Yeah, that’s not fucking cryptic at all.
He doesn’t stick around to explain further, and before I can blink, I’m in front of her dorm room without using any of my own powers. Sometimes, I hate how He seems to be in control of fucking everything.
“What’s going on?” I walk through the door while I talk, and come to a halt.
All I see is Harleigh crying hysterically, surrounded by the guys while Mark holds a furious Darren off. Whatever happened, it’s going to be a long night.
Two Weeks Later…
Harleigh
I’m in Hell. And not just the emotionally dark kind. No, I am in actual Hell, and training my ass off to control my powers, so I never harm another innocent.
When Darren had first woken up that day, he tried to attack me. He was outraged that I had not only killed his father, but I had almost killed him as well.
If I’m being honest, I don’t blame him for any of it. A part of me even wanted to let him destroy me, but there was no way anyone was going to let him near me.
That’s what Gramps had walked into when he came back from his meeting in Heaven.
Yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that one. I think it would be entertaining to see him so far out of his element.
“You’re spacing out again, baby girl,” Gramps pulls me from my thoughts.
Hell isn’t how I ever imagined it, all ash and darkness with fire and brimstone everywhere. Him and Dad had laughed when I told them that, before telling me that those parts existed too, but it wasn’t somewhere they ever wanted me to see. I was more than okay with that decision.
Instead, I’m in a corner of Hell where my park actually exists, but now there’s an added cottage for us to stay in.
It feels perfect aside from the torment raging through my mind over killing Paul. He may not have been a good person, but I thought I was. I never wanted to harm someone or be the cause of their death, and it’s something I’ve been struggling with since it happened.
I go from being traumatized and feeling disgusted with myself, to realizing that everyone else is right. He was going to die anyway because he needed to, and it really didn’t matter who pulled that imaginary trigger.
But the fact that it was me? It just doesn’t sit right.
The guys, Dad, and Gramps have all tried to help me come to terms with it, but it’s not an easy road for me. Even Darren has come to accept it. So why am I struggling so hard?
“Sorry.” I give him a small smile, and he walks over to me, pulling me into his arms. This tough as hell biker looking man is pretty sweet when he wants to be. You know, considering he is Satan, it’s kind of impressive.
“It’s okay, baby girl. You’re getting a lot better at controlling the fire now,” he praises, and I sigh.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
He kisses my head.
“I know, but you don’t need to be. You’ve gotten this under control. You can now feel the power building in you before it really takes off.”
I nod against his chest.
“But what if it’s different there?” I whisper, and he chuckles.
“It will be, but it’s actually harder to use your powers up there. Now that you can recognize what’s happening in such a powerful way, you will be able to control it without issue up there. Does that make sense?”
“That it’s easier to use my powers here because it’s where they originate.”
“Exactly. Just like your Heavenly powers would be stronger up there than on Earth.” I pull away from him to give him the same look I always do.
When he first told me everything about his discussion with God, The Father, I didn’t really know how to take it.
Most of me was thankful He had chosen that route because I had the chance to grow up normal, with a loving family. It made me who I am today, and I can never be ungrateful for that. But a part of me was angry.
All of this has happened in my life because I didn’t know who I was, or what I was capable of. Addy’s life was forever changed and derailed because of the road my life had to take, and that’s something I know I will never fully forgive myself for.
“I’m still not sure I have any of those abilities or powers that He seems to think I have.” I sigh. “Maybe I was always meant to be evil.”
Lucifer lets out a dark growl that shakes the ground around us, and I gasp.
“You. Are. Not. Evil! You are the purest thing that has ever stepped foot into Hell, Harleigh Roe. One bad thing doesn’t define you. I don’t care how bad of a thing you think it is either, so don’t even bother with the argument building in your head.” He’s so angry right now. He’s not the Gramps I love, he’s fully the Lucifer that everyone fears.
Except, I don’t. Not really, because at the end of the day, I know he will never ever do anything to hurt me.
“I killed someone!” I shout at him, and he shrugs which just pisses me off. “You can’t just shrug your shoulders like it doesn’t matter! I KILLED someone! There is no coming back from that!” The anger is rising inside of me, along with the overwhelming urge to let my power free and burn some shit… but I don’t.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, thinking about the mental wall I need to erect when my emotions run high like this. I refuse to let my emotions run my powers again because I will not be evil. I just can’t be.
“Good girl,” Gramps praises from beside me, and I open my eyes to see him smiling at me.
“You pissed me off on purpose?” I look at him dumbfounded, and he cackles this evil laugh that vibrates to my soul, making me smile because it’s perfectly him.
