Chapter 20: Chapter 20

"What?" Lukas blinked at me several times. My cheeks reddened at his stare and I realised how silly I sounded for crossing the bridge and coming all the way from mansion just for a phone. No wonder demons were staring at me. Maybe they knew how stupid I was.

I rubbed my neck awkwardly at all the stares directed at me. Should I just ask him and get it done with? What if he laughs at me in front of everyone?

"Do you all work here to stare at Miss Talia?" Lukas voice boomed throughout the hall and the demons scrambled out, their eyes away from me. I let out a huge breath I did not realise I was holding.

"You want a phone?"

I hummed, my cheeks still red, "I want to talk to my friends. Mira and Jackson, they must be worried sick about me"

Lukas shook his head, "They are not"

I glared at him. How could he assume something like that? He was already aware of Mira and how we are best of friends. They are definitely worried about me. I can't even imagine what they are going through just to find me.

"How do you know that? My friends care about me"

Lukas pressed his lips together, "I know that. Trust me when I say that you are not even their last thought at the moment"

Dean cleared his throat, his voice almost warning, "My King..."

Lukas sharply gave a look to which Dean leaned back. What was going on? I shifted my eyes between both of them trying to figure out what they were thinking. Lukas was nearly impossible to read, always had a poker face which made it difficult to even guess what he was thinking. Maybe that's what being a Demon King is all about. Try to appear as cold as possible. Judgemental and appear nonchalant. If there will ever be a contest of such then Lukas will be the winner.

"It's about time she knows"

My nose scrunched, "Know what?"

"Your friends don't remember you. Actually, no one on earth remembers you. It's the effect Dean created when he brought you here-"

My eyes widened as those words sank in. Does no one remember me? It felt like my heart was in my throat. Everything felt blur around me as I was trying to make sense of those words. It meant that no one would try to find me. The stark realisation that I was in no one made me stagger back. Jackson and Mira would never even try to look for me because I don't exist for them.

Lauren tried to comfort me by holding my hand but I freed myself.

"Of course...of course, you did that..." I laughed, no humour in my voice. My eyes felt wet and I realised that I was on the verge of a breakdown. All this time I had some kind of hope inside me that I would get to go back home. Knowing that they don't even remember me it would be a futile attempt. Who should I go back? No one was waiting for me.

My existence did not matter anymore.

"Talia-" Dean started but I shook my head. No amount of sympathy or explanation was going to cure the hollow I felt. I did not want to hear anything anymore.

"Please take me back to the mansion" I swallowed the lump in my throat. Lauren tried to say something but I shook my head.

Lukas had his eyes on me the entire time. I could feel them as I tried to talk with Dean. He must be enjoying the agony I felt because that's what demons feed on. Pain.

"Allow me" Lukas cleared his throat and I snapped my head towards him. Why would you want to come along with me when I was trying to get away from? Can he just leave me alone for a while? Is that too much to ask?

"Dean can take me"

Lukas cleared his throat, "I don't think so. He has some work to get done here"

I pointedly stared at me. Again no emotion on his face. Why would he lie to me? If Dean had some work then he would never bring me along. My gaze flickered to Dean who was avoiding meeting my eyes.

"Don't you Dean?"

"My lord?" Dean raised his eyebrows, confusion written on his face.

Lukas gritted his teeth together, "Your work Dean. You have to go fix the third floor, don't you?"

I looked over my shoulder to stare at Dean who had a blank face before he frantically nodded his head. His spear-like thing, creating a huge hole in the room. I stepped back.

"Yes, I almost forgot about it. Thank you, lord. If I may take your leave?"

Lukas nodded his head, "After that work is done, hold back these rest of the sinners. It'll take me a while to get back"

Dean bowed down before he slipped inside the hole he created and disappeared. My mouth parted in shock because that was the first time I saw something like that.

"Lauren" I cleared my throat, "I can go back with her I am sure she knows the way back"

Lukas made a sound before staring at Lauren. She suddenly gripped my hand.

"Oh, I almost forgot that I have to finish one of the statues in the darkroom."

Why did she not say that before? Lauren did not mention anything about the statue while we were having breakfast. Was she lying to me?

"But you-"

She cut me off with a high pitched giggle, "I would love to chat but work time! See you at lunch"

"Lauren!" I yelled as she disappeared behind the room leaving me all alone with Lukas.

He smirked, "Now do you want me to take you back Miss Talia?"

***

I was quiet the entire time they walked back to the mansion. Even though I was terrified to cross the bridge again my thoughts were occupied with something else. Besides I had the King of Hell with me no one could think of doing any harm.

"You're the first person other than me to tame him." Lukas started, his voice deep. I blinked my eyes. A few seconds later I realised that he was talking about the Hellhound.

I kept my head down, willing myself not to respond to him.

"Fang normally attacks anyone who is unfamiliar"

Fang? It must be the name of that Hellhound. Fitting. I quietened as the King stepped closer.

His fingers tipped my head up, eliciting a gasp from my lips. I could inhale his scent from being pressed against him. It reminded me of the night we danced together.

"It makes you that special cara. There's just something about you that makes people like you, hmm?" He murmured and I felt his fingers trail down towards my throat. I gulped underneath his touch. The pads of his fingers were the only things I could feel in that moment. It was as if they burned my skin. As I tilted my head to meet his eyes I noticed that he was staring at my lips.

My breath hitched in the throat and I was sure it could be heard from miles away. My heart was beating hard and fast in his chest. For a second I was reminded of that night, kissing him but it vanished away soon. The memory got replaced with him saying ugly things in the red room.

I shoved his chest with all the strength I could muster and he only took a step back, doing it off of his own accord, like it did not even hurt him. It pissed me off.

I shrieked, "Get away from me!"

My eyes cast towards the ground, teeth gritting in anger. How dare he try to kiss me after putting me through Hell? Pun intended. He made my entire life a joke and after all that had the audacity to think I would ever kiss him.

"Aww, this is so funny cara. Do you really want me to go away? Because you were the one who couldn't stop laughing at my jokes and took me to bed" His eyes trailed towards my stomach and I felt tears well up in my eyes. He was such an asshole!

"How do you think we got into this mess? You were so eager, trying to get me in your bed so that-"

"Shut up!" I growled, tears slipping out of my eyes.

He grinned, "I was just trying to relive our memory"

"You are disgusting and I fucking hate you"

He flinched visibly at the sentence but did not say anything for a few seconds.

"Yet you slept with me and are going to have my child. What does that say about you, Talia?" He walked back towards the bridge leaving me all alone.

I wiped the tears away from my eyes as I rounded the corner of the mansion. The painting in the main entrance caught my eyes again but I avoided looking at Lukas face. How could someone so beautiful be so cruel? I thought, leaning against the wall.

***