The cold air hit Hailie like a fall into an icy lake. It was so refreshing and chilly that she got goosebumps. For her body it was a shock, because it was burning earlier. She hid her face in Lust's t-shirt and closed eyes for a second. The world still seemed crazy and what a weird feeling it was, when it came to her mind that Lust smelled good. 

"Imma messsss," she mumbled, when he laid her down on a garden swing. She wanted to stay in his arms a little longer. 

Few people were outside, but Lust told them to come back inside and they've listened to him.

He is so convincing, Hailie thought to herself, then something different filled her mind. Some images of sweet dogs.

"Here, sit." Lust helped her out and embraced her tightly. She put head on his arm, admiring dark trees, bending under the wind. At that moment, it seemed like the most interesting thing to do. Who wouldn't like to watch how strong the wind was and what it could do to the forest? 

"I feel so bad. Why can't I feel good for once in my life?"

She was not drinking and she was sad.

She started drinking, it was good, and it's all wrong again.

"Look in my eyes, Hailie." But the trees! "Look. Now," Lust commanded her once again and she did it. His eyes were amazing, so mysterious, so deep. She could easily get lost in them. "I can sense your desire for this all to go away. Listen to my voice. Everything is slowing down. You can see clearly now. Your body is calming down. The dizziness and nausea are gone. It's quiet now, inside your mind, and it's fine outside."

She took a deep breath. It helped. She was still drunk and weak, but her thoughts stopped running so wild and the dizziness was gone. How? Well, it didn't matter as long as she had a moment of calmness. 

Now she saw clearly how stupid it was to drink. Once again she was right. People couldn't be trusted. Everybody tried to hurt her.

She gazed at Lust.

Almost everybody, she corrected herself.

"It's better now," she said, blushing without a reason. 

"I know it is."

She moaned and caught Lust's tighter. She just wanted to have some fun tonight and even that she had to ruin. How could it be that her life was a series of unfortunate events? 

"Why I'm so messed up?"

"You're not at all."

Somehow she was better than others.

Somehow he didn't wish to hurt her.

On the contrary, he wanted to protect her even if it was stupid and completely not like him. The other demons couldn't see his soft side. He hasn't had one, as he liked to believe. He was a demon after all. And Hailie? She was so weak and easy to break. Just like all the humans. It wasn't his responsibility to keep her safe and yet that's what he wanted to do. 

"Yes, I am."

After everything that happened, how could she think differently? Life just kept getting harder for her. She was running away from one thunderstorm right into another. 

"Then I'm even more messed up."

"No, you're quite caring and nice, and funny, and charming, and... just you."

He stopped himself from laughing. Well, maybe he had a problem with picking her up, but at least in her eyes he was a perfect guy. What a pity that it was so far from the truth. He might have been perfect, but not in the way Hailie thought.

"Are you describing yourself now?" he asked, because she was all of that.

The way she stood up in Gluttony's name. Well, that was surprising, even for him. 

"Oh, you want to haggle who's more of a mess?"

Her eyes were so bright. She got excited, thinking that in that one she can beat him.

"I wouldn't know where to start."

No way he would tell her that among demons he was the one with the highest kill score. 

"People can be just so awful, can't they?"

That guy from the kitchen, whatever his name was, how could he? She said no. Was it too hard to understand? No is no. Not every conversation must have sexual context. And even if she wanted to have some fun, it doesn't have to mean that she wants to kiss or do something more. Latest news, sex isn't the only fun thing.

"That's why I'm more awful. To give them what they deserve for everything they've done."

And in that one he was good. The best, actually. 

"I'd like to know how to defend myself like that. Sometimes I feel too afraid."

"You're truly brave. Never believe otherwise. I know how you managed to defeat Jayson. You're a fighter, and you deserve what's best."

She maybe was a fighter, but she was also weaker than most men. That's why she was so afraid. It wasn't easy to defeat a tall, strong man. 

"I feel like I'm letting everybody down, even myself. My sister, our contacts were always just good, never something more. It was part of my fault, because I was shutting myself down, always dealing with everything alone. We went different ways and now? Now I barely talk with her even if I know she could be a great support for me. Same goes with my parents. They were sweethearts, but they couldn't understand me. I fell into some bad company, all that stuff with Amy and Jayson. I never was the girl that Jayson wanted me to be. Neither I was the friend Amy was looking for. Those two I do not care about, but my parents and sister... They also expected me to be someone different. Perhaps they hoped I would turn out to be more like Molly. She is their favorite after all, a successful businesswoman." She snorted with nervous laughter. "Sorry, I'm probably talking too much. That must be the effect of alcohol, I believe." 

She was avoiding Lucien's gaze, so he gently touched her chin and turned her head towards him.

"You're not letting anybody down, Hailie. You're just you and that's the best you can be. Never be sorry for that."

It was hard to look into Lucien's eyes, but it was even harder to look away. 

"What can you know about it? I can bet you've never let anybody down."

"I did." There was a sudden sadness that appeared in his eyes. He took his hand, being the one to look away. "I've let somebody down. A girl died because of me." He wasn't sure why he even told her that. It just came out. 

"What do you mean?" She was frightened, because that was some strong and horrible words to say. 

"A guy I knew in the past, he had a little daughter. I've been taking care of her while he couldn't, which was actually all the time. We grew quite close to each other. She was the very best that happened to me back then. But one day... One day I couldn't take care of her. The very same day she died. If only I was there for her, if only I looked after her that day... But I didn't and now she's dead. It's all my fault."

She let the air out of her lungs slowly. She wished to do or say something that could make him feel better, but there was no such thing. Someone close to him died. How can one ever truly recover after tragedy like that? Whatever she would say, it couldn't bring back what was already lost. And so Hailie said nothing. She just held out her hand and put it on Lust's hand. He looked at her as she squeezed it with an authentic sorrow. Just as if she was saying I'm here for you with that single gesture. It made Lust feel the emotions he couldn't name. They were too bizarre and unknown, forgotten for him. 

"It's not your fault," she dared to say. 

But he thought he knew better. 

"If you say so."

There was a long moment of silence, so she figured he didn't want to talk about it any more. It was a good time for changing the topic of their conversation.

"I should thank you." She tilted her head a little, showing her gratitude. "It's the second time you're here for me. It means a lot to know that somebody's got my back. Even if I was not nice at all, ignoring and avoiding you."

Choosing an easier way, protecting herself from feelings that might be dangerous. She wasn't just by doing that. Lucien didn't deserve to be treated like that.

"I've got used to it."

He wasn't the most favorite demon in the house.

"Have you? Your girlfriend is spending like all the time with you."

"I don't have a girlfriend."

Hailie frowned, confused.

"But Debra?"

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Oh, she said something different so I thought-"

"No, she's not my type."

Satan forbid to have a relationship with a girl like Debra. He was only using her and he was not ashamed of it.

"Who is?"

He smirked.

"You'd start ignoring and avoiding me again if I told you."

She parted her mouth.

"It's like you've already told me!"

"Is it?"

No, no, no. She won't let him pull herself in that game. She was drunk now and being in this kind of state, she could tell too much and regret it later.

"Anyway, thank you."

"You can thank me by agreeing on that dinner I once proposed to you."

Hailie chuckled. Touché, Lucien.

Was it bad that she actually wanted that?

"I'll think about it, but you must ask me again, when I'll be feeling much better and less drunk."

What if she doesn't remember it tomorrow?

"Will do."

"But only as friends," she added with a serious look on her face.

"Yes, Hailie, I know."

He was sure that one day he'd win her. Easy steps. No girl ever refused him and Hailie won't be the first.

"I'm so tired."

She laid down, feeling a chilly breeze all over her body. With Lucien by her side, she could rest for a moment, without feeling threatened. Hailie closed her eyes, passing away for a few minutes, embraced by the cold night. Lust thought that she'll be sleeping for some time, so he left her on the swing. He had to deal with the guy, who tried to hurt her.

From the beginning of the evening he was quite decent. Yes, he was flirting with girls and playing with Debra, but he did no harm to anybody. Now it was time to change it.

Stepping into the kitchen, he stumbled upon Wrath, who was getting himself a drink.

"I've got business, want to join?"

Wrath looked at him with disaffection.

"Why not."

There was no excitement in his voice. It wasn't like him.

"Trouble in paradise?"

Paradise called Pride.

"She's busy with some other guy."

Not that he was jealous, because her only goal was to turn him into a killer. He was helping her with that, until she decided that she doesn't need help anymore. Wrath wasn't mad, he just thought that maybe he'll have a chance to spend with Pride some more time.

"Want to kill him?"

"He's her victim, not mine's."

"She's going to kill somebody?" Lust scoffed. What a joke. After Gregory Pride became more amicable if it comes to humans.

"What business do you have?" Wrath changed the topic. He didn't want to talk about Pride anymore.

"Murderous one, but first I must make one stop." They both went to the living room. "You know, Pride is not an easy girl to get. You must try harder, if you want her. Years and years have passed and-"

"No more talking about Pride." Wrath got angry. Good. Lust needed him angry to guarantee a very painful death to that bastard from the kitchen.

"Sloth." Lust kicked his leg.

Lying on the couch, even at the party? That's so him.

"What, man?"

"Get your ass outside. Hailie is sleeping in the garden. I need somebody to watch over her."

Sloth got off the couch. He hasn't had enough sleep. This party was so lame and boring that it made him tired.

"No problem."

He left Lust and Wrath with whatever they were about to do. Surely the first one wouldn't leave Hailie if there wasn't something more important to deal with.

He passed by lots of drunk people, before he got outside. Lust said that Hailie was supposed to be here, but there was nobody around. Not even one soul. He sat at the garden swing, still looking around.

"Haha, nice joke, Lust," he said, thinking that the demon just wanted him to finally move. It wasn't his fault that this party didn't seem interesting to him.

He laid on the swing and went back to sleep.