The Devil's Ex

Chapter Six - Flicker

She fought down the jealous rage that was searing through her veins. She shouldn't be jealous. Not really. She'd left him centuries ago, she had no more claim over the devil, than he did her.

Still. Another wife?

She detested the way her chest constricted at the thought. Hated the way her stomach dropped and heart fluttered. She really shouldn't care. But she did. 

He loved someone else. 

She knew it would happen. That one day he'd find another creature to corrupt, but still...in his eternity of living, he'd only ever committed to Jenny. Until now. Now, there was someone else. Did he love her as much as he'd claimed to once love Jenny?

She realised with a sobering clarity that there was, in fact, the slimmest of possibilities that maybe...just maybe...she still loved him. Even after all the centuries and bodies between them. 

She wanted to kick herself. 

Wiping her sweaty palms across her legs, she took a few deep breaths. "OK," she said after a minute of silence, "so, the devil's wife," she tried so hard not to spit the word, "is trying to over throw him. You're trying to stop it. But, who asked you to?"

Luca remained silent for a moment and ran a hand across his face, he looked tired. "The council. The devil's council – they're his advisors. They each head up one of the circles of hell, who-"

"I know who they are. What they do," she interrupted. In a past life, she'd known them all well.

Luca shot her a confused glance, but before he could question her, she ploughed on, "how did they know there was a rebellion?"

Luca sighed and got to his feet. He began to pace backwards and forwards in front of her. "It was reported by someone in middle management. Way above me, but low in comparison to the council."

Jenny nodded, mind whirring as she tried to remember all the hierarchies in hell. It had been a while.

"He was found dead not long after he reported it. An accident, or so his family claimed. Some of the councillors weren't convinced. They wanted more information, but didn't want to involve anyone too close. So, they came to me."

Jenny nodded again, "and then you came to me?"

"Exactly."

Luca sat back down beside her, "I'm sorry, Jenny. I really am."

She shrugged in response, "could be worse." Luca scoffed. "Why did you come to me, Luca? You could have gone to anyone, why me?" Her heart hammered at the question – did he know who she was? Who she had been?

Luca suddenly appeared uncomfortable. He sat up straight and cleared his throat, eyes looking anywhere but at her. "I-er, I-I heard on the grape vine that your magic includes certain resurrection spells..."

Jenny drew in a harsh breath, "you heard wrong. I don't..." She cleared her throat, "anymore I mean. I don't do blood magic."

His face became desperate as he turned towards her and grabbed both of her hands, "please. Please, Jenny. I told you, they know that I know too much. I have to find out where His wife is, what their plan is. If I don't then we're both in trouble. They won't stop. They will kill us all. Please."

Jenny stared into his eyes, watching as a green light flickered through his right eye every few seconds. She sighed deeply and raised her hand to his cheek. He leant into her touch as she brushed her thumb gently across his skin. "Can't you turn that thing off," she asked quietly, as her thumb brushed beneath his eye. "They never seem to leave you alone."