The Devil's Love

Chapter 7

You know that feeling where you feel like your heart skips a beat after seeing your crush, right? Oh hell nah! What I am feeling after seeing Lucifer in front of my eyes is dread. Let me repeat—DREAD. And to top it off, what the heck did he really say? "No one is unlucky; you just happen to be at the wrong place and wrong time." But he had the power, right? He still does.

"You had the control at the time of our marriage, but you still didn't stop. Why?"

Before I could actually realize what I needed to say or, at least, shut the fuck up, the words had already slipped out of my mouth. After watching his reaction, God please, I don't know whether to ask for death itself to show upon me and take me, or to let my logical and rational part of my brain work and be sorry and grateful at the same time. Sorry? for blabbering, and grateful? Oh well, for not ending my life.

As I was contemplating with my poor self, who was soon gonna be in her grave dead, I heard him say, "I did indeed. I did, and I did not stop the wedding..."

I looked up at his leaning figure, dressed in a formal black attire. I searched his eyes, trying to see what was going on in his head. The only thing I could see was a far-off look. But why? Why was he not sure of what to say?

"They say you are a monster in disguise, are... y-you?"

"Am I?" he said, looking right into my eyes. His eyes were full of such deep intensity that for a moment, I felt drawn towards them. But the very next moment, they were totally cold, as if hiding something. Why? Before I could realize what was happening, he moved away from the wall and slowly approached me. "Hm? Why don't you tell me if I am a Fiend?"

By the time he finished his sentence, he was standing close enough for me to analyze his features. To my complete fascination, they were as gorgeous as they were on our wedding day—eyes full of mystery, the kind I strangely wanted to explore. His nose was so sharp and strong, it seemed as though God Himself had sculpted it with perfection. His lips were so enticingly inviting that I wondered how many people had tasted them. The mere thought made me sulky.

"Everyone is a Demon, Mr. Knight," I said, looking back into his eyes, which locked with mine again, this time with intrigue.

"Then what makes a Brute?"

A ghost of a smile crept onto my face. "The inability to change themselves and their actions. Their souls are tainted, they are as good as dead. Evilness feeds on their souls."

His gaze darkened. "So you think I am evil and won't change?"

"I never said that. You are more than capable of change, but what you don't do is accept that change."

From his expression, it was easily readable that he was perplexed. "And why is that?"

"You could've stopped the wedding, but you did not because you couldn't accept that your bride ran away."

"You're wrong"

Suddenly, I felt like my head had bumped into a wall and my airflow was getting shorter. I tried to breathe, but only realized he was choking me to death. I had nowhere to go. I tried removing his hand, scratching at his arm, but he wouldn't budge.

"I-I-I c-can't breathe." My voice was barely reaching my own ears; I doubted if it would really reach his. But fortunately, it did, only for the tightness to increase.

"Good. Now I want you to listen to me clearly, Aurora, my precious. I. Am. A. Monster. One that does not know change, and one that will make you suffer to the point that I'll break every single piece of you."

He spoke in such a deep and cold voice that it sent shivers straight down my spine. I was losing consciousness, seeing black spots in front of my eyes. I knew it—I should've never spoken. Why, God? Why, from all places in the world, do I have to end up at the hands of a Ogre? Please!

Suddenly, I started coughing loudly as my body fell to the ground. I took deep breaths while patting my chest. When I got a hold of myself, I looked up at Lucifer, who was staring down at me with his usual cold eyes. They felt like they could put a whole bunch of knives into my soul.

"O-our worlds are different, M-mr. Knight. You are not from m-mine, and neither am I-I from y-yours."

A cold smirk played on his face as he crouched to my level. "You are right, Darling. You are not from my world, so you don't know what kind of Horrors dwell in it. Not all beasts are like what you think, so don't try to open this book. It holds secrets darker than the shade of the night sky."

With that, he walked away, leaving me on the cold floor with tears streaming down my face. Letting out a small sigh, I muttered to myself, "W-what am I supposed to do?" I hugged my knees to my chest and started sobbing until I fell asleep like that.

Unseen Shadows

Author's POV

A light breeze moved through the air, carrying a hint of chill that signaled the approach of winter. People bustled about, engrossed in their daily routines, oblivious to the storm that was about to break.

Lucifer's POV

I stepped out of the bathroom, a bathrobe clinging to my damp skin while I used another towel to dry my hair. The shower had been a much-needed respite. I let out a sigh, tilting my head back. Thoughts of Aurora, with her teary and fearful eyes, gnawed at my conscience. The guilt and self-loathing memories stirred in me were inexplicable. Why did her sorrow make me furious with myself? My grip on the towel tightened unconsciously. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the tumult within. "I'll make sure to give you your punishment, darling," I murmured, a smirk twisting my lips into a sinister expression. With that, I proceeded to get ready for the day.

Author's POV

Lucifer descended to the dining room, fully expecting to find Aurora there. But to his dismay, she was nowhere to be seen. His face contorted in confusion and his eyebrows furrowed as he turned to the maids. "Where is she?" he demanded.

One of the oldest maids, head bowed and trembling, stepped forward. "Master, ma'am is not up yet,"

"And why is that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and directing his intense gaze at her.

"I don't know, sir," she replied, her voice shaking slightly due to her old age.

Turning away from the maid, Lucifer moved to his seat at the table. As he dragged the chair out to sit down, he heard soft footsteps descending the stairs. He looked towards the sound and for a moment, his breath caught in his throat. Aurora came down like a fallen angel, but her eyes were puffy and red. Had she been crying last night?