The world around me faded, the walls of my room dissolving into mist. My body felt weightless, as if I were floating through time and space. Then, without warning, I was thrust into a dark, cavernous space-Hell. My chest tightened. Not again.

A fiery glow emanated from jagged walls, casting long, sinister shadows. I stood unseen in the corner of a massive chamber, the heat licking at my skin like a warning. Two figures dominated the space: one perched lazily on a throne of bone and blackened steel-Lucifer. The other, standing tall with an air of authority and menace, was unmistakably Satan.

Lucifer leaned forward, his tattered wings curling around the armrests of his throne like a shroud. His golden eyes, dimmed and shadowed with suspicion, locked onto Satan. "You've been unusually busy, brother," he drawled, his voice sharp and cutting despite its lazy tone. "All this talk about a human girl... care to share what's so fascinating about her?"

Satan smirked, his crimson skin gleaming under the hellfire's glow. His skeletal black wings flexed slightly, a ripple of power that seemed to shake the chamber. "Ah, Athena," he said, almost reverently, dragging her name like silk over his tongue.

The mention of my name sent chills racing down my spine. My stomach knotted. I wanted to run, to wake up, but I was rooted to the spot, forced to watch.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued but laced with annoyance. "Athena, is it? A human girl causing all this chaos? You've neglected the pits, ignored your soldiers, all for... her?" He scoffed, though there was an edge of unease in his voice. "What's she to you?"

Satan's smile widened, but it was cold, calculating. "She's more than a girl, brother. She's the key. A bridge between realms, between light and darkness. Imagine what I could do with her power." His eyes glowed, the intensity of his hunger for power unmistakable.

Lucifer's expression darkened, and his voice dropped, colder now. "What power? She's mortal. They die. They rot. What makes her different from the millions of souls you've tormented?"

Satan chuckled, the sound reverberating like an earthquake. "That's the thing, isn't it? She's not just mortal. Not anymore." He began pacing, the heavy sound of his boots echoing ominously. "She doesn't even know what she is. But I've seen it, Luc. She wields fire-my fire. A power only I can command. She's mine by right, and once I claim her, not even Heaven will stop me."

My knees felt weak. Fire? His fire? What was he talking about? How could I have anything to do with Satan's power?

Lucifer's eyes narrowed dangerously, his golden gaze cutting through the darkness. "Claim her? You think she'll just roll over and join your cause? You always were delusional."

Satan's expression hardened. "She won't have a choice. It's her destiny."

"Destiny," Lucifer repeated mockingly. He rose to his feet, his presence filling the chamber. "You've always been obsessed with that word. But if she's so powerful, you might want to tread carefully, brother. Power like that doesn't always bend the way you want it to."

Satan's laugh was sharp and humorless. "I'll mold her into what I need. And if she resists, I'll break her." His voice dropped, colder than the void itself. "No one will stand in my way. Not her. Not Heaven. Not even you."

Lucifer didn't respond immediately, his face an unreadable mask. Then he smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You're playing with fire, Satan. And if you're not careful, it'll burn you."

Satan waved a dismissive hand, turning away. "Leave the warnings to the angels, brother. Just watch and see."

As he spoke, the vision blurred, the fiery chamber fading into black. My heart pounded in my chest as the weight of their words settled over me. A bridge between realms? Fire that belonged to him? What did it all mean?

I jolted awake, gasping for air. My hands trembled, my skin clammy with sweat. My head spun, questions swirling faster than I could keep up with.

"Stay with me," a voice said, low and urgent, cutting through the haze.

Marax's face came into focus, his golden eyes blazing with an intensity that sent a jolt through my chest. He was holding me, his arms strong and steady, like he'd been the only thing keeping me tethered to this world. The familiar smirk he usually wore was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his face was etched with worry, and something softer I couldn't quite place.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain lanced through my side, stealing my breath. "What... what happened?"

"Hellfire," Marax said, his jaw tight, voice a low growl. "One of those bastards got to you before I could stop them. But you're tougher than you look."

I shivered at the mention of Hellfire. The memory of its burning heat flashed through my mind-scorching through my body like it had torn away pieces of me. "I blacked out," I muttered, frustration bubbling beneath the pain. "I couldn't do anything."

"You weren't useless," he snapped, his golden eyes sharp. "You fought, Athena. You tapped into something... something I didn't even know you had."

Confusion twisted in my gut. "What are you talking about?"

Marax's gaze softened, and his grip on me tightened, as if afraid I'd slip away. "You threw Hellfire back at one of them. You're human. You shouldn't be able to do that. But you did."

I blinked, the words sinking in, my heart pounding harder. "That's impossible. I didn't-"

"You did." Marax's voice was firm, his gaze unwavering. "You're not just human, not completely. You have power, Athena. Power that isn't just angelic or demonic. It's something else."

His words wrapped around me like chains, tightening with every second. If I could wield Hellfire, then what did that make me? I swallowed hard, panic rising. "No, no, this isn't right. I don't want this. I don't want any of it!"

Marax's hands cupped my face gently, the warmth of his touch grounding me as his gaze locked with mine. "Hey, look at me." His voice softened, the rough edge gone. "You don't get to choose what you are, but you can choose what you do with it. You're not going to let this power control you. And you're not going to let them win."

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My breath hitched as his words cut through my panic like a blade, and I met his gaze, my chest tight with emotions I couldn't fully understand.

He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. "You're stronger than you think, Athena," he murmured, voice rough with something I couldn't quite name.

A sudden weight pressed into me, a heat so familiar I couldn't fight it. Our lips collided in a kiss that burned, like everything we'd been holding back had finally erupted. The world around us disappeared, leaving only the sound of our breath, the crackle of unspoken promises. His lips were demanding, relentless, as if he needed me more than air, and I, too, was lost in the fire he sparked within me.

Marax's hands slid down my waist, pulling me closer. The space between us melted, leaving nothing but raw need. "You drive me insane," he murmured between kisses, his voice thick with longing. "Every time I'm near you, I lose control."

I shivered at his words, but a rush of daring surged through me. "Maybe I don't want you to be in control," I whispered.

His grin was wicked, the heat of it pressing deeper into me. "Careful what you wish for, Athena."

Marax's lips hovered just above mine, his breath warm against my skin, each exhale stirring something deep within me. The dance studio around us, usually a place of precision and grace, now felt charged with an energy that was anything but controlled.

It was raw, unfiltered, the rhythm of our bodies pressing against each other like a slow, seductive tango. The barre stood abandoned in the corner, forgotten for the moment, the mirrors reflecting the unspoken tension building between us.

"I want this," I breathed, my voice shaky but sure. "I want you."

His golden eyes, darker now with a hunger I hadn't seen before, searched mine, but there was no hesitation in his gaze. He didn't need permission anymore. We were past that point.

"You're mine now," he growled softly, the words slipping from his lips like a possessive vow. "And I'm never letting go."

My heart thundered in my chest as the distance between us vanished. The gentle hum of the studio's lights above seemed to disappear in favor of the pulse between us, a magnetic pull that was undeniable.

I reached up, my fingers trembling slightly as they grazed his jaw before pulling him closer, our lips meeting in a rush of urgency. This kiss was different-fierce, demanding, as if we both knew this was the tipping point, the moment everything would change.

His hands were on me almost immediately, sliding over the fabric of my shirt, the heat of his touch seeping through. I melted into him, pressing myself closer, feeling the heat of his body radiating against mine.

The world outside of this small studio ceased to exist. There was only Marax, and the space we occupied, bound by the intense chemistry between us.

The smooth floor beneath my feet was a silent witness to the change as I stepped closer, my hands tugging at his shirt. In one swift motion, I pulled it over his head, tossing it aside without thought, just as he had done to mine. We were both exposed, raw, and yet it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he whispered against my neck, his voice thick with emotion, as his lips trailed down the sensitive skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

I gasped, fingers digging into his shoulders, holding on as if letting go would somehow break the connection between us. But there was no breaking, only the building pressure of everything we had fought for, everything we had denied, now unraveling in this single moment.

The mirrors reflected us-his body pressing into mine, my hands tangled in his hair, our breaths mingling in the space between. I had always danced in this studio, always in control of every movement, every step.

But now, with Marax, it was different. We moved together, a rhythm only the two of us understood, each shift of our bodies creating a new harmony.

His lips found mine again, desperate, a little rougher now, as if the very act of kissing me could tether him to this moment forever. His hands slid down to my waist, lifting me effortlessly, and in one smooth motion,

I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding him as close as humanly possible.

The weight of his body against mine felt like a comfort, like a promise I had been waiting for. And yet, there was nothing gentle about the fire burning between us. His lips moved down my jaw, his hands exploring the curve of my body with a reverence that had no place in the chaos unfolding between us.

"Tell me you feel it too," he murmured against my ear, his voice strained with longing.

"I feel it," I whispered back, my words thick with need. There was no hiding it now-no turning away. The connection between us was undeniable, a force stronger than either of us could have predicted. Suddenly I could feel his skin against mine, he must have used his magic to burn away our clothes.

I watched as Marax knelt in front of me, his presence overwhelming in the best way possible. His broad shoulders were impossibly wide, every inch of his body brimming with raw, untamed strength.

His chest rose and fell with each steady breath, muscles shifting beneath the smooth expanse of his sun-kissed skin.

The way his abs rippled as he moved was impossible to ignore, a tightness to them that made my pulse race.

His dark hair fell in messy waves around his face, making him look even more captivating, and his golden eyes locked onto mine with a hunger that was both intoxicating and terrifying. Every part of him seemed honed for power, the veins on his arms stark as they flexed with the smallest movements, his forearms thick with strength.

There was a controlled tension in his entire frame, like he was a coiled spring ready to snap at any moment.

Then I could feel him enter me, every inch of him sending waves of sensation through me. My body trembled, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. "Marax..." I whispered, my voice shaky as I clung to him. "I can't- I don't know if I can breathe without you."

He grunted softly, his lips brushing against my ear. "You don't have to," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "Just feel me. All of me."

His growl echoed in the space between us, a low, primal sound that vibrated against my chest, making my heart race. "So much," I gasped, my hands gripping his shoulders, trying to ground myself in the overwhelming pleasure. "You're... god you're so big."

Marax's eyes darkened with a hunger that matched mine. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised, his movements deliberate, pulling me even closer, as though to anchor us both in this moment.

He started moving faster, each thrust pushing me deeper across the floor, the friction between us building as his grunts grew louder, more urgent. My breath hitched with every movement, my body sliding against the smooth surface beneath us, the sensation electrifying.

I couldn't help but glance toward the mirror beside us, and for a moment, I was struck by the sight of us together. The way we moved in perfect sync, the raw intensity between us-it was almost beautiful.

But Marax wasn't letting me lose myself in the image. His hand shot out, gripping my chin firmly, his fingers rough but controlled as he tilted my head back. His eyes locked onto mine, dark with desire, and he forced me to meet his gaze. "Look at me, Athena," he demanded, his voice low and rasping. "I want you to see this. See us."

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as I met his stare, the connection between us more powerful than anything I'd ever felt. The look in his eyes was a mixture of possessiveness and pure need, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I see you," I whispered, my voice shaky, lost in the intensity of everything happening between us. "I feel you."

He grunted in response, a smirk tugging at his lips as he pushed into me harder, each thrust a reminder that nothing else mattered in this moment. His gaze dropped to where we were connected, his eyes burning with raw desire.

His wings spread wide behind him, dark and powerful, making him look like some kind of fallen god, both terrifying and irresistible. The way they moved, flexing with each thrust, only heightened the intensity, making everything between us feel even more impossible, even more real.

With a growl, he lifted my legs onto his shoulders, his grip strong and sure. The new angle drove him deeper, and I gasped, overwhelmed by how perfect it felt. His body was a force against mine, and I couldn't get enough of the heat he radiated.

"Fuck, Athena," he groaned, his voice thick with need. "You feel amazing. I don't think I'll ever get enough of you."

His words sent a wave of heat through me, my pulse quickening as I met his gaze. He groaned at that, his grip tightening around me as he continued to move with relentless intensity. "You're mine," he growled, his voice dark and possessive. "And I'll make sure you know that forever."

I couldn't think straight anymore. The words, the emotions, the sensations-they all blended into one overwhelming feeling, a connection that felt almost like fate.

I was his, and he was mine, and there was no room for anything else in this moment. Not the world outside, not the past, not the future-only us.

And as we moved together, in perfect rhythm, the intensity of everything between us built higher, reaching a crescendo I couldn't avoid. I had no desire to.

I gasped, my body reacting before my mind could catch up. "Marax," I moaned, the sound slipping from my lips without me even realizing it.

He groaned, his breath ragged against my skin. "God, Athena," he muttered, the control slipping from him as he buried himself deeper. "I can't stop."

Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of pleasure surged through me, every nerve in my body igniting at once. A breathless cry tore from my throat, echoing through the studio as I was consumed by the sensation.

My body trembled with the force of it, and before I could even process it, the lights overhead flickered violently. With a shattering sound, they exploded, plunging us into darkness. The sensation of the broken lights above only amplified the intensity of the moment, the release taking me deeper into a place where nothing else mattered.

Marax's grip on me tightened, his movements growing more erratic, and I felt his breath come in sharp gasps as he pushed harder, deeper.

With a feral growl, he followed me over the edge, his own release spilling into me just moments after mine, the force of it almost too much to comprehend. His body shuddered against mine, and he held me tightly, our breath mingling in the aftershock of everything we had just shared.

As the last remnants of our shared pleasure lingered in the air, the silence around us was deafening. We stayed locked in place, breathless and tangled in one another, our bodies still shuddering with the aftermath of what had just happened.

I looked up at Marax, my chest heaving as I caught my breath, and he met my gaze with a smile-wild and satisfied, but there was something more in it. Something deeper, something I couldn't quite place, but it made my heart race all over again.

I couldn't help but smile back, my fingers tracing the lines of his chest. We both knew this moment was something we would never forget.

The energy between us still crackled like static in the air, and for a second, the world outside that room seemed to vanish. It was just him, just us-together in this strange, electric silence.

Then, just as we were both about to speak, the door slammed open, the sudden noise pulling us back to reality. We jumped apart, startled, eyes wide, our hearts racing once again-but this time, for an entirely different reason.

"What's going on in here?" a voice demanded, sharp and cutting through the haze of our intimacy.