His body seems to take control of him as his hands reach for my face. He leans in slowly but I scoot back on the couch and tell him to stop. He does.

"What just happened? What was different just then?" He asks, clearly stressed out.

I try thinking as hard as I can. I retrace my steps. "I saw you were in a trance so I just asked you again."

"Yes, but why was I in a trance? What happened before?"

I think back and light up. "I touched your leg."

He perks up. "We have to test something. Don't touch me this time and say it."

I roll my eyes but follow along. "Kiss me, Lucifer." I make it dramatic, like how he's being.

He doesn't move. "Now," he grabs my hand. "Tell me."

"Uh, Kiss me." The same thing happens as before, he leans in to kiss me. I push his chest back after letting go of his hand. "Stop."

He jumps up in excitement. "Yes! I mean, it's horrible but at least I figured it out." I raise an eyebrow. "I only do as you say when we're touching!"

"That's ridiculous. This isn't hocus pocus." I stand up, going to the cupboard to grab a glass for water.

As I'm filling it up,  he comes up behind me, taking away the cup.

"No! Lucifer," I whine. "Give it back."

"Sorry, you're just saying that, right? Maybe this means our relationship is getting serious." He takes a sip from the cup I was holding.

He hands it back to me. "There is no relationship between us."

"You can control the devil and you're still in denial?"

I lay the cup in the dish drainer after washing it out. "You're not the devil, Lucifer."

He closes his eyes, shaking his head. He's out the door before I can stop him, but why would I? No reason to.

I take this time to organize my closet and think. Truthfully,  if this man believes he's the devil, I might be in for a ride. Or in danger. I shake away the thoughts, stupidly.

I hear the front door close and I go to meet him out there but stop when I see his face. He's confused and angry and I don't think I like it. I try retreating into the bedroom but he walks quickly up to me.

"Why weren't you lying? I know when someone is lying."

"About what?" My heart beats quickly but I show no sign of fear until he closes me into the wall.

He takes a minute before saying, "Your mom. I went to the police station and the reports were right there. Self-defense." My heart stops.

I say nothing as he continues. "So how'd you do it?"

I'm taken back by his question.  How did I...? But I didn't really fight her...did I? I look up at him. I want to lie. I really don't want to lie. That makes no sense. So why won't I just lie to him?

"I stabbed her."

"With?"

"A knife?" It comes out as a question. Dammit.

He just tilts his head. "What kind?"

I think back but come up with nothing. "A kitchen knife."

He makes a buzzer sound. "Wrong. It was a hunting knife." I tense up and close my eyes. "Now, are you going to tell me the truth?"

"It was my dad!" I feel him move away from me and I open my eyes.

He stares at me, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Your dad? Why?"

Am I really going to reveal to a stranger my biggest secret I've kept for six months? "I can't tell you. He has friends. They'd kill me if told you."

He laughs from his stomach in a mocking manner. "Trust me, they can't hurt you nor me, Aniela."

"He hit me one time, and left a nasty bruise. Mom found out and told him she'd put him in prison for laying a hand on me. He told her he was cheating on her and to go to hell." Lucifer chuckles. "She was going to file for a divorce and take me with her. But . . ."

My throat feels swollen and I feel like I can't breathe. "He took his hunting knife she got him for his birthday and . . . killed her." He tenses up. "He told me to tell the cops it was me and that she came after me after finding out he was cheating. He even planted a knife in her hand when she was dead. Then he stabbed me to make it seem like she hit me first!"

I don't realize it until it's too late but I'm crying uncontrollably. Lucifer jumps up and wraps his arms around me carefully.  "Shh, Aniela. It's alright." I let out a sob. "I'm sorry. I'll leave now. Please calm down."

I nod, still sniffling. "Stay." I say quietly. He sits back next to me on the bed and pulls me close, cradling me gently.   "I want you to stay with me tonight." He says nothing but stays close, rubbing my arm softly.

"I'm right here Aniela. Nothings going to happen to you, my angel." He whispers. His voice is soft, almost caring. 

After another few minutes, I finally settle down and fall asleep in his arms. It's been so long since anyone has held me like this.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

I wake up in Lucifer's arms, a blanket over both of us. I look up at him. He's still sleeping so I carefully leave the bed, headed towards the kitchen to get another glass of water. I reuse the old glass, filling it up and taking a drink.

I turn around and drop the glass from my hands, frozen in my spot. I put my hands up defensively.

"I knew you were a slut, Aniela. As soon as I kick you put, you run to another man's house." He cocks back the gun and aims it up near my head.

"Drop it." I hear Lucifer's voice as he comes into view around the corner.

My father laughs. "And I'll kill him too, princess."

"Kill me first, then." Lucifer says, holding his arms out to the side.

My dad looks over to him and smiles menacingly. "Don't mind if I do."

"No!" I scream, but the gunshot already rings out and I stare in horror.

Lucifer walks toward my dad and chuckles. What? Another shot rings out but Lucifer still stands, walking briskfully towards my father, grabbing the gun from his hands and putting it to the side.

He takes my dad by the shoulders and stares into his eyes intensely. "You want to tell the police the truth about your wife's killer. You will happily sit in prison for the rest of your life and leave your daughter alone. No one is to harm her in any way."

Without another word, my father leaves the house, leaving me speechless and horrified. "What the hell just happened?"

"Well now your dear old father is going to confess to the murder of your mother. And allow no one to harm you either." He walks closer to me but I back away.

"No! Stay there." I cry out, confused and scared.

Lucifer looks hurt but backs away and puts up his hands in retreat. "I won't hurt you, Aniela. I promise. My word is my word."

"H-How did you survive the bullets?" I stutter out, clearly unable to speak properly.

"I already told you, I'm Lucifer. I'm immortal, love."

I stare at the gun, feeling weak all of the sudden. How did he not die? I don't know and it scares me. The possibility of him being an immortal demon crosses my mind. "Prove it. Without hurting yourself!"

He thinks for a moment. "Bring your friend Jack over."

"Zach?"

He dismisses me with his hand. "Potato, patato."

I hesitate but call up Zach and he willingly agrees, and here within minutes. I keep my distance from Lucifer, much to his disliking.

"What's up, Aniela?" He looks over. "Lucifer." He says his name seductively.

"Yes, hello, Chad. Now, " he grabs Zach by hus shoulders like he did with dad. "Don't you want to make out with your friend, Aniela, over there?"

I laugh coldly. "Yeah right. Zach's gay, Lucifer."

But Zach makes his way over to me, lust in his eyes. He grabs my neck,  roughly pulling me forward and kissing me. It's messy but effective as he pushes me up against the wall in the kitchen and pins my wrists above my head.

I struggle under his grip but he pins me tighter, pressing a hard kiss to my lips. I pull my head back and yell his name, telling him to stop.

Suddenly, he backs up, horrified and confused. "Why did I just do that?"

"Because I cohorst him to believe he wanted to. Because I'm the devil." Lucifer says to us.

"Aniela?" I look to Zach, who is just as confused as I am.

I shake my head in disbelief. "Why can't you do it on me, then?"

"I don't know. But I think it has something to do with the reason why you can control my actions."

I decide to test my own theory out as I slowly walk towards Lucifer. "You're not gay, right?"

"Oh, hell no. I'd rather go back to hell."

I smirk. I grab ahold of his hand. "Kiss Zach, Lucifer." I hold onto his hand as he makes his way over to, a very flustered, Zach.

He leans in, ready to kiss him, but I say stop, letting go of his hand immediately. "Oh fuck, what in the hell?"

My smile fades when realization hits. He actually might be the real Lucifer after all. "Sorry, I needed to know for myself."

He fixes his suit he always seems to be wearing. "Well, I'm glad you believe me now. But no more kissing games from either of us, deal?"

He sticks out his hand and I take it. "Deal."

"Thank you, Aniela." He leaves the room, Zach and I the only ones left.

I start heading back to bed as Zach follows after me. "Where are you going?"

"Back to sleep." I shrug off his question.

"I don't even know what in the hell just happened, Aniela."

"Let's talk tomorrow, Zach, please? A lot just happened and I'll tell you all of it." I plead with him. After a while he grunts and leaves willingly, telling me to call him after I get off work.

I don’t bother with changing clothes so I lay back down in bed and drift off back to sleep.