𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐍𝐄𝐃 ! 𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐡.

6. Secrets

"I..." (Y/N) shut her eyes in shame, turning her head away. She stood up to her full height and reached her hand out to Lucifer. "Come. Follow me, if you will."

The two Heavenly beings found themselves on the palace's rooftop once more. However, instead of light chatter, they were suffocated in silence.

Red eyes stared at the Seraph harshly, with every passing moment becoming more distrustful and hurt. Why was she so nervous? What was her reason for being here? Was he right in believing she became corrupted like the rest of them, fooling him into believing she was innocent? Anxiety built up into his system at the thought.

Though he hid it well, he was scared.

The man had always seen her as family, despite not being related directly through blood. So if she really was in Hell for reasons that could put the realm in danger...he can't be sure he'll stay sane.

He's already two people shut their doors on him, he can't bear to have her be the third. It would break him.

His train of thought was cut off by a sigh. (Y/N) pointed to the white island that stay afloat in the bloodied sky. It glowed with purity, sanctity. It was Heaven.

She smiled, a twinge of pity hidden behind her soft (E/C) irises. She knew what he was thinking. She loathed herself for causing him to feel such a way. "I was banished."

Lucifer stared horrifically. His red eyes trembled with every beat of his blackened heart. "What?" He shook his head. "No. Tell me you're lying." He begged, the strong facade he wore shattering.

She sat up straighter. "I wish I was," her brave front wavering. "But to do so would be a sin. And it would prove them right." She opened her hand, reaching out to Heaven's light. "That I don't belong in Heaven any longer. That I've strayed from the righteous path."

"Why!?" The blond man yelled, voice cracking. He was desperate. "Why have they banished you? What did you do?"

There was a silence. "Would you believe me if I told you I believe in the rehabilitation of sinners?" She instead questioned him, staring daggers into his form. Shock and confusion laced his features. He waved his hands around. "Woah, stop. Hold on," he grabbed fistfuls of his hair, leaning his elbows on his knees. "I need... I need to unpack what you're telling me."

She moved herself to sit closer to him. "I apologize. I should have told you from the beginning. But one must come forth and be honest: I was ashamed. And quite honestly, frightened."

"Frightened? To tell me?" He was bewildered, even more so when she nodded. "You've always thought of me so highly. I was afraid that if—when, I told you, your view of me would become bitter." Hugging in on herself, she averted her gaze.

(Y/N) felt his warm hand grasp hers. Lucifer reached up to her face, turning her head towards him. He smiled gently. "(N/N), I could never hate you," She bit her lip. "You've been there for me way too long for me to ever think of you so lowly over such a humane thing." He rested his head on her shoulder. "I mean it."

She squeezed his hand gratefully. "If only Heaven were as gracious as you are being regarding this," She fidgeted. "The High Seraphim and I could not see eye to eye. That, my dear friend, is why I'm here." The air around them hung heavily.

"But... can I just ask?" She hummed in response to his query. "What, uh, made you think that..." he waved his hands around, "sinners could be redeemed?" He questioned, spitting his words out in distaste as if even mentioning the demons disgusted him (which it did). (Y/N)'s wings fluttered. "Ah!" She was delighted he asked. "You see, ever since the start of the...extermination, I've been trying to figure out a merciful substitute,"

"A few years ago, the idea came to me after—," she was taken from me, "—I overheard the First Man speaking about how he could get away with anything because he was already in Heaven." She rolled her (E/C)-pink eyes. "I believed it to be diabolical, what he was saying. But it also made me realize that, if such a man can reside above, can someone of the opposite nature reside below? And, if so, can they be saved from the fire?"

Her eyes darkened. "The loss of losing someone is... unbearable. No one should be subjected to such horror." She didn't expand anymore from that. Lucifer raised his eyebrows. "How would you know how it feels?" He meant no harm through the question. After all, Heaven was supposed to be a place of no pain and no hardships.

She smiled grimly. "You, of course." And—

Her thoughts were cut off by a laugh. Lucifer chucked wryly. "Hahh, oh (Y/N). You and Charlie are so much alike. It's almost uncanny." He scratched his head, sweat dropping. The Seraph giggled. "Is that so? My my, Lucifer. You really must introduce her to me some day!" She pushed him lightly. However, in that exact moment, a spark of energy burst through her veins.

What was supposed to be a gentle shove accidentally sent Lucifer flying off the roof. Whoops. (Y/N) gasped, "Oh, Jesus!" She crawled to the edge of the castle's rooftop, peering over. "My dear, are you alright!?" She fretted. A muffled groan emerged from a random bush, a pale thumbs up revealing itself. She sighed, frowning. 'Just what in Heaven's was that?'

Upon her arrival in Hell, her powers have been unpredictable. Most of the time, she's a shell of who she used to be (which is expected). But, during times where she's the most vulnerable, her abilities will surge, overwhelming her.

If she were to be honest, it's a bit unnerving.

But it could also be a sign of her return to Heaven, so she'll keep this secret to herself. For now.

——

"Smile~ though your heart is aching," A filtered voice sang.

"Smile, even though it's breaking!" The singer stalked down the streets of the Pride Ring, the city's residents ducking out of his view. Alastor's grin widened to abnormal proportions as he basked in their fear. God, he loved their terror.

"When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by," He continued, trailing the abnormal path of flowers that appeared on the city's grounds. Such life couldn't exist in Hell on its own, so it was rather peculiar sight to behold. But Alastor knew better than to shrug off this phenomenon.

His eyes narrowed. "If you smile through your fear and sorrow," he continued, never straying from the flower's path. "Smile, and maybe tomorrow," he picked up a single daisy, watching mirthfully as it crumbled in his hands. Ahead of him, two figures adorned in cloaks strolled peacefully, unaware of the dangers that lay just behind them.

With every step, the flowers rotted, wilting beneath him. "You'll see the sun come shining through,"  He almost felt bad for ending their short-lived lives. He owed them a thank you, really. Because in the end, such delicate blossoms...

His red eyes zeroed in on the taller figure, watching as her footprints purified the unholy ground, unknowingly growing rows of blooming buds.

...lead him straight to what he wanted.

"For you."

——