The star crossed lovers

XXXIV

Meanwhile , Somewhere faraway - Lucifer paced back and forth in the grand hall of his infernal palace, his usually calm and calculating demeanor unraveling with each passing second. His thoughts were tangled, torn between conflicting emotions—impatience, worry, frustration. It had been days since Davina had left. He had made sure she was protected, knowing Austin would be by her side, but still, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him. He hated this, this vulnerability. He was the almighty Lord of Hell, yet here he was, shaken by the absence of one woman.

His demons sensed the chaos within their master, and the energy in the underworld was erratic, the flames flickering with an almost restless anticipation. Lucifer could feel their agitation, but he couldn't calm them—not until he calmed the storm within himself. But how could he, when the thought of her in danger twisted his insides? Would she be okay? He had always known she was strong, but this fight was different.

He clenched his fists, trying to rid himself of the gnawing uncertainty. But it was futile. He found his gaze wandering across the vast space until he spotted a small figure in the distance, playing with the hellhounds.

Ethan. The boy was laughing as the hellhounds chased after a ball, their usually terrifying presence softened by the innocence of the scene. They seemed more like overgrown puppies than the fearsome beasts they were known to be. For a moment, Lucifer allowed himself a small, reluctant smile. The boy had an odd effect on even the most dangerous of creatures.

But his amusement quickly faded as Ethan spotted him and began running over. Lucifer straightened, instinctively pulling his mask of indifference back on. The boy approached, his small face shining with youthful curiosity and concern.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, his voice laced with genuine innocence, though there was a sharpness in his eyes that belied his age.

Lucifer waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing," he replied, his tone flat.

But Ethan wasn't so easily swayed. He studied Lucifer for a moment longer before speaking again. "Are you worried about her?"

Lucifer's eyes flickered with surprise. He had never been one to show his emotions—especially not to a child. Yet, here was Ethan, perceptive beyond his years. It caught Lucifer off guard, making him uncomfortable in a way he couldn't quite explain.

"What makes you think that?" Lucifer's voice was controlled, but there was a hint of something else there. Maybe uncertainty. Maybe guilt.

Ethan just shrugged, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes. "I can tell," he said simply. "And why wouldn't you be worried? But you don't have to be. You'll protect her. You always do."

Lucifer's gaze narrowed. "And why are you so certain of that?" he asked, his tone sharp, more defensive than he intended.

The boy stopped for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Then he smiled. "Because that's what you've been doing so far. Protecting her. You think I haven't noticed?" Ethan's eyes held a quiet wisdom as he continued. "I saw it. Not just Victoria, but I've seen glimpses of your past life with her too when you were saving me . I know you care about her more than you let on."

Lucifer let out a chuckle, though it was hollow. He turned his gaze toward the distant flames, his voice carrying an edge of amusement mixed with bitterness. "You're too perceptive for your own good, kid. Believe me? She's brought me nothing but trouble. Why should I help her now?"

Ethan didn't hesitate, meeting Lucifer's gaze head-on. "Because that's who you are," he said simply. "You fight for the people you care about, even if you don't admit it. You love her, even if you try to deny it to everyone else. But you know it. You can feel it right here." He pointed toward Lucifer's heart, a small but confident smile on his face.

Lucifer felt a strange pang in his chest at Ethan's words. Love. It wasn't a word he was used to, much less a feeling he allowed himself to indulge in. But the boy's words struck something deep within him, something he'd buried long ago. He felt his throat tighten, but he quickly masked it with a smirk.

"You're just a kid," Lucifer said, his voice gruff. "Don't talk like an old man with wisdom to spare."

Ethan grinned, his laughter echoing in the hall. "You talk like her, you know," he said, his tone lightening as he playfully teased the Lord of Hell. "But you're not as scary as you think. You care, even if you don't want to admit it."

Lucifer shook his head, trying to push away the boy's words, but they lingered. They gnawed at the walls he had carefully built around his heart. For all his power, for all his fearsome reputation, Ethan had somehow seen through him—seen through the facade he presented to the world. And that unnerved him.

As Ethan ran back to play with the hellhounds, Lucifer stood there, watching the boy's small figure disappearing into the distance. The sound of Ethan's laughter mixed with the growls of the hellhounds, an odd harmony that filled the empty space. And yet, Lucifer couldn't shake the feeling that the boy was right.

The demons in his mind still raged, torn between choices. On one hand, he was the ruler of Hell, a being bound by power and duty. He had no business with feelings, with vulnerability. But on the other hand, Davina's face flashed in his mind, and for a brief moment, the thought of her in danger made the world feel unbearably fragile.

He let out a long sigh, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to regain his composure. Ethan's words echoed in his mind. We fight and protect the ones we love.

Lucifer shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Damn that kid."

But deep down, he knew he couldn't just stand by. Not this time. Ethan's faith in him had rekindled something he had tried to bury. Something that made him want to fight, not for himself, but for someone else.

And that realization frightened him more than anything else

"One fight at a time , we will see from  far and won't step in unless its required " His demon snarled back  .