So, I was a little bit of an asshole. Hey, you could cut me come slack here. I was after all the son of Lucifer. I was used to getting my own way, especially down here in the Realms. Since an early age I have had whatever my black heart desires. Everything except her.

It was like I had been struck in the head multiple times, with a brick.

Why I felt so strongly for her I really couldn't tell you. Was it the way her eyes drew me in? The way her touch made my blood rush? The way her mouth fit perfectly over mine? I could not say. She was everything I was not. She was the light to my darkness. I had never contemplated my ways until now. I was used to living in a selfish way. I was used to doing as my father commanded. Why was I starting to change now?

I was created many centuries ago. I had no recollection of my mother, though my father liked to throw her existence in my face whenever he had the chance. She had long since been gone. Whether she was dead or simply locked away somewhere, I had no clue. All knew was that she was never around. What kind of mother abandons her son? Even though I tried to impress my father, I was never the same as he was. I partook in many varieties of my own perversity. I murdered, imprisoned, tortured, and did not hesitate for my more carnal pleasures. I was after all, a demon.

Lucifer was something far worse than I could ever be. He relished in the pain and misery of others. I simply did it because that was what I was supposed to do. What demon did not like pain and suffering? I always felt out of place. A certain part of me hungered for the destructive behaviors of the Underworld. Yet another small part of me hated being down here. I tried to hide my softer side from everyone. It could only be used to hurt me. My father would crush every soft part of me if I allowed him to see it. I lived my life as best as I could, as silently as I could.

Yet this girl had changed things for me. She had made me feel things that I had never felt before. I had been with many creatures of the darkness but none invoked feelings like she had. She was beautiful, breathtaking, amazing. Just the thought of kissing her again made my head all fuzzy. I wanted to see her. I needed to speak to her. I needed to see if this connection was just in my head. Would she open her arms to me or would she push me away? She was an angel and I was a demon. A relationship like that couldn't work, could it?

These thoughts plagued me as I stood in our family home. My father was pacing his office as I leaned against the door. My hands thrust deep into my pant pockets. My father was busy rustling papers on his desk. You would think that being in the Underworld we would have a slimy ooze of a house. Our house was the biggest in the home realm. It had five bedrooms and many other rooms for our various activities. The lights were dim and the shadows long. Dark black energy matter dripped and clung to every wall and ceiling. It was my father's way of reminding us where we stood in life. I was always fascinated by the viscosity of the substance. You could literally pick it off the wall and stretch it. It was made up of thousands of souls. If you brought it close to your ear you could hear the faint echoes of many voices.

I rustled my wings and my father snapped his head up from his desk. I could see he was thinking about something important. Would I find out what that was?

"Stop fidgeting, I'm trying to find that paper that came yesterday." he said.

"I do need to be getting somewhere..." I said pleasantly.

His dark eyes glared at me, "What could be so important that you need to run out of here? Rosalie's cunt will still be there."

"I have other matters than the body parts of women."

"Oh really, pray tell me after all these centuries what you have accomplished?" he said. I could hear the taint of displeasure in his voice.

"I have done a great deal. I have helped in all the various Realms and have done everything you have asked me." I replied.

"Exactly. I have had to instruct you. You shouldn't need my instruction Edward. You're not a baby anymore." he scolded.

"I'm not like you father. I don't live and breathe this place." I said heatedly.

"Maybe you should! You are my son. If I had not seen your mother push you into this world I would have not believed it myself. You are of my flesh. Yet we are nothing alike. You play your part here, but that's it. You do not try and become the center of it." he said angrily. His eyes looked deep into mine as if he was searching for my soul. "You spend all your time whoring around. I catch you in Lust with your harpies more often than not. What must I say about that? There is a time for that son just as there is a time for all the other things we do here. How can I trust you with important matters if I can't trust your very nature?"

I dropped my eyes to the floor. My father had a way about him to make anyone feel shame. It was his special way of talking. If anyone had egotistical pride, it was my father.

"Father I try every day to be the son you want me to be. Isn't that enough?" I said meekly.

"No! It is not. Trying is not succeeding! How are you supposed to be my adviser if you cannot even advise yourself? How can we discuss the operating of the Realms when you have no idea how they even operate? Tell me Edward, how?" he demanded. I could tell no answer was going to please him. His mind was already made up.

"What would you like me to do, father?" I asked obediently.

Lucifer stood up straight. His arms folded across his chest. I could hear each breath as he pushed them out. His emotions were ranging from coldness to angry. I usually made him feel angry. He walked across the room and put a hard hand on my shoulder. His black wings hugged tight to his lean muscular frame.

"You have one chance to prove to me your worth. One chance only." he said.

"What must I do?"

"Find Alice and bring her to me."

Alice. The seer. Why did everyone want her?

"And if I do?" I said.

"Then maybe I will accept that you're my son. Find her Edward and bring her to me. There will be no more to discuss. You may go." he said, turning his back to me.

I could see the discussion was closed. I watched him walk back to his desk and resume his search. I pushed off the wall and left the office. I entered the hallway and found my way to the stairs. I had no clue as to where Alice even was. I knew she was here in the town but that was it. There were rumors of her working in secret out in the outskirts of the Realm. If Lucifer couldn't find her then how in the world could I?

Alice would know I was coming for her. She wouldn't be found unless she wanted to be found. That was the price they both paid. Lucifer granted her the sight in exchange for her soul. Alice was doomed to Hell for her price. Yet I think the person who got played was my father. With Alice's sight she could see what could be and what has been. She outsmarted my father with her every turn. I could tell it brought a lot of vexation to him. He hated not having control, especially here in his own Realm. Alice was a thorn in his side just as I was. I really had no idea of where she could be.

I exited the house. The house was situated on one of the many hills of the place. There were small towns all along this Realm. The population was smaller than you would expect. Only those of regal birth and station lived here. There were many places for a woman to hide. Inns, brothels, and enough booze to live happily for years. It would be hard finding one person in this town.

The grass was blackened and dead, it crunched as I walked over it. Lucifer had created this place and it showed a reflection of his very core. The sky was a continues lightning storm. The clouds black and the ash in the air was constantly falling. It was dark and mysterious just like Lucifer's very soul. It amazed me at how just looking at this place made me feel closer to my father than I had ever been. His pride was notorious after all.

My wings snapped open with ease. I stretched them out and flew into the air. The ash swirled in gusts around me. I hovered in midair not quite sure what to do. I could try and find Alice or I could try and find Bella. The last I had seen of my mystery girl was her slim frame running for the portal door. Was she trying to navigate down the Realms? And if so, why? Her friend was captured and I had no clue as to where she even was. Was there some part of this that I was missing? My father could be hiding things like he always did. So, what was I missing?

Two angels had come down into Hell. One was captured, and the other was somewhere else. What was there plan for coming here? They were not Arc Angels so they were not on a mission from God. Calypso had said that they were looking for Alice too. Was Alice the answer? Did Alice somehow know things that both sides wanted to know? Yet how in the world was I supposed to find her? She could be anywhere. Was Alice the missing piece to this puzzle? If I found her would she reveal to me what was going on? Yet how could I try and find her when Bella was running amok. Bella had been lucky so far with navigating the Realms. How long would her luck last?

I was torn between decisions. I longed to hold Bella in my arms, but I also was driven to discover what the hell was going on. There were things happening behind my back. I was being kept in the dark. What was going on that my dad needed to keep me away from? What was the bigger picture here? What was I missing? Would someone I know possibly have the answers? I decided to find out. Bella would have to wait a little longer for me. I just hoped that she was safe, where ever she was.

I flew silently over the town. My wings beating in the air, the ash swirling around me. I headed for The Rose, Rosalie's brothel. It was her place of residence when she wasn't in her Realm. She had contacted my father when I told her not too. Rosalie and I had a cordial relationship and I always assumed that she was into me more than I was into her. Yet her defiance in my demand made me rethink that assumption. Was I missing something? It sure felt like I was.

I descended to the ground in front of The Rose. The heavy perfume was leaking out onto the street. I could hear soft sighs and moans even from here. I shook my head and entered the residence. The main room was hosted by a voluptuous hostess of the demon variety. Her three eyes took me in as I walked to the counter. Her smile showed a set of razor sharp teeth. Her black skin gleamed in the dark light.

"Master Edward, how nice to see you again." she said smoothly.

"Jane, is Rosalie in?" I asked calmly.

"I'm not sure, think maybe she's with someone. I wouldn't want to disturb her." she said sweetly.

I decided to throw etiquette out the window. I ignored Jane and went around to the main door into the residence. Jane tried to protest, I ignored her and headed for Rosalie's main chamber. I knew where she was going to be. She had taken me there enough times. I pushed the door open without hesitation. The first thing I saw was Rosalie's naked body as she was on top of a man. Her head snapped back as she saw who entered her room. She smiled and turned back around to her prey. I didn't waste any time. I rushed over to her and yanked her off him. The man started to protest until he saw who I was. He shut his mouth and left the room. The smell of demon lingered in the room as he left. The smell made me slightly disgusted. I pushed Rosalie away from me. She didn't even try to cover her nude body. She placed each sharp fingernail on her hips. The ploy was not enticing me in in the slightest.

"You disobeyed me." I said coldly.

She smiled and took one hand away from her body. She lifted her hand and moved one finger in a wagging motion. "Now, now Edward. Is that any way to talk to a lady?"

"Your no lady." I replied.

"Is that so? Then why have we spent all these decades together?" she asked.

"Something to do." I said dismissively. I could tell I was making her angry.

"Your something else Eddy. What do you want from me? Was breaking my heart not enough?" She said while pouting her brilliant red lips.

"You have no heart. Now you're going to tell me why you disobeyed me." I demanded.

She shook her head and laughed, "Do you not understand? Your small compared to the things here. Just because your daddy's little boy doesn't mean anything. You were just a distraction for me that I may have enjoyed just a little."

She walked past me, her perfume stinging my nostrils. I avoided my eyes as she went across the room. She picked up her robe and shrugged it on. She turned back towards me.

"What do you mean I was a distraction?" I asked. My thoughts were running wild inside my head.

"Did you really think Lucifer would just let you run wild?" she said simply.

Distraction? Were my interactions with her planned? Planned by my father?

"Your saying that my dad spied on me through you?" I said slowly.

"Wow you caught on fast. What has it been? Five or six decades now?" she said with a sneer.

I came at her fast. I slammed her into the wall, my hands around her throat. She smiled as best as she could even though she couldn't breathe.

"Tell me what you know." I demanded. When she didn't try and answer I squeezed harder. Her face started to turn red. She ran her hands up over my back. I could feel the sharp nails as they ran over my shirt. I could feel myself getting aroused. I pushed her away from me.

"Stop using that shit Rose. It doesn't work so well here." I said angrily. She just continued to smile.

"Eddy, you don't scare me. If you intended to do me harm, you would have done it already. Your weak." she smirked nastily at me. "Your nothing like your father."

I clenched my hands and tried not to choke her again. She would not speak if I did that. "Rose I am going to ask you one more time. Tell me what you know or I will show you how similar I am to my father."

I gazed into the depths of her bottomless eyes. She must have seen that I meant every word I said. I did not care if she lived or died. I would hurt her to find out this information. My father had been watching me for decades. He was keeping track of me and I wanted to know why.

I took a step towards her, "Rose..."

She stepped back and stumbled into her dressing table. She was not scared of me but she was scared as to what I could do to her. I was after all, Lucifer's son. I could open portals and send her to a place that she would never come back from. She liked her control over Lust and her place of residence here. She feared Lucifer, but she feared me more. I was right here in her face.

"I don't know anything. I just was asked to watch over you." she said. Her hands kept defensively to her side. She was ready for anything.

"By my father?" I asked.

"Yes. He asked me to keep you busy." she said.

"So, this was a job for you? Babysit me and seduce me?"

She smiled, "No, the seducing you part was all me."

I bit my tongue and tried to find a reason for this. Why had my father wanted me watched? Was it because he was worried I would find out what he was up too? Or was he making sure that I didn't discover anything that I shouldn't? What was my father hiding from me? I needed answers but the only way I was going to find them was if I dug deep enough. What was so secret that his own son couldn't even know?

I lifted my eyes to Rosalie. "My father doesn't need to know about this conversation, right?"

She avoided my gaze, "Yes."

I walked slowly toward her. I took my hand and lifted her chin. Her eyes looked into mine and I pushed forward all the green from my eyes, so there was nothing but black. I felt no emotion what so ever for her. All those decades spent together had meant nothing. She had fooled me just as well as anyone else had. I was a fool to believe her words. She would tattle on me the second that I was gone. I could not trust her.

"Good, because he won't." I said softly.

The vortex opened in a split second. I watched as it began to suck her into it. The last I seen of Rosalie was her accusing eyes as I banished her into the Netherworld. She was not coming back from there. I took one last look at the room I had spent many of my years inside. Why had I stayed here? Was it the promise of love? She did not love me. She only loved herself. Yet it wasn't just the carnal pleasures that drew me here year after year. It was something else.

Rosalie was a terrible person, yet so was I. No one could pretend that I was a saint. I belonged down here just like all the others. Yet a part of me dreamed of better things. I dreamed of belonging somewhere. I dreamed of being a part of something or someone. Rosalie had given me things that I had never had before. I had been with other women of this Realm and the next. All leaving me empty and disinterested. Rosalie had awoken my need for better things. She had been beautiful but it was the wrong kind. Like a poisonous flower that killed you slowly. She was rotting me from the inside out.

It wasn't her body nor her words, it was the feeling of not being alone. I never had my mother's comfort nor my fathers. I was brought into this world in fire and ash and I was left in the remains. No one took my hand and I learned to live on my own. Yet it left me with an emptiness that I could never fill. Rosalie helped me forget the void yet she never filled it. My mystery girl had somehow walked into my life with a bang. In her kiss I could see the possibilities. I could see the future in those stolen kisses. These women down here were soul seekers. They wanted you for only their own gain. Rosalie kissed me because she had too, Bella had kissed me because she wanted too.

She wanted me, not who I was supposed to be. She saw me for what I was. Somehow, she had glimpsed into my very soul. Rosalie had not done any favors by releasing the lust into the air yet I felt like it only sped up what was already there. What Bella had done to me could have happened on their own. In a different place, in a different time, yet they would have happened eventually. All those things and more I could see inside my head. I knew that I was risking a lot by falling for an angel yet I had to try. I could not let her escape from my grasp without at least trying.

I walked out of the empty room. My heart heavy inside my chest. I was feeling things that I had never experienced before in my long life. I walked straight past Jane as she stood open mouthed at the front room. I exited out onto the street and took to the skies. I was not ashamed as a single tear fell from my eyes. That was the only tear I ever shed in my life. Things were changing inside me. That is the power of a beautiful woman. She has the power to change how you feel inside and how you see the world.

I knew this town by heart. I had been exploring it since I learned how to walk. People knew me and they avoided me. I liked that. It meant I could do what I wanted without being disturbed but now I felt something else. Were they spying on me like Rosalie had been? Was everyone around me an informer for my father? It wouldn't surprise me. This was his realm after all. He had complete control over this place. Where was I going to do now? I had discovered that my father was spying on me. I needed to see what else he was hiding from me, but how?

The manor!

My father had various correspondents from the other Realm's. Could the answer be there? I headed back to the house. My wings beating as hard as I could make them. I would have to clean my wings after flying through all this ash. The skies thundered as I rushed for home. I had to hope that he wasn't there. I dreaded what he would do if he found me searching through his things. I landed with a thud on the burnt grass. I headed for the door, and entered the house. I walked slowly up the twisting staircase for any noise. I could not be sure that my father had left the house. He spent a lot of time in the other Realm's but he liked to also be at home.

I paused outside his office and pressed an ear to the door. I could hear nothing on the other side. I raised a hand and knocked. No answer. I opened the door slowly. There was no one there. I walked toward the desk. There were papers all over its surface. I picked the closest one up and tried to read the almost illegible writing. It was a note from some important person who I didn't know. It was nothing important. I put the paper back down and looked for anything of worth.

I didn't find anything.

I ran my hand through my bronze hair and tried to think. Where would he keep his important documents? Surely, he wouldn't just leave them lying around? Especially if he was suspicious enough to have me watched. I left the room as quickly and silently as I could. My pulse rising as I felt the adrenaline running through my veins. I was treading on dangerous ground. My father would not like my snooping.

I approached his bedroom door with great caution. I extended a hand and knocked, complete silence. I opened the door and entered a room I had never been in before. A marvelous bed took up the center of the room. The décor was light, some portraits and not much else. My father was not a man of fashion. Bookshelves lined the walls. I looked around for any documents or anything of value. There was nothing. I could find no piece of evidence about anything. Where was my father hiding it? I knew there was something around here somewhere. I could feel it. Yet I was clueless as to where it could be. My father was a tricky man. I doubted he would just leave something lying around. He would know that I would come looking sooner or later. He would be smart. Was he smarter than me?

I took my time and looked around the room. Something was off. The bed and all the furniture was black and dreary. Yet the portrait on the far wall looked to be well kept. Why was he keeping that particular portrait cleaned of dust? The dark matter clinging to everything was a master at collection dust and dirt. I walked over to the picture, it was a beautiful lady. Her form was light and pleasing. I had no clue as to who this woman was. I had never seen her face before. My father had weird tastes in art. Even though the other portraits were dusty, this one was not. Why?

I extended my arm and touched the frame. It was made up of pure gold and crystal. Why had my father put so much effort into this picture over all the others? The woman was dark haired with dark eyes. She was beautiful in a different way than Bella. Who was this woman? I ran my hand over her face, tracing her cheeks. She felt familiar yet so alien. Did I somehow know her? I shook the thought away, I had never met this woman I was sure of it. I noticed the woman was wearing a strange pendant around her neck. In the portrait, it was raised just a little above the rest of the painting. I ran my finger over the ridge, it felt different than the rest of the painting. I pushed the pendant in with a finger.

Click.

The portrait clicked open. I took my hand and opened the hidden door. Behind was a compartment, inside were letters and other various artifacts. Some were regular paper, others were scorched parchment. I had found the hidden stash. I pushed a little box aside to get to the papers underneath. My anticipation was at ridiculous levels. I was about to find out what my father was hiding from me. I was so excited that I didn't hear the voices until it was too late.

"This way, I wish to gather something from my bedroom. Then we shall retire to my office."

It was my father! I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed the box and a few documents, as much as I could carry in one hand. I snapped my fingers and summoned a portal. I dove inside as the bedroom door began to open. I felt the vortex sucking me out into nonexistence and throwing me into the void. I clutched the valuables close to me. I did not want to lose them to the void.

The ground came up hard. I landed ungracefully on my ass. The air was sucked out of my lungs. I laid on the ground dazed and confused. Usually when I used my demonic powers I used them with dignity. There was nothing about this that was classy. I laid there on the ground with the little box and papers and smiled. I had outwitted my father! It was almost comical. He had almost caught me, almost. I closed my eyes and let myself relax for a moment. My heart was hammering inside my chest.

I hoped that whatever I held in my hands held the answer. I just had to hope that whatever I grabbed could give me the answers I needed. I sat up and looked at the documents. Most were faded and old my father had after all been ruler here for more eon's then I could count. The papers held facts that in this age held no worth. They had to be sentimental to my father because they were useless to me. I turned my attention back to the box. It was a small box, barely bigger than my hand. It looked sort of like a jewelry box. On the outside were engravings that I knew nothing about. I grabbed the clasp and tried to open the box.

The box would not open. I yelled in frustration. Nothing I did would make the stupid box open. Either there was a secret way it opened or else the damn thing didn't open at all. I threw it to the ground. After all that I had done, I still had nothing. I had no clue as to what my father's plans were, nor even a hint as to where Alice was. What was I going to do now? I could sneak around town and try to uncover information but that would take too long. My father must have known that. He really didn't expect me to find Alice. He had set me up to fail as he did every time he asked me to do something. I laid back in the grass and closed my eyes.

What am I going to do?

I felt like the box held something important yet the blasted thing wouldn't open. What was my next course of action? I couldn't risk going home. My father might have noticed his things were missing. The only action I had was finding Bella. I stood up and dusted the dirt of my clothes. I fought with myself over the box. Was it important? Was it just some sentimental garbage my father had kept? I decided that I would keep it. Maybe I could find some way to open it.

I bent over and picked it up off the ground. The wood was warm and cool to the touch. It was small enough that I could fit it into the small pocket in my coat. I placed it there and clicked my fingers together. I opened the portal and stepped through. As the vortex swirled me away I had enough time to think about her face. Her beautiful face stuck to my mind as the world fell away. I was coming for her. I was coming for my mystery girl. Maybe she had the answers to my questions. Maybe she could help me.

Wherever you are, I will find you.