Chapter Fourteen

Seven months, two weeks and seven days

Since I left, who's counting anyway?

But, for me, the only thing that's changed,

Is the distance between New York and LA

Seven months, two weeks and seven days

Since I was, so easily replaced

It's so strange, how I recognise her face

Tell me does she make you feel the same?

Chapter Fourteen - Awakening

Nephele's POV

When I awoke, it was not a pleasant awakening like in the Movies or TV shows.

It hurt.

A lot.

My head hummed with a constant headache that targeted my temples, and my muscles felt so sore. It physically hurt to move.

The light outside did no justice towards my eyes and the effort of moving any of my limbs made me feel as though I had run a marathon. Don't get me wrong, I used to enjoy running long distance, but not anymore.

I was way too old for that, although compared to those around me I don't think they would agree.

Old grandpa's especially, AKA Lucifer.

I groan, moving painstakingly slow to my side as I try to grasp at where I was. I was not in the bed I had grown so used to in Hell. I was not in my bed at my old apartment either, this bed was far too comfortable for that. I consciously scrunch my forehead in distaste as I come to face the direction the light is coming from.

There was light here.

It took me far too long to figure out that I was not in Hell anymore. There was light in Hell, but not as strong as the sun, or in other words; not as strong as the light shining at me currently. Knowing I was not in Hell anymore, I sat up faster than a Japanese bullet train.

The second I did sit up, I knew it was a mistake. Firstly, I sat up way too fast for my head to handle causing a spell of dizziness to erupt in my brain. And secondly, I came face to face with a worried looking Lucifer.

Out of shock, and possibly pure defiance, I groan and fall back on the bed. I fist the closest fluffed pillow and smack it down on my face to hide his gorgeous face from my view. I did not want him to be the person I saw when I woke up today, especially today.

"Amica Mea, what is wrong, what hurts?" His voice was soft once more, something so contrasting to what it was when I fell into a faint. This was the fifth time this week I have done that, and I was not liking it.

I had never fainted before I met this man. It was all his fault.

"Go away Lucifer." I murmur from under the pillow, rolling my eyes as it is picked up with a hand and brought away from my face. I glare at the Devil with the hardest glare I could muster as my body was feeling rather tired once more.

"You know I cannot do that Amare." His voice was even softer than previously which did have some impact on my mood and body, although I would never admit that. His words, however, made me even further annoyed.

"Once again, Luci Darling, you have failed to inform me on anything regarding my situation. You have also forgotten to inform me of why I am here, or why you kidnapped me." I use my own endearment in retaliation to his using my eyes to glare at him. How dare he?

Waking up to him next to me did little to calm my aching body, or my mood.

"Well Amare, I promise you today is when you get answers. I will answer everything I am able to answer, but for that to happen I will need you to listen." His voice was hard, yet soothing at the same time making my stomach flutter. "Do you think you can do this for me?" He asks as though I am a child.

However, even though I wanted to pull his hair very hard as he treats me like a child, I nodded my head.

"You pinkie promise you will answer all my questions, if you can." I whisper in a small voice, looking into the stormy eyes of the man standing in front of me. I knew it was pathetic. Asking for a pinkie-promise was stupid and very childish but it was something that I had been doing for scenarios similar to this before my family had been forgotten.

A promise was something I found affirmation in, regardless of how they were made to be broken.

He looks at me, unseen emotions dancing within his storm grey eyes. A small smile graces his lips, his pinkie reaching out for mine as I focus on his lips as though I was attracted to him.

Which I was not. Definitely not.

We lace our pinkies together, the moment so quiet I could hear the blood rush through my head at a constant rate. I swear I could hear fireworks fly as sparks also erupted at our touch, but I doubt that was a thing and probably only appeared in my head.

"Of course amare, as long as you promise to listen and hear me out." Not thinking much of his words, I answer almost immediately.

"Okay, but is there food?" I ask tentatively. I bite my lip as I come to agree with what Lucifer said. I knew I had a lot of questions that I had to have answered, and continuing to push and retaliate was not going to get me anywhere. I needed answers and for myself to get them, I needed to cooperate.

A warm smile replaces the previous straight faced lips on Lucifer's face. It sends a shot of my own warmth into my body. I do frown at this, not knowing why this caused such a reaction with my body.

"Yes Little Cloud, there is food here." He says with a chuckle, my own sheepish smile occurring on my lips in return to his laugh. It was heavenly, his laugh I mean. It was warm, and welcoming, something that would bring comfort to anyone.

It was appealing, although I would never admit that to him or anyone.

"We will need to go to the kitchen for you to get food however. I will go get the breakfast ready whilst you get ready to come out, okay?" This time when he tried to reason, he was not reasoning as though I was a child, and instead showing genuine care towards me.

At the thought of his care, I nod and try to sit up. As I do so, I cringe and groan out in pain. I did wonder how I got so sore, but I would bring it up later as a question as the last thing I remember was Lucifer holding me as the world disintegrated around us. I remember Blue and her squawking going mad against a boundary.

It all made no sense, but I had a good feeling I would get the answers later today.

I push myself forward as Lucifer also comes forward, his hand coming to the small of my back in a kind effort to help me up. I did not say anything as his mere touch caused a pleasurable and comforting spark to dance along my skin for some time, even after his hand left.

"I will let you get ready now amare, but I will come back in ten minutes to help you escape the bedroom." His words sounded as though there was a double meaning, a sexual innuendo but I did not question it as I did not understand it.

I purse my lips and nod, watching intently as Lucifer exits the room in a haste. As soon as the door closes softly I sit up further from the bed with a stifled groan.

Ten minutes was not going to be long enough with the pace I was going. Not that I normally took long to get ready, I knew how to time myself and get ready within the needed time; something that I thought I needed to make perfect after my family's demise.

It was by now a habit; to be early. I had to be at least ten minutes early or I would start to stress. Early for anything; work, meetings, university lectures.

When I do sit up, I finally take note of the room I was currently sitting in. The room was large, extremely large. Not as large as the one at Hell, but this was still so big compared to any other bedroom any normal human would have.

But I guess I was not living with humans.

The bedroom was grand to say the least. White and soft crème colours were the main colour themes. White and soft white sheets covering the bed I currently occupy. The duvet was pleated in squares, the seam being sparkly in the low light coming from the window. The bed was a King size and very big.

Too big to be in alone.

Preferably I liked smaller beds because it was just me in them, I had no boyfriends or husbands to share the space with so it got cold, if that was the right way to explain it. A double bed was enough for me, it being comfy and not too small at the same time.

Nonetheless, my eyes flicker past the largeness of the bed.

The bed sat against a wall, with a narrow-ish hallway being to the left of myself from where I sat. Next to the narrow hallway entry was another door that I guess was either a bathroom or closet. The door was a dark, cool brown, a darkening contrast against the white of the room.

Across from the bed was the same coloured brown dresser with a small coloured flower vase on top of it. The vase was filled with dark crimson stained roses.

The fact that they were my favourite flowers I knew of spooked me. I loved the stained flowers, a cliché thing of course since they were roses. I furrowed my eyebrows and pursed my lips in distaste, slightly annoyed that the flowers were there because someone had to have known they were my favourite, but not feeling scared that they were there.

It was a strange and indescribable feeling, at this current point in time however.

To my right was a large open space with a curved window setting. I had always wanted one of those designs, where there was a window seat and the window area protruded out of the house, but now that I have one I cannot think of the name.

In this window area was indeed a plush looking window seat, with grey shadowing curtains. I could see the sun shining brightly in the setting sky through the window, the sun seeming to be directly centered in the middle of the window pane as it set.

(A/N This is a rough image of the bedroom as I did not go into much detail with that stuff because I am in a rush (: )

The night sky was a vast array of colours. Purples, pinks, oranges and light blues filled the sky, making me want to gasp in awe at the beauty of it all. Not that I have not seen a sun set before, I have just not seen one this beautiful.

What a pity that a sunset like this had to be spent with a man like Lucifer.

Forgetting about my pain that did course throughout my body, I moved the duvet away from my body and made a stand a step away from the bed. As I did so I did not forget about the pain as it all came back but I pushed through it, knowing I had to get ready and take a stand to my predicament.

I needed answer and more importantly; I needed to get out of here.

I take a deep breath to try and relieve the raging pain, as well as my equally raging thoughts and try and focus on one task at a time. I needed to get dressed before Lucifer came back to 'retrieve' me from my room, like a prisoner, so I could go eat. Although the food part of this exchange did sound promising and very appealing to my hunger self, I did not trust this man's intentions.

I slip on the clothes at the end of the comfortable bed. The clothes consisted of some stretchy leggings, cropped top and a jumper. Totally ignoring the cropped top I opted for the leggings and the jumper, slipping the soft fabric over my head and on within seconds.

I wore a bra last night, meaning I had slept in it for god-knows how long and I was starting to get beyond uncomfortable with it but I could not do anything about it at this moment in time. I knew the top would make it worse, it looking like the super clingy kind of fabric.

I just knew.

But I, in that moment, knew I had to put it on. Lucifer was down stairs and wearing just the hoodie would be highly inappropriate. Considering he has some sort of X-Ray visionary powers, it would be more practical to wear the cropped top as well.

I take of the hoodie and re-do my whole outfit in extraordinary time. I rush into the door I was referring to near the hallway entry earlier, praying to whatever gods are out there it was a bathroom and not some kinky room from fifty shades.

We well make our minds up about those sort of things later.

Finding the bathroom, I almost sprint in and look at myself in the mirror. Call it a feminine thing, but whenever I did leave my residual room I had to look presentable. No, that did not mean makeup or a nice hair do. It just meant I had to at least look like I had not just risen from my resting place six feet under and waltzed into a room looking like literal death.

Although I guess that job was reserved for Lucifer, not that the whole 'looking like death' part was relevant to him. It was obvious he tried to keep his appearance easy on the eyes, as sad as it was too say.

I freshen up, splashing cool water on my face to make it seem more lively and awake rather than zombie-ish. I did prefer cold water to warm water for such tasks because it just made me feel better, but I did love hot water for showers. Loved burning water more if I was being honest, but that did not really matter at this point in time.

Within minutes I was standing by the door, ready to ask about my fate.

Lucifer softly knocks on the door, or a person who I assume is Lucifer knocks, before they swiftly enter the room. It was Lucifer, his six-foot-something height and his brooding figure occupying the narrow hallway. His stance made it seem as though he was purposely blocking my exit but I chose not to assume he was purposely trying to trap me in this room.

"The food is almost ready. I am sure you will love it." He says with a warm smile, something I did not find common for this man. Also something that did not fit the whole 'Satan' persona.

"U-uh okay." I sputter, biting my lip as I finish the awful sentence. I follow Lucifer as he smirks and walks towards the open door that leads me from this room and into another large hallway. The outside hallway had birch wood flooring panels with soft grey painted walls. It was very simplistic and I loved the design style, as it was modern.

Not taking note of every little detail from the hallway, I continued to follow after Lucifer like a lost puppy. Eventually, after two turns to the right and one to the left we reach a large kitchen. It was not as large as the one back in Hell, but it was still a large kitchen for any normal human being. But again, I guess I am not living as a Human anymore am I?

The kitchen was beautiful, with the same cool and light coloured theme being present once more. White and grey marble stone-top bench was the consistent coloured counter-tops, with there also being a classic island bench with some black bar stools underneath the overhand of the island bench. A glass stove top rather than gas, and a silver refrigerator standing between a thin grey wall panelling. Against the stove wall were some very light coloured grey wall tiles, allowing an adequate splash back barrier from the wall.

In all honesty, it was hard to describe the kitchen without the person being there. It was just beautiful, imagine it how you will like it in other words.

Lucifer races ahead of me as we enter the kitchen, himself moving the two bowls from over near where a blender was sitting, the blender being filled with a blue smoothie like substance, and placing them gently down in front of two bar stools. I purse my lips as I approach the colourful looking bowl, a wide smile breaking out on my lips as I realise what Lucifer had made. Although I doubt he made it.

A blueberry smoothie bowl topped with bananas, raspberry's, some nuts or seeds as well as chocolate and coconut shavings. It looked exactly something you would receive from an Instagram post. I was astound with the detailing that I thought it must have been from an Instagram post.

"Did you make this?" I ask in absolute awe. I approach the countertop where the bowls were placed, and a nervous looking Lucifer. I doubt the I read the emotion correctly though because it was something I would never expect to see within this man's eyes.

"Yes, of course." His words made me purse my lips because I doubt he would be able to make something that required such expertise, or at least this much detail. Although, you never know what this man has been doing for the past couple millennia.

I cannot imagine him at a cooking class however.

I almost laughed at that idea.

"Well thank you regardless." I voice and move to a bar stool in front of a bowl and dig in, formulating a endless list of question in my head. I had so many but I did not know how to word them, I did not know how to ask of these things that I thought was impossible until a few weeks, or a couple of weeks ago.

I scarp the remainder of the delicious blue smoothie from my bowl, tightening my lips over the spoon in a happy moment. I was content in that very moment, save for the large male mass who sat patiently next to me after he finished within mere seconds.

I set the bowl aside, a swing around on the chair going to face Lucifer. As I do, our eyes meet but this time I do not look away.

"Is there any terms and conditions I should be aware of before asking my list of questions?" I half-heartedly joke whilst beign fully serious at the same time. It was obvious Lucifer did not get the joke that I made about terms and conditions, maybe because he was not human but maybe because he was the type of person to read through those things.

Of course he was the type of person to do that.

"No. I will answer all questions willingly, with the whole truth. It has come to my attention that this is what I owe to you at least." This was just brought to his attention? This was just so exhausting.

"Let me guess, Lilith 'brought' this to your intention?" I almost roll my eyes, knowing this most definitely was not his idea. He nods his head and I sigh a very unladylike sigh.

God-bless that woman, my literal saviour.

Although I doubt he would ever bless that woman, since he did abandon her according to the myths.

"Okay. First question then." I hum and swing side to side on the bar stool as I think of my first question. I almost gasp in horror as I almost forgot about Blue. Poor Blue.

"Why did you take Blue away from me and say she was practically a threat?" I needed to get her back so I needed an argument point against why they shouldn't have taken her away from me.

"Blue is a very powerful creature. Centuries, millennia old with a mind that is figuratively sharper than a knife. She could have put you in danger, and you being 'friends' with her is likely for her own benefit." My eyebrows instantly furrow at his words.

For her 'benefit'? I was only an item for her, I was only a means to her plan? Not going to lie about this, but that really hurt my feelings. I thought she was my friend but I figure these days you cannot trust anyone.

"Okay, but then why would she want me to be a 'means' to her plan? I watched her hatch, and gave her food! She should practically love me with those facts." I grumble under my breath. I look back to Lucifer with a pout only to frown when his eyes widen.

"She hatched in front of you?" He almost squawks as loud as Blue herself and I all but cover my eyes in return. I nod my eye with a small sheepish smile. "Oh fucking great." He mumbles.

"Why? Does that change something?" I ask timidly, now even more scared for his answer.

"That changes everything, Amare." He grumbles in a low tone and I purse my lips wanting an answer. "I cannot tell you know, mainly because I do not know myself but I will take you with me to go ask someone." He nods his head for me, sounding so sure that this is a good idea.

I wanted to ask who this someone was but I knew that I had way more pressing questions to ask before I began to dive deeper into the whole Blue mess.

"Whatever, let me know when we are leaving and I will be there. Next question, yeah?" I ask in now annoyance, his eyes seeming to be more distant than before making me guess he was deep in thought. At my words his eyes comeback to meet mine and with a quick nod I fire my next question at him.

"Why are there people trying to kill me?" I ask, knowing that Judith, as Lilith had called him, and Derrick had purposefully tried to do me harm. At least one of them was confirmed dead though, even though it was by the hands of the man in front of me.

By the hands, being quite literate.

"I do not know that at the moment. I have Adam and Lilith looking into it further, along with a couple of other people who you have yet to meet. That will hopefully lead to more answers." I nod my head, liking how he was getting answers for me.

"Wait, hold up." I ask smiling. "Who is Adam. Is he the dude from the famous Adam and Eve story?" I ask, excitedly clapping my hands. Although, I do wonder why he would be helping Lucifer when Adam was meant to be from Heaven rather than Hell.

"He is my Advisor and mated to Lilith." He answers fluently and I smile, clapping my hands.

"So, correct me if I am wrong. God banished Lilith because she chose to defy Adam and God, blah blah blah, so Adam was so in love with Lilith that he chose instead of Eve, and then followed her down to Hell? Also is the term 'mated' used like in those cliché and cheesy Werewolf or Fae books?" I ask over-excitedly, finding it an adorable little love story that warms the heart of me, a hopeless romantic. He smiles at my gushing before answering.

"It was a little more complicated than that but yes. Although God never banished Lilith, but it is close enough." He smiles dashingly at me before continuing. "And the term mated or mates is loosely related to soulmates. She and him are 'destined to be together, with some Gods within our realm being assigned for the job of paring so called Mates. I could go into depth about this; but it appears you have more than two questions to ask." He finishes and I nod, preparing myself mentally to ask this next question.

In reality, at this point in time, I felt more comfortable around Lucifer than I had for the past couple of days which did surprise me. I do not know why it was such, nor did I think to question it until later, but the feeling of comfort and safety did go with his presence.

I will ask the question I was dying to ask, after this one. I needed more time before I could ask the one I have been dying to ask.

"Third question, why have I not seen any Persephone, or Kora around, of course if you are claiming to be Hades?" I ask using both the Greek and Roman name for the Goddess. He bursts out with a full laugh at my question, making me feel stupid for asking it as though the answer was obvious.

"Oh, I forgot about the mundane legends of Persephone and I." He chuckles out. "She and I have never been a thing, it was just some stupid rumour started when she and Demeter had come to my palace for a Party I hosted back in –" He stops suddenly as if thinking back to it "340 C.E I believe. She is mated to another God anyway so it would never have mattered." He explains kindly which I found relieving.

"Also, many cultures and religions have doubled up on names for deities. There are some singly known Gods out there, to which they are responsible and known in one religion or culture. There are also some gods, like me, who are known among many cultures and religions. I am a merge between many cultures, making my way of dealings a mixture between all cultures, etcetera. To the Greek I am known as Hades whereas to the Christian I am known as Lucifer or Satan. All the ways of life you mundane believe in are based on rumours, myth and the truth spread by our own kind. It is a very complex idea and it is extremely hard to explain it to you currently, but I will keep trying my best." He finishes and I am left astounded, gobsmacked and speechless.

Almost speechless anyway. I still had one question.

I smile gratefully at Lucifer as he stands and takes my bowl from in front of me before placing them beside the dishwasher as he was about to place them in. He was about to wash my bowl, but I bet him to it.

Not the washing part though, I bet him to talking.

"I have one more question." I state from my spot as I stand and walk over to beside him. I watch him raise a brow at me before placing my bowl in the now open dishwasher.

"By all means, go ahead amare." He says as he grabs the other bowl and does the same thing whilst I pick up the spoons and place them both in the cutlery compartment.

"Why did you take me and not release me? Why am I here still or why do you associate with me?" My voice sounded strong and confident, but inside I was anything but. A sick feeling grew in the pit of my stomach, butterflies flying around down there and not helping my case. He almost dropped the bowl at my question before facing me with an equally astounded look on his face.

At his facial expression, I gulp and take a small step back to give him space. He watches me intently, his eyes roaming my face as though he was looking for something but I did not know what. He sighs after a few seconds of what looked like internal debate and looks into my eyes deeply.

"I wanted to keep you safe, just know that before I say this okay? Keeping you safe is what I was made to do." He asks pleadingly almost, as if what he was going to say would make me scream and run in the opposite direction. His words were also cryptic and they left me confused but I knew I was about to get an answer.

Maybe it would, maybe it would not. No promises though.

I nod regardless, almost excited to get the answer finally but at the same time, nervous.

"You are here, with me because you are my Mate." He says quietly, in a smaller voice than usual and the only thing on my mind was what he said about Lilith and Adam earlier.

I was his soulmate, or did he use the term like friendship wise as they did in Australia? I guess that question was answered by his next statement, as though he read my mind which I knew he could do.

"You are my soulmate Nephele."

...

Word Count is 5000 ish words, and I wrote it on a train. Lets hope no one saw because that it weird.

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QOTC: Favourite Food ever?

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