Ascension (Book 4, The Watcher Chronicles) (22 page)

“No,” I tell him, even though it almost did, but why give him the satisfaction of knowing how close he came to winning?

I walk to the door of the room determined to go downstairs where my bodyguards are waiting. Mason places one of his hands on the door just as I grab the handle to open it.

“Promise me you’ll be careful today,” he says, deadly serious.

I look into his eyes and say, “I’ll be fine, and I will be careful. Don’t worry.”

“All I do is worry,” he admits, moving his hand away from the door.

“Then go to headquarters and get your mind off of things. Maybe you should do what I suggested and start tutoring Leah. She needs it if she’s going to have a normal life in this reality.”

Mason nods. “All right, I’ll do that. But have Aiden or Malcolm bring you to me as soon as your talk with Lucifer is over.”

“I will. I promise.” I lean up and give him a lingering kiss on the lips. “I’ll see you soon.”

When I walk out of the door, I turn my head back towards the bedroom and see Mason watching me walk away with worry in his eyes. I wink at him and he tries to smile but it comes out half-hearted. I know he won’t be ok until I’m back in his arms safe and sound.

JoJo’s fashion show takes place in the Terrace Room of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Aiden and Malcolm phase me to the backstage area where all the models and a sundry of helpers are running around. I feel like I’ve just stepped inside a madhouse.

“Jess!”

I hear JoJo call to me and find her bouncing her way over to me, all giddy with excitement.

“I’m so glad you could make it, mon cheri,” she says, giving me kisses on the cheeks and making me feel rather continental.

“I told you I would come. Is everything all right?” I ask looking at the commotion around me.

“Oh,” JoJo giggles, “oui, oui. It is always like this before a show. I love the energy!”

It looks like complete chaos to me, but if it makes JoJo happy, it makes me happy for her.

“Where am I supposed to sit?” I ask her.

“I have seats reserved for you in the front row,” she tells me. “Come, come, mon ami. I will escort you to them myself.”

As we walk out from behind the stage, I feel like I’ve just stepped into a room befitting the Palace of Versailles. The ceiling is decorated with figural paintings and a series of grand, two-tiered crystal chandeliers runs along its length. A long runway has been set up in the middle of the room for JoJo’s models to walk down and rows of chairs are already occupied by those who have come to view the showing of her latest collection.

As JoJo walks us to our seats in the middle of the front row on the left side of the stage, a multitude of people in the audience wish her luck. The smile on JoJo’s face brightens with each well wish, and I can tell she is truly in her element.

We finally come to three empty chairs and JoJo instructs us to sit in them.

“I will come get you afterwards,” JoJo tells me, giving me one more kiss on the cheek before she leaves.

I see her turn to Malcolm and touch something on the bare portion of his chest.

“Be careful,” she murmurs to him.

“Aren’t I always?” He asks her, his voice gentle.

“Non,” JoJo says, shaking her head. “You are always reckless with yourself. So be careful for the ones who care about you.”

Malcolm covers the hand JoJo still has on his chest. “I’ll be careful,” he tells her. “I promise.”

I see him squeeze her hand gently before letting it go.

JoJo lifts her hand from his chest and makes her way back to the chaos of her fashion show.

I look over at Malcolm to see what JoJo was touching. I see a silver pendant in the shape of an angel wing hanging from a braided black leather necklace.

“Did JoJo make that for you?” I ask Malcolm.

“Yes.”

“What does it do?”

“I’m not sure it does anything yet,” Malcolm says, sitting back in his chair crossing his arms over his chest effectively blocking my view of the necklace. “We’ll just have to wait and see to find out if it works.”

“Then what is it
supposed
to do?” I say, asking my question another way.

Malcolm shrugs. “Like I said, we’ll have to wait and see.”

The lights in the room dim and music with a thumping beat begins to play. I recognize the music as being one of Chandler’s songs but this version of it is more like something you would hear playing in a nightclub. Spotlights shine on the stage and JoJo’s models begin to make their way down the long runway in front of me.

As I’m watching the show, I begin to feel like I’m being watched. I look across the runway and see Lucifer staring straight at me from his own front row seat.

I feel Michael instantly take control, and I don’t mind it one bit.

The two one time best friends stare at one another across the runway, neither of them wanting to be the first to show weakness by looking away. By the time JoJo is walking out on stage with her models, signaling the end of her show, I can feel Michael’s need to go talk to his friend.

“Jess!”

Michael breaks his eye contact with Lucifer as JoJo calls to me, urging me to join her on the runway. Not having much choice, Michael stands me up and walks over to JoJo.

She loops and arm around one of mine and turns me back in the direction of the backstage area. Aiden and Malcolm phase to each corner at the front of the runway, keeping a watchful pair of eyes on me and JoJo.

Once we’re safely backstage, JoJo is immediately surrounded by her adoring fans and my petite friend is soon swallowed up and separated from me. I look for Aiden and Malcolm and see they have been cornered by a group of supermodels which doesn’t seem to bother either of them a bit.

I feel a hand land on my shoulder and soon find myself standing on a rooftop. The sun is beating down on me but at this elevation and time of year I feel like I’m going to freeze. I feel the warmth of a jacket cover my shoulders. Michael holds the front of the jacket closed to keep in the heat. He turns us around and we’re face to face with Lucifer.

“Hello, old friend,” Michael says. I feel his heart ache with sadness at the sight of his best friend and the one word he keeps thinking is ‘lost’.

Lucifer stares at us, looking my body up and down. “It’s strange to talk to you while you’re in Jess’ form, Michael, but I must admit she’s better to look at than you ever were.”

“I would have to agree with you on that.”

“Too bad I’ll have to kill her,” Lucifer says matter-of-factly, like it’s a forgone conclusion.

“You don’t have to do anything, Lucifer, and I don’t truly believe you desire to kill Jess.”

Lucifer scoffs. “And what would make you think that?  I’m pretty sure I made myself crystal clear on that point the last time she and I spoke.”

“I don’t think you will because she’s your friend, just like I am your friend. There were times during the war when you could have killed me, but you didn’t. Even if the opportunity presents itself, I don’t believe you will kill Jess. Even
you
have a code of honor about some things.”

“Don’t mistake me for a monkey, Michael. Just because I wear the suit of one doesn’t make me one. I don’t allow my emotions to rule my actions like they do.”

“Have you learned nothing from living among them all these years?”  Michael asks in disappointment. “Their emotions are what make them strong. If you could set aside your hate, maybe you would finally learn the lesson our father sent you here to learn.”

Lucifer stares hard at us for a long time, not saying a word. Finally he asks, “Have you figured out what I intend to do yet?”

“Yes,” Michael admits. “We know.”

“I figured Gabriel would show you at some point. And what exactly do you think of my plan?”

“I think you will fail.”

“Have you seen me fail?”

“I don’t need to.”

Lucifer stares at us then busts out in laughter. “The old bastard won’t let you see who wins, will he?  Imagine that. He won’t tell his precious archangels what will happen. How does that make you feel, Michael?  Abandoned?  Hopeless?”

“I always have hope,” Michael says. “I have no doubt that we will win. He won’t let us fail. There’s too much at stake. I still have hope for you, Lucifer. I have hope you will find your way back home one day so we can be together again.”

“Why?”  Lucifer asks, his eyes narrow on us. “Why would you want to be my friend after everything I’ve done, after everything you’ve seen me do?”

“Because deep down I know you wanted to take your crown back,” Michael tells him. “You were so close to ending this, old friend. Why didn’t you?  Why didn’t you accept his forgiveness and end your own pain?”

“I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of,” Lucifer says scathingly. “You may think you know me, but you don’t Michael, not anymore. I’m not the same person you befriended in Heaven. I’m stronger now. I don’t need you. I don’t need our father. I don’t need Heaven. I’m perfectly fine with the way things are.”

“Who are you trying to convince, Lucifer, me or yourself?”

“Don’t test my patience, Michael,” Lucifer warns. “I don’t need your patronizing attitude bestowed upon me thank you very much.”

“Then why did you want to meet with me?”

Lucifer looks uncertain. I begin to wonder if he even knows why he wanted to speak with Michael.

“I want you to give Jess a message for me,” Lucifer says.

“She’s listening.”

“Physical pain is fleeting. Emotional pain lasts forever.”

Michael cocks our head at Lucifer. “Are you taking up our father’s bad habit of speaking in riddles?”

Lucifer smiles. “She’ll understand the meaning soon enough.”

“I should have known those models were sent by you.”

Michael looks behind Lucifer as Malcolm says these words.

Lucifer turns to face Malcolm.

“It’s never been very hard to distract you with a well endowed display of human flesh, Malcolm,” Lucifer says.

“And it’s never been very hard to defeat you,” Malcolm taunts. “What is this, the third time you’ve tried to misbehave?  When will you learn that our father will never let you win?  You might think yourself his equal, but you’ll always be the dirt beneath his feet, Lucifer. You’re nothing. It’s about time you stopped trying to act like you’re a god.”

“What the hell is Malcolm doing?” I ask Michael through our mental connection. “He’s going to get himself killed.”

“
I’m not sure,” Michael says. “Let’s see where he takes this. I can step in if I need to.”

“I would shut your mouth before you get yourself into trouble,” Lucifer warns. “Or have you forgotten I can crush you like a bug on the ground?”

Malcolm crosses his arms over his chest. “Well, I guess you would know all about slithering on the ground. You always threaten us with your power, but I have rarely seen you use it. What’s wrong?  Can’t quite make yourself dirty your own hands?  Have to get your henchmen like Levi and Baal to do the work for you?”

“I’m warning you, Malcolm,” Lucifer says through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to kill you yet. You’re usually worth a good laugh with your endless desire to make Lilly happy. How is she anyway?  Keeping Brand’s bed all nice and warm while you’re made to stay at arms length?  How does it feel to be used to protect her while Brand reaps all the benefits you desire for yourself?”

“You would think you could come up with some new material by now,” Malcolm says, looking completely unaffected my Lucifer’s words. “I choose the way I live my life for my own reasons. No one forced me, least of all Lilly and Brand. They’re my friends, my family. How many people can you call your friend, Lucifer?  Oh, that’s right. You just make death threats to people who even try to be your friend. Isn’t it about time you grew up and became a man who can admit when he’s made a mistake?”