“How is that even possible, Da? I thought that when the tear between the realms was fixed that The Underworld remained closed to us. I have so many questions.” Timbra mutters, more to herself than anyone else.
“There are some things that your mother and I have kept very private, but things are changing once more, and we may need to rethink what we have kept to ourselves. Your mother can bring you and Lachlan up to speed. Come, Daxell. Poppy are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes, Uncle A. She’s my best friend and she’s in trouble. Besides, Lillie’s dreamboat here will be there to protect us.” She smirks.
Groaning, I ask, “Poppy, could you please layoff for a just minute?” Now I have to be the bearer of bad news. “You should take your sprite form. I don’t think you will be able to shift once we get to The Underworld. I don’t want you to have to undergo a forced shift when we arrive. I don’t think that will be pleasant for you.”
“He’s right, sweety. The whole time I was there, I could not shift to my faerie form, but Luc said that my sprite form carried more weight. Hopefully, this will be the case for you as well. Take care, daughter and kick some ass. Make me a proud mama.” Jasmine hugs her daughter and gives me a tight smile, “Bring our Lillie Joanna home.”
Ashlinn makes her way to me, and smiles, “I have faith in you Daxell. Do what must be done. I’ll see you both soon.”
“You should know … you need to know …” I stutter, feeling uncomfortable in the faith that this tiny, beautiful goddess is placing in me.
“Shhh, I know, and I’m okay with the trade-off that will need to be made, whatever that may be. I’m sure if she had a choice between you and staying safely tucked away here in The Otherworld, she will choose you. It’s time for her to accept her station. She is a goddess, after all, that needs to claim her god-given right, and she can do that with you by her side. Now go. She needs your help.” Her smile is contagious and lights up her entire being. I know that I really don’t know her, but damn if she isn’t making me feel right at home.
“Thank you.” I smile down at the tiny goddess, she’s so freakin’ petite. Turning back to her mate, and dare say my future father in law? I say, “I’m ready.”
“Then, let’s do this.” He lands a hand on my shoulder. Cara is in my arms, and Poppy is on my other shoulder. Alaric traces us to The Underworld, and once again it's like the room and everyone around us have fallen away as we’re pulled into a tunnel before coming out on the other side. More specifically, the doors that lead to Luc’s not so humble abode. Alaric strides forward to the enormous doors that stand before us and grasps the door knocker. He pounds on the door three times before backing away.
The huge ass doors open slowly, a dull-eyed demon asks, “Do you have an appointment with the almighty prince of darkness?” The creature before us leisurely blinks once, then again, and I have to wonder why the hell would this demon be the butler to the almighty Lucifer’s dwelling here in hell. His skin is a dull grey, as are his eyes. There is nothing remotely interesting about this male as he stands before us blinking in slow motion. It’s enough to send me into a rage. By the Fallen, is he moving in slow motion on purpose?
Barging into the dark atrium, I bellow, “Lucifer, I need to see you. NOW!” My voice booms off of the stone walls. His butler stumbles backward as I push into Luc’s residence.
“Come! I’ve been waiting for you.” Luc leans over the railing from just one story above us, his white-blond hair gleaming in the dim lighting. “What are you waiting for, Slarnok? Show our guest in.”
“Well, Lurch here has been slow to welcome us into your humble abode. How the hell does he get anything done at his pace. Seriously, Luc, I need to get a move on.”
Luc chuckles, “Easy there young Daxell. As you can imagine, I don’t get many guests so Slarnok may be a little out of practice. Come on up, all of you. It’s good to see you again, Alaric.”
“Luc, we need your help and we don’t have time for pleasantries. It’s Lillie.” Alaric strides up the stairs, taking them two at a time. “She’s here in your realm and we need to find her and get her back.”
I follow on Alaric’s heels. Anxious to find out what Luc knows. We enter a room that looks like a study. In the center of the room is a table that looks as if it displays 3D images. Images of The Underworld, in what appears to be real-time. “Where is she?” I demand.
Luc pins me with a look, “It’s not that easy, young Daxell.”
“I’m not young.” I seeth.
“By my standards you are, and so is Alaric here. So don’t be offended. I have been around, almost since the beginning of time, so everyone is young to me.”
Sighing, I say, “Luc, I mean no disrespect, but I need to find her and I know that you can help.” Cara whimpers in my arms and I let her down to roam, reminding me that she and Poppy are here with me.
Alaric steps forward, “Daxell is right, you can help. So let’s get on with it. I want my daughter back home.”
“I need both of you to cool your jets. She’s here, but a formal complaint has been lodged against her by Mammon. Daxell, you understand how that works, right?” Lucifer’s pale blue eyes drill into my own. His whitish blond hair looks disheveled as if he’s
