❝MY BABY, HOW BEAUTIFUL
YOU ARE, OH MY DARLING,
COMPLETELY TORN APART.❞

    LATER THAT NIGHT, Genevieve returned to the house she was used to sharing with Detective Espinoza by now — however, not before she had spent hours wandering around the busy streets of the city. For the first time during her stay on Earth, Genevieve felt lost and without a purpose to keep her going. She had been so hellbent on getting revenge on Lucifer, on making him pay for abandoning her, but he had left her weak with his apologies and promises of helping. He successfully made her doubt herself, and if there was more to the woman than the infamous Killer Queen. She no longer desired to hurt Lucifer, not so much at the very least, because now the man knew her pain and maybe that was enough for now — for tonight.

     Time flew by like with wings — ironically enough — when Genevieve walked in the night that slowly turned dark as the sun set into the horizon, and once she understood that hours had passed and the feet of her human form were starting to ache in the red heels she was still wearing, the queen headed home. Or, well, not home, because that would have meant returning to Hell — but then again, that was yet another thought that was heavily resting in her mind, planting the idea of going back. But at least tonight, she still returned to Dan.

     The demon had barely stepped indoors, when Dan had caught her attention by clearing his throat, and with confusion pushing her eyebrows together, Genevieve stared at the detective whilst shutting the front door quietly. Dan was standing there with his arms crossed and a demanding look in his eyes, and despite her initial reaction being confusion, it didn't take Genevieve very long to realize that this was Dan's first — and probably only — attempt to defy the queen and squirm out of her tight, compelling grip. And once she realized this, she couldn't help but snort at the dominance Dan was trying to gain over the situation, very aware that his chances on winning weren't that convincing.

     "What is it, Daniel? You want me to stop eating so many Pop-Tarts? Share the bed? Choose the channel for once?", Genevieve chuckled as she shrugged off her coat, but before she could hang it, the man stepped in and stopped her from doing so.

     "You need to leave, Genevieve. Leave my house and my life. I don't know how you've managed to get me under this spell, but there comes a time in every addict's life where it's either giving up and giving in or fighting back. I choose to fight. Because you're worse than any drug. And I know that if this continues, I'll end up dead sooner than I'd like to", Dan nodded knowingly, his eyes opened — most likely after Genevieve had explained her true identity and her relationship to Lucifer during the interrogation.

     Eyes widening, Genevieve licked her lips briefly before leaning towards Dan and lifting an eyebrow in disbelief. "Or what?", she fought back, and with impeccable timing, a woman stepped out of Dan's bedroom with a defiant stare in her eyes. "Oh, bloody hell", Genevieve muttered the words her husband often spoke, especially at the sight of Mom standing there, all goddess-like and ready to smack Genevieve if she were to argue more. "Is this a thing now? Because frankly, I am disgusted", the queen nodded towards both Charlotte and Dan, as she spoke through gritted teeth before angrily grabbing her jacket and putting it back on.

     "You heard him. Goodbye, Genevieve", Charlotte smiled sarcastically at Ginny, her fingers waving in the air as farewell.

     Instead of arguing, Genevieve deemed it better to leave — not because she was told so, but because she simply had no desire to stay. She'd rather wander the streets than stay in that stupid guest room and listen to the repetitive bang of Dan's bed against the wall. With a sarcastic smile forced onto her pursed lips, Ginny opened the door and stormed out before Charlotte and Dan could see the misery written all over her face. She hated showing weakness, and showing emotion was, to her, basically the same thing — she didn't want to cry over some detective, but despite being a queen, she could not rule her feelings and tell them what to do.

     She couldn't stop her heart from silently shattering in her chest.

—————

     IT WAS EASY for Genevieve to lure another man in her trap, and with a few softly spoken words, the Shedevil had successfully gotten herself a place to sleep in for the night. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she didn't get the same kind of satisfaction out of the experience as she had grown used to feeling with Dan — the detective was brave and defiant, and had Pop-Tarts, whereas this new guy was merely a stranger she didn't wish to know any better, and he couldn't help but stare at the queen, amazed by her beauty. It was a common reaction, especially amongst humans, but there was an odd feeling gnawing at Ginny's heart nevertheless, and it was making her too sick to stay awake any longer than necessary.

     The next morning, Genevieve made sure to sneak out of the bedroom she insisted on having all to herself when the man was still sleeping on the couch, and quietly made her way outside. And as she walked down the streets with hunger growling at the pit of her stomach, she swore she wasn't going back there — if anything, she was going to avoid the house. She wasn't sure what was that discomfort swelling up in her heart, weighing it down and making her long returning home, which in this case meant Hell, naturally. But then again, she had to admit, she couldn't help but react rather negatively to being kicked out of Dan's house. She had quite enjoyed staying there, despite everything she had said and done to prove otherwise.

     Whilst munching on a grilled sandwich she had picked up from a nearby diner, Genevieve then headed towards Linda Martin's office. They weren't due for another session just yet, but there was so much happening in the queen's life, she simply had to talk to someone, and she didn't really know who else to turn to than the therapist. There were so many emotions she was unfamiliar with, so much urge to feel, so many twists and turns awaiting in each day, and although Genevieve wasn't a fan of talking about all those things in her heart, she knew that she would explode if she didn't. And frankly, she knew that Linda carried too much respect, but also fear, to refuse.

     It didn't take Genevieve long to get to the right building, and once she was done with the rather delicious sandwich, she knocked on the therapist's door with a surprisingly gentle manner. Dr. Martin was quick to open the door, with a smile on her face as always, but as soon as she saw Genevieve, she couldn't help but jump slightly at the sight of the Shedevil. And all Ginny could do, was smile faintly before placing her high heel between the door so Linda couldn't shut it in her face. Even though they had had sessions since the big revelation, she could tell Linda was still a tad uncomfortable.

     "We— you're not supposed to— no session yet", Linda stammered nervously, her glasses peeking from behind the door she was trying to close carefully, but surprisingly, she didn't find anger or hostility on Genevieve's face. If anything, she appeared quite unusual — her smile full of pain, her tongue devoid of any sharp, witty comments to spit out, her fingers nervously tangling with one another. And this, ultimately, was what convinced Linda to crack her door a bit wider.

     "I know", Genevieve chuckled quietly, glancing at her shuffling feet before she raised her gaze back to Dr. Martin. "I was just— I guess, I have no one else to talk to", she whispered, and only then she understood how her hands were trembling, a lump was rising in her throat and causing her voice to crack, and how there was that stupid, terrible burn in her eyes again.

     Directing the queen a sympathetic smile, Linda allowed Genevieve to step indoors. "It seems Earth is affecting you, after all. Being with humans... I suspected it would change you despite your efforts to avoid it from happening. But if it's my opinion you seek, I think that's okay. It's nothing to be ashamed of — you don't have to run from it", the blonde began to explain, whilst her hand gestured for Genevieve to take a seat, which she gladly did. With a soft look in her eyes, Dr. Martin seated herself on her chair and then nodded at Ginny, "I'm all ears. What's going on?", still smiling warmly, which comforted the disoriented queen.

     "Dan kicked me out", Genevieve started, chuckling again — she did that, to hide her feelings. Because the truth was, she wasn't amused at all, and Linda could tell. "I think— I know why. Because I'm the Shedevil, and he didn't ever take me in willingly. I only had a home because I forced him to share it with me", she continued, nodding her head to confirm that she wasn't unfamiliar with the reasons behind Dan's actions. She just didn't understand the emotions his actions were stirring within her.

     "And how does that make you feel? Knowing that you are not wanted somewhere", Linda asked a question Genevieve had feared — she was not very talented in recognizing emotions, not after keeping them suffocated and hidden for the longest time. But she wanted to try.

     With a sigh, Genevieve looked away from Linda and ended up staring at the window with a thoughtful look planted in her brown eyes. "I think that for the first time in a long time, it made me realize how alone I am. How lonely I am. And frankly, I don't understand why — it's not like— I mean, it's only Detective Douche! How is it possible that I'm this... this upset about having to leave him?", the Shedevil then wondered, turning over to Linda with her eyebrows knitted together in utter confusion and disbelief.

     Nodding, Linda tried not to smile at the queen's naive words and thoughts. There was something adorable about it, despite all the darkness she spread around her. "Right, well, it seems to me that even though you first got involved with him just to get closer to Lucifer, you did end up caring about the detective as well. But that's not the only reason you feel this pain right now. You've been rejected before, and now that someone's trying to resist you and avoid you, it doesn't feel that good. At all", Dr. Martin elaborated, and frankly, it was quite accurate.

     Genevieve didn't reply. She simply stared at Linda and let her words sink in, in some kind of state of disbelief — the woman was good at her job, for sure. Dr. Martin was far better at reading people and understanding feelings than Genevieve could ever even try to be, and she was grateful, because at least Linda could help her and she didn't have to fight her internal battles alone. She did that well when it came to physical fighting, but when it came to her heart and mind, there was much broken in Genevieve, much she needed help with.

     "You said that you had a home in Dan's house. Where did you consider your home to be before that? What about now? Where would you like to be?", Linda then changed the subject — kind of — and it made Genevieve fall into deep thought. She hadn't even realized the word had slipped out of her mouth, after telling so convincingly herself that home was Hell, and Dan's place was just temporary.

     "Well, Hell was home, of course. I suppose it still is. I've actually considered going back, but I'm not certain. But I'm not so sure if I can see myself staying on Earth, or this city, at the very least", Ginny eventually sighed, truth in her words. She did miss Hell, and the throne she had taken for herself, and Genevieve wasn't sure if she was ready to change the place she had called home for most of her existence, for a city of emotional humans.

     "Have you considered that home isn't necessarily a place, but a person?", Linda then presented a new point of view to the matter, and at that instant, Genevieve froze, her eyes stopped on Linda, air ceased to flow through her system. And for one second there, she felt like the therapist had a fairly good point. "Which brings me to my next question... How are things with Lucifer?", the blonde then continued carefully, very aware that Genevieve's marriage with Lucifer was a touchy subject to her — and the same went for Lucifer, who had had many heated conversations and arguments about his wife with the same therapist.

     Swallowing thickly, Genevieve looked down at her fingers and the sharp, red nails she kept on clicking together. "What Lucifer and I have... It's confusing. I try to hate him, but I fear I can't. And he doesn't hate me either, apparently. He wants to help and get close and be the husband he stopped being when he abandoned me, but... I don't know", the queen muttered, but even if she was trying to play it cool, she couldn't deny the quickened beat of her black, dead heart.

     "What's stopping you?", Linda then questioned. "Do you love him?", she asked gently, and at this, Genevieve lifted her gaze and looked at the therapist with wide eyes and parted lips.

     And she didn't know what was worse. That she wanted to say no, or that she couldn't.

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AHHHHH GINNY

you guys have no idea how excited i am about the next three chapters, it's going to get emotional, intense, badass & EXCITING