The Serpent and the Lotus Blooms

Matters of the Heart

(TW: Mentions of abuse, gaslighting, ptsd, trauma)

Weeks had passed, and despite the constant presence of the council, JingShui Temple had fallen back into a routine again. Saalah took a deep breath, planting his foot down as he began the daily sword training exercises with the other disciples. He stood pressed between Xiu Ying and Li Jun, all three falling into a smooth rhythm together. He didn't need their guidance anymore. He learned fast and it had only taken a few days to get comfortable with all the lessons, but they chose to join him regardless, and he found their company pleasant.

As he moved through the exercises, his mind wandered to the past few weeks of activities that had occurred. After seeing Lucifer, Saalah had felt his soul leave his body. He had managed to hold his sanity just long enough to ensure Bai Yusheng received proper care before falling apart just outside the bamboo house. Lada guided him inside, spoke softly to him and turned on his playlist of soothing instrumental music to relax him until Serinity arrived.

By that point, he had worn himself out, and Serinity made him tea before getting him to bed. Saalah had hoped to avoid seeing him again. Hoped that Lucifer would have no interest in seeking him out. But he had been wrong to assume the man had enough grace to leave him be. Lucifer had accidentally stumbled upon Saalah the very next day in the gardens.Saalah had been making his way to the carp pond where Bai Yusheng had said they would wait for him to have a late lunch and a short lesson. Lucifer was bold to show his face so close to where Bai Yusheng was present, but the man was nothing if not persistent.

Saalah had felt his heart thrumming in his ears as he approached, his hand hesitantly curling around Vadin. Would Vadin grant him enough peace to fight him off? Or would Lucifer's presence make Vadin's cursed whispering that much worse? He weighed these options, and this gave Lucifer an opening to speak.

"Saalah, I didn't expect to see you here." Liar. Lucifer knew what he was doing. This scenic walk was not exactly his typical way to spend an afternoon. He should be with the rest of the demonic council or at least smoking somewhere where the smell didn't ruin the fresh fragrance of fall. "I almost didn't recognize you. Last I saw you, you were a slender, fresh faced young thing. You've grown into quite the alluring man." Lucifer smirked, and Saalah felt his muscles twitch, his shoulders tense. For every step Lucifer took forward, he took two back.

"I don't want to speak with you," Saalah managed to push out without an embarrassing tremble in his voice, and Lucifer rose a brow.

"Why not? I just wish to ask after how you've been. It has been a very long time, after all." Saalah took a quick glance behind to make sure Lucifer's steps weren't attempting to steer him somewhere and trap him before meeting his eyes once more.

"I don't owe you a reason. You should know it anyway. We didn't exactly leave off on good terms." Saalah's voice was beginning to strain, and he reached belatedly into his pocket to dial the emergency number to alert Serinity.

"It was just a fight, Saalah. We are demons after all. Violent tendencies and all that. Tempers rise. A lot was a lot going on behind the scenes that you didn't know about," Lucifer took a drag from his cigarette but stopped his forward progress, seeming to not notice that Saalah had sent a call to Serinity. "But let's just leave the past in the past. I truly am pleased to see you again. Why don't we go for a walk. We can catch up with each other."

Saalah wanted to scream at him.

'I don't want to catch up with you,' he thought frantically. 'I don't wish to ever be near you again!'

But if he screamed, would that set Lucifer off? Saalah had taken self defense classes because of this man. He had joined a gym, bulked up, trained to be bigger, stronger, because of what this man did to him. But, was it enough? He felt his heart sink. Could he win in a fight with him? Or would he be left beaten and unconscious once again? Could he handle the recovery a second time around?