Chereads / The Reaper and The Devil / Chapter 109 - After Party (1)

Chapter 109 - After Party (1)

- Lucifer, Eros, Zeus -

Healers quickly approached Lucifer in the coliseum. One had a change of clothes for him that matched Eros along with his echo, while the other had a new cloak and toga for Eros.

Poseidon waved his healers away. "The fallen barely landed a hit, I'm fine."

The healers that approached Lucifer couldn't hide their shock. He looked flayed from the neck down, with some spots being damaged to the point of showing bone. The healers asked him if he'd like medicine. He shook his head and made words with fire.

"Archangel, it doesn't work."

Eros gave a brief glance at Lucifer's body before turning his head away. "We could at least knock you unconscious first."

Lucifer gave a hard stare to Poseidon. He made more words.

"I'm fine. Please start with my mouth so I don't have to keep doing this."

One of the healers put their hands on Lucifer's cheek and restored his face and the inside of his mouth. Lucifer's flinch at the pain made the healer stop.

"It's fine," Lucifer said. "It's just been a while since I last had that part healed."

The healers stared at each other. They had heard stories of archangel durability but couldn't believe it was actually real. On top of that, Lucifer's pain tolerance seemed insane to them.

"I'm going to start on the...rest of your body now," The healer warned.

"Feel free to go full speed," Lucifer said.

The crowd watched as the bewildered healers restored Lucifer's body at full speed. While it was agonizing for Lucifer, the spectators in the crowd watching were fascinated.

"I had a broken arm healed once," A spectator said to the being next to them. "Even with the medicine, the pain was severe. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now."

Similar murmurings were spreading throughout the crowd. Normally, Lucifer would have been healed in a more private area, but given the severity of his damage, the process was handled in the open.

Eros spoke in a joking tone. "You get tougher every time I see you."

"I don't need the-" Lucifer grunted in pain, "Continue, I'm fine," he said to the healers before speaking to Eros. "I don't need the bedside manner. I've lived through worse."

"What could possibly-" One healer said before realizing they were speaking out loud.

Lucifer was lying. Maybe he had been closer to dying in the past but as far as raw damage to his body, this was the peak. He was sure no one would actually question him on it though, which would give him another way of potentially irritating Poseidon.

"Really, fallen?" Poseidon tilted his head back as he spoke. "I'd love to hear that story."

Lucifer took his arm off of Eros's shoulder. "You ever fight my father or Death before? Maybe if you did you would know that it isn't that hard to believe."

Poseidon huffed. "You say 'fight' like there was some chance of you winning."

Lucifer cracked his neck. "It doesn't have to be an equal fight for there to be serious damage. Have you've already forgotten the last ten minutes?"

"Watch your tone," Poseidon warned. "Don't think simply participating in this match puts you on the same level as me."

Lucifer spoke casually, "You normally use all eight hydra heads in your matches?"

"You want another round, fallen?" Poseidon asked.

Eros projected his whispering into Lucifer's ears. "Shut up! Do you really want to start a fight with him after THAT?"

Lucifer ignored Poseidon and shifted to speaking to the healer that was fixing his body. "What's your name?"

The healers gave looks of surprise before answering.

"Calli, sir," One healer answered.

"Hektor, sir," The other one answered.

"Well Calli, Hektor, thank you for the healing," Lucifer grinned.

"I WAS SP-" Poseidon was interrupted by the sound of Zeus landing next to him.

Zeus put his hand on Poseidon's shoulder. "Since you seem fine I think it's best for you to go to the banquet hall. You can get a head start before Hermes starts stuffing his face."

"Of course," Poseidon nodded in agreement. "Try to behave yourself at the hall, fallen," He said to Lucifer before flying off.

"You didn't fly down here just to say that," Lucifer assumed. "What's going on?"

Zeus looked at the healers, then Eros, and finally, Lucifer. "I need you not to tell Death about what happened."

The healer finished restoring Lucifer's body. Lucifer made a big stretch, then thanked the healer a second time while putting on the change of clothes.

"They don't need to hear this," Lucifer said motioning to the healers.

Zeus's face scrunched in anger for a moment before realizing Lucifer was actually right. "He's right. Leave, all of you."

Eros flew off, giving Lucifer a look of melancholy before he went. Zeus and Lucifer went inside one of the coliseum entrances. They got out of the crowd's line-of-sight before continuing.

Lucifer folded his arms. "Give me one good reason I don't tell Death that your brother tried to kill me."

Zeus's anger at Lucifer's attitude spilled into his tone. "It's not like you didn't provoke him."

"Oh, so this is MY fault?" Lucifer said.

"No no, no, that's not what I was trying to say," Zeus backtracked. "I...I just think it's in both our best interests not to get Death involved in this. My brother has seemed...off lately. There's no excuse for what he did to you but involving Death won't make this situation better."

Lucifer didn't want to admit that Zeus was right. The only reason he would tell Death is if he wanted to add more chaos to the current circumstances. He had accomplished what he set out to do and now he just needed to get through the post-match party. He had no reason to continue stirring the pot in Olympus.

"I'll agree if you can answer one question for me honestly," Lucifer said.

"What is it?" Zeus asked.

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "If this situation was reversed; if I was the one about to kill your brother, what would you have done?"

Zeus's eyes went wide. He didn't want to answer this question honestly but knew that trying to lie was worse. He closed his eyes and made a deep inhale through his nose. He opened his eyes.

"I would have struck you with a bolt before you could," He said firmly.

Lucifer's eyes started glowing brighter as he tilted his head to the side. "Would you be shooting to kill or to stop?"

Zeus's tone was unsure. "I...I don't know."

Lucifer knew Zeus wasn't lying. He softened the expression on his face. If there was any hint on Zeus's face or tone that he was lying he wouldn't hesitate to tell Death immediately after this. As much as he felt he should just leave after saying he wouldn't tell, the Hell's warden side of him made him say one last thing.

"I won't tell Death," He said. "I know you hate me but please hear me out on this. What I saw in your brother's eyes is something severe. You need to speak with him about whatever is going on before another "accident" happens."

Zeus couldn't hide his frustration as he responded, "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."

Lucifer rolled his eyes and turned around. "I'm not telling you to make you angry. That look...lesser or ancient, is a look that leads to destruction."

Zeus didn't respond right away. He hated the idea that Lucifer might know his own brother better than he did. He swallowed his pride and asked Lucifer an important question.

"When you were facing him...did he have a slight grin?" he asked.

"Yes," Lucifer responded. "Why?"

Zeus looked to the side as he spoke, "It's an old story. I promise you that if I had seen my brother making that expression I would have stepped in sooner."

Lucifer was going to turn around and ask but decided it was no longer his problem. He could tell Zeus wasn't a part of whatever was going on with Poseidon. He flew out of the coliseum and pulled out his echo.

- Lucifer and Peter -

"Are ya okay, Luce?" Peter answered the call assuming it was Lucifer.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Lucifer assured. "How's the sword?"

Peter got out of earshot of everyone else before responding. "What's goin' on?"

Lucifer explained the situation, making sure Peter knew to tell the rest of the group besides Death about what happened. He told Peter to get Death involved if he wasn't back when he was supposed to be.

"Ya sure ya don't want him involved now?" Peter asked.

"I'm sure," Lucifer said. "Whatever's going on with Poseidon seems to be an isolated issue. The spectators' surprise and Zeus's reaction back that up."

"Hmm," Peter hummed in a curious tone. "Well, hurry back so I can give ya proper shit for what ya did."

"Yeah yeah," Lucifer ended the call.

- Peter and Death -

Death walked up to Peter. "Is everything okay?"

Peter spoke casually, "Yeah, Luce was just ventin' about the match. Said he's glad it's over and that he hopes he can get through the after-party quickly. He didn't want to call ya because he didn't want to make it seem worse than it is."

"I guess he didn't win then," Death joked.

Peter chuckled. "No, but I don't think he was actually tryin' though. He told me to tell ya if anythin' seems off since he was sure ya would worry about him."

Death smiled, then scowled. "I hope Zeus keeps what I told him in mind."