By Any Measure, Through Any Door

by any measure, through any door

The cage was thickly barred and wound with silver chains. Paper blessings fluttered in the brief breeze of the door being opened, and Lucifer stepped softly over the threshold of the squalid dungeon’s single door. They really had put in the work for this cell, he had to hand it to them. Every wall reinforced twice over. Wolfsbane hung from the ceiling and even the doorknobs were forged in pure silver.

As he stepped forward, the guard took in a harsh breath, grabbing him by the arm. It made perfect sense for him to be wary enough to forget himself, no one wanted a visiting dignitary ravaged to death by the monster inside that cage. Lucifer simply brushed the man’s hand aside and slowly removed his gloves.

In the gloom, the creature inside let out a soft whining sound, and blazing golden eyes turned towards them. The shadows didn’t do much to illuminate him, but Lucifer saw enough to know what he was looking at. A huge, rangy shape with long, thick black fur. Vicious teeth glinted in the dim candlelight, brightly shining shackles gleamed from two huge forepaws.

He lifted the lantern from a nearby table and sucked in his breath, feeling fury spark in his blood at the state of the werewolf in front of him. Fine silver chains were hung along his body, half-buried in fur, and dried blood coated them. Deep score marks were gouged along the walls, bits of claw scattered on the floor.

The werewolf’s furious, golden eyes were the only human part left of the man, and they stared at Lucifer a long while with unsettling intensity. He couldn’t tell if there was any recognition in that barely sane state.

Lucifer took a cautious step forward and the werewolf bristled all over, struggling against the chains with a low, savage growl. The silver cut into his flesh, causing him to bleed anew, and the creature whimpered and yelped as his skin practically sizzled at the contact.

If the guard had seemed anxious when he approached the cage, he practically hyperventilated in panic when Lucifer approached the cage. “Sire, I can’t let you—“

“Let me?” Lucifer asked coldly, turning his gaze on the man for a bare moment. The guard shuddered upon seeing the magic blazing in his eyes, flame red. Even this far from his kingdom, the black magic rumors still clung to him, but now he was more than happy to play into it if it bought him enough time.

Once the guard left, Lucifer turned his attention back to the cage, dimming the fire in his eyes. The wolf whined again, piteously, nosing at the bars of the door. Sickeningly, the air smelled of burnt fur and the thick iron stench of blood.

This still might not work, after all. The key to undoing the curse meant as much trust as love, and Lucifer had run roughshod over that. Still, he stretched out a careful hand.

At first, the wolf growled deep and low in his throat, baring fangs that looked knife sharp. Lucifer made soothing noises, hushing him, and the werewolf made a pitiful sound close to a human sob.

His fingers met warm fur, a soft muzzle, and Lucifer tried to keep his hand from trembling. All the arcane power in the world, or the black magic for that matter, would not keep him from the curse of the wolf’s bite. Under his fingertips, the wolf trembled as well.

“Adam. That’s right, it’s me,” he whispered. “I know you. Adam. I’m sorry it took so long to find you.” His throat closed over the apology, and Lucifer gulped back tears. With both hands, he clasped Adam’s muzzle and stroked the fur there. His voice broke and he cried helplessly. “Adam. Adam. Adam! Please, I’m calling you by your true name.”

Adam shook like a sapling in a strong wind, like his muscles were spasming. The fur under his fingers crawled but didn’t quite recede. A low, confused wail issued from Adam’s throat, and Lucifer tried to press against the bars as much as he could, wrapping his arms around the wolf’s shaggy neck.

“Don’t leave me,” he pleaded into his ruff, the fur prickling against his cheek.

It felt like an eternity of clinging to him, speaking his name like a breathless, sobbed prayer. Hoping that enough of their old love still lingered for the enchantment to break under its weight. Lucifer almost sobbed when he felt Adam shrinking in his arms, heard the chains slipping away from a frame too small to hold them. When Adam finally wrapped his arms around him as well, Lucifer finally released the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

Notes: For the Full Moon prompt! Based off of this: https://www.tumblr.com/annabellioncourt/72995324233/theres-a-lovely-old-english-myth-that-if-someone?source=share

By Any Measure, Through Any Door

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