The God & The Shadow

Chapter 73

VERONICA

The door creaked when I entered the abandoned mansion. What once used to be a place filled with blossoming roses and incandescent lights now fell to darkness and the withering plants. It was as if no one had even set foot in this place for centuries.

I knew better than to believe the broken facade, not when I could hear gentle humming at a distance.

I walked down the hall and opened the door to my mother's office. My body froze when I saw a tall man standing with his back facing me, his hands in his pockets as he stared at the huge painting plastered behind my mother's desk.

"The prodigal daughter returns," his husky voice peaked my interest. I knew that voice. From behind, he reminded me of Lore; from the expensive suit to the tussled dark curls, I could've mistaken him for the man I left behind if I didn't know Lore so well. He was taller, bigger, and definitely carried a certain aura the devil himself could never imitate.

"Lucifer. It's been a while." I greeted him casually.

He turned with a wide smirk on his face. "Indeed. Last I saw you, you had quite the green thumb. Too bad you can't touch flowers anymore without it withering before you."

"And last I saw you, you tried to get me killed. Any reason you're lurking in my mother's office?"

Lucifer sighed and rounded the table, taking large strides until he stood in front of me. He didn't hold the same effect on me as Lore had, the fear and excitement of what he would do to me. No, he just felt... wrong.

"I wanted to check in with Demeter. She and I have business, but it seems she's not in today. I assume you're here for her too?"

"That is none of your business." I retorted.

He chuckled. "Witch or goddess, you always know how to spite anyone, even the devil. How bold. I'd wager that Hades finds you to his liking for that very reason. Where is he, by the way?"

"Why? So you could have another week long battle?" I recalled how Hermes had to pull me to the Underworld to tend to Lore's wounds back when he and Lucifer fought. It definitely wasn't my best moment considering the fact that he'd done it for me, and I didn't even realize it.

"No, Hades and I are past that. At least, I thought we were. Your lover dumped hundreds of angels at my doorstep and left not even a note. Did you know that?"

"No, and he is not my lover." My hands curled into fists at the sound of the word.

"Lying is one of the many things I do not tolerate, goddess. I can smell him on you and I know you're desperate for more at this very second." Lucifer gave me a haunting smile as he played with a loose strand of my hair, "Perhaps you want me to demonstrate just how the Kings of Hell and the Underworld differ from the other? I can do things to you that he cannot."

"Like what, exactly?" I countered.

"I can make you my Queen, treat you like one. You and I make a formidable pair, admit it. Hades will tire of you one day, wear you out until you're nothing. I won't. I'll do everything you want and don't, have you wherever and whenever. If you want, I could even remove the curse you so badly want gone. Just say the word."

"Really? You would do that even when you have business with my mother?" I said flatly, masking the anger at the thought of Demeter of going to Lucifer just to get to me. That was low, especially for a goddess like her.