A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 81 – 90
SELENE DECISION 2 (LUCIFER’S FURY 2)
SELENE SMILE.
After agreeing to date, Liam could barely contain his excitement, flashing that genuine, boyish grin as he wrapped me in a tight hug. The kind that felt warm and safe, reminding me of simpler times.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, his eyes bright. “Come on, I made pasta, your favorite.”
The mention of food made my stomach twist with a sudden hunger I hadn’t even realized was there. I nodded, letting him guide me to the dining hall.
When I sat down, I couldn’t help but watch him move around the kitchen. Liam wasn’t nervous or guarded; he seemed… at peace. A sense of normalcy settled in, even though my emotions were all over the place.
We sat down at the small dining table, the plates of pasta steaming between us. Liam gave me a soft smile, a quiet assurance that he was there for me.
I tried to return it, but the heaviness in my chest wouldn’t let me. Taking a deep breath, I twirled a forkful of pasta and took a bite, letting the familiar taste settle my nerves.
“So, have you thought about any arrangements yet? For the funeral” he asked gently after a few moments of quiet.
I put down my fork, staring at the food as though it held answers. “Not really. It’s all… just a lot. I don’t even know where to begin.”
Liam reached across the table, placing his hand over mine. “That’s completely normal, Selene. Funerals can be overwhelming, especially when… when it’s family.” He paused, his voice softening even more. “But I can help you get through it, if you want.”
I looked up at him, feeling a pang of gratitude. “I’d really appreciate that, Liam. I’m just lost in all of this.”
He nodded, offering a comforting smile. “First, I think you’ll need to meet with the funeral director. They’ll help you with the basic arrangements, like deciding on the service location and the details of the burial or cremation.” His hand gently squeezed mine. “And, of course, you’ll need to choose a date for the service.”
My gaze dropped, and I felt my throat tighten. “It feels so surreal talking about them like this, like they’re… like they’re just some formal arrangement.”
He squeezed my hand again. “I know it’s hard. But we can take it one step at a time, okay?”
I nodded, taking in a shaky breath. “So… meeting with a funeral director. And then?”
“Well,” he continued, his voice steady, “it might be a good idea to reach out to people who were close to them—friends, family. Let them know about the arrangements and the date of the service, so they can say their goodbyes, too.”
A heavy silence settled between us as I nodded, digesting his words. I hadn’t even considered the people my family had known, the connections they’d made over the years. The idea of reaching out to people, of explaining what had happened, felt like too much to bear.
“Do you think… people would even come?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Liam’s face softened, and he tilted his head slightly. “Of course, Selene. They cared about your family, and they care about you. You’re not alone in this.”
I wanted to believe him. He always had this way of making things feel lighter, like he could absorb some of the darkness weighing me down. I mustered a small smile. “Thank you. Really. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he said with a soft chuckle. “You’ve got me, and we’re going to get through this together.”
I glanced down at my hands, feeling the strange urge to laugh despite the heaviness in the air. “So… there’s a lot to do.”
He nodded. “Yeah, but we’ll take it one step at a time. Maybe tomorrow we could make a list, just so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming. What do you think?”
“That sounds like a good idea.” I took another deep breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I wasn’t entirely alone in this, and that made all the difference.
Dinner ended, and as we put the plates away, he handed me a stack of his clothes. “Here, you can change into these. You’ll be more comfortable,” he said with a small smile.
Once I was finally alone in the bathroom, I felt my chest release a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. Dating Liam… it felt strange.
He seemed genuinely thrilled, and his energy was infectious, but part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that this was wrong. Wasn’t I supposed to feel that same excitement, too? Or was I overthinking it? I wanted this; I liked him. But as much as I tried to focus on the present, my thoughts kept drifting back to Lucifer.
If he ever found out about Liam… I shivered at the thought. He’d kill him. That much I knew. But then again, I told myself, Lucifer didn’t care about me in that way. He saw me as an amusement, a curiosity, something to pass the time with.
He didn’t love me, did he? Maybe if I gave myself to Liam—fully—Lucifer would lose interest. Maybe he’d finally leave me alone, and I’d get to be a normal eighteen-year-old again.
I slipped into the clothes Liam gave me, a pair of loose boxers and a long-sleeved shirt that smelled like him—clean, warm, familiar.
It was a strange comfort, being wrapped in his scent, as though it could shield me from everything that weighed on my mind.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 81 – 90
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