Chapter 3~~~ Escape
Lucia's POV
I wake up mere hours after lying down to sleep; I need to get away from my 'bodyguard' for a few hours. I slipped Nicholas a note before he left earlier, asking him to meet me back in the side tunnel; I need to talk to him again without Razakiel listening in on every word we say. Glancing around myself I find Razakiel seated across from me, his back resting against the rocky black wall, one leg spread out in front of him while the other bent at the knee, his left arm resting gently on top. His black locks cast shadows over his face as his head rest against the hard rock behind him, but his eyes are closed, his breathing even.
A sigh of relief escapes my lips; I was afraid he would still be awake, looming over me even as I slept. Perhaps he wasn't as desperate for Lucifer's approval as I believed, or maybe he didn't think I was capable of attempting to escape; if that was the case this would certainly prove him wrong. Gaining my feet as silently as possible, I creep away from Razakiel's dark figure hunched against the wall. His position doesn't change, his breathing remains even, and I make it around the corner without his vibrant green eyes opening and catching my escape.
Once he is out of sight, I pick up my pace, rushing, as silently as possible, through the tunnels and halls, ignoring the endless screams and cries for mercy relocate the remote and long abandoned tunnel that Nich had dragged me into earlier. Shadows flicker around me; souls so tortured they no longer contain any shred of humanity, follow me, looking for someone to torment, I pick up my pace.
Yes, I am a skilled fighter but I don't have time to waste; as soon as Razakiel wakes up he will be after me. I need to get to Nich and fast. I ignore the feeling of being watched and followed, as it builds inside me, but I don't ignore the shadows themselves. Being caught off guard is not a good idea, no matter how skilled the fighter you are.
As I stride past another shadowy side tunnel, a hand latches onto my arm and yanks me to stop. With barely a thought my blade is in my hand. Heart hammering, I yank my arm from the vice like grip and lift my leg, aiming for my attacker's chest.
"Relax Luc it's just me," my attack faltered as Nich's amused voice fills my ears. His eyes dance, as he looks down at me and I almost growl at the smirk on his face; he loves sneaking up on me. He finds it amusing that I lift up in attack mode whenever someone surprises me. To get him back I resume my attack, though reducing the force, and slam my foot into his chest, the satisfying thud as he hits the ground sends a smile skittering across my face. He glares at me, "That wasn't nice Luc"
"Sorry but you know I don't like it when people sneak up on me; it's hardly my fault I couldn't pull up in time," I say, reaching down a hand to help him up.
"Yeah, sure," he rolls his eyes, letting me pull him up, "So what are we doing here in the middle of the night? I see you managed to escape your stalker."
"Yeah, probably not for long though," I sigh, the cheery atmosphere disappearing as I contemplate exactly what brought him here for. "I need to get out Nich. He doesn't trust me. I mean, he put a guard on me. I thought I'd be able to stay down here for a while without suspecting anything but I think his already suspicious. I need to get away now, before Razakiel figures it out and goes running to Lucifer. He'll lock me up and then I will never get away."
That he would have me strapped to his table and begging for death, also crossed my mind but I wasn't about to tell that to Nich; there are some things he is better off without knowing.
"Luc… are you sure? Where are you going to go? He'll be after you as soon as he notices you're gone. There's nowhere to hide. You'd be better off staying down here for as long as possible, if he starts getting suspicious or starts putting his plan into action, we can get you out then. But if you try to get out now and he finds you, he'll have you locked up before his even ready and we'll have no chance of stopping him."
I know his right, but at the same time I don't think he sees the danger of me staying. Lucifer is already unsure of my loyalty, Razakiel is with me constantly and it's only a matter of time before I slip up and he find out the truth. After that I won't even have the time to think about an escape. I'll be stuck here until Lucifer is ready to use me in his masterplan to take over heaven.
I open my mouth to explain it again, but he cuts me off.
"Luc, just relax, give it a bit longer, if he stars getting more suspicious, we can get you out then. If you try too early it won't work." The steely glint in his gaze brooks no argument and I sigh; hating the fact that I can't escape on my own. "Trust me Luc, I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" I nod dimly, resigned, despite my fears; I couldn't go without Nich and he wasn't ready yet.
"I trust you Nich, I just don't want it to be too late. I don't even know what I'm capable of; I don't want him to have a chance to use me against our family, against our heavenly father." I can't meet his gaze as the fear leeks into my voice, I hate that it sounds so weak but I need him to understand.
"Luc," he whispers, hot breath tracing my ear as he speaks, "I won't let it be too late." A shaky breath escapes me. "You trust me?" he whispers. And I nod, leaning forward into his firm chest. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me tied against him, I relax into his warmth. Of course, I trust Nich, my best friend, he wouldn't put me in danger if he could help it.
"I have to go," he says after a few minutes, "Lucifer has us working constantly, I can't be away for too long or they'll notice." I sigh and nod into his chest, tightening my grip around him for a moment before releasing him again. "I'll see you later Luc."
"Bye, Nich." He strides from the room, taking the save secure feeling with him. I stand in the dark for what feels like forever, as the fears crawl back, suffocating me in depths. Without Nich here to convincing me I'll be fine, the trust I have in his decisions disappears like it never existed and I'm wondering how long I'll be able to survive down here; wishing I could escape on my own.
"How long to you intend to stand there, projecting your thoughts to anyone with the ability to hear them?" I jump at the voice, unprepared for company. Wings flaring and blade in hand I whirl on the intruder, ready for a fight.
I have him up a wall, blade to his throat before he even has a chance to draw his weapon.
"It's me," Razakiel says, his voice almost bored, despite the steel at his throat. His dark green eyes guarded as he looks down at me, no emotions visible at their depths. "A bit jumpy aren't we Luc?" A jolt runs through me at his casual use of the name, only Nich ever calls me Luc. And he only does so in private.
"How long have you been here?"
"Well, I was never asleep if that answers your question."
I press the blade deeper into his skin, feeling the urge to bite in, letting blood around the silver surface.
"So, I just have to kill you then?"
For the first time emotions flickers in his eyes, and a look of surprise crosses his sharp features. Like he didn't expect me to stand up for myself. Then he wipes the look from his face and then the blank facial expression comes back.
"You couldn't kill me," he says as his hands come up and shove me from him. In my surprise, I stumble back. Only to watch as his own blade appears in his hand.
My feet mirror his as he steps around me, attempting to gain an advantage. We circle each other. Waiting. His body shifts as he leaps towards me and I dive. I slide beneath him, while he stumbles with nothing to slow his momentum and hits the wall. With a light flap of my wings I'm back on my feet facing him. As he attempts to regain his balance and turn to face me. I rush at him. Blade pointed at his heart. He twists at the last second and it barely grazes his side.
"You cut me," he says, as if shocked I was able to draw blood.
"I said I was going to kill you, what else did you expect? That I'll just let you win?" he regards me from the opposites of the tunnel, a spark igniting in his eyes. Incredulity fills me as a smirk crosses his face.
Almost indignation of his careless attitude I run at him again desperate to slide my blade between his ribs; anything to prove that I can and I will kill him. At the last second, he moves out twisting from under the knife.
I hit the wall and before I can turn on him again, he presses his body onto my back forcing me up against the rough-hewn wall. His hands reach down and grip mine, squeezing until I drop the weapon, then raising both my arms above my head and holding them in one of his. I almost growl in protest as I struggle against him. It doesn't shift him though; he only presses harder against me forcing me into the wall.
Adrenaline rushes through my veins as my heart races in my chest, but I can't get him off of me. I know he can't kill me; but he will take me to Lucifer and the thought of that makes me wish he would drive his knife through my chest. Death would be better than my current fate.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he growls in my ear, "Neither am I going to hand you over to that bastard." I flinch at the anger in his voice and confusion rushes through me.
"What?" I squeak. He sighs, the warm air brushing against my neck, sending goosebumps skittering across my skin.
"I'm not going to tell him you intend to escape. How can I when I intend on doing the same thing." My mind was trying to understand what his saying. He wants to escape? But his one of Lucifer's most trusted. How does that even happen? His lying!
"I'm not lying. I needed him to trust or I will never find a way to get out."
"You know a way out? Wait, did you just read my thoughts? How did you just read my thoughts? I thought you were a shield?" Once again, his sigh of exasperation leaves goosebumps on my skin and shivers running down my spine.
"I am a shield. It just so happens I'm a reader too. Yes, that is possible. Obviously. Now can I let you go or are you going to try and kill me again?"
"I'm not going to try and kill you for now anyway." He nods and moves back slightly, releasing my arms and turning me around to face him. Before I have any chance of getting away, he places his arms on either side of my body, effectively caging me between him and the wall. A groan of frustration escapes me and that smirk is back on his face. Like he knows having him this close to me is annoying me to no end.
In the last-ditch attempt to escape his suffocating presence, I duck, pushing away from the wall, trying to get under his arm and cage. He only chuckles at my attempt, pulling me back and moving closer, so he is pressing against me once more.
"Please stop trying to get away, Luc. I want to help you. We both want to get out of here, and we both need to do it soon. So why don't we help each other out and maybe we will both make it out of Hell alive," I'm about to argue with him, when what he was saying sinks in.
He can get me out of here, I don't trust him any further than I can throw him than I can throw him, which judging by the way he successfully subdued me, wasn't very far, but I need out and if he can get me out I will find a way to remain out of Lucifers clutches no matter what. Maybe I could even get back to heaven; if I tell them what I know of his plan, perhaps they could stop him before he finds me.
"Ok Zak," I say, needing a way to get at him for calling me Luc. He stiffens in surprise for a second, confusion flitting over his features, before that smirk is back in place, amusement lining his features.
"So, you do want my help?" he asks, leaning further into me, eyes burning as he stares into my own, waiting. I try to ignore the feel of his perfectly toned body pressed against mine, as he stares into my eyes. I take a shaky breath, averting my gaze and concentrate on what he is saying. Sighing in defeat, I relax my tense pose and nod.
"Yes, I want your help," I say, without meeting his gaze, "Now let me go."