Brimstone Angel

by DocWolf

Summary:

If you lost the person you loved the most, but somehow knew they were still alive, would you do whatever it took to at least know they were safe?
Would you be willing to give your heart and soul to an entity considered the most evil?
What if they offered to take less than that, and maybe even take you under their wing?
Would you take that opportunity?
Everyone had always said no when I asked, but they merely were fools blinded by the world around them. That's too bad for them, really. I'd already made the deal.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

New York
1935

“Please, please, just let this work.” A hoarse voice cuts through the almost oppressive silence in the usually lively forest, exhaustion further seeping into their worn and failing body. Not a single indication of life is made as they make the preparations for the ceremony coming upon the sight of the moon at its highest point. No easy summer breeze rustling the thick green foliage of the forest surrounding them. No chitters or chatters as animals conversed. No paws skittering across the grassy floor or scampering up - possibly even down or across - the trees toward the safe havens they called homes.

Even the night hunters and large herbivores were oddly silent tonight, their normally heavy footfalls and nightly hunts nowhere to be heard. Frighteningly, though. It was the bugs that normally caused such a fuss and let their soft lullaby sing through the open air that, seeming to know what was coming and subsequently deciding to stay dormant for such events, caused more distress than anything. 

The insects who never stopped their buzzing and humming - and quite frankly just annoyingly flocking to one’s face as if summoned by some invisible force - had gone dead in preparation, and it terrified them to the bone. But they couldn’t turn back now.

It was nerve-wracking, for such a lively area so thoroughly explored during youth onward - even with the superstitions surrounding the large body of water not ten yards away glittering under the moon - to be struck so uncharacteristically quiet. Especially with the knowledge of what the ceremony was supposedly summoning and what the water supposedly belonged to.

Time spent creating each circle and lining them appropriately was strenuous on their frail body, but it was done with moments to spare, and so the fire surrounding each was lit and a deep breath taken in preparation. “Here we go.”

Perhaps it was luck that their father was so intertwined with the world that would bring them right into the hands of the information needed for this ceremony, or maybe just fate. They weren’t sure. But the moment the ancient language - a language they had poured every ounce of energy into learning as they awaited the other necessary items for the ceremony - began spilling from their lips, they began to understand why it had been hidden away for so long. Only, they had done this properly. Nothing had been ignored or left out, and every precaution was taken to ensure their own safety. 

Until the flames reach such an intensity that mocha brown eyes begin to water, the struggle to stay conscious reaches its height as a sudden flare causes the flame to brush across the skin of their arms. Barely keeping themselves upright as the reality of excruciating pain works its way to their mind from severely seared nerves, they watch as a ripple of color forms in the circle adjacent to their own. 

Just as the final words escape their lips as nothing more than a whisper on the wind, a flash of purple light erupts. The shockwave that follows sends them onto the forest floor with a sharp cry of pain, eyes screwing shut to block out the stabbing sensation that erupts from colliding with the new injuries and exacerbating their own fragile state.

“Oh, well this is quite unexpected.” An oddly soothingly deep voice says from above their prone form. “I have to say that I’m quite impressed with your safety circle to prevent me from coming into contact with you, but I find this is not something I enjoy.”

A soft rustling sounds and suddenly a raven swoops down to land before tired eyes, a small leather-bound flask held within its beak. 

“Take no more than a small swallow, a sip really. It will help.” The voice is closer now but sounds truly worried over the state of the person before them. 

Dazedly, they reach for the flask in trembling fingers and watch as the corvid moves to help spin the cap after their struggle. A sip and no more is what they had been told, and that is what they do. The sweet liquid pools in their mouth as the bird gently takes the flask from between their fingers and walks it out of one circle and into the other.

“Thank you, friend. Your service tonight is appreciated. Here.” 

Glassy mocha eyes struggle for a moment, but manage to come into full focus as a silver coin is removed from a startlingly tall man’s slack pocket, his pale blonde hair shimmering in the moonlight much like the coin that is held toward the corvid. 

“A token, for you as a show of my thanks. No one besides yourself or your young shall see it, so no worry of it being stolen by others.” He reaches to stroke the bird’s head with two large fingers and a soft smile curling at his lips, the other hand open so the coin is open for the taking.

Slowly, on shaky limbs, the other presses up until they’re on their hands and knees with shallow breaths wheezing from between their lips and the taste of blood thick on their tongue. “You are… quite different than I imagined when I began on my quest to meet you.”

The man looks at them with slightly narrowed eyes, noticing how they struggle for breath and the burns that will surely scar their hands and arms - should they survive this encounter. “Most of what humans believe is not even close to the truth of what really is. Which is quite expected in the grand scheme of things, really.” 

“We are simple little cogs in a machine, are we not?” They choke out, violent coughs rippling their way up and out until small spatters of blood coat the backs of the hands and plush grass beneath, and the heart inside stutters painfully. 

A grim aura fills the air around them at the words, their arms quivering from exertion as they try to keep themselves upright, heavy panting echoing through the space as they try desperately to regain some sense of control over their breathing once more. Their head swims and a warm feeling washes through them, the ache in their lungs and throat easing a bit as they settle.

“Child, I need to know how you obtained the knowledge you possess. I have not, at least not in many years, met a human who was as prepared as you to summon one of my own. Let alone myself.” He nods at the corvid to take the coin finally, smiling when it gingerly takes the silver and slowly steps back out of the circle before taking to the sky and settling in a tree not far away to watch over the proceedings. “Not only, but what would you have to gain?”

“I have friends who trusted me until their last breath to ensure the safety of our work.” Their soft smile carries more pain than they would ever truly admit to the world for the loss of such a dear friend.

That was the way of their world though, god forbid you try and reject the demand of so-called higher powers in the world. They had both accepted the possible consequences that came with what they did long ago, even before they had officially become part of it themselves really, knowing that doing what was right far outweighed their own lives. Yet already some of their closest had paid the price for truly honorable work. It was the purpose of this all, and they knew and accepted that.

But not her, never her.

“I will only accept such a cryptic answer for now, but I need to know what you have to gain. Why summon me?”

“I want to make a deal.” They push slowly onto their knees, swaying briefly before managing to make a slow rise onto their feet, wobbling a little before steadying themselves on a tree just within reach.

“You…” The man shakes his head in disbelief, reaching for the watch tucked into the pocket of the black vest neatly buttoned over a crisp white button-down shirt. At the check of time, he sighs and tucks the watch away, moving to the very edge of his circle, the edge closest to the human. “Do you understand what that would mean?”

“You would take something from me.” They wave him off without a care, twisting to lean back against the tree for support.

“And why would someone such as yourself be ready to give something away for a deal?” He pulls a long strip of leather cord from where it is wrapped around his wrist to pull his long hair from his neck, fingers quickly tying a smooth knot to hold it in a low ponytail. A dark glare appears on his features, his dark blue eyes practically glowing as the vibrant purple ring - oddly similar in color to the light that had appeared upon his arrival - seems to grow in size. “Surely you-”

“My work… I knew the dangers, and I accepted them a long time ago. My father did it, and I was raised knowing the work to its core, so I knew the dangers that accompanied it, and I learned from my father and his colleagues what could come of it. What could come of me. I knew that people would actively seek my death if my identity was ever learned and that I needed to be cautious. I accepted that I could die young, and I was truly alright with such possibilities, so pursued it regardless of all potential outcomes.” They lift a hand from the tree, fingers sliding toward the front of their shirt to gently cradle an indigo-colored stone that sits just below the collar of their shirt to the last comfort they have is there within their grasp. It's the only item they left of her.

Barely swallowing back the tears and wails of how unfair humanity and their lust for greed and power is, they press on knowing that this needed to be said.

“Someone I loved, she didn’t. She wasn’t involved and did not know what could come of my work. She did not deserve to suffer for what I chose to do with my life, but I was selfish and kept her close with the foolish idea that she was safer with me. But I was wrong and she was hurt. Because of me. I know she isn’t dead as everyone believes she is. I can, I am unsure how to explain it, but I can almost feel her.” The fingers grip more tightly so the blood-splattered knuckles of their hand press against their slowly failing heart, eyes stinging more noticeably with tears. “As if she is still alive and her heart is beating with my own.”

“You wish to find her, don’t you?” His features soften considerably, eyes widening at the realization and fists relaxing as he notices just how exhausted the human before him is. 

“Yes.” They swallow heavily, barely keeping the tears at bay as they prepare to voice their guilt aloud. “I was the reason she was harmed, and I want to make sure she is alright now. Even if it is the last thing I ever do for her.”

“I want the truth and nothing less.” He barks, eyes suddenly cutting through them at their deflection.

Chin trembling as the words fight to be verbalized and tears finally make their way from dull eyes, they finally release the sob kept inside since the “death” of the one person they’ve held so dearly for so long. “I loved her, more than anything in the world. Because even though many here thought it wrong for me to feel this way for the woman I grew alongside, I just want her home safely or to know she is safe. I love her still, and in all of our nineteen years together, our hearts always beat in tandem. The past two without her…” A broken sob slips out and they clutch the pendant that much tighter so the sharp edges cut into their palm, their other hand coming up to cover their mouth so they can cough blood into it. A few shuddering and shaky breaths later, with tears still streaking down stained and swollen cheeks, they press on. “Any time without her, be it the sound of her laughter or the sight of her smile, the feel of her skin on mine… It is truly the worst torture I can endure.”

Several beats pass in the open space, the man watching the human cry over their lost love, but he understands. It wasn’t a selfish request to merely want to ensure her safety, especially if what he suspected from the blood dripping toward the plush grass below was correct. This was truly a request of true innocence with such guilt filling the human. Guilt that they themselves should not shoulder.

“If I were to take your mortality, to allow you to ensure her safety or safe travels home - should she be human - before departing, would that be enough for you?” He watches them lean against the tree to support their trembling frame. The human was growing weak, and he could handle that, but he needed to know what price they were willing to pay.

"Anything is better than believing she is dead, especially by what I consider my own hand. Perhaps… Well perhaps someone or something saved her and we can be together. I am unsure. One can only hope, can they not?" They pant out, breathing labored and body aching. Whatever the man gave them before, it is causing an odd sensation to soak deep into their bones and pain to prickle over every inch of skin as their heart steadies and lungs somehow seem to take fuller breaths with each moment.

The man smiles softly when they finally meet his eyes again, nodding his agreement before he looks down toward the separation between the circles and back toward the human. “If you are absolutely positive that you can be without your mortality, to become one of my own - a protégé of sorts really - then I would be happy to make this deal with you. You have nothing but the purest of intentions, and I see that. You love this woman and only wish for her safety and security. Even if it means losing her to continue your work alongside me for the rest of eternity."

Sudden determination and deep suspicion seem to fill the human as they push off the tree to stumble forward. This is a smart human, especially to be skeptical of such a bargain, but those with cruel or evil intentions are always given the worst deals. Those with innocent and pure intentions when calling to make a deal, are usually offered something more than they ever could have expected and then some. “That is all? Just my mortality?”

“Well, you would learn of our truths and our ways, but I believe it is a fair trade.” He rolls his broad shoulders, offering a hand at the spot that separates them. “I would like a protégé to do as I do when I am otherwise busy, and you would like to see her well. No need for anything more when you are not asking for anything outlandish.”

“I would give you my heart and soul if it were what you asked.” They twist the stone between their fingers, eyes taking on a distant sheen suddenly. “If only to know she is safe, I would give it all.”

“Well, perhaps it is good that all I ask for is your mortality, child.” He pats the pocket containing his flask with a teasing twist to his grin, eyes sparkling almost playfully in the moonlight. “Do we have a deal?”

Slowly, the human nods, and an almost easy smile appears at the corners of their lips. “I believe we do, yes.” 

"Then, if you would be so kind as to open our circles to one another, I would like to formally introduce myself." He motions down to where they were still separated from one another. 

“Oh, yes of course.” The young human smiles sheepishly while moving as quickly as possible to make an opening just big enough for the man to slip into their circle. Only, he merely offers his hand and a soothing sort of smile instead of stepping into their space. It's a bit comforting.

“My name is Lucifer. I am known to humanity as the Devil and Satan, but to those who see and know our truth, I am much more. I am Majesty and Ruler of Hell, appointed right hand of God, one of the most trusted Angels of the Christian Realm. Appointed by the almighty Universe themselves to oversee those with the most horrendous of Christian souls. Most call me by some moniker or another, but you, my dear child, have the permission to call me Lucifer. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and help you on this fine day." He slips their hands together and bows with a flourish, eyes glowing vividly under the moonlight as he straightens.

The human tilts their head up to smile rather serenely at the Devil himself, their chest finally feeling a bit more relaxed for the first time since the supposed death of their love. “Isabella Swan, Sir. Please, call me Bella. And I assure you, the pleasure is mine.”

Boisterous laughter echoes through the greenery as, for the first time that night, everything comes alive and a breeze ripples across the inky water not far from where the pair stand.

Notes:

This idea has been on the table for some time, and I do believe it's finally ready to be thrown into existence. I do not have schedules or control of my brain. The characters have helped tie me to said controls and we're just all going full speed ahead with the brake control broken. So here I am.
I make no apologies for the madness and chaos that is this story. I wanted fun and me time and this is one of my "me time" pieces.
Anyways... This is just the introduction, so it's a little short. I hope you enjoy!!!

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

75 Years Later
Levitha, Greece

 

“Do I even want to know how you managed to get paperwork that writes me off as a fucking seventeen-year-old that was born and raised in the United States when we haven’t been in that country in years?”  Bella flips through the Manila folder filled with paperwork covered in her name, red flecked brown eyes flicking over to her best friend with the question of "Why?" clear as day inside of them.

The woman is sitting on one of their beautifully hand-carved marble counters with a beer in one hand and the other propped beside her hip so she can lean back and enjoy the soft, salty, breeze coming off of the shimmering clear Aegean Sea just within view of most of the open windows around their home. It was a bit odd to see her wearing a small pair of cut-off denim shorts to cover her bikini bottoms for once - no matter how tiny they were - and a dark red bikini top with her dark hair thrown into a messy bun atop of her head. Normally she doesn’t wear, well, much of anything while they’re in private. Bella didn’t really blame her, especially since they’d been together for so long. Even she hated wearing clothing and avoided it if possible, not that Eish complained 

“You’ve done it before too, so don’t even go there, babes.” She points the mouth of her beer bottle toward the brunette teasingly, eyes blatantly wandering over the beautifully bronzed skin exposed by the unfastened olive-green button-up she was wearing with nothing beneath. “And you adore when I turn on the charm.”

“Oh, fuck you!” Bella grabs a loose piece of notebook paper from earlier in the day to throw at the older woman, an easy laugh slipping from her lips as it's swatted away.

“Been there, done that,” She counters with a wiggle of her brows, her smile turning into a hungry smirk. “A lot, actually. Just finished a round a few hours ago if I remember correctly. Then again, you did fuck my brains into another dimension, so I can’t be too sure.”

“You’re such a horny shithead, Eish.” Bella snorts, shifting in her seat at the reminder of bending the succubus over the marble island in the kitchen of their small home deep within the Grecian countryside. Unsurprisingly, it was just the first round before they ran their errands and made their way down to the water for the day, where they continued. A smile creeps across her lips as she reaches for her drink, the glass of wonderful Liatiko wine from Crete smooth on her tongue with her lip piercing clinking gently against the glass. “Regardless of that fine rear end of yours-”

“You know it, baby.”

“Why the job paperwork and what does yours say?” Bella presses on with a roll of her eyes, ignoring the wink and blatant teasing in hopes of easing the hardness in her black swim shorts. It had been all too easy to control herself around the succubus in the beginning - all of her innuendos and teasing remarks making Bella a practical mess that just made Eish coo over how cute she was - with her sole focus on finding her missing soulmate, especially with how respectful everyone was of the situation. Yet the moment Bella decided to have sex with her best friend and stop looking for the blonde after so long had passed? It was like an explosion of the demon's previously dormant sex drive, and she was practically incorrigible; not that Eish or any of the others she bedded really minded of course. 

Once the initial bumps and nervousness had been worked over, and Bella wasn’t so hesitant with her partners, she practically took off in a dead sprint and was learning everything she could to improve and be a better partner herself. Now, Bella was a confident and enthusiastic lover who knew how to please her partners in every aspect of the sensual dance that sex really was. She truly did owe Eish, her sisters, and Asmodeus a lot for teaching her what they had, and she knew it. Let alone her other bedmates and the other things they'd taught with plenty of eagerness.

Eish sets her bottle beside her folder, scooping it up so she can toss it toward the bar for the younger brunette to read through. The succubus takes great enjoyment in her throw as she watches the younger demon lean forward to grab the folder from the air, the open sides of the shirt drifting to show even more of the delicious skin she so loves to bite and nibble on. Due to the shirt opening more, Eish can let her eyes linger unashamedly on the mark just below the demon’s collarbone, pride filling her at knowing she was the only one of Bella’s lovers allowed to leave such a mark behind. Even if it was sitting beside the pendant that she still refused to take off in hopes of returning it to her soulmate one day, Eish would continue to mark her around it as long as Bella was receptive to it.

“I’ll be going by Elizabeth, per usual. Only this time, I’ll be taking your last name-”

“Oh really… Elizabeth Swan, eh?” Bella pauses for a beat before a wicked grin curls at her lips. When she speaks again, she’s adopted a startlingly accurate English accent. “Do I get to be the strapping young lad that corrupts your delicate sensibilities and plunders your buried treasure? Because I’d be more than happy to oblige ya, if that’s what yer askin’.” Bella wiggles her brows as she flips the folder open and settles back into her seat, the sweet English accent having bled into a fake pirate one the longer she went on. Just as she moves to adjust her shirt, a dishtowel hits her in the face and tugs a sharp laugh from deep in her chest. Flashing a cheeky smile toward the succubus, she tosses the cloth aside and shakes her head at the almost affronted look directed right at her.

“I cannot believe you just made that joke, you complete and utter asshole.” Eish fights the urge to laugh as Bella smiles proudly at her joke, forest-green eyes rolling at her best friend’s antics. Sometimes she really hated how confident the brunette had become in the last twenty years, especially with some of the jokes she made, but had to acknowledge how cute it was. 

“I think I’m insulted that you expect so little of me.” Bella pushes out her bottom lip so she can pout at the succubus, retrieving her glass with a huff. “I thought we were partners, besties, the best of gal pals, even! I mean, you really love when I-”

“Moving on!” Eish slaps her hands onto the counter as her skin begins to prickle and her cheeks tinted a soft pink. Somehow she just knows that Bella was going to mention the love she had for the demon’s special ability in the bedroom that often left her incapacitated for far longer than their normal fun. Just thinking about it and the dark gleam of Bella's eyes during those particularly intense moments makes her body heat up with anticipation and want.

Bella throws her head back as she howls with laughter, the sound echoing through their small home and out across the small corner of the island they have long called home. Until she nearly falls off of her stool from a blast of energy and succubus pheromones, the hand not carefully keeping hold of her wine glass barely catching the edge of the counter to keep her upright as she tilts backward with a yelp. As she manages to steady herself, she levels Eish with a playful glare and stands, waving a jokingly accusing finger toward the succubus in every attempt to be serious. “Excuse me! Trying to seduce me with your womanly wiles while I’m just trying to be your pal-”

“Shut up, you shithead!” Eish looks for something else to throw and grumbles when the only thing she finds is her bottle and the knife she had used to cut some fruit after their return to the house on the sink edge. Of course, she wasn’t going to waste her drink, so the bottle was out of the running immediately. Her gaze halts momentarily on the knife. Not for the first time, she rues the day Lucifer adopted the younger woman with God’s blessing. Lucifer would be just a tad upset if she threw a knife at his child, though he would likely understand why she'd done it. While they were all quite literally indestructible - impervious to harm from any human and lesser supernatural means, they were supposed to be blending in with humans, and accidentally breaking a knife because it hit your impenetrable skin was decidedly not blending in. "Ugh, you're so fucking infuriating!"

"Yet you love me regardless." Bella waves a hand dismissively, a maddeningly cocky smirk on her lips as she tugs on the lip ring in the bottom left corner. It’s a blatant tease and they both know it. "You were saying?"

Eish rolls her eyes at the sudden switch in gears, but she knows Bella all too well and follows the change with ease. While the demon can be bloody aggravating sometimes, she is dedicated to her work, and Eish has always appreciated that. “Asmo found our old friends! Ya know, the ones we’ve been looking for since that first escape in the 40s and the second in the 60s and we've had a hell of a time tracking down?”

“James and Laurent.” Bella becomes serious instantaneously, a swirl of purple emerging around her pupil as she shifts through the papers in Eish’s folder with a new single-minded focus. At the back of the folder are pictures of the pair they had been searching for since they had gone on a very specific mission to rip out a swath of vicious souls - with the help of some friends - in Vietnam before they could do more harm than good. Once given the green-light to do so, of course. In those pictures, they occasionally featured a stunningly beautiful red-haired woman that looked to be uncomfortable as James and Laurent stood on either side of her. 

The features took a moment to register in her mind, but the moment they had she cursed under her breath and spread the photos out onto the counter to point at the woman. “This is Heidi’s coven mate, Victoria. She’s been looking for her since they had to split up after Aro went after their coven and she handed herself over to him to keep Victoria safe from any harm. Sulpicia has a very well-known order out to report if she's seen so they can find her and reunite them.”

“Fucking seriously?” Eish slides off the counter and moves to stand at the bar across from Bella, her eyes wide as she snatches up the photo being pointed at. After several long moments of staring at the photo, she looks at the younger demon in shock. “We have to get her away from them, like, fast.”

“We have to kill Laurent first, you know his power. So he has to be our first target.” Bella nods in agreement as she takes the photo of the trio back and scoops all of them together again, staring at one of just the two men. “Remind me to get Asmo a gift for this once we're done, will you? That cheeky bitch deserves something wonderful for this.”

“Well of course, babes,” Eish agrees with a soft shimmy of her shoulders and tilt of her head. “But, getting back to the nitty-gritty stuff.”

Bella huffs as her best friend steps back to grab the bottle she’d been drinking from a moment before and just leans on the bar, her hand reaching out to point at the photos. “I’d love that, but we’re talking about work.”

“If you let me finish, we can have fun.” 

“Fine.” Bella draws the word out with a groan, running a hand through her hair as she rolls her eyes. "Continue, you amazingly sexy woman you."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, baby." Eish winks, reaching out for her own file with her free hand to open it and drop it in front of the brunette. "I've already gotten clearance from your father for this job, and the big bosses, of course."

"Thank you for dealing with that."

"Of course." She offers the neck of her bottle so they can toast in a way, knowing that the young heir still got overwhelmed dealing with other deities when it came to the sort of bureaucracy that had to be dealt with in their world on occasion. Truthfully, Bella hated it more than anything, but she was rather talented at it when she wasn’t about to lose her mind due to one thing or another - most commonly being forced to sit around and wait. Unfortunately for the young demon, sitting around and waiting for the powers that be to make decisions was practically a cornerstone in the politics that governed the “God Realm.” That’s where Eish came in. They learned long ago that it was best to let the succubus handle the red tape and bureaucracy. The universe was very understanding, but their job was incredibly difficult with some of the parameters they had to follow. "But I'm not sure how you'll feel about the cover story decided on."

"Just hit me with it," Bella grumbles into her wine, dread pooling in her gut as she waits to see what had been decided on. Normally, she and Eish would decide on their story and how to blend in since they spent so much time around humans, but things changed on jobs like this. Their cover story had to be approved and changes made until everyone was happy. Well, everyone but them, it seemed.

It just made everything all the more complicated.

"So what got approved is you and I are moving into a "family heirloom" home. We'll be acting as sisters." Eish quirks a brow as Bella's nose scrunches and upper lip curls in annoyance and obvious distaste for the planned story.

"That's not super weird or anything. They do remember that we specifically have been fucking for like, fifty years now or something, don't they? Like, I'm pretty sure I remember Michael, the playful bitch that he is, throwing a party with Asmo when they found out." Bella motions between them with a loose wave of her hand, a bit of fondness slipping into her voice at the mention of Michael and Asmo.

"Of course, they know. I'm fairly sure everyone in every realm knows we're fucking, Bella. We've never exactly been quiet about it. They just don't care apparently." Eish twirls her bottle back and forth between her fingers so the bottom rolls across the counter, feeling much the same over the idiotic story that's been chosen for them during this job. Normally, they have the allowance to let the partners choose how to go about the mission themselves to make things more successful due to their dynamic. 

Simply, she and Bella would either play close friends living together or would be a married couple since Bella could easily pass off as a man with her abilities and anatomy. At least then no one questioned how touchy and openly affectionate they were when they used one of those stories. "It just means we have to mind ourselves, behave in public, and just have our fun privately. It means no marks; they have to stay covered or be healed after. As much as I hate it."

"Because that's so much better," Bella groans indignantly, drumming her fingers across the counter as her eyes drift along the length of a heavily bronzed and freckled swan-like neck and lean shoulders that she deeply enjoyed leaving covered in bite marks and bruises.

"It gets worse." Eish grimaces as she pulls out the second packet from the back of her file that contains all of the important forged documents besides their personal ones. "I'm playing the older sister, who lovingly fought for her baby sister after our parents died. We moved because I was struggling to keep us afloat where we were, and with finally gaining access to the family property and money, we finally have stability."

A furious gleam enters narrowing brown eyes; a sudden spark of red and orange shimmering through. "If you say what I think you're about to-"

"You have to attend the local High School full-time." Eish interrupts with a pained grimace, lips pulling away from her teeth in disgust at the mere idea of such a thing.

"God damn it!" Bella shouts as she drops her head down until her forehead smacks into the bar, frustration bleeding into the air. Eish understands her position and the feeling, to be completely honest. Demons, Angels, Succubi, and Incubi were always naturally more likely to draw the attention of those around them than other beings - especially since the Gods didn’t touch the mortal plain anymore.

Whether wanted or not.

Their draw was stronger than any of those in the supernatural world, and it was why most stayed away from untrustworthy and unknown mortals when not on assignment.

Being the adopted child of the devil and one of the three original succubi in creation for their realm respectively, the pair often had to be careful with unwanted attention. It took quite a bit of practice to master their charms to ensure stares didn't follow them everywhere they went. But of course, even with those in place, their natural auras attracted attention and often drew people to them. 

It helped that, while adults were known to be lustful toward their kind, they had more fully developed instincts and a better sense of self-preservation, unconsciously aware of certain pheromones. Usually. Unfortunately, there was a good portion that just didn’t care and seemed to think they could overpower one of even the angels, but it was often rare once the - as Bella and Asmodeus fondly called it now - the “Fuck off or die” aura emerged.

Funny enough, it was something even angels and other "mythical" beings across the realms had picked up. Gabriel was all too fond of rolling his eyes a bit affectionately at the phrase while it rippled throughout all realms, never once willing to utter it as he spent time with any of them. The first time he said it? A joyful cheer had broken out, and the pair of demons to originally coin the phrase had lifted the angel onto their shoulders, proclaiming a celebration was in order. Even Jesus had laughed heartily as Gabriel scrambled for something to hold onto while they carted him around.

Teenagers, on the other hand, did not know how to stop or walk away when told; unless a demon all but forced them away with a… sort of mind control possessed by their kind. Their instincts were still developing, and while some had the natural ability to tap into and recognize them better than even some adults for some reason or another, most of them did not. The persistence made things all the more frustrating for demons and angels when they were on earth, let alone any other being. 

It made being around them fairly exhausting and, more often than not, beyond aggravating.

"If it helps any, the Denali trio we kinda brought into the fold some time ago aren't far away. Plus there are some creatures and beings around the area we have to meet within a couple of days of arriving so…" Eish grimaces when she sees the doubt and disbelief in Bella’s expression. It seemed that neither of them were buying her lame attempt to smooth over the situation. Still, there were a few positives.

Three, to be exact.

In all their travels, Bella had yet to meet the blonde trio that Lilith, Eish, and Naamah took under their wings just over a millennia ago and gave a portion of their succubus essence to - with God's blessing, of course - after seeing parts of themselves in the women. Bella had always been excited at the idea of meeting them, but they never really had the opportunity. 

Work tended to keep them decently busy, even if it meant quick jumps here or there to do something while they kept their residence in Greece for a semblance of normalcy, peace, and privacy. When Bella didn't have the sudden drive to search for her soulmate, which she had all but given up on in recent years, and they weren't working? The pair preferred to stay out of the States entirely. There were just too many memories there, and it was counterproductive to the brunette's overall well-being. So staying in Greece, where they knew they were safe, for anything other than jobs? It was really in everyone's best interest.

"Probably the only upside here, babes," Bella mumbles against the countertop, tilting her head so a single brown eye can meet the amused dark green watching her. "Do I at least have permission to still do my job? And to drag those bastards wherever they're going myself before all is said and done?"

"That you do, sexy. I made sure of it." Eish places her bottle down before swooping around the bar, determined to comfort her best friend. When she leans against the counter, Bella twists her head to smile tightly as their eyes meet. Reaching to brush a stray hair from her face, Eish hums softly. "Why don't we do something spontaneous to get your mind off of this while we have time, hmm?"

"And how long do we have, exactly?" Bella leans into the touch, purring when blunt nails begin to scratch at her scalp.

"We have to go and get our stuff in two weeks. Ya know, your bike and-"

"The usual, yeah." Bella nods, grinning more easily with slumped shoulders and hooded eyes. "How long till we start and where are we going?"

"Forks, Washington is where we're headed because we've tracked them to the general area and it's our center so far. We have three weeks to be there." Eish shuffles closer to scratch at the back of her best friend's head, smothering her snicker when the devil lifts her head up into it and her purr deepens. "Do you want to do something spontaneous with me?"

"Depends on what you're thinking."

"How about…" Eish tangles her fingers at the base of waist-length chestnut hair, tugging hard enough to drag a surprised moan from her best friend’s lips as she exposes the expanse of her neck. "We get you a haircut and both of us get a tattoo or two?" 

Obviously struggling to contain the desire racing through her veins, Bella curls her hands into fits atop the counter - a safety so they don't dig into it instead - and breathes deeply with lust-filled eyes now watching the succubus closely. "If you mean anything like the tattoo you made me get in the 60s that I burned off because of you being an asshole, no. The haircut though, that I could be persuaded into getting."

"Nothing like that." Eish dips to press a kiss to the exposed throat, smirking when a growl begins to build in her ear. Leaning back to look her best friend in the eyes, she moves just a bit further into the younger demon's space with a plan fully in mind. "And don't act like you didn't love it, you delicious devil."

"Fuck you."

"Maybe you should." An eyebrow ticks upward and finger trails over the younger brunette's scorching jawline. "Get your mind off of everything by railing me, since you're the only one I'll ever let bend me over or bite the way you like to."

"You're such a horndog," Bella quips, her voice deep and husky as that special ring of color appears around her pupil to reveal exactly how she feels about the idea. "About that haircut-"

Eish unwinds her fingers from the thick hair, dropping them down to the open collar to yank the brunette directly into her space so their noses brush. Vibrant green eyes shift to the demonic silver swirled vibrant reddish-rose indicating her as an original of her kind, the succubus comfortably falling into herself. "Later. Right now your eyes say to ride you, baby."

Bella - for all her teasing, jokes, and slew of innuendos - really isn't known for patience in this department since she finally swept away the line she and Eish had been toeing until the 50s. The search for her soulmate had taken a deep toll, and with all of the pain and anger slicing through her as the years passed, she wanted to feel loved and cherished. To feel that care and intimacy she had been yearning for since 1933 when her mate disappeared and her heart began to fail. It was something the succubus could give without question, her sisters and several other bedmates eager to take up the offer when it was given.

Right now?

The only thing she was really interested in was merely starting the evening by bending her best friend over the counter or the back of the couch. It didn't matter how long they spent wrapped up in one another; they had plenty of time and the haircut could wait.

With that desire and heat spiraling through her quicker than she was used to at the mere thought, Bella happily gives over. Mocha-brown twists and curls until the natural shade completely disappears into the universal chocolate cosmo of all high-ranking beings. It only takes seconds for the tell-tale dark demonic swirls of goldenrod and burnt orange to emerge, the respective countering rings of angelically iridescent dark cyan and succubus amaranth emerging around rapidly expanding pupils.

Fast as lightning, Bella slides off the stool, a hand finding the back of Eish's neck to spin them with well-practiced ease, and presses her face into the counter, hips pushing forward to grind against the succubus. Calloused fingers tug at the ties of her suit top, their hips grinding with the heat around them building rapidly.

"Gonna fuck you till you can't think of anything but me." Bella pulls her from the counter just long enough to tug the top away, pressing her back down with a forward roll of her hips. "Gonna make you beg me to let you come."

A broken moan pops from the succubus' lips when a palm encompasses one of her breasts and squeezes roughly, hips pressing back in hopes that she can convince Bella to just tear off her shorts and take her like this. " Fuck , I love it when you get like this, baby."

The hand on her neck moves, trailing down across her shoulder and ribs with a featherlight touch as their hips roll together. Their pace increases just barely when Bella bends over her to trail nips and soft bites along her shoulder with her fingers dancing at the waistline of the tiny denim shorts that have been doing all kinds of things to her mind since the succubus tugged them on. Grazing her teeth just below Eish's jaw, Bella smirks devilishly against the boiling skin. "You want something, baby?"

"You know what I want," Eish snarks, groaning when fingers tug roughly at her nipple. 

"Say it." Bella dips the lower hand just below the waistband to drag her blunt nails across a sensitive spot on her hip, causing Eish to mewl and her movements to stutter. "I want to hear you say it out loud, baby."

"Damn it, Bella," Eish snarls, desperate for the younger demon to just touch her already. Sometimes, only sometimes, did she really hate how cocky Bella got. It was a damn curse being the main focus of her desires, especially when she got like this, and they constantly struggled to come out on top in the end. Yet the moment those sure fingers slide under the dark red bikini bottom to barely graze over her clit, she gives. The build-up with their looks and teasing and the smell of one another wanting but not touching has been enough as it is. Not being touched properly is just torture at this point. "Okay, okay, I'll say it. I promise."

Steadily lengthening teeth drag over a heavily hammering pulse, heat pouring off of them in waves and Bella stilling otherwise. "I'm waiting, baby."

"Please fuck me. Fuck me until I can't even remember my own name. Till yours is the only one I know because it's the one I'm screaming. Ple- Ah, fuck!" Eish curls her fingers into her palms until nails cut into the skin and faintly luminescent blood drips onto the counter. Her hips desperately rolling against the fingers now moving much more firmly and quickly against her.

"Much better." Bella chuckles, all too satisfied with herself with the results of her teasing. 

Eish feels the irritation build at the attitude, internally swearing she'd make the demon regret it later with plenty of teasing with her own, but the thoughts grind to a stop as Bella leans to brush a fang just over the shell of her ear. An almost sinister chuckle drags a desperate moan from the succubus, Bella taking incredible pleasure in how she manages to cause her best friend to fall apart with such a simple touch so quickly. "I hope you're ready, baby girl. Cause I'm taking advantage of every moment we have before we leave."

Eish shoves upward, pressing her back fully against the young heir's chest to lean back, tilt her head, and slot her lips together with the full and pierced set of her best friend. Bloodied fingers tangle in thick hair and they both moan as their hips begin rocking again. 

While they both know that this would end - well temporarily at the very least - for the woman Bella had her mortality stripped away to find once her soul reentered the mortal realm, it didn't matter. With the likelihood that the woman had died - either that very day in Rochester or for some reason or another in the future - the probability of finding the soul and rekindling the bond? Well, it was slim to none.

Death meant that all memories and life experiences would only be known or remembered on a soul level, and so while the soul itself may recognize Bella, the person who held it would not. The most the person would experience is a great sense of déjà vu, believing that they'd met Bella before and that she was familiar for some reason. With humans being such finicky things in terms of love and bonds of such magnitude, it meant Bella would either have to fight like hell for her mate or walk away entirely. 

While everyone was hopeful that Bella wouldn't *have * to walk away, they knew the likelihood of that being the necessary outcome was incredibly high. Even Bella had accepted it, as it was Lucifer’s only stipulation to take her into the Cosmic Lands so she could become one of them.

But no matter the outcome, things would work out.

Bella had found her own happiness, even if it had been a long struggle to do so, and if things went badly, then she had an incredible support system around her that would ensure she was alright. Adding onto it, if Eish, and a myriad of her other lovers, were honest? Then they would be more than happy to let a bond deepen and grow to that of a soulmate. But only if Bella was ready or interested in them or such a bond.

Nevertheless, until that day came where a choice had to be made, things would stay as they always had.

Because soulmate or not, Bella deserved happiness and joy at the very least. If living in Greece and being with Eish was what brought that to her, then it's what she would have.

Eish would make sure of it. Even if it meant a few toes had to be stepped on to ensure the young heir continued to be happy and enthusiastic about life.

Notes:

Uh... So don't say I didn't warn you with the tags? Also, hi, yes, I'd like to order a firehose to cool these horny bastards off, please? Yes, thanks.
Onward and into the actual story we go, yeah? Yup! And this is where complications begin to arise.
I can practically hear Michael Buffer preparing to say "Let's get ready to rumble!" in the back of my mind over the next chapter. Oh, how fun this is gonna be.
I love drama! And there's a lot headed our way!
Hope you enjoyed everyone! See ya next time!