Black Blooded

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     "Taina, have you seen ma colombe? I've been looking everywhere; I have something I want to talk about with her." Lucifer asked as he bounded into the royal study. He already knew the answer, but the devil had to make double sure. Taina glanced up from the page in her dainty fingers. Her once cheerful, chocolate eyes were now bagged and sunken in as she read the script. "Can't you see I'm busy, Lucifer. I don't know where Azalea is!" She snapped. Once she saw his face drupe, she instantly softened. "Hey. . . I'm sorry, Luci; I didn't mean to yell." She whispered, laying the paper on the desk. Taina carefully stepped to him and gave a smile.

     "You can't yell her name out like that. Am I the only one concerned for her safety?" The devil's voice was strained, and his eyes were on the floor. "Of course! 'Course I am! I love my sister, more than anything else." Taina proclaimed. He wasn't upset about Taina's little out burst; her answer completely solidified what he already knew. Their whole mission was compromised because they trusted Nicklaus.

     "Maybe," she continues, "you could tell me, and if I see her, I'll pass it along."

     "I think I found a way to get evidence on the council." Lucifer was still trying to piece together his thoughts on Azalea's disappearance.

     "Wait, what?"

     Lucifer sighed. "I just wish I had my dove's approval."

     "Don't worry about it, Luci." Taina sat back down. "She's just hiding." Lucifer bit his lip, and then shook his head after a moment. He leaned over her desk and stared her in the eyes. "Have you ever believed in something so much, but there was no evidence to prove it?" He asked, face ablaze with seriousness. "Yes. . . Go on." The sister rose a brow, placing her hands together as she listened. "I think Nicklaus is holding Azalea captive."

     "Lucifer, just because you're jealous of their relationship, doesn't mean you can say things like that. Az knows what she's doing." Taina sighed. "You're the only one against him." Lucifer huffed and leaned closer to her. "I'm not spouting lies, little girl. He's hurting Azalea; I know it. She wouldn't just disappear, Azalea wouldn't leave us in the dark. She knows our lives are on the line."

     Taina's eyes darted away from his, then suddenly got wide. "Council Member Pretiu!" She gasps. "What are you doing in the castle this late?" Scramming to stand up, Taina side glanced at Lucifer with a fearful look.

     "The better question is; why is your pet demon spouting things about a dead queen?" Pretiu snickered, locking eyes with the devil.

     Lucifer snarled quietly, letting the princess hide behind him. "Why are you killing off the royal family?" The devil asked. As the council member rolled his grey looking eyes, he spoke; spit flying off his oddly large bottom lip with every other syllable. "Why would I tell you that? All I can say is; faking the queen's death will result in a public hanging!"

     Taina gasped. "No it won't! Azalea did away with those!"

     Pretiu laughed. "Awe, you think we actually did what that stubborn bitch said? HA!" His grin became more of sideways smirk as he spoke. "Oh, my queen. The council doesn't listen to dead monarchs. She had a price on her head the moment she took her first breath!"

     Lucifer smirked, looking oddly calm, ignoring Pretiu's little spat about Azalea's bounty. "Public hanging? Is that it?" Crossing his arms, paying more attention to his nails than the council member in front of him, the devil snickered.

     Lucifer suddenly grabbed Pretiu and slammed his face into the stone wall. ''Taina, my dear, killing the queen is a hangable offense; correct?" His lips twisted up into a scary smirk. "Why, I do believe it is, Lucifer!" Taina exclaimed, sharing an evil look with the fallen angel.