FOR A WHILE, THEY STOOD IN A POIGNANT SILENCE, the salty drips flowing freely in defiance of her control, each droplet sipping immense emotion flooding, a proof of the depth of her hopeless, fervent longing.
Despite the ache in his own heart and the tormenting grip it has, he knew that he must honor the payment of the wish he had granted, his own selfishly hanging with hers. Still, above all else, he yearned for her happiness.
"This is the farthest my magic can grant."
With her eyes continually brimming with unshed tears and her heart heavy with vehement yearning, she refused to let him go. Her heartfelt plea was reflected in her expression, a blend of deep affection and sorrow that caused her facade to crumble, revealing her vulnerability in the current situation. Lucifer's eyes gleamed with ardent dejection as he finally relented, his resolve crumbling in the face of her unwavering love. Though it frustrated him to no end, he couldn't bear to see her in pain, and so he made the decision to stay a bit longer by her side.
Despite the impending consequences of his actions, Lucifer's heart ached to soothe her, to touch her once more, and to share in her pain. Ignoring the looming punishment that awaited him, he reached out for her, his arm extended, awaiting her warmth, his hands glowing with a golden light as he interlaced his fingers with hers.
Bringing her hand to his soft lips, he planted gentle kisses upon her skin, each touch a silent yet profound declaration of his affection and farewell. Pressing her hand tenderly against his cheek, he savored the warmth of her touch, a bittersweet reminder of the love they shared.
With his other hand, he wiped away the tears that fell from her glistening eyes, his touch offering solace amidst the overwhelming tide of emotions that threatened to engulf them both. Drawing her close, Lucifer enveloped her once more in a comforting embrace. As she pressed her cheek against his shoulder, his scent was a familiar balm to her wounded soul. Yet, even in the safety of his arms, she couldn't help but mourn.
For what felt like an eternity, they remained locked in each other's embrace, time standing still as they savored every precious moment together. With each beat of their hearts, they willed the passage of time to slow, desperate to prolong their fleeting connection for just a little while longer. The gentle rhythm of the music box provided a soothing backdrop to their shared sorrow.
As the inevitable departure drew near, a bittersweet smile graced Lucifer's lips, his gaze lingering upon her with a mixture of love and sorrow. In the silent exchange of glances, they spoke utterances without uttering a single word, their hearts intertwined in a dance of longing and resignation.
"It's time for me to leave," he murmured softly, his voice laden with profound woe.
But she couldn't bear the thought of him slipping away from her grasp.
"Please..."
"Please..."
"Don't leave yet," she pleaded, her voice quivering with desperation as she clung to him, unwilling to let him go.
With a tender touch, his finger gently lifted her chin, meeting her gaze with a mixture of affection and resignation. Despite the pain of their impending separation, he knew that he must honor the consequences of his actions. But even as he prepared to leave, his heart remained tethered to hers, bound by the unbreakable bond they had nurtured throughout their time together.
"This magic, this fleeting respite, carries consequences," Lucifer explained, his voice gentle but firm, conveying the gravity of their situation. "And now, we must say our goodbyes."
As the weight of their immensity of sorrow settled upon them, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that this parting was inevitable, they found themselves grappling with the horrifying pain of saying goodbye. With a trembling voice and tear-stained cheeks, she reluctantly loosened her grip, allowing him to step back onto the path fate had set before him.
"I won't say goodbye!" she cried out, her voice choked with emotion.
And then, as if in response to her fervent declaration, his hand has slowly emanated by golden light, turning his being steadily into a fragment of dust, now enveloping his frame and casting a radiant glow that seemed to emanate from within. Slowly, imperceptibly, his form began to blur against the backdrop of darkness, the boundaries of his being dissipating like mist in the morning sun. He gazed at her with eyes filled with undeciphered words, his heart heavy with the weight of memories etched deeply within him.
"I won't forget the times we've spent together, the times your eyes light up in glee and sorrow," he said softly, his voice trembling with sincerity. "And now, I beg of you..."
But before he could finish his plea, she interrupted him with a sob, her tears mingling with the golden light that surrounded them.
"If only you could've stayed with me forever," she whispered brokenly as she fell to her knees. "I would tell you... it's okay."
Hic.
"Even if you had no magic..." she said, her tears streaming down her cheeks in an unstoppable cascade.
"I want to stay by your side."
Her words reverberated in the air, carrying with them the overwhelming intensity of her burning affection and the unwavering strength of her resolve. And as tears welled in the corners of his eyes, Lucifer kneeled before her, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions.
But her words were met with silence, save for the sound of her silent sobs echoing in the room.
"Please do not cry," he whispered, his voice a tender beseech as he gently cupped her tear-streaked cheeks. Pressing his forehead against hers, he sought to share in her pain and offer whatever comfort he could in the face of their inevitable farewell.
But despite his efforts to assuage her grief, the sound of her sobs only intensified, each heart-wrenching cry piercing the silence like a knife. Tears continued to cascade down her cheeks like a relentless stream.
"This will happen eventually," he said softly, his voice tinged with a quiet resolve even as his heart shattered into miniscule pieces with every tear she shed. With gentle hands, he wiped away her tears, his fading thumbs tracing the trails of her sorrow as if to capture them forever.
"The magic is fading."
"Besides, my wish has been fulfilled," he continued, his smile tender yet tinged with sadness as he gazed into her tear-filled eyes. "That is to feel your warmth for the first time."
His words hung heavy in the air. And as she gazed back at him, her eyes pooled with tears, dampening her lashes and her whole façade.
"And now... I want you to promise me..."
Silence.
"That you will live happily... with all the gifts I gave you."
His voice quivered with emotion as he made his solemn request, his heart heavy with feelings unrecognizable as they blended together, his love for her the most profound.
"I love you," he whispered softly into her ear, his words a heartfelt declaration of the love that bound them together. With tender care, he placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead, his lips lingering for a fleeting moment against her skin, a final gesture of love and tenderness before they parted ways.
With a heavy heart, Lucifer cast the magic he had prepared, its effects slowly taking hold. As her vision blurred and the world around her became hazy, the melodic sound of his voice, once so familiar and comforting, now became an incomprehensible whisper, lost to her amidst her sorrow.
Reluctantly, Lucifer stood, his gaze lingering on her serene form as he took hesitant steps backward toward the mirror where he resided. With each movement, the once hardened and fragile mirror began to liquefy once more, its surface rippling like water under his touch. A soft golden light bathed the room briefly as he disappeared into the mirror, returning to the realm from which he came.
Yet he remained there, his figure slowly fading against the harsh backdrop of the reflected golden light that had enveloped his form. It was a gradual departure, each moment stretching into eternity as he struggled against the pull of separation. And even as his figure grew fainter and more indistinct, as the golden dust that his frame had become scattered slowly in the background of the mirror, he remained a lingering presence in the room, his essence lingering in the air like a whisper of a memory.
"Please..." her voice was low, slow. "...please... don't... leave my side..."
Her words hung heavy in the air, a desperate plea that tugged at the very fabric of his being. With each syllable, he felt his resolve waver, his heart breaking at the thought of causing her pain.
"You have to forget me."
As she sat on the floor, her frame sinking further into the cold surface, she fought against the drowsiness that threatened to consume her. Her eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open as she clung to his words.
"I..." she began, her voice fading into a whisper, her eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion. "...won't..."
Her chest rose and fell in a rhythm that mirrored the ebb and flow of his own conflicted emotions. And as she slipped further into the depths of unconsciousness, he couldn't help but marvel at her resilience, her unwavering spirit a beacon of hope in the darkness that surrounded them.
Despite his efforts to maintain composure, a single tear escaped from the corner of his eye, tracing a path down his pale cheek before landing softly on the reflected floor, a silent whisper to the depths of his sorrow.
She appeared so serene in that moment, her features softened by the tranquility of sleep. Despite the tumult raging within him, Lucifer knew he couldn't stay. The weight of their separation pressed heavily upon him, a crushing burden that threatened to suffocate him.
Placing his hand against the now-solid mirror, he couldn't shake the feeling of longing that consumed him, as if he yearned to hold her just a moment longer. With a sad smile and tear-stained cheeks, he spoke softly to the empty room, his voice barely above a whisper yet filled with a profound sense of loss.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice trembling with the weight of a thousand unspoken regrets.
Each word carried the burden of his own pain.
"I wish things could be different, but this is the way it has to be."
Tears welled in his eyes as he gazed upon her sleeping form, his heart breaking at the thought of leaving her behind. With a heavy sigh, he pressed his hand against the now-solid mirror, saying a silent farewell to the love they had shared.
"But if there will be times when we will meet again," he whispered, his voice barely audible against the silence of the room. "And when that day comes..."
"I promise...I will stay with you...forever."
With those words lingering in the air...
With his remaining magic...
And with a final glance at her...
CRACK.