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Marked By Darkness
Unveiling The Truth

Unveiling The Truth

God, my head hurt. No—my whole body hurt. It felt like I'd been slammed into a wall, thrown into fire, and dragged through broken glass all at once.

I blinked, slowly opening my eyes, the hazy room around me coming into focus. This wasn't the alley. My stomach turned as I took in my surroundings.

The bed beneath me was massive, queen-sized, with silky red satin sheets that clung uncomfortably to my clammy skin. The room was dark, lit only by a few flickering torches casting ominous shadows on the black stone walls. Every detail screamed one thing: Hell.

My breath caught as I realized the truth. I wasn't in the alley anymore. Somehow, I was back in hell.

I sat up quickly, wincing as pain shot through my neck and shoulders. Memories of the fight with the demons came rushing back. My magic, Beleth, the chaos—had I lost?

A soft clink of glass snapped my attention to the corner of the room.

There he was.

Satan.

He was lounging in an oversized chair, a dark drink swirling lazily in his hand. His piercing eyes were locked on me, his expression equal parts amusement and annoyance. He was waiting for me to wake up, like some predator studying its prey.

"Wonderful to see you again, Athena," Satan purred, his dark smile stretching wide as he stepped closer, his presence radiating oppressive heat.

I sat up quickly, my body stiff and aching, and instantly recognized the red satin bed beneath me. This wasn't Earth. This wasn't anywhere safe. My heart sank as I locked eyes with the figure looming in the corner.

"You," I said, my voice sharp despite the tremble in my chest.

His grin deepened, an unsettling glint in his eyes. "Ah, so you do remember me. It's nice to know I made an impression."

"Why are you here? What do you want?" I snapped, forcing myself to sit straighter even as dread coiled in my stomach.

He chuckled, the sound low and cruel as he slowly stepped forward, every movement deliberate. "I should be the one asking that, Athena. You've been quite the little mystery. A human with powers no human should possess? That alone warrants my attention."

"I've seen you," I said, gripping the satin sheets tightly, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "In my dreams."

His smile turned smug. "And here I thought you weren't paying attention. Yes, I've been visiting you for quite some time, slipping into those fragile little dreams of yours, watching, waiting."

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I swallowed hard but kept my voice steady. "You couldn't stay long. Couldn't touch me. Couldn't get into my head. My magic kept you out."

His expression darkened, but his tone remained mockingly light. "Ah, yes, your magic. Quite the inconvenience. Frustrating, really. But things are different now, aren't they?"

I shifted uncomfortably, unease crawling up my spine. "What do you mean?"

He was in front of me now, towering over me, his tattoos glinting faintly in the dim light as he leaned down. "I mean, my dear, you've overplayed your hand. Drained yourself dry killing Beleth and his little squad of loyal fools. Impressive, really. But now..." He gestured around us with a sweep of his hand. "Now, there's nothing left. No defenses. No barriers to keep me out. Just you, utterly exposed."

My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to glare at him. "So what? You think that makes you powerful? Invading my mind? What do you want from me, Satan?"

He crouched slightly, bringing his face closer to mine, his dark eyes gleaming with twisted amusement. "What I want," he said, his voice soft but laced with menace, "is your power. That delicious, untamed energy coursing through your veins. Hellfire, no less. A gift no human should have. And yet, here you are. My own little anomaly."

I slapped his hand away as he reached to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, earning a low chuckle.

"I'll never help you," I said, my voice firm despite the fear building in my chest.

He straightened, laughing as though I'd told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. "Help me? Oh, flame, I don't need your cooperation. You're here, and that's all that matters. The rest... well, the rest will come with time."

My teeth clenched as I glared at him. "I'm not afraid of you."

He smiled, his expression more menacing than ever. "You should be."

Leaning closer again, his voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "But don't worry. I'm a patient man, Athena. I'll enjoy watching you burn, slowly, piece by piece."

His laughter filled the room, echoing around me like a death knell as the darkness pressed in from all sides.

Satan crouched down, gripping my chin tightly between his fingers, forcing my gaze to meet his. His touch burned, not with heat but with the sickening weight of his power. "I always wondered why you were so special," he said, his voice a venomous drawl. "Let's have a little peek, shall we?"

Before I could react, searing pain shot through my head, like a thousand blades slicing through my skull. I gasped, clawing at his wrist as his eyes bore into mine, dark and endless, dragging me into their abyss.

Satan groaned low in his throat, a sound that sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine. "Now that... that is interesting," he murmured, finally releasing me.

I slumped back, my chest heaving as the agony in my head slowly receded. "What's interesting?" I spat, glaring up at him through the haze of pain.

A dark smile spread across his face, cold and calculating. "Let me tell you a story, flame," he began, straightening but keeping his gaze locked on me. "There's an old prophecy, whispered among the foolish and the damned. A tale of a human born with immense power, destined to bring peace between demons, angels, humans, and all the other wretched supernatural pests that plague existence."

I frowned, the words swirling in my mind like smoke, impossible to grasp fully. "Peace?"

Satan sneered, the very idea seeming to disgust him. "I don't want peace, Athena. I want destruction. Chaos. Every angel, every human, every pathetic supernatural creature obliterated, leaving only us—true demons—to rule. I've been planning for centuries, waiting for the right moment to destroy the angels, to wipe out everything on this miserable planet. But..."

He trailed off, his expression darkening. "There was one little problem."

I sat up slightly, my body aching but my curiosity overriding the pain. "What problem?"

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "Lucifer."

I blinked, confused. "Lucifer?"

Satan nodded, his tone laced with bitterness. "My dear brother lost a significant amount of his power 21 years ago. A betrayal of sorts, one he's never fully explained. Without his strength, my plans were stalled. I couldn't take down the angels, couldn't unleash the destruction I'd spent millennia preparing for. And then, there's you."

My stomach twisted at the way he said it, at the weight behind his words.

"You were born 21 years ago," he continued, his smile returning, cruel and triumphant. "At the exact time Lucifer lost his power. You see, flame, this isn't a coincidence. No human should have the kind of magic you possess. Hellfire? Earth magic? Water? These are gifts, yes, but they're not human. They're demonic... and something more."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "What are you saying?"

He leaned in again, his dark eyes glinting with a twisted satisfaction. "You're not human, Athena. Not entirely, anyway."

His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, as my mind raced to comprehend what he'd just said.

"You're lying," I managed to whisper, my voice trembling.

Satan chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Oh, flame, I never lie. You're something else, something I intend to uncover. And when I do, this prophecy of peace will burn, just like the rest of them."

He straightened, the dark smile never leaving his face. "But for now, rest. You'll need your strength for what's to come."

As the room spun and the edges of my vision blurred, his voice echoed in my mind, chilling and absolute.

"You're mine, Athena. Whether you like it or not."