Chapter 6 Queen Mother's Arrival.

Lucifer chewed slowly. His eyes widened and his hands came trembling. The fire in his eyes dimmed and the heat in the air faded. For a moment, he looked less like the ruler of the underworld and more like he just remembered something he had forgotten long ago.

“What…?” He whispered. “What is this ?”

“It's pastry,” Sable said gently, afraid there might be something going wrong.

“Damn, it tastes like… like garden”

Sable blinked. “Garden?”

“Yes. Before the fall, before war, before everything. More like the first fruit I ever ate. The first thing I ever tasted that was made with love.” Lucifer cried.

All angels behind Sable gasp, Gabriel's mouth fell wide open and Nathaniel's eyes grew wide.

Lucifer took another bite and a tear dropped down his cheek that he could not wipe it away. “Ohhh Sable,” he said. “...I had forgotten what warmth felt like for a long timeeeeee.”

Sable's heart ached but she took a bold step forward to him. “Well,I can make you more of what warmth feels like. The only thing is that you will not have to take me, or fight me. Just stay for breakfast.”

Inside of Lucifer’s furry eyes, it has softened like snow. “This is so unbelievable to see how kind you are. But after everything I have done, you still invite me to stay ?”

Lucifer looked into her eyes and let out a tired, broken, and painful laugh. “Forgive me , but I have to say this: you're a strange creature, Sable Nightshade.”

“Should I take that as a YES?” Sable asked.

Amazed at all that has conspired in the past minutes, all the angles let out a collective breath: Gabriel sagged with relief, Nathaniel wiped his forehead and Poppy let out a squeal of joy.

As for Vladimir, he still had doubts, narrowing his eyes to Lucifer. “This is a trick, he is going to betray us once we let our guard down.” He said.

Lucifer felt a strange heat at him which made him look in the direction of Vladimir. “You are a suspicious little vampire, aren't you ?”

“You do not call me little. I have been alive for four hundred years.” Vladimir said. “I have learned about so many things including being suspicious.”

“Okay, I see.” Lucifer said. “ But your witch is right. I have been tired and hungry for a long time, I haven't eaten a decent meal for millennia.”

Sable smiled at him. “Then you should come in, I will make everything right.”

Sable lead Lucifer the way into her bookstore, Lucifer followed her carefully together with other angels. Carmilla who had been watching the entire scene in her armchair with a cup of tea, raised her eyebrow in amazement.

“Wow wow wow,” Carmilla said, tiredly. “This is so unexpected.”

Sable took a deep breath and headed straight into the kitchen. She pulled out her largest teapot, poured water into it and put it on fire. Poppy joined her in the kitchen, still clutching her romance novel.

“Is this really happening?” Poppy whispered. “Is the Devil sitting in our bookstore?” She asked, a small laugh followed.

“Funny right ? But you can see it for yourself. There he is waiting for tea.” Sable said.

Poppy stared at her and burst into hilarious laughter. “This is the craziest day of my whole life.”

“Mine too,” Sable admitted.

Minutes later, the tea was ready. They carried the tea into the room where all of them were seated. Lucifer was sitting in the velvet armchair that Carmilla had vacated.

Gabriel on the other end , sat across from him looking at his former enemy with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

Nathaniel stood by the window watching the sky, his hand in his sword like a protective cover.

Vladimir left he was to stand right beside Sable, without taking his eyes off Lucifer. “I do not like this,” he muttered.

“You need to calm down, if not for anything, just for me and FOR NOW,” Sable said.

“Dd you just say ‘for now?’”

“Yes please. For now.” She agreed.

Gently she took the kettle of tea. Poured the tea for everyone, and set out the remaining pastries: all the angels ate and drank the tea. For a moment, everyone looked peaceful.

Suddenly, the front door went wide open. This time, a woman in a white garment shimmering in starlight stepped inside. She had gold hair and face was carved with ice.

The terrifying look made everyone freeze.

Immediately, Lucifer set down her tea cup, his face screaming anxiety. “Mother,” she whispered.

“The woman looked with an unreadable expression. “Lucifer, what are you doing?”

“I… I … I … am eating breakfast.” Lucifer managed to say.

In a space of two seconds, she was staring at Sable. “And you,” she said, pointing at Sable. “ … you are the hybrid.”

Sable was already frightened but she put herself into control. She swallowed hard before finding the words to say. “Yes, and my name is Sable.”

The woman gave her a wicked smile. “And my name is Gaia, the mother of the angels and also the Queen of Heaven. I am happy to say that I have to come to end this.”

One raise of her hand, a blinding light filled the whole room. All the angels cried out and covered their eyes, immediately Nathaniel dropped to his knees.

The light was so bright that Sable shielded her face. Suddenly, the light stopped.

Sable lowered her hand to look around, there she saw that everyone in the room was frozen. Everyone was frozen except her and Gaia.

The QUEEN of heaven walked towards Sable, her eyes burning with cold fire. “You are the reason my sons are fighting, the reason Heaven is divided and the reason why Lucifer has forgotten his place.” Gaia said.

Sable felt heart divided into two, she had to hold her chest together for support. “I didn't do anything, I promise. I only baked scones.” She cried out.

“I know you do. Not only do you bake scones, you also fed them with it.” Gaia said. “I saw you showing them kindness, you also reminded them of what they lost.” She paused. “That is more dangerous than any weapon.” She added.

Sable’s torn heart began pounding harder than usual, that she could barely hold her grip. “Is, is , that what you want to kill me ?”

“No,” she said smiling. “I think you can be useful, so I want to use you.”

Sable’s heart ran cold. “Use me ? What do you mean ?” She asked.

Gaia looked at her with a small smile curved around her lips. “This is it. You are a hybrid, which means that you are half angel and half witch and you have incredible powers that no one has ever seen before. I mean power that can reshape the world.” Gaia said. She straight out her hand and touched Sable's cheeks. “I want that power sweetheart and I will do whatever it takes to take it away from you.”

Gaia took two steps backward and raised her hand, the light returned. This time , it didn't come as a bright light but a dark light. A deep swirling darkness that swallowed everything it touched.

Sable tried to scream but her voice wasn't coming out, she tried to run too but her feet weren't moving, she tried reaching out to Vladimir, but she was frozen. The darkness over powered her and pulled her down.

Just before she lost consciousness, she heard a familiar, warm and steady voice.

“Sable, wake up!!”

It was her mother's voice. She opened her eyes.

She was not in the shop anymore, to make it more strange, she wasn't in Hallowbrook any more. Rather, she was standing in a garden and right in front of her was her mother.

“Hello, my love,” her mother said. “We have a lot to talk about.”