This chapter is named after the lyrics of Within Temptation's song Angels.

~ I Still Remember the Smile When You Tore Me Apart ~

"No."

She'd said it loud and clear.

"No!"

She'd said it enough to sear it into her brain. Enough to make it the only word she could hear herself think about, hour upon hour, day upon day.

No.

"Don't do this," she begged and in that moment she couldn't have been more ashamed for the words that dared to leave her mouth. She didn't beg. She never did. Yet here she was, screaming out desperate pleas as the monster's hands held her wrists in their tight, iron grip. "Please."

"No?" he inquired, cocking his head to the side like a curious puppy.

Only he was far more dangerous, far more vicious than a mere canine; his gift was that of world-ending power, and he was more than willing to use a fraction of it on her. To subdue her. Control her. Make her his in ways she'd never imagined.

She'd be lying if she said she hadn't given it a thought all those months ago, back when she believed the perfect little lie his beautiful face told, but not like this. Never like this.

She'd wanted it to be on her terms. With consent. With that yes that would never, after this horrifying week, leave her lips again.

The yes she hadn't given, yet he still felt entitled to her body, her soul, to everything hers. He'd felt entitled to her. What the devil wants, devil takes. So he took her. Used her. Abused her. And he'd promised even worse.

"I seem to recall you wanting this," he said. "You were practically throwing yourself at me like the whore you are." The words stung, hard. She couldn't quite decipher whether it was shame that she was feeling, or dread for the things to come. "What changed, hm?"

His eyes, dead and cold and so, so vicious, locked with hers, staring straight into her soul. Soul that was, no doubt, a shadow of what it used to be, a tattered reminder of the horror that would be her remaining days for she knew she wasn't going to get out of this alive. He would use her to fulfill his dark desires, and when she finds herself unable to take anymore of his abuse, he would throw her away like a useless ragdoll he thought of her as.

Well, not useless just yet. She still had some strength left. Not enough to fight him off, but just enough to live, to exist, to breathe. It's been days since she'd stopped resisting, finding it easier to let him satisfy his cravings than suffer the pain of trying to push him away. He didn't appreciate rejection. The punishments were more than severe; if she'd just laid still and let him do as he pleased, it would be over much sooner.

Much like a cat, Lucifer liked to play with his food. And just like a cat, he loved a good chase. Playing with his prey, tossing it around… Rowena shuddered at the memory. Resistance was futile. It wasn't worth the hurt.

"I loathe ye," she said, her voice raspy, throat dry and scratchy.

He pouted, his expression reminiscent of that of an innocent child. If he wasn't a monster, she'd think it adorable. "That's what makes it all the more fun."

Rowena's eyes welled up with new tears, the old ones already drying on her bruised cheeks. "No. Please," she whimpered like a wounded animal, swallowing a lump that formed in her achy throat. "I'll be yer servant, yer slave, anythin', just please, don't do this to me."

He smiled, observing her, thoroughly, carefully, like a predator would a prey, the look in his eyes hungry; hungry for her, for her body, for her mind that was slowly disintegrating with each passing second his foul skin touched hers.

"I am going to quote you on this one, Red," he said, leaning in close enough that she could smell his breath, a mixture of peppermint and expensive alcohol that used to turn her on, and now made her sick to her empty stomach. His lips brushed against her ear and she shivered at the unwelcome touch, as his mouth formed a cold, spine-chilling whisper of: "No."

She could only helplessly whimper as he proceeded to violently slam into her, over and over again, ignoring the pained, terrified screams ripping free from the containment of her throat.

And the worst of it all? He was smiling. All the way through.

Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it.