Of Light And Shadows

“It’s good to see you again.” Lucifer spoke quietly as he led the way to his study.

He’d left Mammon and Belphegor in the Infirmary, instructing them to keep an eye on Evander until he was properly sedated. Jia sighed sadly, remembering the despair in his eyes when he’d said he wanted to die.

“I’m sorry the circumstances of our reunion aren’t better.”

He opened the door and stepped aside to let her in. She took a seat on the leather sofa by the fire and he sat beside her, that same faint ridge between his brows again as he looked at her with concern in his red eyes.

“I’m glad to see you again too,” she answered gently. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“As a rule we don’t allow humans here, but since your friend is no longer a human it doesn’t break any of our laws.” His head tilted as he watched her. “A lot has changed since you were last here. I’ve been appointed head of the academy.”

“That’s really cool.”

“I’m also due to be married.” Her eyebrows rose in surprise.

“Demons get married?”

“Yes. In our realm it’s a much more sacred tradition than in yours. It happens far less often but is a bond for life. Once made it can’t be broken. My father is insistent that I should find a partner.” Lucifer frowned. “He says I’ve taken so long to choose someone that he’s ready to make the choice for me.”

“You don’t look like you want that to happen.”

“I don’t. I already know who he’d choose and I hate her. She’s power hungry and untrustworthy and my father is blinded by her because she’s beautiful. She’d sooner get rid of me and assume my title than try to help me.” He seemed angry, though his voice was still soft and his expression was almost blank.

“Sounds like we both have problems,” she answered. He laughed, unable to help himself, and the smile on his face made Jia smile too. A hint of the mischievous boy she remembered shone through.

“I’ve missed you. There’s something I want to ask you, actually.”

“Listen, if you’re about to propose to me so you don’t have to marry the nutcase your dad likes then I’m going to have to decline.” He blinked and then his grin returned as he laughed again.

“I’m not proposing to you. I was actually going to ask you about your species. You called yourself Lotura. Why?”

“That’s what I am. I take after my father. I have enhanced genetics in comparison with a normal human and I’m capable of demonstrating weak forms of Psychokinesis and Telekinesis.”

“But you don’t seem like one of the Lotura to me. Nor do you seem like a member of the Fae. What happened when you returned home after regaining your memory?”

“I still can’t remember most of my life before you found me,” she shrugged. “I don’t know how I got hurt or why I was on the street. I get...flashes of things. I saw my mother and father in those flashes and when you sent me back to the human realm the authorities helped me find them. They welcomed me home and we moved away so I could start fresh. The name they gave me was Lisbeth.”

“Hmm. So your memory never properly returned?”

“No. My earliest clear memory is you picking me up off the ground and asking my name.” She frowned. “I always wondered why you guys helped me but I never thought to ask. Why did you stop for me?”

“We were drawn to you,” Lucifer answered. “I can usually sense others of my kind. It felt like that was what we were searching for. I had no idea what you were when I found you.”

“Does that mean something significant?”

“I’m not sure,” he replied. “It doesn’t matter now anyway. This time we were drawn in because of your pact with Mammon.”

“I didn’t realise the pact would even work after so many years.”

“That kind of bond is eternal,” Lucifer answered simply. “Time has no effect on it.” He fell silent for a moment and she looked around, remembering the many times she’d been in that room before. “What are you smiling at?” he asked.

“I was just thinking that it’s nice to be back,” she answered. “It feels like coming home.”

“What an odd thing to say when your home is in the human realm.” She shrugged and looked away, not wanting to tell him about her life. “Are you alright?”

“I’m just worried about Evan,” she replied.

“You need to stay away from him until he’s in control of himself. Do you understand? While you’re here you answer to me, so I must ask you to respect my wishes. If you don’t, you’ll die.”

“You kill people for breaking the rules?”

“Not me, him.” He looked hurt that she’d even consider the possibility of him harming her. “I would never lay a finger on you. Evander, however, will tear your throat out the moment he gets the opportunity. The nature of a Vampire is a difficult thing to tame, especially one so new. For the first few weeks he won’t be himself.”

“You mean he has to stay here for weeks? His family will be worried sick.”

“Unless you want to unleash a bloodthirsty beast onto all the people you and he hold dear, yes. It’s likely that he’ll need to be here for several months before it’s safe for him to return home. He may even choose to stay.”

“He can choose not to leave?” The thought of Evan staying in the Demonic Realm and leaving her alone in the human world made her head hurt.

“Of course. Vampirism is essentially a Demonic virus. It came from this realm. It was never supposed to cross to the human world but somehow it did and since then the Vampire population has done nothing but grow. A life here would be much easier for him than returning home because we can sustain his thirst easily.” Lucifer sat back against the sofa cushions and folded his arms across his chest.

“How? There aren’t any humans here and Vampires don’t bite Demons.”

“He will only need blood to satisfy his thirst for the first few weeks. Once he has himself under control the dark energy of this realm will feed him. His body will naturally absorb it. If he stays in your realm then he must return to drinking blood to survive.”

“So if he goes back home he’s a murderer, if he stays here he’ll never see his family again? Or his third option is to die?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.” She couldn’t speak around the sudden lump in her throat.

“Are you okay?”

“Not really.” Her voice sounded strangled. Her father was overbearing, prejudiced and angry to the point of violence and Evan was her only respite. She hated to be so selfish, but her life would be miserable without him.

“Is there something more bothering you, Jia?” She looked up at the concerned expression on Lucifer’s face and forced the lump in her throat back down, rearranging her features into a smile.

“No, I’m just worried about Evan. And school. My tuition is expensive so I can’t afford to miss classes.”

“What are you studying?”

“Originally I was training to become an Empath but I failed the preliminary examinations. I’m doing a degree in Accounting now.” She sighed. “All I need is to get a decent job and then I can move out and live my own life.”

“You don’t like being at home?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it,” she answered quickly. “I’m just ready to start being independent. I’m twenty one, it’s about time I started looking after myself.”

“Is school where you met Evan?” Her cheeks coloured.

“I met him at a bar the night I failed my exams,” she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze. “We’ve been friends since.”

“That’s one way to cheer yourself up I suppose.” When she looked up Lucifer was fighting a smile, one eyebrow raised. The pink in her cheeks turned crimson and he laughed. “Relax. I’m the living embodiment of temptation. I have no right to judge you.”

“The living embodiment of temptation?” It was her turn to lift an eyebrow.

“The definition of me in your world is a disgraced Angel whose purpose is to lead people to sin.”

“Yeah but that’s the definition written by humans. The Demonic Realm isn’t anything like they imagine it to be. I mean right now we’re sat in a school for the Demonic elites. Nowhere in human scripture does it suggest you guys have a school or even a proper life here. You’re all supposed to be horrible monsters that thrive on torture and pain.” She smiled. “I don’t see any horrible monsters here.”

“Many would disagree with you.”

“And they would be wrong.” She sagged against the cushions and closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. “It’s been a really long day,” she muttered.

“Your old room is empty if you wish to stay there.”

“It’s not too close to Evan?”

“No. It’s actually in the same hallway as myself and my brothers. You’ll be perfectly safe while staying there. If you wish you can even attend the classes here until you can return to school. It won’t be the same as studying Accounting but you’ll learn many valuable things and it will keep you occupied for the time being.”

“Won’t I be the oldest one in the class?” Lucifer chuckled and shook his head.

“No. Once our bodies reach maturity our immortality sets in. Many of the students here are centuries old and they come and go as they please. You’re likely to be one of the youngest.”

“Won’t they find it strange that there’s a Lotura in their class?”

“Not if you wear this.” He reached into his shirt and pulled out a pendant, removing it from around his neck.

It was a long silver chain with a black eight pointed star hanging from it. In the centre of the star was a ruby the same shade as his eyes.

“This is my crest. Wear this at all times and you won’t be troubled. You can summon me to you at any moment if needs be.” She sat up so he could fasten the chain around her throat. “While you’re here please never take this off when you’re not with me. Even at night.”

“I won’t.”

“Mammon’s pact will help keep him alert to any danger you may face but he has a hard time maintaining his authority as the youngest of the three Rulers. If he’s unable to protect you at any point, use the crest to call me and I’ll come.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he answered as she turned to face him. “Anything to protect my favourite mortal.”

“I’m flattered.”

“You should be,” he grinned. “There are Demons in this realm that would kill to be complimented by their Prince.” He got to his feet. “You must be hungry. Let me show you to the dining room and then you can get some rest. You may even meet some of the other students.”

“The last time I came here the school was almost empty.”

“That’s because my father was running it. Since he chose to step back and focus on governing the realm, I’ve managed to greatly increase the teaching capacity and reputation of this place. We have almost all of my kind here and several high ranking full Demons as well.”

He held the door open for her before falling into step beside her. She smiled when her feet carried her through the halls like she’d never left.