CHAPTER 6: The devil's shame
1114 Words
Netherland burned beneath endless crimson skies.
Rivers of lava carved through mountains of black stone while storms of ash rolled across the kingdom like living shadows. The air itself trembled with darkness, heavy with fear and unrest.
Because Hell had begun whispering.
Inside taverns hidden within the lower territories, demons spoke quietly behind closed doors. In dark corridors beneath ancient fortresses, generals exchanged cautious glances. Even powerful warlords who once trembled at Lucifer’s name had begun watching the Obsidian Palace differently.
The ruler of Hell had a weakness.
A mate.
For centuries, Lucifer had ruled through fear, absolute power, and isolation. No attachments. No trust. No vulnerabilities.
And now fate itself had shackled him.
To many demons, it felt like opportunity.
Rebellion had begun breathing quietly within Netherland.
Not openly.
Not yet.
But Lucifer could feel it.
Inside the Obsidian Palace, the atmosphere had grown suffocating.
Servants walked carefully through the halls while guards avoided unnecessary eye contact. The dark kingdom had felt Lucifer’s fury the moment the bond awakened days ago.
Hell itself had trembled.
And that alone confirmed the rumors.
Inside the throne room, Lucifer sat motionless upon the Obsidian Throne while shadows twisted violently around him like living creatures.
His expression remained calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that terrified even demons.
Below him, several ancient seers kneeled fearfully with lowered heads.
No one dared look directly at him.
Lucifer’s crimson eyes glowed faintly within the darkness.
“Well?” he asked coldly.
The oldest seer swallowed hard.
“My king… we have studied the ancient laws regarding destined bonds.”
Lucifer leaned back slowly.
“And?”
The old demon hesitated briefly before answering.
“There is a reason the mortal still lives.”
Silence filled the chamber instantly.
Lucifer’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Explain.”
The seer visibly trembled.
“A chosen mate whose soul remains pure gains protection beneath the ancient laws.”
The temperature inside the room dropped sharply.
Lucifer’s expression darkened immediately.
“Protection,” he repeated dangerously.
“Yes, my king.”
Another seer quickly lowered himself further.
“The bond prevents direct destruction while her soul remains unstained.”
For several seconds, no one breathed.
Then suddenly—
Dark flames exploded across the throne room.
Several pillars cracked instantly while the seers collapsed beneath the force of Lucifer’s power.
“A pure soul,” Lucifer said bitterly.
Disgust twisted through his voice.
Of course fate would choose some unbearably innocent mortal.
Pure.
Untouched.
Protected.
Lucifer rose slowly from the throne, black wings unfolding behind him like shadows swallowing the chamber itself.
“So I cannot kill her,” he said quietly, “because she lacks sin.”
The old seer nodded fearfully.
“Yes, my king.”
Silence followed again.
Then unexpectedly—
Lucifer laughed.
Low.
Cold.
Terrifying.
The sound echoed through the chamber like death itself.
“How pathetic,” he murmured.
Humans were naturally sinful creatures. Weak. Corruptible. Greedy.
Yet somehow this girl remained pure enough for ancient laws to shield her from him.
Irritating.
But not impossible.
Lucifer slowly descended the steps of his throne while darkness curled around him violently.
“And what,” he asked softly, “happens if the mortal sins?”
The seers exchanged nervous glances.
Finally the eldest answered carefully.
“Then the protection disappears.”
A cruel smile spread slowly across Lucifer’s face.
There it was.
The solution.
Humans always sinned eventually.
Fear could corrupt them.
Pain could corrupt them.
Desire could corrupt them.
Lucifer himself had spent centuries mastering temptation.
No soul remained pure forever.
Especially not mortal souls.
“If innocence protects her,” Lucifer murmured thoughtfully, “then innocence must be destroyed.”
The seers lowered their heads further.
None dared speak again.
At that exact moment, the massive throne room doors opened once more.
Lord Malach entered calmly.
Tall and armored entirely in black, Malach carried himself differently from lesser demons. Not because Lucifer trusted him—Lucifer trusted no one—but because Malach had survived centuries beside the Devil without becoming foolish.
That alone made him useful.
“My king,” Malach greeted while kneeling briefly.
Lucifer turned toward him slowly.
“The rumors continue spreading,” Malach informed carefully.
Irritation flashed instantly through Lucifer’s crimson eyes.
“What are they saying now?”
Malach hesitated slightly.
“That fate has finally chained the Devil.”
Darkness exploded violently around the throne.
Several torches extinguished instantly.
Lucifer’s expression twisted with cold fury.
He despised this more than the bond itself.
Hell was beginning to smell weakness.
And demons were creatures that fed upon weakness.
“Some lower lords have already begun discussing rebellion quietly,” Malach continued carefully.
The room fell silent.
Then Lucifer smiled.
A terrifying smile completely devoid of warmth.
“Rebellion.”
The word sounded almost amused.
Yet everyone inside the chamber knew better than to mistake that amusement for mercy.
Lucifer stepped forward slowly while shadows moved unnaturally around his feet.
“They truly believe this changes anything?”
“No,” Malach answered honestly. “But they believe it creates opportunity.”
Lucifer laughed softly again.
Centuries ago, entire armies of angels failed to destroy him.
Kingdoms had fallen at his feet.
Demons worshipped his cruelty because they feared it.
And now some ambitious fools thought a mating bond weakened him enough to overthrow Hell itself.
Pathetic.
“Erase the rumors,” Lucifer ordered coldly.
“At once.”
“And the rebellious lords?”
Malach looked up carefully.
Lucifer’s crimson eyes glowed dangerously within the darkness.
“Make examples of them.”
Malach bowed immediately. “It will be done.”
Lucifer turned away afterward, his eyes rested on the enchanted mirror, separated from others.
And within it—
Her.
Princess Heaven.
Lucifer stared silently as she walked through palace gardens speaking gently with servants.
Too kind.
Too soft.
Too pure.
The mate bond pulsed faintly beneath his skin again.
Disgusting.
He hated the sensation immediately.
Lucifer had spent centuries ensuring nothing controlled him emotionally.
Not Heaven.
Not Hell.
Not fate itself.
Yet now ancient laws demanded he preserve the life of some mortal girl until her soul darkened enough for him to finally destroy her.
Humiliating.
Still…
His gaze remained fixed on her reflection.
“She protects others instinctively,” Lucifer observed quietly. “Humans like her break the hardest.”
Malach remained silent.
Lucifer’s cruel smile slowly returned.
“Fear.”
His fingers brushed lightly against the mirror’s surface.
“Pain.”
Darkness twisted around him slowly.
“Temptation.”
Heaven’s reflection smiled softly at one of the palace maids.
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed.
“No soul remains pure forever.”
- Writer
