The air crackled with tension as I stood before the gates of Heaven, the angels' gazes piercing through me like arrows. I had barely registered the weight of their stares when Raphael stepped forward, his wings unfurling majestically behind him, radiating a blinding silver light that made my skin prickle.
"Answer me, Lucifer," he demanded, his voice a thunderous echo that resonated through the celestial realm, reverberating off the golden walls of Heaven. "Who sheltered you?"
My heart thumped in my chest, a frantic drumbeat that threatened to betray me. I couldn't let him know about Merry—her name was a secret I would guard with my life. Instead, I forced a smirk onto my lips, a mask of confidence that belied the turmoil within. "You think I owe you an explanation? You're mistaken."
Raphael's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he gnashed his teeth in frustration. "You have strayed too far from your path, Lucifer. You cannot leave Heaven now. You are a fugitive, and I will not allow you to escape."
I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar surge of defiance rise within me, a fire igniting in my core. "I'm not here to play by your rules, Raphael. I won't let you stop me." My voice was steady, but deep inside, I was afraid of involving Merry in this mess. I had to leave as soon as possible.
Raphael's gaze hardened, and I could see the resolve in his eyes. He was ready to strike, to bring me back to the fold, but I wouldn't let him. Not now, not ever. I had too much at stake, and I would do whatever it took to protect Merry from the ruthless judgement of Heaven.
With a swift motion, Raphael lunged at me, his sword drawn and gleaming with divine energy. I barely had time to react, dodging to the side as the blade sliced through the air where I had just stood. The force of his attack sent a shockwave through the ground, and I felt the tremors beneath my feet.
"Your arrogance blinds you, Lucifer!" he shouted, his voice booming like thunder. Raphael came closer, his wings spread out—forming a storm cloud, casting a shadow over me. "You think you can defy the will of Heaven? You are nothing but an arrogant demon, and I will send you to your rightful place!"
I retaliated, summoning my own dark energy, a swirling mass of shadows that coalesced into a spear. I hurled it at him, but Raphael deflected it effortlessly with a flick of his wrist, the energy dissipating into harmless sparks.
"Is that all you have?" he taunted, his eyes glinting with a mix of pity and disdain. "You were once the harbinger of destruction, the most powerful demon of your generation. Now look at you—reduced to a mere shadow of your former self."
Rage ignited within me, fueling my next attack. I charged forward, my red-black wings unfurling as I closed the distance between us. I swung my fist, channeling my power into a punch aimed at his jaw. The impact reverberated through my arm, and for a moment, I thought I had caught him off guard. But Raphael recovered quickly, countering with a swift kick that sent me sprawling to the ground.
I grunted in pain, feeling the sting of his blow radiate through my body. I pushed myself up, blood trickling from a cut on my brow. "You think you can keep me here?" I spat, my voice laced with defiance. "I will not be your prisoner!"
With a surge of adrenaline, I summoned my dark energy once more, this time enveloping myself in a shroud of shadows. I launched myself into the air, narrowly dodging another one of Raphael's strikes as I soared above him. He was relentless, his magnificent wings propelling him upward in pursuit, glinting like silver in the radiant light of Heaven.
"Fleeing will not save you, Lucifer!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the celestial expanse. "You cannot escape your fate!" His taunting pierced my mind, colluding with the blinding rage that threatened to consume me.
I faltered for a moment, but I couldn't afford to lose focus. I had to protect Merry. I had to get back to Hell. With a desperate burst of speed, I veered toward the gates, the shimmering light ahead blinding me as I approached.
Just as I reached the threshold, Raphael caught up to me, his sword raised high. "This ends now!" he roared, bringing the blade down in a powerful arc, its edge gleaming ominously. I barely managed to roll to the side, the blade grazing my shoulder and sending a jolt of searing pain through my body.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to push through the agony, focusing on the urgency of my escape. With one final surge of energy, I dove through the gates, the barrier of Heaven collapsing behind me like a shattering dream.
I quickened my frantic flying pace; I had to reach Hell as soon as possible. Angels didn't dare to enter our fiery hell. As I landed in the familiar depths of Hell, a momentary sense of relief washed over me, the heat wrapping around me like an old friend. But that relief was short-lived.
Before me stood Satan, my father, whom I had never addressed as "father" since my childhood. His expression was a volatile mix of fury and disappointment. "Lucifer," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, like the rumble of distant thunder. "You've returned, but injured. Your absence from the battlefield led to the defeat of our army, but you were in Heaven! What were you doing there?"
I staggered back, clutching my shoulder where Raphael's blade had struck. I had nothing to say. I couldn't let him know about Merry's existence. He would kill her without a second thought, to eliminate my weakness.
Satan's eyes narrowed, as if to contain the storm brewing within him. "Your emotions cloud your judgment. You are not the same being I once knew. You've become weak—distracted by your feelings. For whom? Tell me."
"What are you saying? What emotions?" I shot back, my voice rising in defiance, a futile attempt to mask the turmoil inside me. I had to conceal her identity, at any cost.
Satan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, a dark shadow that loomed over me. "You need to remember your place, dear Lucifer." His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
I could feel the weight of his disappointment pressing down on me, but I couldn't afford to crumble. I had to find a way to protect Merry and reclaim my strength, even as the fires of Hell flickered ominously around me….