CHAPTER 0012

Freedom

A week had passed in what felt like a strange, surreal lull after the chaos of the bomb and the battle. 

The castle had returned to a semblance of normalcy, but I could sense the tension lingering in the air. 

Lucifer was barely around, consumed by his relentless quest to track down Ace and the woman who had betrayed him.

I had regained enough strength to walk around, and the castle's vastness, while initially exciting, soon left me feeling restless. 

One afternoon, driven by a need for fresh air and a change of scenery, I ventured outside. 

The crisp air was invigorating, and the lush greenery surrounding the castle was a welcome contrast to the darkness of recent events.

As I wandered further from the castle, my attention was drawn to an unusual blue light shimmering in the distance. 

Intrigued, I moved closer, and as I did, 

the light resolved into what appeared to be a massive, pulsating barrier. 

My curiosity got the better of me, and I approached, only to be confronted with an astonishing and horrifying sight beyond the barrier.

Hell—literal, unfiltered hell—stretched out before me. The landscape was ablaze with flames, and the air was thick with smoke. 

Lavender, a cruel twist to the otherwise hellish scene, added an unsettling contrast. Screams echoed through the air, mingling with the sounds of violence and chaos. 

The demons, in all their grotesque forms, pursued each other and their victims with knives, their red eyes glinting with malicious intent. 

The scene was a nightmarish tableau of suffering and depravity.

I was about to reach out, driven by a morbid curiosity, when a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see a demon approaching me. 

Unlike the others, he seemed more controlled and less frenzied.

"Hey, a human in hell?" he remarked, his eyes scanning me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. "Yeah…"

"What are you doing here, mortal? This is a literal hell, and you are in a king's land," he continued, his tone nonchalant.

"I'm aware of that," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was just curious. Now, please, stay away from me."

"Why? Are you scared?" The demon grinned, and I shivered despite myself. His grin was unsettling, a predatory glint in his eyes.

"I'm not scared. There's a barrier protecting me. Please just leave me alone."

The demon's grin widened. "This barrier wasn't always here, I'll be honest. Rumors say Lucifer created it for someone—probably you. Humans like you can't handle the heat down here. It's 134.1°F every day."

The mention of the temperature only heightened my unease. I took a step back, eyeing the barrier with renewed apprehension. 

The demon's casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the horrifying scene beyond the barrier, making his presence even more unsettling.

"Why would Lucifer go to such lengths to protect me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "What does this all mean?"

The demon shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I'm not entirely sure. 

But from what I've heard, it's not just about the heat. The barrier might also be keeping you safe from something else. Something—or someone—that Lucifer wants to keep out of your reach."

The implication sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced back at the barrier, my mind racing with questions and concerns. 

"What's beyond this barrier that's so dangerous?"

"Something Lucifer doesn't want you to face. Whether it's a threat or a past he's trying to shield you from, I can't say," the demon said. 

"But you should be grateful for it. Hell isn't kind to those who don't belong."

"This barrier wasn't here I'll be honest mortal, Humans like you can't handle the heat down here it's 134.1°F Every day here" he added again

His blatant disregard for interruption only reinforced my discomfort. "That's too hot. How do you all handle it?" I asked, trying to understand.

"We're spirits down here, bad spirits you call demons," he replied. 

"Do you want to cross the line and join us? Don't worry, I'll be next to you and protect you from any harm."

"What about the temperature?" I asked, skeptical.

"I can create a barrier too, but not as large or as effective as Lucifer's," he answered.

I stood in contemplation, weighing the dangers against my reckless curiosity. 

This was undeniably perilous, but something inside me urged me forward despite the risk. 

I stared at the barrier, lost in thought, until the demon's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Are you coming or not?" he pressed.

With a deep sigh, I made my decision. "Ye—" I began, but was abruptly cut off by a voice behind me.

"No, she won't come. Get the hell out of here, Lucas, before I burn you to a crisp myself," Asmodeus interjected, his tone icy and menacing.

Lucas turned to me, a note of concern in his eyes. "Don't trust any demons outside of this barrier, Venneca. They mean only harm, no good."

"Says the demon king himself," I quipped, crossing my arms as Lucas retreated.

Asmodeus chuckled softly. "I'm not the king—Lucifer is. Well, he will be soon." He added, "And why not you?" I asked, curious.

"I'm not related to Lucifer's father by blood," he explained, making sense of his status.

"Oh…" I responded, processing this new piece of information.

"How old are you, then?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness.

"Two hundred and Eighty years old," he stated matter-of-factly. I noted the odd mixture of age and youthful demeanor in him.

"You're younger than Lucifer," I mused aloud. He nodded in acknowledgment.

The conversation shifted to a more personal level as he stopped and faced me. "I'm sorry for earlier," he said quietly, his gaze dropping. 

"I tried to… touch you. I hadn't eaten and was overtaken by my needs. I deeply regret it and hope you can forgive me someday."

Seeing the genuine remorse in his eyes, I felt a pang of sympathy. "It's fine, just don't do it again. I was really scared," I said, my voice softening.

He smiled slightly, "I promise."

Despite the awkward beginning, I found myself starting to warm up to Lucifer's brother. 

He seemed more approachable than the other demons, and I trusted him, if only slightly, due to his connection with Lucifer. 

But that trust didn't last forever..

. . .