The Demon in Apartment 4B

A Heavenly Dilemma

Previously: Lumina noticed Micha's tense demeanor and reached out to touch her hand. "Hey, relax. It's just dinner. Let's enjoy it, okay?"

Micha forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, just a bit on edge.."

The cat's eyes glinted with amusement as it curled up on Lumina's lap, its presence a constant reminder of the unseen battle waging around them. Micha knew she had to stay vigilant. Alastor's influence was growing, and she couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment.

Chapter 10: A Heavenly Dilemma

The theater was a hive of activity as actors and crew members rushed to finalize preparations for the evening's performance. The beautifully crafted sets were in place, each one designed to transport the audience into different musical numbers in the jukebox musical. Lumina, cast as the villain opposite Bertha, stood in her costume, adjusting her villainous attire while glancing nervously at the bustling scene around her.

"Alright, everyone, places for dress rehearsal!" The director's voice boomed over the intercom.

Lumina took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Just then, Bertha sauntered over, her eyes glinting with malicious delight. "Don't mess up my scenes, Lumina," Bertha sneered, adjusting her costume in the mirror next to Lumina's. "I don't need you dragging me down."

Lumina clenched her jaw, refusing to rise to the bait. "Let's just get through this, Bertha."

Bertha smirked, leaning in closer. "Don't screw up, Lumina. I wouldn't want to steal the show entirely."

Up in the rafters, Micha watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and anger. She had gotten an earful from her superior, Sera, when she reported that Alastor had a contract with Lumina.

-

"How could you let a demon get close to her?" Sera had berated. "You should have been watching her more closely! You let her suffer at Pan's hands, let her spiral into addiction, and now this? Alastor is a demon, Micha! This is the last straw!" Sera's tall ethereal form glowered down at Micha, the meeting room with just them and Lute.

Lute was mostly there as a threat, and Micha was terrified. Her wings tucked in close as an involuntary response. Sera rubbed her forehead and sighed in anguish. "Lumina is a special case, and while she was necessarily important because she was to be with Adam. Considering our loss due to that...Hotel she's now needed in something else.." Sera says with a bitter tone, and Lute only scoffs and shifts her other leg over the other, turning her gaze from them.

"If she's so important to this plan," Micha had said, her voice flat and arrogant. "Why can't we just kill her and end this?"

Sera quickly turned her gaze to her, Lute looking at him in surprise. Sera had actually slammed her hands down on the table, glaring at Micha coldly. "Watch your tongue." She backs off and composes herself. Looking out the windows in a dramatic way. "Her death has to be of her fate, it is unbeknownst to me how she will perish. But it can't be by our hands."

She gave a side look glare to Micha. "Or a Demon's."

Her wings opened up to show off her opposing authority, staring down at Micha like she meant nothing. "You'll do well to keep her on this path Micha, if she dies because of that dreaded beast-" She paused for dramatic effect as Lute flipped on her helmet and with her brute strength ripped the legs from a chair.

Micha gulps in fear, keeping her wings tucked in.

-

Below, the director called for Lumina and Bertha's scene. Lumina stepped onto the stage, feeling Bertha's mocking gaze burning into her back.