DevilstiltSin - A devilish fairytale ✔ (Lucifer fanfiction/deckerstar)

Chapter 4

Chloe didn't know how she made it through the morning. She was numb, unable to stop thinking about Luci and how his whole demeanor had changed after she had told him she wanted him. Did he really think so little of himself that he thought he didn't deserve her? He had saved her life three nights in a row, even if it had been part of a deal each time for reasons that she wasn't sure about anymore, but shouldn't that be enough to be worthy?

She was so caught up in her emotions that she barely registered when Marcus told her there was going to be a ball that same night to announce their engagement. She just accepted it and didn't find it in her to protest. There was no escape from her fate as far as she could see.

As soon as breakfast was over, the guards walked her to a boudoir where a couple of maids were already waiting for her. They took her measures and put her in dresses of various colors to find one that was suitable for her. Chloe left it to them to decide which one she should wear since she didn't care anyway. She let them brush her hair and discuss what they would do with it.

The preparations took the whole morning, and after lunch, she was finally allowed to go into her own chamber and spend the afternoon there by herself. A maid had let in a bath for her, and she gladly sunk into the hot water as soon as she was alone.

It was soothing to soak in it, the scented foam a luxury she wasn't used to, and for the first time since she had come here, her muscles truly relaxed. When it was almost time to get out, she held her breath and sunk deeper into the tub, her head dipping under the surface, and for a moment the world was warm and silent, and she was free.

As she reemerged above the surface, the first thing she saw was a familiar face looking at her. Leaning sideways against the door frame, one foot crossed over the other, hands in his pockets, stood Luci, neatly dressed as usual. Chloe's first instinct was to try to cover herself up, but then she realized that the foam was already hiding her body from view. All Luci could see was her head sticking out of it.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just flew in because I wanted to talk to you. Then you started diving, so I decided to wait for you."

"So how long have you been standing there, watching me like a creep?"

"I assure you it has only been a few seconds." He raised his hands in defense, and Chloe noticed contently that he had the decency to look at least slightly embarrassed. "I know from experience that most humans can hold their breath for thirty seconds at most, so I figured I wouldn't have to wait all that long. Unless you were going to drown yourself. In that case, I would have pulled you out of the water."

"Then I figure you won't mind waiting a little longer while I get out of the tub."

"No, I don't."

When he didn't move, Chloe added, "I meant next door."

"Oh, of course. I'm sorry. It's hard to take my eyes off you."

He smiled and walked out of the bathroom into her chamber, where he stopped and waited in front of a window. Yet, there was no door between both rooms. When Chloe was sure he wouldn't turn around again, she sat up and reached for a fluffy towel from the rack next to the tub. She knew he could hear her stand up and step out of the water, but he stood still like a statue, true to his word. She instantly relaxed and calmly dried herself.

There weren't any fresh clothes, so she simply slung the towel around her body like a dress and tried to fix it as best she could. At least it was long enough to reach her knees. That would have to do. She was too curious about what Luci wanted to tell her after having spent the whole day thinking about him.

She slipped barefoot into her shoes, then walked over to Luci. She could see herself in the reflection of the window glass, and she knew he could, too.

"I'm sorry for walking in on you like this. I didn't mean to interrupt your privacy, but it's rather difficult to come and see you when you're locked in like this, you know? Anyway, I wanted to talk to you."