The Devil Bowed To Her

Chapter Three: The Man From Her Memories

Seraphina couldn't breathe.

The Devil stood beneath the crimson moon, surrounded by hundreds of kneeling demons, yet his attention remained fixed entirely on her.

She knew that face.

She didn't know how.

She didn't know from where.

But she knew him.

The memory came again.

A burning corridor.

Smoke filling the air.

Her mother's trembling hands.

A man standing beside the bed.

Golden eyes.

A voice whispering through the darkness.

When she awakens, nothing will stop her.

Seraphina's fingers trembled.

"You."

The Devil's smile widened.

"So you remember."

Lucien immediately turned toward her.

"What did you say?"

Seraphina didn't answer.

She couldn't.

Her eyes remained fixed on the man outside.

"You're the man from my memory."

For the first time, the Devil's expression changed.

"Interesting."

Lucien stepped in front of her.

"You will not speak to her."

The Devil laughed.

"You've become protective."

"She's under my protection."

"She doesn't belong to you."

Lucien's eyes flashed.

"I never said she did."

The Devil looked past him.

"But you bowed."

Silence.

Seraphina's eyes widened.

The Devil's gaze returned to her.

"The son of Hell bowed to the lost queen."

His smile became cruel.

"Do you know what that means, Seraphina?"

"No."

"You will."

He raised one hand.

The demons around the village immediately stood.

Seraphina's heart pounded.

Lucien grabbed her wrist.

"We're leaving."

"Where?"

"Anywhere but here."

He pulled her toward the back of the house.

Seraphina resisted.

"Wait!"

Lucien didn't stop.

"Lucien!"

He finally turned.

"What?"

"Why did you bow to me?"

His expression hardened.

"I already told you."

"No."

She stepped closer.

"You didn't tell me anything."

Lucien stared at her.

"Because I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then why did you do it?"

He looked at her hand.

At the glowing mark.

His voice dropped.

"My body reacted before my mind did."

Seraphina frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means..."

He hesitated.

"I don't know."

A strange silence fell between them.

Then the house shook.

The Devil's voice echoed outside.

"Lucien."

Lucien's eyes darkened.

"Stay here."

He walked outside.

Seraphina followed.

The moment she stepped into the street, every demon turned toward her.

Then something impossible happened.

One by one, they lowered their weapons.

And knelt.

Seraphina froze.

Hundreds of demons.

Kneeling.

Before her.

Lucien looked at them with disbelief.

The Devil smiled.

"Do you see now?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"No."

"You don't command them."

He paused.

"They recognize you."

A woman stepped out from the crowd.

She wore silver armor and carried a long sword.

She approached slowly.

Lucien's hand immediately moved toward his weapon.

The woman stopped several feet away from Seraphina.

Then dropped to one knee.

"My Queen."

Seraphina stared at her.

"I don't know you."

The woman bowed her head.

"You knew my mother."

Seraphina's breath caught.

"Who was your mother?"

The woman's eyes filled with tears.

"Queen Isolde."

Seraphina's heart stopped.

Her mother's name.

She had heard it only once in her entire life.

From the old woman who raised her.

Your mother's name was Isolde. Don't ever ask again.

The woman looked up.

"She died protecting you."

Seraphina's voice trembled.

"How do you know me?"

"I was there the night Elaria fell."

Lucien stepped closer.

"Enough."

The woman looked at him.

"Prince Lucien, you know the truth."

His expression hardened.

"Not all of it."

"Then ask your father."

The Devil smiled.

"She should."

Seraphina turned toward him.

"What happened that night?"

The Devil walked closer.

Lucien immediately stepped between them.

But the Devil didn't attack.

He simply looked over Lucien's shoulder.

"Your mother made a choice."

"What choice?"

"She chose you."

Seraphina's throat tightened.

"From what?"

"From me."

The world seemed to tilt.

"Why?"

The Devil's eyes darkened.

"Because she discovered what you would become."

Seraphina whispered,

"What would I become?"

The Devil smiled.

"The most powerful queen this world has ever known."

Lucien suddenly grabbed his father's arm.

"Enough."

The Devil looked at his son.

"You still don't understand what you're protecting."

"I understand enough."

"No."

The Devil's voice became cold.

"You understand nothing."

He turned back to Seraphina.

"Your mother didn't hide you from me because she hated Hell."

He paused.

"She hid you because she was terrified of what would happen if you were ever awakened."

Seraphina's stomach twisted.

"But I'm awake now."

"Yes."

The Devil smiled.

"And that is why I came."

Lucien's hand tightened around his sword.

"You aren't taking her."

The Devil looked amused.

"You think you can stop me?"

"I know I can."

The air between father and son became heavy.

Then the Devil whispered,

"Ask him why he was sent to find you."

Seraphina turned to Lucien.

"Why?"

Lucien didn't answer.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Lucien."

He looked away.

"Answer me."

"I was ordered to bring you to Hell."

Her heart sank.

"You were sent by him."

"Yes."

"To kidnap me."

"Yes."

"Then why did you protect me?"

Lucien's jaw tightened.

"I don't know."

Seraphina stepped backward.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't expect anything from you."

"You're lying again."

The Devil laughed softly.

"He's been lying since he found you."

Lucien turned sharply.

"Leave."

"Or what?"

Lucien's eyes turned completely black.

Dark energy erupted around him.

The Devil smiled.

"That's my son."

He stepped backward.

"I'll give you until dawn."

Lucien's expression hardened.

"For what?"

"For her to decide."

The Devil looked directly at Seraphina.

"Come willingly..."

His smile was terrifying.

"Or I'll burn every human kingdom that shelters you."

Then he vanished.

The demons disappeared with him.

The village became eerily silent.

Seraphina stood frozen.

Lucien turned toward her.

"Seraphina."

She stepped away.

"Don't."

His expression changed.

"Listen to me."

"You lied."

"I didn't lie about everything."

"You were sent to take me."

"Yes."

"You knew who I was."

"Not at first."

"But you knew something."

He said nothing.

Seraphina's eyes filled with anger.

"How long?"

Lucien finally answered.

"Three months."

She stared at him.

"You've known about me for three months?"

"Yes."

"And you watched me?"

"Yes."

"Without telling me?"

"I was trying to protect you."

She laughed bitterly.

"Everyone keeps saying that."

She turned away.

Then the mark on her palm burned.

Seraphina gasped.

The ground beneath her feet cracked.

A voice whispered inside her mind.

Find the crown.

She looked around.

"What?"

Lucien grabbed her shoulders.

"What did you hear?"

"A voice."

"What did it say?"

Seraphina looked toward the forest.

"Find the crown."

Lucien went completely still.

"What?"

"The crown."

His face lost its color.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

He looked toward the dark forest.

"Because the crown of Elaria was destroyed."

A faint smile appeared on Seraphina's lips.

"Then why is something calling me to find it?"

Lucien had no answer.

Deep within the forest, something began to glow.

A crimson light.

Seraphina took one step toward it.

Lucien caught her hand.

"Don't."

She looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because whatever is calling you..."

His eyes darkened.

"...has been waiting nineteen years."

Seraphina stared into the forest.

Then she heard it again.

A whisper.

Only this time, it wasn't inside her head.

It came from the darkness.

Queen Seraphina.

She froze.

And somewhere beneath the ancient trees...

a crown began to bleed.