The room feels alive. Shadows stretch and twist on the walls as though they're writhing in anticipation, while the flickering black candles cast an eerie, uneven glow. The oppressive air is thick with the scent of burning herbs, metallic tang, and something darker, almost primal. Lisa sits on the high-backed chair with its snake-like carvings. Her posture is unnervingly calm, her face devoid of fear. She gazes at Corvus as though he's the center of her universe.
The mark on her neck—still warm—seems to pulse in time with her heartbeat, a physical tether between her and the towering figure pacing before her.
"You've been patient, Lisa," Corvus begins, his voice low and gravelly, resonating through the chamber like a chant. "You've seen glimpses of my purpose, but you deserve to understand everything. To know why this is necessary."
"I want to know," Lisa replies, her voice soft but resolute. The words come naturally, as though they've been implanted in her mind. Her lips curl into a faint smile. "I want to help you."
Corvus pauses, turning his piercing gaze to her. For a moment, his expression flickers—something between satisfaction and something more feral. He strides closer, the sharp heels of his boots clicking ominously against the stone floor.
"Good," he says, his voice almost a purr. "But to understand the truth, you must be ready for it. Ready to see Lucifer for what he truly is. Not the angel he pretends to be. Not the misunderstood ruler of Hell. But the deceiver, the betrayer."
Lisa tilts her head, her lips parting slightly. "Tell me everything," she murmurs, her tone almost reverent.
Corvus circles her chair like a predator stalking prey, though Lisa doesn't flinch. Her gaze follows him, enraptured.
"Eons ago," he begins, his voice taking on a theatrical cadence, "there was no Earth, no humanity. Only Heaven—perfect and eternal. At its heart stood three archangels: Michael, the loyal soldier; Gabriel, the dutiful messenger; and Lucifer, the brightest, most beautiful of all."
He pauses, his voice dropping to a growl. "Lucifer. The Morningstar. God's favorite creation. A being so radiant, so flawless, that even the other angels were drawn to him like moths to flame."
Lisa leans forward slightly, her expression intent. "He must have been incredible," she says, her voice tinged with wonder.
Corvus lets out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Incredible? Yes. But also dangerous. His brilliance blinded us all to his ambition. He wasn't satisfied with being God's favorite. He wanted more—wanted it all."
He stops in front of her, his towering form casting a long shadow over her. "I was one of his most trusted angels. His confidant. Together, we planned a rebellion, a way to overthrow God and create a kingdom where we could rule as we saw fit. No rules. No boundaries. Just freedom."
Lisa's brow furrows slightly. "But if you were so close…what happened?"
Corvus's jaw tightens, his fists clenching at his sides. "We started small, planting seeds of doubt among the other angels. It took centuries, but slowly, we gathered followers. Then, God created humanity—Adam and Lilith. Lucifer saw them as pawns in our plan. He turned Lilith against God, twisting her thoughts until she rebelled. And when God banished her, I begged Lucifer to stop it. To intervene. But he said no."
"Why?" Lisa asks, her voice soft but insistent.
"He called it a 'necessary loss,'" Corvus spits, venom dripping from his words. "But I knew the truth. Lilith was expendable to him, just like all of us."
He begins pacing again, his movements growing more agitated. "Then came Eve. God's replacement for Lilith. Lucifer saw another opportunity. He confided in me, told me about the Tree of Knowledge—the one thing that could turn humanity against God. He asked me to tempt them, to corrupt them. And I…obeyed."
Lisa's eyes widen slightly, the faintest flicker of hesitation breaking through her trance. "You…you tempted them?"
"I had to," Corvus snaps, his voice sharp enough to cut. "Angels weren't allowed in the garden, but I was the Angel of Animals. I transformed myself into a serpent to enter unnoticed. I found Eve, showed her the fruit, and told her of its power. She ate, and then Adam followed. Paradise fell."
His voice lowers, filled with bitterness. "And God cursed me. Cursed me to remain in the form of a serpent for eternity. Cast me out of His sight. And Lucifer? He said nothing. Did nothing. He let me suffer while he continued his schemes."
Lisa's breath catches. The mark on her neck burns, grounding her in Corvus's presence. "He betrayed you," she says, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes," Corvus hisses. "But it didn't end there. When Lucifer rebelled against God, I fought by his side. I gave him everything. And when we lost, I followed him to Hell, thinking I would have a place by his side. But instead…"
He stops, his voice breaking with rage. "Instead, he chose her. My sister. Selene. My twin. The one being I despised more than anything."
"Selene?" Lisa echoes, her voice tinged with confusion.
"She was everything I wasn't," Corvus says, his tone icy. "Manipulative, conniving, and willing to do anything to win his favor. And she succeeded. She became his right hand, his trusted assistant. While I—his most loyal ally—was cast aside."
He leans closer to Lisa, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Do you understand now, Lisa? Do you see why I must end him? Lucifer betrayed me at every turn. He used me, discarded me, and took everything I cared about."
Lisa's expression softens, her eyes filled with something close to pity. "I see it now," she says quietly. "You were loyal to him, and he abandoned you."
Corvus straightens, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Exactly. And now, I have the means to make him pay."
"What do you mean?" Lisa asks, her voice laced with curiosity.
Corvus reaches into his cloak and withdraws a gleaming, blackened blade. Its surface seems to ripple like liquid, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.
"This," he says, holding it aloft, "is the Sword of Azrael. The only weapon capable of killing an archangel.
While I was roaming the earth Michael found me a few weeks back and told me he can't take me back to my angel form but he can change me to a human form, only of I'll do something for him. I agreed immediately.
Michael gave it to me, thinking I would use it to threaten Lucifer back to Hell. But I have no intention of stopping there."
Lisa's breath hitches, her fingers curling around the armrests of the chair. "You're going to kill him?"
"Yes," Corvus says simply. "And you, Lisa, will help me. With you by my side, Lucifer won't see it coming. Together, we will end him."
The room falls silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Lisa stares at him, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
"I'll do whatever you need," she says finally, her voice steady. The mark on her neck pulses again, cementing her loyalty to him.
Corvus's smile widens, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Good. Then our victory is assured."
He turns away, his silhouette blending into the shadows as Lisa remains seated, her thoughts consumed by the weight of his story and the pull of the mark that binds her to him.