Should I Fight It?

Uriel

“They’re gone,” I whispered to myself. For the first time in my twenty-five years of living, they are gone. I wanted to scream in relief. Mom had been so stressed, constantly hovering over my head for so long. I was barely alone in our home and when she wasn’t there, I could relax. Now I was in someone else’s home, but it still felt alright. It felt great, actually.

“How about Lucifer showing you to the bedroom you are staying in? Some things have already been sent down from your home that you would need through Hermes’ messengers.” I nodded, thanking her profusely for letting me stay. Parisa was so nice, so much more laid back than Mom. I think I was really going to like it here.

“Can I come too?” Loki crossed his arms. “I’ve hung out with her more. She likes me better. She thinks Lucifer looks like Lurch, anyway.” Giggling, I playfully pushed Loki.

“Yes, please!” I chirped. Lucifer rolled his eyes. Glancing at him, I saw him ball up his fists.

“Are you mad?” picking at my fingers, I picked too hard, making a stupid hangnail bleed. I sighed, sucking on my finger to make the blood go away. Parisa pushed her son, nodding over in my direction.

“No, I’m not mad,” he spoke stiffly. He pulled my hand away, looking at how I picked too hard. “You shouldn’t pick at your nails,” he blew on my finger. The heat of his breath had my hand warm over the soft tingles left on my skin from his fingertips. The pain melted away, and the bleeding stopped. “Come on,” he dropped my hand, and I immediately didn’t like it. My hand felt all cold and clammy now and I wanted to run up and grab it again.

Luci was already walking down the hallway, Loki waiting for me to follow. “Go on, hun, he won’t bite.” Parisa put her arm around my shoulder. “He’s a good man. He’ll take care of you. He cares more than you think.”

“You sure? I don’t think he likes me very much,” I muttered.

“People’s emotions don’t always live on the outside, but sometimes hide on the inside and Luci doesn’t just understand how to let it out. That’s why he needs you to show him.”

“Me?” I questioned. Hades had his arm around Parisa, no matter how nice he was trying to be, he still reeked of unbelievable power.

“Lucifer needs a friend,” Hades bent down to my level. “Why don’t you show him? Hm?”

“H-he doesn’t have any?” How could he not have any friends? He’s so pretty! He could get a lot of friends, who are girls I’m sure. He could also get friends that were boys, too. Loki and Luci were also princes. They are automatically popular, but maybe that is why Loki liked me so much, because I didn’t care about him being a prince.

“Lucifer is a butt-head.” Loki spat. “He doesn’t know how to be nice, I, however,” Loki pretended to dust off the imaginary dust, “know how to be friends with people. Everyone wants to be my friend, except you. I have to work on you.” I laughed, Loki pulling on my hand.

We had to run to catch up to Lucifer. He was halfway to the family side of the palace, on the east side. The red sun that lit up the sky was already to the west, so the palace lights had been dimmed and only lit pathways to large doors. 

Luci didn’t even look at us as we ran up to him, out of breath. Biting my lip, I thought of what Queen Parisa told me, that Luci was just misunderstood and needed a friend. Not having many friends myself, I needed to figure out how to be a good friend to him without saying too much, since he doesn’t like to talk.

Feeling his hand earlier was really nice. I wonder if he thought the same?

I’m going for it.

Staring at my hand for a few seconds, I shoved it right into his. Alright, not shove, I might have tickled my hand into his. Luci’s body stopped right in the middle of the hallway. Loki kept walking, but I had to stop because, I was like, stuck to grumpy Lurch. “What’s wrong, Luci?” My head tilted to the side, wondering why he kept staring at our hands.

Luci’s face looked up at mine. I smiled, tugging at his hand. “Ready?” Taking one slow step to meet up with me, we continued down the hall.

One step closer to being friends, check!

We finally reached the family wing. These doors were huge, black with a hint of red. Demons are displayed on each of the panels and gold trim around each door.

“You know my room.” Loki pointed to his door. His door had a dark green hue to it. “That’s Lucifer’s door,” he pointed to the room beside his. His door was the same as most of the others, dark with a hint of red. No personality on the door like Loki’s.

“And this is your room,” Luci spoke lowly. It was right across the large hall from Luci’s. It held a white-cream-colored door instead of the darkened doors. Walking up to it, I put both hands on either handle. Looking back, I waited for the boys behind me to be ready for the grand reveal. Of course, they knew what it looked like, but I didn’t!

I pulled, jumping as I did so to open the heavy doors until it was wide for all to see. Gasping at the largeness of the room, I stepped on the light hardwood floor. The bed was surrounded by a white fluffy fur rug. I couldn’t wait to feel it with my bare feet. The walls were a dark mauve pink and the beautiful white bedspread was fit for a princess.

“It's so wonderful!” I squealed. Running to the bed, I jumped on it a few times. It was way bouncier than Loki’s.

“Did you even look in the bathroom?” Loki ran to the door, only to be stopped by Luci.

“Let her look,” he growled. I snorted, jumping off the bed and running to see what the fuss was about inside. Once I reached the door, Luci shut it with his hand above my head.

“You can’t run,” he whispered. I turned, my face meeting his. My heart raced, feeling the heat of his breath. My whole body tingled about how close he was. Hair standing on the back of my neck, I gulped silently, looking up at him. “You’ll get hurt.”

My body shivered, his jaw was so sharp I swear I cut my poor little finger on it. He was more handsome than Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty, more rugged than Aladdin. My wings shuttered, my whole body was going to collapse at these new feelings I had of this stoic god. Why was he so pretty!?

I wanted to touch him!

What are these feelings?! I squeaked internally, opening the door and shutting it quickly. Stammering, slapping, and roughhousing must be on the other side of the door. Loki was yelling at Luci, but all I heard were growls of irritation and hushed whispers.

Backing away from the door, my butt hit the counter. Turning to finally meet the place I would call home every morning and evening to do my ridiculously long hair, I stared at the magnificence. A crystal chandelier, long, beautiful white marble counters, pink and purple soaps of every kind, a steam shower with huge water heads. My mouth hung open, but I squealed in excitement at the giant hot tub in the middle.

Squinting my eyes, I ran to the other side of the wall, checking the toilet. Expecting it to be gold, I shrugged my shoulders of how plain it was and began stripping right then. Hot tub, here I come!

It was already filled to the top, bubbles silently popping as I stuck my dirty legs inside. Playing with the puppies had gotten me way too dirty. I wonder if they could come inside? I’d love to cuddle one while I sleep. Maybe I could ask.

“Are you alright in there?” Loki banged on the door. “Aren’t you coming back out and tell me good night?” I snorted, blowing a gigantic pile of bubbles away from my face.

“I’m in the tub. I’ll come to tell you good night when I’m done!” Giggling, I stuck my head under the water, coming up with a massive bubble hairdo. I should have left home a lot sooner if I had known the Underworld was so much fun.

Once bathed, I hopped out and quickly towel dried my hair, putting it into a messy bun. Keeping the towel wrapped tight around my body, I peeked out, checking to make sure that both the boys were gone. Seeing the room was now empty, and the door shut, I shuffled over to the drawers. All my clothes had been magically put away, in the same order that I usually put my clothes in.

Mom must have had strict instructions for the messenger who brought all this stuff.

I feel sorry for those guys. Mom can be a bit a bit, difficult person.

Slipping on a pair of silky shorts and top, I grabbed my favorite knee-high socks. They were awesome. They had these cute little pink pom-poms on each side and a little cat's face near the toes.

Cracking the door open, the hallway was dark except for one lone candle that hung beside Loki and Luci’s bedroom. I hate the dark. It was just a void of emptiness, not unless something decided to hide in it and scare you and eat your soul!

I was halfway to Loki’s door until he swung it open. I squeaked, the monster grabbing my hand, he pulled me inside Loki's room.

“You take forever,” he huffed. He stood in his pajamas, filled with superheroes from human comics. “Come tuck me in.” Shrugging my shoulders, thankful I didn't get eaten, I watched him climb into the massive bed and pulled the covers over him.

“Good night Loki!” I waved to him, but he grabbed my hand again.

“You’re supposed to kiss me goodnight. A good nanny that cared about the kid they were looking after would do that.”

I bit my finger. I only wanted to kiss who I would love one day.

“Not on the cheek,” Loki groaned. “What about my forehead? Does that work with your logic?”

“I-I guess not. And it isn’t silly thinking!” I stomped my foot. Loki laughed, shooing me out the door.

“I’m just kidding with you, Uriel. You are fun to rile up.” Squinting my eyes at him, I turned to open the door. Loki had already rolled over in bed, huffing to get comfortable.

Loki was a nice boy, just misunderstood. He plays a lot of mean pranks, but I think it is just because he wants attention. It didn’t matter if it was good or bad, he just wanted it.

“Loki?” I called to him. “Would you like me to read you a story?” Loki rolled over, his eyebrows arched.

“You might be too old, or not want to, but my Mom reads to me every night. Maybe I just want to share it with you, you know, with my first friend.” Loki’s eyes held no emotion. He stared at me as blank as a canvas.

Turning to leave, he had already left the bed, pulling me back to the empty chair next to where he slept. “I’d like that,” he whispered. “I’d like that very much.”

Loki pulled out a book from his pillow and handed it to me. The golden words at the top of the book were, “The Little Prince.” I smiled, touching each raised lettering, opening the famous book by the French author.