Chapter 5~~~ Under Attack
Lucia's POV
An imposing shadow looms over me as I finally force my eyes to open. Blazing red arises glare down at me out of the black shadows surrounding me. My heart beat spikes as fear rushes through me. I know what happens next. He found me. He knows I was trying to escape. Now I will pay. Resignation fills me as I feel the restraints around my wrist, arms, legs, angles, torso, chest and head. There is no way out, even for me, there is no way out.
Light blinds me for a moment as he adjusts the room to his liking, my bare body lying directly under the blazing white light. I wish, as always, my eyes wouldn't adjust, that I can remain in the dark. But nothing goes the way I want it to when he is like this. I see the tray by my side filled with blades, jagged instruments, poisons and needles, all waiting and ready to feel my skin beneath them.
A shudder runs through me. Bile rising in my throat as he leans over the tray, slowly running his hands over the instruments, gently caressing his favorites, before finding the first injection he will need. By now I know what it is; I know what it will do. The immobilizer I call it. I don't know what it is exactly; just that it burns as it makes its way through my blood freezing my body in place in place, leaving only my head free so I am forced to witness he does and so he can hear my every scream.
He stabs the 3inch needle into my wrist in my veins, making no effort to be gentle, the sting of the cold steel borrowing through my skin is nothing compared to the burning of the contents as it begins the journey through my blood, reaping havoc on my body as it removes any control I had over my own body. The only thing it leaves behind is the ability to feel pain. I know this for certain as he picks up the next injection, not bothering to cover the wound left by the first. Blood runs down my wrist, pooling in my hand, before slowly dripping from my fingertips. I try to concentrate on the drip of my own blood as he stabs the second needle into my other wrist. This one is worse than the first. A scream escapes my lips despite my best attempts. His face lights with a smirk as he finishes plunging the poison in my body.
My entire body was burning. Every nerve ending alight. injection 2: heightened sensitivity. Just to insure I absolutely felt everything. The lightest brush of steel on my skin and my heart jolts. Breathing hitches. Without it I would make it through his administrations. I would maintain control. But with this heightened sensitivity… I'm not strong enough. When I feel blood running unequal amounts down each hand, I know it's time. Unable to close my eyes, I watch as he picks up the first jagged instrument. A normal blade just like mine. However, this one has to be altered so different length spines are in place of the smooth blade. My heart rate picks up. Thumping against my chest. Trying to escape. To get away as he digs that into my flesh. His white teeth flash as he looms over me, blade in his hand. He presses his right hand on my bare stomach. Cold hand sending goosebumps skittering across my skin. His left hand brings the jagged blade gently down to rest against my already scarred flesh.
He drags it lightly against my skin. Putting no pressure. Already my body screams in pain. I hold my breath. Waiting. With a sudden jerk, I feel my body being sawn in half. My muscles clench as he puts all his weights on the blade. Tearing the skin into stripes. Tearing open any organ too close the surface. A piercing scream fills the air as I struggle to keep my mind clear. Prevent the desperate fear from taking over my mind.
A hand hits my face. Leaving my hand rocking from the impact. The blade that accompanied the hit barely registering, until I feel the warmth liquid pouring down my cheek. Already I wish he would just kill me. The worst part is knowing that he won't. That I will suffer through this and worse until my body is slick with its own blood. Until my brain shuts down from the pain and blood loss. Until I can't scream anymore. Then he will use me to destroy the one thing I love. My only home, Heaven.
I hold back the tears as he reaches for another of his beloved instruments.
"Luc!" A jolt runs through me. Lucifer never speaks to me during torture. Not unless is to taunt me and he only calls me Lucia when he does. "Lucia. Come on." And that isn't his voice. But as a spiked mace come down my arm, I lose my train of thought to the piercing agony. I feel the bone break. My mind screaming as the cracked end stabs trough my skin. Into the open air. The shrieks that feel the air is pointless, but I can't suppress it any more than the last one. Screaming is all I can do. Tears streak down my face. Mingling with the blood already there. Despite my wish to remain silent to spite him, it is pointless to even try. With the burning, piercing throughout my body it is all I can do not beg him not to kill me. He wants me to. I found that out the first time. I will never give him the satisfaction again.
"Luc please!" That voice fills my head again. I concentrate on the sound, as those blood red eyes fill my vision once more. Whose voice was that! Then I realize. Red eyes. He doesn't have red eyes. Lucifer's eyes are blue. He only had red eyes in my nightmares because I know he is evil. I'm dreaming. Despite the pain I'm still feeling, a sigh of relief escapes me. "Luc!" A jolt runs through my body as hands roughly shakes me, despite Lucifer not being anywhere near me. Razakiel, I realize. Zak is trying to shake me awake. With a deep breath, I close my eyes and just as the dream Lucifer brings the mace down on my arm, I open my eyes to the real world.
Mesmerizing green eyes fill my vision as my own attempt to re-adjust to the dean flickering shadows off hell. A sigh slips through my lips as the pain disappears and I shove the dream and dredged up memories to the darkest recesses of my mind; hide them in the basement and lock the door.
"Luc, we have to get out of here. Lucifer must…"
"Watch out!" The shadows behind him coalesced into a single solid form, almost humanoid in shape, and so distorted and misshapen it's almost as if it has been torn apart and pierced back together with some parts being lost and extras found during the process. Skin darker than the darkest night, with veins glowing a fiery red that matches the cat-like eyes staring down at me; so eerily similar to those of Lucifer in my nightmare that for a moment I'm frozen, my mind dragging me back there, Razakiel breaks me out of the trance as he springs into action.
"Shit!" His deep voice is laced with anger and frustration. Eyes narrowed he turn to face the demon behind him. I fly to my feet, my blade in my hand. "Lucifer must have figured out what we were doing or something. The demons have been arriving since a few minutes after you blacked out." His voice barely wavers, despite the attacking demons and he wield his blade with deadly accuracy. I pause for a moment to admire his graceful movements; he is a talented fighter. It makes me slightly better about being beaten by him. "If you're done starring Luc, some help might be good."
I jolt from my trance and move to his side twirling my body to avoid the swiping claws of a demon, before slicing another across the chest. Sizzling blood, flows like lava from their wounds, melting the rock of the tunnel, leaving no illusions as to what will happen if I get any of it on myself. Ducking below the swing of a taller demon with multiple mismatched limbs, I turn as it swings drags it slightly past me and slide valor into its back, aiming for where its heart should be. For a moment it stood, seeming unchanged, before it collapsed to the floor, sinking in on itself until only a thick black goo like substance remained.
As we fight our way towards the tunnel exit, the swarm of demons thins and I begin to wonder what triggered them to come after us. Usually Lucifer would not put my life in danger, and as far as I am aware, he still trusts Razakiel implicitly.
"Zak? Why are they attacking us? How could Lucifer know it was you?" I ask him, slashing my blade through yet another mutilated mess.
"I don't know Luc, if he was here, I'd ask him, but as far as I can see his still hiding up on his throne." The snarl that left his lips on the last word sent shivers racing down my spine. He clearly hates Lucifer a great deal more than I thought he did. Quickly dropping the topic of Lucifer, I see an alternative standing directly in front of me.
"Could one of the demons tell us?" I lift my blade to the demon's face as I ask this, starring directly into is burning red eyes; searching for my acknowledgment; any sign that it understands what I am saying.
"I doubt any of them are going to stop long enough to have a chat Luc." He smirks glancing at me for a moment, obviously thinking I am a complete idiot. But he pauses for a moment and looks at me fully. "Actually, that may not be a bad idea." I sigh, now his just messing with me. "I mean we can't just ask them." He chuckles, before avoiding a stream of blood spurting from the chest of a demon in front of him. "But I could try getting into their minds." We are down to the last two demons blocking our path. I quickly dispatch the two headed, three-armed, slug-like demon closest to me, as Razakiel continues. "Distract the last one for me while I try it. And try not to get yourself killed."
"I'll try." I growl back, sarcasm lacing my words, due to the clear distain in his tone; he thinks I can't keep a demon occupied without getting myself killed. Well, we'll see about that! Sending a sharp glare in his direction I make my way a few steps closer to the demon, as Zak moves back slightly in order to remain out of reach once his eyes are closed.
The last demon, slightly taller than me, with two large, glinting horns extending from the top of its head and another twisted blade-like deformity protruding from between its blazing eyes, steps towards me. It lowers it massive head so that all three of the deadly spikes are aimed directly at me. With a deep breath, I take a few steps to the right, away from where Zak is standing. The blazing red eyes follow my every move. I watch as it makes a slight tip forward, knowing it is about to charge straight at me.
Then an odd look passes over its eyes and hesitates for a moment what looks like confusion flashing upon its misshapen face. Taking the opportunity, I dive forward and swing its right leg, quickly flapping, to get back up and avoid the spurt of sizzling blood, I move back to my original position. The demon tips slightly to the right, confusion disappearing through its features as it notices the pain in its leg, blood flowing freely. It moves to walk closer to me, but as weight is placed on the injured leg, it buckles at the knee. It hits the floor before it can right itself with the remaining uninjured leg, and as it struggles to regain its footing I race forward and create a similar injury on the left leg, preventing it from moving anywhere.
With a smirk on my lips at my success, I turn slightly and move back closer to Zak, keeping the demons in my sight the entire time, just to ensure I don't miss anything; if the demon attacked me because I wasn't paying attention, Razakiel would probably I was even more useless than he already does. And for some reason I don't want him to think of me as useless, I want to prove to him that I am well capable of defending and taking care of myself.
I stand by his side, watching him while he rifles through the demon's mind searching for their reason for attacking us. His eyes are closed, eyelids fluttering slightly every now and then, a faint flash to his eyes and a sheen of sweat on his brow from the continuous fight with demons; he had been fighting them for a while before I woke up. His chest rises and falls steadily, causing his crossed arms to flex slightly with every breath. He looks so calm and peaceful, almost regal as he stands there, no trace of fear or worry in his stance. As I watch, I feel almost drawn to him, he is as good as exuding power, confidence, strength, but at the same time it makes me to want to take a few steps back. As a result, I remained transfixed before him. Watching the rise and fall of his chest, and using it to calm my own breathing; still heavy from the fight.
"You can stop starring now and kill that demon so we can get out of here before the next group gets here." I shoot him a disbelieving stare.
"I wasn't starring." I reply calmly, despite the fact that maybe, just maybe, I in fact was starring. Just a little bit. "I was just waiting for you to hurry up and get the information we need. I mean how long does it take?" I smirk up at him, before turning and stabbing the demon through the heart as I walk past it.
"Well I would have had it done a lot faster if I didn't have to stop it from killing you." He calls after me and I pause for a moment, remembering how the demon stopped just before it was about to charge straight at me.
"You did nothing other than get inside its head. I could have taken it even if you weren't here." I tell him, trying to hide the rising indignation and anger behind the wall of calm. He chuckles lightly at my response, taking a few steps required to reach my side. I feel him lean his head down slightly so his breath is on my ear.
"Sure sweetheart. You keep believing that. And I know you were starring." He smirked. "You haven't put your shield back up yet." I turn on him faster than I expected and shove him firmly away from me.
"You're still un my head? Get out! Wait. Put my shield back up? I have a shield? I had it up? When?" He chuckles silently as he sees my changing thoughts escape my mouth and the sudden understanding dawn on me. I am a shield. It worked. Whatever he did… whatever he took out of my head, it worked. I'm a shield. And just like that the anger and frustration a felt from his laughter disappeared; he set me free of Lucifer. We could now get out of here. We could escape and have a chance of evading Lucifer and his henchmen and demons.
"Thank you" I whisper, and this time, as he looks down at me, a real smile lights his face.