The journey home was silent. No words were exchanged between Jasmine and myself. I was trapped inside my mind, overthinking anything and everything. I wondered if she were mad at me for not telling her the truth. I didn't want her to hate me for sleeping with her brother-and Aries. I didn't want to assume that them being literal sex demons made it okay. She was still a being of some sort with feelings. And she was my friend, I should've told her.
Even the elevator ride up to the apartment was silent. We made temporary eye contact in the surrounding mirrors, but she broke it quickly. I couldn't tell what she was feeling and that made me uncomfortable. She almost seemed much like her brother now, nearly emotionless.
I unlocked the front door, stumbling inside. Jasmine trailed closely behind me, shutting the door behind her. The apartment was silent and I assumed that we were alone like I wanted. But as I tossed my keys on the counter, I realized I made a mistake. Silas exited his room and made his way over to me. I found myself taking a step back instinctively. He titled his head, a small frown on his mouth.
And then he noticed Jasmine. His eyes narrowed at her before he looked back at me. How the hell was I going to get out of this one? I felt my throat burning so I raised my hands to my neck.
"What are you doing here?" He asked Jasmine. She didn't offer him a response. She seemed almost as solemn as I did. "What's wrong?" He asked me.
"Nothing," I said quietly. It hurt to speak, so I couldn't speak as loudly as I wanted to. My tone was softer than I intended. "Why do you think something's wrong?"
"Well, I know my sister and I know you. And you both seem upset." He stopped in front of me, raising his hands to where my hands resided around my neck. I didn't try to stop him when I knew I should've. He began to pull my arms down slowly just as the front door opened. Silas' eyes narrowed immediately at my neck. "I didn't do that."
"Do what?" I heard from behind me. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up as Aries made his way into the room. I cursed under my breath.
I wasn't planning on telling them about the Lucifer situation initially. I wanted to keep it a secret as long as I could. But I could only imagine now that there was bruising around my neck, I couldn't lie at this point. I could've tried to blame it on them. But as much as they had choked me during sex, it was never enough to bruise me. They were careful, but Lucifer didn't give a fuck about being careful. He wanted to prove a point. He wanted to hurt me-kill me even, if he had gotten the chance.
I gulped. This wasn't going to end well.
"She has bruises on her neck," Silas said, tilting my chin up and head back so that he could get a better view. "Finger marks."
"What?" I heard Aries growl. He nearly stomped as he made his way closer to me. I swallowed nervously, a furious look on his face as he got a better view of my neck. I was terrified to see it myself as horror flashed on his face. His eyes went up to mine just as I felt my eyes watering, but I was trying to stop myself. I didn't cry often, and if I was going to cry I definitely didn't want it to be in front of anyone. "Natalia, what the fuck happened?"
"Nothing," I lied, avoiding his eyes.
"Nothing?" He scoffed. He turned his gaze to Jasmine. "What happened?" She didn't answer him. I nearly jumped in shock as he moved in the blink of an eye in front of her. He towered over her much like he did me. "Jasmine, what the fuck happened?"
I thought for a moment that Silas that would've killed Aries for speaking to his sister like that. But as usual, he stayed silent. He was looking at Jasmine like he wanted to know too, waiting expectedly. She looked in between the two of them nervously, her gaze falling on me. She was searching for my approval to tell them and I respected her for it. But this was my mess that she had accidentally got caught up in. I needed to put on my big girl pants and speak up.
"Samael," as the single name left my mouth, I had both of their gazes back on me. And I was terrified just by the look on their faces.
Silas' eyes narrowed, a deep scowl on his face. His whole demeanor changed, his fists clenching tightly. But Aries barked out a quick "Lucifer?" disbelief and annoyance in his tone. He sounded murderous, like he would do something stupid. There was no way I was going to let Aries get hurt because of me. I knew they was powerful, but Lucifer was fucking Lucifer. There was absolutely no comparison.
"Don't do anything stupid," I grumbled. "I'm talking to both of you." I looked between the two of them.
"Why?" Silas asked in annoyance.
"Don't be stupid, Natalia," Aries bit. "There's no way Lucifer has laid a finger on you and I'm not going to do something about it. You know me better than that."
"Please, just," I sighed softly, pinching the bridge of my nose. I looked to Jasmine for help when my words failed me.
"You know what Lucifer is capable of, Aries," Jasmine backed me up. "I'm his daughter-"
"Your words mean nothing to me," he spat. "Because if you being his daughter meant anything she wouldn't have bruises on her fucking neck."
"I helped her!" She scoffed, losing her temper. "I helped her. I was there to help her and you weren't there. Neither of you were. So don't try to take your anger out on me, Aries. I won't take it and you know that."
Aries scowled, his eyes flickering between me and Jasmine. His shoulders dropped in defeat, a small sigh leaving his mouth. "I'm sorry, Jasmine." He clenched his jaw tightly. "How did you help her?"
"I talked him down," she said. "He was just angry that you two were sleeping with her when you were only supposed to be searching for a suitable partner for him."
"Oh, cry me a fucking river," Aries scoffed. "Natalia is ours only."
"Again," I shook my head. "I'm not an object."
"We know," Silas shrugged. "But you're still mine."
"And mine," Aries added.
My cheeks ignited in embarrassment. I couldn't believe that I flushed as they reaffirmed what I already knew. Why the fuck was I blushing? But it wasn't just in the privacy of our home. It was in front of Silas' sister of all people. And I still wasn't sure on how she felt about us even being involved.
"Does it bother you?" I turned to Jasmine, watching confusion contort on her face as the question left my mouth.
"What?" She asked.
"Me and..." I trailed off, gulping as I looked at Silas, "your brother," I finished.
"Oh," she murmured. Both of the siblings chuckled simultaneously, nearly creeping me out. My eyes switched between them. And then hell froze over-or so I thought. Maybe it did and I just didn't know. But Silas' mouth curled upward into a small, closed lip smile. I nearly felt my eyes light up in admiration as he, for the first time since I met him, smiled.
A small gasp left my mouth which seemed to startle him. "You're smiling," I murmured, unable to hide my reaction. I walked over to him, taking his cheeks in between my palms. His eyes narrowed as I squeezed his cheeks. "You're so cute," I gushed.
"I'm cute?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. The smile was gone as quick as it arrived.
"You're emoting more," I grinned. I turned to Aries. "He's finally emoting more."
"It's about time," Aries scoffed. "We've only been waiting about a half century for you to smile. Although, I'm kind of jealous that it was because of her and not me."
Silas shook his head. "If you weren't so annoying maybe I'd smile around you."
Aries quickly scowled. He went to argue with him, and I just smiled. I adored their dynamic, I adored them. I loved to watch them interact and just be. And there weren't a lot of people that I felt that way about.
"Anyways," Jasmine said, briefly bringing me back as Silas wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into him. "I don't have an issue with you and my brother. You guys are cute."
"Really?" Aries asked. "I think we're cuter."
Jasmine rolled her eyes at him. "I trust you with him. With both of them. Aries is more like a brother to me than anything. I can see that you have a good heart."
"Even though I didn't tell you about it?" I asked.
She nodded. "Even though you didn't tell me about it. But I wasn't lying when I said I had a hunch. At the party you invited me to when we first met...He nearly ripped my arm off because he thought I was purposely trying to hurt you."
"To be fair, it was pure instinct. I didn't realize it was you at first or I wouldn't have grabbed you like that," he said. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," she frowned. "I should've never left home. I was just trying to escape my life and what I was."
"I understand," he said. "You don't need to apologize, Jas. I apologize for the way I reacted."
I urged him forward a little and he let me. He walked over to his sister, hugging her tightly. I couldn't hear them both mumbling soft apologies over and over to one another. They were healing any malice that grew in their time apart. And I found it beautiful. I couldn't help but smile softly.
"You really do have some magical pussy," Aries mumbled, as he observed them alongside me.
I rolled my eyes. "Why do you say that?"
"You got them to make up. Better yet, you got them to talk to one another. So I know it's your pussy that's magic."
"You're very annoying," I told him, crossing my arms.
He smiled at me softly before it fell. I matched his expression once I realized that his gaze was on my neck once more. He seemed a mix of sad and angry. I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting from him.
"It..." he trailed off, gulping. "Seeing your bruises makes me really fucking homicidal. But it also...hurts me. Because I know it hurts. I know you're in pain."
"I'm fine," I said softly.
"You would say that to make me feel better," he mumbled. "But I don't need to feel better. I need you to be honest. And I need you to tell me what you need from me."
"I just need your company," I told him. "That's all."
He nodded slowly. "I-"
"But I don't need you babying me. I'm not made of glass. I'm not going to break."
He clenched his jaw. "I know you're not made of glass. But you can't expect me to just..." He trailed off, his eyes glancing behind me as he avoided eye contact. "It physically hurts to look at you."
"I can try to cover it up-"
"You don't have to," he cut me off. "But look, I need some time to cool down. All I can think about is Lucifer's decapitated head and his blood on my hands." He clenched his fists tightly, a violent fire igniting from them. I gulped nervously.
He began to back away from me and I followed after him. I frowned. "Do you want me to come with you-"
"No," he said, a little more coldly than I think he intended. "I need to be alone."
Please don't leave me, got caught in my throat. I just watched as he walked away and out the front door. Jasmine and Silas had broken out of their embrace, their eyes trained on me and filled with nothing but pure worry. I let out a small breath, trying not to cry. I was already upset about the bruises, but I didn't want them to treat me any differently because of it. And I certainly didn't want them to push me away or vice versa.
"Can you make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?" I asked Silas. He nodded, but seemed hesitant to leave. "Go. I'll be fine." I sent him a reassuring smile but it was all a lie.
He turned to Jasmine. "Can you stay with her?"
"Of course," she said, beginning to take off her jacket. "Go ahead. We'll be fine."
He pursed his lips, looking at me once more. I could tell that he was apprehensive. I wished he would say what was on his mind. I didn't want him to hold his tongue. I needed him to say something that was reassuring, anything.
But he walked over to me and that's when it started. The moment he held my face in his hands, I broke. He shushed me softly, kissing my forehead and wrapping his arms around me tightly. He wiped under my eyes with his thumbs gently.
"I'm going to find him and bring him home. You're going to be okay, Natalia," he murmured. I nodded, sniffling. As soon as the tears started, I forced them to stop. He held me just a little while longer. I could tell he wanted to say something else but he didn't. He just sent Jasmine one last look, leaving the apartment with just me and her inside it.