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Chapter 3: Autumn
XXXXX
Katan walked purposefully to Rosiel’s rooms, intent on getting the great Seraphim to speak with him. It would be professional, to the point and very fast. Assiah was dieing slowly and to prevent further damage they needed to act quickly to preserve the human world. He knock on the doors of Rosiel’s private chambers and waited for an answer. When none came Katan unceremoniously let himself in.
Rosiel sat upon a plush velvet chair next to a window, staring out at nothing. The soft sunlight illuminated his features and made his silver hair glow, absently Rosiel turned his head to acknowledge Katan’s presence.
“Lord Rosiel,” Katan began, his eyes grave as he took in the form of his lord. “Assiah is dieing, please do something. The humans are starving and there is no food or water.”
“Do you care about them?” Rosiel asked. “Do you care about the pathetic humans?”
Katan run his fingers through the locks of light blue hair on his head in frustration. “That’s not the point Lord Rosiel. Please do something, anything, to make it the way it was.” Rosiel rose from his chair and gracefully made his way to Katan’s side. He raised a hand to trace the outline of his lips, to touch strands of hair. Katan stood stalk still and there was a feeling within him; his stomach dropped and suddenly it was harder to breathe.
Rosiel smiled. “And what will they do for me Katan?” He traced the wrinkles that appeared on Katan’s skin with his frown. “Tell me Katan.” Katan’s mouth turned down and Rosiel gently pressed his fingertips to his mouth. “What will they do?”
“They shouldn’t have to do anything.” he answered quietly.
He was surprised when Rosiel pushed him away, hard, so hard in fact that Katan found himself on the floor. Katan’s eyes widened and he stared up into Rosiel’s own furious gold ones. Something had changed since that day, perhaps Rosiel’s anger was closer to the surface than before, or once Alexiel left she took with her the last restraint upon his madness.
“Not do anything?” Rosiel snarled. “I have lost Alexiel to that fallen angel monster and the humans should not have to do anything in redemption?”
“They are human Rosiel,” Katan said in confusion. “They are weak and have no power.”
He laughed raucously. “Katan! Don’t you understand?” Rosiel lowered himself to his knees and gazed at Katan intently, golden eyes boring into his and momentarily stopping Katan’s heart beat. “Assiah is a perfect collaboration of all things Organic and Inorganic. We live in prefect harmony, our powers merged as one, my sister and I. When she left Eden the scale was tipped to my side, since she left Heaven the organic things upon Assiah have diminished; food, water, everything.”
(A/N: I know water does not have any carbon in it, just go with the flow.)
Katan’s look of shock must’ve been impressive and Rosiel cupped his face within his palms. “It’s not my fault Katan, I tried to keep her here didn’t I? I told her not to go and tried to stop Lucifer. It’s all Alexiel’s fault this is happening. In order,” Rosiel took a breath. “For things to return to normal Alexiel must be brought back. Understand Katan?” He nodded his comply. It was obvious he would be the one to bring Alexiel back. Rosiel was to beautiful, too fragile to go down into Hell. Rosiel smiled and leaned into softly press his lips against Katan’s smooth cheek.
“Does Alexiel know about this?” Katan asked slowly.
“She remains blissfully unaware. You may not know this but secretly Alexiel loves Assiah, she’d do anything for the humans,” Rosiel choked on his words. “Because she loves them.” He grasped the chair he had been sitting in before and slammed it against the wall. It splintered and the wood made cracking sounds. A mixture of fury, rejection and sadness crossed Rosiel’s beautiful face in a split second, Katan wasn’t sure he’d seen them all. “Leave me Katan.”
Katan left without further question and stood outside Rosiel’s door. He buried his face in his hands and sighed. What was wrong with him? When Rosiel had looked at him that moment all he’d wanted to do was comfort him, it was normal, but . . . It wasn’t. New feelings seemed to bubble up from within and Katan couldn’t suppress them all. Most prominent were feelings he couldn’t name, had never experienced before.
Why did his heart stop when Rosiel gazed at him?
Why did his stomach feel like it had dropped when Rosiel touched him?
Why couldn’t he breathe correctly?
This hadn’t happened before when Rosiel touched him, never before. Katan shook his head and began walking down the hallway. He had to prepare for a trip to Hell and it wasn’t going to be easy. His worries, they was only a distraction from what was really on his mind Katan recognized the feeling now, though he dare not say it aloud because then it would shatter the perfect relationship between himself and Rosiel; Master and servant . . .
Lust.
XXXXX
Several weeks passed and Alexiel tried her hardest to avoid Lucifer during that time. For the most part she was unsuccessful. Lucifer seemed to be everywhere, haunting the halls and leaving traces of his presence all over the place, just to annoy her. What annoyed her more was how friendly Kurai and the other evils had been. They laughed and conversed constantly . . . whatever it was they talked about so insistently.
Alexiel slouched into her chair and grumbled to herself. Arachne noticed her and made her way to her side. “Unhappy Alexiel?”
“Is it that obvious?” she asked, voice laced with annoyance as Lucifer suddenly appeared with Voice. He turned to her and gave Alexiel a charming smile, which she returned with a scowl. He whispered something to Voice and the young evil nodded and slyly glanced her way. Whatever Lucifer had said Voice had agreed with, because both men were speaking avidly with knowing looks upon their faces. “I can’t stand him.” Alexiel bit out.
“Why not?” Arachne asked. “He’s not mean, he’s educated, has a sense of humor, and he’s very, very gorgeous . . . I don’t know why you don’t like him.”
“He’s annoying.”
She scoffed. “Anything else?”
“Lucifer always tries to get me in bed.”
“Well of course he does. You’re beautiful Alexiel! It’s understandable how he can’t keep his lust for you under control.”
“The biggest thing is that he keeps saying I’ll marry him when I don’t want to.” Alexiel fumed.
Arachne smiled slightly. “Why wouldn’t you marry him? He has rank, can provide for you, will make sure you’re comfortable, all that jazz. The good points out weigh the bad Alexiel, so far I don’t see a downside if you married Lucifer.”
Alexiel thought long and hard. Truth be told what Arachne was saying clicked in her mind and made a whole lot of sense. Why not marry Lucifer? He was a gentleman in some ways, had a sense of humor, had intelligence, was impossibly handsome . . . Did she just think Lucifer was handsome? She scrubbed her face with her hands and let out a low moan of agony. This wasn’t supposed to make so much sense! Hatred for that man was supposed to drive out all reason but Alexiel found herself actually considering the idea of marriage!
“No. No way Arachne,” Alexiel said finally. “Will never happen in a million years.”
“I’m not so sure,” she said wryly. “I think all the things you abhor about Lucifer, you secretly like.”
Alexiel was both stunned and shocked by Arachne’s asinine assessment of her feelings. Without another word she stalked out of the room angrily, Arachne’s laughter ringing in her ears.
Lucifer watched his angel leave and waited for Arachne to make her way over. Voice’s eyes were wide as saucers, his mouth in a giant ‘o’. She came over and smiled sheepishly while shaking her head. “What’d you say?” Lucifer asked, disinterested.
“Suggested that she should give you a chance,” Arachne answered. “Just like you asked.”
“Did you tell her that I asked you to do that?”
“Of course not!” Arachne cried in indignation. “I’m not stupid.”
XXXXX
Meanwhile in Heaven . . .
“What do you think is happening down there?” Raphael asked for the thousandth time.
“Once again I don’t know.” Gabrielle answered serenely. Her patience was thin and it was only a matter of time before she snapped to shut him up for good.
“Are you sure?” he persisted.
“Positive.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Are you positive about that?”
“Yes.” Frustration coated her answer and she wanted to punch him.
Suddenly the doors of the Water garden opened and a certain red-haired angel came bounding through. Michael took off his sword and the various weapons he kept on himself at all times; he had nothing to fear in her sanctuary. Michael opened his mouth and asked, “What do you think Alexiel and Lucifer are doing down there?”
A perverted smile crossed Raphael’s face and said, “Having loads of sex.”
Gabrielle smacked him . . . hard.
“Ow!” he cried. “That hurt!”
“It was supposed to.” she replied disgusted. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
XXXXX
Stop thinking about it!
I can’t!
Yes you can! You are strong, you won’t succumb to his masculine, sexy, overwhelmingly char-
“Alexiel?”
“Yes?” she answered, her voice strangled. Alexiel whipped around to face Lucifer and found him incredibly close, too close for comfort. She immediately stepped back to put a little more space between them, Lucifer’s brow furrowed but he said nothing. “What do you want?” she asked irritably.
Lucifer held up his hands, palms toward Alexiel, in a placating manner. “I just wanted to ask if you’d accompany me tomorrow on an outing.”
“. . . Outing.” she said slowly.
“Yes.” he said. “I’d like to spend some time with you, it seems like you’re always avoiding me.”
That was my intent, she thought, though she’d never say those words out loud, it would imply weakness.
“Anything that happens is purely accidental, honestly I hadn’t noticed,” Alexiel replied lightly.
“Then you’ll come with me tomorrow?”
“Nope.” She turned on her heel and sashayed off down the hall, reveling in the anger she’d caused him.
Angel-1. Demon-0.
Lucifer stared after her in amazement and anger. That . . . That . . . He couldn’t even think properly he was so angry. He’d asked, politely, for her to spend time with him tomorrow and what did he get in return? Shot down in flames; it was so fast his head was still reeling from the blow. True Alexiel was beautiful, strong, beautiful once again, but why did he go through all this trouble for her? Tracking her down, visiting her, doing all this, when all he had to do is drag her screaming and struggling to the alter . . . He could see the usefulness of Alexiel’s blood and lineage . . . And yet . . . Lucifer was convinced that wasn’t all that mattered.
What did matter anyways?
Barbelo had been good for a number of things; being Wrath, just helping with matters in Hell and often ‘entertaining’ various demons on her spare time. Alexiel would be good for being his wife, being his wife, bearing an heir, and being his wife. He found himself thinking of Barbelo as more a prostitute than anything else lately, but Alexiel was so much more.
Why was he thinking these things?
Why, why, WHY?
XXXXX
“Where is Lucifer?” Astaroth asked.
Barbelo tried to feign disinterest but was listening intently for Beliel’s answer, wondering herself where her husband was. He hadn’t been seen, or heard from for that matter, since their little fiasco a couple weeks before. Her neck had healed, and she’d coughed up all the blood, but it still didn’t take away the sting of humiliation she felt. And revenge. She had to get revenge. Lucifer may not consider her a true threat, he certainly demonstrated what he thought of her before, but Barbelo had a few tricks up her sleeve.
“Gehenna, trying to get Alexiel to come back.” Beliel answered while flipping through some papers. “He should be back soon, but right now she’s a handful.”
Asmodeus inhaled sharply on a cigarette. “Are you ok with that Barbelo?”
“Why should it bother me?” she asked indifferently. “If Lucifer wants that b***h he can have her.”
“If you say so,” he said softly.
After that there was only silence from them and spoken words from Beliel, detailing the possible war between Heaven and Hell. It seemed eminent now, since Lucifer did steal an angel against God’s will. They could fight the angels, but the only problem was the power struggle in Heaven. It was so unstable that not even Beliel could tell when exactly the angels would strike, and how.
“That’s it.” Beliel said finally. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow morning if Lucifer tells me anything new.”
“What about the other angel living in Hades?” Astaroth asked. “Couldn’t he allow angels to pass through and turn traitor to us?”
Beliel smiled. “Uriel is neutral Astaroth. He won’t help us, or hurt us.”
The other Satans rose to leave but Barbelo grabbed Asmodeus’ shoulder before he could rise. “I need to speak with you . . . privately.”
Both of them waited till everyone else was out of the room and then Barbelo shut the door and locked it.
“What’s this all about?” he asked suddenly.
She sighed deeply and smiled at him coyly. “I want to help you Asmodeus.”
“With what?”
“Taking over Hell of course.” She said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I take it you’re not really satisfied by the way my husband is running things.”
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then glanced at Barbelo, curious. “Why help me?”
“I’m . . . frustrated.” Sexually . . . Mentally . . .
“Don’t like how Lucifer spends more time on Alexiel now?” Asmodeus questioned slowly.
“Perhaps,” she snapped. “That’s beside the point, do you want my help or not?”
He raised an eyebrow and smiled slowly, revealing pearly white teeth despite having smoked for most of his long life. “Revenge?” he asked knowingly.
“I plan on it.”
XXXXX
Arachne watched Alexiel stare out at nothing for the longest time. The angel seemed lost in her own world, probably thinking about her life . . . Or Lucifer. “Hey.” Arachne carelessly placed an arm on Alexiel’s shoulders, in a sisterly way. “Thinking about something?” Alexiel didn’t say anything but the confusion was evident on her beautiful face. “You know,” Arachne said quietly. “It’s ok to fall in love.”
“I don’t love him.” Alexiel snapped.
Arachne smirked and replied, “Prove it.”
XXXXX
Alexiel found Lucifer sitting beside a fountain reading a large book. He looked peaceful and at ease, reading leisurely like a normal person. She tilted her head to the side, getting a better view of his face. He didn’t seem dangerous at first glance, but behind that perfect face and body there was something sinister . . . She groaned inwardly. Lucifer did not have a perfect body!
Her will was beginning to wane so she stalked up to him, purposefully grabbed his book and yanked it away from him so she’d have his undivided attention. Lucifer gazed up at her with an unreadable expression and waited patiently for her to say something.
“I’ve reconsidered your offer.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lucifer held out his hand, palm up, waiting. When Alexiel stared him in confusion he said simply, “I’d like my book back.” She snarled and threw it at him, but was disappointed when he caught it gracefully before it could hit him in the face.
Angel-1. Demon-2.
XXXXX
Rosiel kept walking till he found what he was looking for: Katan. His little angel was sleeping on the couch, a book upon his chest. It was at times like this that Rosiel liked to stare at Katan’s child-like features, his innocent face. He gently picked up the book and laid it on the ground, then carefully he ran his finger across Katan’s skin. His eye lids, his nose, his lips. Katan murmured in his sleep and turned towards Rosiel’s touch.
“Katan,” Rosiel whispered. “Wake up.”
Instantly his eyes snapped open and Katan visibly gasped in surprise. “L-Lord Rosiel!” he stammered as he tried to sit up, which Rosiel wouldn’t allow with a firm hand on Katan’s chest the whole time. “What are you doing here?”
“Silly boy, you’re in my room.” He grinned and sat down on Katan’s thighs. Rosiel studied Katan, watched as surprise, then understanding flash across the young Cherub’s face.
(A/N: Cherub? Good god I don’t know how to spell that.)
In vain, Katan tried to get up but Rosiel held him down firmly. “L-Lord Rosiel, please let me go. This isn’t right.” Soft lips brushed along his jaw and Katan sharply inhaled. Katan couldn’t get his thoughts organized quite right while Rosiel continued to . . . What was happening anyways? He gently pushed Rosiel away but the Seraphim only assaulted him further, placing soft kisses along his neck and nibbling on his ear. “Lord Rosiel . . .”
“Katan be quiet.” Rosiel replied coldly. Katan squeezed his eyes closed as Rosiel parted his shirt to reveal his skin. Rosiel smiled at his Cherub’s flushed cheeks, trying so hard. He began to trail kisses slowly down his torso and Katan bit his lip at the sensation. It was unbelievable; wherever Rosiel touched his skin burned. Suddenly a hand came up to caress his face and Katan opened his eyes to see Rosiel staring down at him triumphantly. “Don’t go biting your lip Katan, I don’t want you damaging them.”
“This is madness!” Katan cried. “Lord Rosiel we will be punished!”
“I don’t know why you’re complaining,” Rosiel snapped, glancing down momentarily at Katan‘s pants. “You want this don’t you?”
Katan didn’t know how to answer that. Yes, yes he wanted it very much, but it went against every principle, everything he’d been told as an angel. Love between angels was forbidden by God, much less love between two angels of the same gender. They would be executed. What should he do? With Rosiel there like that, physically his body was all for it, the unfamiliar feeling of lust coursing through him. But what was right? Katan, feeling self-conscious, tried to button back up his shirt. But Rosiel was having none of it and furiously grasped his hands and placed them on his slim waist.
“Keep your hands there.” Roughly, Rosiel forced Katan’s face up and pressed his lips against his. Time stopped and all Katan could think about was the feeling of Rosiel’s lips upon his own. Rosiel placed a hand on the back of his neck to prevent him from breaking away and Katan parted his mouth, which Rosiel took full advantage of, deepening the kiss. While they kissed Rosiel’s hands were busy, pulling the shirt off from his lover’s shoulders.
“Lord Rosiel,” Katan broke away suddenly and stared at Rosiel in horror.
He smiled. “Waiting for God to come and strike you down Katan?” Rosiel caressed the pulse of his neck and grinned. “He’s not coming.”
“Th-That’s not,” he stammered. “We need to stop, this is wrong.”
Rosiel narrowed his golden eyes and glared at him. “What’s wrong?” he asked sharply.
“This! What we’re doing right now!” Katan insisted. How could Rosiel not understand?
“You think it’s wrong of me to show you how I feel about you?”
“I-I can’t do this. It isn’t ethical and we shouldn’t even be having-”
Rosiel clamped a hand over his mouth to silence him. “They’ve taught you well in that academy haven’t they Katan?” Fire burned behind those amber eyes and there was ice in his voice. Rosiel angrily shoved Katan away and straightened his shirt before rising. “You don’t want me? Fine.” He gave the Cherub one last lingering glance before disappearing.
Katan let out the breath he’d been holding in before. Rosiel was angry, and at him no less. He didn’t understand, what had he done wrong? It was the right decision to stop himself and Rosiel from . . . Why had this happened? When had their relationship changed from something so simple to this? It was wonderful before. The lines were drawn and there were strict rules of what could and could not be done.
Not anymore.
(A/N: For those Rosiel & Katan lovers, sorry they didn’t get further along.)
XXXXX
Alexiel had to admit she was impressed: she and Lucifer had spent two hours together so far and they hadn’t had a single argument. It must’ve been a record or something now. He’d showed up a few hours ago at her room and taken her to breakfast, which she passed on as a sort of protest to what they were doing. After that they’d gone into Gehenna to sight see and to shop. He’d insisted on holding her hand the whole time and Alexiel let him; she could bend a little. Truthfully she enjoyed having her hand in his, Lucifer’s firm grip reassuring . . . No, no, NO!
What the hell was wrong with her!?
“Alexiel,” Lucifer gazed at her, his expression wary. “What are you thinking about?”
“How bizarre this is,” she replied. “I shouldn’t even be here with you.”
He smiled and titled his head to the side in question. “Why not?” Alexiel couldn’t tear her eyes away from that smile, it was brilliant and there was true amusement on his gorgeous face. She swallowed with difficultly and tried to notice anything besides their proximity and the way Lucifer stared at her intently. She was startled momentarily. His eyes, they looked at her as if she was the only person in the world, the most important thing he’d ever laid eyes on. No one had ever looked at her that way and the feelings rising up within were alien.
“You’re my enemy.” Instantly she regretted her words, spoken quickly and without thought. Lucifer’s smile left his face as if it was cut off and those eyes turned cold and unfeeling.
“Is that right . . .” he snapped. Lucifer scowled and glared over her head. Things had been going so well and then Alexiel had to go and say that. Not that it wasn’t true, he was her enemy, but he’d hoped they could rise above that little problem. Lucifer searched their surroundings for signs of unwanted activity, satisfied they were alone he plopped down onto the ground. He leaned back casually on the palms of his hand and nodded for Alexiel to do the same. She bared her teeth but complied, keeping a few inches between them. “I don’t know why you’re so . . .” Lucifer trailed off for lack of word to describe it.
“So what?” Alexiel asked, her eyes blazing, ready to defend herself.
“Strong.” he said. “All the time.”
She reeled back and glared at him. Yes, she was. Strong. The one thing she couldn’t stand was a woman who served a man, as if he was more important . . . As if they weren’t equals. And always, the answer to why a woman would allow a man to demean her was the same; love. What was love anyways? It certainly wasn’t worth having her entire life taken over by a man. Love was stupid and weak, and Alexiel wouldn’t be weak. Or stupid for that matter.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she spat. “What’s wrong with being strong? You are all the time.”
Lucifer leaned back all the way to fall upon the grass, hands clasped behind his head like a pillow. “I never said there was anything wrong with it,” he corrected her. “You just don’t have to be that way all the time.”
Alexiel scoffed and smirked at him. “I’m an angel surround night and day by evils that want to see if an old demon legend is actually true. Tell me I don’t.” she challenged.
“I’m here to protect you.” Lucifer said simply. She was his future bride, of course he’d protect her from danger. He hoped Alexiel would finally learn that . . . Unfortunately his words had the opposite effect. Sadly.
“Are you saying,” Alexiel whispered with menace. “That I need you of all people to protect me?” She threw back her head and laughed darkly. “You are such a chauvinist! Just because I’m a woman you think that I can’t take care of myself?”
“Well,” Lucifer replied carefully. “I’m not saying that you couldn’t take care of yourself, but it’s just in your best interest to let me.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” Alexiel shook her head in amazement.
“It’s natural for me to do it, after all, I’ll be your husband soon.”
“Not that again . . .”
Lucifer smiled and closed his eyes, letting the sun warm his face. Suddenly a dark shadow obscured the light and he cracked open an eye to see Alexiel’s darkened face gazing at his with annoyance. Behind her the light created a blinding halo around her hair, which fell like a brown curtain around them, and the shadows complimented her flawless features. She looked like an angel and Lucifer didn’t think about his actions, just placed his hand on the back of her head and brought her lips down to his in a kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue and kissed her thoroughly, urging her on as she brought her hands up to rest on his chest. Alexiel just closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.
Moments passed, seconds really, and then Alexiel broke away breathing hard, and leaned her forehead against Lucifer’s to catch her breath. It was an exquisite kiss, a perfect blend of tenderness and passion. “Don‘t,” Alexiel caught her breath and licked her lips, which had suddenly gone dry. “Ever do that again.”
Lucifer laughed and his words rang true, “It’s not like you didn’t enjoy it.” She slapped him and rose in indignation. He studied her dark expression with his own and Alexiel stormed off in a fit towards the city. His cheek burned and he was sure it had begun to turn red. He growled and Lucifer crossed his arms across his chest and thought.
What was her problem anyways? Slapping him like that when all he did was kiss her. It wasn’t like he was trying to rape her, that he could understand, but it was just a kiss.
Just a kiss . . .
Just a kiss . . .
“IT WAS JUST A KISS!” Alexiel screamed out loud to herself. She startled a few demons walking past her with her outburst. After she’d left Lucifer she’d come back to the city and started walking around to vent her anger. It did help a bit, but not much. Why’d he have to come out of no where like that? They’d been getting along so well, until of course she mentioned the obvious and he kissed her . . . A more pressing matter entered her mind: What was she going to tell Kurai and Arachne? Arachne especially; she’d annoy her until she got what she wanted, which was information.
Alexiel groaned and scrubbed her hands over her face rapidly. This wasn’t supposed to happen, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. They were always supposed to be at each others throats, ripping and tearing, not kissing and enjoying the days in Hell. She was glad she’d slapped him, more than glad; Lucifer had it coming.
Somehow Arachne always seemed to find her when she was at her worst, so Alexiel wasn’t surprised to find Arachne’s smirking face above hers when she brought her hands down and opened her eyes. “You always find me when I’m down,” Alexiel murmured quietly.
“Yeah,” she remarked with humor. “I have an amazing perception of your feelings.”
“Looks like it . . .” was the sullen reply.
“Aw,” Arachne moaned. “What happened on your date with Lucifer?”
“It was not a date,” Alexiel snapped, her voice sharp. “It was the civil meeting of two people to discuss the mutual dislike between them.”
“And share a kiss or two,” Arachne said under her breath.
Her excellent hearing picked up Arachne’s words and Alexiel narrowed her eyes in speculation. “What did you say?” she whispered quietly.
“Nothing!” Arachne replied in haste.
Alexiel feigned ignorance. “I could’ve sworn you just said something. Want to tell me what it was?”
“N-Not really.” She was sweating now and suddenly dying seemed very nice. Obviously she and Kurai had been spying on their little ‘meeting’ and had witnessed the entire exchange. It was interesting, the way both parties danced around the real issue and argued about trivial things, such as a simple kiss. Arachne didn’t understand why they weren’t together already, it was so obvious that they had feelings for one another . . . Even Kurai was able to pick up on the signs. The only ones who remained oblivious were Lucifer and Alexiel.
Alexiel glared at her friend’s guilty expression and said, “You were spying on us.”
“A little.” Arachne responded sheepishly. “You two look so good together.” She scoffed and began walking towards the palace. Arachne followed and matched Alexiel’s pace with her own. “Seriously. You say you don’t like Lucifer, but you kiss him-”
“I did not kiss Lucifer!” Alexiel yelled. She breathed deeply to regain her composure and replied calmly, “It doesn’t matter anyways, it was just a kiss.”
Arachne admired her discreet attempt to bypass the issue. “That’s what they all say . . .”
XXXXX
Katan inhaled deeply to calm his nerves and stared once again at the transport device on the floor. If he stepped on it, it was supposed to immediately take him to Hades, where he could speak to Uriel of the Elementals and possibly Enra-Ou. Perhaps he could make a deal with the ruler of Hades and he’d allow him passage with out real threats. The problem after that was descending to Sheol. It was the lowest level of Hell and it would take a long time, by then who knew what could happen in Assiah and Heaven . . .
Rosiel hadn’t come to see him off. It bothered him, severely, that his lord didn’t want to see him. When they passed in the halls Katan couldn’t look at him, the shame and the feelings forced his head down in embarrassment. Sometimes he would make an attempt to breach the wide chasm that now kept them apart, but he didn’t have the courage. Rosiel certainly wasn’t making an effort himself, maybe he really did hate him now. Katan could feel the burning effect of rejection in his chest, somehow his heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by someone’s hand. Was this how Rosiel felt when he had told him no?
The feeling was terrible and Katan wished he could take it all back.
With a sad sigh he stepped onto the device and white light enveloped him into a cocoon and Katan disappeared.
Rosiel stepped out from behind a pillar and gazed emotionlessly at where Katan had been only seconds before. Rejection was still sharp, but he couldn’t deny his feelings for Katan. He cursed silently and stared at the beauty around him.
If Katan doesn’t come back . . . I swear I’ll kill him.
(A/N: Him meaning Lucifer.)
XXXXX
“I don’t like him.”
“Liar liar pants on fire!” Arachne sang the words, dragging out the word ‘fire’ on a particularly high note. Alexiel ignored her vindictively but inside she was cringing. Finally Arachne stepped in front of Alexiel to halt her steps and placed her hands on her hips in a haughty fashion and said, “Answer me this Alexiel: What’s your ideal guy?”
She gazed at her warily and asked, “Is this a trick question?”
Exasperated Arachne cried out “No!” She ran her perfectly manicured nails through her white blonde hair and asked again, with more insistence.
“Why are you asking anyways?” Alexiel frowned.
“I just want to know, I mean, no man seems to hold your interest and you’re too beautiful to be alone.”
No man seemed to hold her interest? That was an understatement. Nothing held her interest. Much less a stupid, arrogant, macho man with a full-of-himself attitude like Lucifer. In her mind she imagined stabbing him . . . and then kissing him full force on the lips . . . Ok, her imagination was a bit over active today. It was nothing, just lust. Normal, totally normal to want a handsome man to kiss you that way . . .
“If you must know,” Alexiel finally said. “I want a man who’s intelligent and can make me laugh. He has to care about me and protect me I suppose, but he’s got to understand that I can also take care of myself. There has to be kindness, and we have to have things in common. The relationship between us can’t be all surface. If he‘s handsome it‘s a bonus, but that’s not the most important thing. Most of all he has to love me.”
Arachne gazed at her skeptically and repeated all the ideal traits while counting them off on her fingers. In all, what Alexiel wanted was a perfect creature of masculinity, which was impossible. Men were pig-headed, brash and not always intelligent. They didn’t exactly have a reasonable explanation for everything they did, especially when they tried to understand the needs of women. Then they could be the biggest idiots in the world . . . But also the most wonderful.
“No guy in the world is that perfect Alexiel.”
“I try to keep my expectations high. Never settle.” she replied smartly.
“I can name one guy who meets almost all of the traits you just listed . . .” Arachne said wryly.
Alexiel glared at her. “Don’t even mention his name.”
She held her hands up, palms outward. “I’m just saying. Lucifer seems exactly like your dream guy.”
A frown covered her face and Alexiel thought. Arachne was right, Lucifer did fit in with almost everything she’d listed as her perfect man. He was intelligent, he did make her laugh, he showed kindness, but only when it suited him. They did have things in common, and she had to admit their relationship was based on something more than looks; he was good looking enough on his own. Sometimes he appeared to care about her . . . But then he’d do something stupidly . . . Manly and ruin it. She guessed it was just in his nature, but it was annoying all the same.
Did he love her? Not a chance.
Then again she’d never asked him, not once, about his feelings. All they seemed to do was fight, nothing really was said that mattered. What did she care about his feelings? What did she care about what he thought of her? He was a self-serving b*****d, only wanting her to be his wife for her power and lineage . . .
He is such a b*****d!
Doesn’t change the fact that you can’t stop thinking about him.
Alexiel hated when her mind got the best of her, self-conversation was a crash course way to the truth. Maybe she did care about what Lucifer thought of her and maybe she did want to know how he felt about her . . . But that didn’t mean she felt anything in return. No, no way in hell.
Don’t lie to yourself now.
Shut up, SHUT UP!
And what if he did say he loved her . . . What would happen? Alexiel could see herself gloating over Lucifer, viciously rejecting his declaration of love. She was laughing and rubbing Lucifer head into the dirt, ah, such wonderful satisfaction. What did she care? He was rich, he could buy new feelings. But . . . There was a small corner in her mind halting the glorious humiliation she was inflicting . . . What if she returned those feelings?
Alexiel was suddenly weary, her world was crashing down on her in nanosecond and worst of all:
Worse than being attacked because she was food . . .
Worse than being a possible bride . . .
Worse than being in Hell with no way to get out . . .
She was beginning to develop feelings for Lucifer.
XXXXX
What was he going to do about Alexiel? Lucifer fumed and stormed about his room, muttering incoherently to himself. He had to do something! Hell depended on him, and the demons for that matter. The Satans were expecting this to be quick, even if he had to drag Alexiel to the alter . . . But he didn’t want to. He felt so different around her, much more alive than dead inside. She was probably the only other person in Hell who argued with him, besides the Satans of course but that made it all the more interesting.
Everyone else in Hell was scared of him, Alexiel stood up to him and actually slapped him today. He hadn’t been expecting it, just like he hadn’t expected for her to steal his sword during their first meeting. It hurt his ego that he’d been done in like that twice, twice, but because of those times she’d bested him he had admiration for Alexiel. Of course he’d never tell her, Lucifer would never live it down and his reputation would disappear in a millisecond.
Suddenly his world felt like it was falling apart and he sunk into the bed beside him, throwing his arms across his face.
“What do you think I should do about Alexiel?”
Beliel stepped out from the shadows, her flaming hair framed her pale face as she grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I don’t know. What do you want me to say Lord Lucifer?”
“Something sensible.”
“Send her flowers.” Beliel ignored the cold glance she got from Lucifer. “I’ve heard it’s the way humans show affection for each other on Assiah. Sounds romantic doesn’t it?”
Lucifer replied dryly, “I said ‘sensible’, not stupid.” Flowers? She had to be kidding.
She shrugged and answered simply, “You asked. Besides, I don’t even know why you’re doing all this . . .”
“You and me both.”
“But I think it’s working.”
“What’s working?” he asked with disinterest.
“Oh nothing.” Beliel brushed the matter aside casually. Lucifer sighed and asked her to make him a drink, something strong that would get him very, very drunk. She obliged, waved her hand in a swift motion and automatically in mid-air a small scotch glass appeared filled to the brim with a dark amber liquid. He raised his hand and the glass moved invisibly to his outstretched hand as he sat up on the bed, back against the headboard.
Beliel studied her Lord slowly, taking in everything. He’d changed since Alexiel had come to Hell, the silver eyes looked less hard and unforgiving and the glacial tone in his voice had softened slightly. “I think you’re in love with Alexiel.” she said randomly. Lucifer all but choked on his drink, the glass shattered in his hand to a million tiny shards. Beliel calmly awaited the onslaught.
“What,” he asked coldly. “Did you say?”
“Don’t pretend idiocy, you heard me perfectly. I said, ‘I think you’re in love with Alexiel.’”
Lucifer’s eyes were expressionless as he glared daggers at her. “I don’t like your asinine comments.”
Beliel’s gaze didn’t waver as she asked, “Why?”
He wasn’t feeling, didn’t feel anything at all. Alexiel was an asset towards Hell, nothing more . . . She didn’t mean anything to him at all. And he definitely wasn’t in love. He’d read about love a million times before in books, seen it portrayed in movies when he’d gone to Assiah to get away. It was only a feeling, how could a mere feeling be so overpowering and absolute on a person?
“I’m not in love.” he stated confidently.
But Beliel was ready for his denial and countered. “How do you know? You’ve never been in love before.”
She had him there. Lucifer narrowed his eyes and asked her, “Have you?”
Beliel smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Once.” she answered quietly. Then she stretched her arms, reaching for something she’d never have. “People always want what they can’t have Lord Lucifer,” her eyes slid over his passive face. “And that’s exactly why you want Alexiel.” She disappeared instantly, but her words rang in his ears and Lucifer frowned.
XXXXX
Beliel returned to find the other Satans in an uproar. Asmodeus saw her first and swiftly moved out of the way to give her a view of Astaroth attacking Uriel, trying to get to the angel behind him. Uriel pared all of Astaroth’s attempts to bypass him with his giant scythe, and the Satan was beginning to get frustrated. The other Satans stood around idly, enjoying the brewing fight with great interest.
“Astaroth.” Beliel said sharply, “Stop.”
He glared at her with obvious dislike, but heeded her words and ceased. Uriel’s black eyes flashed to her’s briefly to acknowledge her presence then he disappeared, leaving the angel he’d been protecting behind. Beliel gazed at their unexpected visitor and the bright light of innocence radiating off him was enough to make her want to retch. A very, very pure angel from Heaven.
“What are you doing here angel?” she demanded. “Speak quickly.”
Katan inhaled and then exhaled to get his bearings, the reception of Satans was still jarring. “I’ve come to take back Alexiel.”
XXXXX
Autumn: End
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 one hundred nights · Thu Jul 16, 2009 @ 05:58pm · 0 Comments |
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