---
"I looked at Lucifer, who was staring at his food quietly, looking so innocent but having a deadly mind," I began narrating.
"You want to get Hades distracted," he said, interrupting my thoughts once again.
"Can you mind your business?" I retorted.
"Keep your mouth shut before I make you shut it yourself," he threatened, his tone laced with venom.
"Well, Hades needs some distraction. He is so annoying, and I don't know why someone so nice and gentle would fall for him. Besides, he is ugly," I remarked, to which Lucifer smirked in response.
"Killing you would feel so much better, though," he said casually, causing my eyes to widen in shock.
"Killing me?" I exclaimed, taken aback by his cold statement.
"I swear, I'm going to haunt you," I added defiantly.
"I'm the devil, little witch. Remember that. And I bet I'm going to be watching you every day, begging for mercy. It's only if I even allow you into hell," he declared mercilessly.
"I hate you," I spat out abruptly, but there was no reply from him. I focused on eating my food, feeling a mix of anger and fear.
"If you're not eating your food, you can always give it to me, and I will gladly accept it," I remarked, but when I looked up, I realized that Lucifer had vanished. "Now I feel like a fool," I muttered to myself.
---
Later that day...
Lauren hadn't returned to the room since she left with Hades. I hoped he hadn't harmed her, or else I would make him pay.
"How are you going to kill him when you don't even have any power?" I muttered to myself, feeling frustrated. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, realizing how dull I looked after days of confinement in the palace. If I told Lucifer, he would surely decline, but what if I sneaked out?
I opened the door to my room and was surprised to find Lauren standing there, her eyes red and puffy, cheeks stained with tears.
"What's wrong, Lauren?" I asked, ushering her inside. She sat on the bed, and I sat beside her, concern etched on my face.
"Master Hayes told me something that hurt," she sobbed, prompting me to wrap my arms around her in a comforting hug.
"What did he say?" I inquired gently, wanting to console her.
"He said I didn't get his attention, let alone his love," she revealed between sobs. I felt a surge of anger towards Hades for hurting Lauren.
"He's wrong, Lauren. You are very beautiful and kind. There's no way someone like Hades would reject you," I reassured her, hoping to uplift her spirits. She blushed at my words, and I smiled warmly at her before hugging her again.
"Lauren," I called out, prompting her to look at me.
"I want to sneak out," I confessed, noticing her immediate gasp of shock.
"My princess, I think that is a very big risk. What if they catch us? We're going to be in big trouble, especially me for leading you," she protested, her expression filled with fear.
"Don't worry about that. I'll take the blame," I assured her, hoping to alleviate her worries. She nodded hesitantly, and together, we quietly made our way through the hallway.
"Do they have horses?" I whispered, and she nodded in affirmation.
"I've never ridden a horse before," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I have. My father taught me," she whispered back.
"Take me to the stable," I requested, and she complied.
As we entered the stable and managed to leave the palace without being detected, I marveled at the beauty of the horses. One, in particular, caught my attention with its silvery mane and tail.
"I want that horse," I exclaimed excitedly, but Lauren immediately cautioned me.
"That horse is for the lord," she explained.
"That doesn't mean I can't take it," I argued, feeling defiant.
"I don't think that's a good idea. He won't allow you to touch it. Touching him is like touching the lord, and he can also contact the lord," Lauren warned, but I brushed off her concerns.
"Whatever," I muttered, opening the door to the stall. The horse immediately caught my gaze, and I approached it cautiously.
"Hey, calm down. I'm not going to hurt you," I reassured the horse, but before I could say anything else, I heard Lucifer's voice behind me.
"How dare you touch what is mine," he growled, causing me to gasp in surprise. I turned to face him, my heart racing with fear.
"i-i"
"You do not talk when I'm not finished," he admonished me, his voice dripping with venom. He then turned his attention to Lauren, who bowed her head submissively.
As the moments dragged on, I watched in horror as the lashes rained down on Lauren's trembling form. Tears blurred my vision, mirroring the cascade of agony that engulfed my heart.
"Please, stop!" I begged, my voice cracking with desperation, but Lucifer's callous indifference only fueled my helplessness. With each strike, Lauren's cries pierced the air, a haunting symphony of pain that echoed through the chamber.
"Please, Lucifer, have mercy!" I implored, but my pleas fell on deaf ears as the relentless punishment continued. With mounting dread, I watched as Lauren's clothes tore apart, her delicate skin marred by crimson streaks of blood. The sight was unbearable, a cruel reminder of my own culpability in her suffering.
Summoning every ounce of courage, I rushed to Lauren's side, enfolding her in a desperate embrace.
"I'm sorry," I whispered hoarsely, my voice choked with remorse. "I should have listened to you. It's all my fault."
As Lucifer's cold gaze bore down on us, a surge of righteous fury coursed through my veins. Without a second thought, I lashed out, my palm connecting with his cheek in a resounding slap. The room fell silent, the weight of my actions hanging heavy in the air as the palace guards looked on in shock.
"I-I didn't mean to," I stammered, my hands trembling with fear and regret. But Lucifer's wrath burned bright, his eyes ablaze with righteous indignation. In a flash of rage.
"Strip," he commanded, his voice laced with authority and anger, sending a shiver down my spine.
"B-but," I stammered, but my protest was swiftly silenced by his stern gaze.
"I don't need to repeat myself," he snapped, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of fear, shame, and regret clouding my vision.
"I am sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling within me. But instead of quelling his anger, my apology seemed to stoke the flames of his wrath, igniting a fiery rage within him.
"Please, I promise I won't do it again," I pleaded, my voice trembling with desperation as tears streamed down my cheeks like a torrential downpour.
"Come closer," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. Reluctantly, I inched towards him, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat of dread. His hands reached for my zipper, but before he could carry out his demand, something within him seemed to shift.
He closed his eyes tightly, as if battling an inner demon, and when he opened them again, the fire that had once burned so fiercely had vanished, replaced by a haunted emptiness. Without a word, he disappeared into thin air, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of the room.
I collapsed onto my bed, the weight of the day's events crashing down on me like a tidal wave. My stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder of the hunger gnawing at my insides. Just then, Lauren entered the room, and I rushed to embrace her, seeking solace in her comforting presence.
"I'm so so sorry, I don't know what to say. I was so foolish, and I still am, but please find a place in your heart to forgive me. I swear I won't ask for anything from you ever again," I pleaded, my voice laced with sincerity and regret. Lauren's embrace was a balm to my troubled soul, and as we pulled away from each other, a sense of relief washed over me.
"Does your back still hurt?" I inquired, concern etched into every word.
"No," she replied, her voice steady and reassuring. With a quick turn, she revealed her unblemished back, a testament to the miraculous healing powers of Master Hades.
"How did this happen?" I asked, awe coloring my tone as I marveled at the rapid recovery.
"Master Hades helped me with my wounds, using his powers," she explained, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush. "Although we demons heal faster, it's never been this fast."
Her revelation filled me with gratitude and wonder, a newfound appreciation for the enigmatic master of the underworld. But there was more to her story, a twist that left me speechless.
"He also did something so crazy," she continued, a hint of excitement in her voice. With a coy smile, she revealed the evidence on her neck – hickeys, a surprising token of intimacy from the powerful deity.
"He did that?" I exclaimed, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.
Lauren nodded, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she showed me the marks on her neck. My curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but inquire further.
"What happened?" I asked eagerly, my mind racing with possibilities.
As Lauren guided me to the bed, we sat facing each other, anticipation hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
"When we got to the dorms," Lauren began, her voice tinged with excitement and uncertainty, "he instructed me to turn around, and I complied. As he began to heal my injuries, I inadvertently turned around without realizing that my clothes were not properly covered. Caught off guard, I looked back and caught him staring. At first, I was scared, thinking he intended to kiss me, but instead, he gave me a hickey."
Her explanation left me both intrigued and concerned. The intimacy between a deity and a mortal was a delicate matter, fraught with potential consequences. I couldn't shake the nagging worry that Hades might be taking advantage of her vulnerability.
"And what about yours? You slapped the lord, that must have been the most embarrassing thing he's ever experienced," Lauren remarked, shifting the focus to my own embarrassing ordeal.
"I didn't know what I was doing. I just lost control over myself," I confessed, feeling a flush of embarrassment at the memory of my impulsive actions.
Lauren's understanding and acceptance were a source of comfort amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling within me. Her calm demeanor and compassionate nature reminded me of the cherished companionship I shared with Dariana and Paula, grounding me in moments of uncertainty.
As she offered her apologies for broaching the sensitive topic, I couldn't help but be grateful for her presence and unwavering support. With a grateful smile, I returned her embrace, silently acknowledging the bond of friendship that transcended the trials we faced together.
To be continued....