Chapter Four: Fuck you, Charlie Daniels
"Sir? You seem distracted," Lucifer glanced at Asmodeus without really seeing him. Which suited the situation; Lucifer, himself was shielding his visage from mortal view.
"What do you mean?"
"You're spending the better part of your days watching that woman." Asmodeus said.
"And?" Lucifer cast his general a side long look. "If you have something to say, Asmodeus, say it."
"Fine." The demon said tightly. "You spend more time focused on this one little witch than you do attending to your duties below. I understand the allure. But... how long can this go on? Honor your compactβit is understood that if you want to use her to temper your urges. She is a vivacious, cock-hardening littleβ"
"Asmodeus?" It was said very, very quietly. So soft that Asmodeus immediately paused, and waited whatever else he had to say, unsettled by the tone, devoid of any real emotion.
"Sir?"
"Do you enjoy your existence?"
"Um..." there was an audible sound of swallowing. "Yes, Sir."
Whatever else he expected, it wasn't the angel's next words. "I do not. Seldom do I find somethingβanythingβ that truly interests me. And if I do, it passes like a summer squall. She interests me. And I don't foresee this one merely passing."
Asmodeus looked stunned. "So... pull a Hades and just take her."
"She has a family."
"Since when do you care about such things?"
Lucifer didn't respond but continued: "She belongs to Herne. I saw her face when she looked at him... she will remain sworn to him. And... he entrusted her to me."
"He followed the Laws and yielded to you one night a month. Even if she did need your intervention in interim, you cannot within your current contract. So why do you insist on torturing yourself every other day of the month?"
"I want to understand her," Lucifer said quietly.
"Which of 'her' do you mean, Morningstar?" Asked a husky, cool voice that frankly, he was stunned to hear. He focused in on the woman to whom it belonged. She was sitting at a tiny tea table outside the coffee shop where the angel and demon spoke, watching Gwen and her daughter talk and sip iced coffee inside.
The goddess was tall and slender with her dark hair pulled back in a severe ponytail. She crossed her legs and motioned to the chair across from her. "Long time, Lucifer," the woman said and gave a nod of greeting to Asmodeus.
"Nemesis," Asmodeus acknowledged. "What do you mean?"
"That girl is... a Gemini."
"I care about her astrological designation, why?" Asmodeus growled, but Lucifer looked confused.
"Not THAT sort," the Greek deity snapped. "She used to be mine. That is... Evangeline used to be mine. Until Herne seduced Gwen. Well, Herne and Brigid, but Lady B. looks the other way on how the chit worships. Personally, I think she needs to get in on that, rather than ignore it. Evvy is just as talented with a pussy as she is with dick. But understand this... Evangeline was mine. Gwen never was."
"How the hell is THAT?" Asmodeus demanded. "No matter what NAME she answers to, she cannot be only half-sworn!"
"No... no that is exactly right. But swearing to a god... it's not bone-deep... it's soul-deep," Lucifer said softly. "What you're saying... this schism isn't mental?"
"That is exactly what I am saying." Nemesis put her feet up in the chair she had pushed out for him since it appeared the Prince of Hell now wanted to pace.
"But... *Is* it possible to have them both; Gwen and Evangeline? Does she serve Herne and Brigid as a pair or does one half serve each?" Lucifer asked with genuine curiosity.
Nemesis looked disgusted. "Why would you want both? Ev is the strength, the brain. She once held justice above all things. Now... now she paints. Writes. SCRAPBOOKS!" She made a nauseated face and gagged a little. "And sex seems to be more important to her than working on justice. Have you not SEEN the United States right now! I couldn't USE my best Handmaiden. But what is she doing? Arts, crafts and fucking."
"Sex more important than justice?" Asmodeus grinned. "Nevermind, Lu. I take back all my complaints!"
"Fuck you, Mo," Lucifer said under his breath but winked at his old friend.
"Is your little witch free for a fucking tonight, then? Because I certainly wouldn't mind a dip into her... gek." It happened before Lucifer even processed the thought. He saw red, whirled on his millennia-old friend, and lifted him by his throat, unleashing his true form, dark wings wide and unfolded. "She. Is. Mine," he snarled.
Asmodeus's eyes were bulging a bit and Lucifer brought his face close to his old friend's and there was a red fire in his own eyes that was terrifying, even for a demon prince. "Tell me you understand, Mo," He said in that same deadly calm voice.
"She is yours, Sir. I apologize." Lucifer released the ancient demon and looked at Nemesis who was smirking knowingly.
Lucifer looked down at the Goddess of Retribution. "Gwen is just important to me as Evangeline."
"Then you're a fool because she is never leaving Herne."
"I didn't ask her to."
Nemesis shrugged. "Good luck." She stood and almost looked pitying. Then she paused and asked: "Has she tasted your power?"
"You mean..." Lucifer felt a block of ice in his chest. "Did I let her feed from me? Energetically?"
"Yes."