Supernatural in Real Life 5

Chapter 35

As the rest of the spectators of the fight go search for the rest of the group, Julia grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. I really don't want to talk to anyone right now, but I know I can't just leave Julia like this. Today must have been crazy for her, and it just keeps getting worse. I'm the only one she can really talk to about it, so I might as well play the sibling role they I really don't want to have to play.
"What was that?" she asks quietly.
"That was Zeus beating up Lucifer," I explain. "Again."
"But — Zeus? Seriously? Rob Benedict is Zeus? I thought if anything he'd be God."
"No, but God does look exactly like him," I tell her. "It gets confusing."
"So you've met God?" she says in awe.
I nod. "Yeah. You were right. He's a deadbeat dad."
"I can't believe I'm actually having this conversation right now," she mutters. "So you're dating that guy? Lucifer seems like a jerk."
"He's usually not," I tell her. "That's a side of him I've never seen. I mean, I've heard he used to be a dick, but I can't imagine them living with someone like that for seven years."
"What do you mean, he used to be?"
"Everyone says he changed when he met me," I explain. "Maybe that's what he used to be like. Or maybe it's just Rob. He's always been a bit short tempered with him."
"Or maybe he's just a jerk," Julia suggests. "I mean, come on. He's the devil, Bailey. Not exactly boyfriend material."
"You just don't know him. He's actually way nicer than you'd think. Like Gabriel but with more brooding. So like a cross between Angel and Spike from Buffy."
"He's the literal embodiment of evil," Julia counters. "Evil incarnate, remember?"
"He's God's favorite son," I remind her.
"Was God's favorite son," she corrects me. "'Til he threw him in Hell."
"No, he still is," I reply. "Ever since God showed up a few weeks ago — months, maybe? — the only one he'd help is Lucifer."
"Out of pity."
"What?" I ask, confused.
"Come on. Have you met the guy? There's no way anyone loves him more than Gabriel," Julia replies. "God just feels bad about throwing Lucifer in the cage. That's why he helps out, not because he likes him."
"You don't know that," I protest, though I have to admit, her idea seems not only plausible but likely.
"Uh, yeah, I do," she replies. "I mean, it's obvious. There's no way anyone likes him."
"I do," I say defensively.
Julia groans. "Oh, don't tell me you're going to take him back after that."
"He didn't mean it. There's no reason to make a big deal or of it."
"He literally said he doesn't care about you!" she reminds me. "I don't need to make a big deal out of it. That's already a big deal."
"He was just mad. That's all."
"So, what, he can say whatever he wants to you, and it's all okay because 'he was just mad'?" Julia demands. "That's an abusive relationship. That's, like, an actually abusive relationship."
"What? No, he's not abusive!" I protest.
"He is!" Julia insists. "Mental abuse is just as abusive as physical abuse."
"But it's not —"
"It is! Seriously, Bailey. He's bad for you. It's obvious. Dump him. You deserve better."
"You don't know what you're talking about," I protest.
"I do. Better than you, probably. You're too emotionally attached to see how bad he is for you. I'm the one with the clear, unbiased view of the situation here. I'm just doing what you'd do if the roles were reversed. It's what sisters are for."
"Yeah, but I can't leave Lucifer."
"Why not?" she challenges.
"Because..." I search my brain for a reason, but not a single one comes to mind. Finally, I finish, "Because I can't. I love him."
"So? Find someone else to love. You know, the average person falls in love seven times before marriage. And it's not like you two are soulmates or anything."
"We were," I say softly.
"What?"
"We were soulmates," I explain. "Emphasis on the 'mate' part. It's apparently just a bond so people have a kid, so the bond is broken now, but we were soulmates."
"You had a kid?" Julia demands.
Oh, right. She didn't know that. Well, this is awkward. "Uh, yeah. Macie's our daughter."
Julia just stares at me for a second, dumbfounded. "Wow. Just — just wow. You know what? I don't want to know. So, if I understand this weird soulmate logic thingy, you guys were destined to fall in love."
I nod. "Yes."
"And that was to have a kid."
"Yes."
"And now you've had the kid."
I confirm it again.
"So now your — your soulmate bond or whatever is broken, and the only thing keeping you together is your 'love.'" She makes finger quotes around the last word. "But what if it was never love? What if it was just because you needed to have kid because destiny or whatever, and you only stayed together because it seemed right? Because, from what I've seen, you two aren't that compatible. There's no way that would have happened on its own. Your entire relationship has been based off God's will, pretty much."
I wish I could tell her that she's wrong, but I can't. I don't want to think this is true, but it's definitely a possibility. The more I think about it, the more I start to believe it. We're just pieces of destiny's chess match, and though the game is still going, my piece is off the board. I don't have a part to play anymore, and certainly not with Lucifer. He just gave me the perfect out. I would be a fool not to take it.
"You're right," I say finally. "Lucifer and I were never really a thing. Not on our own. I'm done. I'm not destiny's bitch anymore. We're over."
Julia grins. "Wiser words have never been spoken."