Page 94 of Lucifer's Redemption

“I’m not going anywhere,” I pushed up onto my tiptoes to kiss him. Instead of the peck I intended, he pulled my waist to him, taking more like the greedy god he was.

“I mean it: you’re mine! No one will have you but me!” I giggled, listening to his temper tantrum. Patting his cheek, I walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

After a wonderfully steaming shower, I leaned my body against the counter, using my hand to wipe away the steam-covered mirror. All things considered, in the past few days, I have done well. I winked at myself in the mirror, before hearing Cerberus scratch at the door.

I bet Luci sent him in here to check on me.

“Hi, Puppy!” I cracked the door to let him in. “Whatcha doing in here, huh? Did you come to visit me?”

Cerberus wagged his tail while his three heads looked up at me adoringly. I patted each head but took extra time for the third head, scratching firmly under his chin.

“Such a good boy you are!” He groaned, finally sitting on the floor and rolling to expose his belly. I giggled, rubbing his tummy as his leg began to shake. I must have hit the right spot because his groaning became louder.

“Yes! Such a good boy!” I snorted, laughing to myself, finally standing up.

Still holding the towel tightly around my body, I looked at myself in the mirror.

Yes, I have done well the past few days.Smiling brightly, I drew little happy faces on the mirror and some hearts with mine and Luci’s names inside them.

Inspecting my work, my tummy twinged. I rubbed it with the palm of my hand and went to sit down on the side of the massive tub. Cerberus, watching my distress, came over and laid his head on my knees. “My tummy hurts,” I grumbled.

Maybe too much cake last night really messed me up.

“Uriel?” Mariah’s voice caught me by surprise as she knocked on the bedroom door.

“I’m in here,” I whined, shifting myself on the tub. My tummy was hurting worse, and now Cerberus started to whine.

“I came to see if you wanted me to walk you down to breakfast?” Mariah poked her head in. Her bright smile faded once she noticed the frown on my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Luci told you to come to take me, didn’t he?” I grumbled.

He won’t let me do anything on my own right now.I liked it, but at the same time, I didn’t. Right now, I didn’t know what I wanted. I thought I was happy, but now I wasn’t so sure. This pain in my tummy made me feel crabby.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” I stood up, only to have Cerberus yip and nudge my ankle with his nose. I grunted, not sure what the big puppy wanted. Mariah’s nose flared.

“Uriel,” she whispered, putting both hands on my shoulders and sitting me down gently back on the tub. “I want you to sit here, alright? I’m going to go get your clothes. Don’t move from this spot until I come back, alright? I want you to pet Cerberus while I’m in your room.” Mariah’s voice was calm but laced with a twinge of panic.

The last time I heard that tone was when I cut my knee, and blood seeped onto Mom’s brand-new, white carpet. There was so much red against my white skin it dripped over my knee and fell onto the floor. I panicked and ended up passing out.

“Did you hear me, Uriel?” I hummed, holding the towel tight around me. Cerberus put one of his heads underneath my hand, and I pet him lovingly. Another cramp; I rubbed my tummy with my other hand.

Why does my tummy hurt so bad?

Not listening like a good girl, I stood up and walked to the cabinet that held medicine. Sometimes, gods drank too much alcoholic ambrosia and would get tummy aches. Mom said the roots of the Nafaro plant were good for sating the knots in your stomach. As I reached up, putting my fingers on every bottle of medicine, a drip tickled between my legs. I was mostly dry, the only reason I was still holding the towel was to hide my nakedness.

Lifting the towel—so the puppy couldn’t see me naked—I noticed a dark red line that went from my lady parts down to the floor. I clutched my towel, my breath picking up. “Fates! No,” I whispered before Mariah stood at the door. She held a pair of black leggings and an oversized t-shirt with a cute little cartoon bunny on it.

“Uriel,” Mariah placed the clothes on the counter, “I want you to breathe. Everything is fine.”

Shaking my head, I backed up, and my bum landed on the toilet. “Blood!” My voice quaked after looking at the mess I was making.

I just got something I should have gotten over ten years ago, and it has come forth with a vengeance! You know what? I don’t forgive Mom because this is the worst! She should have been here for me when this happened!

“It’s alright,” Mariah chuckled as she knelt on the floor. Grabbing my hand, she stroked it lovingly. This was the softest I had ever seen Mariah. She was the God of War’s mate, the ultimate female warrior companion. Now she sat at my feet.

“It is blood, honey. But you are a strong one, aren’t you?” Gripping her hand, I didn’t say a word. I didn’t know whether I was strong or not. “You are strong,” Mariah said with more conviction. “Women—humans, supernaturals, goddesses—we all deal with this because men wouldn’t be able to.” A tear tried to escape, but my questioning look gave Mariah a chuckle that made me laugh.

“Men are a bunch of pussies! Women can take more of a beating when it comes to our bodies.” Mariah pulled a kit from under the counter filled with small, decorated square packets. “If a man had to deal with this, they would huddle in bed for days until it was over. Not us though, not us women,” she hummed, helping me get dressed.

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