protest. “I’ll do it!! I’ll go!!” he finally folded, hoping Dante would change his mind because once he gave an order, it was either followed or—well you get the gist. “What’s that?” Dante asked turning back with a sarcastically smug smile teasing his lips. Lucien swallowed the lump in his throat before saying again, “I’ll go. Send me.” Hearing that was like music to Dante’s ears. Or in his case, the screaming torture of his prisoners. Oh how he loved to watch the flesh being filleted off of those beneath him. “I’m sure W rath and Envy are very capable of bringing Dezmon back.” Dante teased, knowing Lucien would react. Envy swiped down and measured the blade of the axe to Lucien’s throat for good measure. “Are you sure you wanna send these two idiots to Earth?” Lucien spat as he kept his eyes on the blade Envy held. There was now a flicker of resentment in Envy’s eyes as he gripped the axe tighter. Lucien was sure that he was a few seconds away from losing his head. Sure angering the one person who hated you with a passion was stupid—especially if he was holding a sharp object to your throat— but Lucien couldn’t risk letting them go to Earth. Not when he knew they’d destroy any and everything in their path. The death toll of innocent people would pale in comparison to the casualties to any war ever fought. Wrath was made to inflict misery on everyone he came in contact with. Going to Earth was well worth saving humans from what they didn’t know was coming. Tsking, Dante pondered his words and Lucien took that as a good sign. Thinking was always a great opportunity to get into a person’s head. That little hesitation was a vast window to plant whatever seed he needed. So Lucien kept going. “If these two dimwits were up there, they’d more than likely screw your plans up.” He urged and Wrath dug his claws deeper into his wrist. Groaning in pain, Lucien nearly buckled, but he knew the moment that he did, he would slice his throat open on the blade that was only mere inches away from him. “Stop stalling.” Wrath said through clenched teeth. “Envy destroy him.” He finished with his hard no nonsense tone. “Gladly!” Envy replied as he drew the blade back once more and swung. Lucien shut his eyes as he felt the whoosh of the blade come near him, but a blow never came. Or maybe it had. Was the blade so smooth that he had killed him only to land him in—Wait…where would he end up if he was “destroyed”? He was already in Hell. Was it Purgatory or Limbo? Guess it didn’t matter. Opening one eye slowly, he saw Dante holding Envy’s wrist. So, he had changed his mind…and just in time. Lucien’s neck had literally been on the line. “ You swayed me mongrel.” Dante mocked because he knew how much Lucien hated being called that. Lucien hated when anyone mentioned the fact that he was a hybrid. So Dante usually took every chance he got to call him anything that pointed out the fact that he was a half breed. Like now. “You have three days to retrieve what I want or…” Dante whispered the rest in Lucien’s ear; he obviously didn’t want anyone else hearing whatever it was that he had to say. Whatever it was, it made Lucien cringe and he heaved in frustration. Clenching his fist, Lucien shut his eyes and bowed his head. There damn sure was no way to turn back now. Dante placed a hand on Lucien’s head and a second later everything went black again.
Chapter Two Up to Earth Blinking, Lucien opened his eyes to see utter darkness. Licking his lips, he tasted dirt and grumbled. Every one of his muscles were aching, especially his back. Dante was such a bastard. He could’ve at least sent him back fully healed. Sure he had already begun healing on his own, but that could take the rest of the night. Looking around, he saw trees. Lots and lots of damn trees. How