Falling for the Devil

Chapter Four - Luke

Luke came home to an empty house. It was better this way. No angry father waiting to taunt him, and no young woman to woo as he led her closer and closer to death. Luke threw his long body down on a nearby sofa, closing his eyes thinking of her. Why, oh why, did she have to be so beautiful and wonderful and smart? As his mind expanded with thoughts of Ell, his senses, which he dulled to bare the cacophony of noise that made up high school, slowly returned to their normal, supernatural level.

His eyes snapped open and his lithe body sprang off the couch, pouncing on the intruder. But this intruder merely stepped out of his way and let out a low, terrible laugh, "Really letting yourself go aren't you, Lucifer?"

Luke's ears rang with the sound of that cursed name, and his blood begged him to return to his true home. "Don't call me that!" he snapped. Then, as the whispers of darkness quieted with his anger, "What are you doing here, Bael?"

"What? I can't check in on my little brother?"

"I know what you're doing here. It's the same story every time I move. Father sends you, or maybe Lev, to come spy on me. To find out who his next victim will be."

"Oh yes. That little game you play with G-" Bael choked on the word. "Who will it be this time? A pretty little blonde? You always seemed to like those in the past, maybe they remind you of those scum who cast out father." Bael smirked, toying with his brother. Luke's anger and surprise at his brother's appearance weakened the carefully formed shield he wrapped around his thoughts, and Bael seized the opportunity. Images of Ell flashed in both of their eyes, until Luke realized his mistake, severing the bond.

Bael's cruel smile shone on his face, "Hmmm. Not a blonde at all. Lucifer, the Prince of Pride, so confident that he'll regain his celestial grace. I bet she'll be fun for me to play with."

Again, Luke's anger got the better of him, and he lunged towards his brother. This time he didn't miss. His special breeding lent him extra strength, and he caught Bael, shoving him against the wall. "You stay the hell away from her," he growled, his eyes darkening.

"Careful, brother. Your human façade is slipping."

Luke realized with a start that he had cast off the glamour that he so carefully constructed to hide his true form. Disheveled, white, feathered wings filled the entryway. Fragile feathers fell away and drifted to the floor. Quickly, Luke drew them closed and reformed his glamour.

Bael pulled his large form out of the dent in the wall Luke's attack had created, "You don't have long now, Lucy. Your wings are dying. Soon they'll be black as soot and leathered like a bat's. Even your glamour can't hide the darkening of your hair. By summer, you'll be ready to join us, and take your place as the seventh Prince of Hell!" Bael said this as if it were a great accomplishment, and Luke too recognized that his time was coming to an end. But he couldn't face it with the same glorified reckoning as his brother. Bael continued, "Just let me kill the child now, and we can return home together."

"No more killing, Bael. You will not touch her."

"What's the point in waiting? Her humanity is fading as we speak. Your curse is already working through her blood."

Luke was horrified. In the past, the women had not lost their human life until he had selected them. He hadn't selected Ell. At least, he hadn't meant to. Disbelieving, he said, "No! You can't be right! She's safe! I didn't pick her!"

"Whatever makes you happy, bro, but it's not looking good for a certain raven haired beauty."

Luke lowered his head in shame. He never meant to hurt Ell. When he moved here, he thought he would never hurt another young woman. Suddenly Bael's voice broke Luke's silent reflection, "So, what's for dinner?"

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Apparently, Bael didn't plan on leaving anytime soon. Shortly after eating, Bael plopped himself down on the sofa and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a contingent of vile, dark creatures materialized. He spoke to one of the larger demons, "Tell Father that I'm going to hang out here for a bit. You know, to hang out with my little bro and all the sibling bonding nonsense." As Luke entered the living room, the shadowy figure disappeared with a crack. Luke balked at seeing so many of his father's followers in his home.

"What's going on here!" Luke shouted at his brother.

Completely nonchalant, Bael replied, "just getting some help moving in! I didn't think you'd want to help."

"Want to help? Hell no I don't want to help! You are not moving in here."

"Gosh, Lucy, its not like we shave to hare a room or anything." Bael waved his brother off, "you'll be fine. And this way, I get to meet your little friend so much sooner!"

Accepting the inevitable, Luke sighed and retreated to his room while his brother turned to order around the lesser demons. When he closed the door, he began to pace. He needed a plan. He refused to condemn Ell like he had so many girls before. He's lying right? I mean, he's one of the Princes of Hell, lying is definitely in his repertoire. What am I going to do! Maybe he could wait it out? Maybe if he could just keep her at arm's length for the year, his deadline would pass and she would be freed!

Luke had to believe that this was the case. He couldn't imagine watching someone that he loved so much be murdered in front of him. But at the same time, he didn't think he could completely avoid her either. Bael had already set his sights on her, and his other brothers couldn't be far behind. He would have to befriend her, stay close to her, in case anything happened.

Luke cast his body down on the bed muttering to himself, "Friend Zone here I come."

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