Fallen

Blame Me

    Gently Lucifer lowered Ciela onto the ground, allowing her small feet to touch the black cool marble. She looked so small and fragile standing before him. Her wings hung from her bare shoulder blades and swept the ground as she gazed around mute. The room was bare, the walls black and the floor reflecting Ciela's pale form like glass. Lucifer blended into his surroundings as he stood behind her, envious as her body glowed and the dark room seemed to only accentuate how heavenly she was. She was the a beacon of light as she wandered ahead of him only a few feet as she took in the dark void surrounding them.

    He looked down at the marble flooring, nothing but the embers burning within his eyes could be seen. It was just so he could see the outline of his form, but that was only because of Ciela's glow when it reflected off his scales. He grimaced and decided maybe it would be best to imitate another form in her presence. The fire in his eyes sputtered out until they were merely brown glossy orbs sitting within his skull. Ever so slowly his scales retreated and flesh began to crawl across his body. He took his prized form, the same form as he'd paraded in merely minutes ago. Luckily for him, his clothes were an exception and could easily return unruffled across his body.

    Now, he could see a pale face staring back at me as he tucked his hands into his trousers pockets. The last remains of his tail flickered out of sight just as he heard a gasp. Small wisps of hair tickled his cheeks as he lifted his head. Her wide eyes took him in as her wings twitched uncomfortably behind her.

    "A better suit, don't you think?" He grinned. "I suppose you'd like something to cover yourself. Would you not?"

    Her eyes dropped over her own body and she seemed to stare confused before slowly realization flashed across her features. Suddenly her wings sprang free and swooped around her body like a cocoon as her flesh flushed scarlet from the top of her breasts to the roots of her hair. She wouldn't look at him as she shifted her weight nervously.

    "Y-yes, that would be much appreciated." She stammered.

    Standing there, flustered and suddenly self-aware of her nudity, she was beautiful. He simply stared at her for a few seconds, wondering what in Hell she was doing in his presence. What was his father up to now? He knew he couldn't ask for an answer. His father never really was straight forward. Even as a child Lucifer had to guess what He wanted. Yet, he couldn't see why his father would send a naive little angel to do His dirty work.

    "This way, little angel."

    Lucifer gestured ahead and strode passed her. She sort of wobbled behind him, her wings restricting her movements as they traveled through the void. Slowly her light touched the base of a marble staircase that wound up into darkness. Gargoyles stood root at the base, their mouths slack and eyes burning with the same red flames that burned within Lucifer's eyes. Small deformed wings sprang from their backs as their beady eyes watched them near. Claws extended and bodies hunched into a crouch, they were Demons that had disobeyed his orders and were frozen for eternity as his own personal decor.

    He heard Ciela give a little gasp of surprise as one of them let out a harsh deep breath through their nostrils. Lucifer was already on the third step when he turned back to see her standing before the gargoyles admiring them.

    "They can't hurt you. They are frozen. Only I can set them free."

    He waved her to follow him as he turned and continued up the staircase. After a few steps he could hear her jogging to catch up, her bare feet slapping against the marble steps with a soft padding sound. A grin tugged onto Luficer's lips, a grin he couldn't understand as she trotted behind him while her light cast ahead of them like a torch.

    It was an illusion of some sorts. After so many steps they reached a hall and the first floor they had seen was suddenly gone and a void took its place.

    "This floor will be yours. Do whatever you wish with it. Whatever you desire, it will supply." As Lucifer spoke he turned back to her. She had been staring at his backside and looked up, scarlet as he wings trembled around her form. "Say you want clothes, if you walk long enough you will find whatever you wish. Say you want a bedroom with a walk in bath, it will come. Don't have too much fun, though." He grin wickedly and winked at her.

    He passed her and headed back for the stairs.

    "Wh-where are you going?" She squeaked.

    He stopped and looked back at her.

    "Not far, little angel." He tilted his head and hoped his smile was reassuring. "If you need me, I'll be on the second floor drawing a bath for myself."

    With that, he turned and left her standing alone in utter darkness with the shadows playing tricks on her mind.

    P.O.V. ~ Ciela

    She stood alone, longer than she would have wished, but she feared moving. Slowly she gained back her motor-functions and cautiously walked into the void until the staircase was swallowed whole by darkness. What had he said? Whatever she wished? She wished for somewhere bright and warm. Could it give her that?

    Just as the thought occurred to her, a door suddenly stood before her. Hesitantly she pushed it open and for the first time since entering Hell, a room painted in white welcomed her. Everything was white, from the sofas and bedding, to the chandelier that hung above and the marble flooring below. Hastily she shut the door behind her, fearful the darkness would somehow swallow this scene whole if she didn't. Warmth enveloped her body instantly and she couldn't help but relax and let her wings expand. Not really knowing what else she would want, she ventured to the vanity in hopes of something suitable to wear. She pulled open a drawer to find white bundles of cloth folded neatly into little piles. She pulled out one that looked to be made of linen, with lace work around the collar and let it drop to full length before her. It was long-sleeved and brushed the floor as she held it to her chest. The chemise's fabric was a bit thicker as she pulled it on over her head. For a moment she struggled, her wings catching the chemise just after her shoulders. She floundered around a bit before groaning in defeat and sinking down onto the cool floor aggravated.

    She knew she'd have to conceal her wings, but she'd never had to before. Of course she knew how, but it wasn't something she did often. In fact, there was only one other time she'd done it. But it wasn't on purpose. It took her several minutes before she could get them back and in those few minutes she'd almost broke down into tears. Sitting there, feeling completely foolish with a tangle of fabric on her head, she tried to remember what she'd done. She remembered being frustrated that day. She remembered wishing her wings would just disappear. What was she so angry about? She could hardly remember. Yet, as she sat there wishing and longing for them to shrink away for now, suddenly the fabric on her head and shoulders gave away and fell down her spine.

    Surprised, she frantically stretched her arms around herself and felt for her wings. All she felt was the faint bumps of where her wings shoulder have bin. Proud of herself and grinning, she tugged the chemise down over her body and scrambled to find a mirror or shiny to look at herself.

    She stumbled into the bathroom, holding the skirt of the chemise up so she wouldn't trip and crack her skull. Above a golden sink was a mirror and she couldn't help but admire her reflection. She wasn't vain, but it she'd never truly seen herself through the eyes Lucifer had given her. When she was naked, she never thought about how shameful it could be. Whenever she saw her image in Heaven, she never thought of how lovely her blonde hair was or how green her eyes were. She never admired how pale her skin was or the fact her body was shaped like an hourglass. The chemise hugged her curves and then flared out into a loose skirt. Lace wove over her chest and down the loose sleeves that slipped up and down her elbow whenever she lifted her arms.

    What had Lucifer done to her? She never knew she'd been beautiful before seeing herself after meeting him. She thought nothing of her appearance before and no one had ever told her she was pretty. But standing before this mirror and gazing into her own reflection, she realized maybe there was something she could learn from the Devil.

    Within seconds she grew bored staring at herself and began searching the room. After realizing there wasn't anything interesting, she decided maybe she could find Lucifer. She'd never been alone before. There had always been other Angels with her, or she'd always felt God's presence with her. But now, she felt so alone and vulnerable. She remembered what he'd said. He would be on the second floor. He had told her to seek him out if she needed him. And just this moment, she couldn't stand to be alone. Even if he was the Devil and a disgrace to her own maker, he didn't seem as evil as she was taught.

    Bracing herself against the darkness and cold, she tore open the door and immediately regretted it when the room behind her suddenly disappeared. She wrapped her arms around herself for comfort and hesitantly walked into the void with fear yet again prickling up her spine. The only thing to light her way was the fading heavenly glow that leaked from her skin and reflected against the marble flooring underfoot. She was almost hopeless she'd never find the staircase when she saw the horizon dip and a pair of railings come into view. Excitement made her dash forward and clamor onto the stairs. It wasn't until she'd reached the stairs that she realized she didn't know how to get to the second pair of stairs. She stood on the top step feeling foolish for thinking it could have been that easy. She turned to head back, hoping she could find that white room again, when a landing and another staircase replaced the hall.

    "How-?" She didn't know what to say as she rushed onto the landing and stared hopeful up into the darkness above.

    Hoping she wouldn't stumble into something that lurked in the shadows, she hurried up the stairs. For some reason she didn't want to look back. She was fearful if she did, something would be standing behind her. She felt like a fool for thinking like a child, but it was all she could think about as she reached another hall. In pure desperation she hoped and wished to find Lucifer as a chill ran up her spine. She practically ran down the hall, her feet the only sound as the marble glistened beneath her light.

    She almost ran face first into a door. With a cry of triumph she tore open the door and was immediately welcomed by a puff of warm air. Although the room was dark, it wasn't as dark as the hall as she hurriedly shut the door after her. It was homey, warm, and felt safe as she gazed around for him. The walls were maroon and the ground black and fluffy underfoot as she shuffled forward. It looked like the white room, except darker and somehow cozier. There was a massive bed, a vanity, even a red chandelier lit the room dimly from above.

     She didn't want to move, afraid she'd disturb the peaceful atmosphere. She felt out of place as she shifted her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the next.

    Suddenly a door opened, a puff of white steam rolling out as light spilled out from what she believed to be a bathroom. Lucifer came striding out, long hair damp and wild as it clung to his shoulders and bare chest. She froze, wide eyed as she scanned over his body. He only had a black towel loosely wrapped around his hips. She could see the carving of his abs and the taut muscles moving beneath his pale skin as he used a spare towel to roughly dry his hair.

    She felt her heart flutter and her mouth become parched as she watched little water droplets roll down his throat and over his Adams-apple. His skin damp, it glistened beneath the red lighting and somehow, even in flesh, he looked devilish. She felt something clench in her stomach as a shiver that wasn't related to the cold rolled pleasantly throughout her body. She'd never felt like this before.

    But then he saw her, he froze in surprise with the towel partially covering his face.

    "Ciela?" His dark eyes traveled over her body and then lingered on the empty space where her wings should have been. "Your wings-"

    "I-I concealed them." She fidgeted, trying to rid herself the feeling within her that made her want to trace his skin.

    "Oh," he lowered the towel and held it between both hands. "Then can I ask what brings you to my room?"

    "I didn't want to be alone." She answered truthfully, but as soon as the words left her lips, she felt stupid. "I mean, I've never been alone before. I couldn't stand it and you said I could come to you if I wanted. So I decided to find you. But I didn't know if I could find you, then I got too scared to go back so I kept looking until I found your door. And... and..."

    He had started to slowly walk towards her, his eyes hooded in curiosity. She had lost train of thought, her ramble completely forgotten as his eyes drowned her. Was it hot in here? Why couldn't she breathe? Why was he so damn hot?

    She felt her cheeks burn and quickly looked down to hide her face behind her mane of hair. It didn't help. Looking down gave her another view. His hips, the V-shape over his pelvic and the little black hairs traveling from his navel down passed the towel around his hips. She felt her legs beginning to tremble as she bit her lip and looked down at her feet.

    What is wrong with her? What was he doing to her? She couldn't understand it, yet it was somehow driving her wild and made her want to touch him and feel his touch in return.

    She jumped as his fingers wrapped around her chin and lifted her face. His eyes were a rich chocolate with little specs of red around the pupils as his pupils dilated.

    "It's alright." He murmured, his thick lashes casting shadows across his pale cheeks. "I know what you're going through, little angel. It's only natural for a woman and man. You aren't in your pure little world anymore. Now all the sins and desires will tempt and lure you. But it's up to you whether you decide to have a little fun or fight against your own instincts."

    His thumb caressed her lower lip making her breath hitch as a shiver once more ran throughout her body.

    "Why do I feel like this? What are you doing to me?" She whimpered.

    His brows furrowed, hurt as he released her chin.

    "Why is it that you all blame me? The Devil made me do it, eh? Yeah, it was me that made that man rape that girl. It was me that made him have an affair with his coworker." He laughed bitterly as his eyes hardened and he looked away with his jaw clenched. "You all always blame me. I may be Satan, but I never once made anyone do anything they didn't want to already do. I encourage desire, but I do not encourage people to hurt one another. I torture those who harm others. What makes you think I'm doing anything to you?"

    She didn't know how to answer. His voice was cold and bitter as he met her gaze again.

    "I-I never felt like this before until I met you. I just thought..."

    He shook his head and stepped back from her.

    "I didn't do anything to you. I've merely opened your eyes to the real world. How you feel right now, that's all you and your own desire. I've done nothing to you."

    The further he stepped back, the more alone and desperate she felt to keep him close. She could feel the moment they were in rapidly slipping away.

    "I-I'm sorry."

    "You all are the same, aren't you?" He laughed humorously as he roughly ran his hand through his hair. "You all blame me for your own actions. None of you can take responsibility for what you do. It's all me. The big bad Lucifer!"

    He went to turn, but she couldn't bare him to suddenly rip the moment away from her and grabbed onto his wrist. He froze, looking down at her glowing hand as she stood trembling before him.

    "I-I'm sorry. I-I don't know what's wrong with me. I f-feel st-strange. I thought m-maybe you were doing something b-because it f-feels... it feels-"

    She didn't know how to explain it without sounding ridiculous. She just knew his smooth skin under her touch was making her melt inside as she looked up into his gaze.

    She could see something flicker across his features, as if something had suddenly dawned on him. He turned towards her slowly, scanning her more closely as a crooked grin pulled onto his lips.

    "Ah, I see. You are in denial a bit. Do you even know what you're feeling right now?"

    She shook her head as he stepped closer and slowly used his free hand to cup her chin once more. Her heart leaped into her throat as her breathing became labored. Once again something clenched inside her stomach and her legs began to tremble.

    "I-I don't know. I want- I need..." She didn't know what she needed or wanted, yet somehow she knew it involved him.

    "Tell me, Ciela. What do you desire in this moment?" His eyes became hooded as he hovered his lips in front of hers.

    "You."