Dark Path to Heaven [Demon Romance]

Chapter 71

Chapter Music: "Moonflower Forest" by Brandon Fiechter

When had the beginning of the end been set in motion? Was it back in those dark, ominous woods that the Grand Priestesses had made this fatal choice? Had they already created a demon in that fetus when they finally chose him?

Astaroth was never supposed to be kind.

Instead, he was the most cunning one. Smart and ruthless, he would never allow the unworthy inside their otherworldly haven. He would become the god they always dreamed to be. He would make things right. And when humanity finally ended itself, they'd finally be left not with a wild beast, but rather with a disciplined child.

They needed the future king to be cruel. They just didn't expect that much.

They could have chosen somebody else. But they knew all too well that a considerate god would only end up being a failure. Like them.

No. Astaroth wouldn't avoid meddling with human affairs. He wouldn't allow the beasts to devour his kingdom. He was almost incapable of empathy and his judgment would not be clouded. Before they knew it, Infervana and Inna had come to respect the merciless man and his ways –they had grown to love him, even. Before long, he became their secret partner. He was no longer a pawn.

It was after that time when they realized that their plan wasn't flawless.

How hadn't they noticed before?

His smiles had grown too sinister for someone who craved justice alone. A death blow no longer seemed sufficient to him. He now needed to slice the corpses into pieces to make sure they were dead. Astaroth had always been cautious, given that humans were hardly above the law. Nevertheless, his killings had become riskier and riskier.

The man they'd chosen to run their peaceful haven had turned into a sadistic brute.

Still, they had no doubt that, deep inside, Astaroth was a wise man. But how could they rest assured that, someday, he wouldn't turn Heaven into a slaughterhouse?

There was only one way to test their suspicions and, for this, they had to be patient.

Astaroth needed more power.

The Grand Priestesses had to create Earth for the second –and last– time. Only in a hierarchical world would the future king show his true potential. The law would hardly restrict him there. He'd become incredibly powerful and, therefore, would act as he truly pleased.

In that land of demons and angels, wizards and humans, it would be easier for him to choose who he would side with. It was there where he would meet the mirror of his future self. His true potential.

Namely, Orias.

Infervana and Inna had been feeling a sense of foreboding since the moment that wicked demon had been created. For the first time in their lives, the creators desired to kill someone. They wished to wipe him out of existence; to make sure he'd never live to see another day. A part of them wanted to ensure that a creature like him would never influence their treasured king.

...But they had a plan to carry out. If Astaroth really was to end up like him, so be it. They would eventually have to choose another candidate for Heaven.

If only they were strong enough! If only they had so much power so as to deal with billions of human lives alone!

It had become crystal clear that humanity was not worthy of its free will. They would destroy themselves time and again if they were allowed to. Divine intervention had proved to be fundamental and, sadly, two priestesses were unable to handle this on their own.