by Melody Rose
Once in the hallway with the door shut, Gabriel turned to me.
“You know,” he said, with a thoughtful sigh, “I plan on checking in with Luci from time to time. Someone’s gotta make sure he’s okay down there. I wouldn’t mind scooping you up on occasion for a visit if you’d like.”
“That would be amazing!” I gushed, grateful for this new connection.
“Just, you know, don’t hurt my brother. Deal?” He smirked. “Despite everything, he is family.”
“Sounds like a deal to me,” I replied with a grin, and we walked right out of Heaven together.
34
Lucifer
Cerberus was chasing a few rogue skulls across the floor as I paced back and forth in front of my increasingly frustrating throne setup. The throne was the last thing on my mind, though. I had always prided myself on my ability to focus on what’s important, without allowing for any distractions. Lately, however, I had to admit I was becoming more and more distracted.
I was slipping. I knew it, Lilith knew it, even Cerberus knew something was up.
I was grateful at that moment that I had spent eons perfecting Hell. I could definitely afford to cash in on my vacation days and disappear for a few centuries, knowing that Hell would still be running smoothly upon my return. There really wasn’t anywhere to go, and I did get enjoyment out of torturing those who rightly deserved it.
So, after all the effort I had put in, my reward was simply to sit back and hand-select the jobs I was most interested in, sending the rest of the flock down to whichever level best suited them.
Now, even the thought of that fell flat as I looked forward to tonight. Today was Friday, after all, and the anticipation seemed to be killing Evelyn as much as it had been killing me this week.
I looked at the clock over the bar. It was about an hour until our dinner date, so I decided to get ready.
I walked down the steps to the open floor, where one of the skulls came skidding across my path. I stopped it with my foot and looked at Cerberus, who had all three heads on the ground, but his tail was up in the air, waving back and forth like a deadly whip.
“Ready, bud?” I called playfully, and he pounced in place.
I took my foot off the skull, angled my toe underneath it, and kicked it up and across the room. It ricocheted off the wall tile, cracking it in the process, and clacked across the floor. Cerberus took off after it, his nails slipping against the tile until he got a grip, and pounced on it, shaking it in his mouth before settling down to munch away at it. I gave him a few scratches on each head before heading out the door and down the hall to my quarters.
Dagon was in my room, tidying up. Her body was covered with small glossy black scales from head to toe that would reflect the light in the room, causing shades of green and blue to shimmer on the surface. The long black fin that ran down her back rippled with her movements. Her body was truly a work of art.
She usually popped in and helped with the laundry and whatnot, and today was no different. She had just finished making my bed, the black silk sheets still warm from the dryer. There was a basket of muffins on the dresser. She always left some sort of baked goods behind for me. I knew it was a passion of hers, and it was one that I strongly encouraged.
I wandered over to the basket and stuck my nose in it, inhaling the delicious scent.
“Blood orange rhubarb,” Dagon called out as she collected her things and headed out the door. “You’ll love them, of course.” She nodded with a smirk and closed the door behind her.
I picked up a muffin, tossed it in the air, caught it, and took a bite. The muffin itself was moist, and the orange and rhubarb played perfectly off each other.
I placed the muffin down on the edge of my dresser and walked into my closet. Having thought ahead this time, I pulled out the same suit I had worn for the first dinner we had together. I loved this suit. It was a custom Valentino suit, so it fit absolutely perfectly. I paired it with my black button-down and black silk tie, adding the silk handkerchief as a final touch.
I stood in front of the mirror and ran my fingers through my hair, ensuring it was as neat as possible. With a final tug of my jacket to ensure it was smooth, I was out the door.
35
Evelyn
I heard Asmodeus’s all-too-familiar knock at my door as I finished slipping on a dress. I had bought the dress on a whim, on one of my trips into the city for yet another security gig. I remember standing out on the street, staring across the way into a store window. The mannequin had on a fabulous dress. It was a cap-sleeve cocktail-length dress, in an understated fuschia, with a boat neck, and an oversized gold zipper up the back. It hugged everything, and I immediately knew it would look fabulous on me. I already had black pumps with chunky gold snaps on the sides. It was as if it was meant to be. As soon as my shift was done, I went across the street and treated myself.
There was one downside. I needed someone with me to zip up the damn zipper. Asmodeus would have to help.
“Help me zip up this dress?” I turned my back to him after I’d opened the door, and he sauntered up and helped me out.
“This is a fantastic choice, girl, turn around!” He took my hand and held it over my head, gesturing with his free hand for me to spin around for him. I did.
“This dress was absolutely made for you!” he sang as he looked me up and down. He winked at me with a mischievous smile. “You nailed it, doll.”
Asmodeus picked up the hangers and other odds and ends I had tossed about while I was getting ready.
He continued to talk as he tidied up. “Now, I know he is coming to pick you up, so I’ll be out of your hair. I honestly just wanted to stop in to get a look at you first. I was going to recommend that black dress, but now that I see this… Well, I’ll just go back to minding my own business.”
“Well, thank you!” I gushed. “I haven’t had occasion to wear it yet, so it seemed like the right moment.” I could not get this stupid grin off my face. If this is what I was like before I even left the room, what was this date going to be like?
I looked back in my closet, thinking about what Asmodeus had just said. “Did you think the black dress would look better?” I asked, second-guessing myself.
“Not at all, this is perfect,” Asmodeus stopped to look at me for a moment before resuming his task. “Besides, you know our King’s favorite color is black. We can’t have a who-wore-it-better moment going on, can we? Besides, next to him, you’ll stand out even more than you already do.”
He winked, putting my last hanger up and heading toward the door. I was still standing there, grinning like an idiot.
“Have fun, darling!” Asmodeus called out as he sashayed out of the room, leaving me alone with the butterflies in my stomach.
I paced the room several times, shaking out my hands and taking deep breaths, and within a couple of minutes, I heard two quick knocks on the door. He was here.
When I opened the door, I immediately knew I needed to take a moment to absorb the sight in front of me. Lucifer stood there dressed in black from head to toe, in the same perfectly tailored suit he had worn for our first meal together. He had his head bowed and looked up at me through his dark lashes as the door swung open. His eyes were still impossibly dark, but they were much softer than they were the first time I met him, and I felt like I could see into the depths of his soul. His suit hung perfectly on his frame, teasing a perfect physique underneath all of it.
“Hi,” I whispered, still in awe that this stunningly perfect being was my date.
“Hello,” he replied, his voice gentle. He looked me up and down, an appreciative look on his face, and when he was done, his eyes landed on mine. “You look gorgeous.” He smiled warmly. “Shall we?”
He held his hand out, and I took it, expecting him to lead me out into the hallway. Instead, the room faded around me, and we were suddenly standing on a city sidewalk, buildings looming over us on all sides. My eyes grew big as I took in our surroundings and
what had just happened.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“The best steakhouse in New York City,” Lucifer pronounced, and he gestured to the door in front of us.
When we walked in, I was struck by how stunning the decor was. The floor to ceiling windows wrapped around the side of the building, giving us a phenomenal view of Rockefeller Center. The dark wood trim and the balcony with the ornate railing lent a sophisticated look to the space, and the bar stretched along one side, with plenty of seating. The place was packed. I was wondering what the wait time would be like, but almost immediately upon entering, and without a single word from Lucifer, a gentleman approached us.
“Sir, it’s always a pleasure. Follow me, please.” The gentleman guided us to a private corner table, where he pulled out my chair for me to sit while Lucifer sat himself. After handing us both our menus, he bowed his head and then walked away.
“Come here often?” I said with a chuckle.
“Are you kidding?” Lucifer replied. “This is a solid favorite of mine. I never go long between visits. Besides, I know the owner.”
“Oh, good friends, are you?” I chimed.
“Ehh, more like business associates,” Lucifer replied casually. “How do you think he got this prime location?” He winked at me just as our waitress appeared.
“Good evening!” she said cheerfully. “My name is Sarah, and I’ll be your server for this evening. May I start you off with something to drink?”
Lucifer looked over at me. “Wine?” he asked.
“Sounds perfect,” I replied as I looked through the menu. Lucifer conferred with the waitress on the perfect bottle while I tried to focus on picking a dish. It was a nice reprieve and allowed me to take a moment to collect my thoughts. It was still so surreal that I could be in public places with Lucifer, and yet no one would know. It also seemed crazy to me that we were sitting at a restaurant in New York City when mere minutes ago I was in Hell. Then again, yesterday I was in Heaven, so New York City in comparison shouldn’t be all that impressive.
After the waitress left, we thumbed through the menu together in silence. I kept stealing furtive glances up at him, wondering what his hair would feel like between my fingers.
When the wine arrived, the waitress poured a glass for Lucifer to check, and after he signaled his approval, she filled out glasses before departing again. We toasted silently before simultaneously taking sips. The wine was perfect, a dark red blend, earthy with a hint of spice, and I felt it would be the perfect match for the filet mignon I had my eyes on.
“This was a perfect choice for the wine, by the way.” I smiled as I placed the glass back down on the table.
“Is it?” Lucifer replied, his eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
“Yeah!” I immediately picked my glass back up and took another more thoughtful sip. “I can taste the earthiness and the spice in it, which would pair perfectly with the steak, but it is still neutral enough to pair with pretty much anything here.” I scrolled through the menu again.
“I, uhh, just picked one that sounded good,” he responded hesitantly.
“Seriously?” Now it was my turn to be surprised.
“Seriously,” Lucifer replied with a shrug. “I don’t know wines like that. I know red is for meats and heavier dishes, and whites are for fish and lighter fare. Also, of course, the more expensive the bottle, the better it should taste… generally speaking, anyway.”
“Well, it’s fun for me,” I said, putting the menu down to the side. “I love trying to figure out what the flavors are in the wines, how the different flavors pair with different meals… It’s amazing how a meal will change the flavor of the wine.”
Lucifer looked at me with his eyebrows raised.
“Okay,” I laughed. “Like this wine. What do you taste?”
He picked up his glass and took a sip, keeping his eyes on me the entire time.
“I taste wine,” he chuckled and shrugged. “I can see the spice part, though.”
“You’re hopeless!” I laughed along with him, taking another appreciative sip.
A beat of silence rolled by, the both of us smiling at each other over our glasses.
“I have to say, I never expected all this,” I said quietly.
“Why not?” Lucifer asked. His brow was slightly furrowed, and I could tell he was not expecting that statement.
“Well, I keep thinking back to the last security gig I worked,” I mused. “They were supposed to be doing a demon summoning, and I remember thinking the entire thing was ridiculous. Then you showed up and flipped my entire world upside down.”
Lucifer laughed. “Yeah, I guess I’m good at that. I had no idea it would lead us here, though. Not that I’m complaining.”
“Same here, I figured it would be all torture and death threats until you found your answer.”
He laughed again. “It does sound like my M.O.” He put his glass down. “You threw me for a loop, though. I never expected to like you.” Lucifer let that statement hang in the air for a moment before he continued. “Now that we have the answers, what do you think about it all? How do you feel?”
I paused for a moment. Lucifer had never asked me that before. I guessed I was pretty good at making my feelings and opinions known without being asked, but I still appreciated the question.
“It’s definitely overwhelming,” I began. “And I’m not sure what it all means. So, I’m part Nephilim? Am I supposed to be able to do other things? Do I have some other powers I’m not aware of? Or is the only cool thing that I can do completely useless in day-to-day life on Earth? I mean, it’s pretty lame as far as powers go. I’d much rather be able to teleport, or fly, or become invisible…” I realized I was rambling, so I cut my thoughts short.
“Yes, well, then you would have never met me, and wouldn’t that be a shame,” he said with a smile. “I’m sorry I don’t have better answers for you. You truly are one of a kind… literally.” Lucifer laughed genuinely as he looked into my eyes.
“So, what does this mean for you?” I asked. “If being with me means you can get hurt or killed, that… that pretty much seems like a dealbreaker to me.” I was nervous to hear the answer to this question, but it had been weighing on my mind for a while, so I figured I may as well get it over with.
“I’d considered that,” Lucifer mused. “And you’re right. It makes this all very risky… but I still have my powers, and without Michael around, I really don’t have to worry about external threats. I have a lot of enemies in Hell, I’m sure you can imagine, but as long as they don’t know what you can do, they will forever be too afraid to challenge me which is exactly how I like it. The risk… the risk is worth the reward.” He winked at me and picked up his wine glass for another sip. I felt my face flush. Who knew the Devil could be so sweet?
The waitress came back to take our food orders, and with the anticipation of a delicious meal in our near future, we settled into a comfortable silence for a while, taking the occasional sip of wine as we appreciated our surroundings and our outstanding view.
“I didn’t get the chance to thank you, by the way,” I said wistfully while staring out at the passing crowds. “For my dad.”
Lucifer smiled warmly. “I’m glad that I was able to make that happen for you. Gabriel said he offered to take you up again in the future, too.”
“Yes!” I gushed. “That was incredibly generous of him!”
“How was your time with your dad, by the way?” Lucifer asked.
“Oh, it was amazing!” Just thinking back on it brought a huge smile to my face. “It was so great seeing his version of Heaven, and then being able to spend the afternoon with him like that, it was perfect.”
“What did you do?” Lucifer asked.
“We had a range day,” I replied. “It’s something we used to do every weekend. Eve and Dad Day, he’d call it. He would teach me everything he knew about each firearm, and…” My mind drifted back to those memories. “It wasn’t about t
he guns, you know? I mean, I learned a lot, but… it was mostly about us just spending time together. If I had been able to choose how we would spend the day yesterday, that is exactly what I would have chosen. It was perfect.”
“I am so glad you were able to do that,” he said, still smiling. “I’m glad I was able to make that happen for you.”
“Me too,” I replied, looking at him now. “Thank you.”
As if on cue, our food arrived. My filet mignon looked magazine-perfect, and the side of Brussel sprouts really did have chunks of bacon and onion in it. My mouth watered just looking at my steak, and I dove right in, cutting into the middle to find it cooked perfectly medium-rare. I looked up at Lucifer’s dish. He had three smaller pieces of steak on his plate, accompanied by a side of asparagus.
“What did you order again?” I asked, immediately regretting it. Waiting for an answer would delay this first delicious bite of my own food.
“The Wagyu tasting,” he replied casually. “Three different wagyu varieties, three ounces each.”
“Wow.” I stared at the plate in awe. “That looks amazing. Well, if they are anywhere near as good as they look, it’s going to be a great meal.”
“It always is here,” he responded with a smile as he picked up his fork and knife. He nodded to my plate. “Enjoy.”
I cut myself a piece of filet slowly, enjoying the scent of the perfectly cooked meat as I went. It basically dissolved in my mouth, and I vowed to come back here as often as I could.
36
Lucifer
Talking with Evelyn over a bottle of wine was a truly different experience. I felt happy and at peace. It had been so long since I’d felt either of those things, so it felt alien to me. I kept waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me, but so far, this seemed to be going well. For the first time in ages, I found myself relaxing and forgetting for a moment that I was the King of Hell.