Alec was thumbing through books in the palace library. It was expansive; row and rows of ancient books adorned the corridors of the library. Ladders were scattered throughout in order to reach the books on the higher shelves. All those who were members of the palace's staff had full access to the library.

     Alec was in the history section, specifically the on the subject of demons. King (along with others) have written many books on the matter, especially that of an ancient demon named...

     "Lucifer?" Samuel asked when Alec picked a book. Alec shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "I just figured I should learn more about the past heirs," he said. Truth be told, Alec could not get his mind off last week. Lucifer was... something, to put it vaguely. He was so intense yet gentle at the same time, nothing like what Alec expected. And the way he looked at him - not like he was prey, but as if he were detailed text.

      Alec could not detach his mind from the monster.

     Alec went to the common area to go find a place to read his book. "Alec!" Alec smiled at the voice of his friend. "Dina," he greeted, walking over to where she was sitting at a table. She had short curly ash blonde hair and a pale face adorned with freckles. Her white dress robes looked stunning on her petite figure.

     Alec blushed as she scooted closer to him. "Heir: Lucifer?" She asked, reading the title of the book. "Just wanted to know more," he replied. "You've never been interested in demons - Alec, you're very anti-demon," she said. "Just let me read what I want," Alec said, huffing. "Ok... can I braid your hair?" She asked. "Gladly," Alec replied.

     "How is your hair like this?" She asked as she worked. His hair was incredibly long - at least twice as long as hers, and its ombre-d from a dark brown to a light blonde. "Perfect genetics," Alec smirked. Dina rolled her eyes.

     The more Alec read, the more fascinated he became. Apparently Lucifer was a quiet person - and he had quite a talent for singing and the arts. He even managed to persuade some angels to be sympathetic to demons (however, those same angels did follow him to hell). Alec almost forgot, while reading, that this demon was responsible for the massacre of thousands of angels.

     "I always found him kinda hot," Dina hummed. Alec sharply turned his head and gawked at her. "Um... what?" Alec snapped. "Huh? I have eyes, Alec. Doesn't mean I think he's a good person," she shrugged. "Don't say that," Alec scolded. "Oh come on. Look at him!" She said, pointing to a portrait of him on the page. "That jawline..." she sighed.

     Alec was not about to be jealous of a demon. Nope. No way. He's not at all envious of the fact Dina is currently swooning over a mass murderer and not Alec. Nope.

     Alec quickly turned to a page that didn't have the demon's face on it.

---

     "Sir, with all due respect, what the hell?" Lucifer growled at the defiance. "An order is an order, Damien," and, leaning in, he snarled, "and you better listen to me. Or else." That earned a yelp from the wolf demon, his furry ears folding back in an act of submission. "Yes, sir," he squeaked, scampering off.

     Lucifer revelled in the fear he could put in his subordinates with ease. Being King of Hell had a certain stigma to it and Lucifer loved the stigma. He strode through the cobblestone halls of the castle, dimly lit by torches on the wall. Demons bowed to him as he walked by. Lucifer growled in appreciation.

     He arrived at the entrance and walked outside. The air was it's usually scorching temperature and the dead trees were lit ablaze, the ground cracked with pools of lava. Sure, to most it wouldn't look pretty, but Lucifer thought Hell was gorgeous.

     "Get your fucking hands off me - stop tugging... I said stop tugging, prick." Lucifer smirked as he heard the whiney voice of none other than Charles. The wolf demon was being lead by a pack of Lucifer's demons bound in several chains. Damien was leading them, and he had a look of annoyance on his face.

     "Charles," Lucifer greeted as they approached. "What," Charles dead panned. "No need to be pissy with me," Lucifer tutted, walking up to Charles. Charles wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something foul. "Why did you bring me here," Charles hissed.

     "I missed you," Lucifer answered.

     "Bull shit, you always have some ulterior motive, you-" Charles was cut short with a sharp slap to his face. "Can't I just want to see my former lover from time to time?" Lucifer said sickeningly sweet. Charles cringed. "First of all, we were not lovers, we were hook up buddies. Second of all - mmph," Charles made a noise as Lucifer gagged him.

     "You're a drag to listen to," Lucifer said. "Come, we have much to discuss."

---

     "Ok what do you want," Charles asked. He and Lucifer were in Lucifer's bedroom. Lucifer was lazily sprawled across his bed like a cat. Charles leaned against the wall. "I want a pet," Lucifer said. Charles laughed dryly. "Just go to the store and buy one, we got a fresh supply of humans," Charles said. Lucifer turned onto his front and propped his head up. "I don't want a human," he said.

     "Oh... so like a cat or something? Just go to the human world," Charles said. Lucifer shook his head. "An angel," he said dreamily, focus clearly somewhere else. "An angel?" Charles asked. Lucifer nodded. "Luc, I'm sorry, but the pet store doesn't supply angels," Charles said matter-of-factly.

     "Well... so... I was in Heaven the other day..." Lucifer began. "Lucifer!" Charles scolded. Lucifer's face contorted to a guilty expression. "That's breaking your own law, or are you too dense to remember what laws you write?" Charles hissed. "Listen, I know, but there's this woods with the best deer-" "You're risking the lives of the entirety of Hell for a snack?" Charles bared his fangs. He could not believe their "fearless leader" was so stupid.

     "Nevermind that - I was there and usually angels don't patrol there but then I ran into this angel-" "Someone saw you-" "Shut up I'm talking. Anyway, he was... I can't stop thinking about him..." Lucifer had a hungry, almost dangerous look in his eyes. He licked his lips. 

     Charles rolled his eyes. So this was about a crush. Of course. Lucifer was incredibly childish. "So you wanna make this angel your sex slave-"

     "Pet."

     "... which is essentially a sex slave."

     "First of all," Lucifer began. He quickly derailed the conversation into how pets were perfectly ethical and how demons needed companionship and how pets were happy and oh my god Charles they're not sex slaves, his usual spiel.

     "Ok fine, whatever," Charles sighed. "So... you wanna kidnap him or something?" "Charles that's mean. He's gotta come to me. People say I can be very charming," Lucifer smiled. "Since when is a sadist like you above being mean," Charles replied.

     Lucifer huffed. Charles smiled. Alright, he did kind of miss Lucifer. To everyone else he was terrifying but to Charles he was just a big oaf. "So why are you telling me this?" Charles asked. "I would like you to accompany me to meeting with heaven. I don't like going alone. Mr. Future pet will be there," Lucifer wiggled his eyebrows.

     "Uh, no. They treat you like a prisoner there," Charles shuddered. "Oh Charles you big baby, it's only for like a day. Plus you like being tied up. Think of it like one of your kinks, do a little role play, be creative."

     Charles rolled his eyes. "Well the way I see it as you getting the whole reward of an angel pet, and I getting nothing for doing all this work," Charles said. "I thought you might say that..." Lucifer mumbled. "I didn't wanna do this but... if we get the angel, you can share him," Lucifer muttered, defeated. Charles lit up at that. "Like old times?" He smirked, all teeth. "Like old times," Lucifer replied.

---

     King was beyond stressed out. Everyone kept pestering him all day. Sometimes, he hated being King. He was sitting in his favorite chair in his office enjoying a glass of wine while reading over the reports of the day. Nothing new, same old same old. Just then there was a knock on his door.

     King sighed in frustration. "What is it?" King asked. The door opened, revealing Samuel. "Sorry is this a bad time?" Samuel asked. "No, I'm just... stressed. What is it?" King asked. Samuel walked over and handed King a letter.

     "It's from Lucifer," Samuel said. King raised his eyebrows in surprise. His son never tried to contact him. He opened the letter.

     Dear King Julius,

     Charles and I would like to have a meeting discussing the laws you forcefully impose on my people. Frankly, we in Hell find it terribly unfair we are subjected to things we have no control over.

     You're truly horrible,

-Lucifer

     King grumbled and pulled out a piece of parchment to write a reply. He handed the letter to Samuel. "Tell Lucifer tomorrow would be fine for a meeting. Make sure a small army collects his advocate," King feigned sweetness in his voice, clearly annoyed.

---

     "Well this is rich," Lucifer grumbled. Charles grumbled from his sleep. He spent the night with Lucifer. Things had gotten... heated. "Let me sleep," Charles grumbled, pulling a pillow over his head. Charles was still in bed while Lucifer was glaring out a window. There were about a hundred of Heaven's army slowly approaching the castle. "So they can just freely come into Hell with no resistance, hm?" Lucifer growled.

     "Who?" Charles asked, sitting up. He got a good look at shirtless Lucifer. It was quite a view. "Come see," Lucifer gestured for him to come over. "What the hell - seriously all that for just us? We're not animals," Charles said, looking out the window. Lucifer huffed. "I should teach them a lesson," he growled, fangs bared. "Lucifer no," Charles warned. Lucifer's gaze was trained at the window, ignoring Charles. Charles sighed. "Master."

    That certainly got his attention. "This is part of the drill. Don't make a scene, it will get worse," Charles said. Lucifer huffed. "Put some clothes on. Let's greet them," Charles said.

---

     "We're having a meeting with Hell today?" Alec asked, eyebrows raised. Samuel nodded. Meetings like these rarely happened anymore. Hell had been beaten down so many times that they just gave up trying to rectify the situation. "What for?" Alec asked. "To discuss law," Samuel replied.

     "Oh great. It's boring," Alec sighed. He wondered which demon was sent to do the meeting. Lucifer never came for some reason. "Meetings with hell are always interesting. You can see your first demon today!" Samuel said.

     Alec hadn't told anyone about his encounter with Lucifer. He know he should've. It was his job to report back any demons he saw, but he just couldn't. He felt like he would be betraying Lucifer's trust, as little sense as that made.

     Alec sat in the clearing outside the palace for a bit with Samuel discussing minute things about this and that. He then heard the others around him turn to a hushed whisper. "What's going on?" Alec asked. Samuel pointed. "They're here - holy shit, that's Lucifer and Charles," Samuel's face went ghost white.

     Alec looked over and saw the two demons completely bound in shackles being followed by a mini infantry. The other demon, Charles, looked pissed and Lucifer growled any time an angel got close. They both wore all black, and their clothing was more tightly fit than the long flowing white robes of Heaven. They stuck out like a sore thumb and everyone was staring at them.

     Just then, Lucifer locked eyes with Alec. His expression went from angry to soft, lips parted as if he were going to say something. He remembers me? Alec thought. "Why is he looking at you like that," Samuel whispered.

     Alec didn't reply. He just watched as the group walked past him. He found it amusing that Lucifer's tail was long and snake-like with a point to it, whereas Charles' was big and poofy. Charles did a little wave to Samuel. Charles growled as one of the guards kicked him for interacting with an angel.

     "We should probably head in. Meeting's about to begin," Samuel said. Alec nodded and followed Samuel inside. The army and the demons took up the entire hallway and staff froze when they laid eyes on Lucifer. Alec had no idea people were that scared of him. Alec felt a shiver of fear run through himself as well.

     When they arrived in the meeting room, the army dispersed save for 10 guards who accompanied the demons as they took their seats. They were quickly locked into their chairs and bound by even more chains just to be safe. Lucifer grumbled, annoyed that heaven would be this cautious.

     Angels began to pour in and take their seats. King came and sat at the front of the long table, and he frowned as Lucifer shot him a dirty look. Alec felt uncomfortable at the whole situation, but he took his seat across from Lucifer.

     Lucifer snapped his gaze to Alec. Alec froze. Lucifer's eyes flicked down, then back up, never leaving Alec. Alec gave a tentative wave. Lucifer had the ghost of a smile on his lips. Charles, however, chuckled and shook his head at the interaction, and leaned over to whisper something to Lucifer. An angel prodded Charles with his staff. Charles whipped around and snarled. "No talking," the angel said gruffly.

     "Alright, so I understand Hell has some problems over the laws we impose on it," King's voice raised over the quiet chatter. Alec turned his attention to King, who was standing. "Forcefully impose, yes," was Lucifer's response.

     "Need I remind you that Heaven was the one who created Hell. We have full ownership over the realm and what happens to it," King said cooly. "Yes, but you don't live there, there's absolutely no reason for it to be such a miserable place," Lucifer replied. "It's a punishment, Lucifer, I'm sure you're familiar," King narrowed his eyes. Lucifer growled and bared his fangs.

     "It has been thousands of years. I haven't done anything to you in that time. If you could just lay off-" "No," King cut his son off. Gabriel, who was sitting next to King, was watching his brother through narrowed eyes. Lucifer stood then cried out in pain as a guard quickly lunged forward and hit him with a sword. Lucifer sat back down and whined like a kicked puppy.

     "I let you keep your pets, Lucifer. I leave hell alone for the most part. If you have a problem with what you can and cannot do, you're going to have to deal with it," King said firmly. Lucifer sat back and folded his arms. "Last year you took a few miles along the boarder and made it Heaven territory. It was unprovoked - we did nothing to deserve losing our land," Lucifer growled.

    "Once again, you do not own Hell. Heaven does. It's ours to do with what we please," King responded. "Demons are forced by law to only exist in hell, the LEAST you could do is not make it a smaller place," Lucifer growled. "Angels vastly outnumber demons," Gabriel piped up. "We need more land than you."

     "I don't understand why we would need Hell's territory?" Alec heard himself say. Shit, he instantly regretted talking as the accusatory eyes of about 100 angels were suddenly on him. "I mean, Hell's land is infertile and broken and hot, like... it doesn't benefit heaven to have it..." Alec mumbled, looking down. "It may not benefit us but it keeps the demons at bay," King replied, annoyed that Alec said anything.

     "Alec is right," Lucifer said quickly. "How do you know his name?" Gabriel asked. Alec's and Lucifer's eyes both widened. Shit Lucifer, Alec thought bitterly. "Doesn't matter how, I'm familiar with angels," Lucifer hissed. "There's no reason for you to know of him, however," Gabriel narrowed his eyes.

     Alec just stared ahead, hoping to God the subject would just be dropped. "Let it go, Gabe," King said. Gabe crossed his arms and glanced suspiciously at Alec. "Anyway, as Alec was saying, there's no point in you having to upkeep land clearly not meant for you. Demons can handle that type of climate. Angels can't," Lucifer went on.

     "Enough about the land, Lucifer, you're not getting it back," King quipped. Lucifer growled, his eyes like slits. "We could just take it back," Charles muttered. "You will surely be captured and executed if you try," Gabriel said. "I'll execute you, asshole - OW!" Charles snarled as he was tased with a burst of light magic.

     "This meeting is useless. Guards, take them to their cells-" "Why the hell can't we just go home," Lucifer interrupted King. "To the cells," King wasn't about to justify Lucifer with a response. The demons both snarled as they were yanked from their chairs and dragged out of the room.

     As the rest of the angels began to leave, Gabriel grabbed Alec's shoulder. "Can I talk to you?" Gabriel asked. "Uh, sure," Alec said. Gabriel lead the other angel out of the room into an empty corridor.

     "What the hell was that?" Gabriel snapped. Alec flinched at the sudden harshness. "Who's side are you even on? Why even bother defending them?" "I wasn't defending them, I was just confused as to why were even need their crappy land," Alec snapped. "I'm sorry if me being curious was somehow a pro-Hell stance."

     Gabriel's mouth was a straight line. "Just don't do it again," he said. Alec grumbled but nodded. "You will be taking a turn watching the demons tonight," Gabe said. Alec nodded.

---

     Alec made his way to the cells. He hated walking this way; all of Heaven's punishment systems were located in one general area, meaning Alec had to walk past the gallows and the guillotine in order to reach the prison. He shuddered as he looked at the swinging ropes. Sure, he didn't disagree with execution, he just wished it were less barbaric.

     He walked past the stone pillars and into the chambers which the cells were kept. He glanced at the prisoners as he walked past; most were angels locked up for committing sins against the Church, either awaiting banishment or execution. Alec shuddered at the thought. Many of the prisoners once stark white robes were a muddied brown color, and they were all chained to the corner of their dingey living spaces.

     Alec walked on and eventually approached the high security area of the prison. Two angels guards unlocked a vault for him to step through, leading him to the most heavily guarded portion of the prison.

     He walked into the depths of the prison to find two cells about 50 feet adjacent to each other. Alec peered into one. He found charles chained from his wrists, ankles, and neck to the corner of the cell. "What are you staring at," Charles growled. "Sorry," Alec mumbled, walking over to the other cell. Lucifer was in a similar fashion to Charles, but he was muzzled with a small cage over his mouth. "Lucifer got in trouble for biting someone," Charles was clearly amused. Lucifer snarled.

     "Hi," Alec said quietly. Lucifer made a noise that sounded inhuman. He struggled against the chains. "He's in what we call an 'animal mode'," Charles explained. "A what?" Alec asked. Charles grinned. "Us demons are part animal in some way. I'm a wolf and Lucifer here is ram. We can get very feral at times - don't step into his cell," Charles said. "Wasn't planning on it," Alec replied.

     Lucifer was perched on all fours, his tail flicking back and forth angrily. He looked at Alec as though he were a piece of meat and growled. "Ah!" Alec yelped as Lucifer tried to lunge forward, getting yanked back by the chain. Charles chuckled. "Aw look at him." "You think this is cute?" Alec asked.

     "I find Lucifer sexually appealing, do you not?" Charles asked. Alec wrinkled his nose in disgust. "He's a man," he said.

     "Yeah. And?"

     "Homosexuality is a terrible sin," Alec replied. "So you refuse to let yourself indulge in beauty because it's a sin, or you're not into it," Charles said, smiling. Alec narrowed his eyes. "What are you trying to imply." "All I'm saying is that you're not the, ah, most heterosexual looking guy out there," Charles replied.

     Alec's face flushed in anger. He couldn't believe he was talking about such subject with demons much less being implied that he was... "It's disgusting," Alec muttered angrily. "Ah see I used to feel that way as well, back when I used to live in the palace. They really brainwash you," Charles smiled lightly. "No, you're just too easily swayed by sin. You're a demon," Alec spat. "You say it like you've never been involved with what you define as sin," Charles replied.

     "Well obviously we're not perfect, of course I have," Alec said. "So what you're saying," Charles said, leaning forward, "is that you too are privy to sin."

     "I don't understand the point of this conversation," Alec muttered. "Well, the way I see it is that all you angels are slaves to a book of telling you what you can and cannot do, meanwhile back in Hell we have absolute freedom because we don't worry about your so called sin. Anything goes, apart from the laws heaven placed us under. True freedom."

     "I'd rather not live in a place where heathens run amuck, thank you very much," Alec replied. Charles simply shrugged. "Suit yourself."

     Lucifer grumbled and curled up on the ground. His tail draped over his nose, an he lay much in the way a cat would. Alec looked to him. He looked almost animal - there was something inhuman about the way he carried himself and the noises that emitted from his chest. His pointed ears flicked every once and a while. "I read about you, back when you were still heir," Alec said after an uncomfortable amount of silence.

     Lucifer raised his head and looked at Alec, the metal of the muzzle gleaming in the dim light. "It was... you seemed normal. Like... I mean you had interests and hobbies, like you weren't demon at all." Lucifer emitted a low sound, then spoke in a hoarse tone as if he hadn't talked for days, "Does it surprise you to find demons too have hobbies?"

     "What?" "You seem to be shocked that us 'animals' have personalities," Lucifer said. "I mean... sorry I just thought..." Alec wasn't quite sure what to say. Lucifer chuckled and shook his head. "It's quite alright."

     "Why didn't you kill me in the woods?" Alec asked suddenly. Lucifer looked surprised. "Why would i?" "Because... I dunno, you're Satan," Alec said awkwardly. He had no idea why he kept talking to the demons. Most angels would guard them in silence. "You didn't give me a reason to harm you," Lucifer said. "It would be cruel of me to do that."

     "So now you're worried about now being cruel?" Alec asked a little too harshly. Lucifer shifted a bit, face now serious. "I know you and the rest of Heaven loathe me for what I did, but believe me, I had a very good reason for it." "There's no good reason to kill someone," Alec said. "Yet you were patrolling the woods that night with the very intention of killing demons. Don't lie to me, I know the purpose of it."

     Alec was at a loss. They... made sense. After all, from what he could tell, demons were able to feel things just as much as angels, and yet here they were being treated like animals. Sin seemed a little arbitrary when he thought about it... "I think my shift is over," Alec said after a while. "Aw damn, we liked you," Charles replied. "If you ever wanna talk again, I go to Levi woods often," Lucifer murmured. "And what makes you so sure I won't bring an ambush," Alec accused. He couldn't believe Lucifer gave himself away like that.

     Lucifer's eyes twinkled. "Because I believe you're a good person."