Make Me

Unknown's POV:

Hell had only one holiday and that was, indeed, Lucifer's birthday. No other day was set up for celebration but this, and maybe due to that fact, it was always very over-the-top, and frankly, breath-taking. All the decorations, all the clothes and meals, all the music... It was one thing, that even angels rumoured about and secretly wanted to attend, but unfortunately for them, the only ones who were invited were the high-cast demons.

Lucifer gazed upon the crowd that was slowly gathering in his great hall, everyone in the richest and most dramatic suits and nightgowns that they found.

Casts in hell weren't hard to define. There were the mongrels, the lowest of all, and they usually had a miserable eternity in the underworld. Right above them, the servants, who were mainly very weak demons, who wouldn't be able to get souls by themselves, so they served a higher demon, who provided them. Next, pets. A nice word for the sex-slaves higher cast demons had, but also if a pet managed to become his master's favourite, they had quite a lot of influence... still, they were properties. The 'fallen' represented the middle-class in hell. They were just the demons who weren't in need to become servants but weren't anything special either, nevertheless, they were invited here.

And of course... The aristocrats. Namely, the seven deadly sins, and the so-called first sinner, or as most known, Judas.

Lucifer still stared into the celebrating crowd, without joining them... and he had a good reason to do so.

Jude and his little pet didn't arrive yet... They might not come after all the boy almost died not long ago, but still; Lucifer highly doubted that the demon wouldn't show himself...

He wasn't wrong.

The crowd parted, as Mindy opened the huge doors, and let through the two new guests. Lucifers lips curled into a gloating grin when he caught his first glimpse of the limping boy. People around them stepped back, feeling the radiating danger of the pure silver handle of the walking stick that Seth held in his hand, and which made a loud thumping sound every time he took a step. What insolence, to bring silver into his home... But of course, the boy had no filter or manners since he was under the wings of such a powerful aristocrat, no one would dare to question his choice of accessories.

Spoiled little brat...

"Welcome" Lucifer announced loudly, his voice echoing through the hall as he stood on the gallery above the room. The pair glanced up, neither of their faces betraying much of emotion other than annoyance.

They got very dolled up for the occasion, Seth was wearing a dark blue suit with beautiful, yet elegant details, while Jude rocked his usual dark colours, the shade now being deep, dark crimson, and their ties matched the other's clothes. Everyone was silent for a while, especially because it has been a very long time since a living human got down here, and to make it even stranger, Seth seemed perfectly calm, as if he wasn't aware of exactly where he was. Rumours had already spread around hell, that Jude had matched with a mortal, but no one could really believe it until' they witnessed the pair enter into the great hall, walking beside each other as if they came here to conquer the world. Lucifer's face, on the other hand, hid well all the hatred he felt while looking down at them... He hated the idea that such a small boy, a pet at that, is supposed to be his arch-nemesis. What a joke... It's humiliating... the whole prophecy is. Sure, Seth was a strange mortal, but nonetheless, a mortal, and no matter how hateful and cruel he becomes, he'll stay human, and ultimately, no match for Lucifer.

He knew Jude well... He would never fall in love with anyone, let alone his match. Matches are dangerous to be entangled with, demons are not designed to be good to someone... And Seth was no better than one of these underworld monsters... But he was also aware that Jude just couldn't accept 'no' as an answer. If someone defied him, he made them surrender, no matter what it took. And he made them surrender in a way that they loved it.

Lucifer's grin now grew a little more amused, thinking about Seth's downfall, but at that point, he had to stop glaring at the boy because Jude looked up at him in a manner that suggested he was about to rip his heart out through his throat. Seth's POV:

I couldn't comprehend all the vibrant, beautiful colours around me, and especially because most of my energy was wasted on trying to not show how amazed I was. While keeping up the gloomy facade, I internally screamed at every demon that I had the chance to see, and every gown and over-the-top, decorated suit that just came into my sight. I wanted to draw this. Correction.

I had to draw this.

However, it would be suicide to show any sort of human emotion, that could be labelled as weak or childish. I could feel every ill-intentioned gaze boring into me as I slowly walked inside beside Jude, and to be perfectly honest, it made me want to grin like a maniac. I was aware of how easily I got drunk on power, but still, sometimes I surprise even myself by the pleasant rush I get, whenever I realize everyone is cautious of the demon that listens to my orders now. "Lucifer really likes celebrating himself..." I concluded quietly, as I shifted my gaze through the golden hall. There was a table, far from the dancing and conversing crowd, and young girls and boys sat there, not moving or talking to each other at all. I furrowed my brows, but before I could've paid more attention to that odd picture, Jude spoke up:

"I enjoyed your birthday better" his grin made me want to suffocate him, but also made me want to be choked by him all at once, which was one conflicting feeling if I do say so myself.

"I'm sure you did" I muttered under my nose, irritated about the fact that I agreed with him, but before I could've smoothly changed the topic, a couple approached us. A tall, redhead walked towards us, with a pretty, petite boy at his side. "Jude... It's been a while since you've shown your face" the ginger commented, offering his hand to shake for Jude.

"Indeed Octavius... Allow me to introduce my match, Seth" he put his hand on my back gently, and I tried not to look uncomfortable by the fact that both completely ignored the shorter man, that stood right next to the ginger. Octavius was odd... Not particularly looking at me, like he planned to eat me alive, but still, there was something demandingly curious in his eyes, whatever he looked at.

"Where are the others?" Jude prompted, glancing behind the pair.

"You know them... they are fighting somewhere, I suppose. Except for Blake... Blake is... doing his thing" Jude and Octavius grinned at each other, presumably amused by an inner joke that I wasn't really aware of. "What others?" I asked finally, earning the attention of the two.

"Oh... Right, you are human." Octavius concluded, "Jude meant my siblings."

"His siblings, as in the other six deadly sins" Jude corrected, so it would make even a little bit of sense to me. I tried to not gape at them, so I just nodded, as if this was a regular Wednesday in my life... I wonder which sin Octavius was, but I didn't know if it's rude to ask or not. He was a redhead, but somehow that didn't give him that usual, playful, boyish charm, or freckles for that matter. His hair reminded me of flames, and his dark eyelashes, matched with his velvet orbs reflected something... unsettled and ambitious.

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"I'm greed" he announced as if I had said my thoughts out loud. I blushed a little, confused if he can read my mind or not, but then he just chuckled, adding to my nervousness.

"I figured you'll be curious... Anyway, have you seen the waitress? I want some of the wine..."

We didn't really have time to say anything else to Octavius, or his silent partner, because he drifted off, trying to hunt down that poor servant, and I was just left... overwhelmed.

"He likes you" Jude's voice broke my train of thoughts, and I glanced at him a little taken aback. I couldn't say I agreed or disagreed, for me, it was genuinely hard to tell when a demon wanted to kill me, or liked me, probably because they would be grinning either way.

Except for that chick with a stick up her ass... Vixen? I guess.

"He is the first demon you seem to be friendly with" I added, which earned a small nod from him.

"The sins are quite an entertaining company... All of them." his words suggested they were just something he liked to amuse himself with, but his smile and expression told another story. It was quite odd to see Jude genuinely like someone, but frankly, I had no problem with seeing a softer smile play on his lips.

We stood in silence for a while, both of us blankly staring at the huge orchestra and the dancing crowd. My mind wandered back to the night when I almost lost my life... Jude's gentle warning, which I ignored completely... Veronica's beautiful hair in the moonlight. All those moments that I truly wanted to cherish, were now just dripping from all the blood that dirtied our friendship.

After a few silent minutes, I kind of realized Jude is thinking about dancing again, since he was just blatantly staring at the waltzing pairs, but I figured he is not sure if I can manage with my leg... It might hurt but... I guess it hurts to get hit by a car, so we all make sacrifices.

I slowly put my walking stick down, let it rest against the wall, and gathered all my might to walk as if I didn't have a limp at all. I turned to face him, then bowed with a theatrical gesture.

"Can I have a dance?" I grinned up at him, reversing the roles he probably planned with originally. He looked a little surprised, but then his features softened and accepted my hand. Before I could've moved him, he turned on our position and pulled me to the dance area, which was the first second that I realized, I don't know how to do this kind of dance, at all.

"Just let me lead" he advised, noticing my confusion and since I didn't have much of a choice, I just nodded. His hand rested on my lower back, and the other held my hand with ease, helping me find out where to step and when.

If anything did show at all from the fact that he was my match, then it was the way we moved, and I think I noticed that earlier too, not just in dancing. Somehow it was melancholic as if I knew where he'll step, and despite me not knowing what to do, I didn't step on his feet even once. It felt... right, and I hated it. Being with Jude was such a vivid dream, and a luxury I knew I couldn't afford. There was too much on the line.

Every little movement I took sent a sharp pain down my spine, starting from my back, down to my right leg, but I didn't let my face give away any sign of it. I didn't want him to know I was in pain, and it wasn't exactly hard to ignore it in his presence.

"You dance like you've done it a thousand times" I took the compliment with a small smile.

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"You are not half bad yourself"

A small, intimate silence settled between us before our eyes met and we couldn't help but grin.

"Look at us, being all kind to each other" I mocked in an amused manner, while he chuckled, and spun me around without a warning, pulling me much closer to himself than before, but now my back was facing his chest. "Should I be mean instead?" he whispered knowingly, his breath tickling those few bite marks on my neck that still didn't have the chance to heal.

"You really did become insolvent, haven't you Jude?" I mused, before continuing the dance and turning back to face him.

His eyes twinkled with his signature dark hunger, but before he could've answered me, the orchestra suddenly changed the music, and people started clapping all around. Jude's face fell, and he glanced at Lucifer, who was very humbly sitting in his golden throne.

"Please get all the gifts here" Mindy announced, gesturing to an empty area right in front of the throne. I furrowed my brows, trying to put together what's happening, but my confusion only grew as the crowd stepped back a little, and two servants started dragging those silent teenager-looking girls and boys, whom I have seen prior sitting together at that table. Their hands were tied with vibrant ribbons, and they looked terrified to say the least.

"What's going on?" I demanded lowly, not taking my eyes off the scene that unwrapped before us.

"Lucifer picks his gift... Every year, he has the chance to have the first night with one of the new pets that arrive in hell and volunteer, preferably the younger ones as you can see..." his explanation, left me even more thorn up, and I felt my throat closing in from the sight.

"What is he going to do with them?" I continued, my second-hand panic growing inside me, not letting me breathe properly.

"Probably torture them... he is into older people, so I doubt he has sex with them" the demon followed up with an answer I was thoroughly displeased with. I clenched my teeth, trying to contain my anger. "These kids volunteered?"

"No, but their master volunteered them. People usually give it shot, to get on Lucifer's good side, though pets themselves didn't volunteer in hundreds of years, and though demons did want to volunteer, he'll accept humans only for this occasion... We don't have such a strong sense of pain" Jude's voice rang in a nonchalant tone, he obviously didn't care at all about all this, and though that didn't surprise me, I couldn't share his calmness. Lucifer stood up, to take a closer look at his choices and with every step he took, I could see the kids shaking, and ultimately, my chest filling with so much hatred that I couldn't contain it much longer.

"Aren't you adorable" Lucifer mocked one of the younger girls. She had messy, dirty blonde hair, and she flinched each time Lucifer moved even a little bit. I could see he was about to make his decision, as he dwelled on the sight of the girl, and so I didn't have much time to think things through. Anger and spite fuelled me, and I just couldn't watch these kids suffer any longer. This was cruel... too cruel, and no one gave a flying fuck about it.

I moved away from Jude's side, and stepped out of the watching crowd, slowly walking up behind the gifts, more specifically the blonde girl. I pulled on her ribbon, and took it off from her hand, then threw it around my neck as if it would be a

tie.

"I volunteer, My Lord"