Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 61

Lucien's P.O.V.

Oh how I love teasing Bella. Her warmth and beauty enthrall me, her looks of surprise and the narrowing of her eyes when she calls my bluff fill me with a longing so deep, I cannot see the bottom. I make a snarky remark about history repeating itself because I want it to...I want to spend a lifetime with this woman, just like my father was able to with my mother. I'm pretty sure she understood my innuendo, so I draw out 'I love you' on her back with my finger. She's too distracted to pay attention to what I'm writing, and I smile softly knowing she's going to be mine. I'm pretty sure I've won over her father and brother, now I just have to convince Bella.

I can feel her start to stress a little, her heartbeat increases and she starts looking worried. She closes her eyes, I assume to get herself under control, so I lean into her and whisper, "What's wrong? You were so carefree a moment ago." Her eyes remain closed, but she softly smiles at me, discretely taking deep, fortifying breaths.

She opens her eyes, looks at me through her incredible hazel irises and murmurs, "I am just thinking how much my family seems to like you and it reminded me that now I have to meet your father." She takes another deep breath and then looks into my eyes. "That fact is seriously freaking me out."

I smile softly at her. "You have nothing to worry about," I tell her gently.

"That's easy for you to say!" she says, agitated.

"He's going to love you," I tell her confidently.

She shakes her head and starts clearing the table. I get up to help her, and when we are out of earshot, she turns to looks at me. "That's not what's worrying me," she says quietly. "He's this huge historical figure, he reigns over the souls of the damned, he's immortal and has seen everything mankind can do, to each other, and to the planet. Add to that the fact he's the actual Devil, and you may as well shove me into a rocket and send me into space so the stars might be able to discern my infinitesimal sense of insignificance compared to him."

Wow, she's really wigged out about this. I guess I can see her point. I want to assuage her fears, but I know I'm not really going to be able to. The best course of action is to have them meet each other. It will be hard on Bella at first, but my Dad can use his powers to get her to relax around him. This is not the place, or the time, to tell her that, but I should call him. I take Bella's hand and kiss the back of it. "I understand your hesitancy, but it will be fine, I promise you. Speaking of, I should probably call my Dad before the storm gets worse, just to let him know where I am. He probably thinks we are still on the mountain," I say, depositing the plates I'm carrying into the sink. When she turns back to the dining room, I get out my phone and dial his number.

"I assume you are holed up somewhere out of this storm?" his deep voice asks, not even bothering to say hello.

"Hi Dad," I say. "Yeah, I'm actually at...a friends house. I need to talk to you about something."

"Indeed," he says, his interest piqued.

"Are you going to be around? Can we eek out some time to sit down together?" I'm nervous. I don't know why I'm nervous. He will be happy for me, right?

He's silent on the phone for a few seconds too long. "Dad?" I ask, wondering if we lost connection.

"I'm going to be...busy...for the next few days. What is it you want to talk about?" he asks a few seconds later. I know what he means when he says he's going to be busy. He has to go to Hell for a while.

"Uhh, I can meet you at work if it makes it easier for you."

His surprise is palpable, and I can just about feel his focus zone in on me over the phone. "This is interesting," he finally murmurs. "You're willing to meet me there without being summoned. What has you so worried son?"

"I'm not worried. I've...met somebody and I have a lot of questions I need clarification on," I rush out, obviously very uncomfortable.

I can envision his face. His eyebrows are rising in surprise, then they will soon lower into a confused expression. It will be a moment before he answers me, and I am not wrong. A minute goes by before he quietly asks, "What kind of questions?"