The days blended together in a haze. Ash had learned quickly that life in Hell wasn’t as simple as she had imagined. Her time was divided between menial tasks—cleaning, cooking, serving the royals—and learning to navigate the complex, labyrinthine castle. The Queen and King of Hell rarely spoke to her directly, but their eyes always seemed to follow her, weighing her every move. They didn’t trust her, and for good reason; she was an angel, and their realm was built on nothing but betrayal, power, and cruelty.

But Asmodeus, the son of the Queen and King, was a mystery to her. He treated her with a kindness that made her heart ache with the memory of the family she had left behind. Asmodeus had begun to show her parts of Hell that weren’t entirely consumed by suffering and chaos. Despite everything, there was beauty in this cursed place, if you knew where to look.

One afternoon, after finishing the endless chores that came with her position, Asmodeus approached her as she stood in the hallway, her fingers absently tracing the stone walls of the castle. She had been thinking about Heaven, the home she had abandoned so recklessly. The memory of her little sister’s tear-streaked face haunted her, and the regret clung to her like a heavy cloak.

Asmodeus gave her a small, sympathetic smile. “You’re looking weary,” he said gently, his tone uncharacteristically soft. “Maybe you need a break.”

“I don’t deserve a break,” Ash replied with a bitter laugh, glancing up at him. “Not when I’m here, forced to live as a maid in your parents’ castle.”

Asmodeus’s expression softened, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t belong here, Ash. You never did. But if you need a moment, I can show you something that might help clear your mind. A place that... isn’t like the rest of this place.”

Ash raised an eyebrow, intrigued but hesitant. “A place? What do you mean?”

He smiled, his brown eyes flickering with something more than just kindness. “Follow me.”

They walked together through a series of darkened hallways, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the walls. Ash’s heart raced as she realized just how far they were venturing from the parts of the castle she was allowed to roam. She wasn’t supposed to be here. The King and Queen of Hell had warned her to keep her place.

But Asmodeus was insistent. He led her to a door at the far end of the castle, one she had never seen before. It was simple, unadorned, but there was a strange energy about it—an energy that intrigued Ash in a way she didn’t understand.

“This way,” Asmodeus said, his voice barely above a whisper. He pushed open the door with ease, and Ash followed him inside.

To her surprise, the room they entered wasn’t the cold, harsh, stone interior of the castle. It was a garden—lush, vibrant, and strangely peaceful. There were roses of every color, their petals shimmering in the dim light. The air smelled sweet, and for a moment, Ash thought she had stepped into a dream.

“How?” she breathed, stepping further into the garden. “How is this possible? This is...”

“This is the Garden of Thorns,” Asmodeus explained. “It’s a secret place, hidden from the rest of Hell. My parents don’t know about it, and neither do most of the demons here. It’s a place for quiet, for peace... for those who need it.”

Ash wandered deeper into the garden, her eyes wide with wonder. The flowers and plants seemed to pulse with life, and the air was thick with the scent of blossoms. She could hear the faint hum of distant music, as though the garden itself was alive, singing to her.

“Why are you showing me this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the beauty around her. She’d forgotten what peace felt like.

Asmodeus joined her, his presence a comforting weight at her side. “Because I know what it’s like to feel trapped,” he said quietly. “To live under the shadow of your parents’ expectations. And I know you don’t want to be here, Ash. You didn’t ask for any of this.”

Ash closed her eyes, the weight of his words settling in her chest. “I never asked to be queen. I never wanted to rule anything.”

“I know,” Asmodeus said. “But you’re here now, and I won’t let you face this alone. You don’t have to fight your battles by yourself.”

Ash looked at him then, really looked at him for the first time. He was unlike anyone she had met in Hell—gentle, kind, and free of the cruelty that ran through the veins of his parents. There was something in his eyes that made her want to trust him, to believe in his words.

But she wasn’t sure she could. Not after everything that had happened, after everything she had run from.

“You’re kind to me,” Ash said quietly, turning her gaze back to the roses, her fingers brushing lightly against their velvety petals. “But this... this place is still Hell. There’s no escaping it. No matter how beautiful it is.”

Asmodeus tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving her. “Maybe not. But sometimes, even in Hell, there’s a chance for something different. You can find peace, Ash, if you’re willing to look for it. And I... I’m willing to help you.”

His words hung in the air, a promise unspoken, and for a moment, Ash felt a glimmer of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make her heart beat a little faster.

“I don’t know what to do,” Ash admitted, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know if I can go back. I don’t know if I can face them, face my destiny as their queen.”

“You don’t have to face it alone,” Asmodeus repeated, his voice firm yet gentle. He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be here with you. And if you need someone to stand beside you, to fight with you, I’ll be the one to do it.”

Ash looked up at him, and for the first time since she had run from Heaven, she felt a sense of belonging—a feeling that she was no longer entirely alone in this dark, foreign world. Asmodeus’s kindness was like a light in the darkness, something she hadn’t realized she needed until now.

For a brief, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine a different life. A life not ruled by her parents’ expectations, a life where she could choose her own path, free of the burdens that had been thrust upon her.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Ash said, her voice breaking. “But maybe... maybe I don’t have to do it alone.”

Asmodeus smiled, and for the first time since her arrival in Hell, Ash felt like there might be a way forward—a way out of the chains that bound her.

And that small spark of hope grew, ever so slightly, in her heart.