~Lucifer's POV~

"LORE!" I flitted to her side and swept her into my arms before she could hit the floor. She slumped into my arms, her body going limp as she slipped from consciousness. I cradled her gently. It was my fault her life was cut short. If I'd never gone to the human world that day, if I'd never met her, she'd never have been targeted. She could have had a long and happy life blissfully unaware of hell. She was a good person, she had the purest soul I'd ever come across in a human, she would have gone to heaven.

I carried her back to the spare bedroom and gently laid her back in bed before sweeping the blankets around her.

"I'm so sorry, Lore." I reached out to sweep her hair out of her face but paused. It felt wrong to touch her. I withdrew my hand and took a step back.

She slept soundly.

"I promise I'll protect you." I whispered, afraid of waking her when she very desperately needed to rest. She'd died a few hours ago, but due to the ritual her soul was sent straight to me, most souls got a bit of closure, a chance to see the world around them before crossing over and being sent to their final destinations.

I glanced at the black halo floating above her head, she was destined for heaven. Oh the stories they'd spread. Evil Lucifer tricked another pure maiden. Though, this time, maybe it was true, even if it hadn't been my intention, this was entirely my fault.

I knew better. Nothing good ever came from meddling with humans. Even as the thought crossed my mind, I regretted it. Meeting Lore, seeing her enjoy life, that had been good, it brought me peace and joy. It was something I hadn't felt since before Charlie left. Guilt ate away at me. It was selfish to think meeting her was a good thing, given how it ended for her.

She died, chained like a beast of burden. It was barbaric. The sound of her screams when she first appeared haunted me. Screams of terror. She saw her end coming and she was powerless to stop it. What had those two months been like that she'd been missing. What other horrors had she experienced?

I clenched my fists tightly at my side. Rage coiled around me, taking shape. If I found the ones responsible, I would make them suffer.

My phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket, startling me enough I jumped. I glanced down at the reminder. I was supposed to meet with the leader of the angel army. My gaze drifted to Lorelei sleeping peacefully. I couldn't leave her alone. She was in a very vulnerable state and if this was orchestrated by an enemy here in hell, she'd be a sitting duck. An image of Charlie flitted across my mind. I'd love to talk to her, but I didn't want her to have to deal with the meeting.

I paced anxiously running through a pro and con list.

"Pro- talk to daughter." I paced, "Con- put problems on my daughter and make her resent me." I grimaced at this, "Pro- keep Lorelei safe." I glanced back at her sleeping form. She'd never be in this mess if it weren't for me, I had to keep her safe. Sending Charlie in my stead was the better choice.

"Okay, you can do this. Talking to your daughter is something you've wanted to do for a long time. Keep it short and simple so you don't interfere with her life too much." I murmured to myself as I continued pacing nervously. I pulled up my contact list and my finger hovered over the call button next to Charlie's name. "What do I say?!" I panicked.

In my panicked state I hit the 'call' button and the phone started to ring.

"Dad?" Charlie picked up on the second ring.

"EEP!" I squealed and nearly dropped the phone. I quickly recovered and pressed the phone to my ear, "hey Char Char!" I grimaced, why the fuck did I call her that?! When had I ever called her that?!

Her voice deflated a little, "hey Dad."

Why wasn't I any good at this?! I glanced over at Lorelei, I had to stay and protect her, I had to do this. "Heyy kiddo..." I smacked my head with my hand and attempted to kick myself.

"What is it Dad?" Charlie asked, her voice starting to strain a little.

"I'm super busy and completely forgot I have a meeting with the leader of the angel army in like an hour, could you go in my stead?" What was I doing?! Why was this so hard?! How had I completely lost the ability to speak to my own child?!

"Uh, you want me to go?" She asked unsure.

"Yeah! It's no big thing, just bureaucratic nonsense, you can handle it."

Lorelei began to stir.

"Alright. I'll do it." Charlie acquiesced.

"Thanks Char Char!" I grimaced again. Why did I keep saying it?!

"You're welcome." She hung up and I held my breath as Lore's eyes fluttered open.

They were the same breathtaking grey as before but there was something different about them, something lying underneath, something magical, mystical and strong. Her eyes locked on me and grew wide. She sat upright, her body trembling.

"You're safe, Lorelei." I said softly and offered her a reassuring smile.

"How do you know my name?" She looked like she was contemplating fleeing but was second guessing it as I was between her and the door.

"We met once before, you and I." I spoke softly, trying not to startle her.

"I don't remember." She clutched at her head. The memories of her final moments were probably fuzzy, which was perhaps for the best.

"I looked a little different." I smiled and waited for her to focus her gaze on me again. The moment her eyes fell on me again, I shifted into the form of the pure white snake she rescued.

Recognition flooded her eyes. "The park."

I shifted back, "thank you for saving me."

She looked as if she were going to smile before a thought crossed her mind and her face contorted with fear, "...is that why I'm here? Did you-?" A shudder overcame her as she was unable to finish the thought aloud.

"No! I didn't...I would never... I never meant for anything to happen..." I stared at her helplessly as she clung to the blankets around her in terror. "I never wanted any harm to come to you." I prayed she'd believe me.

She sat trembling in fear for a moment before reluctantly easing her grip on the blankets. "Am I dead?"

I nodded, my fists clenching at my sides.

"...where are we?" She asked, looking as if she were going to be sick.

"...hell..."

"And this?" She reached out and gently touched something I couldn't see, I felt the divine tether quiver at her touch.

"A tether. Binding us to one another."

She looked thoughtful. "What does that mean exactly?"

"We are bound to one another. Our lives are linked now, if one of us should die, the other will too." I watched her carefully.

"...I can die again?" She blanched at this before gasping, "wait... if I die, you die too?" Her eyes grew wide, "am I putting you in danger?!"

I smiled, she was acting like herself again. Generous and kind to a fault. "I can keep you safe."

She frowned at this, "you avoided the question."

I sighed, "yes, you can die again and if you die I will also die."

Her frown deepened, "you avoided the question again."

"You do pose a slight bit more risk." I admitted reluctantly.

Her eyes were wide again. "...I'm sorry..."

I chanced a step closer to her. She didn't flinch or pull away as I approached. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Lore."

She looked up at me, tears brimming in her eyes, "you're in danger because of me."

I gently reached for her.

She didn't shy away.

I lightly stroked her cheek, sweeping a few wild strands of raven waves out of her face. "No, it's my own doing. It's my fault you were dragged into this mess. Even if it wasn't my intention, someone must have recognized me and targeted you as a result. I'm sorry, Lore."

She offered me a meek smile as she tried to come to terms with everything. After a moment she spoke again, "...are we-?" She bit her lip, hesitant. "We're not mar-?" A faint splash of color stained her cheeks. "I remember someone calling me a sacrificial br-." Her face flushed even more and she averted her gaze.

I hesitated, due to the ritual, we were technically married. "We're married." I flinched awaiting her reaction.

"Oh god, I'm a homewrecker!" She panicked.

"What?!"

"I saw the portraits, you already have a family!" She cried.

Ah! She's crying! What should I do?! I panicked as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "Ack! No, you're not a homewrecker. We split up years ago." I attempted to console her but was too afraid to touch her for fear of scaring her that I just ended up flitting around her spastically trying to get her to calm down.

She peered at me through her fingers, her tears stilling as she watched me panic. My heart stuttered in my chest feeling lighter than it had in years as I heard the soft sound of her sweet laughter. I'd heard it many times through the looking glass and I'd heard it once as a snake but it had been different, this laughter was just for me. I couldn't help but smile. A sense of peace I hadn't felt in quite some time settled over me as I watched her laugh with a serene smile.