Ineffable Family

A Very Satisfying Epilogue

PLAYLIST:

Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana

I'm So Sick by Flyleaf

Freak On A Leash (MTV Unplugged Version) by Korn ft. Amy Lee

Sandalphon didn't know how long he Fell. If asked, he would say that he Fell for a thousand years, screamed for eons while his feathers burned for centuries. Of course, no one really cared enough to ask.The truth was, Sandalphon's Fall was not as terrible as most. God Herself had cast him down; he hadn't been thrown from the Gates of Heaven to plummet down through the Void and shatter on the brimstone floor of Hell. He didn't have to rebuild himself anew, or crawl on his belly until his limbs grew back. He didn't have to claw his wayout of a burning pool, scraping his fingers bloody as he screamed for help until his throat was raw. No, Sandalphon didn't experience any of that. Sandalphon only Fell for a decade before he landed in a pool of boiling sulfur. But there was someone there to help him out.

"Oh, Sandy. Crowley was right."

"Lemme go," Sandalphon choked. Someone had him by the throat, but he couldn't see who. "Ge' off me!"

"Tsk, tsk. Is that any way to speak to you new master? Here, let me help you." Clawed fingers wiped the thick, molten brimstone from the former archangel's eyes. "Do you recognize me now?"

He did. "Lucy! This is a mistake, I shouldn't be--"

"You should've been here a long time ago, old friend." Lucifer growled, so low that Sandalphon felt it rattle his teeth. "I dub thee Wraith, because you feed off the fear, and pain of others. But not anymore. Now, the pain will be yours."

Sandalphon—Wraith—shivered. "I will do anything, my Lord, anything you want, just please don't hurt--"

"What I want you to do...is suffer." Lucifer dropped him on the brimstone floor and turned to the imps behind him. "Clothe him, bind him, and bring him to my quarters."

Two imps hoisted Wraith up while a third bowed to Lucifer. "Would you like anything else, Master?"

"Yes," Lucifer said musingly. "Some warm goat blood would be nice. Also some chilled liver, if it's fresh enough."

The small demon cocked its head in question—Lucifer usually requested champagne on ice for special occasions. Then Lucifer winked at him, and the imp knew what his master was doing.

"Yes, Master. Goat blood and liver coming right up."

"Goat blood?" Wraith squeaked. "Liver? What's he going to d owith those?"

"Sometimes Master gets peckish during long sessions," the imp told him, smirking with his tiny, sharp teeth. "He must keep his strength up, to mete out the required punishments."

                                                                       ~~~~

In Lucifer's quarters, Wraith was forced into a loincloth and made to kneel beside a massive throne with his wrists bound in front of him. He waited there for what felt like hours, the stone floor bruising his knees.

Eventually Lucifer came in, wearing a black satin robe, and poured himself a crystal goblet of "goat blood," which was actually a lovely '56 Merlot that Crowley stole for him thirty-some years ago.

"Do you remember how you used to torment me when we were younger?"he asked. "How you would pluck my wings til they bled, and tell meI wasn't good enough to fly?"

Wraith stared up at him.

"Do you remember young Aziraphale? Such a sweet little angel. How you mocked his appearance until he wept?" Lucifer began to pace,motion grandly with his goblet of "blood." "You took great pleasure in destroying him. And Raphael, the Starmaker—your abuse was one of the reasons he Fell and became my problem. You've always been a cruel bastard, Sandalphon—Wraith. Ever since we were created."

"It was a joke," Wraith said feebly. "We were just kids, messing around."

Lucifer chuckled. "That's what you always told Mother. And for some stupid reason, she believed you. But Mother is not here to protect you. I am in control here. And I have some great plans for you."

Wraith realized what was happening. His eyes widened in horror."No...no, please...have mer--"

"If you ask for mercy, I will cast you back into that sulfur pit and let you struggle out on your own. You've never shown mercy in your existence, yet now you plead for it?"

"I—I have information! About the demon Crowley!"

"Crowley and Aziraphale have a daughter," Lucifer said. He drained the goblet and licked his lips. "An angelic child. Is that the information you wanted to trade?"

That was Wraith's trump card, the last bit of leverage he had."I...I..."

"I already know. Besides, there is no information that would be more satisfying than having you be my servant for all eternity." Lucifer ran his claws gently over Wraith's bald head. "You took pleasure in hurting people who didn't deserve it. I take pleasure in hurting people who do deserve it. Which of us, do you think, is better at it?"

"Y-you, My Lord!"

"Ah, you're a fast learner. But that won't save you."

Wraith thought that Falling was terrible. But what he endured after was far, far worse.

  1.Now, wasn't that satisfying?

2. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this book that I had no intention of writing!