It All Started with an Apple. Subtitled: Lucifer's forbidden fruit

Chapter 5 Lucifer

At the club, Lucifer, still disguised as Tristan, stands in front of Aelia's dressing room, rage and bitterness filling him. He finds his pride is crushed at her rejection tonight. She wanted him that much, he was very sure of, but still she denied him. She denied her soul's cry for him, his eyes flashing from green to crimson red as the darkness of his true nature seeped from every pore of his being. Lucifer knew he must find calmness and control immediately, or there would be serious hell to pay. With much effort, he forces his eyes closed to seek Aelia out to feel what she is feeling.

Lucifer finds Aelia asleep in bed, wearing a long, ugly flannel gown. He yearns to be there beside her to rip the ugly material from her beautiful body. Emptiness is filling him to the point of pure agony, an emptiness caused by him knowing that he cannot be one with her just yet. He grits his teeth as he forces these unwanted thoughts from his mind. Again, with much effort, Lucifer pushes the barriers between time and space to link his mind to Aelia's. Once his mind is linked to hers, he finds she is thinking of him, the way they touched and caressed one another tonight. He cannot contain a smile as the darkness within him is instantly erased, replaced by complete contentment and pride. Aelia does want him and only rejects him out of fear, a fear of the intensity of her desires for him. He wishes she could be here with him right now. He was sick and tired of being alone in the darkness of hell. He desires a mate, his true mate, his beautiful Reincarnated as her, Aelia.

"Aelia, are you..."

The very unwelcome sound of Shelby's voice breaks Lucifer's link with Aelia. He turns towards the young woman with a look only true evil could manage. His canines are barred as he wants very much to crush her windpipe. A smirk spreads across his face as he hears her gasp in terror. He whispers thoughts into her mind enough to drive her insane with fearful images of hell and the many souls it contains.

"What's the matter, child? Are you scared?" Lucifer hisses.

"You should be your entire race as well, for one day soon, you shall be crushed beneath my feet," Lucifer growls. When Shelby gives no reply, he steps closer- close enough to touch her if he desires.

"Are you so scared that you have lost your ability to answer? Speak now," he commands, his eyes burning red like the flames of a candle.

"Who... I mean, what are you? What do you want with me, and where is Aelia?" Shelby asks in a strained- mousy tone of voice.

"I and the Lord of darkness, Prince of all that is pain, suffering, misery and despair. I am he who walks across the land of fire untouched by the flames. I am the one who devours all things pure, destroyer of all hope. The one that shall set fire to the entire world yet not allow one flame to touch her. I am Tristan, Lucifer, Satan, Diablo, Hades, the Devil, Samael, or right now, thanks to this mortal vessel. I know all your fears, dreams, and desires. Aelia is at home, fast asleep, dreaming of things to come. Let me use your fears to destroy you," Lucifer laughs.

"No- oh please no, God help me." Shelby cries as Lucifer transforms into the monster she's always believed he would look like. A huge creature with glowing yellow eyes, long spiraled horns like a ram and razor-like teeth. Her eyes refused to close, going wider in fear at the rest of him- his upper body was human except for his hands. They're like the claws of a lion, and from his shoulders sprout large black wings like a crow. His lower body is that of a goat or ram with hooves so mighty one stomp could crush her skull.

"God, you cry, help me, you beg," Lucifer taunts.

"He will not answer your cries, child, nor will he come to your aide. He will not leave his dwelling to save you from his fallen angel. Tell me, Shelby, tell me you want this torment to end. Beg me, child, beg me as you begged God, and I shall set you free." Lucifer lies slyly.