The Falling (Book I)

Whip

Lin lunged for me, baring his teeth. "You whore!"

To my surprise, Lucifer stopped the king from ripping my throat out. He shoved him back and glared at him. "As if the marriage has any legality here. And, it has not been consummated. It was just two silly children playing 'House.'"

The king cried, "Guards, take these two to the dungeon; I want them out of my sight!"

William was hoisted to his feet as I was grabbed, kicking and screaming, by one guard. He tightened his grip on me until I thought I would shatter beneath his hands.

We were taken to the bowels of the palace to the dark, dank dungeon. They threw William into one cell and I was led further down. It got colder and damper the further I was taken. Finally, the guard stopped and shoved me into a cell. I hit the wall and spun around as they locked the door. I grabbed the bars and rattled it with a frustrated cry before slumping to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest.

[Well, this is a fine mess you have gotten us into. I told you nothing good would come from this but you would not see reason! The king will have us executed just like your mother!] Rayi preached.

I cried, my face buried in my knees. Silently, I apologized to William for drawing Lucifer's attention to him. In the distance, I could hear him shouting something incoherently. I thought I heard him say my name a few times mingled with a string of curses.

Maybe he was ruing the day we had met.

I heard footsteps approaching my cell. I looked up as I heard the door open. Hastily, I stood and pressed myself to the wall as someone entered. Zane rushed into view.

"Z-Zane, what are you doing here?"

He ignored me and walked quickly toward me, slamming me into the wall.

"You idiot, I warned you! Why did you not listen to me?!" He sounded choked up, like he was or had been crying.

I stared up at him and his morose face. Tearing up myself, I sniffled and admitted, "I-I love him. And now he is going to die because of me."

His arms wrapped around me and I was crushed to his burly chest. I hugged him back, burying my face in his cold armor. I felt his nose nuzzle the top of my head.

"Tobias, the Angel of Love...I had been with him for about six centuries." He confessed quietly.

I twitched in shock. He continued, "I met him when I was doing a contract and I fell in love with him right away. I ended it with him about five years ago because it was getting too dangerous. I told him I was only using him so he wouldn't hold out for me."

I laughed brokenly, "That certainly explains the lack of lady callers. You and I are certainly quite the pair, are we not, big brother?"

He chuckled through his tears, too. "Yes...yes, we are."

He withdrew from me and I murmured, "Only, you had the courage to do what I couldn't."

Zane ran a hand through his hair and questioned, "Courage or cowardice? Look, I could only spare a moment to see you. The king is pissed off. I will try to see you again before...something happens."

We both knew what the "something" was. I swallowed thickly and nodded as my brother stole away into the darkness of the dungeons.

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When I woke up, I was facing William, who was chained to a wall across from me. I tried to move forward but was met with resistance. Straining to look over my shoulder, I saw I was also chained to the wall.