Chapter 16: You're Always Here, Even If You're Gone

Xavier's gaze fell upon Luka's lifeless body, and the pain resurfaced once more. The echoes of Luka's screams reverberated in his ears, causing more anguish than any physical torment ever could.

Xavier felt a burning desire, willing to destroy worlds and even Heaven itself if it meant avenging his soulmate.

Luka's ethereal soul remained by Xavier's side, offering solace in its unseen presence. Even though Xavier couldn't perceive him, Luka's spirit provided comfort. Hell, particularly those within the council, was thrown into complete chaos.

The devil, usually devoid of emotions, displayed an unprecedented anxiety. Those few demons who caught glimpses of Xavier during this time witnessed a stark contrast.

He exuded happiness, enthusiasm, and joy—a complete departure from his usual demeanor. But now, he was consumed by sadness, seething anger, and an inexplicable numbness. He reverted to the person he was before bonding with his soulmate, Luka.

Meanwhile, Luka experienced lesser suffering. He could sense his soulmate and observe him, even though he couldn't physically touch him.

In fact, he found a strange enjoyment in his ghostly state. It proved amusing to pass through walls and teleport to different locations without relying on his angelic wings.

Seeing himself from an alternate perspective felt peculiar, and it grew even stranger when his first thought upon witnessing his soulless body was, God, I need to build some muscles... What's with this chubby stomach?!

Deciding to avoid further self-consciousness, Luka resolved to refrain from gazing upon himself. As a soul following his soulmate everywhere, he deemed feeling self-conscious as the last thing he needed, especially while accompanying his depressed soulmate.

Others failed to perceive Xavier's state as Luka did, or perhaps they chose not to acknowledge it. Xavier, the supposedly unemotional devil, suffered from depression.

If humans ever became aware of this or the intricate dynamics between hell and heaven, it would undoubtedly become the highlight of the century.

William and Jonathan, in their relentless efforts to aid the devil in locating the ancient documentation on Alexander, found themselves pushed to the brink.

Curiously, the documentaries seemed to lock themselves away, preventing anyone, including the devil, from accessing their contents.

"Lucifer," a sickly sweet voice called out, causing Xavier to halt and turn around. Luka, too, became aware of the presence. And unsurprisingly, it was Leviathan—a being Luka despised. "I was wondering, now that you're without a soulmate, can we have some fun?" she taunted, a wicked smile adorning her beautiful yet evil face.

"Shut up, Leviathan!" Xavier spat. If she weren't a member of the council, she would have met a swift demise. "I do have a soulmate, and even if I didn't have my beloved Luka, I would never find enjoyment with you or anyone else!" The truth was that Xavier, despite being the devil, remained a virgin.

As an ancient angel, he had waited for his soulmate, preserving everything for their shared experiences—first kiss, first lovemaking, and first love.

He refused to let himself be swayed by others. It may have seemed peculiar for the devil, but he wanted his firsts to be special, with someone special.

Leviathan emitted an irritated sound, and though Luka's soul couldn't help but smirk at her, she remained oblivious to his presence.

Burn, bitch! Luka never anticipated uttering those words, and even though no one heard him, he felt as though he had committed a sin by uttering the profanity.

"I fail to see what you find in that pathetic angel!" Leviathan snorted at the mere thought of Xavier and Luka together.

If the initial comment didn't bother Lucifer, the insult to his soulmate certainly did. His eyes blazed with the fires of hell, turning a fierce red.

"It appears you haven't learned from your previous punishment," Xavier responded calmly, the unnerving steadiness in his voice only serving to amplify the fear. "First, you will be punished for offering such depraved propositions to a mated individual. Second, you will be punished for suggesting such things to your master. And third, you will be punished for insulting your master's soulmate." Without warning, the guards of Withered Hall materialized out of thin air, seizing the high-ranking demon to deliver her punishment.

Regardless of their demonic nature, one of the fundamental rules in Hell was to never interfere with a mated individual.

No matter how wicked the denizens of Hell's abode were, they couldn't deny the power that a soulmate held over them. The feeling of love, knowing that someone reciprocated that love, was a cherished experience even among demons.

Xavier let out a heavy sigh, longing for his beloved Luka with every fiber of his being. But something felt off. The soulmate bond didn't inflict its usual pain, despite the fact that he had been separated from Luka for over three agonizing days.

"We have a meeting," Jonathan suddenly announced from behind Xavier. Turning around, Xavier regarded the demon with a searching gaze, hoping for answers.

William stood alongside Jonathan, and the sight of them together only intensified Xavier's ache, as he yearned to have his soulmate by his side. "It's about Alexander. We may have a lead."

Xavier nodded and turned to attend the meeting, but before he could proceed, William halted him with a peculiar expression on his face. "Lucifer?" he inquired, seeking permission to speak.

"Go on," Xavier replied, his expression devoid of emotion. William rarely engaged him in conversation, but when he did, it was always significant.

"Do you feel any physical pain?" William asked cautiously. Luka's soul stood beside Xavier, observing his best friend, and suddenly it clicked.

Luka knew the point William was trying to make, and he couldn't wait for them to discover it. He knew it would bring solace to Xavier and alleviate his depression. The same held true for himself.

"No," Xavier responded monotonously. He wasn't sure where this line of questioning was headed, but upon witnessing the hopeful look on William's face, he sensed it might be good news. "Why do you ask?"

"The bond between soulmates who have accepted each other is always powerful. And the bond between the devil and an extraordinarily powerful hybrid like Luka is exceptionally strong," William explained. Jonathan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for his soulmate and his knowledge. Taking hold of William's hand, a simple gesture that brought smiles to both their faces, William continued with a small grin. "What if it's because Luka is still here?"

"Explain," Xavier urged, attempting to maintain a sense of normalcy, though the flicker of anticipation in his eyes gave him away. So many things suddenly made sense. Whenever Xavier felt down, a warm sensation would envelop his heart, providing comfort and aiding in his recovery faster than usual.

"Luka's soul is pure; that's something we all know," William began, his blue eyes shimmering. He couldn't wait to put his theory to the test. "Though he may not be physically present, his soul has left his body. This means he can travel with knowledge and is not bound to Heaven in the same way souls are when they are still attached to their deceased bodies. Have you ever felt his presence in these past few days? His soul? His warmth?"

Xavier paused for a moment, contemplating William's words. Then, he grasped the essence of William's hypothesis. "I have," he exclaimed, realization dawning upon him.

"Let's put it to the test," Jonathan grinned. While he may not have known Luka as intimately as the other two, the brief time they had spent together had been enough to recognize Luka as a good person. Moreover, he was William's best friend and brought happiness to his soulmate's life. "Luka," Jonathan called out to the unseen soul, "if you're here, give Xavier and us a sign."

I feel like they're performing a devil summoning ritual, Luka chuckled silently, deciding to do what he's been doing ever since he entered the ghost-like state.

Luka's soul joyfully passed through Xavier, allowing him to feel the warmth and comfort of his soulmate once more. Tears welled up in Xavier's eyes, while William and Jonathan wore radiant smiles. The smile that graced the devil's lips was all the confirmation they needed.

"I love you, Luka," Xavier uttered, his eyes glistening.

Love you too, Luka smiled, even though they couldn't perceive or see him. At least they knew he was there, and his soulmate understood what he would have said.