This has got to be some sort of joke. What the fuck is Lucifer doing in my living room? Okay, I didn't actually believe that it would work, and maybe I would have had the same reaction if Fiorini or whatever that demon's name appeared instead, but still.

“What the fuck?” I say, disbelief in my voice. “I summoned that other demon. What the fuck are You doing here?”

“Oh, I sent Fiorin away to some other damsel in distress,” Lucifer says.

“Why?”

He chuckles, the deep baritone sending shivers down my spine. “Well, let's just say, I could be of more use to you than that flimsy demon.”

“In what way exactly? Also, how do I know that you weren't just some stranger waiting inside my apartment while I was away?”

“Ah, I see you're one of those paranoid types,” he tuts, then reaches out his hand. “Well, princess, will this be enough proof?”

He raises his hand up as a grinding noise appears behind me. I whip my head around to find my refrigerator suspended a couple feet in the air. My jaw drops open when the fridge jerks towards me. Before my mind can process what to do next, I'm lying on the ground with Lucifer or what’s his name on top of me as a crashing sound resounds through the apartment .

With my heart pounding in my ears, I glance towards the living room and find the refrigerator at the exact same spot where I had been standing a few seconds ago. It's broken in half with bits of metal and plastic jutting out in all directions. Pièces of fruits, vegetables, leftovers, and smashed glass are strewn across the floor. A pool of milk increases as it stains the rug into a milky-white color.

I blink a few times to check if I'm just seeing things as Lucifer stands up with a deep laugh, brushes off debris from his suit, and holds out his hand to me. I swat it away from me before climbing back to my feet in a fury.

“What the actual hell? You could have killed me!” I breathe.

“But I didn't.” Lucifer chuckled. “You believe me now? Or should I actually kill you and resurre—”

“Don't you fucking dare!” I seethe. “Yes, I believe you!”

“Good, good. Now we can return to business.” He kicks parts of the fridge away before plopping down on the sofa. He leans back and folds his hands behind his head before giving me a smirk. Dimples appear on his cheeks, and as angry as I am, I can't help but admit that he is devilishly handsome. Pun intended.

“No. You need to go back to hell or wherever the fuck you came from.” I fold my arms over my chest.

“Now see, it doesn't work that easy,” Lucifer says before throwing his right leg over his left knee. He dangles his foot in the air and smiles amusingly. “I have some important business to attend to, and I do not plan to leave until I personally see to it that it's finished.”

Fuck, I mutter.

“And what sort of business exactly?” I ask.

“Well well, look who's interested all of a sudden.”

I grit my teeth. “Of course I'm fucking interested! You barged into my life and now you won't go until you finish whatever the fuck you came here for!”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Babygirl, YOU are the one who tried to summon a demon using a book that you bought from a scamming little old lady.”

“What?” I ask, flabbergasted. “What do you mean… a scam? You said that Fiorin…”

“That I sent them away. Yes, I did. However, the spell which you used was weak and incorrectly used. If that demon had appeared, you wouldn't have been able to control it. You're not supposed to use pig's heart, or any sort of organ, meat, blood, etc., That tends to drive poor Fiorin crazy and out of control. And very, very hungry.”

He tilts his head and narrows his eyes at me. “If not for my timely arrival, you would have been that demon’s next meal. And there's the very possible speculation on my part that it was that old lady's intention.”

I don't even know what to reply to that. I'm having trouble even processing the words coming out of his mouth. But then I recall what happened at the bookstore. Cathy Doyle doesn't have any sick days. And I mean NEVER. She could be on the verge of death, and she'll still be sitting behind that counter. What if… Gia Doyle or whatever her name is was lying and had killed Cathy so she could sell this book? What if…

“Yes, it's very possible.” Lucifer's voice slices through my mind.

“Excuse me?” I ask. Wait, did he just read my thoughts?

“Yes, I can read everyone's thoughts. Well, almost. That's not what's important right now. However, like I just said, there is a very big possibility that Gia Doyle was a demon in disguise and has been targeting you.”

My mouth feels as if paralyzed as I try to sound out a response to that, but I can't. The pressure on my lungs slightly increases as my heartbeat races a little faster. I'm getting another panic attack, and I can't have it right now. Not when I have the literal devil in my room.

“Don't worry, babygirl. I won't tear your heart out with my teeth or steal your soul.” Lucifer grins.

“Can you stay out of my fucking mind?” I finally snap at him.

He raises his hands in the air in an act of surrender. “Oo, sassy, I like that! Sure, babygirl. I won't promise that I will conform to that though.” His blinding white teeth flash at me.

I use a couple of seconds to take a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm down my nerves before I glare at him again.

“So… what the fuck do you want? A thank you for–”

“Saving your life?” Lucifer interrupts. “That would be very nice.”

Another moment of silence ensues as I narrow my eyes at him until it turns into a staring contest. Cars honk outside as a door slams somewhere in the apartment building. Lucifer begins to impatiently tap his boot against the wooden floor until his lips curl up in a grin that stretches across his face.

“Hm… you know, I have actually done some research on you, Alycia,” he finally says.

“What?” I ask confusedly. “I thought this was a—”

“Coincidence?” He interrupts once again. “Nope. I'm the Prince of Hell. I don't work with coincidences.”

He stretches his legs before readjusting his position so that his entire body could fit on the couch as if he is right at home. I grimace at his filthy boots touching the cushions, especially with the fact that they most likely have been in contact with demon shit and blood. However, considering the fact that my fridge is currently a wreck and the fucking devil is in my room, that should be the least of my worries.

“You're a single woman who has anxiety issues, suffers from paranoia, and is very much a people-pleaser after some very… hm, let's just say they were very delicate events. Yet, you have so much confidence from you right now that it comes across as very surprising to me.”

As much as I want to argue with him, he's right. I AM confident with him. When I would usually stammer and immediately say thank you to him, I did the complete opposite.

“But,” he resumes, “I do emit a certain aura - or energy if you will - which causes a lot of people to act differently around me. Just perhaps not so … defiant as you.”

“You know what, you're not my fucking therapist,” I snap at him. “So how about you just go about your business and leave me alone?”

He chuckles. “I'm afraid that won't be possible.”

“Why not?”

“Because I need a date. I thought that was pretty clear, since it was the very first matter which I mentioned to you after one of your book collided with my head.”

As it should have, I think.

“For what?” I say out loud instead.

“For a wedding.”

“Okay, so ask someone else.” I shrug my shoulders.

“See, that won't be possible..I need YOU to be my date.”

“Why?” I scoff.

“You ask a lot of questions.”

“Well, if you actually researched me, you would know that I tend to ask about things that greatly intrigue me and involve a better understanding.”

He licks his lips before swinging his legs back to the floor. He stands up and takes a few steps forward until he's standing in front of me. I don't budge as he cocks his head to the side and observes me.

“Okay, Ms. Curious. You would like to know why I want you to be my date for a wedding? Because you have a very special aura around you. Perhaps it scares off little mortal boys who don't want to deal with a troubled, traumatized woman such as yourself.” His cold, gray eyes flicker across my face. “However, you're beautiful, smart, and have an attitude that I would mind having for dessert. You would make the perfect lady at my side for a wedding.”

As much as I try to resist his charm, those words cause tingles of warmth to travel through my body. I can feel myself blushing like a teenage girl. Nobody has ever told me anything even close to what he just told me. But I know that I can't allow myself to succumb to his charms.

Lucifer is the last being I can trust on this earth.

“Nice try,” I roll my eyes instead.

He laughs, the deep rumble vibrating through my bones. “Oh, also, the wedding is happening on April 13th.”

My heart stops at those last two words. I must have misheard him.

“April 13th? But that's my sister's wedding…”

“Yes, it is.”

No, it can't possibly be… “Wait… that means…”

His amused smile spreads even wider. “Yes, babygirl. My unfinished business is with your sister's fiance.”

Word Count: 1711