoning for helping someone who betrayed you so deeply in your last life." Lucien looked absolutely baffled, mirroring my own but I'm guessing for very different reasons. "What are you talking about, Lucien? Jakob has been nothing except loyal and sweet from the moment I arrived here! Don't you dare try to feed me lies!" I yelled at him in defense of Jake. Lucien gazed upon me once more, searching for something In my expression he could not have located if he had looked inside my soul. "You are wise, pretty, however you do not know all. There seems to be a block in your mind even I -the keeper of hell-cannot get through." He looked as if he was on the verge of ripping his dark T-shirt off by the way he's pulling at it frantically in frustration, and I wonder if there's such a thing as concealer for droll. I need that a lot lately, it would appear.

Amber eyes pop open suddenly like a light bulb turned on inside his head, he faced me with a determined piercing stare as each strut brought him closer, much closer. Air left me to my own devices as Lucien's lips land on mine and an awaiting storm brewed within me, captivating movements and thoughts. My hands moved of their own accord to cup his face, but something inexplicable pulled me back. "It didn't work! What the hell did he do to you, pretty? I don't understand this hold he has on you, Amor," he said with underlying concern in his tone and I stared at him like he was a little loony, still trapped in an indescribable bliss. "You're going to have to stay here for a little while as I try and fix whatever life-altering mess you've made this time, pretty." A sigh escaped his parted kissable lips like the task of whatever endeavor he was going on would be more than anyone bargained for. "Excuse me? Exactly what gives you the authority to hand me orders on a silver platter, hell king? Do you know who I am?" I asked, my blissful haze clearing. Seizing my arm in a death-grip stronger than my own, his beautifully haunting amber eyes level with mine. "I may have an idea of who you are: you're stubborn as hell, you have an alter-ego that has extreme enjoyment for murder, you're compassionate and fiercely loyal. When you love someone, you love with your entire soul, not just the heart. A fire lays sleeping inside you that you have yet to tap into, just begging to be released. Are you flustered yet, pretty?" Kissing my cheek, he leaves me with one last parting know-it-all grin before walking off, my mind still spinning. "Wait, what about Noah and Braiden? They can't stay here like this, Lucien!" My rising voice did zero to intimate him, however it did earn me an aggravated eye roll.