The Lengths of Love

I can still see in the sheets my lover's shape next to me.
The cold bed is a reminder of what I have lost.
The memory of his soft words gives little comfort to my fractured psyche.
On my lover's pillow there is a note from Lucifer.

Dear Angelique:

I have kidnapped your beloved Bradley.
I took your heart as you have shattered mine by choosing a man who is beneath you. With our combined powers we could rule heaven and hell. 
And anything you wanted I would have gladly given to you. 
All I want is your hand; if you ever want to see Bradley again you will meet me at 666 Beelzebub Boulevard. 
If you refuse I will be delighted to make Bradley suffer like he has never suffered before.
Until we meet again.

Yours forever,
Lucifer

P.S. The Devil’s Thorn is coursing through his body.  If you don’t decide in 72 hours he will die.

“Damn you Lucifer, damn you to hell”, Angelique said sobbing uncontrollably.  To be betrothed and then married to Lucifer would be disastrous.  I would never know the pleasures of true happiness without my wonderful Bradley.  Lucifer can talk a big game but his sense of happiness is fleeting.  He is controlling, even when he tries to love, control must come first.  As a teenager that kind of power was a wonderful aphrodisiac.  But now that I am older and sager I know that the Devil’s price of joy is too high.

This was not the first time Lucifer used his dark arts on the one I loved. 
However I learned of the poison named Devil’s Thorn that he used on my first love Ethan. 
He was the first man since Lucifer who I pledge my heart to.
The Devil’s Thorn consisted of grounded up tranquilizers, a small dose of arsenic, and beer which he poured into a mug.
The elixir of the Devil’s Thorn is a concoction of pure water, a touch of lemon, honey, and three drops of blood from Angelique.
It took me a couple minutes to blend in all the ingredients properly.
Once I was armed with my remedy I needed to find a way to deal with Lucifer.

Lucifer needed to know you don’t mess with a woman scorned.
I procured some digitalis which I mixed with water and lemon in one vial.
In the other vial I mixed foxglove, honey, and water in the hopes Lucifer would release my lover safely back into my arms.
I wore a black overcoat and underneath was red sequined dress, and red lacy underwear.
I hid the antidote for Bradley in my brassiere.
I drove to the devil’s house with the poison in my left pocket and the antidote in my right one.

A day and a half had passed since Lucifer drugged Bradley.
Bradley was looking very pale to Lucifer delight.
“You know Angelique is coming to see me, too bad you are under the weather”, Lucifer said.
Bradley fought with all his might but his attempt was easily thwarted by Lucifer.
He smacked him up a couple times and then the doorbell rang.
“Who could that be?”, Lucifer chuckled in amusement.

Lucifer walked downstairs and headed to the door.
When he opened it up he saw his lady in red.
“Angelique you look stunning, come on in.”
“Lucifer if you want to have me I must know that Bradley is alright.”
“There will be time later why don’t you take that dusty overcoat off and show me what’s underneath.”
“You are such naughty boy but if I don’t see him then you will get nothing.”
“Fine, I will take you to him but he is not talkative at the moment.”

Lucifer and Angelique went upstairs to see Bradley.
When Angelique saw him, he was beaten up and the effects of the Devil’s Thorn were starting to overtake him.
“He is in the preliminary stages of feeling the poison I have held up my part of the deal, now you must show me what’s underneath.”
“Not here, is there another bedroom where I can give you a private showing.”
“Yes my dear Angelique right this way.”

Lucifer took Angelique into another bedroom which was next door.
“Lucifer get on the bed, I want to be the one on top.”
Lucifer energized by Angelique’s suggestion got undressed and got under the sheets.
Angelique got on top but didn’t open the overcoat.
Once she was on top of him she punched Lucifer repeatedly until he lost consciousness.
While he was unconscious she poured the digitalis down his throat.

Meanwhile she snuck over to Bradley and gave him the remedy from her bosom.
“Please Bradley come back to me”, she said softly.
Minutes later Bradley responded well to her concoction.
“Angelique I never thought I would see you again.”
“Oh Bradley, we must deal with Lucifer”, she replied tearfully.
They both went next door to deal with the monster.

Lucifer tried to remain clam but the digitalis in his system was making that difficult.
“What is going on”, Lucifer said.
“You messed with my heart now I am messing with yours”, Angelique said.
“But I love you”, Lucifer said.
“If you love me like you say you do you will let Bradley and me live happily together in peace”, Angelique said.
“It is your life Lucifer”, Bradley said.
“Oh shut up, and what if I refuse Angelique”, Lucifer asked.
“Then I will give you the fatal dose of digitalis and not the cure I made just for you.”
“Very well Angelique, I will not interfere again”, Lucifer said haggardly.

Angelique gave Lucifer the remedy and they left arm in arm downstairs back to their home.
The kingdom of Chocolate was awaiting their return.
After they got home Angelique carried her lover upstairs to the royal bedroom.
“Angelique is everything alright?  You saved me and I don’t want you to put yourself out”, Bradley said.
“Don’t worry I want you to save your strength for later.”
Meanwhile it took Lucifer hours to recover.
When Angelique made the remedy it was slow acting in case Lucifer wanted to double cross her.
Angelique has shown what the lengths of her love are.