Page 165 of Crimson Promises
The crack of the balls echoed in the room as I broke the formation. The balls scattered, none sinking into the pockets. A slight smirk played on Lucifer's lips as he took his turn. He was methodical, his shot calculated with precision.
"I must admit, I'm surprised you accepted my invitation," he said, his eyes never leaving the table.
"I needed a break from my room," I replied, watching as he easily pocketed a ball.
He chuckled, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Is my company preferable to solitude, then?"
I hesitated before answering. "It's a change, at least."
We fell into silence as the game progressed; our movements melded into a fluid dance. For days, I had practiced what I would do when I saw him and rehearsed what I would say. Now, I found myself at a loss for words.
"You're not half bad," Lucifer commented, watching as I sunk another ball.
"I'm excellent," I retorted, the corner of my mouth lifting in a playful smile. "But keep the compliments coming."
His return shot was smooth and precise. "Modesty isn't your strong suit, is it?"
I leaned against the table, surveying my next move. "Modesty doesn't win games. Strategy and skill do. I am well aware Lucifer thatallof this is a game to you."
He gave me a wicked grin. “Isn’t everything?”
I took my shot, pocketing a ball, reaching for a change in subject that would endear me to him. "Doesn't it get lonely here?"
He paused, leaning on his cue. "Sometimes. But solitude can be a refuge as much as a prison."
Reluctantly, I felt a pang of empathy. "I understand that more than you might think."
Lucifer looked at me, curiosity in his eyes. "Oh? Do tell."
I hesitated, then decided to share a piece of my truth. "I've never felt not fully accepted by those around me. I never fit in or felt normal. I existed on the periphery; I wasdifferent. Never fully able to be myself or accepted—until recently."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Freedom is not just about the physical space we occupy. It's about being able to express who we truly are, without fear or constraint."
His words resonated with me, and I found myself warming to him. "There is some truth to that." What would it mean to truly be an Original? Ben claimed it was all about power. But, the way Lucifer explained they seem to have less freedom than us people.
"It's one of the reasons I chose my path," he said, lining up his shot. "To define my own destiny, standing up for what's right even if it meant becoming an outcast."
He didn’t truly care about the Ordinaries. Could he?I watched him move around the table, a fluid, confident motion. "Do you ever regret it?"
"Regret is a complicated thing," he replied, taking his shot. "I regret the pain it caused, the misunderstandings. The innocent lives lost. But the choice itself? No. It was necessary."
I was surprised by his candidness and willingness to reveal a hint of vulnerability. It made him seem more... human.
"Why did you invite me here?" I asked suddenly, needing to know.
Lucifer hesitated, then answered, "Because you intrigue me, Aurora. There's a fire in you that refuses to be extinguished."
His words sent a thrill through me, a mixture of fear and excitement. I was playing a dangerous game, but I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards him.
"I could say the same about you," I said softly.
Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. There was a depth to him that I hadn't expected, a complexity that both intrigued and unnerved me.
"I should warn you," he said, breaking the gaze. "People often find what they least expect in my company."
"I'm not afraid of surprises," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.
He smiled a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "That's good to hear."
