Chapter nineteen : Lucifer

Fuck what did I do? Last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, and right now she was crying because of me. I reached out for her but she flinched and scampered away from me, putting as much distance as she could between us. I heard her muffled cries and then I heard my heart break into tiny pieces. Oh god what did I do?

I got out of the car and got to her side. I carefully opened the door trying not to startle her. She was curled up in her seat and I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. I gently unbuckled the belt and I kneeled down which put us on eye level. "Everly," I pulled her close to me, she tried to resist but I didn't stop. Slowly and gently, after a few seconds she was in my embrace. I felt her shiver with every cry, "Please don't, I beg you." She kept repeating the same words.

I picked her up in my arms and then sat down in her seat with her in my lap. "Please Everly, please stop crying. I'm so sorry for being a jerk. When I didn't see you there I lost my mind. I was so worried sweetheart. So worried. Then I searched every fucking station with a train scheduled to leave in the evening. And when I saw you I was so relieved, it felt like I could finally breathe but then I messed up. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for scaring you. Please stop crying." I kissed on her head and rubbed her back, trying every freaking method to calm her down.

I sat there with her in lap, stroking her back, kissing on her head and every second felt like a fucking eternity. I felt helpless for not knowing what to do so all I did was hug her tightly, hoping she would feel what I was feeling. Hoping she would forgive me. After what seemed like an hour or so, she finally calmed down and then she went still in my arms. I looked down at her thinking she might've dozed of but she was staring into space. I had to make things right with her.

"Are you okay now?" I said softly trying not to scare her or anything. I felt her nod, "Please put me down," she said in a small voice. I wanted to do whatever she said but then I found her hands holding my shirt in small fists. I couldn't.

"I'm sorry love but I won't. Not until I'm certain that you're alright." Her fists loosened and I felt her relax.

I sat still for a while finding my words before speaking. "Did someone hurt you in the past?"

She stiffened but I continued stroking her back, "Don't be scared you can tell me, love." I took one of her hands in my mine and kissed her palm, "Did anyone hurt you?"

She nodded, I felt my blood boil but I calmed myself, for my Everly. "Who was it?" I asked, she didn't answer and remained silent for a long time. I understood that was all for now. She wasn't going to tell me anything further, not yet. "It's okay you don't have to tell me now." I gently kissed her wrist.

"Now please tell me why did you run away even when I told you to wait?"

"Could you first put me down please?"

I sighed then got out of the car and put her on her feet. A strong gust of wind blew past us. I grabbed my suit jacket from the back seat and put it around her shoulders. Why I did that, I had no idea. I wasn't even a big fan of these types of things but with her, it was different. All I wanted to do was protect her.

She was taken aback by my action and went to remove it but I grabbed her wrists, "Please don't." She looked at me and stopped. "Now please tell me Everly."

She took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands, "Because I didn't want to burden you. You've already done enough for a complete stranger like me. I couldn't just wander around you like that. I had to get out, it was the right thing to do." She said in a shaky voice.

I expected this from her, "Why do you think that was the right thing to do?" But I still wanted to hear it from her.

"You're a big man Lucifer. I am no match for you. What you did was out of kindness, without any motive. I did not want to seem like someone taking advantage of that, so I left." She sniffled and then wiped her eyes.

"What if I told you I had a motive?" Her eyes snapped back at me. I stepped forward and cupped her cheek, "Everly all this time I just had one thing in mind. I wanted to make you mine."

"What do you mean that?" She sniffled.

"What I mean is that I'm chasing you my sweet Everly. The moment I saw you I was done for. Since then I'd been doing things I'd never done in my life. You've changed me sweetheart and I guess I like it." I smiled as my thumb caressed her cheek.

She was looking up at me like I'd spouted a third ear. Damn I was really a sucker for those big green eyes of hers.

"I uh," she started, "Sorry, I."

I kept my hand on her mouth, her lips soft as petals against my palm, "I didn't ask for an answer. I was just informing you. Take as much time as you want to settle your mind. I'll be waiting for you," I took a deep breath and then added, "Everly I'm sorry for earlier. I was so overwhelmed-"

"It's okay, just don't do that again." She smiled. I nodded, "I swear I won't."

She waited for a moment again, probably gathering her words. "Why did you come after me leaving your date behind?" She blurted and then covered her mouth.

So she'd seen me with Charlotte, maybe she was jealous. Who knows? But I won't tease her right now, some other time maybe.

"Because you are much more important than her. Moreover I didn't have any idea she'd be my date." I shrugged. She looked up at me confused and I explained, "It was something my father planned without informing me. But now I'll be telling him to stop because I'd already found the one I was waiting for." I lightly pinched her nose. "Now let's get you home. Get in."

I dropped Everly at her place. I didn't like the area single bit. It had zero security for god's sake, and after what happened I wasn't sure of wanting to leave her alone. But I knew she needed some time so I controlled my urge to take her to my place. I parked under the building of her apartment and got out. She was out before I could open the door for her. "Here," I extended my hand for her bag, "I'll drop you to your apartment."

"No it's really not necessary. Please."

I didn't push her. I stood there looking at the building and started getting anxious, was it really okay to leave her here alone.

"Lucifer don't worry I'd been living here for four years. It might not seem good but it provides. I'll be fine." She smiled at me and my heart melted.

This little girl in front of me held so much power over me, I should be scared but I wasn't, rather I loved every aspect of it.

"I'll get going. Thank you for everything." She started toward the building.

"Wait just a minute," I rushed to grab the new phone box, "Here you go. Yours is not in the best condition so you could use this."

She looked at the box and then at me, "I appreciate it but I already have a spare one."

"I see. So you sure you don't want this?" I tried once again and she refused again. Then I stood there until I saw her disappear in that dark building. I waited for a few minutes before getting back inside.

My fists clenched on the steering wheel remembering what I got to know. She was hurt. Someone dared to hurt my Everly in such a way she was still so frightened. I bet the way she reacted back at Venus after the incident had something to do with it too. Now I understood the reason of the walls she'd built around herself. My sweet Everly was afraid of getting hurt. My fists turned white. I didn't know what happened or who did that, she might've not told me but I'll make sure to check it out my own way. After all that person didn't deserve to live anyway.