Chapter 23 Long and Winding Road

Lucifer pushed away from the table. Away from the matrons convincing him to marry one of their daughters, he gave them a curtsy bow excusing himself that he hadn't expected he's capable of, looking dignified as he did so. He had not visited the kitchens yet. This seemed to be a good time.

As he descended the stone stairs, the aroma of a very good food drifted to him. The kitchen looked rural-ish for his taste but still looks elegant nonetheless, it will do. He didn't see anyone in particular as he surveys the room except for a pot in the hearth where a delicious mushroom soup is being steam. Hot cocoa in mugs, fried eggs and bacon neatly arranged in numerous white plates. The scent of the soup made his mouth water. He was about to dipped a piece of bread on a strawberry jam he found while roaming around when a wooded spoon flashed by his face like a catapult. It smashed into his hand. And the morsel flew across the room onto the floor.

“Can't you just wait obediently for me to finish?!” a familiar voice warned.

He turned in surprise to see Jasmine adorn in an apron and hairnet, beads of sweat trickle her forehead.

So she's in charge for breakfast.

He mused.

She shook the spoon at him. “Not one bite, you devil. If you want to eat you have to wait for everyone to come down."

Lucifer sat down on the long table. Jasmine eyes him suspiciously but choose to ignore the latter seeing the soup needed some stirring. Lucifer watched in fascination as Jasmine cooks, she looks calm and collected and he wanted to show Jasmine the mature side of him once in a while since this will be the first time Jasmine ceases in cursing him to oblivion.

The others came down minutes later and they all started breakfast, Jasmine who glare daggers at Lucifer and his flirting didn't stop the latter in taunting her with devious smile and wicked winks.

Deliberately avoiding the devil incarnate, Jasmine decided to sight see for the day having been able to received permission form Professor Dippet. She wanted to take some pictures to show Alan and a swim is not that bad at the moment. Alone.

Lucifer however, plans on cornering Jasmine and wanting to spend his free time with her, he then began looking for her. He looked around the KCL volunteer's tent and then turned on his heel and moved towards the program coordinator's chamber where good ol' Professor Dippet was reading a thick hard-bound philosophy book.

“Where is she?”

“She?”

“Jasmine Matthews. She's not in the volunteer's tent.”

“She's not? Well, she did said something about some ruins she wanted to see, can't be help.”

“She is not here, though.”

“She doesn't spend all of her time in tents, Mr. Morningstar she has other interests. Did you check the day care center? She loves spending time with kids. And the library, yes, she reads there all the time or perhaps she's in the old chapel's ruins.”

Fuming, Lucifer stomped back to check all the places the old man suggested, barging through door after door. The forebroding didn't abate one whit, and by the time he returned to the clearing, it has turned into a furious certainty.

The mouse had bolted. He knew it as surely as he felt bloody anger begin to split his mind apart. Does she hate him that much? His gaze rested on the gate. Lucifer went out and ran off down the river's edge. The women noticed him and began squealing. He surveyed the terrain. If she went sight seeing towards the farms, she would be easily visible.

His gaze swept the deserted countryside and came to rest on the ancient mote - and bailey fortification upstream. It was the only landmark in sight, and the growth along the river would hide her.

He hurriedly went to the stable to saddle a horse and then went and harassed the stable boy when he didn't work fast enough. He kicked his horse in to a gallop, searching the water's edge, he began trotting in its direction.

Jasmine slid the cloth sack over her shoulder and quickly moved through the bush and trees. She had seen Lucifer ride up to the river and had surmised from his speed that he had discovered her missing.

Damn the man. How could he ride a horse so damn well. She had walked a good ways upriver before she noticed Lucifer, but now  her progress slowed because she needed to stay hidden, sticking her head out a bit, she looked back and saw that he followed in her direction. She was supposed to take pictures of the ruins nearby and then go for a swim after. Her plan had gone so well until he noticed her absence.

The sound of horse hooves became audible. She looked at the river. It was now or never. She picked her way to the water's edge and quickly stuck her shoes into large zip lock and hid it beneath a fallen tree. She removed her university jacket then slipped off her pants and laid it open on the ground, folded it and ties it and the jacket into a little bundle. Dressed only in her oversize shirt and lingerie, she waded into the cold water. She would cross the other side, and later she could retrieve her shoes and other things.

A few shards from the shore the water got much deeper. She took the waterproof knapsack containing her change of clothes between her teeth so both arms would be free, and she began swimming across.

“DAMNATION, WOMAN, YOU ARE GOING TO DROWN YOURSELF!”

She had reached the middle of the river when the furious voice boomed. She turned to see Lucifer glaring at her. His horse stood in the water's edge, the flow halfway up its legs.

She took the knapsack from her mouth and treaded a moment. Lucifer stretched, looking in both directions.

“The only bridge is down the river, past the keep,” she called.

“Get back here now.”

“I would be a fool to do so, you know it.”

“I am going to kill you.”

“In that case, let me drown, no blood on your soul then.”

Lucifer swung off the horse and walked forward until the water was up to his hips. He went no farther.

Jasmine grinned, “You cannot swim, can you? I thought not. You should have read the ancient roman on warfare, Mr. Morningstar. All of their men could swim.”

His pose and expression were a picture of fury. Jasmine laughed and his eyes only grew darker. Grabbing his horse's rein, he swung into his saddle and began sloshing away through the shallow pools near the bank, twisting to keep an eye on her.

She bit the knapsack again and swam. It would take him at least half an hour to gallop down the bridge and back up the other side. By then she could make it to the Athanasios ruins or find a place to hide along the way before she could sight see.

A strong current grabbed her. She fought hard to escape it. She gasped for breath from the effort, and the knapsack slipped from her teeth. The current tore it away. She noticed to her horror that Lucifer found a spot where the water ran shallow. He was already halfway across, pushing his mount through the chest – high flow. Her knapsack floated right to him, he leaned over, and plucked it up.

They faced each other over the expanse of water. She turned to the eastern bank, but swam backward. Lucifer fell for the ruse. He kicked his horse forward and disappeared up the bank and into its thick growth. Desperately, Jasmine struck out for the side from which she had started. As she dragged herself out of the water, she could hear the loud curse that said Lucifer had discovered her deception.

Heaving from her exertions, she sought a place to hide. The brush and reeds looked very thin to her all of a sudden. Close to despair, she leaned against a tree. She looked up. It was not very thick, but it appeared strong enough. Some of its branches were low, and perhaps the leaves would help hide her. Mumbling profanities at Lucifer Morningstar for forcing her to go to all of this trouble, she managed to lever herself up to the lowest branch. She climbed until the slender arms looked too weak to hold her weight. Straddling a branch where it met the trunk, she tried to get comfortable.

Her bottom rebelled against sitting with only a wet undergarments between it and the rough trunk. She looked down at her almost naked condition. The shirt reached only mid-thigh and the wet fabric clinging to her body, her intimate apparel is being transparent. If there truly were a God, he would never let Lucifer Morningstsar discover her in this condition. Since she was quite sure that God existed, the thought gave her a renewed confidence.

The horse sounds said that Lucifer had tied up his mount. Soon she heard thrashing near the river while he sought the spot where she had left the water. He walked into the space below her. She held her breath and didn't move a hair.

He searched around. When he moved away through the bush, she permitted herself a small exhale. Eventually he would decide that while he searched she had swum the river yet again. She rested against the tree trunk and tried to ignore her discomfort. Movement in the brush snapped her alert. Lucifer came back. He looked all around. He leaned against her tree trunk while he contemplated.

What was wrong with the man? She could be halfway to Athanasios ruins before he continued his search. She glared down at him, feeling very uncomfortable now and blaming him for it.

Suddenly his hand went to his head. He brushed his hair at his hand. She swallowed a cry as she realized that a drop of water from her soaked shirt had landed on him. Another one now worked its lazy way down her leg. She twisted her foot to try and catch it.

It didn't work. She practicallay heard the plop on his head.

Lucifer stepped away from the tree and looked up at her. When she saw his expression she was very glad she was out of reach.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Cliffhanger all right. Please do not be disappointed another chapter or chapters is on its way, bear with this cliché cliffhanger as always and I promise it will get better..

THANK YOU!