*Author's Note: Hello again, you sexy devils! I'm busy writing several stories right now, including Beauty and the Beast part 2 (That's an emotional one for me, that'll take a while) so please forgive my snail's pace writing. That said, those of you that have paid attention to all of my stories may have noticed that I drop quite a few hints that this is all happening in one big universe. This is my first attempt at incorporating some kind of crossover, so as always; your constructive feedback will help make the next story better. For a full rundown on Jake and Amy, check out my series 'What Happens in Vegas'. I'm going into this presuming that you've read those stories, and as such don't spend a great deal of time describing Jake, Amy, or the references that either of them makes. Additionally, if you would take the time to rate once you're done reading; it truly does help keep me writing more. This chapter contains M/F and MFF, light bondage, orgasm overload, and some swapping between the two couples. As always, if my writing isn't your cup of tea, no hard feelings. Just put the cup down and leave. Enjoy!*
*****
"My wings...they're gone."
Britney looked at him quizzically. "Wait...didn't you say that couldn't happen? I mean, if they stayed even after you were cast out of Heaven..."
Luke turned angrily, his normally charming visage marred by the dark scowl on his face.
"That's just it. No one can do this, or rather, it's never been done. I've been punished more than any supernatural being since the dawn of Creation, and even I never had my wings clipped. And of course it happens right when we're supposed to be attacked by the choirs of Heaven and denizens of Hell alike."
Luke turned to the magnificent view of the Caribbean Sea, wrenching open the sliding glass door and striding into the sand, bellowing to the skies as he did.
"Are you still playing games with me, Father? Still trying to teach me a lesson that you can't just sit the hell down and
talk
to me about? What's the game now, Dad? What's next in your oh so precious Design?!?"
"Will you lower your voice, Lucifer? I have a nasty hangover."
Luke whirled on the spot to find Metatron lying in a hammock, the tiny brunette dressed in a bikini covered by a thin wrap.
"Still keeping tabs on me, scribe? Care to explain what you're doing here?"
Metatron rocked idly in the hammock, sipping on a Mai Tai out of a crazy straw as she responded acridly.
"I'm sorry, that must have been some
other
angel screaming for God's attention in the middle of the night. I'll just go find them then. I'm Father's Voice, Lucifer. You called for Him, so here I am."
"Lovely, great to know I've got Dad's ear again after so many millennia. Could you perhaps also tell me
WHAT IN THE NAME OF CREATION HE'S DONE WITH MY WINGS?
"
As Luke spoke, Metatron stood, stretching as she calmly made her way to Luke's side, seemingly unruffled by Luke's anger as she sipped her drink.
"Well, here's the thing, Lucifer. This isn't Father's doing. In fact, as far as we can tell...it's yours."
Luke took a step back as Britney came to stand beside him, taking his hand comfortingly even as Luke's confusion grew.
"Come again? I'm fairly certain this isn't something I asked for, Metatron!"
"Perhaps not directly, but you did, in your own way. Do you remember turning Father down when he offered you your place back in Heaven?"
Britney interrupted, wide-eyed.
"Wait, you did
what?
You refused to go back to Heaven even after everything? After all the time you've spent away, what could possibly have kept you from going home?"
"Britney, love, I'll tell you another time. Of course I remember. It wasn't that long ago."
Metatron nodded sagely. "So you recall that you made a choice."
Luke stopped cold. He hadn't thought about that.
"I do."
"Well, that's just the thing. Angels don't have free will, Lucifer. You know that as well as anyone. You've refused Father before, and he cast you out, but that was when you were acting on your own selfish impulses. When you refused Father for..." She glanced at Britney meaningfully, "...altruistic reasons, it seems as though it had a rather unexpected side effect."
"So just by making a choice, I lost my wings?"
Metatron shrugged. "We're in uncharted territory here, Lucifer. If this is part of the Design, Father isn't telling me. But from what I can sense, and from what you've told me, it seems like you're...stuck."
"Stuck. Such eloquent words from the Voice of God. Would you mind elaborating?"
"You're locked in the state you were when you refused your angelic duty. Frozen between the Divine and the mundane. When you refused your place Above, you had just battled Michael, and were significantly drained of power, yes?"
Luke grimaced as he recalled the terrible battle that had taken place with his older brother back in Circle7. "Yes, yes, I remember. Get to the point."
"You have the same amount of power you had when you made your refusal. Which is to say: remarkably weak for an angel, but still far beyond the wildest dreams of Mankind."
"You mean to tell me that I'll never be restored? That I'm stuck in some kind of angelic Limbo until I return to Heaven?"
"As I said, Lucifer, I honestly don't know. An angel has never made a choice before. For you to have done so...even I have no way of knowing what will come."
"Tell me this, then, if you can. Are we safe here? For now, at least? Was our departure noticed?"
Metatron took a moment to drain the last of her Mai Tai.
"Damn. Wish there was time for one more. No, Lucifer, your departure was unnoticed. As for safe, well, I honestly have no idea."
"Best I can ask for, I suppose. Maybe see if there are more answers to be had?"
Metatron turned to face Luke coolly.
"I am not your errand girl, Lucifer. But your...transformation is of interest to me. I'll ask some questions. But be careful. Try as we might, we have not been able to find Michael or his rebel angels. We are scouring Heaven and Earth, but he remains hidden from our eyes."
Luke let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Thank you, Metatron."
But the air had already sizzled and cracked, leaving Luke speaking to empty air.
---
Far from reassuring, his conversation with Metatron left Luke even more uneasy. No wonder he had felt so weak after returning. No wonder he hadn't been able to draw power like he had during his fight with Michael. He was no longer invincible, no longer the inviolable King of Hell. He, Lucifer Morningstar, was now a target. But he had other things to worry about as he walked back inside his room.
"So, you want to explain to me what the other angel lady was talking about?"
"First, Britney, that 'angel lady' is Metatron, the Voice of God. She's a binge drinker and an arrogant little quim, but she
is
Father's Voice. Best to speak with a little respect. Second, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Father's offer. After the fight...well, things happened quickly."
But Britney wasn't letting it go that easily.
"Oh, sure, I get it. So it just happened to slip your mind that you, the fucking
Devil
, got offered your old place in Heaven, and just said 'meh. No thanks.'"
"You know what, Britney? It's really not that simple. Setting aside the fact that my Father and I have a complicated relationship, to say the least, I discovered that I'd grown rather fond of humans in my time on Earth, and I really didn't feel like leaving. I wasn't ready. And as long as we're on the subject, I