A jeering suppressed laugh reached Lucifer's ears, irking him as he was busy working.
"Why are you even here?" He asked April who was indulging her champagne while sitting across from him.
"I am your shrink." She smiled, taking a sip of her drink. He narrowed his eyes and sighed, switching off his laptop and turning to her.
"Congratulations, Business Partners." She said, putting her one leg over the other. "Who told you about this?" He asked. "You certainly didn't come here without any intentions of making it unsuccessful, aren't you?" She asked with a smirk.
"What do you want?"
"I wanna tag along."
"Where?"
"To the party. I am sure Erich would host a party for such an important guest... or perhaps to show him he has lost Red." April said, vexing him but he glared at her to refrain talking about it.
"I am not taking you anywhere." Lucifer muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Aw. That's not fair. Do you want me to tell Erich and Red about your intentions?" She asked. "I am going anyway."
"Because all you need is a glimpse of Red. All this desperation, suffering... to behold one sight of her." She said softly, looking at Lucifer, wondering why he desired this. April noticed Lucifer looking down, not meeting her gaze.
"Why such hopelessness?" She asked.
"We are not close enough that I will open up to you."
"Neither was Red when you made her your wife." She retorted.
"It has nothing to do with you."
"Then take me with you." She argued. "No." Lucifer said sternly. "Huff... Okay." She uttered.
"Why do you even want to go?" Lucifer asked.
"It's been two years since I last saw Erich. Wanted to say hi." She shrugged. "Anyways, Let's see what you can do."
I didn't want to do it, but couldn't resist either. Lucifer thought and replied to her, "Time will tell."
April sighed, putting the glass back and getting up to leave. "Ah, Before I go, I need to ask you a question, Mr Grave."
"What?"
"Can you break seven skies to get Red?" She asked what Erich told her, wanting to know his way of loving her. An unnoticeable smile came to his lips as Lucifer shook his head and looked at her,
"If I want to possess her, I wouldn't let her go."
April smiled to herself. You are crazy. She thought and left.
•~~•~~•
God, what upheaval you have thrown on me! How will I avoid Lucifer? What if something happened? What if it invoked wrong thoughts about me in Erich's heart or if he came to know about Lucifer's last words? Someone help me please! Red thought, pacing around the room while holding an anklet in vast consternation and worry, gritting her teeth in exasperation, wanting to relax but couldn't along with her heart which was beating as if it's about to burst.
"Red... You okay?" Erich asked, entering. She stopped and turned to him. "Yeah... Everything is fine." Passing him a faint smile. "Shall I help you to wear it?" Erich asked, noticing the simple yet beautiful silver anklet in her hand.
"No. I would never wear it." She said, putting it back. "Why?" he asked. "Because It's not mine like I am not his." She whispered to herself. "Has anyone arrived? Shall we leave?" She asked. "Yeah..."
"Come, let's go."
"Uh. Red." Erich called her, "hmm?" Erich came closer and hesitantly put his hands on her shoulder, observing her elegant form, how alluring she looked no matter what the dress or form.
"I don't know whether I am lost in your beauty or attitude."
"It requires love to get lost." She said, removing his hands, "What you certainly do not own." She hissed, moving back and taking his hand, "Come. Let's show the world we are a flawless pair."
"With endless flaws." Erich said to himself as they left.
At the grand party a pair of silver gems were seeking the one which could provide solace to the ferocity of his heart.
And his eyes finally stopped at hers, watching her coming with her partner, embedding the lost long sensations and the whispers of sweet nothings, increasing his heartbeat.
"There she is, Harry. Look at her, after two years.... She is still pretty. Everything is the same. Except those eyes I worshipped all this time." Lucifer said, sadly with a sigh and breaking the gaze which didn't bother to heed him. Lucifer smiled painfully and gulped.
"It's not there. She is not my Red." He whispered. "Sir..." Harry called him but at that time, Erich came with Red.
All three of them are proficient in hiding their true emotions and tone of voices. Even being burned, their voice was nonchalant.
"Hello, Mr Grave. Meet my wife Red." Erich said.
With envy, Lucifer replied charmingly, "Hello, Mr and Mrs Black...It's deviant that even being partners, we are meeting today for the first time." He said politely.
"Call it fate that we met at my husband's party." Red responded in the same voice, hiding the fear in her heart. "All three of us are connected in this way." Erich added.
"We are four... but anyways." Lucifer muttered. "We were four." Erich was infuriated when he mentioned four while he clearly put the fourth one behind two years ago.
"How four?" Red asked, not apprehending."It's a matter of moments, Mrs Black." Lucifer said.
"Because the table of destiny could turn any time." Erich replied.
"All we could do is to be precautious and not cry over the spilt milk." Red mumbled, turning away.
Erich's heart boasted and he said, "Because no one could change what's going to happen."
"At least we could choose our way." Red said. "Which path did you choose?" Lucifer asked.
With an anguished heart, Red replied, "The one which leads to success."
Her words pricked Lucifer's heart as well as not so fortuitous memories came to his mind. "Anyways. Congratulations to this partnership." Red smiled forcefully.
"To all of us." Lucifer raised his drink a little as they clicked theirs against his.