The moment Aiden opened his eyes, the world around him felt wrong. The air was heavy, suffused with heat and a faint metallic tang. The ground beneath him was sharp and uneven, as though carved from jagged obsidian. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings, but his attention was immediately drawn to the figure standing before him.
Her golden hair shimmered like molten sunlight, cascading in perfect drilled curls that framed her flawless, angular face. Two curved horns jutted elegantly from her head, obsidian-black and polished like onyx. She wore a crimson dress that clung to her form, the fabric glistening as though soaked in fresh blood. Her piercing red eyes bore into him with an intensity that sent chills down his spine.
"You must be the human," she said, her lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her voice was soft yet laced with a chilling authority.
Aiden tried to speak, but his throat was dry. His mind raced. Where am I? Is this a dream? Or… a nightmare?
"Wh-where am I?" he finally managed, his voice cracking.
The demoness tilted her head slightly, as if amused by his confusion. "You're in my domain, little human. Hell, to be precise. And you should be honored—few mortals have the privilege of standing in the presence of Lilith Aurelia Maltrix, Daughter of the Crimson Abyss, Heiress of the House of Maltrix, and Bearer of the Ancient Name of Lilith. Welcome to your new home, little human. You belong to me now."
Aiden's body trembled as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He was disoriented, his grief from losing his mother still raw, and now he was face-to-face with a creature whose beauty was as unnerving as her otherworldly presence.
She paused, her smile widening as she savored his stunned silence. "But you may call me Lilith. For now."
"Why… why me?" he stammered.
Lilith tilted her head, her voice taking on a mockingly tender tone. "Why not you? You looked so lost and miserable in your world. I've rescued you, Aiden. You should be grateful."
Aiden's head swirled with questions. Hell? Lilith? Rescued me and that I should be grateful? Is this some kind of sick joke? He glanced down at his hands, still trembling from the overwhelming weight of the situation. His entire body felt out of place, as though he'd been ripped from his world and thrown into a realm that defied logic.
Mom... The thought of his mother stabbed at his chest like a blade. He'd failed her. He couldn't even save her from the crushing weight of their debts. And now? Now he was trapped in a nightmare, at the mercy of this… this demon.
Her name echoed in his mind: Lilith. It sounded both beautiful and terrifying, carrying a weight he couldn't fully grasp.
"Lilith," he repeated weakly, his voice barely audible.
Her laughter rang out like bells, it was sweet voice. "Ah, so you've heard of the name. Good. You'll learn soon enough why it carries such… power."