Chapter Text
"Does anyone know where Samael is?" The fair-haired mermaid crossed her arms and looked at her brothers. "I haven't seen him since this morning," he added, a little quieter.
"Ah, you know our youngest; he's probably swimming somewhere with his friend. I think there's nothing to worry about, Michael. He'll be back soon." The chestnut-haired prince approached his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I think Gabriel's right, brother. Sammy always feels better after such walks." Another prince appeared on Michael's other side.
Michael himself merely shook his head. It was clear from his expression that even his brothers' words hadn't convinced him. He smiled sadly, looking at them.
"Thank you, Gabriel, Raf. But I'll still go and look for him. I'm afraid he might fall into a trap if he's not careful..." And the mermaid quickly left the palace.
"Haa... Now I'm starting to worry too, Sammy's going to drive us all crazy." Gabriel stretched and glanced at his remaining brother. "I'll go see if he's in his favorite place." Then he slowly headed for the exit.
Raphael watched him for a few seconds, but soon sighed heavily, followed him, and said, "I'm with you."
***
"Lucifer, wait!" The spider demon approached the merman and grabbed his wrist. "Come on, buddy. We'll be back soon; we're not that far from town."
"Oh, Angie... Are you scared?" The diminutive merman glanced back at his friend and winked. "I thought you liked breaking laws... What did you just say..." The blond man placed a finger to his lips, as if pondering. "Oh, right! 'Rules are made to be broken!'" He mimicked the spider, causing it to sigh heavily.
"My job is to keep an eye on you, Luci!" The demon's face took on a worried expression, and he continued, "Seriously, dude! Can you imagine what would happen if your brothers found out where we are? No, wait! What if your father?" Then I...
Lucifer interrupted his friend and abruptly pulled him forward. "Look!" The blond pointed to the sunken ship. "There it is! Isn't it beautiful?"
Anthony looked from the prince to the ship and rolled his eyes in irritation.
"Yes, it is beautiful, Lucifer. BUT we need to go back, what if there are sharks?" The spider looked around worriedly.
"Oh, I didn't know you were such a coward." Samael broke free from his friend's embrace and swam closer to the ship.
"Who's a coward? Me? No, no. It's..." The sea demon faltered, following the merman. "I'm not afraid of anything!" The angel placed his hands on his hips and looked at Samael, who was already standing at the entrance to the ship.
"Okay, then I'll go inside, and you stay here and tell me if you see a shark!" The little mermaid quickly swam inside.
"Yes... Go, I'll be here..." The spider froze, fear frozen on his face. "Wait, sharks? Luci, wait for me!" The demon followed the prince.
"Listen, Lucifer, I really like this place. There are a lot of interesting human things here... But don't you think it's... well... gloomy?" Anthony picked up an iron object from the floor and turned it over in his hand.
"Gloomy?" The mermaid examined the object in her friend's hands. He picked up the iron shard and placed it in his bag. Looking around, he said, "Hmm... Well, maybe you're right... Although I still like this place!"
The angel looked around and pointed to another object lying on the floor. "Do you know what this is?" He picked it up from the floor and handed it to the prince.
"No, but Lilith should know!" the blond smiled and placed the object in his bag.
"Lilith? No, Lucifer! Don't tell me you'll meet her again!" Spider-Man frowned, looking at the water spirit.
"Come on, Angel, I told you. She's good! We've been talking for a couple of months now, and she's very kind to me!" He pursed his lips and glared at the demon.
"She's human, Lucifer! We can't communicate with humans!" Anthony crossed his arms. "Have you ever been told what humans do to us? They're all the same!"
"She's not like that! She would have told everyone long ago if she wanted to!" Samael was about to add something else, but a noise from outside interrupted him.
"Damn it!" "What is that, a shark? We need to get out of here, Lucifer!" Angel swam toward the second exit and glanced back at the merman following him.
"Angel, I promised to meet Lilith today, want to come with me? If you're so nervous, you can just watch us underwater!" The blond looked at Angel with a pitiful expression.
"What? No, wait, I didn't promise…" The demon didn't have time to finish before the prince pulled him toward the shore.
***
"Oh, Luci! You've arrived!" the blonde-haired girl waved to the mermaid, noticing him introduce himself on the shore. "You're a little late today."
"Ah, I found a sunken ship in the bay; it's quite far away, that's why I'm late. Sorry, Lily..." The Sea Prince sat down on a rock, leaving half his tail underwater.
Lucifer pulled his bag out of the water and set it down next to the girl. He turned, his gaze fixed on the ocean.
"Will you come out, Angie?" Samael looked into the water and saw his friend. He waved his hand, beckoning him over.
"Who's there, Luci?" The girl also looked in that direction and gasped, seeing the stranger. The demon, however, didn't dare fully emerge from the water, revealing only half his body.
"Oh, Lily!" "Remember what I told you about the Angel? There he is!" "Don't be alarmed, he's my friend!" Lucifer turned to Anthony and smiled.
"Ah, yes. Lucifer talks about you all the time. Not a single conversation between us goes by without you being mentioned. I'm Lilith, let's be friends, Angel?" The girl extended her hand, but the spider merely frowned and remained silent. This didn't go unnoticed.
"Come on, Angie!" Samael reached out and took his friend's hand. "Are you being so impolite? She's a lady!" Lucifer slapped the demon on the forehead with his free hand.
The angel hissed angrily, still casually shaking Lilith's hand. He glanced at the girl again and quickly backed away from her. The demon frowned, moving away from the two of them.
"I'm going into the water; I'm afraid this company isn't for me." He continued to stare intently at the violet-eyed blonde. "But I'm here, watching. Always." And he disappeared into the depths of the ocean.
Lucifer looked in surprise at the spot where his friend had stood a few seconds ago, then turned his gaze to the girl.
"Oh my god, Lily! Forgive him! He just... He..." Samael seemed to be trying to justify the demon, but Lilith interrupted him, placing a finger on his lips.
"It's okay. I know what people do to people like you. I'm sure he's just worried about you." She smiled warmly at him and continued, "Perhaps we can become friends later, but for now, let's look at these little things you brought me." "Show me." "I think I can tell you."
Lucifer smiled at his friend and, bending slightly, placed the items on the stone so the girl could arrange them correctly.
"You know, I didn't have time to collect many of these things today." "We heard a strange noise, thought it was a shark, and quickly swam here." The mermaid watched Lilith carefully, who was examining the objects and continuing the conversation. "What a shame! I wanted to stay here a little longer; we haven't collected much yet..."
The girl tore her gaze from the iron and looked at her friend with concern. She placed her free hand on Samael's head and smiled softly.
"It's alright, safety first. I think you'll find more next time." She picked up one of the objects and held it up to the prince's face. "It's a fork. Luci, humans eat with it."
Samael looked at the iron and took it. He carefully began to pronounce the word "fork," pursed his lips, and frowned.
"Fork? Ah, I see, but you know..." "It looks like a miniature trident." He paused for a moment, lost in thought. "But wait!" "How exactly do humans eat with this?" "Wait, you don't eat with your hands, do you? "Will you show me how to use it?"
***
The sun was beginning to set, but the two friends continued to talk, exchanging stories about the past week.
"Oh, you can't imagine how loud Eve screamed when she saw Adam fall off his horse. I thought my ears were going to hurt." Lilith laughed. She looked at her friend, but saw only sadness on his face. "Oh, Luci? Did I say something wrong? You look sad."
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm sorry, Lilith. I'm just... I'm just so sad I can't have fun with you on the shore." The mermaid smiled sadly, looking at her friend. "I wish I had legs! To run on the grass, to ride horses... So sad."
The girl looked at him and patted him on the shoulder. "I wish I had a tail so I could swim underwater. It must be so wonderful to feel so free, like... like there were no boundaries in the world!" Lilith began waving her arms, trying to explain her words.
"But these are just dreams…" Samael began. "Isn't there a way to make them come true?"
Lilith sighed heavily, hugged Lucifer, and looked him in the eyes. "But I have you. I can't move freely underwater, but you can tell me interesting stories about the underwater world." She smiled and walked away from the merman.
The blond smiled softly at the girl. "Yes, and I have you." "It really is better than nothing…"
"Lucifer, we need to go," the Angel's voice interrupted them. He showed only his head, his gaze filled with concern. "It's urgent, Lucifer."
Samael looked at Anthony, then immediately turned his gaze to his friend. She nodded in agreement, rising from the cliff. The prince quickly placed the iron shards in his bag and handed them to his friend. "Sorry, Lil." Can't you keep them for now? I think I'm running out of space in my room. "Of course, Lucifer." Lilith smiled again and, approaching the merman, kissed his forehead. Samael's cheeks flushed, and he looked at his friend sheepishly. He quickly dove underwater and immediately resurfaced, not forgetting to wave goodbye.
"Goodbye, Lily!" the blond smiled warmly at the girl.
"See you in a week, Lucifer!" The girl turned, getting ready to go home.
Immediately, the Angel grabbed Lucifer's wrist and pulled him into the water. Samael, confused by the rush, asked:
"Angie? What happened?"
They stopped, and Spider said, "Lucy, listen…"
"Samael Morningstar." Both Lucifer and Anthony turned toward the voice that had interrupted them.
"Mickey...?" Lucifer looked at his brother in fear, while Michael's face was filled with rage. No matter how many times Michael had been angry with Samael, he had never seen him so furious.
***
"Mickey...?" The recording on the magic ball cut out, and the screen went blank.
"Oh, what drama! Husk, my friend, did you see that?" The tentacle-like creature looked at the demon cat standing at the end of the room.
"I don't understand what you want me to say, Boss." The demon frowned, looking at its master.
"Come on, Husk. I can't wait to hear your comments. The kingdom's youngest prince is dating a human—who's ever seen such a thing? What ignorance? Who raised this brat? What's his name? Samael, huh?" The room erupted in laughter. "The little merman's dreams are crumbling before his eyes, aren't they, Husk?"
"I think this guy's in a bad enough situation as it is, Boss." The cat picked up a bottle of whiskey from the table and took a sip.
"Where are you going to find any sympathy for this guy? Have pity on yourself, my friend." The creature grinned maliciously. "Although I admit, he intrigues me."
The demonic cat, standing nearby, approached the door leading to the exit. He glanced at the boss, then sighed heavily and opened it. "I'll go find Niffty," he said quietly and left, closing the door behind him.
***
"Michael, wait!" Lucifer tried to break free from his brother's grip. The eldest prince only frowned and gripped Samael's wrist even tighter. He dragged him by the hand down the palace corridor. "Mickey, I can explain!"
Samael continued to try to break free, but Michael ignored him again. This went on for another two minutes, until Lucifer screamed.
"It hurts, brother!" Only then did Michael let go and look him in the eyes. Tears were already streaming down Samael's face; he was sobbing and looking at his brother. "Mickey, listen to me! Please!"
"What can you explain to me? What, Samael?" He grabbed Lucifer's hand again, but this time less tightly. "Let's go talk in your room." And they continued on their way to the shared bedroom.
Lucifer began to cry again. "Mickey, let's talk now? I'll tell you everything!" But Michael had already thrown open the enormous bedroom doors and dragged his sobbing brother inside, throwing him to the floor.
This immediately attracted the attention of the other brothers. Lucifer was surrounded by the other princes, shielding him from Michael's wrath.
"Mikhail! What are you doing?" Raphael spoke first. He and Michael were the same age, so they usually listened to each other.
"Not now, Raph." Michael walked around his brother. He approached Lucifer, who was sitting on the floor.
"What do you mean, 'not now'? What are you doing?" Gabriel stood in front of Samael, shielding him from Michael.
"Mick, you need to calm down. You shouldn't do anything without assessing the situation properly." Azrael approached them and stood next to Gabriel.
"Don't interfere." Michael nudged the brothers and looked at Lucifer. "Well?" "Are you going to tell them everything, or will you let me do it, Samael?" Lucifer swallowed, unable to speak. His lips trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes again.
"Explain what's going on, Michael! Can't you see he can't speak? You've really scared him!" Uriel sat down next to Lucifer and began stroking his back, soothing him.
"Right, don't push him." Raphael turned to Michael.
"Oh, good, good. You think I'm a villain? Then let your innocent Samael tell you how long he's been seeing a human girl behind our backs." Silence fell over the room.
Uriel's hand, gently stroking Lucifer's back, suddenly stopped. Uriel looked at his brother in shock. "Sammy...?"
"What are you talking about, Michael? Sammy and the girl? A human?" Raphael glanced at Mikhail's angry face.
"No, Sammy couldn't have done that." Gabriel turned and looked at the crying Lucifer.
"Really?! I've seen them myself. I'm sure this has been going on for quite some time. Right, Sammy?" Mikhail grinned maliciously, looking at Lucifer. "This clearly isn't your first encounter, if this woman is kissing you on the forehead goodbye."
Lucifer was finally able to look at Michael properly. “T-It’s...I...”
“Come on! Tell me I’m lying, say it didn’t happen!” Mikhail's voice turned into a scream. “Didn’t I tell you that they are murderers? Didn't I warn you? He approached Lucifer. “We are forbidden to communicate with them, and everyone in our world knows about this since childhood!”
"Sammy, say something!" Gabriel put his arm around Lucifer's shoulders. "Sammy..."
“Lilith is not like that,” Lucifer said, calming down a little.
"What?!" Mikhail looked even more furious.
“You know nothing about Lilith, how can you judge her by the actions of others!” Lucifer rose from the floor.
"Sammy…!" Uriel stood up after Lucifer.
“Samael...” Before Azrael could finish, Mikhail continued. “So you’re an expert? Have you spent any time with them and think you know them that well?” Michael clenched his fists. He sighed, calming down a little. "Go to sleep, Samael."
"Mickey...!" Lucifer extended his hand to his brother, but he only flinched.
“You will remain in this room until I give you permission to leave.” Michael walked over to his bed and looked at the other brothers. “And none of you will let him out, understand?”
"No, Mickey, you can't..." Lucifer's eyes filled with tears.
"Come on, Sammy..." Uriel took Lucifer's hand and Gabriel helped him lead Samael to the bed.
“Raph...” Azrael walked up to his brother. He looked at Samael again, then looked at his older brother.
“Go to sleep, Azrael. The rest should be back by morning. Let's talk then." And Rafael went to his bed.