Fallen (Chronicles of the Fallen, #1)

The third door contains no image, and Alex can only imagine what it could mean. He whispers, “Hell knows nothing of sacrifice or love.” Picking the third door, he pushes against it and it creaks open to darkness. Taking an unnecessary breath, he steps forward, the door slamming closed behind him. His breath catches in his throat when he hears Lisa’s screams.

Slowly, the light around him begins to brighten. Red hues illuminate the area and screams fill the air. Alex looks around and sees Samuel standing next to Lisa’s body, a sadistic grin on his lips. “I figured you’d have been here a lot sooner. I guess you don’t love her as much as you THINK you do.” Lisa’s head falls to the side, and she takes in the site of Alex. Her eyes widen in astonishment at his black orbs and his black wings. She shakes her head as bloody tears stream down her cheeks.

Lisa screams out as another spear is slammed into her body. Until the lights came on, she had no idea what was happening to her. Samuel reaches up, grabs hold of the spear, and pulls hard, causing Lisa to scream out. Her blood pools down her body and the hellhounds lap it up, then eat against the flesh of her legs.

“STOP THIS NOW! TAKE ME! LET HER GO!” Alex rushes forward and pushes Samuel out of the way. The hellhounds retreat as Samuel calls to them. Looking up at Lisa, Alex lifts his hands up to her legs, shaking his head.

“What…” Lisa swallows hard as Alex’s hands move up her legs. “What is he talking about?” Lisa’s eyes roam over Alex, taking him all in. He’s still Alex, but different. His eyes are completely black; he has black appendages pushing out of his back in the appearance of wings; his lips part, revealing sharp fangs. “Alex, what did you do?” she whispers.

He hesitates for a moment, and Samuel takes pleasure in jumping right in. “Lisa, my love,” Samuel smirks as he looks at Alex, “Selaphiel here or, as you lovingly call him, Alex, was an angel.” Samuel’s lips form a sneer as he circles him. “After you promised your soul to me, he felt the need to protect you.”

Confused, Lisa looks at Samuel as the pain radiates through her body. Struggling as she continues to hang from the chains, she screams, “I never sold my soul!”

“Oh, but you did.”

Samuel steps closer to Lisa. Looking up at her, he reaches for one of the spears and Alex growls. Samuel suddenly turns and shoves his hands against Alex’s chest, pushing him hard. He’s sent flying and lands on his stomach, hard.

Samuel turns back to face Lisa, grips one of the spears in her gut, and pulls. She screams and he begins to climb up her body until his eyes are level with hers. She can feel her body ripping where his weight is pulling on her. “You easily sold your soul to me to get the better job, the better place to live, the better lifestyle. You made it too easy. Greed, lust, and vanity.” Samuel moves closer to her face and whispers, “You mortals, it doesn't take much to give you exactly what you want. You so easily take what you have for granted.”

Sneering, he exhales and a light haze blows across Lisa’s face. The smoke forces itself up Lisa’s nose and images invade her mind. The meeting, the contract she signed, the commitment of Lisa selling her soul. The realization on her face reflects into Samuel’s eyes and he smirks.

“You…you tricked me? For my soul?” She struggles against her restraints. His weight pulls on her again and she screams out.

His red eyes flash brighter as he leans in closer to her. His tongue slides across his teeth and they begin to change shape. The blunt edges shift into sharp daggers, while the incisors shift into fangs; his face begins to contort; his eyelids pull back into slits; his nose pulls in and becomes two holes in his face; his olive skin changes to a black sheen; black, leather wings erupt out of his back and his serpent tongue flicks out of his mouth, slicing Lisa across her cheek. She screams out in fear of what Samuel has become.

His voice lowers to a dark growl. “We feed on your souls here in Hell. We LIVE off of what you give us so willingly!” He runs his rough skin across her cheek, the holes in his face smelling her scent. “YOU ARE MINE!” Claws at the end of his hand rise up to slash across her body.

Running, Alex jumps on Samuel, thrusting his arms around his body, slamming both of them to the ground. Lisa screams when a spear is broken during the collision. Alex pins Samuel down on his back. Bringing a fist up, he slams it down in Samuel’s face. Black blood oozes from his mouth, and Alex draws back again. “I gave myself for her! Let her go!” Alex brings his fist down on Samuel’s face again.

Grunting from the double blow, Samuel reaches up and grabs Alex’s wrist before the third punch is received. “Done! Get the fuck off of me, human lover!”

“No!” Lisa screams out. “Don’t let him do this! Alex, no!” She struggles against her restraints.

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