Satans Pov

The flames of Hell roared around me, an endless inferno of chaos that was as much a part of me as the dark power I wielded. I stood in my obsidian throne room, staring into the abyss, feeling the pulse of the realm beneath my feet.

But something else gnawed at me. Something dangerous.

Athena.

Her power, raw and untamed, was growing. It was no longer just a flicker of light in the darkness—now it blazed like a fire that threatened to consume everything in its path. I could feel it seeping through the cracks of the mortal world, and it unnerved me. I didn't trust it. I didn't trust her.

And the fact that she wasn't like the others? That bothered me more than I cared to admit. She wasn't just some human to be manipulated and discarded. No—she was something more. And I would have her.

A low, gravelly voice broke through the silence of my thoughts.

"Sire," Moira's voice slithered through the air, dripping with malice. "You sent for me."

I turned my gaze toward her, seeing the dark shadow of the torture demon emerge from the smoldering haze. She was tall and lean, covered in dark tattoos, her skin a pale contrast against the charred wasteland around us. She was one of my most trusted demons—her cruel nature suited the work I required of her.

"Moira," I said, my voice low, icy. "You know what I want. It's time to prepare."

Moira stepped forward, her sharp eyes gleaming. "What is it you need of me, my lord?"

I clenched my fists, trying to tame the anger boiling within me. "Athena's power is growing stronger. I can feel it—like a surge of energy that won't be stopped. I need to understand how it works, why it's happening."

Her lips twisted into a smirk. "She's not like the others, is she? Not just another mortal."

I sneered at her, disgusted. "No, she isn't. That's what bothers me. She's too powerful. I don't trust it. I don't trust her."

Moira nodded, her dark eyes glinting with curiosity. "You want her under your control, then. You want to shape her. Dominate her."

I shot her a look that would've burned any lesser demon to ashes. "Don't get it twisted. I'm not interested in the girl herself, only her power. It will be mine. She doesn't matter—only the strength she holds."

I paused, letting that simmer for a moment. "And if I can bend her to my will? Even better."

Moira's smile deepened, dark and knowing. "She could be useful, but how do you plan to get her on your side? She's still mortal. Humans are fickle. Their minds are weak."

I chuckled, dark and dangerous. "She's more than mortal now, Moira. And it's not just her power I want—it's her. She's the key to everything. The war that's coming? I'll win it with her by my side."

Moira cocked her head, intrigued. "You think she'll join you willingly?"

"No," I said, my voice cold, "but I will make her. I'll start by entering her dreams. Find out what makes her tick. What I can exploit. What I can use against her. Once I have that... she won't have a choice."

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Moira's grin widened. "A wise approach. Humans are far too easy to break when you've got the right leverage."

"Exactly." I stood from my throne, walking toward the window that overlooked the endless pits of Hell. The screams of the damned were a constant hum in the distance. "If I can persuade her, make her believe she's better off with us, with me, she'll side with us when the time comes. The angels won't be able to touch us. The war will be ours."

She eyed me carefully. "And what about Lucifer? He's been unusually... interested in her."

I stiffened at the mention of that name. Lucifer. The Morning Star. The one being I couldn't control.

"I don't care what Lucifer knows," I growled, my fists clenching. "He thinks he understands her. But he's wrong. He has no idea who she really is, or what she's capable of. I'll keep her from him. He'll never know the truth of my plans."

I could feel Moira's gaze on me, the flicker of concern that passed over her face, but she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

"Good," I muttered. "Keep your eyes on the others, on Beleth and the rest of the lesser demons. I don't need anyone interfering. Athena is mine. All that power will belong to me, and with her by my side, I'll tear apart the angels. They'll regret ever trying to cross us."

Moira inclined her head, stepping back into the shadows. "As you wish, my lord."

I didn't need her anymore. She knew her place.

I turned back toward the fires of Hell, my mind already on Athena. Her power, her strength—it had to be mine. I wouldn't stop until it was.

And when I had her under my control, nothing would stand in my way.

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I sat in the shadows of my obsidian throne, the air around me thick with anticipation. The night had just begun to stretch its dark fingers across the sky, and soon, I would enter Athena's dreams. I would feel her power, sense the pulse of her every thought. I would break her down, unravel the very core of her until she had no choice but to come to me, to give in to what she truly was destined for—my power.

But before I could slip into the quiet darkness of her subconscious, the door to my chamber was flung open with a force that rattled the air around me. My eyes narrowed as the tall, imposing figure of Lucifer strode in like he owned the entire realm, his wings unfurled in a display of dominance.

He did own part of it, after all.

The only reason he wasn't dead was because he was still powerful—far more than anyone else. But not as powerful as he used to be. There was a shift in him now, something different, something weaker. His pride was still as immense as it had always been, but the cracks in his armor were evident, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

"Ah, Satan," Lucifer said with a smirk, his voice smooth as honey but laced with disdain. "Still brooding in the shadows, I see."

I didn't acknowledge him at first, letting him stew in the silence that settled between us. He didn't deserve my attention unless I deemed it necessary. Humans, in their foolishness, had always amused him. He found their lives like a comedy show—entertaining, but ultimately beneath him. He loved to watch them stumble, fall, and destroy themselves, but he never truly cared about them, not like I did. I knew their worthlessness. I knew their fragility.

He wasn't interested in shaping their destiny like I was. I wanted them gone. Every last one of them.

Lucifer, on the other hand, liked to play with them, watch them from a distance like some circus attraction. He found their failures amusing, but they meant nothing to him. They were, to him, a sideshow. A distraction. A waste of time.

I stood from my throne slowly, my gaze never leaving his. "What do you want, Lucifer?"

His smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with something both knowing and dangerous. "Oh, nothing in particular. Just thought I'd drop by and see what you were up to."

I exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath my calm demeanor. "This isn't a social visit, Lucifer. You know better than that."

He cocked his head to the side, his movements slow, deliberate, as if savoring my irritation. "Always so serious, aren't you, Satan? So... intense. Perhaps you should lighten up. After all, it's not often I get to visit you."

I didn't say anything, letting the silence stretch on. He knew I didn't entertain his games, but he played them anyway, testing my patience, poking at my temper.

Lucifer stepped forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're planning to take Athena's power, aren't you? I can feel it, just like you can feel her growing strength."

My heart tightened at the mention of her name, a flash of possessiveness washing over me. But I kept my expression neutral, my voice a cold rasp. "She's nothing more than a tool. A source of power. She has something that belongs to me, and I intend to take it."

Lucifer's lips twitched in amusement. "Hmm, such harsh words. You really don't get it, do you? It's not about what you can take. It's about how you play the game."

I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to lash out at him. "I'm not here to play games. I'm here to win."

Lucifer gave me an almost pitying look, shaking his head. "Ah, but you are playing games, Satan. It's in your nature. And right now, you're so focused on Athena's power that you're missing something important. Something crucial."

I stepped closer, anger rising at his cryptic tone. "What are you trying to say?"

He gave a small, almost sad smile. "Athena isn't like the others. There's something different about her—something you don't understand yet. You're so blinded by her power that you can't see the full picture. She's not just some human you can dominate. She's special."

I didn't want to hear this. He was trying to undermine me, distract me from my goal.

"Stay out of this, Lucifer," I growled. "This is my domain. I will control her, and you will stay out of my way."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "You think you can control her, do you? I'll admit, she's fascinating. But I'm not so sure it's going to be as easy as you think. And if you're not careful, you might find yourself on the losing end of this little game."

I shook my head, ignoring his words. I had no interest in what he thought. He was nothing more than a relic, a leftover from a war long past, and I would show him just how weak his position had become.

"I don't care about your games, Lucifer," I muttered, turning my back on him. "Stay out of my way. Athena will be mine."

With that, I left the room, my mind already focused on my next move—entering her dreams, unlocking her potential, and bringing her to my side. Whatever it took, I would have her. And once I did, nothing and no one would stand in my way.