Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 48

Bella's P.O.V.

When Lucien makes a gallant effort to change the subject, I love him even more. He understands, despite the few tears I let slip, that while I may look all calm and collected on the outside, I'm a mess on the inside. We talk for two more hours on topics ranging from nature to politics. He is absolutely fascinating. His breadth of knowledge is astounding and then I remember he's four hundred and six years old. Of course he's well versed in all sorts of categories...his father, who has been in existence since the beginning of time, must be brilliant. When I think about his father, I realize I cannot keep ignoring the elephant in the room, so I clear my throat and say, "Thank you for distracting me for a while, but we need to continue our conversation about your...umm...your heritage. I'm not comfortable with who your father is or what he represents."

He nods his head sagely and asks, "What would you like to know about him?" When I don't answer for a moment, he directs the conversation by saying, "He would be thrilled to help find the man who attacked you. Do you want him to?"

I bite down on my lower lip and look down into my lap, my hands absently wring together while I ponder his question. Do I want him to look for him? Do I want to rehash that night? My therapist says I need to face the fear I felt if I ever want to get over it. Can I do that? "I am not sure, Lucien, I don't know if it will make me feel better or worse."

"How could you feel worse if you know you're getting justice for what he did to you?"

"Because I would have to revisit that night, relive the pain and humiliation. I'm not sure I'm strong enough," I tell him, embarrassed I am not some Goddess who's got all her shit together.

"Throw your worst at me, Bella," he implores me. "I can handle it. I want to help you, if you will let me. The thought of what that asshole did to you makes me see red," he admits with venom in his voice. "And people call my father a monster," he sarcastically adds quietly.

I look at him for a moment and envision he and his father tracking down my attacker, and it makes my heart race. "I'm not sure what I want, or even IF I want you and your father to get involved. I guess it feels surreal because, after over three years of built up angst, I can't imagine an ending where I don't freak out. Can you understand that?" I ask imploringly.

He nods his head in concession and remains quiet. I take a deep breath and change the subject. "So, you and your Dad live in Pigeon Forge somewhere?"

He nods again. "We bought the old Willows house, moved in about a month ago."

I look at him with wide eyes. "The Willows house? That place is rumored to be haunted."

He laughs out loud at that. "Yeah, it's haunted by its occupants, the Devil and his son."

I swallow tightly at that one. "Right, you two are scarier than anything else on Earth, got it."

He cocks his head. "Do I frighten you?" he asks quietly.

"Not at all," I tell him without delay, and I can see his shoulders relax a little. Note to self - don't toss around assumptions and suppositions any more because some of my previous theories are now realities in my life. There is a Heaven, there is a Hell and they're populated with angels and demons. One thing still makes me incredibly nervous, and I need to tell Lucien. "But I have to admit, your father terrifies me," I concede quietly.

"He's no different than me, in fact, I look just like him, except his eyes are dark brown," he says, smiling at my surprised expression.

"Really? So he's gorgeous and sexy, is that what you're saying?" I ask, trying my best to stop thinking about his father, or what he looks like. I'd much rather concentrate on Lucien because, for some reason, Lucien being part angel feels reasonable to me. His father, on the other hand, scares the shit out of me.

"Mmm," he agrees, looking at my mouth. "I can tell you who else is gorgeous and sexy," he says, the timber of his voice lowering an octave.

Pretending to be obtuse I say, "Yes, yes, I know. Trish is absolute perfection, and I wish people would stop reminding me of that fact." I squeak when he grabs me and lifts me off the rock.

"Trish is pretty spectacular," he admits, lowering his lips to meet mine, "but I was referring to a much more ethereal being," he murmurs before he gently sucks my lower lip into his mouth.

We kiss each other for a few minutes, and I lose myself in the feeling of completeness I experience as Lucien devours my mouth. I never could have imagined feeling like this and I know deep in my bones these emotions can never be matched with anybody else. However, I'll be leaving for college soon and I wonder what Lucien is going to do when Operation Pigeon Forge High School is over for him.

I end the kiss and look at him. "Lucien," I start, hesitantly, "what are you going to do after you complete the social experiment your father enrolled you in? You look like you're eighteen, but you're four hundred and six years old, so surely you won't be going to college?"

"Why not?" he asks. "I've been before," he admits sheepishly. 

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask incredulously.

He grins at me. "I've attended the University of Cambridge, Heidelberg University, and Sorbonne University. Didn't get a degree from any of them, but I enjoyed my time there."

"I'm sure you did," I murmur sarcastically and he laughs out loud.

"I've been searching for my soul mate, Bella, I just didn't realize it." He pulls me against him again. "I found who I've been looking for," he whispers in my ear. When I shiver he asks, "Does that scare you?"

"Kinda," I tell him. "I'm not sure I am ready to be anybody's other half. Besides, you're an angel and I'm...decidedly not. How is this going to work?"

He grimaces a bit. "I have to talk to my Dad and get his input. Somehow he lived a lifetime with my mother..." When he trails off, I pull away to look into his face. He looks down at me with such gentleness and awe, I cannot help pulling him into another sultry kiss. "I am sure about us," he tells me softly when our kiss ends. "I will give you all the time you need to be convinced as well."

I nod my head. It's not that I'm going to need convincing to agree to be Lucien's girlfriend, I'm just not sure what the future is going to look like since he's immortal and...well...I'm not. We return to our easy banter, talking about anything and everything. When we start heading back toward camp, he reaches for my hand and holds it the entire walk back. I find out things like he always wanted to play American football, but his Dad wouldn't let him because of his strength - he could have seriously hurt somebody. He tells me anecdotes about his childhood, the first time he remembers meeting his Grandfather, the day he realized he had some of his Uncle Raphael's healing powers (WHAT?!), and when his Dad taught him to fly. We are the first to arrive back at camp, and he shows me how he's able to start fires without matches or an accelerant. I watch in amazement, and when he flicks his wrist, the fire builds until it's ten feet tall. He dampens it with another movement of his wrist and I look at him with a huge, goofy smile on my face. I never could have dreamed I would go camping one day with a pretty spectacular Demi-God by my side.