she laid on the grass and watched the moon slowly hide behind the clouds. beside her was him.

'darling, you are late.'

'but you love me.'

she inched closer, grabbing his arm to make it into her designated pillow. his huge black feathers supporting her figure. he intertwined their fingers together, kissing the inside of her hand.

no one knows this place except her. he has made it just for them.

'was your day tiring?'

'demon's need taming. they have lived decades without the master so it's hard but they aren't immune to my command. they'll learn and-'

the lord of hell fell silent. he shouldn't be giving her the gore details but he can't hide things from her.

the angel moved closer, her chin resting on his chest, admiring his beautiful face. she sensed the pause before he was about to change the topic. 'and?'

'inguk took care of the rest but I specifically had to peel someone's skin off.'

the angel of mercy shut her eyes close. the imagination of her lover punishing beings is still foreign to her. she understands it's his responsibility to the world.

'mortals are committing grave sins, love' he continued, stroking her hair as she looked at him with her sympathetic eyes.

'fine, I'll just do lashes,' the lord gave in. she just has this effect on him. the lady smiled, placing a kiss on his nose.

'can I ask you something, love?' taemin asked, his voice filling with nervousness.

'anything,' naeun told him as she relaxed on his chest, listening to the heart beat.

'will you do me the honor of becoming my queen?'

she sits up with her legs tucked under her body. her face glowing under the moonlight as usual, but the spark in her eyes was missing.

the other wasn't expecting this reaction to his proposal, but it did not surprise him. the gods are angry, the angels detest him and the skies are in continuous turmoil for the past few months.

it wasn't an ideal time for the proposal, yet he can't help. it's painful to be separated from her even for a day.

'will the demons accept me?'

'you'll be their queen, they have to. I'll rip them off if they defy you.'

'I'll be more of a weakness to you than a strength.'

'the previous queen, my mother was a mortal. was she my father's weakness?'

'no, but...'

'is there anyone else who bewitched your heart?'

'no! how could you even think of that!'

'is it because I am not now whom you once fell in love with?'

'taemin, I have loved you unconditionally, angel or not. and I will continue to do it whatever you choose to be, even if one day you no longer have love for me-'

the sight of her crying makes his heartache. the lord pulled her into a kiss. her tears dampening his cheeks as he cupped her face. 'even in a thousand years, I'll love you. only you. in every lifetime my heart only belongs to you, naeun.'

〔*.☽ .*〕

she felt his warm breath fanning over her neck. he engulfed her in a back hug, inhaling her scent. he could feel her sinking at his touch. the lord smiled at how she is still shy about his touch.

'do we need to leave?'

'it's almost dawn,' naeun told her hand caressing his cheeks. she doesn't want to go either.

taemin sighed. he wished the sun would wait for a while. he sat few moments indulging her in his arms.

'I'll need an answer the next time I see you,' taemin whispered. her soft figure pressed against his chest.

the angel nodded. she is ready but as a responsibility, she has to let her family familiar with this. his grip tightened at the response. 'I love you.'

'I love you too.'

they broke the kiss as the first light appeared. naeun got up, stretching her hands for him to take it.

'I'll watch you leave first.'

'you always do that. go before me today.'

'and why is that?'

'no particular reason. consider it an attmpt to test how much control I have over the ruler of hell,' naeun stated with a slight smile.

'of course, only my darling has power over me,' taemin told. with the wings descending inside the cloak. he headed out of the enchanted sphere, to the duties that awaited him.

if only he knew that will be the last time he'll see her alive, he wouldn't have left that day.

〔*.☽ .*〕

taemin couldn't wait to meet naeun tonight. he is earlier than usual. throughout the week, the sinners have kept him busy, but she is always on his mind. he could have barged into the skies, but naeun would not have wanted such an outrage. so he patiently waited for her to send for him.

but it did not matter now. tonight, she has promised to come with him. she is going to be their queen. they are going to live together, forever.

the letter which came this morning, sounded exciting yet sad. her family has denied to accept their alliance. his favorite cousins, hyekyo and kwon had now turned strangers. what else could he expect from the others.

the beings of his realm had different reactions too. few made a fuss of  the angel being a queen and having any good interests towards the demons but there were also those happy with this union. for now he could work with the positive lot.

the days anticipation had built up and he paced excitedly at their meeting spot. 

'my lord'

the ruler turned around. inguk must have had doubts regarding the arrangements he ordered for.

'are you uncertain about the flowers?' taemin did not wait for a response. 'naeun is sweet. she won't mind much about them.'

'it's not about that, my lord,' the keeper of hell had different news to deliver.

'what is it then?' taemin's smile faded, watching the demon hesitate.

'the yami doors.'

inguk did not have to say anything further. taemin had already taken flight to dive back into the underworld.

by the time they arrived, shrieks ran through hell, pain starting to touching every corner. the rusted doors of darkness were creaking open.

taemin watched as space filled with black smoke. the demons were running to the entrance in terror.

it was his mistake. he shouldn't have been so reckless. early morning he opened the gate to throw in the demons who dared to not follow his command. they had tested his patience even after repeated warnings. one mistake and things have backfired.

he moved closer, resisting the force. it was tough even for him to go against the strength of darkness. took him few hours before he could push them close tightly and seal it. this time with a much stronger lock than hellfire, his pitchfork.

the demons cheered and bowed at their lord's exceptional bravery. the lord could not accept the praise; it was his blunder to begin with. he has put the lives of not only the demons but also half of the universe to prove his point. he promised to never his anger get the best of him again.

amidst the joyful news, came a terrible one.

〔*.☽ .*〕

naeun never thought giving up the pendant would close the gates of their haven. deciding against the thought of returning home, she waits at the place they first met. sure, taemin would find her.

but someone found her first. she turned around at the arrival of the intruder. she did not want to speak to anyone from the skies. did they send him to brainwash her and bring back home?

'what are you doing here?'

'you shouldn't be leaving like that.'

'it's my choice to stay or leave.'

'naeun, listen to me.' the angel stepped forward, trying to caress her shoulder.

the lady avoided his touch. ' I don't understand what we have to converse about. treat me as a disgrace and please leave before taemin arrives. we shouldn't be causing an unnecessary rift'

'is it that easy?' the male grasped her tightly, hurting her sides. he pulled her close, grabbing her face harshly. 'you are my betrothed!'

'I never consented!'

'your father promised. you are coming back with me.'

'I wont,' naeun hit his brawny arm, trying to shake him off.

watching her resist so hard, his insides burned with anger. the eyes he looked at no longer showed innocence.

he hated it. it was like his younger cousin was mocking him in every way possible.

unable to control his rage, the god of war hit her with all his might. 'what's that arrogance?'

naeun fell on her sides. holding her burning cheek as she tried to sit up again. she is not used to anyone behaving like this with her. 'calling you a fiend is an insult to the demons.'

he held her legs, dragging her to him for the what she commented. she whipmered, wriggling her wrists uncomfortably from his grip. 'this is your last chance, naeun.'

'you'll burn in the depths of hell, kwon.'

' disgraces like you don't deserve wings.'

naeun's face freezes at the thought. she knows whats on his mind. he glides his other hand over her pure feathers, twisting them into his grip. the joints on the ends of her wings begin to creak at the force.

'leave me,' she still tries to hide any trace of pain.

but soon screams escape her tiny lips as she feels her flesh tearing away with the feathers. the grass beneath, stains with the blood running down her back.

'taemin...' she cries out hard as the pain feels unbearable. but her cries are useless.

'he won't come, naeun. I know that,' kwon cups her face. she has lost her total energy. ' you choose the wrong love.'

she manages to whisper a no before her body completely gives away.

〔*.☽ .*〕

'lord could have stopped this tragedy if only I never called him back.'

.
.
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'I should have never taken the selene stone away from the angel.'

.
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' trusting kwon was my foolishness. I am sorry little brother.'

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.
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hell will find its heir again, he will come back. you will die in the hands of the justice and their will be no mercy.

──── 🥀 ────

#sorry if the decriptions were graphic. you have to deal with it because I am a sadist and I love angst. Bbish_101 gets her genes from me. we enjoy torture. (no Istg I sobbed writing naeun's scene)

#I have taken down face claims for the negative characters. kwon is now upto your imagination.

#hoping you don't get the hints right else my plot becomes predictable. just go with the flow, don't mention plot holes. ( kidding tell me so that I think and make it better)