LUCIFER

AGE SIX

Lucifer's parents taught her two things. To behave no matter what. And if someone would wrong her she had to behave even more. They were not perfect at teaching lessons. But their love was everything that she needed.

And she could do none of them. Her pride did not let her down, since she was a child. Especially that day when the entire family had to gather. The time when her life had plans for her to change.

Lucifer could get out from her parents' chambers only at either weddings or funerals. That day happened the second.

''This day is ...'' Lucifer's parents exhaled while they were tying her long hair with a black bow. Lucifer looked at herself in the mirror and saw her comfortable black dress that had iron dust. '' ...I want you to not make a mess ...'' Mother started crying. Father held his sorrow by clenching both of his fists tight. Lucifer looked at them confused. She placed her hand on them and nodded a yes.

''I know that I ask much of you...''

Lucifer knew that even if she was too young. That she had to behave. Seeing them swimming to mourners, Lucifer promised to them to keep herself calm.

She joined with the rest of the crowd outside looking at the body which was laying right at the center of the marble pyre. Lucifer was surprised, as she noticed half of the man’s limbs were missing, torn apart.

Priests wore their ciel cassocks, bathing the body with oil of flowers and soap and few others placed the bandages around the bathed flesh. There were silver tattoos of a rose on their left wrists as it got exposed from the cold heavy wind. Lucifer wondered how dd they made the tattoos on their skin. Was it paint? Was it actually silver burned on their flesh? Or have all of the priests had this sign since birth?

The sunlight reflected on the golden necklace of the archpriest as he offered prayers to the body. A woman with red hair offered down to the marble a bouquet of yellow flowers and backed away.

A young priest with a torch of fire moved close to the marble bed.

‘’We gathered here today of the loss of Osiris’’The main priest announced broken.’’Husband, future father, and the Great Ruler’s spouse’’

A silence fell to the cold place. Lucifer’s eyes wandered around, noticing that a few of the people were either bored or holding their grins. Not all people were mourning.

‘’Being killed by the foul beasts, protecting the kingdom and his family’’He said slowly and someone scoffed right behind Lucifer.

‘’May the Made Ones guide him to the world of Spirits’’And with that, the fire fell to the bed, burning Osiris from bandage to flesh, to the bone and soul.

It was the first time she went to the ballroom. All of her relatives and assistants were wearing black clothes while some of them were mourning or staying quiet, letting their expressions talk.

Her eyes had never seen so many portraits of red-haired lions. That is what all the artists tried to portray the royals like. Each portrait was someone great. Someone who did great things. But with the green clothing they all had, Lucifer thought that they looked more like humble birds, showing their long sharp bright beaks. Down from the portraits, there were the names of them. One name that caught her attention. Murica. A great Ruler that passed half a century ago. Above the name there he was, dressed with a green heavy fur and his silver-red hair tied to green ribbons Ridiculous, she thought. And yet she wondered why didn't her parents have a portrait. Or why she didn't have one?

She had never gone outside of her quarters to see anyone else except her parents or maids. Her parents loved her more than they could. And they were showing it every time they had the chance, by playing games with her, teaching her how to dance, to stand, and telling her fairy tales. Fairy tales of a girl who could have it all with a snap of her fingers. A girl as beautiful and bright as the light that everyone could admire.

''What are they doing here?'' One of her relatives asked the others, looking glaring with his greedy eats at Lucifer's parents.

''They are still Boudica's relatives..'' A soft proud laugh from the uncle's mouth. Lucifer was sitting right next to them trying to take a muffin with white frosting. She could feel their gazes turning towards her. She was not blind to see the red or brown color on the top of their heads and the green sharp eyes. Even from the window, she could see the flag colors painted on their bodies while she was painted in gray and silver.

And she could listen to everyone calling her words that she was supposed to remain calm about. Bastard, they were calling her. Not fit to the family they said for the parents only because they decided to love their child, instead of their status.

'' Be quiet, she might hear you'' A young woman warned the uncle but he laughed again. Lucifer was now on her toes and tried to take a better look at the table. ''She is just six years old'' He pointed mockingly. ''She won't understand''

But she did understand. Everything comes with appearance and respect in the Royal Family. With each accomplishment a Royal achieves there is a step closer to the Ruler's side which means one coin more than the rest of them.

The girl's parents wanted just to be by her side, no matter what.

So she yelled at the rest of the relatives with a loud whine.

''You have no idea what you are talking about'' She lifted her eyes and noticed that most of the people there had either green eyes or red crimson hair. Others had brown hair and hazel brown eyes. Or even both. Lucifer felt embarrassed after she yelled while everyone was looking at her. Then a few people started whispering again, laughing about her and her parents. She yelled at them again but none was listening to her. They were completely ignoring her.

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''Lucifer'' Her mother whispered, almost with a hiss at her, and grabbed her hand. She tried to get free from her strong grip but then everyone stopped talking. Complete silence. Lucifer could even hear the gowns moving around from the cold wind.

A cold gaze pierced right at her soul, bringing chills down her spine. She turned back, only to see a beautiful woman with bright red curly hair and sharp eyes, green like the spring leaves of a tree. She was wearing a dark gown and a dark veil upon her face. Lucifer noticed that she had a big belly, which the woman was caressing.

''Who is that?'' The woman asked roughly. Lucifer found something in her voice to break.

''I am so sorry'' Lucifer's mother went down on her knees. She placed her hand upon Lucifer's hair and tried to force her bow too.

''No'' The woman lifted her hand, exposing her compassion even in her darkest times. The mother stopped apologizing, confused. Lucifer did not understand what was happening back then.

''Do you know why are you here?'' The woman asked.

Lucifer shook her head.

''And why are you yelling then?'' She asked another question.

''Because they were rude'' She admitted. ''All of you are'' She said after.

Everyone remained silent as the woman started laughing with a prideful tone. It did not feel like the mocking laugh the rest of the relatives did. It felt more like admiration to Lucifer's ears.

Back then, Lucifer did not know what happened, but she could remember the light of the sun that was getting down, caressing her aunt's body, making her shine as her shadow was falling on her.

After that, her aunt called her to see her every day. She did not know why but she felt grateful. Less people were mocking her parents but she could see that everyone was looking at her now, with snaky, greedy eyes.

''I did it '' Lucifer looked at her broken ring and caressed the gem. She hated that she dragged Ukko into all of this. She did not want to see anyone she cared about getting hurt. Or at least that's what she wanted to make herself believe.

Trust none. Was a lesson that her aunt had taught her. And thanks to that lesson she did not trust her. She always had the suspicion that she was hiding more than she was showing.

He is my friend. She thought. Hestia was your friend and look where you are now. Lucifer shook her head, reminding herself that it was different.

She could still see Hestia getting surrounded by a dark figure before she passed. A figure made of smoke, pulled her by her waist closer to them. At that moment, Lucifer felt like she imagined it. As for a single second, she had lost her mind from desperation.

She touched the comfortable clothes that Kala gave to her, telling her that she was supposed to wear those when she would be about her age.

But Lucifer felt comfortable again around the fabric. Even though she did not like the color green around her, she could finally breathe, wearing her olive green blouse and dark brown slacks. Her hair was free from every jewel and expensive perfume. Except for her iron ring and her two smaragdi earrings.

She would miss wearing them. She hoped that it would be temporary and that she could wear bright pink and purple colors but with a fabric that would not burn her skin.

She opened the palm of her hand and a small spark of light snapped right upon it. She frowned her eyebrows, trying to make light again, just like she did once.

Be calm. She took a deep breath and tried again, forcing her mind to make just a small, simple glimpse of light.

''It comes with emotion'' Ukko's voice made her jump from the bed. Now in clothes that Lucifer hadn't seen him wear, a shirt with a color of the green dead leaves showing his hairy arms and a leathered dark brown belt around his waist. Pants in dark silver, wide enough and high to his stomach as the lower part was shoved inside his heavy dark boots.

She looked at him frightened and moved her hand away, placing it right next to the pillow.

''They taught us that in school'' He let out a long sigh. ''Incantations are coming with emotions''

''I know'' She interrupted his lecture and raised her right brow. ''And I also know that you are not the best teacher'' A small sarcastic grin curved upon her face.

He tilted his flustered face towards the dark room. Lucifer shook her head again and followed him.

''They look amazing'' Kala tried to move her metallic fingers while she was packing. Ukko looked back at Lucifer who was now sitting on the couch, her entire attention on the bottle.

' 'Tomorrow, everyone will guard the great temple'' he announced and looked outside the window.

''We can go then'' Lucifer disagreed with him and played with her ring finger. She knew her aunt very well. She was a person who could think inside her 'enemy's' head. And running away that day was a predictable plan. Ukko groaned and leaned his back against the window. She could see his worried expression. But Lucifer could sense that he was also disappointed.

''Please, do not tell me you were excited about this'' She shrugged. Ukko's face turned dark red, meaning that she was right. For her, Ukko was the easiest person to read.

''Maybe'' He pouted his lips.

Lucifer rolled her eyes and sighed again.

Someone knocked on the door. Kala ran closely to open the door.

''It's dad '' She said before opening and her bright smile faded away. There were three soldiers with the badge of the wolf inside the apartment. Ukko looked at them shocked and then back at Lucifer. She stood up slowly and hid the bottle inside her pocket.

The soldiers stared at them with hatred in their eyes.

''You are under arrest ''One of them announced.

Kala walked closely to her brother with a furious smile. ''Ukko please tell me what is going...''

He didn't say a thing. ''Is this another warlock?'' A soldier pointed at Kala asking their superior. ''SHE is not'' Lucifer pointed and stared at the soldiers. Ukko let out a long sigh and got down on his knees to hug her tight.

''Go'' He muttered. Kala agreed and hugged him again.

Lucifer glared at the soldiers with a pleading expression. One of them shook his head and showed Kala the door. Another tried to disagree with him but he made them stop.

''She is a royal''The soldier whispered, looking directly at her

A royal. Lucifer thought with a sarcastic tone. Her title made them believe her. She felt empowered for a while. Even she had a small thought inside her head, ordering the soldiers to take Ukko with them so she could run away.

He is a friend She repeated to herself.

After Kala left, the soldiers targeted the warlocks.

''We just want ..'' They showed Lucifer. ''Her and the artifact that you stole'' Ukko stands in Lucifer's eyes. She whispered a no. ''Maybe the spirits will forgive you if you do the right thing''

Ukko stretched his arms and neck and closed his eyes. ''Your Grace'' A giant and devious grin had been placed on his face. She lifted her palms at the height of her shoulders and took a deep breath.

''Close your eyes'' She ordered Ukko as her eyelids covered her lilac eyes. She felt an amount of energy leaving her body. Her head was heavy, her entire body was in pain. But when she opened her eyes again she could see what she accomplished

''I did it '' She screamed with joy and closed her fists. The soldiers looked around, moving their hands left and right, up and down, trying to reach for something as their lips let out panicked shouts. That was plenty of time for Ukko to hit the soldiers unconscious with a question of his strength.

He could kill them. Lucifer thought. It wouldn't be difficult for his hands to touch a rifle. And yet he left them there. Why?

He waved his hand from the pain and it healed slowly.

Lucifer was looking at her hands with shock. ''I did it...'' She said once again and turned back to Ukko. ''Did you know that I would do it?'' She asked him, looking at the fallen soldiers. He said no. ''It was just a guess'' Lucifer had been left with their mouth wide open 'How dare you'' She hit his arm with a small amount of energy.

''We could have died'' She explained. Ukko grinned. ''Well, we didn't'' Lucifer's face softened after she heard those words. He trusts me. I am his friend. Ukko looked inside the coat's pocket. Lucifer walked around intensely and saw a car outside. None was inside the cage. She grabbed the bottle and frowned.

''We are living. Now'' He announced. Lucifer played with her ring and tried to say something to him. This would be exactly what her aunt wanted them to do and catch them. That is what he wanted to do.

''We do not have a choice'' Ukko panicked, spreading his hand her way.

She looked up and down multiple times before she pulled her out of her hand her ring, moving it to the table slowly.

This is a reminder. She thought.