The Human And The Satan

30 (a)

"You're late." Basilia said, her eyes narrowed in displeasure and I shook my head, looking at Satan, who was sitting silently on his throne. Not questioned about his late arrival at all. Oh, the hypocrisy in hell.

"I'm sor......"

"She was with me. I kept her waiting." Satan said when I opened my mouth to apologize for my late arrival. Basilia's mouth fell open at Satan's words. I could barely hold my own astonishment back. After all, I hadn't expected him to accept the truth so easily in front of everyone. Did he not fear the rumors about being associated with a human?

"I was drying her hair." He said, very casually. As if it was very normal for Satan to dry and comb a female human's hair.

And as expected, half of the courtroom looked at me in shock. Because they were too scared to even glance at the man sitting on the throne. But I was as shocked as the rest of the residents of hell. Not because he didn't dry my hair; he did, he dried and combed my hair. But I was shocked because he admitted that without any shame, without any embarrassment.

I looked at the King, Satan. He was looking at me with a strange emotion in his eyes. He called me using his index finger and something inside me jolted awake at his reckoning. I licked my lips but my feet didn't move from their place. The consequences of defying a king's order were blurry to my eyes. Because I was trying not to die from his confession.

"Come here, Leah." He said when I didn't respond to his reckoning. And he called me Leah. Not Leah Summers. Not human. But just Leah, making my heart beat loudly inside my chest. I could hear them in my ears.

And like an order, my feet followed his words. And against my liking, my feet walked towards him and his throne. People were looking at me with shock-filled eyes. I didn't blame them when I looked no better than them.

"Sit here." He said, shifting on his throne, and my eyes widened at his request. Or rather should I say demand. He wanted me to sit on his throne, beside him. Like the Queen does. But I was no Queen. I was not even a creature of the dark. I was just a human. And he was the King. The ruler of hell. I was no match for his powers.

"You're my soulmate, Leah. The only place that can define your entire worth is this thorn. You're the Queen here. The ruler. The very next in command. You deserve this throne as much as I do. And this realm belongs to you as much as it belongs to me. No male can run a realm by himself. He needs a woman. Just like the latter needs the former as well." He said, making me shake my head as a shiver ran down my spine.

Holy s**t!

"Satan......" I trailed off, my eyes closing shut as I tried to fight for air. I was feeling anxious and nervous, all at the same time.

He was indirectly asking me to take each and every responsibility of a queen when I wasn't even sure if I wanted to stay here or not. Satan was smart, I should give him that. He was very smartly making me stay in his realm, without making it any more noticeable.

"Breathe, Leah. You're overthinking it." He said, holding my hands, and I closed my eyes, obliging to his demand.

"I need some time," I said. My eyes were still closed. I was tired. And I was scared as well. He wanted me to behave like a queen. He expected me to take all the responsibility when I was not sure myself. And how can I rule over a realm when I myself am not safe here? I have no power to match even the lowest ranking demon here. I was just a human being, after all.

"Take as much time as you require, Leah. But come and sit here. In your rightful place." He said, patting the small cushion beside him and I licked my lips, shaking my head.

"Not now, Satan. I am not yet ready to sit in a position that requires a lot more than what I am willing to deliver now. I'll take my previous position and seat for now. And I don't want to be treated like a queen until I accept my title. It's a very humble request, please." I said, and everyone looked at Satan.

He had a faint smile on his face. This was the first time I had seen him smiling. Even though it was barely a smile. But a smile, nonetheless. And his smile was as beautiful as the rest of his self, if not more beautiful. I swallowed harshly when his smile made my heart thud loudly against my ribcage. This increased heartbeat was dangerous for me. It has always been dangerous when I don't want to stay in hell.

"That's something you need to learn here, Leah. You are my soulmate. The ruler of hell. Queen of hell. And no matter how much you try to run away from this fact, you'll always be the queen of hell. And these creatures and every creature of hell have to accept this fact and treat you accordingly. Your liking and disliking won't affect their actions much." He said, making me clench my jaw in anger. I wasn't happy with the fact that they would treat me how Satan wants them to treat me and not how I wished to be treated.

"You are saying that I am their queen. But tell me, doesn't it make them bound to follow my words? And I want them not to treat me like the ruler of hell." I said and he shook his head, the smile on his face widening and my heart felt like it would burst out out of my chest, any moment now.

"So that would immediately make you their queen. And I thought you needed time, Leah. Are you sure it's what you want?" He asked me smartly and I pressed my lips together in a thin line, shaking my head. I wish the ground swallowed me whole and kept me there until I could come out of my embarrassment.

"I need to use the restroom. I'll be back in a few minutes." I said, getting away from his throne and rushing towards his room.

I locked the bathroom from inside. My chest heaving up and down. My eyes closed as I tried to calm my raging heart. I am barely breathing normally now. I shook my head as I started to count and list down the names of objects I could see around me to calm myself down. And it helped me for quite some time.

And Satan, f**k you!