Page 30 of Lucifer's Redemption

“I-I guess not. And it isn’t silly!” I stomped my foot.

Loki laughed, shooing me out the door. “I’m just kiddin’ with ya, Uriel. You are fun to rile up.”

Squinting my eyes at him, I turned to open the door. Loki had already rolled over in bed, shifting to get comfortable.

Loki was a nice boy, just misunderstood. He plays a lot of mean pranks, but I think it is just because he wants attention. It didn’t matter if it was good or bad, he just wanted it.

“Loki?” I called to him. “Would you like me to read you a story?” Loki rolled over with his eyebrows arched. “You might be too old or just not interested, but my mom reads to me every night. Maybe I just want to share it with you, you know, with my first friend.”

Loki’s eyes held no emotion. He stared at me as blank as a canvas. As I turned to leave, he jumped from the bed, pulling me back to the empty chair next to the bed.

“I’d like that,” he whispered. “I’d like that very much.”

Loki pulled out a book from his pillow and handed it to me. The golden words at the top of the book were,The Little Prince. I smiled, touching each raised letter before opening the famous book by the French author.

Lucifer

I don’t know how to act around her. Hell, I barely know how to be in my own skin. The itch that fills me, day after day, to spill the blood of the evil souls Father has confined in his special section of Hell, only worsens my wrath.

Coming here was supposed to help with the discomfort of my heart beating erratically in my chest. Her touch was doing things to me, and I couldn’t be sure if it was for good or evil purposes. My arms wanted to move on their own, caging her around my body so no one could touch her or steal her away from me.

Slinging another whip at the fallen mafia leader before me did nothing to satisfy me anymore. It gave me no rush of adrenaline to rival the exhilaration I felt around Uriel.

The touch of her hand—the delicacy and the pallor against my sunburned and callous skin, held stark differences. She was the silky cloud while I was the raging lighting that could split her in two.

Staying away from her would be impossible now. The golden thread that tied us together was strung too tight already.

My body, my heart, and my soul urged me back to the confines of the palace walls to ensure she was safe, sleeping soundly in her bed.

Dropping the whip, I waved to the demons to discard the helpless sap in front of me. No pleasure came from his beating, no sense of accomplishment, and no dark sludge eased from enveloping my heart.

I found a new way to keep my monsters at bay, and it was the goddess who slept in the room next to mine.

Uriel was so close to me earlier; she was willing to approach me, and she didn’t even know why. She doesn't know who I really am, what I am capable of, or what darkness I’ve been fighting for so long. Would she accept me?

Should I fight it?

“No, you shouldn’t.” Father’s voice rang through the torture chamber.

Chapter 12

Lucifer

“Youshouldn’tfightit.”Father’s voice rang again in the now empty room. “I fought the bond before I met your mother. I was so angry with Selene that I insisted I never wanted a mate, just some other goddess.” He scoffed, touching the various whips on the wall. The blood smeared onto his fingers. Wiping them away on his pant leg, he stared at the pool of blood on the floor.

“But once I saw her, it all changed. I’m sure it will take you some time to see that. Although, considering you decided to protect her instead of following through with your proclamation, maybe not as long as expected. This morning, you were adamant about locking yourself in Tartarus.” I ground my jaw.

That is where I should go, but I needed to protect her. What if there was something else that she needed protection from, besides me?

“Uriel soothes your anger. Why are you resisting it?”

“I-I don’t know how to act around her,” I said, embarrassed. “I’ve pushed everyone away all these years. You know that better than anyone.”

Father agreed, pulling me away from the empty cell. “Uriel needs time to grow, as do you. It’s a perfect match for the both of you.” Father chuckled. You are growing to be more innocent of your evil, and she’ll grow to have a little more…” Father stopped his words, feeling my anger spike. “Well, you know.” He laughed aloud.

My bare feet crossed the red carpet of our family wing. My mind reeled at my father’s words: ‘let things take over; let the bond work its magic; don’t fight it.’

Easier said than done. I could still hurt her. I could still hurt my family if I wasn’t careful.

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