Of Light And Shadows

“So you’re seriously telling me Jia is one of us? How is that even possible?” Mammon asked.

They were in the study where Lucifer was pacing slowly. Belphegor watched with a bemused expression as his brother worked on wearing a trail in the expensive carpet. Jia had barely been able to concentrate through the rest of the day. She bounced anxiously from foot to foot, her nerves coiled tight in her stomach.

“I’m not sure. I don’t even know if it’s right, but my gut says it’s true,” Lucifer was saying as he walked.

“I know how we can find out,” Jia said softly. All three of them turned to look at her. “Vampires don’t bite Demons.” Their eyes widened. Lucifer stopped in his tracks and Mammon shook his head immediately.

“Absolutely not. Vampires as young as Evan are dangerous to everyone. He’ll tear you apart as soon as he gets near you.” His movements were so sharp that his silvery hair fell into his eyes.

“Mammon’s right. Evan is way too much of a risk to let you near him,” Bell agreed. “And that Vampire in the alley was going to bite you.”

“I actually agree with Jia.” Lucifer’s words were soft.

“You what? Are you insane? You’re meant to be the sensible one!” Mammon looked at his older brother in utter disbelief. “If she dies it’s on you,” he growled. Lucifer stopped his pacing and clasped his hands behind his back.

“We won’t go yet, he’s too unstable. I say we wait a while and then try him around you and see how he reacts. It’s likely that any demon blood you do have is diluted by your other origins so he may still feel the urge to attack you like the Vampires in the alley. It’ll be dangerous even if we leave it a while, but if you want to do it then I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt you. Does that sound alright?”

“It does,” she nodded. “If it’s possible I’d like to see him soon.”

“We’ll have to monitor him and see how he copes before making that decision.” She nodded again, respecting Lucifer’s wishes despite her desire to see Evan. “There is one good thing to come out of this,” he said, a faint smile on his face. “If you’re one of us we might be able to help you get some of your memories back.”

“You could?” She felt her eyebrows creep upwards. She wanted more than anything to remember her past and fill the empty hole she always felt was inside her. “You really think so?”

“Yes. It’s invasive and you’ll have a headache for a few days but I can certainly try. If you’re one of us it will work well enough, but it might not give you everything.”

“Anything is better than nothing at all. When can we start?”

“In theory we could do it immediately. But if you’re not a Demon it won’t work and it will hurt. It might even leave you unconscious for several days.” Bell and Mammon exchanged concerned looks.

“The sooner the better,” Jia said, squaring her shoulders. Lucifer’s head tilted, impressed by her fearlessness.

“Alright then. If you’d like we can try right now. If I can gather enough information we may not need to try taking you to Evan.” She nodded her consent. “Very well. Mammon, Bell, this will leave the two of us unable to attend classes tomorrow regardless of how well it goes. It’s up to you two to organise the students and keep them in line. Can you do that?”

“I can,” Bell agreed. “I’ll head to bed extra early so I don’t sleep in.”

“I dunno, Luce,” Mammon hesitated. “I have a hard time getting the others to respect me as it is. Without you there they’ll run rings round me.”

“If you need to reveal your true form to command their respect, do it. Stick together and the pair of you will be fine.” Mammon hesitated, but nodded. Bell excused himself and the silver-haired demon cast a glance back at Jia, his amber eyes worried.

“Be careful with her,” he said quietly, and then he followed Belphegor out of the study, leaving her alone with Lucifer.

“So, how do we do this?”

“Not here,” he replied. “Too many interruptions. Come with me.” He took her hand and they shadow walked, stepping out of the darkness outside his room. “Nobody ever bothers me when I’m in my bedroom,” he explained. “It’s the one place I get a break.”

He opened the door and let her step in first, closing it quietly behind them. The room was large with tall windows that looked out on the strange landscape of the Demonic Realm. The bed dominated the space, all black and covered in expensive-looking sheets. Two of the walls were lined from floor to ceiling with books and a grand fireplace warmed a seating area at the far end.

“I’ve never been in your room before.”

“You wouldn’t recognise it if you had. I’ve had it completely redone over the last year or so. Having furniture my father chose in here was depressing.” He slipped off his jacket and unfastened his tie, hanging them both up by the door. Jia watched as he rolled his shirt sleeves up over his forearms and unfastened his top two buttons.

“I’m not used to seeing you in such a casual setting,” she grinned.

“Don’t tell anyone. If the others get wind of me relaxing my serious appearance they’ll start trying to take advantage. I’d rather end this year with the same number of students it began with.” He took a seat on the sofa, gesturing her over. She followed and sat beside him, suddenly nervous.

“What if I don’t like what I learn?” Lucifer’s face softened in the firelight.

“You might not. It’s up to you, Jia. You can continue your life as a Lotura and return home when Evan feels ready if you wish. Nobody is going to force you to dredge up the past if it really frightens you.” She fell silent for a while, thinking over her options before she looked up and met his gaze.

“No, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

“Are you sure?” Jia nodded. “Alright then.” Lucifer got up and went to a set of drawers, searching through them until he found a smooth, thin black box. He lifted the lid and took out something that looked like a fountain pen but ended in a scalpel blade before returning to sit beside her. “To do this I have to use a sigil. When I carve it into my skin it will appear on your arm as well.”

“You’re going to cut yourself to help me?”

“It won’t hurt you at all so there’s no need to worry.”

“I’m not worried about me. Won’t it scar you?”

“No. I heal quickly. Show me your forearm.” She hesitated before slipping off her blazer. An ugly bruise in the shape of fingers gripping her arm was revealed and a quiet growl rumbled in Lucifer’s chest before he bit down on it and regained control of himself.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said quietly. “Not anymore.”

“It never should have hurt,” was his reply. His fingers brushed the mottled skin gently before he sighed. “Why didn’t you call us, Jia?” He set the scalpel aside for a moment and his hand moved to wrap around hers. “We would have come at a moment’s notice to help you. I would have come for you.”

“I didn’t want to worry you.” She was so startled by his concern that her voice was hoarse when she spoke. The way he was looking at her made her heart skip a beat.

“I do nothing but worry about you. Right from the moment we met I was worried about you and that never stopped.” He sighed and closed his eyes for a second before looking back at her.

She could tell he was angry. She could see in the tightness around his mouth that all he wanted to do was go back to the human world and tear her father apart.

“Even if there’s nobody else in your life that you can ask for help, you can always ask me.”

Before she could stop him he reached out to grab her other hand, the one without the mark of Mammon’s pact on it. He lifted it to his chest, laying it against the spot over his heart. She could feel the pulse thudding gently against her fingers.

“I bind myself to you.” As soon as the words were spoken she felt the sizzle of magic and a tingle in the same spot on her own chest.

“You made a pact with me,” she said softly, her eyes wide. “I thought you weren’t allowed to do that?”

“I’m not. That’s why I chose to put the mark somewhere it can be hidden.” Her hand was still resting over his heart, kept there by his fingers. “I want you to understand how serious I am, Jia. If my father finds out about this he’ll destroy me.”

“Aren’t you afraid?” She could hear her pulse pounding in her ears as the severity of his actions crashed into her like a wave of frigid sea water.

“Not if it means I can keep you safe.” She finally sat back, letting her hand drop as all the air left her lungs in a heavy sigh. “If you ever need me, no matter what the situation is, call on me. I won’t question it and I won’t hesitate. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” He smiled.

“Good. I should’ve done it the first time you left but I had no idea what you’d be up against. If I knew-”

“Don’t,” she cut him off. “Don’t torture yourself. What happened to me was nobody’s fault but my father’s. My bruises will fade and I’ll be okay.” She forced a smile onto her face. “How could I not be okay when I have you and your brothers looking out for me?” She took a deep breath to steady her racing pulse. “I think we’ve gotten distracted. Aren’t we supposed to be getting my memories back?”

"Trying to,” he answered with a wry smile. “We’re supposed to be trying to get your memories back. It might not work. And even if it does neither of us will be able to do much for the next day or so.” He cocked his head to the side. “Well, you might be able to but I certainly won’t.”

“Why not?”

“For me it would be the same as being dropped onto my head from the academy roof. That sort of headache would cripple anyone. It shouldn’t hurt you anywhere near as much but you’ll likely be tired and light sensitive for a day or so.”

“That sounds serious, Louie. Are you sure we should be doing this if it’s going to affect you so much?” He arched an eyebrow and picked the scalpel pen back up, pressing it to his forearm before she could stop him.

“No going back now.”

“You’re so stubborn,” Jia muttered. He chuckled and continued carving his skin. She saw his brow furrow against the sting but his hand never hesitated. The sharp blade drew blood that stood out in stark contrast to his pale skin.

She looked down at her own forearm to see a faint impression of the same symbols appearing on it, slightly darker than her natural skin colour. It didn’t hurt and she didn’t bleed like Lucifer did. When he was finished he laid his hand over the damaged skin for a second.

When he took it away the symbol was still there but it was healed over, showing as a series of pink patterns instead of open cuts. He took Jia’s hand and laid it over the symbol so she was gripping his forearm before doing the same to her. She watched in fascination as he shut his eyes and his lips moved soundlessly, whispering an incantation she couldn’t hear. After a few seconds she felt the urge to shut her eyes. When they were closed she felt an uncomfortable nudge against her consciousness and frowned.

“Don’t fight it,” Lucifer said softly. “It’s just me. Relax.” His voice was soothing, and this time when she felt the tap she didn’t shy away from it.