The Devil's Lover: The Wish (22 page)

†††††

Arvin emerged from the shadow into
Acelin’s chamber. Acelin lay on the bed, staring out the window.
The pain in his chest was tormenting him. The image of her crying
kept replaying in his mind. What is this feeling? How can he get
rid of it? It’s so painful…

“
I think it’s about time
we go back to sleep,” Arvin said. “We have no further work
here.”

Acelin shook his head. “No. You should
sleep. I think I might stay awake for a little longer.”

“
It is because of that
human girl?”

“
I want her,” Acelin
said.

“
I don’t understand what
Lord Lucifer and you see in them,” Arvin sighed.

“
I don’t understand it
either,” Acelin covered his eyes with this forearms. “I just want
her.”

“
Suit yourself, Acelin. I
think I might go to see the Prince one last time before I
sleep.”

†††††

Kali turned her head to look around to
see if there was anyone behind her. She then returned her attention
to the old monk standing in front of the temple’s gate. He was
waving his hand in the air and she realized he was motioning to
her. She approached him to see what he had to say.

“
I sense a great evil
following you,” the monk said. He grabbed her by the hand and was
pushed back by the burst of energy.

“
Are you alright?” Kali
asked with great concern. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“
Come into the temple,”
the monk said after he regained his balance. “I will help you get
rid of this evil.”

“
I will be fine,” she
assured him. “I will not bother you. I need to be home
now.”

He grabbed her by the shoulder again,
and this time he was pushed back even further. “Young girl, you
have no idea how strong this energy on your body is,” the monk
managed to say. Pain warped his face. “Please, I insist that you
come inside. We have many elders who can help you!”

“
Please, I really need to
get home,” she refused his help.

When he almost grabbed her again, she
jerked back. “I cannot let you leave with this evil on you!” The
monk was being too persistent.

He will be dead if I keep refusing
him, Kali thought. Next time, she would choose another path to
avoid this temple.

“
We will not detain you
for long,” the monk promised her as he showed her the way up into
the temple.

Acelin waited for Kali at the park,
knowing she walked by daily. He stood perfectly still for several
hours before he saw her. She wore a light pink sundress. Her hair
flew in the soft breeze. The blossoms danced around her. Acelin
grinned. She would make a beautiful bride.

†††††

Adria appeared in Lucifer’s office. He
lifted up his head from his work and stared at her. She was out of
breath.

“
Lord Lucifer!” she said.
“Arvin and Acelin-”

“
What about them?” Lucifer
asked. His blue eyes glowed as he talked.

“
I don’t know what they’re
planning, but Arvin is with Trent right now. And Acelin has been
stalking Kali,” Adria tried to slow her breathing.

Adria didn’t have to say more. Lucifer
disappeared in a blink of an eye. He had to find Kali and his son
before it was too late!

†††††

Kali was walking mindlessly along the
sidewalk. She looked up when she heard her name called. It was the
man she saw yesterday. He had such a handsome face that it was hard
to forget.

“
Oh, hi,” she said. “I
didn’t expect to see you again.”

“
I couldn’t forget about
your smile,” he said.

“
My smile?” Kali blushed.
It was the first time she had met a man who was so
direct.

“
You have been on my mind
ever since.”

Kali blinked. Maybe too
direct.

But his voice was so reserved that it
sounded like he was confessing something to his lover. He took her
hand in his. Kali stepped back, confused. He didn’t look at all
dangerous, but his actions and his words were so…not normal. Kali
pulled her hand back.

“
Kali, I want you for my
bride.”

Her face was puzzled.

Acelin stared into her eyes. He could
sense her confusion. That’s right, he told himself, he had
forgotten that humans were not as straightforward when it came to
romantic proposals. He could understand her reaction.

“
I apologize,” Acelin
said. “I have frightened you. My name is Acelin.”

“
Nice to meet you,
Acelin,” Kali said slowly. She was still skeptical about the man
standing in front of her. There was something strange about him
that she couldn’t put her finger on.

“
As do I, Kali,” he took
her hand, this time much more gently. He brought it to his lips and
kissed it. Then he pulled her close to him in one smooth motion and
kissed her lips. Kali’s eyes widened when she realized what was
going on.

Lucifer appeared from a summoning
circle.

Anger flickered in his cold blue
eyes.

Lucifer strode toward them and pulled
Kali away. He held her close to him, pressing her head against his
chest to hide her face from Acelin. Kissing her was his sole right.
No way was he going to let Acelin see her blushing face after that
atrocious kiss!

“
What do you think you’re
doing
?” Lucifer asked in voice with the
barest traces of restraint.

Acelin was shocked to see Lucifer. He
was even more surprised when Lucifer pulled Kali away from
him.

Lucifer created a massive ball of
energy and directed it at Acelin, causing him to fall back. He hit
the pavement ten yards away. Acelin got up and wiped the fresh
blood from the corner of his mouth. He stared at them, forbidding
himself from jumping to any kind of conclusion. Who was Kali to
Lucifer?

“
Acelin!” Lucifer
warned.

Kali held on to Lucifer when she saw
Acelin’s amber eyes begin to glow brightly. She finally understood.
Acelin was a demon, just like Lucifer.

“
Who are you, Kali?”
Acelin asked patiently.

“
You do not know?” Lucifer
asked furiously. “It’s hard to believe, Acelin, even for you.
She’s
mine
!”

Acelin closed his fists. He already
knew who she was when he saw Lucifer. He just didn’t want to
believe it. He held on to his chest. He lowered his head, looking
down. The aching in his chest was returning. This time, it ached
tenfold. What is this? What is this feeling that he couldn’t
interpret? What?

He looked up once again to see Kali’s
face. His heart thumped. Kali was his bride. Kali was that woman.
That woman…

A summoning circle drew itself around
Acelin. He sank into the circle. It was time for him to
retreat.

Kali looked up at Lucifer. “Who is
he?”

Lucifer did not answer. He lets go of
her and headed toward home. Kali tugged on Lucifer’s sleeve. He
still did not speak.

“
Lucifer…”

He seemed very upset.

“
I didn’t-”

Lucifer bent down and kissed her
hungrily. He kissed her until she felt weak in the knees and until
she almost ran out of breath. When he broke the kiss, he looked
down at her blushing face. Then he kissed her again.

†††††

Acelin collapsed onto the ground.
Strangely, he didn’t want to get back up. He coughed up blood from
his mouth, but quickly wiped it away. He turned over to face the
sky, waiting for his body to recover. It wasn’t a long wait. After
the physical pain subsided, the ache in his heart took over. He
started to laugh. The coincident of all of this was just a cruel
joke. He laughed even louder. No wonder Lucifer fell in love with
her. She had such an alluring smile.

“
What are you laughing
at?” Arvin asked, looking down at Acelin on the floor.

“
A joke…a very cruel and
terrible joke,” Acelin answered. He wiped the tears from his
eyes.

“
Mind telling
me?”

“
Lucifer and I…fell in
love with same woman,” Acelin squeezed his chest. “Isn’t that
funny?”

“
Acelin,” Arvin
warned.

“
What are the chances,
Arvin?”

Arvin knelt down and helped Acelin up.
Acelin refused to move. “What are you talking about,
Acelin?”

“
Her name is Kali, the
woman who I fell in love with. Lucifer’s bride, her name is also
Kali.”

Arvin stared at Acelin. “Was Lucifer
the one who injured you?”

“
No,” Acelin shook his
head. “She injured me. The wound is not healing. It’s not healing
at all,” Acelin was referring to the pain he felt in his
chest.

“
Foolish Acelin,” Arvin
said. He had never seen Acelin like this before. Acelin was not
someone who easily gave away his heart. What was so special about
this woman? Arvin wondered. Whatever the case, this would not do.
He knew Acelin better than he knew himself. Acelin had always been
a stubborn demon. Once he had decided on something, it was
impossible to change his mind. Would Acelin betray Lucifer for that
woman? No…Acelin would never do such a thing. Or would
he?

It was entirely that woman’s fault!
Arvin growled. If it wasn’t for her, Soren wouldn’t be dead. If it
weren’t for her, the bond between the four of them wouldn’t have
been broken. Because of her, Lucifer had turned his back against
his brothers. Because of her, Acelin was having a change of heart.
What had become of the four of them because of a single
woman?

Chapter 24: Heaven Isn’t
Too Far

Kali hugged Trent the moment she saw
him. She squeezed him, not wanting to let go. “Are you ok, Trent?
Are you hurt anywhere?”

Trent shook his head.

Kali sighed in relief. “Thank you for
picking him up, Chevalier.”

“
I’m always close by,”
Chevalier said. He then turned to Lucifer. “Why do you think Arvin
went to see Trent and didn’t do anything to him? Is it because of
your protection circle?”

“
No. Arvin has the power
to break the circle if he had put some effort into it.”

“
So he doesn’t want to
harm your son?”

“
I do not believe
so.”

“
That’s strange,”
Chevalier said. “What do they want then?”

“
He came to visit me,”
Trent informed his father. “He said he’s going to go back to
sleep.”

Lucifer nodded. “I hope that it is
true.”

†††††

Kali hid beneath the blanket, blushing
terribly. Lucifer was chuckling. He tried to lift up the
coversheet, but Kali was pulling hard on it. He rested his head on
his elbow, staring at her.

“
You screamed pretty
loudly.”

“
Did not,” she
argued.

“
Oh? I could use magic to
replay-” Lucifer teased. Such a thing was not one of his
abilities.

“
Please! No!” Kali sat up
instinctually, protesting. The coversheet formed a puddle around
her hips. Lucifer wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her
breasts.

“
Caught you!” he said. He
closed his mouth over her left breast and pushed her down against
the soft linen. He gently sucked on it while the other hand cupped
her right one.

“
Lucifer!” she yipped.
“It’s daylight!”

“
And?” he said,
indifferent.

“
I…” she blushed. “I’m not
used to…”

“
There isn’t an inch of
you that I haven’t seen,” he said in a charismatic tone. “There
isn’t an inch of you that I don’t love. Kali, why are you still shy
with me?”

She bit her lower lip, looking into
his eyes. They were so beautiful… too beautiful. Lucifer took her
little hand and placed it against his bare chest.

“
Touch me,” he said. “Feel
me.”

His skin was so soft and the muscle
underneath it was so hard. Kali slowly pulled away. He caught her
hand and placed it over his heart. Kali was breathing heavily. She
slowly explored his body. It was so beautiful, as if he was a
marble statue that came to life. His shoulders were so broad and
wide. His chest was lean and dependable. His abdomen was hard with
muscle. She could even see the soft blue veins beneath his pale
skin.

“
Kiss me,” he
demanded.

Kali placed her hands on the sides of
his head. She looked at his beautiful face before pulling him to
her. She gave him a gentle kiss at first, and then her tongue shyly
entered his mouth. His lips were warm and soft. She wrapped her
tongue around his and dueled with it. Lucifer kissed her back
passionately. His left hand was groping on her right breast. Her
flesh felt soft and warm.

She broke the kiss. “Lucifer!
No!”