A/N: Late update! Sorry guys! Had a lot of horsey stuff to sort out! So yeah, hence the late update. But TA DAHHH its hereeee :) Another tomorrow so look out!

Chapter 26

"Hold it like this" Molly handed Luce the sceptre, and showed her how to place it between her fingers.
The sceptre was golden and weighty. It was long, slightly shorter then Luce and carefully shaped with detail, as if vines were crawling up it. At the top was what looked like a golden amber egg.

When Luce looked carefully she noticed it had flecks of other colours within it, like white, silver, and it shimmered as Luce turned it in her hand.
"Now, to activate the protection, you twist the top and push it down" Molly showed Luce which ways to turn it.

"What happens if I turn it the other way?" Luce asked. She didn't want it to unexpectedly blow up in her hands.
"That protects against the fallen. So remember, don't turn it left!" Molly raised her voice to make her point of its importance.
"Or Lucifer can get to you, but we can't" Gabbe added.
"Give it a try now" Sarah suggested.

Luce grasped the sceptre and placed her hand on the egg. It was cool under her hand, but she could feel a vibration of energy travelling through her hand. Twisting it to the right, and pushed it down she heard a faint click. The egg quickly transformed, turned from the amber gold, to a vibrant purple. Luce looked up at the others worriedly.

"Don't worry, its meant to happen" Molly didn't smile, but the others did giving Luce confirmation.
"Ok. Once its turned that colour, the circles around you, but when it turns back to the golden colour its faded" Molly pointed to the egg.
"Remember it'll only last about 2 or 3 minutes" Gabbe reminded Luce.
Cam quickly moved forward towards Luce to reassure her "But sometimes that's all you'll need to escape" he smiled.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful for Luce.
The others were preparing their weapons, sharpening daggers and knives, while Luce hung around restlessly.

When it was getting late, Luce rested her head against a tree and peered up through the tree canopy. She saw the sun beginning to set already, leaving the sky covered with wisps of clouds and light pink and a darkening blue.

She couldn't help but think about Penn and her family. She hadn't seen her phone since Gabbe and Arriane had it. Although there hadn't been a chance for her to ask for it, and she felt there were more important things going on then talking to Callie about boys. Would anyone at Sword&Cross notice she was gone? What about her parents, were they worried she hadn't phoned them?
She missed her mom's home cooked meals, and the way her dad would make jokes and always make her smile.

Luce's thoughts were quickly snapped away when she heard Daniel's raised voice. Glancing over she saw all the angels, tense and on edge, as Daniel and Cam stood intimidating and tall, not taking their eyes off each other.

Slowly Luce walked across to them and stood next to Ben.
"Everything ok?" Luce asked cautiously. It was obvious it wasn't.
"Why don't you ask him" Cam growled towards Daniel who glared back.
"It's nothing Luce" Daniel didn't take his eyes off Cam while talking to Luce.
"Nothing? Ha!" Cam laughed sarcastically. Luce didn't miss seeing him being his cocky sarcastic self, Luce liked him when he was caring and thoughtful.

She turned towards Ben and stood on her tiptoes, whispering in his ear "tell me?".
It was more of a demand rather than a question, but Ben was sure to respond. He turned to face Luce and sighed, talking quietly "This lifetimes changed. You and Cam are...close".

Luce quickly looked down trying to hide a blush. She knew her and Cam were close, and she was falling more and more for him every day, but she didn't want their relationship public. Her thoughts came to a halt when Ben continued "And Daniel suddenly just snapped, he told Cam to stay away from you".
"WHAT?!" Luce shouted, louder then she meant to, meaning all the other angels turned around to face her. But Luce was angry, how dare Daniel tell Cam what he can and can't do.

"How dare you try and control my life!" Luce marched up to Daniel. His face was still angry, but Luce didn't care, she would happily hit him right now. Even staring up at his hulking figure didn't scare her.
"It's for your own good" Daniel's voice was cold, showing no emotion.

"You have no idea what's good for her in this lifetime" Cam stepped besides Luce, offering her more support. Daniel growled and stood up straighter. He might have been slighter shorter then Cam, but he was still intimidating and big!
Cam quickly spoke before Daniel could protest "I will not stop seeing Luce, it's her own opinion if she chooses to distance herself from me".
Luce nodded in agreement "And right now I choose to stay close to Cam".

This made Daniel's blood boil. She was meant to be with him, she was always with him. Jealously was clouding his mind, if it was clear he would realise now was not the time to be fighting. Not long before midnight hit, and the following day with Lucifer visiting. But Daniel didn't think of this now. Right now he wanted to fight Cam for taking away the only thing he loved. Luce.

Daniel walked up closer to Cam, who quickly pulled Luce behind him protectively. Ben gripped her wrist and pulled her back, already sensing what was about to happen. And he knew how brutal angel fights could get.
The other angels were quickly trying, and failing, to diffuse the situation.

Before Luce had managed to shout in protest, Daniel had swung a powerful punch at Cam, hitting him in the jaw. Luce winced immediately and prepared herself for Cam to look up with a broken jaw. Luckily Cam wasn't broken that easily. He stood up straight, rubbed his jaw to loosen it up, before giving Daniel a wicked smile.

Luce hadn't managed to blink, before Cam had Daniel pinned on the floor, using his weight to hold him down, he repeatedly punched Daniel in the face.
"Cam please stop it!" Luce shouted. But Cam didn't even hear her voice, he was concentrating on Daniel. No one told him what he could and couldn't do. Like Molly mentioned before, he didn't follow orders well.

Luce wriggled from Ben to help them both, but Ben held a firm grasp, starting to hurt her wrists slightly, she looked back at Ben with pleading eyes. He shook his head "None of us can prevent this, they'll stop eventually".
"What, when they're both knocked unconscious!".
"If that what it takes yes" Ben responded calmly, but Luce's eyes widened at his response.
Turning back to them, Luce watched as Daniel managed to free his arm from Cam grasp and grab Cam's fist before another punch. Twisting his fist forcing Cam to sit up straighter, now Daniel had the upper hand.

Luce couldn't stand seeing them fight. Blood slowly starting to trickle from Cam's lip, as Daniel's own dripped from his nose onto Cams shirt.
Luce couldn't take anymore, 'They're going to kill each other! And all because of me' she thought, her heart dropping.
She struggled from Ben's gasp more, trying to pry his fingers off her wrist, and pushing him away. Eventually, after realising he wasn't letting go, she dragged Ben forward towards the fighting boys with her.

"STOP IT!" She screamed, the boys slowed their fighting but continued. Ben had loosened his grip, not expecting Luce to shout or be so bold, and Luce quickly took advantage and jerked her arm free. Bending down to Daniel who was still on top of Cam, she pulled on the back on his shirt.

"I said stop it! Both of you!" She shouted again, desperation in her voice, but again was ignored.
Cam, who had taken enough of being beaten by Daniel, pushed him outwards and Daniel pulled back his elbow quickly, without realising Luce was still standing behind him holding onto his shirt.

Daniel's elbow hit into Luce's stomach, hard! She stumbled back, grasping her stomach and fell into Ben. Ben's face was a mix of concern for Luce, and fury towards Cam and Daniel. He quickly straightened up, still supporting a gasping Luce, and boomed "ENOUGH".

Both boys, who realised what they'd done jumped to their feet. Gabbe, Arriane and Sarah all crowded round Luce. "Oh my gosh babe! Are you ok?!" Gabbe gently touched Luce's shoulder.
"That was quite a blow" Arriane added lifting Luce's shirt to inspect her stomach.

Apart from the bruise which would form, and the wind beginning knocked out of her, she was fine on a physical level. On an emotional level, however, she was pissed off!

Cam and Daniel both rushed to her and instantly felt guilty and dropped their heads.
"I'm...I'm so sorry...I didn't mean..." Daniel went to touch where she was grasping her stomach but she quickly pulled away, glaring at him.
"Are you ok?" Cam asked with an anxious voice, he moved closer but Luce backed away, bumping back into Ben, who was also seriously annoyed at them.

Luce quickly glared back at Cam. Even when she finally had her breath back, she was a loss of words. They had both ignored her completely, she never thought they'd do that.

Before any of them could stare daggers at the Cam and Daniel anymore, and rush of hot air produced, swirling around them. Luce's hair whipped around her face, then a blinding light above them appeared. Luce placed her head against Ben's chest to cover her eyes, seems her hands were busy nursing a slowly forming bruise.
Then she heard that same deep, menacing booming laugh. Lucifer.