LUCIFER'S REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 4: The revelation

Hell screamed.

The skies above Netherland darkened violently as thunder cracked across rivers of fire. Mountains trembled beneath storms of black flames while demons throughout the kingdom froze in terror.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Inside the Obsidian Palace, servants dropped to their knees as a wave of unbearable power exploded through the halls.

Windows shattered instantly.

Flames rose wildly against the walls.

And from deep within the throne room came the sound of roaring fury.

Lucifer stood at the center of the chamber breathing heavily while dark energy spiraled around him like destruction itself. His crimson eyes glowed brighter than ever before, filled with rage so intense the very air trembled beneath it.

“No.”

The word echoed like thunder.

A demon servant nearby collapsed immediately under the pressure of his power.

Lucifer’s wings burst outward violently, shadows swallowing the entire throne room. Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his lips—not from weakness, but from the force of the revelation forcing itself into existence inside him.

It burned.

Like chains wrapping around his soul.

Like fate itself had touched him.

And Lucifer hated it.

“My king—”

“LEAVE!”

The demon vanished instantly.

Another violent surge exploded through the palace.

The floors cracked.

The chandeliers above shattered.

Far across Netherland, demons lowered their heads fearfully as the ruler of Hell unleashed centuries of suppressed wrath upon the kingdom itself.

Lucifer clenched his fists tightly while fragmented visions flashed violently through his mind.

A girl.

Soft brown eyes.

Dark curls.

A gentle smile.

Human.

The realization struck like poison.

Mate.

The ancient bond had awakened.

For several seconds, silence filled the throne room.

Then Lucifer laughed.

Not with amusement.

With fury.

A terrifying sound filled with hatred.

“A mortal?” he whispered in disbelief.

Of all cruel jokes fate could create…

This was the worst.

Lucifer had always despised mate bonds. To him, they were nothing more than cages designed by higher powers to weaken powerful beings through attachment.

Love made creatures vulnerable.

Possessive.

Stupid.

He had watched kings destroy empires over love. Watched demons betray loyalties because of mates. Watched powerful beings kneel willingly for someone else.

Pathetic.

And now fate dared bind him?

The ruler of Netherland?

To a fragile human girl?

Another violent wave of power erupted outward.

Blood splattered across the black marble floor as Lucifer punched directly through one of the obsidian pillars beside him.

The entire palace shook.

“No,” he growled again.

This could not happen.

Would not happen.

He refused to become enslaved by some ancient bond.

Refused to feel weakness.

Refused to care.

Dark flames twisted around his body violently while his breathing grew heavier.

Then suddenly—

A scent.

Soft.

Faint.

But unmistakable.

Lucifer froze.

The mate bond pulsed once beneath his skin.

His expression darkened instantly.

Somewhere above, on Earth…

She existed.

Alive.

Breathing.

Waiting unknowingly.

The thought alone filled him with disgust.

Kill her.

The instinct rose immediately.

Sharp.

Violent.

Absolute.

Destroy the bond before it fully forms.

Lucifer slowly lifted his head, crimson eyes burning with murderous rage.

“Yes,” he murmured coldly.

That was the answer.

If the mortal died before the bond strengthened, the weakness would disappear completely.

No chains.

No attachment.

No fate.

Just freedom.

A cruel smile slowly spread across his face.

“Find her.”

Far above Netherland, beneath peaceful moonlit skies, Heaven slept restlessly within the royal palace.

Her dreams had returned.

But this time…

Something was different.

The fire appeared first as always.

Endless flames beneath crimson skies.

Massive black towers stretching toward darkness itself.

But tonight the dream felt clearer.

More real.

Heaven stood frozen within the center of a burning kingdom while ash drifted slowly around her like snow.

And for the first time—

The man saw her too.

Her heartbeat quickened instantly.

He stood far away at first, surrounded by shadows and fire, yet his presence consumed everything around him. Darkness curled around his body like living creatures while enormous black wings spread behind him.

Terrifying.

Beautiful.

Sinful.

The word echoed through Heaven’s mind immediately.

Then he began walking toward her.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

And unlike before…

Heaven could finally feel his emotions.

Rage.

Unimaginable rage.

The air itself seemed to choke beneath it.

Heaven tried stepping backward instinctively, but her feet refused to move.

The man continued approaching through the flames.

Closer.

Closer.

And suddenly—

His eyes lifted directly toward hers.

Crimson.

Her breath caught painfully.

For one horrifying second, Heaven felt truly seen.

Not like a dream.

Not like imagination.

Like something real had found her.

The man stopped only a few feet away now.

Shadows hid most of his face, yet Heaven could feel how terrifyingly beautiful he was. Power radiated from him so intensely it made her knees weak.

Then finally—

He spoke.

“Found you.”

His voice was deep and cold enough to freeze her blood.

Fear exploded through Heaven instantly.

She tried screaming.

Tried running.

But the moment she moved, the man suddenly grabbed her throat.

Heaven gasped sharply.

The touch felt real.

Too real.

His crimson eyes burned into hers mercilessly.

“You,” he growled softly, “will not make me weak.”

The killing intent in his voice terrified her completely.

Darkness exploded around them violently.

And Heaven woke up screaming.

Her body jerked upright violently while panic consumed her chest. Sweat clung to her skin as her breathing turned uneven.

For several seconds, she could not understand where she was.

The palace.

Her room.

Safe.

Yet her hands still trembled uncontrollably.

A frantic knock suddenly hit the door.

“Heaven?!”

Holland rushed inside immediately wearing loose sleeping clothes, his expression alarmed.

“What happened?”

He froze after seeing her face.

Heaven looked terrified.

Not confused.

Not thoughtful like after previous dreams.

Terrified.

“H-He touched me,” she whispered shakily.

Holland frowned deeply before sitting beside her quickly.

“What?”

“The man.” Her breathing remained uneven. “The one from my dreams.”

Holland’s teasing attitude disappeared instantly.

“What did he do?”

Heaven swallowed hard.

“He found me.”

Silence filled the room.

Moonlight filtered softly through the curtains while Holland studied his sister carefully.

For the first time since the dreams began…

He genuinely looked worried.

“Heaven,” he said quietly, “it was only a dream.”

But Heaven shook her head immediately.

“No.” Her voice trembled softly. “This one felt real.”

It was only her and Holland because their room was in the west wing while that of the royal couple was in the far east so they didn't hear her scream.

Far beneath the mortal world, Lucifer stood alone upon the balcony of the Obsidian Palace.

The mate bond pulsed faintly again beneath his skin.

His expression twisted with hatred.

Somewhere above him existed the one thing capable of becoming his weakness.

A human girl.

Fragile.

Mortal.

And Lucifer intended to erase her before fate had the chance to tighten its chains around him.