THREADS OF THE DEVIL

Chapter Two: The War of Heaven

A THREAD OF THE DEVIL

Chapter Two: The War of Heaven

The armies of Heaven descended.

Thousands of angels filled the sky above Lucifer's kingdom, their wings spreading across the darkness like a second night. Their armor shone with a blinding light, so bright that Serena had to shield her eyes.

But Lucifer did not move.

He stood before her, his black wings stretched wide, his sword burning with a dark fire in his hand.

Serena could feel his power.

She could feel his anger.

But beneath it all, she could feel something else.

Fear.

Not fear for himself.

Fear for her.

Lucifer glanced over his shoulder.

"Serena."

She looked at him.

"Stay behind me."

Serena shook her head.

"No."

Lucifer's expression hardened.

"This isn't a request."

"I don't care."

His eyes narrowed.

Serena stepped closer to him.

"You told me you loved me."

Lucifer froze.

Serena's voice trembled, but she refused to step back.

"If you are going to fight for me, then I'm not going to stand behind you like I'm helpless."

"You don't understand what is coming."

"Then explain it to me."

Lucifer looked at her for a long moment.

Above them, the angels began moving.

Lucifer's brother watched from the sky.

His name was Michael.

The Archangel.

The Sword of Heaven.

And once, Lucifer's closest companion.

Now they stood on opposite sides of a war.

Michael raised his sword.

"Lucifer!"

Lucifer slowly turned toward him.

Michael's voice echoed across the kingdom.

"You have one final chance."

Lucifer laughed.

It was a cold, humorless sound.

"How generous of Heaven."

"Give us the girl."

"No."

"She will destroy everything."

"Then Heaven should have thought of that before coming for her."

Michael's eyes moved toward Serena.

She felt a strange sensation in her chest.

The crimson thread around her wrist suddenly tightened.

Serena gasped.

Lucifer immediately turned toward her.

"Serena?"

"I'm fine."

She wasn't.

Something was happening inside her.

She could hear whispers.

Hundreds of them.

Thousands.

Voices from somewhere deep inside her mind.

Open the door.

Serena grabbed her head.

"Stop."

Lucifer caught her.

"What is it?"

"I can hear them."

"Who?"

"The voices."

Lucifer's face went pale.

"What are they saying?"

Serena looked at him.

Her eyes filled with fear.

"They're calling your name."

Lucifer went completely still.

Michael's expression changed.

For the first time, the Archangel looked afraid.

Lucifer noticed.

"What do you know?"

Michael didn't answer.

Lucifer raised his sword.

"I asked you a question."

Michael looked at Serena.

"The girl has already awakened it."

Lucifer's eyes darkened.

"Awakened what?"

Michael whispered the words.

"The First Darkness."

The ground shook.

A crack appeared beneath Serena's feet.

Lucifer grabbed her and pulled her away.

The entire kingdom trembled.

Buildings collapsed.

The black rivers began boiling.

And from beneath the ground came a sound that made every demon and angel stop moving.

A heartbeat.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Serena stared at the ground.

"What's down there?"

Lucifer's face had lost all color.

"Something that should never have awakened."

"Lucifer."

He looked at her.

For the first time, Serena saw something in his eyes she had never seen before.

Guilt.

"I thought I had more time."

Before Serena could ask what he meant, the ground exploded.

A wave of darkness swept across the kingdom.

Angels were thrown from the sky.

Demons screamed.

Lucifer wrapped his wings around Serena, protecting her from the blast.

When the darkness disappeared, everything was silent.

Serena slowly opened her eyes.

Lucifer was still holding her.

She looked up.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"You lied."

Lucifer frowned.

Serena touched his face.

There was blood running from the corner of his mouth.

"You are hurt."

"It's nothing."

"Lucifer."

He stared at her hand against his cheek.

Something changed in his expression.

For one brief moment, the war disappeared.

There were no angels.

No demons.

No prophecy.

Only them.

Lucifer gently took her hand.

"You shouldn't care about me."

Serena smiled sadly.

"Too late."

Lucifer looked away.

But Serena saw the pain in his eyes.

Then Michael attacked.

Lucifer turned just in time.

Their swords collided.

The impact sent a shockwave across the kingdom.

Serena fell backward.

"Lucifer!"

Lucifer fought like something born from darkness itself.

Michael fought like a storm of light.

They moved so quickly that Serena could barely see them.

Lucifer struck.

Michael blocked.

Michael attacked.

Lucifer disappeared into shadow.

Then Lucifer appeared behind him.

Their swords collided again.

"You betrayed me," Lucifer said.

Michael's expression tightened.

"I saved you."

"You condemned me."

"You were going to destroy Heaven!"

"I was trying to protect it!"

Michael stopped.

Lucifer's sword was against his throat.

Silence.

Lucifer's voice dropped.

"You know what you did."

Michael stared at him.

"I know."

"Then why are you still pretending to be the hero?"

Michael lowered his sword.

"Because someone has to be."

Lucifer's eyes burned.

"You never deserved your wings."

Suddenly, Michael attacked again.

Lucifer blocked.

But this time, Serena saw something else.

A second angel had appeared behind Lucifer.

The angel raised a spear.

"Lucifer!"

Serena didn't think.

She ran.

The spear came down.

Serena pushed Lucifer aside.

The weapon struck her.

She screamed.

"SERENA!"

Lucifer's voice shook the entire kingdom.

Serena fell into his arms.

Blood covered her dress.

Lucifer stared at the wound.

Something inside him broke.

His wings spread.

The sky turned black.

Every angel froze.

Every demon dropped to their knees.

Lucifer lifted his head.

His eyes were no longer human.

They were pure darkness.

Michael whispered his name.

"Lucifer..."

Lucifer looked at the angel who had attacked Serena.

"You touched her."

The angel stepped backward.

Lucifer disappeared.

A scream echoed across the kingdom.

Then silence.

Lucifer returned to Serena.

The darkness vanished from his eyes.

He dropped to his knees.

"Serena."

She opened her eyes.

"I'm okay."

"No."

His voice cracked.

Serena had never heard Lucifer sound like that.

"No, you're not."

He pressed his hand against her wound.

Black energy surrounded his fingers.

Serena gasped.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving you."

"Can you?"

Lucifer didn't answer.

That frightened her more than anything.

"Lucifer."

He looked at her.

"I won't let you die."

His voice was shaking.

"Do you understand me?"

Serena reached for his face.

"Look at me."

He did.

"I'm not afraid."

"You should be."

"Of you?"

Lucifer looked away.

"Of what I will become if you die."

Serena's heart broke.

"Then don't become anything."

Lucifer looked back at her.

"Stay with me."

"I am."

"No."

His eyes filled with something Serena had never seen before.

Desperation.

"Stay with me, Serena."

She smiled weakly.

"I promise."

The crimson thread around her wrist suddenly glowed.

Lucifer's eyes widened.

The wound on Serena's body began closing.

The blood disappeared.

Lucifer stared.

"That's impossible."

Serena sat up.

"What?"

Lucifer touched her wrist.

The crimson thread had changed.

It was no longer wrapped around her alone.

It was connected to him.

Their souls were now tied together.

Michael watched them from the distance.

His face was filled with horror.

Lucifer slowly stood.

"What have you done?"

Michael shook his head.

"I didn't do anything."

Lucifer looked at the thread.

"What is happening?"

Michael whispered:

"The prophecy has changed."

Lucifer's expression hardened.

"What does that mean?"

Michael looked at Serena.

"It means the prophecy was never about her destroying you."

Serena felt her heart stop.

"Then what is it about?"

Michael looked at Lucifer.

"It was about her saving you."

Lucifer said nothing.

Michael continued.

"Serena is the only person who can break the curse that has kept you trapped between Heaven and Hell."

Lucifer stared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because if you knew, you would have searched for her."

"And?"

Michael looked at Serena.

"And Heaven cannot allow the Devil to become human."

Serena's eyes widened.

Lucifer stepped in front of her.

Michael raised his sword.

"Lucifer, if the Thread is completed, you will have a choice."

Lucifer said nothing.

"You can become human," Michael continued, "and live with Serena."

Serena's heart began pounding.

"Or?"

Michael looked directly at Lucifer.

"Serena will become the Devil."

The world seemed to stop.

Serena stared at Lucifer.

"No."

Lucifer's face was emotionless.

But his eyes...

His eyes were filled with terror.

Michael disappeared with the remaining angels.

The kingdom fell silent.

Serena looked at Lucifer.

"Tell me he's lying."

Lucifer didn't answer.

"Lucifer."

He turned away.

"He's not."

Serena's heart sank.

"Then we'll find another way."

"There isn't one."

"There has to be."

"No."

Lucifer walked away.

Serena followed him.

"Lucifer!"

He stopped.

She ran toward him.

"You're not going to leave me."

"I have to."

"No."

"Serena."

She grabbed his arm.

"You said you loved me."

"I do."

"Then don't give up on us."

Lucifer looked at her.

For the first time, the Devil looked completely broken.

"I have spent eternity watching everyone I love die."

He touched the crimson thread between them.

"I will not watch you become a monster because of me."

Serena stepped closer.

"You don't get to decide that alone."

Lucifer stared at her.

She placed her hand against his chest.

"Whatever happens, we face it together."

Lucifer closed his eyes.

Serena leaned against him.

For a moment, he allowed himself to hold her.

Then a whisper came from the darkness.

"Lucifer."

His eyes opened.

Serena pulled away.

"Did you hear that?"

Lucifer's face changed.

"Yes."

The whisper came again.

"Serena."

The crimson thread tightened.

Serena screamed.

Lucifer grabbed her.

A shadow appeared behind them.

Something was watching.

Something ancient.

Something that had been waiting beneath Hell for thousands of years.

Lucifer slowly turned.

And then he saw it.

A pair of enormous red eyes opening in the darkness.

His expression became cold.

"Serena."

She looked at him.

"Run."

The creature smiled.

And for the first time in eternity...

The Devil was afraid.