A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 41 – 50
HER GROWING CONFIDENCE
Selene laughed.
I laughed softly to myself, the sight of Lucifer and Lucien devouring their ice creams making the entire situation feel absurd. Maybe he’s not the devil after all. Still, I didn’t want to linger.
I felt Lucifer’s gaze shift to me again, the same questioning look from earlier. But this time, his expression softened, something almost unreadable passing behind those red eyes.
“You’re free to go,” Lucifer said, setting down the now half-eaten ice cream. His tone was casual, almost dismissive, as if releasing me from the mansion was no big deal. Lucien and Mirabel, however, didn’t seem to share his nonchalance.
Lucien stopped mid-lick, staring wide-eyed at Lucifer as if he’d just grown a second head. Mirabel, who had been quietly trying to make herself invisible, now glanced at Lucifer with disbelief, her lips parting slightly in shock.
I hesitated, unsure if I heard him correctly. “I can… leave?”
Lucifer nodded once, his expression unchanging. “You’ve work to attend to, don’t you? I wouldn’t want to be the cause of your absence.”
Lucien’s ice cream slipped from his grasp and splattered on the floor. He shot a frantic look at Lucifer, then back at me, like he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. “Milord—are you sure?”
“Lucien.” Lucifer’s voice was firm but not harsh. “Pick up the mess.”
Lucien immediately bent down, muttering apologies under his breath, but his gaze kept darting toward me as if he couldn’t believe what was unfolding.
“Go on,” Lucifer added, his eyes returning to mine. “We’ll see each other soon.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. The moment his permission left his lips, I moved toward the door, careful not to break into a full sprint. I didn’t want to give him any reason to change his mind. My heart pounded as I crossed the threshold of the grand hall, the weight of his gaze still pressing on my back.
The second I was out of the mansion and into the cool morning air, I picked up my pace, my footsteps quick and hurried. The twisted path leading away from the estate felt like freedom, and with each step, I could feel my anxiety slowly start to loosen its grip on my chest.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 41 – 50
By the time I arrived at the restaurant, the familiar clatter of dishes and the smell of cooking oil grounded me in reality. Mrs. Richardson—there’s her name—was wiping down the front counter as usual, her brow furrowed with concentration.
When she saw me, she arched an eyebrow. “You’re late,” she said, her voice sharp as always, but there was a hint of concern behind it. She had a way of softening her scolding, but only just.
“I know, I know,” I said, slipping past her and heading toward the back to grab an apron. “I’m sorry. Had a… rough night.”
Mrs. Richardson didn’t push for more details, but her gaze lingered on me a moment longer than usual. “Hmph. Rough night or not, you’ve got dishes to do.” She waved me off, her attention already shifting to another customer walking in.
As I tied the apron around my waist and headed into the back kitchen, I welcomed the familiarity of the routine. The sound of water rushing from the faucet, the clinking of plates and silverware—it was normal. Normal was what I needed right now. I let myself get lost in the motions, trying to forget the eerie mansion, Lucifer, and everything that had happened.
For a while, it worked. The hours flew by, the lunch rush keeping me on my feet without a moment to breathe. But during my break, reality came crashing back.
Liam showed up.
I hadn’t even noticed him at first. I was sitting by the window, sipping on a cold drink and staring absentmindedly at the street outside when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up, startled, and saw Liam standing over me, his expression a mix of relief and worry.
“Selene!” he exclaimed, pulling me up into a tight hug before I could even process what was happening. “Where have you been? I went to your house, but you weren’t there, and your phone’s been off—”
His words rushed out in a panic, his arms tightening around me. I could feel how worried he was, how frantic his thoughts must’ve been while I was gone.
“I’m fine,” I managed to say, patting his back gently, trying to calm him down. “I’m fine, Liam.”
He pulled back slightly, holding me at arm’s length so he could look me over. His eyes scanned my face, his brow furrowed in concern. “You don’t look fine. Where did you go? Why didn’t you call me?”
I hesitated, the lie already forming on my lips. I couldn’t tell him about Lucifer, the mansion, or any of the strange, terrifying things I’d seen. How could I? He wouldn’t understand. Hell, *I* didn’t understand.
“My phone died,” I said quickly, forcing a small smile. “And… I stayed at a spa. Needed some time to clear my head.”
Liam didn’t seem convinced. His gaze lingered on me, his thumb gently brushing against my cheek. “You sure? Because you don’t seem like yourself.”
I swallowed, trying to hide the knot of guilt forming in my throat. “I’m okay, Liam. Really. I just… needed a break from everything. It was nothing serious.”
His hand dropped to his side, but his worry didn’t fade. He sat down beside me, his eyes searching mine. “You scared me, Selene. I thought something happened to you.”
I felt a pang of guilt. He cared about me so much, more than I probably deserved. And yet, I was keeping this huge secret from him. “I didn’t mean to worry you,” I said softly, avoiding his gaze. “I just needed a breather.”
He was quiet for a moment, then he reached out and took my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “Just… don’t scare me like that again, okay? I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
I nodded, my heart aching at the sincerity in his voice. “I won’t,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure how much control I had over that.
He squeezed my hand gently, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a soothing motion. “I’m serious, Selene. You mean a lot to me.”
I felt my chest tighten, the weight of his words sinking in. He had always been there for me, always looking out for me, and I didn’t want to lose that. But there was a part of me, deep down, that knew I was dragging him into something dangerous, something he didn’t deserve to be a part of.
“I know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “You mean a lot to me too.”
We sat in silence for a while, his hand still holding mine, the warmth of his touch a comforting reminder that I wasn’t alone. But as much as I wanted to believe that everything could go back to normal, I knew it wouldn’t. Not after what I had seen, not after meeting Lucifer.
Liam finally broke the silence, his voice soft. “Are you sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”
I hesitated, my mind flashing back to the mansion, to Lucifer’s cold eyes and the strange way he made me feel. I opened my mouth, ready to tell him everything, but then I stopped myself. I couldn’t drag him into this. Not yet.
“No,” I lied, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, Liam. I promise.”silence engulf us for few minutes.
I kept my voice steady, trying not to sound suspicious. “Do you know anywhere around here that sells, uh… self-defense gadgets?”
Liam raised an eyebrow, “Self-defense gadgets? Like what, pepper spray?”
“Yeah, something like that. You know, tasers, pepper spray, anything that could… help in a bad situation.”
He blinked at me, clearly taken aback by my question. “Well, yeah, there’s a place over on Mill Street. Sells stuff like that. It’s not too far from the park. Why?” His expression shifted from surprise to concern as he leaned forward. “Selene, why do you need to know?”
I hesitated, not wanting to dive into the truth. The last thing I needed was for Liam to start worrying about me more than he already did. “Oh, no reason,” I lied, waving it off as casually as I could. “I just thought it might be a good idea, you know? To stay safe.”
Liam didn’t look convinced. He opened his mouth, probably to ask more questions, but I quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, did you hear what happened with Mrs. Garcia’s cat? The one that always hides under the counter?”
His face scrunched in confusion for a moment, but then he sighed, accepting my sudden shift in conversation. “Oh man, don’t tell me she lost that poor thing again.”
I nodded, letting him run with the story, grateful he’d taken the bait. My mind, however, was still stuck on the uneasy feeling that had been creeping up on me since that night at the mansion. I couldn’t shake it, and deep down, I knew I needed to be prepared for whatever was coming next.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 41 – 50
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