Heaven and Hell

TWENTY-FIVE

C R A C K  I N  T H E  S K Y

———

THE SPARKLE IN Lucifer's eye caused a shiver to run down Dimitri's spine. It dripped with insanity, causing Lucifer's aquamarine eyes to darken along with the color of his heart. His flushed pink lips were crooked, bent into a handsome grin yet there was nothing warm about that smile.

It was filled with malice.

"So this is where you were hiding for the last few days?" Fabian asked nonchalantly, not quite noticing the intensity of the situation.

"The last few days and whenever I need some time alone." Lucifer nodded, "the energy here calms my mind."

"Hard to imagine since this is underground. You would think that working in the castle's rooms would be more comfortable."

"I once thought that too but recently, privacy isn't something so readily available."

With that said, Dimitri caught Lucifer's stare. There seemed to be a hidden message in there, a warning.

I'm sure you know what I'm about to say.

I know you're guilty.

You were the one snooping where you shouldn't have stuck your nose in.

Keep away. It's not good to know this much.

"That just means that you have something to hide." Dimitri bit down his fear and retorted, frowning. "And I thought we would rule beside each other."

"There can only be one king," came Lucifer's immediate reply.

The air was so tense that it was starting to get difficult to breathe. Fabian observed his two companions carefully, chewing on his bottom lip as he read in between the lines spoken. He knew that Dimitri must have broken into Lucifer's private study, a place where was specified no one else could enter.

So he decided to speak up, to make sure no blood was shed in a premature battle. Their plans of securing Hell in their own control was not yet finalized— it had not even properly begun! If Dimitri was to get expelled from Hell right now and cast into the world of mortals, the plan would be done for.

"Is there a reason you brought us here, then? If this place was your new secret room meant for your privacy, it seems contradictory for you to show it to us and let us know about its existence."

Lucifer shrugged. "I just wanted to share knowledge of this place's existence. After all, this place, the Heart of Hell, powers Hell. I knew that Dimitri would follow. His curiosity cannot be satiated by a simple box. Only death can empower this land, a sort that is both beautiful as it is painful. With that said, his training will take place here in the future. That's why he was brought here. As for you..."

"He just happened to be here," Dimitri supplied.

To that, Lucifer simply nodded once wordlessly.

Digging into his pockets, Lucifer pulled out a pendant. On it was two hands. They moved, one faster than the other. It was a strange item to own but Lucifer's eyes were trained on it. He was seemingly mesmerized by the object for a few seconds before he snapped out of it, shoving the item back into his pocket.

"Breakfast would be served soon back in the castle. Shall we return?"

♔ ♔ ♔

There was a shift in Hell's air ever since Dimitri and Fabian had returned from the Heart of Hell. It wasn't something that Dimitri could explicitly explain, yet, ever since he had been cursed with the powers of death, he knew the ongoings of Hell nearly as well as Lucifer did. The energy of the very realm itself crackled in Dimitri's bones and it was what kept his blood running. Not to mention, that pale green glow that his skin emitted was a haunting reminder that he was connected to Hell intricately.