Of Light And Shadows
Chapter Twenty...

“Come in,” was the answer to Jia’s knock on the wooden door of the study. She pushed it open and stepped inside to replace Lucifer at his desk writing in the ledger.

The curtains behind him were open and Jia saw angry red clouds roiling outside for a moment before she returned her attention to him. Her ribs had healed several days ago and for the first time in a long time she was completely free of pain and bruising. She was even gaining some weight.

“That’s my job,” she said, nodding at the accounts book in his hand.

“You’ve been in classes all day. I thought you’d appreciate a break.”

“I think you’re the one that needs a break. Since saving my mum I’ve hardly seen you. What have you been doing?”

“I’ve been searching for Abaddon in between running the academy and remembering to go to sleep. I can’t replace him in the human world which leads me to believe he’s here somewhere. The problem is that I can’t trace an individual Demon here because there’s so much dark energy in the air.”

“So we’ve lost him?”

“For now, unfortunately.” He looked away from the ledger and set the pen down, rising from his seat to walk around the desk and lean against it before folding his arms across his chest. The change of position brought him close enough to her that she could smell his cologne. “Is something wrong?”

“I was wondering if you had any updates on Evan, actually,” she said sheepishly.

“And there was me hoping you’d just come for my company,” he teased. “Evan is doing well. He’s almost to the point where the realm itself will sustain him without the need for blood. When he reaches that point he should be able to have his first visitor.”

“When do you think that will be?”

“In the next few days, I should imagine.” Jia’s heart lifted as she smiled.

“That’s really great news.”

“Will you answer me a question?” There was an odd look in his eyes as he watched the changes in her expression.

As always he looked immaculate in a suit of deepest black, this time with a purple shirt. Somehow the colour made the red of his eyes seem almost incandescent.

“Of course,” she replied.

“You said Evan had a human girlfriend, yes?”

“He does. She’s called Hannah.”

“If he’s with someone else why does your face light up when you talk about him?” The question caught her off guard. She blinked a few times before she was able to speak, her cheeks burning fiercely.

“I care about him,” she mumbled. “He’s my best friend.” Lucifer’s eyes never left her face and it only served to make her blush even worse. “Maybe I had a slight crush on him at some point.”

In truth, she hadn’t thought about her attraction to Evander at all since returning to the Demonic Realm. She had liked him in the human world but she’d been so consumed by seeing the Demon brothers again and Evan being turned into a Vampire that it hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“I suspected as much.”

“Why do you ask?” She twisted the hem of her jumper in her hands awkwardly.

“A few reasons. The first of them being curiosity, the second being concern for your physical safety if you were to enter into a relationship with a Vampire.” He looked like he wanted to say more but he didn’t continue.

“And what’s the other reason?” she pressed.

“I don’t want to see you hurt if he chooses someone else.” He spoke softly, a small ridge forming between his eyebrows.

“What makes you think it’s even a choice?” she asked. “He’s been with Hannah for years. There’s no reason for me to get hurt over it because I’m not asking him to pick me.”

“Of course it’s a choice. To put it bluntly, he’d be insane to ignore you.” Jia opened her mouth to respond and then closed it again. “You look surprised that I’d say something like that.”

“I am.”

“Do you remember our conversation a few days ago? We talked about the book you brought here?” She nodded. “Do you remember what I told you?”

“That you cared about me, Mammon and Bell more than life itself.”

“Exactly, so it shouldn’t shock you if I’m concerned. You were prepared to die with him in that alley instead of saving yourself. If we had never unlocked your memories and Evander had gone back to the human world, you would have gone right back with him and continued to endure the abuse just to watch out for him.

"If he knew the extent of everything that you were willing to give up just so he wasn’t alone, if he truly understood that, he’d worship the ground you walk on.” Lucifer cocked his head to the side. “A long life brings with it a level of understanding I sometimes wish I didn’t have. He’s going to hurt you, Jia.”

“You don’t know that.” She looked away. “And I don’t intend to give him the chance because I’m not asking him to leave Hannah.”

“Humans are inherently terrified of Vampires. It’s in their DNA. Unless this Hannah is something special, she’ll run away from him as soon as she realises what he’s become. And that will leave you – his trusting, caring, convenient friend – to pick up the pieces.”

“You make him sound horrible.” Lucifer looked at her with eyes that had seen far more than his young face suggested.

“He isn’t horrible, he’s suffering. He’ll look for anything he can replace to ease that suffering. If everything comes crashing down around him and he turns to you for comfort, promise me you’ll make sure it’s because he wants to be with you, and not just because he wants to be with someone.”

“You say that like you speak from experience.” She wasn’t used to him talking that way. He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’ve been around for a very long time.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Will you promise me that you’ll be careful?” She nodded and this time his smile was real. “Good. That’s all I can ask.”

They were interrupted by the door crashing open and Mammon tumbling through it with a frantic look on his face. His older brother frowned. “Mammon? What is it?”

"Satan is here,” he said urgently. Lucifer’s face went blank with shock for a moment before he nodded and sighed.

“He’s here for me?” Mammon nodded. “Alright, I suppose we should get this over with. The sooner it starts, the sooner it ends.”

“The sooner what starts? What’s happening?” Jia looked between them in a panic. Lucifer touched her shoulder gently as he moved past her.

“Please don’t follow me.” She could see he was beyond tense from the set of his shoulders as he walked away.

“Mammon, what’s going on?”

“Our father is here to punish Lucifer. He says it’s something to do with him interfering with a Greater Demon in the human world. Do you know anything about it?” She felt her insides turn cold.

“My father. Satan is here to punish him because of my father,” she answered quietly.

“We don’t have time now but when he’s gone you’re going to explain everything, do you understand?” She nodded. “Right now we need to get you to your room.”

“What? No!” She jerked away from his grasping hand. “Why would I need to be in my room? Lucifer needs us there.”

“You don’t want to see what’s about to happen.” Mammon’s voice was sad. “Jia, please. I’m begging you.”

“What is Satan going to do to him?” she asked, fear closing up her throat and strangling her words. Mammon sighed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other restlessly.

“Satan doesn’t visit for any reason nowadays unless it’s to punish one of us.” His brow furrowed, his amber eyes darkening. “He’s a sadist. There’s nothing he likes more than hurting and humiliating those beneath him. Jia please, you should go to your room.”

“Is he going to hurt Lucifer?”

“Hurt is an understatement.”

“I can’t hide in my room while that happens. It’s my fault he’s in this mess.” Before he could do anything she hurried in the direction Lucifer had walked in, leaving Mammon trailing behind her.

She let the crest guide her, feeling it warm in her hands as she descended the wide staircase. She found herself being led to a room she’d never been in before. It was another reception room with tall windows and a beautifully embroidered sofa and chairs at one end. At the other end, a group of people stood in an open space.

She recognised every face. Mammon stopped beside her with a look of despair and she realised that all of the Seven Devils were in that room.

Satan stood by the window with his hands clasped behind his back, his white hair and red eyes stark against his long grey coat. Lucifer stood five feet away from him with his arms by his sides. Behind him the rest of the Devils were arranged in a semi-circle.

“Mammon, my youngest son. How nice of you to join us.” Satan’s eyes roved across to Jia. “And I see you brought a friend.” She saw Lucifer stiffen slightly and his head turned a fraction, allowing him to glimpse her out of the corner of his eye. His gloved fists clenched. “You must be Lisbeth.”

The name made her skin crawl. Mammon nudged her forwards and she moved on numb legs to take Satan’s outstretched hand. She shook it, feeling cold spread up towards her elbow at the contact.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir.” She kept her gaze down respectfully, the way her father had taught her to when he addressed her.

“Ah. Abaddon trained you well, I see.” Her jaw clenched but she said nothing. “I have so wanted to meet you. Never before has there been a child born of a Demon and an Angel. I was intrigued to see how a bloodline that potent would manifest itself.” His eyes moved up and down her slowly, making her skin crawl. “I’m not disappointed.”

She heard Lucifer’s knuckles crack quietly as his clenched fists tightened so much she thought his gloves might tear. The sound made Satan smile and Jia got the distinct impression that he could happily slit her throat in a second.

“Go stand beside Mammon, since he was the one who brought you here. You may as well see how we do things in this realm now that you’ve been welcomed into the upper echelons of our society.” She nodded and turned away.

As she walked past Lucifer his eyes locked with hers for a split second. She saw utter despair before he looked away and she was past him to stand beside Mammon. He moved her between him and Bell, keeping a hand on her back.

“Whatever you do,” he whispered, “do not get in Satan’s way.”

“My Devils, the elite, the ruling class of the Demonic Realm,” Satan said, raising his voice so they could all hear clearly. “It’s been a long time since I was last here in front of you all and I’m so pleased to see all the wonderful work that has gone into building up Apollyon Academy to the jewel it is today. I know I have you, Lucifer, to thank for that.”

Jia could tell the thanks were for show. He was winding up to the main event. She glanced around at the others and saw them looking at her. Bee’s eyes were sad and it made her stomach turn. She felt Belphegor reach out for her hand, his face unusually alert.

“Close your eyes,” Mammon said softly.

“Unfortunately, I’m not only here for thanks,” Satan continued. His smile was vicious. “Lucifer, you’ve disobeyed me.”