The Beginning Of An End

Chapter 14

Lucifer laid there at the floor of the cage, his body appearing to beshriveling up. The skin was cracking, revealing black scalesunderneath it. It was a sight I didn't think I would forget easily.He was resembling a carcass even more now, there was only a faintspark of life within him.

"Do you think the Devil will feel anything when Lucifer's gone from Astral?" I suddenly asked, turning my head towards Abaddon.

"Honestly..." he began, taking a deep breath and approached the cage. "All I can say is good luck once he does." I was certain my head spun upon hearing the answer. "Their energies are still connected even though their bodies aren't." Abaddon added, taking out a large metal key from a pocket of his cloak.

Needless to say, I wasn't ready for whatever came next. Still, if the Devil were to lose his mind, it would make sneaking Loki in easier. He would be too busy trying to figure out where the rest of himself had gone.

Even if everyone else suffered the fallout of his unraveling, it wasn't as though any of them had ever cared what he'd already done to me.

While I was bracing myself for what was about to happen, Abaddon had already unlocked the cage and swung the gate open. My thoughts cut off instantly. It felt like the first time in a millennium that I was seeing Lucifer without bars between us.

I rushed forward, nudging Abaddon aside without thinking. Even in the worst state I had ever seen him, it was still better than nothing at all.

"I'll go in there and get him," I muttered. Before Abaddon could respond, I slipped through the entrance. Up close, the fallen angel looked older—slightly, but enough. Even for someone as powerful as him, time had left its mark. All the more reason he needed our help. And yet, even like this, Lucifer's beauty hadn't dimmed.

I grabbed the chain around his neck. With one stiff pull, it snapped in two. The Devil clearly hadn't expected anyone to try freeing him. Carefully, I slid one arm under Lucifer's legs, the other supporting his back, and stepped out of the cage.

"We need to be quick with this. He doesn't have much time left." I looked over at Abaddon who was staring at us both with a slight frown.

"I'm aware." He quickly responded. "Follow me." He turned around and was about to head out before I stopped him.

"I thought Samael's area was in Hell." I inquired, narrowing my gaze.

"He's got several territories, so to speak. He can be in multiple places at the same time." Abaddon explained. While I knew Samael was a very powerful being, I didn't know his power extended so much.

Once we left the tower, we headed towards the north part of the realm. The one direction that was gloomier than the others. The further north we went, the darker surroundings became. The nature around us was fading, the ground underneath us slowly becoming concrete. The energy of the area grew denser but at the same time hollow. As if we were walking into death.

There wasn't much talking between Abaddon and me as we walked through the valley. I still held Lucifer in my arms, as if shielding him from whatever this place might throw at him. That's when it hit me—we were on the way to the Underworld. Lucifer might not die, but he'd be gone for a long time. There wouldn't even be a carcass left. I wouldn't see him for years. Only fragments of memory.

I wondered how humans endured the death of someone they loved. Their lives forced them forward, as if nothing had changed, as if they'd never lost anyone. I couldn't imagine that. Losing him wasn't something I could bear. The tighter I held him, the harder it became to let him go.

"Abaddon..." I spoke suddenly, stopping myself in tracks, as the wind was picking up, blowing what seemed to be dust in our faces. He stopped walking too and turned towards me.