Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 54

By the time a week had passed, Lucifer's fortune had been completely recovered and once again he was living in the lap of luxury wit his devoted elder daughter at his side. Charlotte was pleased to be with her father again and she was even more pleased that she was able to give him back the life he so desperately yearned to reclaim. Yet despite the joy she felt at being reunited with her family, her thoughts constantly turned to Alastor. She found herself missing him more than she thought. She missed spending time with him, she missed hearing his voice, she missed feeling his touch. He was on her mind nearly every hour of everyday.

"What's the matter daughter?" Lucifer asked when he noticed the distressed look on her face one morning. "You're not still thinking of that beast, are you?"

"He has a name Father, it's Alastor."

"So you are still thinking of him?"

"I can't help it Father. He's my friend."

"Yes you always did have a certain fondness for animals." Helsa teased.

"Stop calling him an animal. He's a man!"

"A man with fur, claws, razor sharp teeth, and antlers?" Lucifer described.

"I don't know why he looks that way Father but I can assure you he's definitely human. More than human, he's a gentleman."

"Oh? And what kind of gentleman was he?" Helsa continued. "The one who eats from the floor and brings you dead birds as a gift?"

"For your information his gifts were better than any I had ever received from anyone. He gave me the most beautiful gowns and jewels, a garden to call my own, music and books. His servants waited on me hand and foot, nothing was denied to me. He gave me whatever I wished and he was always asking me if there was anything he could do to make me happy or comfortable. If I did not know any better, I'd swear that he was a prince."

The more Charlotte described her life at the castle, the more jealous her sister felt.

"Charlotte how exactly can a creature like him afford to give you such riches?" Lucifer asked suspiciously. "I suspect that he's stolen them from his victims."

"No Father, he never steals and he never lies. His riches are his own. They come from a pavilion in the castle that is always filled with gold and gems." Charlotte said. "He's probably the richest man in all the world."

"It's unfair." Helsa said. "That he has all that wealth and runs around slaughtering people."

"He doesn't do that anymore Helsa."

"So you believe, but what if he's deceived you?"

"He would never do that. He always behaves as he truly is, he doesn't pretend to be good. He struggles to be good but he never pretends." She protested. "Unlike some people."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Only that someone you all deem as inhuman, has a lot of virtues that some humans in my life have lacked."

"Charlotte I don't appreciate your tone." Lucifer said.

"Well I don't appreciate you and Helsa constantly saying cruel things about my friend. I won't stand to listen to for another minute." Charlotte said standing up from the breakfast table. "I wish to be excused now, I believe that Razzle and Dazzle are most anxious for my company at the moment."

She left the kitchen, Lucifer and Helsa looked at her stunned.

"She's different." He said.

"She's become very haughty and superior." His younger daughter said. "Our company isn't enough for her anymore."