Yumi sat cross-legged on her bed, her room dimly lit by the flickering glow of a black candle on her nightstand. The walls were adorned with dark tapestries, posters of gothic bands, and a few pentagrams she had drawn herself. She had her headphones on but wasn't listening to music. Instead, she was lost in thought, humming to herself as she scribbled in her sketchbook.
Cerberus was curled up at the edge of the bed, his small chest rising and falling as he snored softly. Yumi looked at him briefly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Hell, huh?" she muttered to herself. "This place ain't so bad."
The hum in her throat grew louder, transforming into a tune that spilled into the air. She set her sketchbook aside and leaned back against the headboard, her humming turning into soft lyrics.
"Hell is fire, Hell is flames,
It's my home, it's my domain.
Ash and embers fill the air,
But I don't care—I belong here."
Her voice grew stronger as she sang, and she stood up, walking to the window. Outside, the eternal fires of Hell roared in the distance, casting a molten glow across the jagged landscape. The sight filled her with a strange sense of pride.
"Yeah, it's hot, yeah, it's rough,
But this place made me tough.
I'll take the heat, I'll take the pain,
Because in Hell, there's strength to gain."
She twirled around her room, letting the music consume her. The rhythm in her voice grew sharper, her energy building with each word.
"Demons fight, demons roar,
I'm not scared, not anymore.
Born from fire, born from sin,
This is where my strength begins."
Yumi grabbed a hairbrush from her dresser and used it as a makeshift microphone. She jumped onto the bed, startling Cerberus awake. He barked once but then wagged his tail, watching her with his little black eyes as she danced.
"I'll be strong, just like my dad,
The Prince of Hell, the baddest badass.
He faced the flames, he faced the fight,
And one day I'll shine just as bright."
The thought of her father, Kikidori, made her pause for a moment. Her dad was undeniably tough. He had killed Lucifer once upon a time, survived countless battles, and earned the title of Prince of Hell. But he wasn't just strong in battle—he was resilient, confident, and unwavering in who he was. Yumi wanted that.
Her gaze shifted to her reflection in the mirror across the room. She saw a teenage demon with black eyeliner, pale skin, and a defiant spark in her eyes.
"Hell is home, and I'm its daughter,
I'll rise higher, I'll burn hotter.
Through the fire, through the ash,
I'll carve my name, I'll make it last."
The melody slowed, turning softer as Yumi's voice took on a more thoughtful tone.
"Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's cruel,
Sometimes I feel like a lonely fool.
But Hell is mine, it's in my veins,
Through the chaos, I'll stake my claim."
She sat back down on the bed, her voice trailing off into a hum again. Cerberus padded over to her, climbing into her lap. Yumi stroked his tiny head, feeling the weight of her words settle over her.
"I'll make you proud, Dad," she whispered to herself. "One day, I'll be strong enough to stand beside you. Maybe even stronger."
As if sensing her determination, Cerberus gave a small, encouraging bark before curling back up.
Outside her door, Kikidori leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he listened to her song. He had been passing by when he heard her voice and stopped, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"She's got fire in her," he murmured to himself. "Just like her old man."
Ere'ana appeared down the hall, tilting her head curiously as she approached. "What are you smiling about?"
Kikidori straightened up, his smirk widening. "The kid's got a spark. You should hear her sometime."
Ere'ana raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She glanced at the closed door to Yumi's room, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "She's more like you than you realize."
Kikidori chuckled, turning to walk down the hall. "Yeah, and that's what scares me."
Back in her room, Yumi picked up her sketchbook again, her earlier boredom completely forgotten. Her song lingered in the air, a promise to herself and to the world around her.
Hell had shaped her, scarred her, and challenged her, but it was her home. And one day, she'd prove she was more than just a daughter of the Prince of Hell. She'd be a force to be reckoned with all on her own.
The End of Chapter 20