Devil Dearest

Chapter Two

Cady came out of her bedroom carrying a big, black, plastic case. She held it out in front of her down the hall to avoid banging up the wall. Once in the living room, she set down the case on the floor next to the coffee table.

Satan watched her as she pulled out a keyboard and set it on the table. He closed the book he had been reading and moved his feet off the table before sitting up next to her. She stood up to plug in the cord, then sat down again next to him.

"You play keyboard?" Satan asked while setting his book down.

"Yeah. I had a lot of time to kill so I dabbled a bit with it." Her words lingered as she focused.

Cady hit a few notes to warm up before playing. She hit the notes hesitantly while focusing her eyes on what she was doing. Behind her eyes she seemed to analyze every move before she began. Her hands moved in a stuttering manner along the keyboard.

Satan didn't expect much from her as he watched with a blank stare. He began tuning out the sour notes before long. His chin rested in his palm while staring off in her direction.

But suddenly, those staggering notes turned into a soft melody. Cady's hands moved much more fluidly.

There was a sense of grace in her playing: she seemed to be a prophet of serenity. Her gentle countenance brought a thoughtful aura to those who listened. This sudden transformation took the bitterness off of Lucifer's tongue. A gentle gaze was fixated on the keys as she played away on the keyboard.

Lucifer found himself now blissfully drifting off the melody. A sense of calm cloaking his brooding thoughts, letting his thoughtful musings shine through.

Cady finished the song and let out a sigh before giggling to herself. She looked to Satan with a soft smile; a softness pure like silk. Her cheeks took on a rosy hue as she saw the corners of his lips turned into a smile so faint, it seemed invisible.

The burnt umber-haired man looked up at her a moment, then quickly to the side. A color formed on his cheeks as well with this sudden expression of emotion getting to him.

"I hope you liked it, I've never really played in front of anyone." Cady said bashfully, also looking away from him.

"It was fine." Lucifer spoke, trying to disregard the red on his face.

But his attempt to cover himself up had backfired. The soft smile had disappeared, leaving nothing but eyes that became cloaked in gloom. She seemed visibly hurt, though nothing changed about her. She didn't cry, she didn't arch her brows, she said nothing. The only indication had been her eyes, a complex language Lucifer had been slowly trying to learn.

"I- I'm sorry. I'll put it away..." Stuttered over her words, but had seemed fine had Lucifer not known how to read people.

"No!" Lucifer tried to say, but it came out as a shout.

"What?!" Cady asked sharply.

She sat up, startled by his sudden volume. Cady looked at him, trying to figure out what he had been trying to convey.

"I liked it... I just... don't do well showing... me." Lucifer stuttered, trying to choose his words.

Never had he felt this urgency in his chest. Offending someone had never been a problem before but now here he was: stuttering like an idiot to choose his words. This wasn't how he usually was, being so open. He wanted to be open but he had been conditioned to keep everything away and sheltered. He trusted her but couldn't let go of the past.

Cady though, she gained back her smile and let out a soft giggle. Lucifer felt himself become even more vulnerable and darted a look at her.

"Yeah you got me, I'm not good with my emotions. You gonna harass me about it now? I'd like to see you try, girl!" Lucifer said, his face red hot.

His instincts expected to find a condescending look upon him, but what he got was completely different. Lucifer had been relieved to find that same comforting smile he had grown to yearn for. She giggled but it came from a place of good-nature.

"I'm not gonna "harass" you, Satan. Though maybe a bit of teasing is in order..." Cady giggled and reached a hand to pinch one of his cheeks.

Lucifer batted away, startled at first, but caved in and began laughing. He retorted with his own attack. He reached for one of her chubby, rosy, cheeks. Cady shrieked through her laughter as he pinched her back.

As the both let their guards down and began to bask in the bliss that formed between them. Cady smiled so pure and sweet he couldn't help but find himself smiling. It had been a smile that knew when times were good, and lived out each moment of it to the fullest.

This was something he also found endearing about her.