Destiny's Three Stars

17

Stepping out of the dark room, we entered a large living room. The couches were set in a conversation ring of sorts, lowered below the regular floor level. A TV was positioned on a wall, static cracking. No one was there but I had a feeling that would change.

Michael sighed and walked down three or four steps to sit on one of the couches. All the furniture was black but the carpet was red, which freaked me out. He patted the cushion beside him. "Have a seat. He'll probably be a while."

Just as I joined him, a girl in a red dress and dark hair came into the room. There was something... odd about her. Her skin was black. Not dark brown but black. When she met my gaze, her eyes were black, just like her skin. Her lips curled into a smile, revealing white teeth that were blinding against the darkness.

"Good to see you back here, Michael. Who's the new one?" She spoke in a child-like voice. She sat down across from him on the coffee table and ran a hand up his chest, flirting with him in a way that was not only cringy but embarrassing to watch.

He narrowed his eyes at her but kept his voice calm and low. "Her name is Destiny. She's my girlfriend."

A look of jealousy and rage covered her features for a second before the look of lust came back. "If you wanted a demon, you could have just asked. You didn't have to turn her."

"I didn't. My father did."

She laughed, throwing her head back. "Lucifer really is something, isn't he?"

As if on cue, Lucifer walked in using the door the girl had come through. He was wearing a dark suit with a red tie that matched the floor. His eyes were bright. Probably since we were in his home and he was excited to have his son back. He rubbed his hands together, grinning at us. "It's been a while, son. I wasn't sure you'd actually take me up on this offer."

Michael got to his feet, putting his hands in his pockets as if being in Hell with Lucifer and a demon was totally normal. Two demons, really. "I'm not."

Lucifer raised his eyebrows but the smile never left his face. "And why not?"

"I have a life on Earth. I help people for a living."

Both Lucifer and the demon started laughing. Lucifer spoke first. "Think of how many lives you would be bringing in by staying here with me."

"That's the point. I'm not letting innocent people die just because you want a reunion."

"Why do you insist on disobeying me?"

"I'm not like you, dad. Being evil and malicious doesn't make me feel good."

"That's a real shame, Michael."

Michael rolled his eyes and sat back down beside me. "I didn't come here to argue with you."

"You are wasting your time if you haven't decided to live here with us."

"I want Destiny switched back."

Lucifer met my gaze and, unlike back on Earth, I felt I could hold his gaze. I wasn't as intimidated by him. Which surprised me as we were in Hell, in his home. Maybe that had to do with the fact that I was a demon and he made me that way.

"We made a deal, Michael. I will not uphold my end until you uphold yours." And with that, he turned and walked away, the other demon following him.

Michael ran his hands over his face and through his hair. Beside him, I stayed quiet, not wanting him to direct his anger at me.

"I'm sorry." He said softly, staring down at the floor.

"Michael-"

"If I really wanted to save people, I would stay here and let him heal you."

"So I could just go back to Earth and act like nothing ever happened? I could just... pretend I never met you?"

"I've screwed up your life enough, Destiny."

"You didn't. Your father did." He met my gaze. "Don't give him what he wants, Michael."

"If you aren't changed back, you won't be the same person anymore. I can't lose you, Destiny."

I pressed my lips to his in a soft, comforting way. "You won't. We're going to figure this out."

He sighed and pressed his forehead to mine. "I guess I should show you around then."

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Edited 1/9/19.