chapter 2

"I know it's hard to digest every information I told you but I'm really so--"

"Emily."

"Yes?"

"You married yourself to a hot hell king; what are you sorry for?"

Her mother beamed at her, making wrinkles form at the edges of her eyes. She had her black hair---highlighted with gray---tied up in a messy bun. She paired her white oversized shirt with black dolphin shorts.

Despite of her age, she would never think how wrinkles would form on her face when she smiles and no matter how many strands of gray hair would grow. She enjoys life how she wanted it to be.

Emily looked at her mother, dumbfounded. She became hesitant when she heard her mother's words; she wasn't expecting her mother to accept and digest things in such a short matter of time. And as a parent, she needs to be strict and scold her daughter for being involved in anyone's problems.

"Mrs. Davis, I'm very sorry for all this." Lucius placed a plate of piled freshly-baked cookies on the counter table.

"No, child. I completely understand your situation. Please do call me Victoria."

"Thank you, Victoria."

Emily shrugged her shoulders as she let her fingers capture a cookie. She pulled it closer to her mouth and inhaled the aroma, almost making her stomach roar in hunger.

Taking a bite, she closes her eyes to shrug her thoughts off and only to focus how precious the cookie is. 

"You're a good cook, Lulu." 

"Wait Lulu?!" Emily snapped, she glared at her mother who was smiling at Lucius with a bitten cookie on her hand. Her eyes then glared at Lucius who seemed to have given his smile back to her mother.

"Are you two flirting?!"

"Oh no, honey. It's called acceptance and happiness." Her mother looked at her, still with a smile on her face then she winked.

She shivered, "You're disgusting. We're goi-- err, not just you mom. Both of you are disgusting." 

She hopped off from the kitchen stool and grabbed a few more cookies, "Come on Lucy, we need to go shop for clothes."

"Please do remind me, wife."

"Remind you what?" Emily asked nonchalantly at him. She walked ahead and lifted her chin up to look at the signages of stores as she passes by.

"Why we need to 'shop'?" Lucius' patience have become slimmer and slimmer every minute. 

Emily stopped in front of a restaurant. Straightening herself up, she inhaled and heard her stomach roar. "I'm going in!" She whispered to herself with her face ready to dive in to five pizzas. 

"No." 

She turned to her left and looked at him with her eyes screaming in anger and nose letting out smoke, "Who are you to tell me 'no'?" She stomped towards him and poked his chest. "Who. Are. You. To. Tell. Me. 'No'?"

Lucius heaved a loud sigh and dropped his arms to his sides, "You wanted to shop, we shop."

"But pizza ne–"

"Forget pizza."

She stomped in her place twice, her hands clenching on her sides and she gritted her teeth, "You-- You--!" Loss of words; she closed her eyes and inhaled then exhaled heavy breaths.

"People are watching." Lucius spoke which made her eyes open and land on his shaking head, obviously ashamed on how they caused the scene which attracted many people.

Stomping again, she finally turned and continued looking up at the signages. 

A few minutes had passed and her anger had completedly washed away. Lucius had himself on her tail; lost in thoughts but managed to keep himself following Emily.

He bumped against a shoulder, followed by a loud swearing word, "Oi, watch where you're going mate!" 

"Sorry." Lucius tilted his head and smiled at the man. 

"I don't accept that easily mate. 1 On 1?" The man clenched his fists and began hopping from one foot to another, punching his fists to the air in front of Lucius' face to threaten.

Lucius narrowed his eyes at him then sighed, "No violence, mortal." 

"Mortal? What are you then? An Immortal? Ha!" The man raised his voice, pointing his finger to Lucius. 

A crowd had formed itself, circling the men. A few mumbling and gossiping can be heard.

"Lucius!" Emily pushed past the thick crowd, bumping and pushing that blocked her way and as soon as she reached the center, she immediately held Lucius' hand. She looked at him pleadingly, mouthing him to come with her.

"Is that his girl?"

"Perfect couple!"

Emily blushed and wrapped her fingers around his wrist. She pulled him away from the crowd and they started to run.

They huffed along the way, stopped to two stores but Emily wasn't satisfied with the clothes. Finally, they stopped in front of a store with her fingers still wrapped around Lucius' wrist, "This is it." She whispered to herself as she tries to catch her breath from running.

In front of them stood a massive store with a signage written with M'sW. Inside it are where clothes, jeans, perfumes and any other things a man either need or want were placed.

Emily pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside, grinning. Lucius followed inside with a grimace.

"Good noon, costumers." A handsome man stood in front of them. He had his blonde neck-length hair slicked back, he wore a black tuxedo and a blue sling with an Identification Card attached to it.

"David?" Emily smirked at him.

"Em? Is that you?" He flew his arms open and squeezed her tightly with a smile on his face.

"You look handsome!" Emily giggled as she pulled away first, observing him with her mouth agape.

"You changed!" David carresses Emily's right cheek, amused by how her skin had changed.

"Excuse me." 

Both Emily and David faced Lucius with giggles escaping their lips. 

"Lucius! This is David, my cousin!" Emily introduced, jumping up and down in joy.

"Whatever." Lucius groaned and walked away to the jeans section.

Emily and David shared confused looks but shrugged off then followed Lucius from behind.

"What is the main reason why you're working here in M'sW instead in a restuarant?" Emily wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"Restaurant costumers are loyal. M'sW has bad boys and players, especially yummy ones." David neared Lucius, slapping his butt cheek once.

"Fiery Hell, did you just--?" Lucius turned and sent David a glare.