The Fallen King [Dark Temptation Spin-Off One]

Chapter 1

Ivy

“Please… Please, look at me.” He didn’t move. His broad back facing me. Him wearing black clothes. He always did. Showing me his true color. His true self. But only from his back. Because I knew, he meant more than his black clothes and a black soul. If he didn’t have one, he would never save me. Tried to, they said. Why? From the corner of my mind – my negative thought – my dark side, was telling me because he wanted to play around with me. But no matter how hard I wanted to think that way, I couldn’t bring myself to.

Because I knew that was not what he was doing.

“Please,” I begged again as I took a step forward.

Until he finally said, “You’d be disappointed if you’re involved in my life, little human. Within my dark path. I’m bad luck for you.” His words were like a stab right into my heart. He was backing away again. He wanted to run. To escape from me. He was pushing me away. He knew it was useless. Not when he had entered my life and some part of him – most parts of him refused to leave.

“Don’t say that about yourself. You mean more than that. You saved me,” I convinced him. He didn’t say a word. I exhaled, confessing, “I never hate you. You made me say that.”

“The more reason for you to stay away from me.” I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

“I can’t.” I walked even closer. Reaching out my hand slowly toward him. “Show yourself to me. Show me the man who saved me. The man who always keeps me company. The man who never let me feel alone in this world. Show me…the real you, Lucifer.” I touched his shoulder as Lucifer slowly turned to me.

And I was left shocked when I didn’t see the man anymore. His face was just a skull. His hands were nothing but skeletons. And his demon wings spread on his back. With his distorted voice, “Ivy…” he called my name.

Snapping my eyes to the ceiling. Blinking the orbs a few times, “s**t,” I cursed and closed my eyes again.

What did I just see within my dream? I had a dream about Lucifer before. Everything was always the same. With his back facing me – his cowardly back. Representing what he was doing to me right now.

I couldn’t believe it.

He was a king yet he never dared to step in. Only watching. And even though I just woke up, I knew he was out there now, somewhere. Didn’t he sleep at all? Well, he was a demon so maybe he didn’t. Didn’t he get tired of watching me? My routines remained the same every day. Practice at the studio until it was time for my shift at the diner and go home right after. Didn’t he have any business besides…stalking me?

Opening my eyes, I smirked. So, I had the mighty king wrapped around my hands. I was honored. “Good morning,” I said, whether he listened to me or not. I was just going to picture him he did with his dark and deep voice. Pushing up my body, I swiped my blonde hair to the back.

It’d been six months since the incident. I received Clara’s soul and I was immediately healed from my disease. It was a bittersweet moment. At some point, I was glad because I was given a second chance to continue my dream life. To become the ballerina I’d always wanted since I was a child. On the negative side, I felt horrible and undoubtedly guilty for Clara’s death. I took Micah’s mother away from him. From Ali. Levi’s grandmother. Oh, I couldn’t forgive Lucifer more for almost using Levi for me. To use an innocent baby. A pure soul. Micah and Venus always said it was never my fault Clara was dead. She sacrificed herself for me. She didn’t even tell anyone about her plan, not even to her children. But still, I couldn’t overcome this guilt washing every my f****d up being. It was still hard for me but I chose to look at the brighter side. Clara had given her life for me; I was going to use it to fulfill my dream. I would not waste it anymore. I wouldn’t kill myself anymore.

“Alright.” I jumped out of the bed and went down to my bathroom. I lived alone again. I was staying with my parents for a couple of days before I decided to live by myself again. Not that we had a bad relationship. My parents were very understanding. My sister, Naomi too. With my schedules and everything, and I was twenty-five now, I wanted to live independently. And I loved my new life now. My apartment might be smaller – tinier, to be exact. But I liked this. I was never into a glamorous lifestyle, and I was thankful for that every single day. As long I had a place to sleep, to eat, to shower, those were enough. And the money from the diner was nice too. I even got tips if I showed some extra smiles to the patrons. Although sometimes, they wouldn’t give any tips or stingy enough to give like three dollars on the tip bottle. Not that I was going to complain about it. I couldn’t expect everyone was as nice and generous. There were greedy people out there, people who only thought of themselves, and many more.

I took a quick shower and made a toast and grabbed my almond milk. Having my breakfast and when I finished, I grabbed my stuff and walked out of my apartment. Taking the elevator downstairs, once I was out, I stopped. Feeling his presence. I always did. The thing was…I couldn’t see him. I could never see him. Lucifer could conceal his presence but he never did. He let me feel him around but never allowed me to see him. “Asshole…” I murmured and I walked again.

I reached the studio, Art Behind The Curtain. Changing my clothes into my black leotard and tying up my hair into a bun. Grabbing my favorite peach pointe shoes, Naomi’s present for me last year. She said even though I was sick, Naomi always prayed she would see me back on stage. I smiled when I remembered that. She believed I would shine once again on the stage. To steal everyone’s heart with my ballet. And that was what exactly I was going to do now. Grabbing my dream one again. It was mine. No one else’s.

I started to practice. I was aiming for Giselle’s role which would be performed next month. My coach, Maya had told me it could be difficult in my condition but she had seen how I’d practiced hard since I got back. Twice harder than everyone else and she knew my condition before. I wouldn’t be asking for pity. I would get the role fair and square. I was hoping I would get it this year. I’d always loved Giselle. Not because it was a beautiful love story, it was tragic as well. I could rely on my personal experience. On how I always failed to maintain my romantic life. First, with my ex-boyfriend who left me just because I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, stating he’d be busy from now on. Eat that s**t, fucker. Now I was perfectly healthy, if he ever came back to my life, I would say at his face again to f**k off. I didn’t need a man like him in my life. Only wanted a healthy girl? He could but never with me again. And then…there was Lucifer, my stalker from Hell. Wow, amazing, huh? I had a demon around me. On top of that, the king of the underworld. The God of the purgatory. Although I liked the story of Giselle, I was praying my love story wouldn’t be as tragic as hers.

“Did something happen to you, Ivy?” Maya asked once I put down my leg. “You changed a bit. Even though it’s not perfect yet, I can see Giselle’s image on you,” she added and that was like a single firework booming in front of me as I turned around to her excitedly.

“I am?”

She nodded her head. “If you’re keeping this up, you might have the chance to be Giselle.”

“I’ll do my best!”

“Alright then. Let’s repeat everything from the start.”

“Okay!” As I started the routine again, I could feel the multiple gazes heading toward me. Whatever. I knew what they meant. Many people wanted Giselle’s role. It was like a breakthrough for our career as ballerinas. I knew I had a lot of competition but that didn’t stop me from wanting what I wanted. Haters were around. And I was used to that already. Maybe they thought because I was out of the picture, they could get everything they wanted. Because, ladies and gentlemen, I used to get all the roles. Nutcracker was mine once. Swan Lake. Cinderella. Well, sorry, ladies. The b***h is back. I never had a close friend like how my relationship was with Venus. Some of them visited me at the hospital just because they were from the same studio or out of pity. Or just wanted to check if I was dying already, when I was about to die. Too bad. Only at this time, I was thankful to Lucifer. Other than that, f**k you, old man.

Once my practice hour had over, I changed my clothes and headed to Dino’s Diner. Once again, when I stepped out of the studio, I felt this feeling again. I exhaled; would he just stop? I’d been there for six hours and he was still around? Where the hell he was watching me anyway? Suit yourself. I arrived at Dino’s Diner. Doing my job from the start of my shift until the end. Collecting my tips, a hundred fifty. Not bad. This was enough for tonight. I should grab dinner later on my way home. I stopped by at 7-eleven and bought chicken strips and restoration red. And a coca-cola Slurpee. I’d never had problems with my diet and I didn’t get fat easily. Thank God for that.

As I walked back home, I concluded Lucifer had stalked me for twelve hours straight. Or a whole day even when I was still sleeping. Or maybe 24/7? Give me a break. Now I was beginning to piss off. Although I had to be thankful because a woman walking home alone was quite dangerous. Perverts were around and I could be attacked if I wasn’t being careful. “Are you here?” I asked. Nothing. “Show yourself!” Nothing again. I remembered the last time I saw him eye to eye was a month ago at Venus’ wedding. Right after, he never showed up. I thought after what happened to us before, Lucifer would stop bothering me. To stop following me. And he was finally out of my life. He didn’t. He kept doing what he was doing now. Like nothing happened between us. I tried so Lucifer would show himself to me. He never did. He kept doing his job as a king who only observed. A stalker who watched me from the dark. My shadow. And my shadow was called the Lucifer. “Stupid man. I can go home by myself. Just go back to where the hell you came from and stop following me!”

I just started to walk again when I heard something behind me. Instantly turning my body to the back. Nothing. What was that? It sounded like something got knocked. Or someone. Did I get into his nerves? I hoped I did. Quickly increasing my pace, I entered my apartment building and eventually to my room. My heart was beating fast. Pressing my palm on my chest, doing a mental pep talk with my heart that I was okay. Nothing happened. I’m okay. I’m alright.

Once my heart returned to its normal beat, I turned on the lights and began digging my dinner. As usual, I left one portion of my chicken strips and the Slurpee as I headed to my balcony. Honestly, I looked like I was feeding a stray cat. Maybe I was but since I could tell he was out there, wherever he was, I had this tendency to give him food. I opened the sliding door and put down the chicken and his drink. “Don’t forget to throw them accordingly,” I asked him and closed the door. I knew what was waiting for me after I took a shower. Both the food and beverage were gone from the balcony. “What the hell am I doing anyway? He’s a demon, Ivy. He won’t die because of starvation,” I told myself. Oh, well. Blame it on my kindness.

“How about this time, leave something for me? Like if you like the food or not so I can choose something else,” I stated and left to the bathroom.