Asmodeus leaned his head against the wall. When Luke left, he was surprised at how he felt. Had he really admitted to wanting to bond with the human? He had pretended like the pain had subsided this morning, but really it hadn't. It had settled deep in his mending bones. Having Luke next to him had helped keep it at bay. His niece's burst of power had actually impressed him. He knew she would grow into the power she was born with, but Luke brought it out hard and fast.
It was true that he wanted his brother's throne, but he wouldn't sacrifice Luke to do it. He couldn't. The way the priest looked up at him... Asmodeus couldn't deny his growing attraction to him. Not that he had ever doubted he was attracted to the priest. He had laid eyes on the man long before Shynra had. When he came to her cottage and saw her mark on Luke's back? He had about flown into a rage right there. He had planned on inserting himself into the Priest's life slowly, but Shynra had flown in like a tornado and swept him away.
Asmodeus shook his head. It did no good to dwell on it. Shynra had agreed to let him 'visit' Luke. Whatever those terms would be, Asmodeus would follow them. Being a small part of the man's life was better than not being in it at all.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Luke sucked in a deep breath as Lily led him into her father's office. The room was larger than life. It matched the formidable man sitting behind a solid wood desk. He would have guessed it was mahogany, but he wasn't sure that mahogany existed here. The King sat behind his desk. He wasn't quite as regal as Luke imagined a king would be. Lily's father looked up at them. There was nothing but admiration in his eyes. Strangely, Luke felt at ease.
"Look at the lovely couple!" He exclaimed. Luke smiled awkwardly. He had only met Lily's father once, and he had never held a conversation with him.
"Indeed," Lily beamed, and reached over to take Luke's hand in hers. He welcomed the feeling of her dainty palm in his hand and clasped his hand over hers quickly.
"We may look good, but that doesn't mean we're not broken," Luke muttered. Lily tightened her hand around his, not in warning, but in comfort. Her eyes were downcast. He felt the guilt in her. She knew she hated the pain he was going through right now.
"Yes, my daughter seems to take after her father in that regard. You'll have to excuse her hasty decision making, Priest. My line tends to do anything for those they hold dear, you can ask her mother about that," Samael winked at Lily.
"What did you need us for, Dad?" Lily asked quietly.
Samael motioned to the couch at the far end of the room. "Please, take a seat. Make yourselves comfortable. It's just a friendly chat."
Luke obliged. The couch was quite comfortable.
"Luke, I heard you went to visit my brother after the incident last night. Tell me, how is he this morning?" Samael started.
"As well as can be expected, I suppose. After having every bone in his body crushed and pulled from their sockets. And then denied his healing speed. He was in agony all night." Luke said tightly.
"Destruction would have rained on us all if he had his power last night. Surely he told you that," Samael said, "But never mind that, I want to know how you came to care for two of the most dear people in my life. My daughter and heir, and my brother, her archnemesis. It is interesting to me."
Luke shrugged, "How do you come to care about anyone?"
"Well, I mean, my brother did kidnap you. He stole you from Shynra, refused to give you back. What made you want to go back to him?"
"Father, do we have to discuss this?" Lily asked, the pain evident in her voice. Luke reached over and grabbed her thigh. He was angry at her, but she was hurt, too.
"I honestly don't know, sir. I felt drawn to." Luke answered honestly. "I wanted to be with him and being around him calms my spirit."
"Hmm. You don't have any other strange marks on you, do you?" Samael asked.
Lily's eyes bulged at her father's implication, "You don't think that Asmodeus would dare mark him, do you?"
Her father shook his head, "No, I don't. I don't think he would ever do such a thing intentionally. Asmodeus loves his immortality, he would never bind himself with a lesser being. No offense, Priest."
"None taken," Luke sighed, "No, I haven't noticed any other marks."
"Good, good." Samael looked over to Lily. "Shynra, I heard you offered Asmodeus visitation, that's big of you."
"If it will keep Luke happy, I will do anything." Lily replied.
"Indeed. Luke, has anyone asked you how you feel about that? Or how you feel about any of this, for that matter?" Samael asked.
Luke shook his head, "No, no they didn't."
"Well, how do you feel?" Samael nudged.
"Overwhelmed," Luke replied, "Like I don't have control over my life anymore."
"If we gave you control over it, where would you go? With Asmodeus or would you stay here with Shynra?"
Luke thought for a moment. As he thought, he realized he didn't really need to. "I'd stay here with Li... Shynra."
Samael chuckled, "You know her by her human persona, I forget. But you can't forget that she is a demon, as is my brother. She is a very powerful demon, at that."
"Yes, I've seen that," Luke said bitterly. "I'd still stay here with her. I may care about Asmodeus, but I don't know his motives. I know hers, and I know they're all in my favor. Even her letting Asmodeus come see me. She's doing that for me."
Samael nodded in agreement, "She is doing that for you. You are right. How do you feel about everything else? About being King one day?"
"Like it will probably be another thousand years before that ever happens. And I don't know if I want to live that long," Luke said truthfully.
"I understand that. You were not born to this world with the promise of eternal life, it has been gifted to you halfway through yours. It's understandable that it would frighten you."
