The Devil In Her Eyes Ch 03

"Well, I was expecting...something...not sure this was it, though..."

The kitchen was massive; Lucy and I were currently sitting on the island; she swung her feet gently as I munched on a ham sandwich, her little smile never left.

"They can't all be banquets, my love; besides, you looked like you wanted a sandwich."

"Ya know, I really did, now that I think about it."

She finger-gunned me, "Satan knows all."

I rolled my eyes.

The sandwich really was excellent, though.

"I have to admit, I thought there'd be...staff. A house this size."

She chuckled, "Servants? No. I've always been the independent sort; my companies have staff, but I try and keep it to a minimum, plus I wanted to be alone with you." She blushed on the last word.

Wait.. her companies?

"You own companies? Plural?"

She nodded, "Several in fact, Titan Global is my most prolific. Arms mostly. But we also conduct medical research, green energy, and sustainable agriculture."

Leave it to the Devil.

"More philanthropic than I expected. But you're an arms dealer too? What happened to not interfering with humanity?"

She held her hands up, "No direct interference from me, my board of directors, however..."

"Sneaky."

"Satan."

"Fair point."

I finished the last bite of my sandwich, digging out a cigarette, lighting up, and passing it to Lucy.

"So where do we go from here?"

She slipped an arm around me, passing the smoke back and laying her head on my shoulder, "I have to figure out how to explain this to Heaven's emissaries; if I fail, it could mean war."

My chest tightened, not even wanting to imagine what that would look like, "Where do you put our odds?"

"Close to zero, but I will do my best, the Heavenly Host are not a forgiving sort, neither is my...

Father

..."

Her speech slipped in and out of formality; I found it endearing to a fault.

"Is there anything I can do?"

She shook her head, gazing up at me, "Outside of inflaming the situation? No, I have to return to Hell and begin the preparations; the meeting will take place on neutral ground, here on Earth."

"When?"

"I haven't a clue, but soon. I'm going to try and get ahead of it, send my own emissaries before they have the chance."

"Then we don't have much time?"

Her eyes brimmed with tears, "No time, actually. I have to leave today, now. Delaying any longer raises the stakes."

I closed my eyes; I was no stranger to bad news, but this hurt in the depths of my soul, and I was starting to understand why "Will I ever see you again?"

The soft touch of her hand on my face brought my eyes open; love radiated from her.

Love and resolve.

"Darling, I know how uncertain your life has been, and I know I can't hope to wash that away with a few days of lovemaking and some sweet words. But understand that my love for you runs so much deeper than you can imagine. I will come back to you once this is over."

The force of her conviction was enough; I smiled, "I'll hold you to that."

The kiss was soft but not totally devoid of the lust still arcing between us. I leaned in to deepen the kiss, but Lucy pulled away.

"Bad boy," She whispered, "I can hear some of your thoughts, you know... And while your...creativity... is admirable...I have to go."

I nodded, burying my disappointment, "How does this work?"

"Easily," She dug in the pocket of her hoodie, producing something and pressing it into my palm, "The house is yours, and the car."

"You're giving me the house?"

"And the car," she reiterated.

"I know, I'm not there yet; why the house?"

"Because it is nothing less than what you deserve."

"And the car?"

"Because the truck is nice, but luxury is nice too. I want you to have them because they are just things; you are so much more important to me. Think of them as a symbol, however materialistic, of my affection for you."

This woman, I swear.

I tucked the keys in my pocket; I knew better than to argue.

"Well, Luce, like everything else in the last few days, I'm at a loss."

She slid off the island, wrapping her arms around me; I hopped down, pulling her in; the sweet, chaste moment didn't last nearly long enough.

"I love you," she whispered, "I wish we could stay like this forever."

She was so soft and oh so sweet, I'd never get tired of feeling her melt into me. My grip tightened when I realized I might not see her again for who knew how long.

"I have to go, my love; walk me out?"

Her voice was small, belying the power I knew she held; it filled me with a small measure of pride that she was this way with me, and by her own admission, only me.

I slipped my hand into hers and sucked it up, trying to be strong despite the raging emotions inside me. We walked through the halls towards the entryway; her grip on my hand only got tighter.

When she finally let go, it felt like a piece of me went with her. She held up a hand, muttering under her breath.

The floor began to glow, sigils appeared on the almost black wood, forming what I barely recognized as a magic circle. My interest in the occult had never been more than academic, and even then, only in passing, but I still recognized the Sigil of Lucifer, paired with the Leviathan Cross, the intricate looping designs flared in the center of the arcane construct.

"Holy shit," I whispered.

Lucy smirked, "Quite the opposite, darling."

She pulled me into a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs. I'd like to say I gave as good as I got, but that'd be a bald-faced lie.

"Think of me?" Came a husky whisper.

"Try and stop me."

I could feel the effort it took for her to let me go, about as much effort as it took to stand there and watch her walk away.

She blew me a kiss, and the circle flashed; I threw up a hand out of reflex at the almost blinding light. When I blinked the stars from my eyes, she was gone.

I sighed, finally alone with my thoughts, and for the first time in years, I really didn't want to be.

I dug out a smoke, feeling the loneliness rush in without Lucy there. I lit it and decided to go explore my new home. No matter what wonders awaited me, from the artwork to the architecture, the sheer impossibility of all of this, an uncomfortable truth greeted me at every turn.

I was falling for her.

Hard.

I dug for my phone; I needed to talk to someone.

She answered after a few rings.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Ma."

"Zack? Everything okay?"

I felt the weight of the keys in my pocket, drawing out the set for the Maybach...

"Everything's fine. Are you busy today?"

"Not at all honey, what's up?"

"I was thinking about swinging through. Jen around?"

"She's still at school, but the weekend's coming up; why don't you come stay for a few days?"

I looked around the big empty house, and I knew where I'd rather be.

"I'm on my way. Love you."

"Love you too, kiddo, be careful."

"Always, see you soon."

I killed the call, throwing my jacket on and walking out into the frigid afternoon air and tapping the fob. The luxury ride chirped at me, and I smiled; I was about two hundred miles from Mom's, on a good day, it would take me four hours in the rig.

I had my time to beat. The thought brought a grin to my face as I slid behind the wheel of the Exelero (thanks, Google).

After adjusting the mirrors and making sure I knew where the ashtray was, I keyed up the radio; there was a concert out of Billings, Reckless Kelly.

"Vincent Black Lightning" roared out of the speakers.

Highway 90 stretched out as I made the left, a straight shot; the sun shone despite the cold, paving the way for me. I slammed my foot to the floor, feeling the g's as the engine did its job, the speedometer crept up, and I whooped with barely contained joy.

I wasn't alone anymore, Lucy was here now, and whatever came next, I knew we'd face it together.

Time to go home.

I pulled into a gas station an hour later, light on smokes and road trip essentials. I topped off the tank and headed in; the bored-looking attendant barely looked up from his phone as I found the bathroom, splashing some water on my face, a quick wander, and I had some jerky and a coke, cigarettes followed. I slipped him my card, chuckling at the fact that I could buy this place three or four times over and still not get out of the eight-figure range. But something else lingered at the edges, I missed Lucy, and I had no idea what I was going to say to Mom about the last few days. I snagged my receipt from the cashier and walked out; it took a moment before I realized I wasn't alone in the once-deserted parking lot. A man was leaning on my car, smiling at me.

He was tall, at least as tall as I was; cropped black hair and piercing blue eyes contrasted his ghostly-pale skin. His smile revealed a few too many blaze-white teeth for my liking.

"Can I help you?

His smile never faded, "No, but I can help you."

Something in his oddly-accented voice made me wish I had my gun.

"Who says I need help, bud? You mind getting off my car?"

He held up his hands and stepped away, "No harm intended, I'm just here to deliver some insight. Call me Morris."

"Insight, huh? Care to elaborate? Morris?"

Again with the smile, like he was the only one in on the joke.

"Recently, you've made a very dangerous friend; the people I represent would rather see you not continue your involvement with her." His face darkened at the last word. The canopy lights flaring before fading in time with Morris's renewed smile.

"Just advice, my friend. Things are going on here that are worth more than a crush. You're playing with fire, Zack, quite literally. She is not at all what she's shown you. Believe me."

I opened my mouth to tell him to get fucked, and he held up his hands again, "Simply advice, advice that, if it goes unheeded, could be very detrimental to this world."

Now I was pissed, "You threatening me? Listen, I have a pretty good idea who you represent, and you can tell them I said to shove it. Where were they when I was dying? When my friends died, Hmm? I've got nothing more to say; take that back to your masters."

I didn't know where the balls were coming from; I was shit-talking an Angel, I was almost sure of it. But when you've been as afraid as I had for as long as I had, normal behavior tended to operate on a sliding scale.

I went to step around him, but an iron-hard grip locked onto my shoulder; his smile was gone, replaced by something like anger, "You would dare-"

I never found out where he was going with it; something hit him so hard he flew across the highway, crashing down in the open field. A plume of dirt marked the impact. I stood there, too shocked for words.

"No need to thank me... Please hold your applause."

I whipped around at the slightly English-accented voice, I don't know what I was expecting, but the small woman walking across the parking lot definitely wasn't it. She was five feet nothing with a shock of red hair and large green eyes, clad in a Melvins hoodie and a pair of black jeans, the smile that split her face was almost manic with glee.

"Awrite, mate! Fucking Angels, yeah?"

I shook my head, "Excuse me, but who the fuck are you now?"

She offered a small hand, still beaming that unsettling smile, "Aradia, but you can call me Ari! Good to finally meet my brother in law!"

I balked but reached out and took her hand, "So you're..."

"Lucy's sister, as close to one as she has anyway!" She chirped, "And I've been asked to keep you safe, a bit of a rough job, but here I am!"

Across the highway, I heard twigs snapping and glanced back; Morris had shaken it off, rising out of the snow-covered wheat like goddamn Jason Voorhees.

Ari leaned around me, eyeing the livid Angel, "Well, we best be off; he doesn't look real happy with us."

"Us?! I didn't cold-cock him across the fucking highway!"

"Semantics, love. Shall we?"

She let go of my hand, digging in my pocket and hitting the fob. Morris was striding toward us with a purpose; I sprinted around the car and jumped behind the wheel, peeling out and away from the station.

Could I even outrun him?

Ari giggled in the passenger seat, "Whee!"

What in the shit was this now?

Lucifer is sending Demons to protect me from Heaven?

Somewhere my Sunday School teacher was having a stroke.

I kept my foot down while Ari kept an eye on the back window, "I think our friend gave up. Yay!"

I stared at the little ball of demonic energy, my gaze flicking back to the road periodically, but my message got across.

"What?"

"When I think "Demon," you're not what I picture."

She stuck her tongue out at me, "So I can't be demonic and happy? Would you rather I was a fuckin' edgy cunt?"

I dug for my smokes, but Ari was already holding one out to me, I took it with a nod, and she lit it with a snap of her fingers, "Thanks, and maybe? I dunno; it's a little off-putting after the rumble with an actual fucking Angel; I just didn't expect perky. Then again, my whole life is one big acid trip at this point...fuck it. A pleasure to meet you, Ari, and thanks for the backup." I held my fist out.

She knocked hers into it, complete with sound effects and an open-mouthed wink that dragged a chuckle out of me.

Fucking, Angels, Demons, and little ol' me caught in the middle.

It beat the shit out of destroying my already fucked up liver at the bar every night.

Now to explain to my family that I was in a committed relationship with the Antichrist.

The rest of the ride was Angel free; Ari drummed on the dashboard and sang along with the radio; she was growing on me by the time we pulled into the driveway.

"Ari, listen, I need to be real smooth with how I handle this, okay?"

She snapped off a mock-salute, "Seen not heard, got it."

I chuckled, "Not like that at all; I just want to ease them into it."

"Can do! I'm easy...But not cheap!" She stabbed a finger at me and bailed out the door.

I snorted and killed the engine, nerves welling up inside me. How was I going to do this? The Universe didn't give a shit about my quandary; Mom stuck her head out the door seconds later. Everyone said I looked like her, brown hair, shot through with grey now, and big green eyes.

"Hi, baby!" Her expression went deadly, "Holy shit! Zackary Andrew Miller! Did you steal a car?"

I winced; no matter how old you get, all the names make you nervous.

"Mom, I..."

"He didn't steal it; it was a gift!"

I dragged my hand down my face, "Fucking hell Ari."

Mom snapped out of "angry mom" mode, cycling to cautiously optimistic, "Zack? Who's this?"

Ari stepped forward, beaming, hand outstretched, "Call me Ari, Mrs. Miller, a pleasure to meet ya!"

Mom smiled, taking the small Demon's hand, "Likewise, call me Sandy."

I looked up at Mom, "We need to talk, inside."

"Is everything okay? Did you knock her up?" Mom dropped into a stage whisper, and I wondered if the Angel could be enticed to come back and just end my shit right now.

"No, Mom... Jesus..."

"Quite the opposite!" Ari added, looking pleased as shit.

"Woman! I swear to..."

She smirked, waiting.

"Never mind, fuck it. C'mon, you heathens, inside, go!"

Mom was looking more and more confused as I ushered her inside. The house hadn't changed, all hardwood floors and comfort; I missed the place, I'd spent the last four years running from anything and everything.

I suddenly felt like a coward.

Ari was subdued, watching mom and me; I didn't miss her keeping an eye on the windows.

My little bodyguard, it seemed.

I dug out a smoke, offering one to Mom as we sat around the kitchen island. She waved me off.

"I quit about six months ago. You go ahead."

I nodded my thanks, lighting the smoke, staring at my hands for a long moment.

"Mom, what I'm about to tell you is going to sound...insane, at that's putting it mildly."

She looked at me, uncertainty on her face, "After the car, I'll believe anything. Was she telling the truth? It was a gift? From who?"

I heaved a sigh, "Mom, I met someone..."

"Well, that's fantastic, honey!"

"Nope, let me finish dude, it gets...weird."

She side-eyed me, "Is it a guy? Do you have a sugar-daddy?"

Ari snorted, fucking hell, leave it to my mom to make this awkward as hell.

"Mom, sonofabitch! No, I don't have a sugar-daddy!"

It all came tumbling out, "I met the Devil at a bar in Whitehall, and we talked, we danced. She's amazing, we spent a few days together. She gave me the car, a huge house, and this one," I jerked my thumb at Ari, who snapped to attention before snorting a laugh, "also, about a fucking ton of cash, I could buy the county and still be flush for the rest of my life."

She leaned back on her stool once I was done, "Did you hit your head, sweetheart?"

"He really didn't," Ari added.

"What she said, Mom, I'm deadly serious, here look," I cued up my bank app and slid the phone over to her. All of her humor vanished as she stared, her eyes went wide, and she groped for my smokes, screwing one into her lip, I slid my lighter across to her, and she lit up.

"Zack, what in the actual fuck is going on?"

"I just told you."

"And that's nonsense; I need you to tell me where all of this money and that incredibly expensive car came from."

"But he did, Sandy."

We both looked at Ari, who had chosen the lull to get more comfortable, horns curled out of her red hair, wings flapped gently, and fangs replaced her pearly-whites.

"Holy fuck!" Mom shouted, scrambling off the stool and backing up against the sink; her hands reached for purchase, what she found was the blender, and boy, did she whip that fucker at Ari at half the speed of light.

The blender exploded halfway across the room, held in a dark purple aura, it quickly re-assembled itself and went back to the counter, safely out of Mom's reach.

"I tried to tell you," I muttered.

Mom looked back and forth between Ari and me, bordering on hyperventilating.

I held out a hand, trying to keep her level, "Mom, try and calm down."

Her eyes rolled back, and she started to drop; Ari flashed across the room and caught her before I could process it.

"She's fainted; she's alright," Ari's reassurance slowed my heart down, but not by much, her tone serious as a heart attack. When she looked up at me, that goofy smile wormed its way onto her face.

"Well, I think it went quite well, all things considered," She gently tapped Mom on the cheek, "Wake up Sandy, c'mon now, none of this napping on the job business."

Mom's eyes shot open, and she shoved Ari away, crawling backward until she hit the cupboards.

"Stay the fuck away from me!"

I stepped up, crouching next to Mom before she passed out again and grabbing one of her hands.

"Ma, it's okay, hey," She looked at me with wide eyes, "I promise it's okay, she's not here to hurt you, and you know I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Everything I told you is real, no matter how insane it sounds."

Her mouth fell open, "Zack... it's all real? The Devil is real?"

I nodded, "She is. Very real."

"How? I..."

"Yeah, that was my reaction, but Mama, she saved my life. The cancer was supposed to kill me," She sucked in a breath when I mentioned my illness, five years on, and it wasn't any easier for her.

"She showed me things, what she did to keep me alive. I was as lost as you are right now before she explained it all. Shock, I think. But she's the real deal. There's something else..."

"There's more?!"

At least she wasn't hyperventilating.

"She did all of this for us...Because she loves me, been keeping an eye on me, it seems, something about my soul grabbed her. Point is, she and I are...involved."

Mom closed her eyes, "Zack, did you bang the Devil?"

Ari snorted but kept her distance, watching for more blenders, I imagine.