His words hung in the air like a promise, a beacon of hope. Everything would be alright. Maybe, just maybe, my suffering would end.
I dared to hope again, a fragile spark rekindled. I had learned to shield myself from disappointment, to suppress expectations and dreams of happiness. Yet, something within me stirred.
Perhaps, I could hope once more.
"Child, will you listen to what I have to say?" Lucifer's voice was firm,
"I'm listening," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"I'm going to tell you a story," Lucifer said, his voice low and haunting. "A story of our world, of magic, and of shattered dreams."
His eyes clouded, filled with pain and sadness.
"A story about how the one who brought you here destroyed my happiness and tore my daughter from me."
My heart went out to him; I recognized the anguish.
"We're not so different, you and I," Lucifer continued. "You lost your life, your friends. I lost my entire world, my family."
His words hung in the air, heavy with sorrow.
"Tell me," I urged, my voice gentle. "What happened?"
Lucifer's gaze drifted, lost in memories.
"The one who brought you here... is my older brother, Azrael," Lucifer's voice dripped with venom. "The all-seeing, all-knowing angel. And I'm his little brother, born from a demon's blood."
Lucifer's eyes darkened, memories of pain and rejection flooding back.
"I was the disgrace, the outcast. The devil's blood flowing through my veins made me an abomination. He was the light, and I was the darkness. In our youth, I idolized him, loved him. But he never reciprocated. Contempt was all he showed me."
Lucifer's jaw clenched, his voice heavy with emotion.
"I fled to the demon realm, seeking refuge from his disdain. But Azrael vowed to make my life a living hell. He couldn't bear the thought of my happiness, of me finding love."
Lucifer's gaze fell, his voice cracking.
"He took everything from me. My daughter, Elyse... my world crumbled. He manipulated fate, twisted destinies. All to ensure my suffering."
The air thickened with Lucifer's anguish, his pain palpable.
"My brother's cruelty knows no bounds. And now, he's involved you in our twisted game."
"He revels in others' suffering," he spat, venom coating his words. "The Governor of Souls, yet he's a twisted monster, driven by whims, not justice."
His eyes burned with contempt.
"He seeks out souls scarred by past pain, claiming to offer 'gifts' to ease their rebirth. But these gifts come with shackles – conditions that must be met before they can be unleashed."
Lucifer's voice dripped with disgust.
"Countless souls wither away, trapped by Azrael's cruel design. Their potential, wasted."
His gaze locked onto mine, filled with a deep sadness.
"But then I saw you. Your spirit, reminiscent of my daughter's... I couldn't turn a blind eye. Elyse's memory stirred something within me."
Lucifer's expression softened, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I saw an opportunity to right a wrong, to defy Azrael's twisted will. You, child, are my chance at redemption."
"He gifted you a unique ability, thinking you'd never unlock its true potential," Lucifer said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "But Azrael overlooked a crucial factor: the Spirit King's favor. My favor."
Lucifer's eyes gleamed with intensity.
"As the ruler of the underworld and the dead, I grant you my support and power. Child, will you join me in my vengeance?"
His voice dripped with anticipation.
"Together, we'll unravel the threads of fate. I'll aid you in your quest for retribution, and you'll help me claim mine."
I hesitated, memories of my demise still fresh.
"But aren't I dead? I remember Ezekiel's sword piercing my chest."
Lucifer's expression turned enigmatic.
"Indeed, you are dead, but you possess something that will alter your destiny. You have the power to turn back time."
My curiosity piqued.
"A one-time gift, but one that will change everything," Lucifer continued. "With all restrictions lifted, you'll retain your memories. However, there's a variable to consider."
His gaze locked onto mine.
"Someone else may also recall their memories, though not as vividly as yours. The past will reshape, and the future will unfold differently."
I pondered the risks and possibilities.
"Who?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Who?" I whispered, uncertainty etched on my face.
"It's unknown," Lucifer replied, his voice measured. "It could be an ally or an enemy, but you won't face them alone. I'll stand by you this time."
I searched his eyes, seeking reassurance.
"Can I ask something?" I ventured.
"Ask away," Lucifer encouraged.
"When I go back in time... would those who died before me come back too?" My voice trembled.
Lucifer nodded. "Yes. Reversing time erases the previous timeline. Those who perished will return, their fates rewritten."
A glimmer of hope sparked within me.
"But?" I prompted, sensing a caveat.
"Only you and I will retain memories of the original timeline," Lucifer clarified. "We'll be the sole keepers of that knowledge."
His gaze intensified.
"Remember, child, this gift comes with a burden. Use it wisely."
"But I don't know how to use it," I admitted, feeling uncertain.
"Do not worry, child," Lucifer reassured. "The ancient spell has an incantation. Listen carefully:
'Reverse the flow,
Change the destinies that have been interlinked,
Return everything to oblivion,
For I am and will be the only truth.'"
"Is there a spell to change hair color?" I asked, a sudden whim.
He chuckled. "A basic spell. I can teach you.
'Shade of night, hue of dawn,
Color my locks, anew born.'"
With newfound confidence, I stood.
"Go, cast the spell," Lucifer urged.
In this void, time flows differently; a week here equals a year in the human world.
I took a deep breath:
"Reverse the flow,
Change the destinies that have been interlinked,
Return everything to oblivion,
For I am and will be the only truth."
The world around me began crumbling, shattering like fragile glass.
With determination burning within:
"This time, I'll eradicate everything,
Every emotion, every tie,
I'll hunt them down, one by one,
No mercy, no quarter.
They showed none to the innocent,
Now, they'll face my wrath."
After the incantation, darkness consumed me. The fabric of reality unraveled, awaiting its rewrite.
I gasped, awakening in a familiar yet strange place. Memories swirled, jumbled and hazy.
Screams echoed outside, growing louder. And then, it hit me – a tidal wave of recollection.
I was here. The place where my nightmare began.
Fear spiked, adrenaline surging.
I must act fast.
Every moment counted.
To be continued.