Hell's Throne (The Devil's Assistant Series - 5 ) - Unedited

Hell's Throne - Chapter 28

At the loud groan reverberating through the door, I pushed against the heavy wood. It screeched on its hinges. Hurrying inside, I was met with gloom.  The lights positioned at key points around Lucius's temporary room offered only weak light. It didn't matter. I had visited so many times during Lucius's convalescence that I knew my way around without looking.

Still, as my heart thundered in my chest, my eyes searched the room. Castiel was stood sentinel beside the bed, guarding Lucius at all times. And then, there he was.

Lucius laid under dark silk sheets. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes while his weakened body was propped up against a pile of pillows. Yet, despite his obvious exhaustion there was a smile upon his face. A lump formed in my throat even as I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. He was okay. He was alive.

I stepped towards him and, for the first time in a week, as I met his eyes, I saw the man I knew and loved.

"Lucius," I breathed, moving closer and tentatively touching the back of his hand.

He flipped his palm and took hold of my hand; a smile forming on his lips as he gave it a soft squeeze. "None of that. There is no need for tears."

I brought up a hand to my cheek and was surprised when it came away wet. The action drew Lucius's eyes to focus on my cheeks and a frown creased his brow. On instinct I turned away, hating the changes the battle had made. And then I hated myself for my vanity.

My face had been left with a puckered line which scored down each cheek, an everlasting reminder of the beast's claws. Although the healer had fixed the worst of the damage, the claws had left a permanent mark on my skin.

I could see the expression on Lucius's face shifting so I gave his hand another squeeze. "None of that. It wasn't your fault. You saved me."

"I almost killed you." Lucius retorted, the shadows around his eyes deepening as he let his guilt consume him.

"You weren't yourself. You didn't even have your soul." I reminded him, rubbing my thumb in soothing circles on the back of his hand. "Don't punish yourself for things that were beyond your control. I can promise you, if you were to lay a hand on me in any other circumstance, I would be the first to walk away."

Lucius let out a sigh and slumped against the cushions. From the slouch of his shoulders to the tired lines etched into his face, he was the epitome of exhaustion.

Returning Lucius's soul had been a quick process. It was as if both body and soul longed to be reunited and, as soon Lucius had been given the orb, his soul had been reabsorbed quickly through his skin. There was been a brief moment where he had glowed as he became whole once more. I had somehow expected something more.

But the process wasn't easy. Regaining his soul took a greater toll than it had to lose it. Lucius had sunk into a two day coma. He had been recovering ever since.

"Everything okay?" I asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed and taking great care not to jostle him too much.

"I wanted to talk to you about something." Lucius hedged, his eyes lifting briefly to stare at Castiel who was hovering at my shoulder. He cleared his throat. "As you will know, I am still not fit enough to carry out my duties. And Hell without someone on the throne is a Hell that is in chaos. Hell needs someone to be on the throne – and I want that someone to be you."

I opened and closed my mouth several times, blinking at the wearied face before me as if it would somehow make him take back the words.

"What? How? I can't rule Hell. I'm just me."