Chapter 27: 25 - orphanage chaos

I was standing in front of my mirror, getting ready for the day. Lucifer had insisted I go to the office, claiming I’d get bored being alone all day. He’d even suggested that Enzo could tag along if it made me feel more comfortable. I knew the real reason behind his suggestion, though. He wanted to spend time with me.

Not that I minded. The feeling was mutual, even if I’d never say it out loud.

I adjusted the lapel of my blazer, smoothing out the fabric as I caught the sound of a sharp breath behind me.

“I can hear you, you know,” I said without turning around.

“Good,” came Lucifer’s deep, smooth voice. “Because I wasn’t planning to be subtle.”

I glanced over my shoulder, catching him leaning against the doorframe with that maddening smirk of his. His eyes roamed over me appreciatively, and I felt the corner of my lips twitch in amusement.

“Well?” I asked, turning fully to face him. “Are you going to stare all day, or do you have something useful to say?”

He pushed off the doorframe, closing the distance between us in a few long strides. “I could say a lot of things,” he murmured, his hand coming up to lightly trace the edge of my collar. “But I’m afraid you’d accuse me of being too charming.”

I rolled my eyes, though the warmth in his gaze was enough to make my pulse flutter. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Lucifer.”

“Oh, I disagree,” he said with a grin, leaning closer.

Before he could push his luck, I stepped back, grabbing my bag. “We’re going to be late if you don’t stop wasting time.”

His laugh followed me as I headed for the door, but he caught up easily, matching my stride as we made our way to the cars.

Enzo was already there, leaning casually against his own car. He glanced up as we approached, giving me a knowing look that I ignored.

“I’ll take my own car,” Enzo said, smirking. “Wouldn’t want to intrude on your quality time.”

Lucifer shot him a mock glare. “Very considerate of you.”

I just shook my head, sliding into the passenger seat of Lucifer’s car. He joined me a moment later, the engine purring to life as we pulled out of the driveway.

The drive was quiet, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the city as we made our way to the office. It was peaceful, almost domestic in a way I wasn’t used to.

At the office, everything was as mundane as ever—just the usual mortal routines. Meetings, paperwork, and the constant hum of activity. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of the underworld, but there was something oddly satisfying about it.

Enzo and I slipped away to handle our more… specialized work. Now that Lucifer knew the truth, there was no need to hide it. He, in turn, buried himself in his own tasks, though he had an annoying habit of sneaking into our office under the guise of needing something “urgent.”

Enzo, for all his sass, was surprisingly considerate, quietly making himself scarce whenever Lucifer showed up. It was almost cute, in a ridiculous sort of way.

By the time the day ended, I was more than ready to go home. But, of course, Lucifer had other plans.

As we sat down for dinner—a surprisingly quiet affair in the cozy dining room—he casually mentioned, “We need to go somewhere tomorrow.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And where might that be?”

“An orphanage,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “My grandfather was the main trustee, and now I’ve taken over. Tomorrow is the kids’ birthday celebration.”

I hummed thoughtfully, sipping my wine. “How very noble of you.”

He shrugged, though there was a flicker of warmth in his eyes. “It’s important to me.”

There was a moment of silence, broken only by the soft clink of cutlery against plates.

“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a lazy smirk, “are you going to wear something special for the occasion? Or is this another one of those ‘powerful and intimidating’ outfits you love so much?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, though the corners of my lips twitched. “Careful, Lucifer. Your charm is wearing thin.”

“Impossible,” he shot back, his grin widening.

I shook my head, standing to clear my plate. Before I could take a step, he was there, his hand catching mine.

“Let me,” he said, his voice softer now.

For once, I didn’t argue, letting him take the plate as I returned to my seat.

He came back a moment later, leaning down so that our faces were level. “You know,” he said, his tone low and teasing, “you’re not as scary as you think you are.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

He nodded, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “In fact, I think you’re kind of adorable when you’re trying to act tough.”

“Adorable?” I repeated, my tone icy.

Before he could answer, I grabbed the nearest item—a napkin—and tossed it at his head. He caught it easily, laughing as he straightened.

“You’ll pay for that,” I warned, though there was no real heat in my voice.

He leaned down again, this time brushing his lips against mine in a feather-light kiss.

“Worth it,” he murmured against my lips.

I sighed, pretending to be annoyed, but the truth was, I didn’t mind at all.

The morning sun filtered through the car windows as we drove to the orphanage, casting golden rays across the city. The hum of the engine filled the silence, but my thoughts were far away.

I watched the buildings blur past, my fingers lightly tracing the windowpane. There was something familiar about this destination, though I couldn’t quite place it.

When we arrived, the feeling intensified. As we stepped out, it hit me. I had been here before—days ago. It was the place I’d sent that little girl, a child who needed refuge more than anything.

A small, knowing smile tugged at my lips. Lucifer noticed and came to my side, opening the door for me like the gentleman he pretended not to be. His hand reached out, intertwining with mine as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I blushed, the warmth spreading through me, though I was careful not to let it show.

The day passed in a blur of joy and laughter. We spent hours with the children, handing out the food and gifts we’d prepared together that morning. It was simple work, but it brought a kind of peace I rarely felt.

Still, my eyes kept scanning the room, searching for that little girl. I couldn’t find her anywhere.

Finally, I approached the dean, describing the child’s features and asking about her.

“She’s resting right now,” the dean explained. “Her name’s Lucy. She’s been sick for several days.”

Something in my chest tightened. “Can you show me to her?”

The dean nodded and quickly led the way. My heart pounded as we entered the small room. Lucy lay on a bed, hooked up to hospital equipment that beeped steadily. Her tiny frame looked even smaller under the crisp white sheets.

I didn’t know why I felt this pang of sadness, but it was overwhelming. The dean left us alone, and I moved closer, sitting by her bedside.

Taking her frail hand in mine, I focused on her, letting my power flow through me. I knew I shouldn’t do this—intervening in mortal lives wasn’t something I took lightly. But I couldn’t just stand by and watch her suffer.

A soft glow emanated from our joined hands, and slowly, her breathing steadied. Her eyes fluttered open, wide and curious as they locked onto mine.

“You’re the devil, right?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I reached for a glass of water. “That’s one way to put it.”

She took the glass from me, drinking obediently before handing it back.

“How are you feeling now?” I asked, watching her closely.

She grinned, her cheeks regaining a healthy flush. “I’m all okay now. Did you use your magic?”

Her words made me chuckle. She was just a child, her imagination running wild. I nodded, humoring her.

Her eyes sparkled with delight. “I knew it!”

She extended her tiny hand toward me, her expression serious. “Can I come with you?”

For a moment, I was taken aback, but her sincerity made me smile. I reached out, pulling her gently into my arms and settling her on my lap.

She fit perfectly, her small frame now radiating warmth and life.

We sat like that for a while, her chatter filling the room with lightness. Everything felt perfect—until the sharp crack of a gunshot shattered the peace.

The sound came from outside, followed by muffled screams and hurried footsteps. I felt Lucy tense in my arms, her wide eyes turning to me for reassurance.

“Stay here,” I said firmly, placing her back on the bed.

But she clung to me, her tiny hands gripping my arm. “Don’t go!”

“I’ll be fine,” I promised, brushing a hand over her hair. “Stay here and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone but me.”

Reluctantly, she nodded, and I stepped out into the chaos.

The main hall was in disarray. People were running in all directions, and the children were being ushered to safety by the staff. Lucifer was already there, his eyes blazing with fury as he assessed the situation.

“Who dares disrupt this place?” I muttered, my voice low and dangerous.

He caught my eye, his jaw tightening. “A group of armed men. Looks like a targeted attack. Stay here with the kids.”

I laughed, the sound dark and cold. “You should know by now, Lucifer—I don’t take orders.”

He didn’t argue, but his expression softened for a brief moment. “Be careful.”

I nodded, stepping past him and into the fray.

The men were heavily armed, their faces hidden behind masks. They moved with precision, clearly professionals.

But they weren’t prepared for me.

I raised a hand, a wave of dark energy rippling through the air. The nearest attacker was thrown back, his weapon clattering to the ground. The others turned, their guns aimed at me, but I was faster.

With a flick of my wrist, their weapons melted into molten metal, useless in their hands.

One of them charged at me, a knife in hand. I sidestepped easily, grabbing his wrist and twisting it until he dropped the blade with a cry of pain.

Lucifer joined the fight, his movements fluid and deadly. Together, we dismantled the group with ease, our powers working in perfect harmony.

But as the last man fell, a sharp cry caught my attention.

Lucy.

I spun, my heart dropping as I saw one of the attackers had broken away and was heading for her room.

In a blur, I was there, blocking his path. His gun was aimed at me, but I didn’t flinch.

“You don’t want to do this,” I said, my voice calm but laced with menace.

He hesitated, just for a moment. It was all I needed.

Dark tendrils of power shot out, wrapping around him and pulling him to his knees. His weapon fell from his hands, and he looked up at me, terrified.

“Who sent you?” I demanded.

He didn’t answer, but his fear was enough. I let the shadows consume him, leaving him unconscious.

I turned, finding Lucy peeking out from her room, her eyes wide with awe.

“Are you okay?” I asked, kneeling to her level.

She nodded, her small hand slipping into mine. “You’re really powerful,” she whispered.

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And you’re really brave.”

Her grip tightened.