Of Light And Shadows

“At least your brothers will only think we went to my home to get my things.” Jia gestured to the bag on the ground stuffed with her clothes. “We’ll just have to be sneaky with our trip to the Infirmary.” Lucifer spotted the red leather book nestled inside and lifted it from between the folded fabrics, reading the title with interest.

"Love and Shadows,” he said. “I’ve read this one.”

“You have?” Jia blinked in surprise. “I didn’t have you down as a romance fan.”

“I have an eclectic taste,” he answered wryly. “Also the main character in it is me. I was curious to see how the human world viewed me.”

“My boss gave me it the day Evan and I were attacked. She said she wanted me to have it so it could make me as happy as it made her.” Lucifer watched her curiously as she grinned. “But I doubt the Lucifer in this book could make me anywhere near as happy as the real you.” He laughed softly.

“The Lucifer in this book is a hopeless romantic. I, on the other hand, am not.”

“What’s wrong with being a hopeless romantic?”

“Everything.” He wrinkled his nose.

“I think it’s sweet,” Jia answered, setting her hands on her hips. “I’d love someone to care about me that much.”

“You can love someone more than life itself without acting like you’ll die if you don’t see them for a day,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “I went eight years without seeing you and I managed well enough.” Jia felt her eyebrows creep upwards and she had to work hard to keep her mouth from falling open. Lucifer cocked his head at her expression. “What?”

“You just implied you love me more than life itself.”

“And?”

“...Louie, you don’t just spring that on a girl. You’re supposed to prepare them first.”

“What, getting stabbed for you wasn’t enough preparation?” he asked, arching an eyebrow. He was smiling and very clearly amused. “Relax, Jia.”

“You just said you love me, Lucifer.”

“I didn’t say it in so many words.”

“So you don’t then?”

“Of course I do.” He folded his arms across his chest, watching her intently as her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “That doesn’t mean it has to be a big deal. I love my brothers but they don’t go insane when they hear it.” She sagged, relief washing over her like a tide.

"Oh. I get it.” She nodded. “Platonic love I can cope with.”

“You’re a strange girl.” He was still smiling. “Aside from the fact that I have an entire Academy to run, I’m also fending off a forced marriage to somebody I hate. It doesn’t stop me caring about people but I’m not in the best position for romantic love right now.”

“You do realise falling in love with someone isn’t something you can just switch off, right? Once it happens that’s it. You’re stuck.”

“So you think if I were in love I’d be as simpering and ridiculous as the version of me in your book?” he asked.

“Possibly. Have you ever been in love to know?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“I’m full of surprises,” he grinned, making her sigh.

“You’re such a dork sometimes.”

Satan scowled out at the Demonic Realm spread below him. His plans were moving too slowly. The idiots in the human world were sluggish to carry out his orders and even slower to report back to him.

The sky outside was dark with angry red clouds, reflecting his rage as they crackled with crimson lightning over the rolling landscape of Apollyon, the capital city in his world.

Tall buildings rose like stalactites, jutting out of a grey mist that crept across the ground like a blanket. He liked to imagine it was what the human world thought Hell would look like.

“My Lord,” said a voice from behind him. “I have some bad news for you.” He turned to see the Greater Demon Abaddon enter the room and drop to one knee.

He was dressed immaculately in a three piece tailored suit, but he walked with a limp. Getting down to one knee seemed to be a struggle. It brought a smile to Satan’s lips that he worked hard to hide.

“What else is new?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. He caught sight of himself in the reflective black marble of the walls. He was a tall, imposing figure with stark white hair, pale skin and startlingly red eyes. Eyes that reminded him of his disappointing first born son. The thought made him angry.

“It’s about your son.”

“Which one?” He already knew the answer.

“Lucifer, sir.” He groaned quietly, clasping his hands behind his back as he surveyed the Greater Demon kneeling at his feet. Abaddon had always been a snivelling fool, but his role in the Demonic Realm had proved useful enough.

Securing a position of influence and power in the human world had been something Abaddon managed with startling ease despite his slimy personality.

“Recently my problems are all about Lucifer. What has he done now?”

“He attacked me, sir.” The Demon hesitated. “He took Lauviah.” The sentence hit Satan like a slap in the face.

His nostrils flared and he cracked his knuckles across Abaddon’s cheek as his anger exploded. The lesser Demon grunted and hit the ground, staying down until Satan was calm. He flexed his fingers slowly, trying to work his fury out of them and failing.

“You fool! How could you let him find out she was there? How did he even get to her? “The locking sigil on that door took days to construct.”

Satan advanced on his subordinate with fury in his eyes, resisting the urge to kick him where he lay. He wanted to see the idiot curled around his boot, gasping for air.

“Lucifer dismantled it, my Lord. He brought Lauviah and Lisbeth here.”

“Lisbeth...the half-breed? Your daughter?” Abaddon nodded, keeping his eyes on the floor. “Are they at the academy now?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t sense any Angelic presences before I came here. The only way for Lauviah to regain her strength would be to return to her own realm. I think your son called Archangel Michael to come for her.”

“You think or you know?”

“I can’t confirm it.” Abaddon bowed his head as he got back to his knees. Satan thought about knocking him back to the ground for a moment before he sighed and turned away, his eyes moving back to the realm outside of the window.

Calmness descended over him as suddenly as his anger, snuffing out the black fire inside his chest.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

“What will you do with the information?”

“I’ll pay my son a visit. He interfered in the dealings of a Greater Demon which deserves punishment. I can’t do anything about him sending Lauviah back home until I have proof. Lucifer is well-practiced when it comes to hiding the truth from me.”

“And my daughter, sir?”

“What about her?”

“She’s my property.” Satan turned and arched an eyebrow at him.

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Yes, sir. She’s my child.”

“You do understand that Lauviah is an Angel of the highest order, yes?” The Demon nodded. “As the daughter of a Seraph and a Greater Demon, she technically outranks you.”

Satan enjoyed the shock on his face as he processed the fact that the child he’d used as a slave for years was his superior. His lip actually quivered a little.

“Are Lauviah and I not the same rank in our respective realms?” he asked.

“God, no,” Satan laughed. “Lauviah was part of the Seraphim. You wouldn’t have a hope of outranking her. You’d better hope she doesn’t attempt revenge because she could destroy you at full strength, Abaddon.”

“Thank you for telling me, sir.” He said it begrudgingly and his anger made it all the more delicious to watch. Despite the irritation his son had caused, Satan was enjoying himself immensely.

“Lisbeth’s shared blood means that Lauviah can bring the might of the Angels with her if any harm befalls her daughter.” His red eyes narrowed, daring the Demon to defy him. “And I do not need them sniffing around this realm or the human world. If they find out what we’re doing they will send an army that we are not ready for. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I will punish my son for his interference. You will leave the girl alone unless I see fit to do otherwise. You will await my instructions and continue with your work in the human world. When we make our move you can take her back. Until then you will wait.”

“Of course, my Lord.” Satan turned back to the window once more, clasping his hands behind his back as he watched the shadowy birds of his realm paint graceful circles in the turbulent sky.

“It has been a long time since I visited my children,” he mused. “I’m sure they’ll be delighted to see their dear old dad.” The smile that spread across his face was that of a snake waiting to strike.