Hi Luci

Lucifer

“Aren’t you still an archangel, Michael? What happened to the bad-ass archangel from twenty-five years ago? You gotta take your mate by her ass and tell her how it is. Chicks dig that kinda shit.” Ares plopped down on the thick leather chair, not caring that sweat and blood dripped on the expensive upholstery.

“Can’t act like that anymore!” Michae threw his hands up in the air. “I’ve got a daughter now. I’ve got to be a bit more civilized than that.” Ares huffed, rubbing the sweat off his brow and slapping the table. Opening his mouth, he paused, whipping his head back to Michael.

“You got a kid? Fuck man, congrats!” Ares stands up, goes to shake Michael’s hand before my father exploded.

“If you were at the party, you would have known!” Ares scratches his head.

“Oh, was that today?” Father rolled his eyes, falling back in the chair. Mariah, his mate, who was the head warrior of Mother’s pack until she found Ares, walks in, sweaty, covered in dirt and sand from the sparing rink in the basement.

“Um, sorry, but whoever you guys have locked up in the guest bedroom has been screaming prophanities at Michael to let her out? Mariah’s thumb stuck out behind her with a hand on her hip. “Oh, there you are baby!” Mariah walks in, swiftly sitting her rear on Ares’ lap.

“Yeah, here I am, baby.” I rolled my eyes at the two of them. They had yet to have children, despite being together for all these years. They wanted their alone time for a while before they had little wolves tugging at their feet. When I mean alone time, I mean banging each other’s brains out every five minutes. Father had to erect a soundproof barrier in their room just so everyone could sleep.

“Not here,” she whispered seductively. “I don’t think Athena would appreciate it.” She looked on in disgust, putting earplugs to her ears.

Michael straightened up, tightening his robe around his waist. “I’ll talk to her.” His voice now held confidence, Ares giving him the thumbs up.

“Show her who's dick is longer, yeah?” Michael, who was giving himself a pep talk, had his butt slapped by Ares. Michael widened his eyes, rubbing his rear to soothe it. Ares leaned back in the chair, his mate sitting promptly on his lap, stroking his cheek.

How my father saw him as one of his best friends, I’ll never know. Father rounded the desk, leaving Mother feeding the baby herself, both hands landing on my shoulder, his face to mine. His hot breath fanned my face, his smell fanning all around me. He was letting his guard down, his power weakening by the second, something he never did unless it was Mother.

His emotional wall crumbled. Father’s love for me, for all his children, was felt deep within me. I let mine down as well. He could see the blackness hovering over me, the pain I felt every day. Eye softening, he pulled me into a hug.

“I don’t remember the last time you let me touch you like this,” he whispered in my ear. “She’s already changing you if you don’t fully realize it, but she has.” Father stood back, looking deep into my eyes. I didn’t want to believe it, that one simple girl could have an effect on me like she had, but she already did.

When she said my nickname, I didn't kill her. I wasn’t repulsed by her touch. I wanted her to stay and to protect her.

“What have I missed exactly?” Ares broke our moment like he always does.

“Uriel is Lucifer’s mate,” Athena said eloquently, taking a teacup from the cart full of food and drink. “I could see it in his eyes as soon as he saw her,” she chuckled. “I am curious to know why you didn’t tell her father though,” Athena looked at my Mother, goddess of bonding.

“Well,” she burped Lillith on her shoulder. “The timing never really came up, and I think that is something Luci should explain, when the time is right, of course. I mean, Uriel isn’t quite there yet to complete a bond.” Mother’s eyes bounced at Father, who was shaking his head, pinching his nose.

"She’s highly intelligent book-wise,” Athena dropped cream into her tea. “You will be surprised how quickly she will adapt, especially when she is around here,” her spoon waved around in the air, then pointed to Ares. “Especially with that one.”

“The hell is she not ready for a bonding? Is she still a baby or something?” Ares wrapped his arms around Mariah.

“Sort of,” Athena sat back down in the chair, sipping her from her cup.

Father explained Uriel’s home life, which comprised nothing but waking up in the morning, studying, chores, and even doing her mother’s accounting work. She was extremely sheltered, and Hera did an excellent job keeping her in her own bubble for years. No matter how much she and Michael tried to do the right thing, it burned me hotter than anything.

“That blows,” Ares huffed. “Guess you get to play doctor with her then, huh?” he winked. I threw a fireball at his chest. He pushed Mariah out of the way, catching my fire and being slammed into the wall.

Uriel

“Woah, your room is enormous!” My bare feet hit the carpet. It was lush green with golden walls, hints of the forest green littered the room. Posters of animals I had never seen before were pinned to the walls. Small Nik Naks of human model cars sat on shelves and a large desk filled with books that had never been opened.

Along with all the neat stuff was more stuff. It kept most of the carpet covered besides the few paths. One that led to the bed, then to the bathroom while the rest held nothing but junk.

“Yeah, not as big as Lucifers,” he huffed. “Mom says I gotta keep this room clean first.” Loki picked up a ball, throwing it across the room, getting it through a hoop behind the door we had just closed. He squeed, jumping on the bed.

“Come on, wanna jump? It’s almost like the trampoline in the back of the palace. My wings fluttered, excited that they would have such a contraption. “cept that one broke.” My wings hung back, wilting slightly.

“Why is it broken?” Loki landed on the bed with a thud, not even trying to make his bed again.

“Had a nanny that was annoying me. She told me how naughty I was all the time, need to do this, do that, be more like my big brother Lucifer that she talked about coooonstantly,” he drawled. “So I invited her to come to jump with me.” Loki smiled, fangs hung out of his mouth, almost salivating as he explained. “I might have used my powers a little too much, pushed the springs down low until she catapults into the hellhound pin nearby. They were getting baths that day, extra cranky you know. They had a lot of fun ripping her apart.”

I gasped, falling back on a chair covered in clothes. “You killed her?”

“Well, yeah doll face, as I said, she was annoying and trying to get into Lucifer’s pants.” I felt my lip poke out. That poor woman died having her body ripped to shreds. The heat in my eyes gave me the sign. I was about to cry right here for a woman I never met.

My wings sagged, rubbing my nose with the back of my hand. I sniffed carefully not to let him know I was really dying inside.

“Hey, hey, what are you crying for?” Loki hopped off his bed, running through a mess of clothes, falling promptly at my feet.

“That poor demon, she could have had a family!” I stood up, backing away from Loki, his enormous eyes now searching mine. “She had her whole life to live, and you just took it?” The lights in the room faded in and out, finally stopping with my eyes set on Loki.

“No, no, listen, it isn’t like humans or werewolves dying. Demons don’t like die die around here.” Rubbing a tear away, I sat back down on the chair.

“What do you mean, then?”

“Demons can be respawned all the time. Dad has this pool of souls, and he just goes in there, touches his finger in it and out pops a demon. They get their bodies back and go on their merry way,” Loki’s smiled. “I would never kill someone, like a human or supernatural, just the demons.”

My hands fiddled with themselves, glancing from Loki to my nail polish. “Alright,” Loki sighed, his breath fanning my face.

“You wouldn’t do that to me, would you? If I got annoying? I’m supposed to be your nanny now, right?” Loki shook his head, taking me to a hug, surprising me. “I can’t kill you! I may be a trickster, but I don’t go killing people.” He pulled away from me.

He didn’t look like a hugger and here he was hugging me. I smiled, my wings fluttering, showing too much excitement. “I’d never do that to you, Uriel. You’re the first person who tells it like it is. I like that.” he put his hands on his hips.

“You know it’s going to be hard to keep you as a friend,” he spoke almost mockingly. I twisted my lips, lowering my head. I’ve heard that kind of tone from Mom sometimes. It was done in a joking manner but it still stung just the same.

“But I like it. I like an enjoyable challenge. I’ve never had someone not care what status I was and willing not to be my friend. So, you, Uriel, will not just be my nanny but great friend too.”

Perking up, I grabbed the closest piece of clothing, which was literally under my arm, and stood up excitedly, throwing it into the hoop, letting it drop to the floor. Then the idea sparked me of how to get him to clean his room, all while having fun.

I stepped over the massive amount of laundry and toys to an empty laundry basket lying on its side. Picking it up, I put it under the large hoop. “Let’s play a game?” I asked excitedly. Loki looked at the basket and the clothes on the floor. He huffed, wadding up a shirt.

“Fine, but let’s make it interesting. Let’s ask each other questions to get to know each other.” I nodded wildly, liking the idea of getting to know Loki. He was mysterious, dark, and friendly all at the same time, plus he was my first real friend. Doing a little happy dance, I grabbed a shirt from the floor.

“Okay! You first!” I clapped. I sniffed the air. Phew his shirt was stinky. I hid my disgust, it wouldn’t be very nice to say having him as a new friend.

“Age before beauty,” he wiggled his brows, throwing the shirt at me. Aw, he thinks he’s pretty. “Alright, where is your favorite place to be?”

“Right now? Probably here in the Underworld. I’ve seen nothing like it!”

“Fates, that’s sad,” he shook his head, watching me shoot. He picked up a shirt, wadding it up. “Your turn, dollface.” I giggled at that.

“Hmm, what is your favorite trick to play on demons?” Loki rubbed his chin, looking to the ceiling.

“Probably taking hellhound shit and putting it in the servants’ toilets. Their shits are huge and they can’t flush, so you have to get a stick to break it up.” Loki made a stirring motion like he was brewing a witch’s brew. “It makes all the older demon women scream so loud Dad can hear it in Mom’s garden when we are all having breakfast!” Loki rolled back on the bed laughing. I snorted, even though he said a bad word. He was having fun.

It went on like this for an hour; we got to know each other’s likes and dislikes. Like how he hated too much meat but loved the taste of roasted vegetables and tofu, how he feels like he has become the forgotten child now that he has an older brother who has a temper and now a younger sister that is too adorable for him to even hold.

I frowned at that, his parents seemed like gracious people, albeit Hades looked really crabby, or constipated one of the two. Lucifer, he just looked… handsome? Twitching my nose, I tried to push the thought away, but his muscular jaw, his tingly hands, had me wanting to see him again. I would not be like Loki’s nanny’s, though. They obsess over him and I would never do such a thing. I didn’t need to be catapulted into the hellhound pins and I did not need to betray Loki like that.

Towards the end of our game, the room was mostly picked up of all the laundry and it looked much better. We were down to one pair of pants and it was my turn to ask a question. “Better be a good one. You know almost everything about me.” Loki threw a grin.

“I don’t think that’s true. I bet there is more to you than trivial questions like these.”

“Easy there doll face, don’t want you to choke on that sentence.”

“Choke? On words?” I tilted my head. Sometimes I think Loki is smarter than me and he is so much younger.

“Forget it. What’s your question?”

“Oh yes, I wanted to know something.” I raised my finger in the air. “What did you mean when that nanny wanted to get in Lucifer’s pants?” Loki dropped the model car he was holding, landing on the floor at the same time I threw a pair of Loki’s pants at the hoop. The door opened too quickly and now it landed on Lucifer’s face.

“Hi Luci!” I waved