Hell's Company

Chapter 18 (Edited)

"Just remember... I'll be watching." Lucielle whispered from an alley as she let me walk into one of the bars in Sector Violence's Border District and slipped back into the shadows like she was a part of them. She could be amazingly stealthy when she wanted to be. She had snuck up on me multiple occasions since our time together, always managing to startle me. It wasn't always on purpose, either. Her footsteps were always light and silent, without her trying. I could always detect Luca's presence when he was near, but never hers, which was interesting.

He would be sure to find me here. Someone would tell him, and he would come, and I would have to break his heart.

I sat down at the bar, and observed. All eyes had landed on me the moment I opened the door. Of course, everyone recognized me here. I had been his prized second in command and I had gone missing. A couple people near the door exchanged looks and left. The bartender got me a drink immediately without me even needing to ask and I thanked him. I needed it.

I looked at a faceless clock that hung above the bar while I waited. It was a common thing to see in Hell. I wasn't sure if the faceless clocks were some kind of ironic symbol for having all the time in the world or just because people felt like they were lost without keeping track of time like they had when they were alive. The clock still worked, I could hear it ticking, but the hands had been torn off and discarded and the numbers were gouged away by some sharp instrument.

After a few minutes, no longer than ten, the door opened and I knew it was Luca without looking, mainly because everyone had fallen into dead silence. No one wanted to do anything to set him off because he must have just recently calmed down.

"Leave." He ordered, and everyone got up and left, even the bartender. They were scared of him, and I couldn't blame them. His voice was rough and scratchy. He walked behind the bar and kept his back to me as he poured himself a drink. I looked down at mine and clenched one of my fists in my lap. My skin illuminated white; it had been doing that a lot lately, after the time in Lucielle's sector. I could protect myself now, I knew that, and I didn't have to be afraid.

"I hear you've been keeping busy, with Lucielle."

I didn't reply.

He turned to face me. He looked... worn, haggard, impossibly older and all the more morose. He looked like a wreck. Why he let himself appear this way in public was beyond me. Showing strength at all times was key to staying in power. I have no doubt people in this sector had started to covet for his spot as a leader of Hell. "Why did you leave?"

I swallowed. He had gotten right to the point. It was hard to speak, especially knowing Lucielle was observing the whole thing. I never liked having an audience when I was with him and the bar was no exception. "Why did you lock me away?"

"You wanted to stay out of it, didn't you? I was just trying to keep you out of it and keep you safe."

"You made me your prisoner, Luca." I finally met his gaze. He was high, of course. I could tell in his eyes. "You don't do that to someone you care about. You just don't."

"I was just trying to protect you, don't you see that?"

"Of course I do, Luca!" I was starting to raise my voice, emotions getting the better of me. Lucielle had told me it would be best to at the very least keep a calm and collected exterior. All of her coaching went out the window the second he came through that door. "But that was not the way to do it. You had been protecting me by trusting me, by teaching me to fight, not locking me away."

"It was the only thing I could do to keep you out of the war. You left and look what happened! You're one of Lucielle's dogs now, just like Michael!"