Throughout the entire night, my mind was filled with so many summonings made by people but at the very least, I didn't think about anything else. I decided to be inside my room for as long as I could so as not to attract any attention. Surprisingly no one bothered me either so I was finally at peace. But the hour of the ceremony was approaching and I had to be there. Unwillingly, I opened my eyes slowly, breaking through my meditative state. A commotion could already be heard all around the castle, everyone seemingly excited to be there. The more time was passing the less I felt like I was representing the type of a demon I should've been. Although, considering the recent events, I wasn't really too much of myself either way. On the other hand, if the apocalypse was approaching, I may as well enjoy the rest of my days.

I rose from the bed and conjured in my mind the image of a formal demon attire. In an instant, I found myself clad in a sleek black shirt complemented by a vibrant red necktie. Opting for a more relaxed look, I loosened the tie slightly, wanting to avoid appearing too stiff. Stepping up to the mirror on the opposite side of the room, I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt to my elbows, knowing they would otherwise bother me throughout the evening.

In a moment of inspiration, I envisioned a flowing maroon red cape draping elegantly from my shoulders, its raised collar adding an air of mystery suitable for a masquerade. Gazing at my reflection, I observed my pale face which had definitely seen better days. With a subtle adjustment of my short black hair, I added a touch of style before summoning a plague doctor mask into my palm.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I regarded the mask, one of my favorite human fashion pieces. Not only would it lend an air of intrigue to my ensemble, but it would also allow me to blend seamlessly into the crowd, concealing my identity from prying eyes. With a final glance in the mirror, I donned the mask, admiring the transformation it brought, before departing the room, ready to embrace the festivities of the evening.

The hallways were empty, the faint echoes of distant revelry signaling that the majority had already congregated in the grand hall. It struck me as curious how many demons chose to gather during this time of year, despite harboring such disdain for our leader. It led me to the sobering conclusion that many of them were either lying or simply hypocritical in their sentiments.

One might question why demons held such animosity toward the very being who had brought them into existence. The answer, however, was remarkably straightforward: our leader had begun to mirror his own father from the realm beyond. The irony was not lost on me. After all, it seemed that an apple never fell too far from the tree. It was a classic tale of transformation—of watching oneself evolve into a figure one despised. Unfortunately, the Devil remained steadfast in his dominion, much to the frustration of many among us.

I walked downstairs into the big hall, the many demons already chattering between each other almost happily. Seeing all of them like this made me realize that maybe they weren't here for the Devil, they were there just for themselves. It was mostly the lower ranks that were excited to be there as they were the only ones who had to work much harder than any of us. The Devil was known to give them a lot of errands that required a lot of strength and power.

I was able to recognize most of them and as I was trying my best to push through the crowd, I collided with someone. I looked up only to see a gigantic head of a fly used as a mask which made me gasp and stagger backwards. I quickly calmed down as I realized that this could be only one demon - Beelzebub. He could've chosen a less terrifying mask, that was true. He had his arms across his chest and refused to move as he kept staring down at me with the huge green eyes.

"You seem mad." I noted.

"You have such a good eye!" He retorted sarcastically before telling me to follow him as he turned around and started walking through the crowd. We arrived at a small bar table tucked away in a corner of the hall. Nearby, positioned next to the expansive windows, a long table displayed an array of mouth-watering foods that looked as tantalizing as they smelled. The aromas wafting from the dishes were irresistible. Beelzebub was truly a master chef.

"I thought you were dead!" He suddenly exclaimed. The more I looked at him with that fly mask the more uncomfortable I had felt. The eyes on it were way too big and invasive.

"I know, I'm sorry for not saying anything. Some things have happened." I swallowed a lump, actually considering not telling some details of the story. I didn't know why my gut was telling me that being too honest was a bad idea but it was. Maybe I just didn't want to get him involved. For so long I lived with the lack of empathy, that even small actions of care were foreign to me.

"Well, you seem to be still kicking so it couldn't have been that bad?" Beelzebub placed too much faith in me that it almost pained me to admit. He was right not to do it in the beginning. We should have just never done anything. It was like no matter what I did with or to Loki, things seemed to just escalate.

"Well... Not exactly." I let out a breath before grabbing five shot glasses from a waiter carrying a tray next to us. I filled them up with some pink demon alcohol called "Fairy Drops" that was sitting on the table. I knew the name was misleading and this alcohol would most likely flip my brain like a burger. Beelzebub was expecting a crazy story so he waited patiently until I downed all five shots. In the meantime, he also poured himself a drink and took several shots himself as well. Not even he was ready to digest this sober and he didn't even know what it was. I didn't know what sort of drink he poured for himself, I just saw it was blue.

Due to wearing a mask, I had to do extra steps just to drink. That meant having to lift the bottom part of it in order to drink. Something was telling me I'd regret choosing this mask by the end of the event. Beelzebub had it much easier as he had an actual small opening where his mouth should've been.

Once we finally succeeded in making ourselves a bit tipsy, I was ready to uncover what had happened. I ended up telling the story with as much detail as possible which surprised even me. I just kept on spewing everything that went through my mind and I didn't leave anything behind. I started worrying that the drink could have some sort of truth serum in it. I couldn't see Beelzebub's face of disapproval but I could feel his disappointment radiating. While I was talking, he kept pouring his blue drink non stop. After I finished with my retelling, there was a short silence as Beelzebub tried to collect his thoughts.

"You know what? I'm not even going to be bothered." He shrugged and continued drinking. I thought his drink was also affecting him weirdly the same way mine was doing to me. Especially considering the fact that what had happened should worry him greatly. I frowned as I reached out towards the bottle of the blue liquid and looked at its name. It was called "Frigid Stinger". Whoever was coming up with these names should have been brought in for questioning. Either way, he was behaving quite... frigid.

"Do you think there's something weird in our drinks?" I asked, hoping I wasn't the only insane one here.

"Yeah because I really want to punch you right now. Yet I can't make myself."

That was a way more appropriate reaction than the previous one. "I'm just being overly honest... I didn't even mean to tell you all this." On some level I thought that this was some plot against us but I knew deep down that it was just my luck lately. I couldn't even get drunk without having to suffer for it. Besides, Beelzebub wasn't the one suffering, he was feeling fine. In fact, I had never seen him more relaxed and I was glad that at least one of us was enjoying themselves. I let out an annoyed sigh as I pondered on what to do.

At once, Beelzebub went over towards the center of the hall where demons were gathering to dance. Classical music started playing in the distance and each of them found a partner to dance with. It looked like they were about to dance a waltz. I groaned as this was the most boring part of the event. I was never much of a dancer, let alone those dances that actually needed you to know the moves. I did, however, enjoy watching them have fun. Especially Beelzebub who had finally released the short stick that he had in his ass sometimes and let himself have fun for once. The only time I had actually seen him happy was while cooking and maybe sometimes with me when we had nice times. Lately, however, I seemed to be much more of a bother to him than good company. That was why I kind of regretted telling him everything. The less he knew the better. But that goddamn drink ruined everything.

I went over to the large table only to realize that even that was a risky game considering I didn't know what that was laced with. However, I just decided to let go and allow myself to have fun. Maybe odds would be in my favor this time. I took something that looked like a skewer kebab as it would be easy to eat with this impractical mask.

As soon as I swallowed the first piece, I instantly felt such a big sense of euphoria consuming my body. I had finally felt that sense of peace I was yearning for and wasn't able to get it in weeks. Although, it was clear to me then why everyone was so addicted to Beelzebub's food. Even though I had already tasted it in the past, it didn't quite hit the spot the same way it did now. I was in such a state of mental turbulence that any kind of substance that would make it go away was more than welcome. And so far, the food didn't have any strange side effects so I was also at peace in that segment. All of the things that caused me stress and distress seemed to fade away into the background the more I was eating. Once I ate the skewer in its entirety, there was nothing in my head that bothered me anymore. There was a small smile playing on my lips even though it couldn't be seen from under the mask. Then, I realized there was a similarity between Beelzebub's food and human weed. Except, of course, a demon's handmade food was much more intense in its effect.

Suddenly, I noticed someone stepping right next to me. I turned my head towards him only to see a very familiar stature. Not that he had tried to hide himself that well considering that his mask only covered his eyes. It was resembling one of the familiar Venetian masks. Crafted with golden accents and adorned with intricate patterns, it added an air of mystery and sophistication to his appearance.

"Mammon, if you have come here to gloat for whatever reason, spare me. I'm not interested." I spared him pleasantries and turned my whole body towards him now.

"I'm not gloating. Why? Should I?" He also turned himself towards me, his left hand holding a glass of wine. There was an obvious condescending tone coming from him and it looked like he was trying his hardest to fight off a smirk.

"What do you want?"

"I was just curious to see what you were up to. Hadn't heard from you since I saw you leave the library." He said and took a sip from the glass.

"Well, it's not like you ever leave that place."

"That's fair." He let out a small laughter and it made me even more confused. Did he try to make buddies with me? He was really bad at it.

"If you want to press me for information, you know full well you're not going to get it."

I really couldn't relax around here. Just as soon as I started to feel better, Mammon had to come and just rain on my parade. If only it was just rain - he quite literally just took a nasty dump on it. Before he could say anything, as if matters couldn't get worse, music around us fell silent and everyone stopped dancing and looked towards the stairs. Then, I couldn't believe my eyes. The Devil, who had been locked away for so many centuries, finally decided to show himself to the public. Honestly, it was quite unbelievable. He was dressed in an all black suit and didn't even have a mask on. Did my words actually get to his head?

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in." I heard Mammon murmuring and it surprised me that I instantly looked at him. Was he also not a fan of his? This was getting more interesting. I decided not to say anything in case it was some sort of a trick. I turned my attention back to the Devil who decided to stop at the center of the staircase. I reached behind me and grabbed another skewer. I didn't think I was ready to listen to his speech sober.

"Welcome to the annual Remembrance Party!" The Devil said loudly and his voice spread like thunder through the hall. Everyone in the room started applauding and yelling in excitement and support. Well, everyone except me and Beelzebub, surprisingly Mammon as well. He was just standing there, tall and unmoving like a statue.

With one swift hand motion, the Dark Lord had silenced the demons before him. "Now, I know I haven't shown myself in eons but that is about to change. Thanks to advice from an old friend, I have come to understand some things. I've been quite proud of your work lately, except for that little mishap with the wall."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I finished with yet another skewer so his speech made even less sense than it would have if I wasn't sedated. At once, an idea had crossed my mind although I wasn't quite sure how good it was. The magical food side-effects were making me far more creative with ideas and confident than I should've been. That was why nothing could stop me at that moment.

I concluded that while he was holding his speech, his office upstairs was empty. There was a gut feeling urging me to go and check it out. However, at that moment in time, I wasn't aware if it was just the side-effects or if it was real. That didn't stop me nonetheless.

I started going through the crowd, trying not to collide with somebody on the way. Others were looking at me like I was insane but luckily they couldn't recognize me through the mask. Maybe some of them could but that wasn't of my concern anymore. They could all drop dead if you asked me.

There was a reserve staircase on the other side of the hall, in a small hallway on the corner. Considering that I couldn't use the main one, these ones would have to do. I hurried towards them and started heading upstairs. I had to quite literally run all the way up because I had no time to waste. As soon as I climbed the last stair, the demoness sitting in front of his office looked up from a paper she was writing on.

"Excuse me, sir, you can't be here. The Devil is not here." She said, clearly not recognizing me. So, I took off my mask and showed my face which made her face become red and her eyes widened.

"How about now?" I asked, holding the mask in my hand.

"He said he'd kill me if he saw me near you again." She mumbled.

"He doesn't need to see anything." I grinned as I started approaching her.

"I'm sorry but I'm risking a lot."

I went over to her and cupped her face, looking deeply into her eyes. "It's going to be fine. It won't take long. It'll be just five minutes inside his office and that's all. I promise."

"Fine. But I'm counting."

"Thank you." I said and kissed her on the forehead. I released her and she unlocked the door to the office. As soon as I got inside, I went over towards his work table. I placed the mask on top of it and started searching through the drawers.

The Devil didn't bother to lock many of them as no one had ever dared to come up here unless requested by him. Well, it took only once for someone to look through your things. However, I ended up finding nothing of value anywhere on the table or in it. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for but it almost felt like something was calling me to investigate. Well, whatever was calling out to me seemed not to be anywhere near the table. It felt like I was playing hot and cold with the thing. I went over to the book cases standing against the left wall. I started pulling book by book and going through them, trying to find anything that would make my brain go through an "Aha!" moment.

At once, I glanced over to the side of a bookcase where a painting was hung. Frowning, I felt my intuition growing more intense. Returning a book back into its row, I approached the painting. It depicted a vast forest with tall trees and a new moon shining in the sky—nothing too peculiar at first glance. However, as I studied it further, I noticed something unusual. The leaves in the painting seemed to be moving, creating the illusion of a gentle breeze in the room. I took a few steps back, feeling a sense of unease wash over me as I couldn't comprehend what was happening.

A part of me was telling me to leave immediately but I knew that was just a survival instinct and I knew I had to stay. What once was a clear night sky on the painting, now got covered by a blanket of stars - one of them being the brightest one of all. I got closer to the painting again to inspect it more carefully. There was something about that particular star that had awoken some sense of familiarity in me. For a moment the painting reminded me of Van Gogh's "The Starry Night".

Suddenly, the colors on the painting started swirling before the painting itself disappeared and turned into what resembled a void or a black hole in the wall. There was such a strong gravitational pull that I couldn't fight it off while it felt like it was dragging me in. I heard the demonness's voice, most likely telling me time was up. Unfortunately, I was stuck trying not to get stuck inside the painting. Then, I managed with one hand motion to push enough force against the wall which threw me off a few feet away from the gaping hole. I landed on my behind and looked up only to see the void still open and yearning for something to pull inside itself. The demoness rushed towards me, trying her best to avoid the pull and helped me get on my feet.

"What in the Devil was that?!" She exclaimed and looked at the hole which seemed to be slowly closing.

"I wish I knew." I said, glancing at it and then back at her. "Thank you for helping me. Although you didn't really have to." I laughed and ran my fingers through her hair. Her face softened and we looked at each other for a short while before I cleared my throat and averted my gaze. "Excuse me but... I never got your name."

"I'm surprised you remembered to ask me." She laughed. "I'm Pandora."

I smiled lightly, "Well, nice to officially meet you." I was about to plant a kiss on her lips before we heard footsteps ascending the stairs. We looked at each other in panic before I looked over at the painting that was slowly closing its gap. There was a look of fear in her eyes as she grabbed my hand as she tried to stop me. I mouthed "I'll be back" before I tore my hand out of her grasp and ran over to the painting. I only had to reach out my arm for the force to grab onto me and pull me into itself. I heard a scream coming from Pandora but that was quickly cut off as I ended up falling through the endless darkness.

What felt like several hours of falling was interrupted by my body slamming hard against the ground. I propped myself up only to find myself surrounded by the same trees and the sky from the painting. I got on my feet and looked behind me but there were no portals or the black hole that had just spit me out. There was fear creeping up in my being as I realized that I had no idea where I had just landed. This must have been the worst mistake of my life. Although I kept my faith that in case I was gone for too long, someone would end up searching for me. Suddenly, I remembered the mask I left on the desk in the office. I cursed to myself and hoped that Pandora managed to hide it somehow before the Devil arrived.

I looked up towards the night sky and found the brightest star. Something was telling me that I needed to follow in its direction. There was no point lingering in one spot, may as well try my best to get out on my own. And, considering that this celestial object alone was calling me the entire night, I figured I should at least put an end to it and figure out what it was trying to tell me.

The walk through the forest seemed endless as it appeared like there was no change in the scenery. I was beginning to worry that I could end up eternally stuck here. However, the place didn't seem like a painting, it was starting to resemble a whole other world. There were even animal sounds, mainly from owls and some bats. The sounds reaffirmed the idea that it wasn't a still painting. Rather, the painting itself was a portal to somewhere else. I truly wondered what the portal to another world was doing in the Devil's office.

The further I got into the woods, the colder it had become even though I wasn't supposed to be affected by any temperature change. However, it wasn't like I had anywhere to go. All I had was faith that I wouldn't die here considering the prophecy said the apocalypse was supposed to start with Loki present as well. Unless I was even capable of avoiding the prophecy. Guess I was about to find out.

The forest eventually came to a clearing which made me exhale in relief. Across the wide field, there stood a run-down and seemingly abandoned tower. The star itself was also shining right above it as well. My heart pace quickened as I felt my stomach twisting which assured me I was on the right track. Whatever was in there had to be big.

I hurried my pace, my curiosity growing in its intensity. In a short while, I was at the doors of the tower. They were wooden and slightly ajar as if the tower itself was expecting me. The moment I stepped into the tower, a big wave of cold air met my face. The interior was dimly lit, with only the cold glow of moonlight seeping through narrow windows. The ground floor was bare, with rough brick walls surrounding me. I ascended the staircase on the right, climbing to the next level.

I came into the room which was twice the size of the bottom one. Despite me not having issues seeing in the dark, I couldn't see anything in here. It felt as though an eerie presence loomed in the center, hidden from view. Steeling myself, I cautiously approached the obscured area, each step echoing in the silence.

Suddenly, two candles flickered to life at opposite ends of the room, illuminating the space. This sequence repeated several times as I moved forward, until I reached the heart of the room—a massive cage. Within its confines sat a figure, battered and worn, resembling some forgotten deity. His once-golden hair hung limp, and his tattered pants offered scant protection against the chill. Despite the bars that confined him, a heavy chain still encircled his neck, tethering him to the cage's center.

Then, all of a sudden, it clicked. The Devil's office, the star and not just any star - the brightest one in the sky. There was only one answer to this puzzle.

"Lucifer Morningstar." I whispered to myself, knowing he wasn't able to hear me. There were so many questions swerving in my head yet I couldn't even begin to understand how this even came to happen. Although one thing was clear - now I understood the mysterious change in the Devil's personality. He had lost the only part of himself that made everyone else admire him and was left only a shell of his former self. However, what I was seeing didn't really look like he had lost the part by accident.

As questions swirled in my mind, I began searching for a possible means of escape. I couldn't leave Lucifer trapped here, knowing that he was the very essence of what made the Devil who he was. Lost in my determination to rescue him, I failed to notice the arrival of a visitor.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," echoed a voice through the room, prompting me to whirl around and face the silhouette before me. Cloaked from head to toe, the newcomer remained shrouded in mystery.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

In response, the silhouette dropped its hood, revealing a face both angular and weathered. This demon appeared far older than any I had encountered, suggesting a presence that predated even the Devil himself. His long, unkempt black hair framed his face, adding to his enigmatic aura.

"My name is Abaddon," he grumbled in a voice that sent shivers down my spine, its depth bordering on terrifying.

"The Abaddon?!" I exclaimed in shock, realizing the gravity of the situation. Most demons had never crossed paths with Abaddon, and some even believed him to be nothing more than a myth. Yet here he stood before me—the overseer of an abyss in Hell, the king of the void. According to legend, he ensured that the most heinous sinners remained forever confined to the depths of the abyss pit. A small smile tugged at his lips, though it bore more resemblance to a smirk.

"Indeed. You shouldn't have managed to get here, yet here you are," Abaddon remarked, his tone cryptic.

"Am I in the void?!" I exclaimed, my mind racing with fear. However, Abaddon's ensuing laughter caught me off guard, prompting a furrow of confusion to crease my brow.

"If only it was that easy," he replied, his words easing my tension. So, I wasn't trapped in the void... yet."No. You're in my realm though," Abaddon clarified, his statement shedding light on his elusive nature.

"You have your own realm?!" I marveled, suddenly understanding why he remained such an enigma.

"Yeah, it's strenuous work. I can't afford distractions," Abaddon explained casually before directing my attention to Lucifer with a pointed finger. "And that right there is the remnants of your beloved boss. I wouldn't advise touching that."

"Don't tell me you're in on this? Also, why are you referring to him as an object?" I demanded, my irritation mounting as I struggled to comprehend Abaddon's involvement in the situation. Surely, a being as powerful as him had ulterior motives.

Abaddon strode over to the cage and delivered a single kick, causing Lucifer's lifeless body to slump to the side. "That's why. He's but a carcass," he stated softly, his words resonating with a solemn truth.

"You didn't reply to my first question."

"I'd rather not discuss my personal business with the Devil with you." He forced a smile which sent chills down my spine. I had to admit, he was blood-curdling. A true representative of a void. "But if you must know, yes I'm in on this, whatever you're referring to. Do I care? I assure you I do not. Do I approve of it? Not really but who am I to judge?"

I was left speechless by his words, my gaze locked on him in pure bewilderment. He was unlike anyone I had ever encountered. Yet, I couldn't shake the thought that his solitude had likely bred apathy toward the world around him. If I had lived in isolation for so long, perhaps I too would have grown indifferent to the suffering of others. But seeing Lucifer reduced to this state pained me in a way that words couldn't express. It was a cruelty beyond comprehension, even from the likes of a demon or fallen angel, or whatever the current Devil was.

Without dignifying Abaddon with a response, I approached the cage once again and crouched in front of it. Gripping one of the bars, I leaned closer to inspect Lucifer.

"Luci... Can you hear me?" I asked softly, my voice tinged with a mixture of concern and frustration. His dark blue eyes met mine, but he remained silent, his silence echoing louder than any words could. A lump formed in my throat, mingling with a simmering rage that threatened to consume me. I looked up at Abaddon, who still stood beside the cage. "Why did you let it come to this?" I hissed, my voice barely containing my anger.

"I'm not made to have empathy," Abaddon replied evenly. "However, I do understand how you might perceive it as wrong. Personally, I see it as someone who no longer wished to be plagued by his past."

The more he was speaking, the more rage was starting to burn up inside me. I stood up, my breath becoming uneven while I was trying to contain it."He's not just some past, he's a being! Or at least that's how he was supposed to be!"

"Lucifer and Devil were supposed to get split up eventually. Devil just... rushed it." The aloofness in his voice was just ever-present and going on strong. He truly, really, didn't care. There wasn't one bit of him that had an ounce of sensitivity. It was like he was the void himself, just personified.

At once, I grabbed him by his collar in the heat of rage, "You fix him right now! You're the sole responsible party in this! I don't know how you did this but you can't let him be like this!"

Abaddon was looking back at me with the same indifference as before. Only now, with one swift push, he made me slam against the opposite wall.

"This is just a warning, next time you touch me, you're going to be flying into the abyss. Very friendly folk down there," he retorted sharply, adjusting his collar with disdain.

Breathing heavily, I fought the urge to retaliate. Attempting to harm him would only result in my demise, and I couldn't afford to die, not when Lucifer needed me. Slowly regaining my footing, I swallowed my pride and asked, "Well, if you don't mind telling me how to get out, then."

"I was looking forward to it actually. I've had enough company for today."

"I feel the same way."

"Good then." There was a sign of relief in his voice. "Well then, follow me."

I hoped he wasn't going to push me down the abyss. I held onto the belief I was going to go down with Loki and that this place wasn't where I was to die. Abaddon passed by me and started heading downstairs. I took that moment to look over at Lucifer again whose body was still in the same position he had been found in. Nonetheless, I could feel there was still some spark left in him but too much power had been taken from him already. It was such a heartbreaking sight.

"I'll be back." I said in a low voice just for him to hear. I went downstairs where Abaddon was waiting for me and we both headed outside. We started walking northeast from the tower and after a while a small pathway was starting to get formed. Most of the walk was spent in silence as I was too busy going through a lot of thoughts in my head and he just wasn't much of a talker. There were many questions I wanted to ask him but I didn't know if he was willing to answer them. He was walking a few steps ahead of me while I was looking around the vast space around us. For some reason, even though the area was not far from the previous one, there was a bit of snow on the ground. I had never been in such a confusing realm.

"Is there a way to release Lucifer?" I had to ask.

"Of course there is." I was surprised that Abaddon replied. I expected to be brushed off. "A few ways actually but that's not for me to tell you."

"Expected as much." I mumbled and let out a deep breath. There was still deep hurt within me from the sight that was engraved in my head by now. No matter how much Abaddon said he didn't care, I still couldn't forgive him. "What does the Devil even have on you?"

Abaddon didn't say anything for a few seconds as if weighing his words.

"He got me this. This realm. What I'm about to tell you, you're going to have to promise to bring it with you to the grave."Abaddon began, his voice carrying a weight of solemnity. His words echoed in the silence, punctuating the stillness of the surroundings. My curiosity intensified, overriding any apprehension I might have felt.

I didn't know how long I was going to live so I said, "I promise. I hate him so whatever you tell me, I won't jeopardize it."

Abaddon snorted at the last sentence and then suddenly stopped. I looked up to see a large blue orb floating above a small stone. I frowned slightly and glanced over at Abaddon who had his body now turned to me.

"Before you go, I'll tell you this. The Devil helped me build this place and without him, I wouldn't have this realm. In other words, he desperately needed to be rid of the Lucifer part of himself. He has never told me why and I haven't asked. I knew I had a whole realm for myself and not just a pit in the middle of nothingness, if such a place had a center. But when he came to me, he was already not himself. " Abaddon finally finished talking while I was left in shock by his sudden confession. Not that I didn't appreciate it.

"Why did you tell me all this? I thought you didn't want to collaborate."

Abaddon rolled his eyes, "I'm not collaborating, I'm explaining to you what happened. Your energy is overflowing with so much pain it won't let me focus on anything else. So I figured if I told you a part of the story, it'd make it easier for you and me."

"Well, thank you for telling me," I said, despite my reservations about Abaddon's motives. However, his disclosure only deepened my sense of despair. I needed Lucifer back, merged with the Devil, but it seemed the situation was far more dire than I had imagined.

Breaking the silence, Abaddon explained the function of the blue orb. "Well... this orb is a teleportation portal in a sense. You just reach out your hand and think of a place where you want to go, and it automatically takes you there."

"It's that easy?!" I exclaimed, surprised by the simplicity of the mechanism.

"Well yeah... I need to be able to move around and get victims with ease," Abaddon explained matter-of-factly.

"Oooh." I nodded in understanding, realizing the necessity of such a device for a being like him. "You can't tell the Devil I was here, and I also won't tell anybody what I know."

"Deal," Abaddon agreed, his tone decisive.

I approached the orb cautiously, praying silently that it wouldn't transport me into the void. With a deep breath, I reached out towards the orb and visualized my desired destination in the human world. In an instant, a bright light enveloped me, and when it faded, I found myself standing on the familiar grass near the stream and the forest.

Suddenly, all those emotions I had been repressing for the past several weeks started building up in me and found its way to the surface. As I knelt on the ground, the floodgates of emotion burst open, unleashing a torrent of feelings. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, each drop a testament to the weight of my anguish. It was a sensation so foreign to me, leaving me feeling unrecognizable to myself.

I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of loss and betrayal, the bitter taste of blame lingering on my tongue. The Devil and Lucifer loomed large in my thoughts, their actions unraveling the fabric of my world. With each passing moment, the intensity of my emotions grew, swelling into a potent mixture of sadness, hurt, and an unfamiliar rage.

Eventually, the storm within me subsided, leaving behind an empty void where emotions once raged. Exhausted, I slumped against the ground, gazing up at the full moon casting its ethereal glow upon me.

Yet, even in the calm, anger simmered beneath the surface, manifesting as dark tendrils of smoke that billowed from my body. The intensity of my fury only grew as thoughts of the Devil consumed me. And in that moment there was only one thought I failed to shake off - he needed to die.