LUCIFER'S HUMAN BRIDE

As the broken mug lay on the floor, Ralph surveyed the scene, his gaze lingering on the shattered pieces. Lucinda, attempting to clean up the mess, squatted down, unsure if she should proceed.

"Leave it, don't hurt yourself. I will call the cleaners to come and take care of it. It's not your job," Ralph instructed, his voice filled with concern. Lucinda slowly stood up, her eyes still fixed on the broken mug.

"But it's strange how a mug I placed here would just fall on its own," Ralph stated, stroking his chin in thought.

"I saw you place it on your table too. Maybe it's the wind," Lucinda suggested, her voice trailing off. Ralph stared at her incredulously.

"The wind? Give me a break. How would the wind knock over something so heavy?" Ralph retorted, reaching for his phone on the table. Soon, the cleaners entered the room, ready to handle the cleanup. Ralph continued to watch Lucinda intently, his gaze unwavering.

She cautiously took her seat, avoiding eye contact with him as she sat at her desk. Ralph retrieved a brown briefcase, signaling his intention to leave.

"Let's go home," he stated, and Lucinda looked up at him, her eyes meeting his.

"Aren't we going to eat at the restaurant first?" she inquired, her gaze keen and expectant.

"You can eat at home. I have something really important to attend to," Ralph replied, avoiding her gaze and subtly hinting at his priorities.

"Okay then," Lucinda mumbled, walking out of the office alongside Ralph. They entered the elevator together, silence filling the confined space. Ralph glanced at Lucinda, his expression odd and uncharacteristic.

Ralph's gaze remained fixed on Lucinda as she reached for her phone and began tapping away. Sensing his curiosity, she tried to steal a glance at his screen, but he swiftly brought the phone closer to his face, blocking her view. Undeterred, Lucinda moved her head from side to side, attempting to catch a glimpse of what he was doing. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and she quickly looked away, pretending nonchalance by whistling a tune. Exiting the company premises, they made their way toward Ralph's car. Lucinda's heart fluttered as she settled into the passenger seat, anticipation mingling with uncertainty.

Ralph, his expression inscrutable, started the engine and smoothly maneuvered through the traffic. The drive to Lucinda's house was accompanied by an unspoken tension, the silence punctuated only by the soft hum of the car's engine. As they arrived at her destination, Lucinda alighted from the car and turned to face Ralph. With a mixture of gratitude and affection.

"Tomorrow is the weekend, remember," he reminded her, his voice tinged with a touch of bitterness.

"Oh, I forgot. I almost thought every day was work," Lucinda replied with a slight grin, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. She waved as she exited the car, bidding Ralph farewell.

"See you tomorrow," she beamed, but Ralph's stare held a strange intensity, almost bordering on discomfort.

"Tomorrow is the weekend, remember," he repeated, his words laden with a peculiar tone. His jealousy simmered beneath the surface as he drove away, his emotions getting the better of him.

Lucinda walked toward her building when Nathan suddenly appeared, running toward her.

"Hi, Lucinda! I'm glad to see you. It seems you've been ignoring me," Nathan exclaimed, trying to catch up with her as she quickened her pace.

"Please don't interrupt me when I'm ignoring you," Lucinda shrugged, attempting to enter the building.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Nathan persisted, following closely behind. Lucinda turned to face him, her eyes conveying a clear message of dismissal.

"I just want to go inside and rest. I'm exhausted," she replied, trying to distance herself from the conversation. Nathan, unwilling to let go, grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to his chest. Lucinda looked at him, her hand on his chest, their eyes locking momentarily.

"Will you be free tomorrow?" Nathan asked, his tone gentle and hopeful.

"I won't be. Don't bother coming tomorrow," Lucinda replied, removing his hand from her waist and resolutely walking away. Nathan stood there, a mix of disappointment and anticipation on his face. Meanwhile,

Medusa, observing the interaction, approached Nathan.

"Hi, Nathan," she greeted him casually.

"Hi, Medusa," he beamed, a smile stretching across his face.

"Why is Lucinda ignoring me?" Nathan inquired, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"I don't know. You should ask her yourself," Medusa replied bluntly, her response leaving little room for further discussion.

"Will she be free tomorrow?" Nathan pressed, hope rising in his voice.

"Of course, it's the weekend," Medusa stated matter-of-factly, already turning to walk away.

"Thank you so much!" Nathan exclaimed, unable to contain his joy. His dimples appeared, accentuating his broad smile.

Medusa entered their house and found Lucinda sitting on the bed, engrossed in her phone.

"Why are you ignoring Nathan? I thought you wanted to make friends with humans," Medusa inquired, her tone laced with curiosity.

"Of course, I do want to make friends with humans, but I don't think he wants to be just a friend," Lucinda replied softly, her gaze fixed on the wall.

"Are you suggesting that he's interested in a romantic relationship with you?" Medusa probed further.

"Yes, I think that's what he wants," Lucinda admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Then give him a chance," Medusa suggested unexpectedly, causing Lucinda to snap her head in her direction.

"Are you nuts? What are you saying? Don't let my husband hear that coming from your mouth," Lucinda retorted sharply, her eyes narrowing.

"I just want you to experience what it's like to date a human. Besides, he can teach you a lot of things," Medusa assured, her voice filled with a sense of genuine concern.

"I came to Earth for a purpose, not to date humans. Besides, I can't think of anyone else besides my husband," Lucinda declared, her words firm and resolute.

"Okay, if you say so. But be prepared. He might come looking for you tomorrow," Medusa muttered, settling down in bed.

"Wait, did you snitch on me?" Lucinda asked curiously, her curiosity piqued.

"I kind of did," Medusa replied, using the duvet to cover herself.

"You'll get me in trouble one day," Lucinda stated in a low tone, placing her phone in a drawer near the bed. She joined Medusa on the bed, covering herself with the duvet, soon succumbing to the embrace of sleep. The next day,ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Medusa's voice rang out, rousing Lucinda from her slumber.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Medusa said cheerfully, setting up the table with food.

Lucinda sniffed the delicious aroma wafting through the air, swiftly getting out of bed. Her nose led her to the table, where she eagerly sat down, her lips curling into a smile.

"I didn't know you liked food this much, my queen," Medusa remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice. Lucinda smirked, leaning closer to the food, her eyes shining with delight.

"Go and brush your teeth, my queen," Medusa reminded her, her lips pouting playfully.

"What's the time?" Lucinda inquired, a trace of urgency in her voice.

"It's 12 pm. Why do you ask?" Medusa replied, her voice filled with curiosity.

"Gosh! Did I sleep that much?" Lucinda exclaimed, hurrying toward the bathroom.

"Yeah," Medusa responded, her lips forming a slight pout.

Minutes later,

Lucinda emerged from the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her chest. She grabbed a spoon and dug into the food, savoring its exquisite flavors. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she indulged in the sumptuous meal.