𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬

Chapter 23

Compared to the portal I last took to hell, Gaia's portal was easily able to transport us directly into Lucifer's castle. However, even as we stood inside, it wasn't difficult for my ears to hear the many moans of demons all over hell. Whether it were moans of pleasure or pain, it was everywhere. There were even moans inside of the castle, in the rooms surrounding us. I could vividly hear thumping, moaning, groaning, whining, crying, and screaming. Again, it was unclear whether these sounds were of joy or the contrary. Although.. I actually believed these sounds from many demons were the trademark of hell, after all, Lucilia's reign had them and so did Lucifer's.

Looking around me, I was greeted by an army of red. Dark red were the walls with hints of cracks all over them, following a peculiar partner which I felt would bewilder any who'd choose to trace it. Bright red were the flames outside the windows with several demons dancing or bathing in it, the flames latching unto their skins yet their smiles were as big as the carmine moon. Rusty red was the floor with several tiny bits of spiders and snakes slithering around, but they were not of the normal kind, they were demons, finding the perfect victim for their insatiable hunger. Lastly, crimson red were the teeth of the demons, with blood dripping, and their fangs peeking, their pearly whites were nowhere to be found, for all was red, burning red.

Before, in Lucilia's reign, hell seemed to be more tame than this. Don't get me wrong, there were still violence, sex, and murder, much of it, but weirdly so, it felt more controlled than what I've witnessed today. Perhaps Lucifer was using a different strategy, perhaps he was a different ruler from his older sister.

"Where is Lucifer?" Gaia asked, her expression calm, and her voice relaxed. Of course she wouldn't be too fazed with the underworld, I assumed she and Lucilia had sex here plenty of times before.. these bitches.. but I'm not one to talk, I'm no better than Gaia.

"I'm sure he's here somewhere, he'll sense our presence and appear out of nowhere." This was a fault on my part. As the princess of my kingdom, I had the authority to request an audience with Lucifer.. why didn't I think of this before we headed here?

As opposed to Gaia and I, Mallory was eerily quiet. She would not make eye contact with either of us and her body language screamed tension. Due to this change in Mallory's aura, both Gaia and I decided to stay close to her, thus our hybrid mate stood in between the two of us, as still as a corpse, as frozen as her past. Gaia and I knew why she was acting like this, therefore we did not bother her too much, but we made sure our senses were on high alert, should anything happen to Mallory.

However, I felt my body became tensed as soon as I smelled a familiar scent walking towards us. Her sweet smell lingered through the air, her heels clanged against the floor, and her low humming danced around the room. I knew I had no choice, she was coming to confront me. Thus, I gritted my teeth and looked in front of me, unsurprisingly catching the eyes of Loretta.

Her striking red eyes stared back at mine as her similarly dark red lips curved into a smirk, "My, my, my! She has finally returned at last!"

"I'm not here for you, I've come for Lucifer."

She dramatically gasped, leaning her head back, whilst pouting her full lips, "How rude! How very rude, princess."

Near me, I heard Gaia mumbled under her breath, "Little one, who is this?" Her voice remained calm, yet I was able to notice a hint of venom laced within her tone.

I gulped, "U-Uhm.. just.. s-some weirdo?"

If only she truly was just some weirdo.. however, in reality, Loretta Loreli was, unfortunately, one of the women whom I frequented. She was one of the reasons why I've visited the underworld a lot in my past years. The only reason I met with her so much was because well, as a succubus, she shamefully satisfied my past lonely self. Loretta never hesitated to submit to me, to my every will, and my lonely self relished in that. Through all those years of waiting for my mates, my loneliness and depression led me to many actions I've since regretted.