The following morning, Lucifer woke up to an empty bed. Blinking against the morning light streaming through the windows, he let out a frustrated sigh. Scanning the room, his eyes fell on a folded note resting on a delicate little table. He strolled over and picked it up, unfolding the paper with eager anticipation.
"Hi, there!
Didn't even get your name. I'm sorry for leaving like this, but it's best for us so we would never meet again.
Thank you for your time and attention, and for helping clear my mind off my pain.
Wish you happy days."
Lucifer huffed, irritation brewing within him. "Still, you should have waited for me to wake up," he complained, flinging the paper away dismissively. "I also didn't get your name."
With a mildly annoyed expression, he looked around the room. "Are you two gonna keep hiding there?" he called out, and two figures emerged from thin air.
Abaddon, a Prince of Hell and overseer of the Circles of Wrath and Betrayal, stepped forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. His mate, Lilith, a Princess of Hell presiding over the Circles of Lust and Deception, followed closely behind, smirking.
"Morning, Your Majesty," they both bowed.
"How was your night? Did you enjoy it?" Abaddon asked, his tone teasing.
"I'm sure he did." Lilith chimed in, throwing a playful glance at Lucifer. "Seems he's been making out with humans lately. Are they a better preference than demons now?"
"She's my mate," Lucifer stated, a bold declaration that left them both momentarily speechless.
"What?!" Abaddon exclaimed, his voice nearly cracking in disbelief.
"The mate of the King of Hell is a human?!" Lilith echoed, shaking her head as if trying to clear the absurdity from her mind.
"Wow! The heavenly King has to be kidding us," she added, a fleeting expression of concern crossing her face. "But why would he grant you a human mate if he adores them?"
"I don't know, and frankly, I don't care," Lucifer replied nonchalantly, an eyebrow raised. "As long as I get my mate, that's all that matters." A smirk danced on his lips. "Might as well leverage it to get back at him."
"Quick, Lilith, track her down," he ordered, his voice urgent.
"Umm, aren't you in the best position to do that? She's your mate," Lilith retorted, skepticism coloring her tone.
"Just do as you're told," Abaddon interjected, his impatience palpable.
Lilith rolled her eyes, prepared to begrudgingly comply, but was interrupted by Lucifer's authoritative voice. "Found her."
"Why did you ask me to do it if you knew you were going to do it yourself?" Lilith grumbled, arms crossed.
"Tell me everything you know about her," Lucifer commanded, his eyes narrowing.
"I no longer deal in bios, but..." she trailed off, her attention drawn by a being of light unexpectedly appearing in the room, capturing their focus entirely.
"Get the hell out of here," Lucifer hissed, a dark aura swirling around him, thickening the air.
"Why have you chosen to torment an innocent soul?" the angel asked gently, radiating sincerity and concern.
"Innocent soul?" Lucifer laughed, a sound that echoed with mockery. "If I'm having a little fun with him, then he must have a few crimes on his tab."
"He's genuinely innocent," the angel insisted, his voice firm.
"Is he? Did you check the records?" Lucifer replied, his tone laced with skepticism, as a book appeared in his hand.
Flipping through its ornate pages, he asked, "What's his name again?"
The angel, visibly wearied by Lucifer's antics, sighed before responding, "Daniel Corl."
After several moments of scrutinizing the pages, Lucifer closed the book with a resigned sigh. "You're right. My apologies," he said, though the lack of sincerity echoed in his voice.
"Next time, ask Elohim to send Haniel to me. It's been too long since I saw that beauty," Lucifer chuckled, a flicker of genuine fondness breaking through his bravado.
"And Michael too!" Lilith chimed in, her eyes glimmering with nostalgia.
"Oh, I miss that guy! I always had the biggest crush on him back in heaven," she added dreamily.
"I hope you remember that I'm your mate, and I'm still right here," Abaddon reminded her, an amused smile tugging at his lips as she chuckled dreamily.
Lucifer waved a hand dismissively, banishing the remnants of the angel's light that still flickered in the corners of the room. "Enough of the heavenly nostalgia. We have more pressing matters at hand."
Lilith shook herself from the reverie, crossing her arms with a smirk that danced at the edges of her lips. "So, what's the plan, Your Majesty? Are you going to go all Romeo on your human maiden or what?"
Lucifer's lips curled into a wry smile, a glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes. "I'm not composing any sonnets here. I merely wish to see her again, to know how she's faring."
Abaddon raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "A human mate? Now that could ruffle some feathers in Tenebrous (Hell). Do you expect the other princes will accept her? Their view on hierarchy is as rigid as it gets."
Lucifer shrugged, his casual confidence radiating like a beacon. "Let them hiss and spit. Tenebrous has always thrived on chaos. What's one more layer of turmoil? If they want to challenge the King because of his mate, let them try."
Lilith leaned closer, intrigued. "And what about the heavenly King? He won't sit idly by while you frolic with one of his precious humans."
Lucifer's expression darkened slightly, irritation flashing across his face like a storm brewing. "Heavenly politics bore me. But if it comes to that, I won't hesitate to remind him exactly who he's dealing with. He started this by giving me a human mate after all."
Abaddon chuckled, amusement glinting in his eyes. "This could get interesting. Just don't forget who holds the keys to the underworld while you're off playing love-struck devil."
Lilith smirked. "Someone's got to keep an eye on this mess." Her tone was lighter, but beneath it was an inkling of ambition. Little did anyone know, she was already envisioning herself as some kind of matchmaking princess.
Lucifer turned serious again, his focus shifting back to the task at hand. "Right. I need intel on her. I want to know everything."
Lilith sighed dramatically. "And as I was saying, I no longer deal in bios before that heavenly minion arrived a few moments ago."
Lucifer shot her a piercing look, and she promptly relented, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, I'll cooperate. But I strongly advise against pursuing her right now. She needs space."
He shrugged, a flicker of arrogance dancing in his eyes. "And why is that, exactly? Is she so different from the rest?"
Lilith swallowed her frustration. "Trust me, she is. Given her recent heartbreak and the messy way your paths crossed, a goody two-shoes like her would probably feel mortified to see you again. If you push too hard, she might distance herself entirely."
Lucifer's smirk widened. "I'm Lucifer, after all. No woman has ever been able to resist my charm."
"This one will," Lilith insisted, her tone firm. "There are some humans who see through the bravado, who can recognize that charm as just a facade. You might be powerful, but that doesn't mean you understand human emotions. You should tread carefully."
He folded his arms, skepticism furrowing his brow. "And what makes you the expert on human emotions, Lilith?"
"I've seen enough of them to know that sometimes, all a heart needs is time to heal." Her voice softened, revealing the empathy behind her warning.
Lucifer paused, the weight of her words settling over him. The amusement in his expression began to fade, replaced by a hint of contemplation. "So…you're saying I should play the waiting game, then?"
"Only until she's ready," Lilith confirmed, her gaze steady. "And when she is, make sure you're not just showing her your charm, but also your sincerity. Otherwise, you might find that charm doesn't carry much weight at all."
Intrigued yet wary, Lucifer considered her advice, feeling a shift within himself that he hadn't expected. "Fine, I'll give her space.