Demon ∞ l.h.

∞ Chapter Twenty Eight ∞

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I hadn't been alive for a very long time, and in comparison to Luke's life, my own seemed like a grain of sand on the bottom of the largest ocean – nothing but an insignificant speck of dust on the fabric of time. My time with Luke, as it began to slide from days and weeks to months, only made me feel smaller and smaller in this world.

After Michael's visit, Luke had barely left my side, or more correctly, I had barely been allowed to leave his. I was required to sit in the grand hall every day with Luke whilst he looked over the runnings of his business. This was another thing I had come to realise during my time with the Luke; Hell was very much a business, with Luke at the head- the CEO if anything.

The exchanging of souls for people's desires began to seem like mindless transactions after weeks of watching demon after demon came through those doors to report their most recent job. I slowly became afraid of my own desensitization to it, after all, that was where I began; a simple transaction.

At first, Luke was very hesitant about having me present whilst he did his 'royal duties' as he so sarcastically put. I was surprised by his adamant refusal to let me sit in on the action, confused as to why he wouldn't want me there. Was what he in charge of so bad that he, the man who scared me to Hell and back himself, didn't want me to hear?

In the end, it was Calum who convinced Luke. Calum was apparently 'concerned for the Queen's safety' and 'only had my best interests at heart'. The sarcastic little fucker- pardon the language. But what a scheming bastard he was, acting all so innocent and protective of me, when only a short time ago had he threatened to let a hellhound rip me to shreds. The guy was attractive sure, but he was a righteous cock.

So, here I sat in a grand hall of Hell, comfortably curled up on a couch set behind and slightly to the right of Luke's throne, reading a book I had snagged from my bookshelf on the way out of my room this morning. As demon after demon walked through the doors and spoke to Luke, I felt myself growing more and more tired. It was odd, the less I seemed to do the more I felt myself getting lethargic.

It was three hours after Luke had begun his daily meetings my lethargy had hit me entirely, my limbs moving sluggishly every time I shifted positions. Luke was getting restless; I could see him shifting in his chair, his focus drifting from the demon who had been droning on for minutes now.

I wondered what was wrong with him? He had seemed distracted of late... no wonder, considering his archangel brother /my dead, or not-so-dead-fiancé had made several more efforts to break into Hell since his last visit. As I drifted into my thoughts, I could feel my eyes drooping, before fluttering closed and resting. The heavy novel in my hands slipped between my fingers, landing with a solid and echoing thud. I didn't react, instead focusing on the sudden silence of the room- the demon speaking had fallen silent, and rustling could no longer be heard from Luke.

Seconds passed, and all I could focus on was the constant and painful throb of my pulse behind my eyebrow. I barely heard the mutterings of Luke telling the demon that he would continue this meeting at a later point, and to hold all the waiting demons until given further notice.

My head was pounding now, so much so that I could barely think. I didn't want to think it hurt too much.

"Eve, are you alright?" A soft hand was pressed to my forehead and I let out a groan at it, relishing in how cool it felt against my skin. "Eve, darling, you're burning up. Do you feel sick?"

I couldn't bring myself to respond, too lost in my own tiredness. The only sounds leaving me were groans of pain and unintelligible curse words. Even without opening my eyes, I could sense Luke's groaning concern over my lack of answers.

"I don't know what to do to help you, Eve." The frustration in his voice was tangible. I could imagine the way his right hand would be dragging and tugging at the roots of his dirty blonde hair, his left hand gripping my own loosely, and his teeth gnawing viciously on his bottom lip, fiddling with the black metal loop there.

Whatever was wrong with me was clearly having a bigger effect on my body that what I thought, because without me noticing, Ashton had joined Luke and I.

"What's happened? Eve! Shit, Luke, what's wrong with her?" So I definitely looked as bad as I felt then... I felt a rush of affection for the curly-haired boy. The worry in his voice was so endearing – it was nice knowing someone here was truly concerned for my wellbeing.

"I don't know, Ash, one minute she was fine, just reading her book, and the next she's practically passed out and a temperature. Feel her forehead, it's scorching." Now that definitely meant Luke was worried – letting Ashton touch me? Unthinkable from Luke's standpoint, until now that was.

Another cool hand felt my forehead, and I heard a sharp intake of breath. Luke's hand in mine, and Ashton's resting on my forehead felt like ice against my skin. I felt like I was on fire. If I had the strength to open my eyes and survey my body, I wouldn't be surprised if I were to find flames surrounding me, charing me to the bone. I heard a whimper leave me, the sound of it bouncing off the bare stone walls of the hall.

"We need to move her, get her comfortable." Ashton's voice was strained. "She can't possibly be comfortable on that couch, we need to get her laying down." I didn't hear an answer, instead only feeling cold arms under my thighs and behind my back, pulling me to a broad chest.

I pushed myself closer to the coolness of Luke, the burning of my skin relieved at his touch. I must have made another pitiful sound, for Luke squeezed me tighter, shushing me gently.

"You're alright, Eve, we're going to get you help."

Luke's comforting words fell on deaf ears as a blinding pain broke burst through my skull, turning the insides of my eyelids white and gold. A scream of absolute agony ripped past my lips, feeling as though someone had pressed a white-hot branding iron to my eyes.

And then everything turned black, and I felt myself go limp in Luke's arms. Finally, a blissful sense of nothingness surrounded me.

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Sorry for such a delayed post, I know I've been really slack lately. Like and Comment if you're enjoying it so far! Love hearing your feedback!