A/N: I couldn't resist posting this even though I need to be doing other things. I enjoyed writing this chapter hence the fairly decent length.
Disclaimer: I used a random name generator for Mykael's parents. Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental. And no, the prophecy is not mine, nor is John Light sadly.
Chapter 3: Unforgivable
"And this is who I am when, when I don't know myself anymore…" -Red
Lucifer was having a hard time staying away from Allison. His thoughts had never lingered on another being more. It was a bit disconcerting. This being the case, he had not forgotten his vow to make her hate him, but he was having a hard time following through, finding himself watching her from the shadows. So, instead, he chose to avoid her all together and find Mykael Paun.
Three weeks after his admittance of knowledge of the antichrist, he was sitting in a small café in Bucharest watching what to most people looked like a normal family, but he knew better. If one looked closely, the mother, Ileana Paun of Russian descent once a Volkov, was eating her dinner almost mechanically. Her posture was stiff and the dress she wore a drab gray. The slight hunch to her shoulders was a telltale sign of mistreatment. Lucifer could feel her fear from all the way across the plaza. Otherwise, she had beautiful crystal blue eyes and auburn hair wrapped up in a tight coif. Mykael also had a bit of that fear in the slump of his shoulders and the tilt of his full head of brown hair. He was still in the age of innocence at six years old. At that age he wouldn't understand what was going on, taking it as a natural occurrence. The abuse wouldn't be obvious to the casual observer…unless they knew what to look for.
The father, oh the father, he exuded evil. Lucifer knew from the placement of his heavyset shoulders and the grim lines of his forehead that this was a soul he would soon own.
The man had an authoritativeness about him that reminded the devil so much of Adolf Hitler…with perhaps a bit more backbone. He certainly had about one hundred pounds on the man. The muscles of his arms bulged against the long sleeves of his dingy overcoat and a cap sat haphazardly on his dark brown curls. His name was Anatoli Paun. Currently he was a lowly clerk in the administrative section of the local government, but with the help of John Riegert…he might just make it to mayor. What Lucifer did know of the future, was that Mykael would most certainly become a world leader if his father were to continue in the path he was going. And, he would. His father had already begun to shape him into the man that would one day be the antichrist that would spark a revolution no one would ever forget.
For now, the family with the abusive head of household was destitute for the most part. The wages for lowly government officials in Romania were not exactly up to par. This lack of money leads to the kind of toxic environment that Mykael was growing up in. Anatoli and Ileana (who was currently a seamstress) fought constantly due to low funding and depression. The depression has led to his drinking problem which in turn caused Anatoli to lash out in an abusive manner to rid him of the anguish and frustration that life was dealing him. It was all rather fascinating in the scheme of things. Lucifer enjoyed watching their torment, thriving off of it. However, he wasn't the only one.
Another figure, in the darkest booth in the darkest corner, sat observing the fallen angel and the family in turn. Going unnoticed and forgotten by Lucifer was definitely an advantage for this sentient being. Even the observant waitress hadn't bothered him with the tacky menu. He was trying to ascertain what was so interesting about this particular family to the dark prince. However, Lucifer rarely gave glimpses into his mind to anyone. He knew Allison was getting under the angel's hard outer skin, but what could possibly interest him here? Belial would have asked the same thing if given the chance to. Not that either of them would have gotten an answer from the devil.
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Allison on the other hand was enjoying…or rather hating a quiet moment over her own dinner. She was fully recovered from the fall. She had also come to the conclusion that John was avoiding her. The moment he'd admitted he knew the antichrist, he disappeared…again.
Allison sighed and stirred her vegetable soup absentmindedly. She was beginning to tire of being alone constantly. There was the option of calling out for him of course…he'd most likely hear her. She knew he was nearby and had felt him watching her on numerous occasions—mostly during compromising situations such as getting ready for bed or while she was bathing (pervert)—but no interaction whatsoever. Perhaps that kiss had affected him as much as it had affected her. He had certainly been breathing hard afterwards.
She sighed again. Why did he stop anyway? I thought lust was one of the seven deadly sins he commits on a daily basis? The darkest part of her mind whispered that perhaps it wasn't just lust that fueled John's kiss. Allison remembered the way he made her feel and found herself longing for more.
"Those are dangerous thoughts." She whispered, putting her head in her hands."What are we waiting on anyway, God? What am I supposed to do?" She asked, staring at the ceiling. No answer was given. So, she took her soup to the sink. Something told her he'd be back soon.
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When she sank back into the warm bubbles and relaxed, her hair pinned up, she shut her eyes and moaned softly at the warmth. The instant it left her mouth, the air seemed to shift. He was watching her again. She could feel it. "I know you're there, John."
He didn't reply, but she knew it was him. That cologne he used was really rather strong…not that she was complaining.
"You've been watching me." She murmured, bringing her knees up and shifting so that he'd have a good view of her ample breasts. Tempting the devil was probably not one of her better ideas, but if she got it out of her system perhaps she could get past it.
John didn't respond, but he was definitely enjoying the view and painfully hard because of it. Unfortunately for her, he liked pain. Instead of joining her, he let her be disappointed…and was rewarded with watching her touch herself to the thought of him. Oh, he wanted to touch, but something told him that it was too soon. Her soul was too pure. Perhaps it would always be too soon. If that kiss was any indication, he knew he had to steer clear of her…If he didn't, there would be consequences and Lucifer had no intentions of falling...again.
So, he settled for watching her, admiring her beautiful body from afar…and yes she definitely had a glorious body that he would love to….He stopped that train of thought quickly as she stood up in the bath and began toweling off looking slightly forlorn. She slid the nightie on over her bare skin…no panties…she really was looking for trouble…he chuckled.
"Now I know you're there." She said aloud, looking directly at the shadows he stood in.
"Just enjoying the show." He purred.
Allison shivered as he moved into the light.
"You're cold. Perhaps we should get you to bed." His voice was pure sex and Allison was wet all over again.
She scoffed at him and headed straight into the bedroom she had claimed. John pretended not to notice the sway of her hips or the way droplets of water fell from her damp hair sliding enticingly down her neck. "I can't stay here, you know."
"You have nowhere else to go." He responded near instantly.
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Your adoptive parents think you're dead." His tone was solemn, but Allison wondered if she had imagined the sad inflection in it.
Tears pooled in her eyes. "I never meant to hurt them."
His face remained impassive. "Most humans don't mean to hurt others. Yet God still allows it."
"And that would be your fault, wouldn't it?" She spat.
"I didn't force Eve to take the apple."
"Oh I'm sure you didn't." She replied. "You can be very persuasive when you want to be…or a complete monster…or an angel. I can't quite figure out which one of them is the real you."
"Perhaps they all are." He answered, meeting her gaze. For a moment his eyes turned black…or was it the light?
"Where do you go?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Are you sure you want to know?" He was smirking now. This conversation was a bit lighter.
She climbed into the bed and pulled the blankets tight around her. "Not really."
He let his eyes wander over the bed idly. "I met the antichrist today."
She sat straight up, no longer tired.
"A charming little boy, that one. Four little freckles, just there on his cheek." He reached out and stroked her face affectionately and she wondered how he'd gotten so close without her noticing.
"You're going to corrupt him." It sounded like an accusation, but felt like a question. Since the rescue, she had had a hard time equating John with the evil fallen angel that he should be.
"I don't have to. His father is doing a fine job on his own."
She stared at him in horror, wondering what the poor child was going through. "What do you mean?"
"You don't want to know."
Allison bit her lip. "You must be pleased."
"I'm positively giddy." He agreed, a malicious smile pulling at the edges of his mouth.
She sighed. "You know you're not going to win this. I don't even know why you bother."
"Last I heard the prophecy isn't finished." He replied in a bored tone.
"You're not better than Him; and I think you know that."
He didn't pretend to misunderstand her. "You seem so certain."
She tilted her head and studied the handsome fallen angel with something akin to sympathy. "I have faith, John. I'm sure that once upon a time, you did too. He'd forgive you, if you'd give Him a reason to."
"Oh I think I'm far past that point, Allison." He answered solemnly.
"You don't know that for certain."
"Neither do you." He snatched her wrist and brought it close to his chest, nearly dragging her from the bed. "I'm not an angel of God anymore, little monkey. A word of advice; if you try to save me you'll only lose your way."
Allison was gasping for breath at his closeness, but all she could feel from him was cold. This was not the angel that had kissed her before. He had obviously resolved to put her at arm's length…which meant she got under his skin…she made him feel.
Realizing there was no fear, John released his grip and turned to walk away.
Her body ached at the loss and her mind scrambled for a reason to make him stay. "You'll always be an angel, Lucifer."
He paused midstride and turned to look at her. His eyes were black and empty causing an instant recoil reaction from her. Noticing the flinch, a cold smirk formed at the corner of his mouth. "Believe whatever you want if it helps you sleep at night, Allison."
Just as he was about to slink into the darkness, a soft click resounded throughout the house, causing Allison to jump out of bed immediately. "What was that?"
John breathed in deep, and the cold smirk was back. "It seems we have a visitor."
Her eyes widened and she quickly grasped her robe and a dagger she kept near her bed. The latter made him chuckle a bit. "You really think that will stop anyone?"
She glared at him. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"
"You mean you'll find out. I have business elsewhere."
"You can't be serious! You're just going to leave-"He was gone before she could finish her sentence. "Great." She muttered under her breath.
"Did you really think the devil would protect a monkey?" A gravelly voice asked from the shadows.
She spun to squint in the darkness, raising the dagger. "Who are you?"
"Gabriel."
"What do you want?" Her voice belied her slight fear.
"The big guy and your father sent me. I came to warn you that there is a greater evil than your lover in our midst."
She winced. "He's most certainly not my lover."
Gabriel shrugged. "He will be. It's inevitable."
"What is this greater evil? Is Belial out murdering the innocent again?"
"Oh he's planning on it, but no. We've been watching Stark. He has a new ally. Ba'al."
"The pagan god?"
He raised his eyebrows. "The ancient demon pretending to be a god would be more accurate. He's been following Lucifer. It's only a matter of time before he makes his move."
Allison felt lost and overwhelmed. "What am I supposed to do?"
He smiled then. "Exactly what the big guy told you to do. Protect your heart."
"What does that mean?"
His smile spread into a grin. "You'll know when the time comes. Meanwhile…you'll need to get that page before Stark does…we can't have either of them knowing the antichrist."
"If you know where it is, why don't you go for it?"
"I don't know where it is, but I'd imagine your boyfriend does. He's very crafty…but you've certainly gotten under his skin. Perhaps you can get him to spill." And with that, Gabriel walked directly out of the room and through the door at the end of the hall as if it had never been padlocked. She supposed even the devil couldn't keep God out for long.
A/N: Keep in mind that Ba'al was never an angel (fallen or otherwise) in my stories. I wonder if anyone has figured out what God is wanting her to do yet?
