Eternal Melody



LUCIFER 

He loses track of time.

He doesn't know how long they spent simply holding onto each other. But when he saw the flicker in the sky, Lucifer carried Sumire in his arms and used his darkness to transport them to the bridge. Most people would be frightened of being carried away in darkness but not her. She was surprised but not afraid. Instead she laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him there and telling him how much she was enjoying herself. 

'When she started kissing me, I almost dropped her.' How can light touches make him feel so aroused? The light sensation of just her hands running through his arm, and fingers- this woman will certainly be the death of him.

Lucifer's gaze fell on Sumire. Since they landed on the bridge, neither of them have said much. Instead he found himself watching her look around the lake with bright eyes. He created this place to resemble the one in their first lifetime. It's a cheap imitation but he is thankful, she seems to like it. 

It's hard not to look at her, unlike when she first arrived. She now had curves, and there was a healthy glow to her skin. When he found her on the verge of passing to the other world. Lucifer noted how skinny she was. Toh had explained in his reports that Sumire was taking Terashima's absence hard.

'She is in a better state than before I came. But, there are still occasions where she won't eat. Where I would find a plate of food dumped into one of the plants.'

As much as it annoyed him to know that she was in that state because of another guy. Lucifer understood her situation. He has experienced it before. When he woke up in the sixth lifetime, with the bond being weak, and Norah not being there. In all their lives after the first one, she would always be nearby or be already part of his life. But the sixth? It was the most painful. 

It was even more painful seeing her with another man. He tried to appear before her numerous times. But she either didn't recognize him or couldn't see him. It was only until mid way  through the seventh life where he bluntly appeared in her home but she still walked past him. 

Before he realized, he held a grudge against her for moving on. For not bothering to find him.

Seeing Sumire lean against the edge of the bridge his lips curved to a smirk. "If you fall, I may not catch you."

Sumire raised her eyebrows. "If I fall from this height, I may fall to my death and then our bed will become very cold." Her gaze suddenly dimmed. "Or maybe it won't. You do have a harem. I'm sure they can keep our bed warm if I die."

Lucifer sighed as he walked over and hugged Sumire from the back. His lips brushed against her neck causing her to moan softly. He chuckles. Just a single caress, and she already behaves this way. Indeed, he supposes that part of her hasn't changed.

"I have never brought a woman to my chambers before."

Sumire blinked. "You haven't?"

"They were not special to me. I only used them to drink blood and that was only to contain the beast inside me."

"Since I came, I haven't seen you lose control." Sumire pointed out.

"Of course not. I have been feeding from you."

Sumire tilted her head puzzled. "Does my blood really have such a strong effect on you?"

"It does." Lucifer trailed off. "Since we are bonded, it means even if I feed from others I will not be satisfied. Only your blood will contain my beast now."

"That's a lot of responsibility."

Lucifer frowned. "I apologize. I don't mean to pressure you."

Sumire shakes her head. "It's not like that. Actually, I find this whole thing very romantic."

'Now that I think about it, she said something similar in the past didn't she?'

Sumire's gaze fell back onto the sky that was now covered in stars.

"There must be hundreds of them."

"Thousands." Lucifer corrected. "The weather seems to be good tonight, so I can see this lasting till the morning. Unless something has changed."

Lucifer paused after saying those words. He doesn't recall the last time he actually watched the star shower properly. He has passed by the village a few times during the festival. But, when was the last time he watched the stars like this? Such a long time ago. 

This festival celebrates everything he and Norah worked for. A festival that is so essential to every fibre of his being. This region may not be the 'home' he built with Norah. But,it's close. The people here remind him of the first village of humans he and Norah lived in. The people who built their home and the village with them from scratch. The ones who made him believe in humanity. To think it has taken him this long to recognize it.

'I have been so occupied with my beast, and with Sumire. That I have neglected everything else in my surroundings. The people here deserve better than that. They deserve a better person to rule them.'

Sumire tugged on his sleeve. "Where do they go? It looks like they are gathering in one spot."

  "I wish I knew."

'I wish I had paid more attention when I first learned about it. I wish I did things differently in this life. But, irt is already too late. The plan cannot change. When I return her memories, she will return to hating him.'

She has no idea does she? What he truly wants from her in this life. To make her his wife again? To have her rule alongside him? It's not that at all. He doesn't need her to stay by his side anymore, not because he doesn't want her anymore. He wants and needs her more than anything. But because he is out of time.

When he woke up in this lifetime, when he finally pushed away any trace of light and truly accepted the darkness. Lucifer understands that he is out of time. This will be his last time, the curse will consume not only his physical body but his soul too. There will no longer be anything left of him.