by Dahlia Lu
"Yes,” Lucifer agreed. "Yes, you will be.”
"So are we just going to ignore them?" Trent asked. "Even though their lives are short, it can become quite problematic in the meantime.”
"As long as you do not step foot out of the mansion," Lucifer said to Kali, "we can avoid heavy bloodshed. If you care for your people at all, I suggest you comply.”
"For how long?” She didn't want to be stuck here forever. He did not reply.
Trent flinched as if he had detected something close by. Suddenly he was gone.
Chevalier left the table and headed out. "I'll call Bi and ask that she come here. It wouldn't be safe for her to be out there until this dies out.”
"It would be safer for her to remain where she is,” Trent said. "She could carry on with her life much more easily.”
"No,” Chevalier hesitated. "No, she can't.”
"You don't think she can survive on her own?"
"No,” Chevalier paused a bit longer. "She can't stay among them because she's not one of them.”
"What do you mean?" Kali asked. "Is she a demon, too?"
"She's not a demon,” Chevalier knew that for sure. "Demons have unique scents that can identify them among one another. She doesn't have demon's scent, or any scent for that matter. I don't know what she is, exactly. When I set out on my journey many years ago, I was paid to hunt down an animal that had been preying on the farmers' livestock. I tracked it down, and that was when I found Bi. At first I thought that she was carried off by the animal, but I soon realized that she was the one living off the livestock. She had a taste for live blood. I didn't know who or what she was, but if I left her where she was, the farmers would kill her. Since I didn't mind having a companion, I adopted her.”
"If you said that she had a taste for live blood…"
"Yes, it was a problem. She needed it frequently and it was really inconvenient. One time when I was unable to provide for her, she was so consumed by hunger that she bit me.”
"She bit you?"
"Yes, but after that, she didn’t need live blood for months. I figure there is something about my blood that sustained her. So every now and then, I mix a few drops of blood into her drinks.”
"You never told her any of this?"
"And have her see herself as some sort of monster?” Chevalier shook his head and heaved a long sigh. "It would just be better for her to carry on with the normal life of a teenage girl. Until this situation, that is. Now I have to go explain to her why we must stay here, why I haven't aged in two decades, and all that other good stuff.”
Lucifer gazed at the entrance of the dining room for several minutes before a female intruder pushed the doors open. Her eyes instantly fell on Chevalier, but she quickly realized that he wasn’t alone. There was another frighteningly familiar face at the dining table, as well.
“Lucien!” she gasped his name. “My God, you’re still alive!” Then a shocked expression came across her face.
“Your hair is platinum and…you look the same as the last time I saw you.” Her face was suddenly puzzled. Her eyes wandered to the beautiful woman sitting next to him. She recognized her as the new gorgeous transfer student.
“Hana,” Chevalier breathed out her name with a hint of annoyance, “how did you find me here?”
She turned and gave him her full attention. “Chevalier, I followed you here,” she admitted honestly.
“When I saw you the other day, I realized that there were a lot of misunderstandings between us. What I meant to say was I haven’t gotten over you, Chevalier. I never had. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Before you say another word, Hana,” Chevalier interrupted her. “This is not the time or place. I cannot accept your feelings.”
“But why?” she whimpered. “You’re not married or anything like that, right?”
“No,” he replied truthfully, but added, “I’m not the man I used to be.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Kali asked.
“Well, maybe,” Chevalier reluctantly answered. “But that’s not the point. The point is I am not looking for a relationship right now.”
“When will you, Chevalier?” she frowned. “You’re 41 this year and I’ll be 36 soon. There is no better time for us to start something.”
The reminder of his age was a slap in the face. “I’m not really worried about that right now.”
“You should be. Don’t you want to have children of your own, Chevalier?”
“I do have children of my own. I have Trent and I have Bi. Even my own blood couldn’t be closer to me.” His voice was increasingly expressing his irritation.
“Chevalier, I think you’re lying,” she accused.
“I don’t need a damn woman!” His angry voice startled her. When he realized he was yelling at her, he lowered his voice. “You want to know the truth? I don’t feel the urge for any women I see now. I don’t even have an ounce of desire, is that what you want to hear? I’m a goddamn eunuch!”
Well, not literally, although he felt like one. “And no, I am not into men, either, so wipe that look off your face. I just don’t…have physical needs anymore.”
Lucifer calmly enjoyed his soup as if he were dining alone, but became annoyed when Chevalier looked flustered as he searched for Kali’s opinion. “Give the woman what she came for, and you two get the hell out.”
“Lucifer,” Kali scowled, “be polite to my friends.”
He glanced at her then pushed to his feet and exited the room.
“Awfully obedient, isn’t he?” Chevalier commented. As soon as he finished the sentence, he leaped into the air to dodge an energy bolt coming his way. “Which part of being discreet does he not understand?”
“The whole world already knows, why not her,” Kali said, her voice depressed.
“Kali, when I said that I don’t have desire for other women I didn’t include…” He blushed brightly when she looked at him. “I mean besides you, I-”
He realized he was digging a deeper grave for himself. “Forget I said anything.”
“She’s Fey,” Hana corrected him. “You called her Kali. And where the hell did that blue lightning bolt come from?”
“I don’t feel like explaining,” Chevalier moaned. “You do the honors, Kali.”
“I suppose I owe her that much,” Kali sighed. “Sit,” she invited Hana to the chair next to her. “We haven’t talked face to face in a while.”
“Who are you?” Hana asked very slowly as she took the invitation and sat down.
“Please keep an open mind. It’s me, Hana,” Kali said.
“It’s Kali,” Chevalier clarified. He knew she wasn’t in the position to say her name out loud.
Hana tried to understand what the two were saying, but became utterly confused. “I don’t understand, you’re not Kali, you’re Fey.”
“I am Fey now. It doesn’t mean that I have always been Fey. It’s very complicated and…” Kali carefully selected her diction in order not to offend the curse. “…it’s me.”
Hana shook her head in disbelief. “This isn’t how I remembered you.”
“Not how I remembered myself, either,” Kali let out another troubled sigh. “Oh, this is hard, Chevalier! Just tell her already.”
“Fine,” he agreed to take on the task. “But not right now. I have to go fetch Bi. I’ll return by tonight,” he declared and disappeared.
Hana was beyond shocked.
“You have to get used to that,” Kali said. “Please stay with us for dinner tonight. If you would like a room to rest, please choose any room you like. All we have are rooms.”
“Are you rich now?” Hana asked curiously after she had the time to observe her surroundings.
Kali took a moment to think. “I have wealth beyond my wildest dreams. I can buy anything my heart desires and dine on meals only few can afford. Even so, it can’t buy what I truly want.”
“Ironic, isn’t it?” Hana asked bitterly. “I used to be the rich girl who
had it all, and you were the poor girl who walked in my shadow. Now I walk in yours.”
“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Kali replied.
“Are you taunting me now that you have looks that anyone would give an arm and a leg for? Are you looking down at me now that you have so much money?”
Kali stood up. “I don’t think we understand each other. You should take a shower to cool your head. We’ll continue our conversation tonight. If you need anything, the maids will help you.”
†††††
Skye dropped at his feet as soon as she saw him. She tugged on his leg, urgently demanding his attention. “Please…” she cried. “You must help me, Lord Arvin! I am discovered and he has sent others to look for me. If he catches me, I’ll…”
She did not dare to imagine what he would do.
“You did well,” Arvin complimented her.
A little smile of hope appeared on her face. “You would help me, my Lord? You would hide me away from him?”
“On the contrary,” Arvin replied, “I will give you back to Lucifer.”
She jumped up. “My Lord! You couldn’t possibly do that to me! I did your bidding! I agreed to your terms!”
“And you did an excellent job,” Arvin admitted. “Now that the plan has been set in motion, I will need Kali’s body to complete it.”
“But if you retrieve her body, what will happen to me?” she stuttered.
“That is not one of my concerns.”
Anger rose to her face. She stood up to her full height and pride. “Without your powers, I could kill you so easily,” she threatened. “Hide me from Lucifer or I will dismember you where you stand!”
His facial expression remained unaffected from her threat. “May I remind you that you are still in a human’s body? Even without my powers, a demon like you would never be able to complete such a task. Lucifer may have taken away my powers, but it’s nothing a little hibernation can’t fix. After I retrieve what I truly desire, I will go back to sleep and recover what is lost,” he approached her and drew her close to him. “Acelin was truly a fool. He will continue to believe that he is in love with this woman, when all he felt was the calling of Lucifer’s blood,” he bent down and kissed her.
Chapter 16: Fleeting Youth
“No wonder the atmosphere this morning was thicker than usual,” Chevalier laughed. He somehow managed to find humor in it. “And this whole time I thought you two made up already.”
She felt uncomfortable with his lack of understanding. “I don’t think it’s funny,” she said. “Can you believe he’s keeping me here as a mistress?”
Chevalier tried to hold back another laugh, because he could clearly see how distraught she was. “I think this is the perfect opportunity to get back at him,” he suggested to her.
“Get back at him?” she asked out of curiosity. “For what?”
“Come on, Kali, don’t you resent him even a little?” When she couldn’t answer, he continued on. “If he held you here against your will, why not take a lover yourself?”
“Chevalier!”
“I don’t mind playing the part.”
“Why would it affect him?” she lowered her eyes.
“More than you know. Even if Skye doesn’t mean anything to him, his possessive nature wouldn’t stand for it.”
One second thought, she found a little bit of humor in it. She looked up at him and secretly giggled. “Are you sure you want make him angry?”
“I have never been so sure of anything in my life.” Chevalier pulled her closer to him. “Let’s teach Lucifer how it feels when his lover is taken by someone else.”
Then sadness washed over her. “Chevalier, do you think I’ll ever get my body back?”
“Is it really that important to you?”
She shook her head. “I suppose not. I just wanted to be recognized for who I am.”
“I don’t think it would matter if you’re in one body or another, no one is going to be able to change you in my heart. I know you’ve been dying to know if Lucifer feels the same. If you managed to get him to fall in love with you once, you can do it again, regardless of your form. If he can’t see the true you through all of this, I can always be your back up plan, Kali.” Chevalier suddenly turned toward the door.
“Why are you eavesdropping on us?” he asked.
Several moments passed before Hana showed herself at the door. “Is it true?” she asked with her head lowered.
“Hana?”
“You really are Kali, aren’t you?” Hana asked more loudly. She looked up and approached them. She reached for Kali’s face and touched her velvety cheek.
Kali didn’t know why she lowered her eyes. She felt a guilt she could not explain. “It’s me, Hana,” she admitted. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“But how is this possible?” Hana asked as she withdrew her hand and touched her own face. “How is it possible?”
“It’s a long story,” Kali replied. “If I have the time, I’ll catch up with you.”
“You have to tell me your secret!” Hana grabbed Kali’s shoulder. “You must tell me how you became so beautiful. You must tell me how you remain so young, while I…” Hana brought her hands to her face in shocked awareness of her aging.
“Hana, this is not my own body,” Kali explained. Her eyes were searching for words to better describe the situation, but nothing could do it justice. “I don’t know how he did it, but I woke up in this-”
“How can we get you back into your own body?” Hana interrupted. “If you get your own body back, you would look like me, right? You’ll be back to the body of the thirty-five year old woman you are, right?”
Kali slowly shook her head. “Even in my own body, time has stopped for me, Hana. I’m exactly as you remember nineteen years ago. On the outside, anyway.”
“Even prettier, I think,” Chevalier added.
Hana’s eyes flew toward Chevalier. “Has time stopped for you too, Chevalier? Is that why you don’t look a day older since I last saw you?”
He nodded unenthusiastically.
“I beg you, Kali. You have to tell me how I can stop my time. I want to be young again! I…I’m afraid of growing old,” she stammered. When Kali didn’t give her the reaction she wanted, she got down on her knees. “Please take pity on me and tell me how I can be young again.”
Kali looked to Chevalier for counsel, but he gave none. “Hana, you don’t understand the complications of this.”
She got back up to her feet again. “You just don’t want to tell me how you did it!” she accused. “You two want to keep the secret to yourselves.”
“That’s not how…” Kali shook her head. “I just don’t want you to face the consequences. It will cost you your soul, Hana. Your body will be cursed and you won’t be accepted anywhere after you die. You’ll wander endlessly for all of eternity! ”
“I’ll do it,” she said with determination. “I don’t give a damn about my soul. That’s a decision for me to make. Please, Kali, tell me your secret.”
Kali took a long minute to debate. Hana’s dark brown eyes were pressing for an answer. “Lucifer fed me his blood. That’s the reason I haven’t aged and can’t age. If this is the choice you’ve made, you must convince him yourself. I can’t. I’ll have no part in this.”
“Lucifer?” Hana’s brows knitted together and shivered at his memory. She had always been frightened of Lucien, despite his angelic looks. “I have to convince him?”
“I won’t say anymore on the matter,” Kali said firmly.
†††††
Hana stared at her reflection in the mirror, displeased, unsatisfied, and rather mortified at how much she had changed. She looked a few years older than her actual age, due to a collection of reasons she could never be proud of. Her skin was much duller and lacked the elasticity of youth. Her forehead folded with her every expression, and if she looked closer, she could see the wrinkled lines around her eyes and mouth. They use
d to be more subtle, and only noticeable with a layer of foundation.
She did not know where the years had gone. She had the right to be bitter, since all she had to show for her years were three broken marriages, a delinquent daughter, a cramped apartment in the rundown part of town, and an overdue account with the loan sharks. Soon she would be homeless with a broken arm and leg courtesy of the mafia to help her new career.
With a heavy sigh, she quickly finished brushing her hair and applied her lipstick before leaving the room. As she walked down the hall, the servants politely bowed to her as she passed. That brought back some old memories. She fixed the hem of her skirt before entering the study, where the maid told her Lucifer would be.
He had company, a tall young man with waving brown curls and forest green eyes. He took notice of her presence, retrieved the box on the table, knelt to one knee as a sign of homage to Lucifer, and disappeared. Lucifer, however, did not look up from what he was writing. It made her wonder if he knew she was in the room at all. She approached his mahogany desk and leaned forward. She suddenly felt invisible.
“I am here to strike a bargain,” she declared.
He finally looked up at her. She had paid close attention to his expression and found a minute, almost undetectable curious twitch of the left brow. “I regretfully decline,” he told her plainly.
“You haven’t even heard my proposal yet,” she complained. “Don’t turn me down before you hear it.”
“State your business,” he granted her the audience.
“Make me young again, Lucifer,” she leaned in further. “Make me beautiful! And in return, I will give you everything in my possession. You can have my heart, my soul, everything. ”
“I specifically recall you proclaiming your love to Chevalier at the dinner table last night. A day is quite hasty for a change of heart.”
She struggled to find an explanation, but she knew Lucifer could see right through it. There was no point in lying. “If you give me what I want, I can even give him up.”
