Chapter 334: Exousia And Lucifer
Exousia drifted down through the early morning haze, her form woven from mist and silent light. The city moved beneath her in slow pulses—traffic lights changing from red to green, early risers walking their dogs, café signs flickering on. She drifted between skyscrapers, her eyes scanning the horizon, searching for his presence.
It didn’t take long.
She felt him like gravity. An ancient pull that wrapped around her bones and whispered secrets she couldn’t remember. She followed it to a building on the city’s edge, an old library that had been condemned years ago. Or at least... it used to be.
Now it stood tall and quiet, ivy crawling up pristine stone walls, windows clean and dark under the pale morning sky. Roses bloomed along the entrance steps, red and violet against the grey dawn. The scent drifted to her as she landed softly on the front path.
She walked up the marble steps and pushed the door open without hesitation.
Inside, the lobby was quiet and warm. The walls were lined with shelves packed with books of every shape and age. Old chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystals catching faint sunlight drifting through stained glass panels. Wooden floors glowed under layers of polish, and faint orchestral music played from somewhere deeper in the building.
She found him in a side room. It was small, with a single window overlooking the sleeping city. The curtains were drawn halfway, letting gold morning light pour across the black stone counters.
Lucifer stood with his back to her, pouring steaming coffee into two cups. The rich smell filled the room, mixing with the faint scent of roses drifting in through the open window.
He didn’t turn as she entered. His voice was quiet, almost lazy.
"As soon as I noticed your presence on Earth, I knew immediately Michael would send you."
Exousia walked closer, her boots silent on the polished floor. "Michael didn’t send me."
Lucifer chuckled softly, placing the coffee pot back on its stand. He turned to her then, holding one of the cups out. "Drink?"
She hesitated, then stepped forward and took it. The cup was warm against her palms, and the smell wrapped around her chest like something almost comforting.
Lucifer leaned back against the counter, sipping his own coffee slowly. He wore simple black clothes today, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was still damp from the rain earlier, falling in loose waves across his forehead.
Exousia studied him silently. His eyes were tired. Not in the way of someone who lacked sleep, but in the way of someone who no longer cared to dream.
"You rebuilt this place," she said softly, glancing around the pristine room.
Lucifer shrugged lightly. "I needed somewhere quiet."
"It’s beautiful."
He smiled faintly, looking down into his cup. "Beauty is easy."
Silence fell between them. The orchestral music from the lobby drifted in, calm strings weaving through the warm air.
"You’re not going to help them," she said quietly.
Lucifer raised his eyes to hers. "No."
"Why?"
He tilted his head slightly, studying her face. "Because I’ve spent too long helping."
She looked down at her coffee, watching the faint ripples dance across the black surface. "Michael thinks you’re selfish."
Lucifer chuckled softly. "He would."
"Are you?"
He paused, swirling his coffee once before taking another sip. "Maybe. But what does it matter now?"
She set her cup down on the counter, the porcelain clinking softly against the stone. "It matters. To them."
Lucifer’s eyes darkened slightly, the gold fading to black. "Does it matter to you?"
Exousia met his gaze, steady and quiet. "I don’t know."
He smiled faintly. "Honest as ever."
She stepped closer, close enough to smell the faint warmth of his skin under the scent of coffee and roses. "Why did you come back?"
Lucifer looked away, his eyes flicking to the glowing window. "Because I could."
"That’s not an answer."
"It’s the only one I have."
She was quiet for a long moment. Outside, birds began to sing, their calls soft against the waking city hum.
"Do you remember," she said softly, "the last time we spoke?"
Lucifer closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "Yes."
"I told you then," she continued, her voice calm but trembling faintly, "that no matter how far you fell, I would still see you."
He didn’t reply. He just stared into his coffee, his eyes empty and dark.
"I meant it," she said.
"I know."
She reached out and brushed her fingers lightly against his wrist. His skin was cold under her touch. He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t move closer either.
"I came," she whispered, "because they’ll want to know."
Lucifer’s jaw tightened. "My wives."
"Yes."
He chuckled softly, the sound hollow. "Let them come. I have nothing left to give."
"That’s not true," she said quietly. "You always have something left."
Lucifer turned to her then, his eyes empty and tired. "Why do you care, Exousia? Why do any of you still care?"
She looked at him for a long time, then shook her head softly. "Because you’re still you."
He laughed faintly, leaning back against the counter again. "That’s the problem."
They fell silent once more. The orchestral music faded to a quiet piano piece, the notes soft and aching. Exousia picked up her coffee and took a slow sip, feeling the bitter warmth spread through her chest.
"I’ll be going back soon," she said.
"To the Celestial Myriad Realm," Lucifer murmured.
"Yes. And then... to the God Plane."
He nodded once. "They’re waiting for news."
She looked at him. "What should I tell them?"
Lucifer stared out the window, watching the city glow under the climbing sun. For a moment, his face softened. Just a tired man watching the morning come.
"Tell them..." he paused, closing his eyes. "Tell them I’m sorry."
Exousia felt her chest tighten. "That’s not enough."
"I know."
He finished his coffee and set the cup down softly on the counter. The quiet clink echoed through the small room.
"Will you fight it?" she asked suddenly. Her voice was calm, but her fingers trembled around her cup.
Lucifer didn’t answer right away. He ran a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back from his eyes.
"I don’t know," he said softly.
She nodded once. "Then I’ll tell them that."
He looked at her, his eyes dark and endless. "Do what you must."
She set her cup down beside his and stepped back. "Goodbye, Lucifer."
He smiled faintly, tiredly. "Goodbye, Exousia."
She turned and walked out of the room, her boots silent against the polished floor. As she stepped into the lobby, her body dissolved into mist, curling upward through the chandelier light and vanishing into the waking sky.
Lucifer stood alone in the quiet room, the scent of coffee and roses clinging to the warm air.
He closed his eyes and leaned against the counter, listening to the city hum outside.
Somewhere far away, thunder rumbled again.
And Lucifer smiled softly, without warmth.