Chapter 12

J

I spent the next week, organizing everyone's schedules, writing detailed notes of the meetings, study sessions for classmates and my own classwork. I had worked as hard as I ever had so that I would have enough time for my babies. I loved the guys but my plants needed their attention too; and in most cases I prefer their company over fauna any day.

A click in the latch made me spin on my heels and Lucifer, of all people, stepped into the greenhouse. He only wore his black button down shirt with the sleeves rolled and his usual slacks; he had even forgone his tie.

"To what do I owe the pleasure Senpai?" he stopped in his tracks and looked at me confused but eased as soon as he saw the smile on my face. I couldn't help it, I did like getting a rise out of him once in a while. He crossed his arms and studied me.

"You haven't called me that in over a month."

"And you haven't worn that little since the day I met you." He chuckled as he looked at himself.

"Well if I am going to be in a place with dirt I would be better to be in the bare essentials."

"You never told me why you were here."

"I cannot take an interest in botany?"

"This greenhouse was abandoned for hundreds of years before I got here; why would you be interested now?" he smiled and laughed again.

"You got me; I came to see you Jetèa." Now I was the one to stop smiling.

"My brothers have taken a liking to you, and I care for them very strongly. If they are going to stay close to you, I need to know more about you."

"Ah, like the irate parent coming to survey their child's first date?"

"Your analogy is condescending."

"But correct." I tossed him a pair of gardening gloves and started walking.

"I suggest you change out of those unless you want them dirty too." I stopped and turned to watch him change, it felt almost wrong like seeing the man's hands were a secret he would take them off at dinner but I hadn't cared enough to look then.

"Ah, so your nails are red."

"Yes."

"Why bother to color them if you are going to wear gloves?"

"Why bother to know about etiquette if you do not practice it?"

"touché. I am just feeding them and giving them water, if you like you can- No watch out!" I swatted his hand away from the large plant he was about to approach.

"What is the matter?"

"That is an Ojigi plant, also known as Mimosa Pudica; she is very sensitive to heat and movement!"

"And why is that dangerous to me?" ah, the way he posed that question irked me, like he were invincible. So I sidestepped back to my table and grabbed a severed boars head by the tusks and sauntered over.

"Because Oji here;" I threw the head underhanded right past Lucifer who startled as the large plant snatched it midair, snapping its leaves shut around the meat and began to ooze digestive fluids.

"Well she is also part Venus Fly Trap, and with her size, she needs more than a common house fly." He stared a bit wide eyed at my darling as she worked her meal, beginning to crush the bones of the skull. I watched the proud demon watch in awe and maybe even fear at my eight foot creation. The face he made was the expression of admiration, of acknowledging something else that demands respect from you and it would be right to do so. I loved it more than anything.

"Are there more like this I should know about?!"

"There is only one of her kind or size. The others will snap but at worst you'll lose a small chunk from your finger."

"I see why you said feed and water; how did it get to be this big so quickly?!"

"I started her off with the usual insects, but Devildom's bugs are pretty nutritious and she grew out of them quickly." That and my own energy was a food source as well, but that as neither here nor there.

"Well then, let's get started."

"You still wish to help?"

"Of course; that is what I came to do, and I have questions to ask you." He seemed pretty relaxed, and I let my guard down a little to smile. This demon was an odd one, but I was beginning to see a different side to his normal haughty nature; maybe we weren't so different after all.

L

She smiled at me and I saw a shine in her eyes from my willingness to assist; these plants seem to bring her happiness and I want to know how and why. What was it that made her tick, why was it she truly wanted to come here and what did she plan with my brothers? But the way she lit up brought a new feeling in me as well that I couldn't place and it irritated me that the answer as not available.

"So are you looking to tend to the carnivorous, poisonous or hazardous?"

"Wouldn't that make them all hazardous?"

"Yes but the hazardous group in specific only have sharp thorns or leaves that could tear you apart. The poisonous ones can either transmit toxins through spores, thorns or a liquid substance they secrete causing any number of ailments. The carnivorous plants can do either or both of these but can sometimes be….nippy." she glanced back to the Ojigi plant whose leaves shifted and lurched at the touch of my breath as I turned back to it. I could see the teeth and mouth like structure in the center of the fronds. She took pride in her pets I could see it in her eyes.

"So pick your poison."

"Hmm, I believe I will do just that. I have a partiality to poisons myself." She seemed to beam and took my hand to lead me to another area of the large building.

"You will find all of These lovely ladies here to be to your liking! Water Hemlock, White snakeroot, deadly nightshade, Castor Bean and AH!" she giggled as she stroked the leaves of another plant I didn't recognize, it had an odd fruit that looked like tiny red berries poking from peapods.

"Rosary Pea, Abrus Precatorius, these peas contain Abrin, only three milligrams can kill an adult, the ricin stopping protein production can cause organ failure in only four days at most. In one of these rosaries alone you would lose your very life in a slow and painful manner."

"And that excites you?" She blushed a little at that.

"There is always more to a poison than its death rate. The peas are often made into rosary beads; even the makers have fallen ill and died from pricking their fingers." She plucked a single pea from its pod, and stepped within inches of me, her eyes lit like fire.

"Can you see a poor soul praying forgiveness or thanks using a string of something that can end their very life if they so much as break the skin of these? One would call it divine will; another would call it poor judgment."

"And what would you call it?"

"A tragic irony, and a plant simply doing as it was made to do; protect itself and reproduce." She placed the pea into a marked container of more of its kind before continuing, passing me a water can.

"You cannot simply pour water onto their soil and leave it at that; with these you have to them talk to them like you love them and all the danger they possess! Because it is through their toxins that I can make antidotes and medicines which will help other worldwide…though I don't think they deserve it." She let that slip under her breath; she was letting her guard down with me, she was never one to mumble or speak of such things around me. But then from what I have seen and heard of her, she wasn't much for her own race. She stroked and cooed at a water hemlock that seemed to turn ever so slightly towards her as I watered the soil.

"So why strive so hard to help others when they have done you wrong so often?" she looked up surprised then.

"You didn't have to tell me everything to know that you have been targeted in the past. Why do you do it?"

"Well I haven't met everyone in the world, so not everyone has wronged me." She stroked the leaves of the foxglove deep in thought before lowering her head so I couldn't see her face.

"Have you ever had the power to make those that hurt you stop; to remove the target off of your back forever and be in your own peace but because of your circumstances you are forced to leave it there? Walking around like some dog on a leash, wanting to bite that hand that tugs you so and run free but because of what you a-…..what you've done…you are forced to sit and beg, thankful for the scraps thrown at your masters feet?" My heart rent and as I looked over her tuned back. I knew what she meant, I knew that…better than anyone. And the fact that she illustrated it so perfectly sent another mixture of emotions through me regarding this bizarre yet beautiful creature.

"I…" I couldn't answer her though…I could not let myself admit the torment I feel in this existence of gilded servitude. Because doing so would be acknowledging to far deeper atrocities I already fought to keep concealed behind my wall of pride. She chuckled, ashamed of her misguided confiding and moved onto the next plant.

"Alright; I want you to give it a try, I want you to stimulate the leaves of the Castor Bean while you give the water and nutrients. You are not simply giving nutrition but adoration, you are giving your heart to this lovely gem and in return she will give you her very best in produce." I looked to the one with the reddish purple leaves and I thought about how she had done and how the plant actually responded to her. I removed the gardening glove from my hand, allowing my fingers to softly stroke the undersides of the leaves as I leaned in allowing my breath to graze them.

"Hello my darling, I have brought you something sweet to drink. I hope you are getting enough sun…you have truly grown to be an exquisite beauty, Go on, drink your fill and I will give you all you desire." I spoke low and softly as though she were the only one alive in this building. And to my pleasure the leaves turned toward my voice ever so slightly, I wouldn't have seen it if I weren't so close. She responded to my affection.

"It appears you are right, they are sentient after all." She stared at me a little, her cheeks lightly flushed. She cleared her throat and straightened.

"Well done." We continued on as she spoke of this plant and that, how to treat this one and how to speak to it. She continued with the same glow in her eyes like she were introducing me to her friends and I listened to every name, toxin, food choice and history. But during this, her chuckle of disappointment rang in the back of my mind, how can such a creature have a heart so similar to mine and yet happen upon me? What was I thinking; her heart couldn't possibly know the darkness that lies within me, she could never know the pain I carry like manacles or the many bricks of self-assurance I stack atop each other to further build my wall. But even still, that chuckle…that nearly silent recoil in her search of a kindred spirit broke open the anomalous possibility that she may have found one.

J

I had made a complete fool of myself by asking that; I was just happy that he dropped the subject as we continued. I wondered what he was thinking….but damn I had to show him respect; why was it his was the one I wanted to read most anyway? I continued to tell him about each of my babies and he listened with attentive garnet eyes.

"I figured you to have gotten bored by now."

"All of this information is quite interesting. It makes me wonder if there should be such a course for the subject."

"A nice sentiment, but who would teach it?" He looked at me intently now and I felt my face heat up again.

"No, I have much to learn still." And I have so much to do as is, with student council, my own classwork and my research to deal with I couldn't fit lesson plans and paper grading in as well. but I wouldn't tell him that.

"Don't consider it a course per se but rather a club."

"A Botany club? That would be fun but I doubt many would join."

"You never know until you try."

"But…I've never had others with me while I worked with them." Why did I say that? Truth be told I hardly trusted Lucifer with my plants let alone random students but to say something so shameless was audacious.

"I understand; they are precious to you…I can see that in the way you treat them and how lush they grow. It was only a suggestion, that is all." He held up his hands, a smile on his face. I looked at him a little too long as I processed it all.

"Jetèa…"

"Yes?"

"The dog…can the dog ever be free from its master's chain?" my breath caught as he looked at me with earnest in his eyes, that question resonated against my spirit and I fought the painful twist I felt in my heart.

"I suppose that depends…in my case I don't believe so; but I can make my mark and inspire others to break free." His eyes seemed to soften at this response and he took a step back.

"Well then…I believe we are done here." I sighed the words out and he nodded.

"Then I will see you at the house tonight?"

"Of course, I'm still grounded; at least until this weekend is over. Diavolo only lets me work on the greenhouse because it's academic, but we all have our guilty pleasures don't we?" just then….the smallest flash of pink crossed his face and was gone in an instant.

"Speaking of guilty pleasures 'Tèa, we have to finish our game, I restored it to where we left off if you are still feeling the need to leave." My stomach twisted in knots.

"Can't we just play, without stakes?" he chuckled as he moved to leave.

"I suppose, but it wouldn't be as pressing."

"I can handle that." there was an awkward pause between us.

"….'Tèa…."

"Excuse me?"

"You called me 'Tèa, my siblings and my friends….call me 'Tèa." Well as far as that nickname goes, Beel, Levi and Belphie have started on that train. Satan calls me by my whole name, Asmo still calls me Rose and Mammon wasn't speaking to me still. But never had I thought Lucifer would say such a thing; not that it mattered at all. But if even that were the case why did I mention it?

"Ah…well; is it alright that I call you that then?" I knew what he was asking but I froze. I didn't know how to answer and he didn't wait long before believing that my silence was my response.

"Right. I will be off then; thank you for the lesson Jetèa." My heart dropped as he left without another word. Dammit. Why did I freeze at his unspoken question, why was I so adamant when it came to vexing that man? Can we be friends….

He thinks I just spat his question back at him like the night he tore me down. He could possibly hate me again now; with no hope for reconciliation this time. Over the next hour I finished up, grabbed my bag and hurried back with less than twenty minutes of curfew.

I entered the house to a tension as tight as a coil and the brothers looked to me in anxiety and relief as they were gathered in the library as I passed by.

"Oh my goodness rose come here! We need your help!" Asmo pulled me in, his brow furrowed and his bottom lip out.

"What is going on?!"

"What else, LOL Mammon screwed up again!"

"Oi! Shaddup, how was I supposed to know this would happen?!"

"Because it was your idea." Satan sat reading, the only one who looked unbothered.

"Uh, I think before you ask for her help you should say something first." Belphie crossed his arms and the rest followed suit. Mammon seemed to stammer and fidget like a child.

"Okay, Okay Already! Don't look at me like that! Jetèa….I've been an ass!"

"That's an understatement."

"Shut it Levi! Look I'm a busy man, and I have a lot to do in my life and spending my time with a fragile human was not what I had in mind at all; put a whole wrench in my plans! But after a while you weren't as horrible as I thought you was, you're still horrible though! And well, I get so busy with all I got to do that I get distracted and you got in danger. So I figure since I'm always so busy and you're so slow and fragile…I wanted you to find someone else to take care of ya. I know humans can be dumb…."

"So you tried to drive me away." I was in tears; he didn't hate me after all, he just feared for me and felt insecure in his own abilities!

"Uh…yeah, but It didn't work; you didn't get assigned to no one else and I sorta missed having my little pet around…um…can you forgive me?" I felt elated and overjoyed. I bounded right over to him and punched him right in his jaw.

"OWWWWW what is that for?!"

"You inconsiderate Neanderthal; do you know what stress you put me under? Do you know how many nights I laid awake wondering what I have done wrong to make you hate me so?! You inconceivable JERK!" I kicked him in his leg as he bent over in pain and then gave him a slap for good measure.

"Next time you are feeling like that talk to me instead of acting like a child! You really hurt me!" I hugged him then and the tension eased.

"See I told you she cared about you; and you thought she wouldn't forgive you!" Beel smiled as she munched on his potato chips.

"I don't wanna know what she would've did if she didn't! That HURT!"

"So what did you do?" the room got quiet again.

"Okay so we notice Lucifer come in about two hours ago bein' all….weird."

"Weird?"

"He wasn't himself, he looked distracted and quiet."

"Yeah he didn't say anything to anyone just calmly walked upstairs but then I noticed he dropped his gloves!" I already didn't like where this was going.

"So the Great Mammon got the idea to play a little keep away with 'em since he wears 'em like EVERYWHERE! It would really get under his skin!"

"But Genius here thought he would press them into a tin can; but didn't think that Beel or ANYONE for that matter would try to open said can while preparing dinner, especially since he put it in the front of the cabinet!" Satan turned the page shaking his head. Mammon pulled out the torn and mangled gloves and they heard my gasp of horror. Lucifer loved these gloves, he wore them everywhere practicing perfect etiquette; but now they were torn apart. They were some type of leather, sheep skin maybe? The inside was like very fine velvet and warm.

"When Lucifer finds out you ruined his gloves you are getting more than tied up; you may just get killed." Levi let out a nervous laugh.

"And then he'll spread that nasty mood over to us! I'm not getting worry lines because of you Mammon!" Asmo pointed a perfectly painted nail his way. I examined the gloves thinking to myself.

"Maybe we can buy him another pair and he won't notice?" They could get the hand size wrong.

"Maybe he won't notice they're gone at all?" Oh he will notice.

"Maybe he had several pair?" Even if he did, he pays too much attention to detail to simply misplace a pair of gloves.

"Guys…leave it to me; if he asks, tell the truth but stay out of his way for as long as you can. I took them up to my room and spread them out; one was only torn a little bit, I would have to reattach the finger but the other was cut into three pieces. I pulled out my sewing kit, finding the spool of thin black nylon. I looked at the tears carefully, selecting the smallest needle I had, gripping the edges just enough so the seam was not obvious but just enough so it wouldn't rip or the stitches pop. I worked my way all around, putting my entire focus into it, hoping this would be enough