Lust (Sins of the Fallen Book 3)

  LUST

  Karina Espinosa

  LUST Copyright © 2016 KARINA ESPINOSA

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  Cover design by © BookFabulous Designs

  Edited by Daniella Brooks

  Copyright 2016 by Karina Espinosa

  ASIN: B01BGT5EAY

  Happy Birthday, Dad.

  02/02/1936 - 01/28/2013

  “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

  -Friedrich Nietzsche

  Chapter One

  My breaths were shallow as I tried to keep the bounce from my right leg from getting out of control. The tension in the room thickened, suffocating the five of us as we sat around the kitchen table, avoiding eye contact.

  When Sienna rang the doorbell, she was the last person we expected to show up—much less to be another Nephilim. I was still in shock from seeing her on Jeremiel’s doorstep, especially since the last time I saw her I was leaving her hotel room.

  Sienna sitting on my left and Angela on my right, I literally had the devil and the angel on either shoulder and the weight of it was giving me arthritis.

  With a mental ability I didn’t have, I pleaded for Jones’ and Niko’s attention so they could help me out in this extremely uncomfortable situation. But of course, both of them stared at the ceiling as if we sat in the Sistine Chapel.

  It’s no secret Angela spent the night in my room—and then Sienna, the Nephilim of Lust no-less, walked into our now expanding group of misfits. It’s the cherry on top of this melted disaster of a sundae.

  Unable to control myself any longer, I slammed my fists on the table, breaking the silence. “We’re wasting time, my dad is out there probably getting tortured and we’re just sitting here twiddling our thumbs!” I was met with crickets. “Jones?”

  He finally looked my way and I was reminded of how tired Jones was. The bags under his eyes were like pouches filled to the brim with water—we’d been through too much already, more than any of us expected. “I’m sorry, you’re right. We need to figure out our next move.”

  “No. First we need to figure out what we’re going to do with her,” Nikolai said as he pointed an accusatory finger at Sienna.

  She scoffed, “Me? I’m your best bet right now. I have information that could help, unlike you.”

  “You? Help? Get real,” Niko turned to Angela, “Are you going to let her waltz in here and drive a wedge between you and your man?”

  “Nikolai!” My eyes popped out of their sockets.

  “What? Let’s not fake the funk, Max, we all know what went on last night.”

  I felt the heat on my face and fought the urge to shrink into myself. I didn’t want to be alone last night. After I killed Samuel, and seeing the message Lady Mandisa left me at the caves, sleeping alone was the last thing I wanted to do. I also wanted to spend as much time with Angela as possible—we hadn’t spoken about our relationship yet—with Sienna here and my father kidnapped by Abbadon, I doubted we would anytime soon.

  “Oh for God’s sake, nothing happened last night. Get over yourselves,” Angela said, irritation laced in her voice. “Max is right, we don’t have time to waste, but first let’s deal with…what’s your name?”

  “Sienna,” she said and rolled her eyes, “but I’m sure you knew that already.”

  “I wouldn’t be asking if I knew,” Angela gritted out. This was a fight waiting to happen.

  “Okay enough! Why are you here and what information do you have that can help us?” I asked, trying to get everyone back on track. “And why do you want to help us anyway?”

  “Easy, Lover. Ask nicely, and I’ll give you whatever you want,” Sienna purred.

  I tightened my hands into fists. “Please.”

  She smirked. “I heard through the grapevine you were in Vegas and after doing some digging around, I found out you were looking for Nikolai. And there’s only one reason you would be,” she paused. “The Wanderer.”

  Silence enveloped us again as we took in what Sienna was trying to sell us. I didn’t know if I’d become skeptical or what, but nothing she said was gospel. It was too much of a coincidence that she showed up in the middle of this crisis. No, this seemed premeditated.

  “Did you know?” I asked and she raised an eyebrow. “Did you know what I was when we first met?” Since the minute I saw her on Jeremiel’s doorstep and she said she was a Nephilim, all I could think about was whether she knew we were one in the same.

  With her bright red hair neatly in place, Sienna sat in a pair of short-shorts and a tank top looking as cool as a cucumber—until I asked what she didn’t want to answer. For a second, her smile fell and I caught a glimpse at her discomfort.

  “What do you think, Maximillion?”

  “So you used me?”

  She tsked as she wagged a finger. “Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to turn this around on me, hot stuff. If anything, you used me. I wasn’t the one brooding about my life and family. You were—and no one made you climb into bed with me either. I might be the Nephilim of Lust, but not even I have the capability to control you that way.”

  “Oh spare me, Sienna. You knew who he was and you knew what was going on before any of us did. You toyed with him, that’s all you ever do,” Nikolai said, his face contorted in disgust.

  “And the Greek speaks! Finally got that off your chest, huh?”

  Nikolai’s chair screeched against the tile floor as he stood up. “Oh you bit—”

  “Shut up!” Jones yelled as his fists covered his eyes in exhaustion. “I’ve had enough of all of you. Stop giving us the run around Sienna, why are you really here?”

  She sighed and pretended to clean one of her nails. “Look, I know you probably won’t believe me, but I want to help. I’ve been running from The Wanderer for far too long now and I think we have a chance if we stick together.”

  Niko snorted.

  Jones glared at him and then turned his attention back to Sienna. “Do you know who The Wanderer is?”

  She shook her head. “All I know is what the legends say: he can’t be killed.”

  “If that’s all the information you have, then it’s not much. We already know.”

  She rolled her eyes. “That’s all the info I got on him, but I know who’s really after Max.” She leaned in closer with a mischievous grin on her face.

  “What do you mean? I thought it was the Wanderer?” I peered up in confusion. “This better not be some game to you, Sienna.”

  “Relax, Max, I wouldn’t play these types of games with you,” she winked. “But let’s be real, if The Wanderer really wanted Max dead, he already would be. They’re others in the mix and they’re all betting in this crazy game. Just because you know who he is, doesn’t mean you know the whole story.”

  Sienna’s emerald eyes fluttered between the four of us as we examined her. How complex was this?

  “Spit it out, Sienna, stop with the suspense,” Nikolai growled.

  She sighed, “Fine. Who you should really be worried about is—The Wild Hunt.” There was an eerie pause as she swallowed and I could see fear etched in her angel-like features. “The ones who ride across the sky for an eternity looking for him.”

  I d
idn’t understand what she was saying, but it didn’t take long to realize this was a serious accusation. In response, Nikolai grabbed his chair and threw it in her direction.

  Angela and I ducked out of the way as Sienna calmly caught the leg of the chair before it could hit her.

  “The Wild Hunt! Are you completely mad?” Nikolai shrieked with his hands fisted in his hair. “They are vultures and death itself. Do not speak the name unless you are certain! If we get in their way, they will send us to our graves without a second thought. They have no conscience.”

  I looked to Sienna and her features were grim. Could this be true? Who were they?

  “I speak the truth, Nikolai. I wouldn’t even be here unless I was scared for my own life! Do you think I would even utter that name unless I was sure?”

  “How do you know?” Jones asked.

  “The Archangel Samuel—he is part of the Hunt. They’re rumors he is after you, Max.”

  “Samuel isn’t going to be a problem anymore,” I said as I hid my hand behind me—the same hand that ripped Samuel’s heart out yesterday—it wouldn’t stop shaking.

  “He’s sneaky, Maximillion. Don’t believe anything he says.”

  “I don’t have to—he’s dead.” I turned my back on them and peered out the kitchen window by the sink. Sienna’s gasp was low but with my hearing so sensitive, I heard it. She must be wondering which one of us killed him. Not that it mattered—what’s done was done—I couldn’t take it back.

  “If Samuel is…gone, then what are you all still doing here?” Sienna asked and I turned back to the group.

  “This is where we’re staying until we figure out a plan,” Angela piped in.

  “Well, you need to forget the plan and start running. If I could find you, so can they. Just because Samuel won’t be coming for you, doesn’t mean the threat is gone.”

  “You’re right, it doesn’t. But it gives us time to think,” I said.

  “No, you’re wrong. Kill one and another takes its place. There is no breathing room, someone from The Wild Hunt is probably already here,” Sienna said as her eyes grew to the size of golf balls scanning the room.

  Angela, Jones, Niko, and I looked at each other, contemplating our next move. Could Sienna really be trusted? Nikolai had some weird tendencies and I knew he was hiding some things from me, but I trusted him for some odd reason. But it didn’t mean I could trust all Nephilim.

  “Wait,” Jones put his hand out and shook his head. “Before we start believing everything that comes out of your mouth like some naïve children, we need proof that what you’re saying is true. I won’t be putting Max through a run-around without some hardcore facts.”

  Sienna smirked as she crossed her arms over her chest. “And here I thought you were the clueless bunch. Of course I can give you proof, but I don’t have it with me.”

  “Ah, and there it is…what do we need to do for this so-called proof, Sienna?” Nikolai questioned as he rolled his eyes.

  “Nothing at all,” she grinned like a Cheshire cat. “That’s the beauty of it my dear old friend, none of you have to do a thing. Let me ask you something, Nikolai,” Sienna sat back down on the chair and crossed her leg over the other. “What happened to Tomas, the last Nephilim of Wrath?”

  Nikolai’s face paled as all eyes zeroed in on him.

  “Why do you ask?” he choked out.

  “Just answer the question, Nikolai,” Jones said. This was what he has been hiding from us, from me, this whole time. He knew the previous Wrath and he knew what happened to him and it might have something to do with me.

  “He died.”

  “Obviously,” Sienna rolled her eyes. “Who killed him and why, Nikolai?”

  Greed gulped and turned so pasty white I thought he was going to pass out.

  “The Wanderer killed him for his fire,” he mumbled and my heart dropped. I could feel the answer right on the tip of my tongue.

  “Exactly. The legends say The Wanderer cannot be killed, he’s invincible. But what if there is a way, what if it’s Heavens Fire? It would give him a reason to go after Wrath.”

  “But what does The Wild Hunt have to do with this?” Angela asked, but I was already connecting the dots.

  “The Wild Hunt’s only mission is to capture The Wanderer. If Max is the weapon to do so, they want him.”

  “So Samuel wasn’t all that bad then?” I asked and my hand started to shake.

  Sienna snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far now. Do you not know the prophecy?”

  “I do.”

  “Then you know that the theory to kill The Wanderer is that you have to sacrifice yourself.”

  And there it was. The sacrifice.

  “Hold on a minute. Where the hell does it say that because we have a copy of the prophecy and there’s no mention of that whatsoever, only an insinuation,” Jones said.

  “You have a copy? Where?”

  I ran upstairs to Jeremiel’s room and grabbed my bag that held The Origin of the Nephilim. The leather bound book was heavy but I was numb from fear.

  I handed the book to Sienna and she ran her fingers over the front in wonder.

  “Where did you get this?” she asked, her voice small.

  “Jeremiel, the Angel of Prophecies gave it to me.”

  She sniffled and rubbed her eyes when I noticed the shine in those emerald greens. She flipped through the pages until she landed on the prophecy and flattened the book to inspect the seams.

  “The full prophecy has been ripped out. You don’t have the full legend,” she said as she slid it back to me across the table. “Whoever did it, doesn’t want you to know what kind of sacrifice needs to be made and I don’t blame them from keeping it from you. It isn’t pretty and there isn’t a happy ending for you.”

  I gulped. “So you know the full prophecy?”

  She nodded.

  “How the hell are we supposed to trust you?” Nikolai asked.

  “I don’t expect you to, but if there is one thing you should believe, it’s that The Hunt will be here soon, if they’re not here already. You’re all sitting ducks and I’d get a move on if I were you.” Sienna stood up to leave.

  “Where are you going?” I asked and grabbed her wrist to stop her.

  She peered up at me through thick lashes. “I’m getting out of here. I won’t get stuck in the cross hairs with The Wild Hunt. I thought Samuel was still around but if he’s not, then things have gotten a lot more dangerous than I had assumed.”

  I turned to my Guardian Angels and saw as Jones pondered on this turn of events. Angela’s gaze zoned in on my hand that still held a firm grip on Sienna. I snatched my hand away and turned to Nikolai. “What do you know about The Hunt? Should we go?”

  Nikolai scratched his head in frustration. “Honestly, I don’t know much, but what I do know is that they are as dangerous as Sienna makes them sound. It’s better to be safe than sorry. We should go.”

  I nodded in agreement when a chorus of trumpets filled the house. The mellifluous sounds that bounced off the walls and vibrated the windows sent chills down my spine and froze me in place.

  Sienna stuttered, “They’re here.” Her fear was evident. “Besides the front door, what other exits are in the house?” She sprang into action, closing all the curtains.

  “The back door to the beach but other than that we’re screwed,” Jones said as he locked the kitchen door that kept us from the living room and the front entrance.

  “What about the underground tunnels through Jeremiel’s closet?” Angela mentioned.

  “Is there a way out through there?” Sienna asked.

  “We don’t know but it has to be better than locking ourselves in the kitchen,” I said. “Why can’t we just talk to them, come to some kind of agreement?”

  “Don’t be a fool, Max. There is no negotiating with The Hunt,” Nikolai scoffed as he made his way up the stairs. With the book held tightly against my chest, we all scrambled to follow him as the doors blew open an
d a gust of wind came from the foyer, sending the dining table skidding across the kitchen. The sound of trumpets grew louder and we ran harder and faster to the last door down the hallway as Jones locked it behind us.

  “Hurry!” Jones yelled, his back against the door as he kept it closed. The gust of wind blew from the small slit at the bottom and if Jones moved, the door would burst open even with the lock in place. “I can’t hold on much longer, it’s too powerful. Hurry up!”

  I grabbed my duffle, stuffed The Origin of the Nephilim inside and flung the bag across my back. I leaned against the door to help Jones as Angela started throwing clothes out of the closet and opening the entrance to the hidden tunnels.

  “Max, you go first!” Nikolai yelled.

  “No, I’ll jump last. They want me, not you. Don’t fight me on this, just go!” I wasn’t stupid. I knew if we were caught, I’d be the only one to survive. They needed me, they didn’t need the rest of them. Disposing of unnecessary baggage sounded like something they would do.

  “I’ll go first, then Angela, Nikolai, and Jones follow,” Sienna said as she got a running head start and jumped into the abyss.

  “Worst case scenario, you go find my father, understand?”

  Jones nodded as he pushed off and ran into the closet. The pressure from the wind increased and my feet slid across the floor. Salty sweat seeped into my eyes and I blinked the burn away. It was now or never.

  The gust of wind was so strong, I was thrown off and stumbled across the room to the closet. Without hesitation or accuracy, I buckled and threw myself into the darkness. With my eyes closed, I let all my fears and worries fall off me as I fell into the dark underground.

  Chapter Two

  A light flickered below and I squinted to get an accurate look. I landed on all fours like a cat and saw Nikolai holding up his phone with the flashlight turned on. I dug in my bag and breathed a sigh of relief when I found my cell phone.

  “Are you okay?” Angela came to my side and began inspecting me.