I wasn't sure how long I lay there in a foggy land between sleep and awake. When I finally got up, I felt a lot better. The red tinge in the corner of my eyes was still there, but nearly imperceptible, and I was no longer woozy. I stretched cautiously. Strangely enough, I wasn't disoriented. I was perfectly lucid, aware of everything that had transpired and perfectly sure of where I was at. Just then, my thoughts were interuptted when the door opened, revealing Jas. He gives me a hesitant smile. "Lucifer wishes to meet you himself," he tells me. I nod and stand up before realizing just how monumentous that really is. Lucifer wants to talk to me. Big, bad, Lucifer. The one who rebelled against God, and all of heaven. I wasn't sure whether to be honored or scared.
Jas snapped his fingers and the dress I was wearing changed. Briefly, I wondered if I would ever get to wear pants when I happened to glance in the mirror. He hadn't just changed my dress, he'd done my hair and makeup with the snap. I had to say, it was an improvement. My usually unruly dark hair was piled delicately on top of my head, my eyes brushed with a dark eyeshadow. I knew what all this was, of course, but I'd never used it. The dress was beautiful. It was long, brushing the floor, and the collar came all the way up to my neck. It was red, swirled with patterns made with red sequins. I glanced at Jas, ready to thank him, but he smirked.
"Now you're ready," he tells me. I roll my eyes and he gives me a smile, reaching out and taking my hand. I take a deep breath as he leads me out the door and down a hallway that I didn't remember. All I'd remembered was the elevator ride. I must have been pretty out of it, or the place must have changed. "Any, uh, special ettiquette for meeting Lucifer?" I ask as we walk, me struggling not to trip over my skirts. I wasn't used to fancy dresses. Or clothes in general, in all honesty. I'd still been getting used to the deerskin dress Dallas had made me.
Jas shakes his head. "Nothing other than to be polite. Don't be overly polite because it'll make you seem like you think you're better than him. Just be respectful," he tells me, stopping in front of a door. I nearly run into him but stop myself in time, the dress swishing around my ankles. It was strange, but maybe I could get used to it...
I was brought back out of my thoughts by the door swinging open silently. Jas motioned me to go ahead of him and hesitantly I stepped into a darkened corridor. Directly in front of me, only a few feet ahead, was a brightly lit room. I couldn't make out any details in the room, the light contrasted too much with the darkness I was in now. "He's up ahead," Jas tells me, whispering in my ear. His breath skates down the back of my neck and I can't help but shiver. In a good way, naturally.
I hold myself up straight as I walk down the short, dark hallway. Stepping into the light, I can't help but blink frantically. Once my eyes are used to the sudden light, I can see the room clearly. It's beautiful, elegantly furnished with a color scheme of silver and black. It's a sitting room, or it seems to be, with a tall and lanky man sprawled out on a loveseat. He sits up when I enter the room and motions for me to sit in the armchair across from him. Hesitantly, I do just that, observing him more. From the power he radiates, I'm certain that he is Lucifer. He looks young, but at the same time he is ageless. And he is beautiful. His hair is every colour at once and yet no colour at all.
"I hear you're the savior, Miss Anastasia," he says softly. His voice is nothing short of musical, the words dancing across the room. Jas moves to stand behind my chair, one hand resting lightly on my shoulder. Instantly, I am calmed. I'm not sure if it's Jas's prescense or if he's used his magic, but I don't complain.
"That's what they tell me, sir," I reply, looking down at my hands folded neatly into my lap. Lucifer smiles at me, but there's nothing hidden that I can tell. No malice or teasing. "What made you decide to ally yourself with hell, and, ultimately, me?" he asks, sounding genuinely interesting. "Jas was the first one I met who introduced me to my destiny. It was hard to believe at first, but he showed me the truth in Dallas being Death and gave me no reason not to trust him. When he laid out the choice at my feet, he was the most relaible option. Dallas, at the time, wasn't speaking to me because I'd brought War back without consulting him. I don't trust War, and Dallas doesn't know what he is, so I went with the most likely option," I reply.
Lucifer nods thoughtfully. "Good, good. Well, Anastasia, since you are the savior, I plan on giving you a spot as my second in command. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do while you're here, although I do insist that you take a few classes with me so we can see if you have any magic, and, if you do, help you access it. I am most grateful that you've joined my side. A war is brewing, but you, darling, may be the one to stop it." I glance up at him, taking everything in. I'd never considered the possibility that I may have magic.
"I would like to do everything possible to ensure that the human race is not harmed during the war," I say softly. I don't want to ask too much of Lucifer, as I don't want to risk making him angry, but at the same time I don't want to hurt the human race. Lucifer merely smiles at me sympathetically. "I understand, of course. I will do everything in my power to keep the damage done to them at a minimal." I nod. This alliance seems like it'll be a pretty good one.
"Now, on to matters of your personal experience in Hell. It's not safe for you alone. Everyone here is a demon except you, and you are, for the most part, fully human. You will have to keep a guard with you at all times. Logically, the best choice for this position is Jas, as you two seem to be pretty close already. Unless there's someone else you'd prefer?" he asks, raising one eyebrow. "No sir, Jas is who I'd prefer," I answer. He nods. "Very well. I regret that this meeting has been so short, but I must inform everyone of your arrival and importance. Jas can escort you back to your room, or he can give you a tour of the place. Whichever you prefer, but I must end this chat. We'll meet again soon, surely," he tells me. I stand and bow slightly. "Thank you for seeing me," I murmur, letting Jas whisk me out of the room.
Lucifer wasn't all that bad after all.
A/N: The dress on the side is the one Anastasia wore to her meeting with Lucifer, or at least, this is the one I was attempting to describe. If you wish to picture it another way, feel free.
