Drinking parties are the best entertainment for Abaddon, who is the Lord of the underworld. Overflowing alcohol is the salvation of the demons participating. The creatures running among them, sometimes, pour their glasses full. Some of them are already so drunk that they lie under a table that seats fifty people on either side.
I look at it confused, not knowing whether I should join in or still pretend to be haughty since no one likes me.
Despite the noise, I begin to hear a peculiar melody coming from outside. I decided to express interest in it, as it seems more interesting than the drunken behavior of the demons.
I walk out into the dark corridor and look around. Eventually, I head to the right, when I realize that I can hear the tune from there most clearly.
Dressed in a red gown with lace tulle, I cross my arms over my chest and head ahead, following the sound, which is becoming increasingly clear.
I stop in front of a black door when I finally find the room from which the melody is coming. I grab the handle and am already about to enter, but I am prevented from doing so by a person who grabs my arm and forcibly turns me back.
With wide-open eyes, I look at Abaddon, who mirrors me with furious eyes.
- What were you going to do, Jennie?
- What do you think? Go inside.
I am awed when his embrace intensifies, and he leads me behind him down that long, dark corridor.
- You can't go in there. Don't even think about it.
- Why? What are you hiding in this room?
- This is a place where no one is allowed to enter but me," he replies, and I pull my hand from his grasp and stop in place.
- Your words make me more intrigued. I was led there by the melody, so you must be hiding something fascinating in that place.
Abaddon rubs his forehead, and I look at his face, on which the light is cast by the oil lamp that hangs over the paintings. The king of the underworld is furious. He runs his hand through his hair, which he has neatly combed back, and closes his eyelids.
- I'm just begging you. Don't go there again.
- Was I just like this in my previous life? Did I let you keep secrets from me?
His face saddens.
- At that time I didn't even think about having secrets from you. It was impossible.
- So consider it the same now.
- Just understand, Jennie, that I am trying to protect you from your former self. That room is dangerous for you, and if you want to know so badly, it's okay, I'll tell you. It's a tomb you created. All your victims that you brutally murdered are there. They want revenge, they would like to lure you back at all costs, just now that you have returned to the castle as a weaker version of your former self.
- After all, they can't do anything to me.
- In the past, they couldn't. Remember that now you are half Angel — half Demon. So far, you have not regained your powerful strength.
- And won't I recover is with the moment of finding the lost piece of my soul?
His eyes are turning red.
- You can't," he replies firmly. - Don't try to look for it.
- It is my soul, so I will decide what I want. So far, I am fearful, so I believe that with such power I will become indestructible. You can't stop me, Abaddon.
I sweep past him, then walk away, leaving him confused in the middle of the corridor. He realizes that eventually, it will come, but he wants his queen to remain this Jennie for as long as possible.
He is certain that Mania will once again cause bloody horror in the underworld, and this worries him the most.
*
I circled in front of the palace, searching for a place where it will be quiet. It seems to me that there are drunken demons everywhere, and just then I remember the sculptures behind the palace. I walk in that direction, covered in darkness. The red dress I'm wearing drags on mud that even sinks my pumps.
I strain my gaze as I reach a place that has been piquing my curiosity for a long time. Apparently, this is where I left a message for Abaddon without remembering it.
Now, when I look at the sculpture, I don't see any inscription on it.
They removed it.
I must admit that the resemblance is striking. I look at the queen's stern face and see myself, albeit a bit more cruel.
I sit down on the mud, with my back leaning against the sculpture. I don't bother with the dress at all, since it's already ruined anyway.
I close my eyelids and sigh loudly.
What do I have to do to regain the lost piece of my soul? I would so much like to remember my previous life, to see my cruel side, which is feared by Abaddon himself.
- Mania, dearest. - I open my eyelids, and with curiosity in my eyes, I look at the soul that belongs to Thomas. It is a scrap that is his previous life.
- Do you follow me all the time, Seth?
- It's out of longing. I miss you so much. I want to appear to you every time we are alone. I would like to talk to you.
- Have I been good to you? - I ask, looking at his beautiful face.
- Regardless of what you were, in my heart you will always be special.
I look at him, and a hot avalanche floods my heart. It's a sign that I still miss Thomas, despite what he did to me.
- Seth, do you know where I can find the scrap of my lost soul? Yours is wandering in the underworld, where, on the other hand, is mine?
- She will find you herself, at the same moment when I find my body. I feel it will happen soon, Mania.
I bolt from my seat as something explodes and the sky in one place becomes bright. I run to the front of the castle, watching as demons, creatures and other creatures that inhabit the underground world run out from inside.
At their head is Abaddon, whom I join.
- What is going on? - I ask in a worried voice.
- We have guests," he replies quietly.
The sky turns black again, and a group of four is heading in our direction. I open my mouth and immediately cover it with my hand when I notice Irene walking ahead, followed by the twins and Victor.
- How did they get here?
- Thanks to the help of Irene. She used to be here and managed to find the entrance to our world. She brought them in.
Instantly, I recall the prediction I heard from the Oracle.
"On that day, when the sky shines, you will understand."
She was referring to the woman who will return to protect Abaddon from me. She will become the Queen of the Underworld, annihilating me beforehand.
Irene is the woman — their salvation.
- Andy! - A loving voice comes out of Lisa's mouth. Without paying attention to anything around her, she runs up to Abaddon and throws herself into his arms. She squeezes him tightly, showing how much she missed him.
I will never forget how much she hated me, thinking that Andy died because of me.
I look at the face of the King of the Underworld and see that in a way he is happy. He doesn't push her away, he also embraces her.
- I thought you were dead, you bastard.
Well, she is unlikely to realize that it is no longer Andy, but Abaddon — the powerful King of the Underworld.
He seemingly enjoys Lisa's presence, but his gaze rests on a woman who is critical to him. He watches her with fear and yet love in his eyes. Furthermore, he wished that Irene would never appear in front of him again, because he was afraid of the future for my sake, and now she is standing in front of him, never taking her eyes off him.
- Irene," he says in a whisper. A slightly sad Lisa moves away from him, allowing him to approach the young woman. - Why did you come back here?
- Abaddon," she utters, watching his face. - King of the Underworld, who was reborn thanks to me.
He grabs her in his arms, causing feverish whispers among the Demons and other creatures. I find Thomas with my eyes, who slowly walks towards me. However, he is forestalled by Victor, who specially nudges him with his shoulder and runs up to me. He hugs me tightly, and I smile broadly, only now feeling how much I missed him.
- Jennie, I was afraid I would never see you again.
- Good to see you, my friend.
Thomas stands behind Victor's back, not quite sure how to act. He simply looks at me, expecting the first move on my part.
- Did you have a good life during that time, cheater? Did you laugh to tears, reminding yourself what an idiot I am? - I respond to him, swatting him with my eyes.
- Don't say that, Jennie. You don't even realize how cruel I felt when you disappeared.
- Don't try to be melodramatic.
- I came back here to get you back," he claims boldly, drawing everyone's attention. I see Abaddon twists his lips in a slight smile. - I will do everything to make you trust me.
I lower my gaze, biting my lower lip. I try to hide how happy I am to see him again, because on the other hand I feel like killing him for what he did to me.
- It will be a long way for me to forgive you," I reply, glancing at Lisa, who is scuffing her shoe on the concrete stairs. She doesn't look at me, ignores me. She is probably still angry with me, which makes me sorrowful. After all, we were friends.
Can we still be them?
I shift my puzzled gaze to Abaddon, as he unexpectedly grabs my hand and positions me next to him. Everyone looks at us. Lisa finally lifts her head.
- Since you are guests in my Underground World, I have something important to announce to you. I am Abaddon — the King of this world. I have been reborn to lead this place again, and this is my Princess. She will soon become the Queen. She, too, has returned to the place that was hers centuries ago.
I feel the intense gaze of Irene, Lisa, and also Thomas on me.
- What are you talking about? - Victor is confused.
- Jennie is Mania. One of the cruelest women in history. Abaddon kidnapped her to his world to protect humanity. She belongs here," Irene explains to him. - He again tries to sacrifice himself to take responsibility for her.
Irene and I have not been fond of each other since the beginning of our acquaintance. Centuries ago, we jumped at each other's throats, and now it's to come again.
First, however, I have to regain the lost piece of my soul, and all the nightmares that are to come in the future will come in a big way.
And it will be soon.