LUCIFER

Hestia. Lucifer thought. Hestia’s incantation was all around Janus’s fingers. She wanted to ask him. How and why? She faced his hands terrified of what was going to her if…

‘’I can’t turn back time,’’ Janus answered her thoughts. ‘’And I cannot speed up completely.’’

''So you can stop it completely?''Lucifer asked cockingly. ''That is all you can do. And speed time.''

Janus nodded. ‘’You see, I haven’t got used to it. I always stopped everything around me but now’’ He walked to her side. ‘’In a few more experiments by him, I might turn an infant into an old hag.’’

There was a curl on his nasty grin and Lucifer thought how it would happen if he tried that to her. Her face would wrinkle fast, her bones would grow enough to feel the pain.

‘’You killed her,’’ She finally let out those words from her trembling lips, owning her gaze. Only to notice his feet sill with dark shadows. Like the dark figure from Elysium.

‘’How could you?’’ She let out one more broken scream.

Janus did not seem upset by her crying as he looked rather strict.

‘’Sacrifices must be made for peace’’Janus explained to her calmly.

''Sacrifice?'' Lucifer squicked. ‘’Hestia was your friend, how-’’

‘’Little Royal, you must understand.'' He let out a mocking scoff which made Lucifer swallow dry. ‘’That you have to sacrifice the people you care about for a cause.’’

Janus licked his lips and rested his face and shoulders, moving closer to her.

‘’Do you know why the wall exists?’’Janus asked her, changing the subject.

Lucifer left a silence, thinking about everything that she learned from Boudica’s lessons.

‘’For Sedna’s curse’’Lucifer replied with her fingers cupping her chin. ‘’For people to not pass and…’’She tried to keep her voice steady as she remembered her lecture.

‘’But they are already separated in three areas aren’t they?'' He interrupted her with another question.’’ Only fools are getting out of it’’

Lucifer agreed with a nod and waited for him to explain.

‘’In fact, the wall’’He was speaking slowly and clearly. ''It was years before her…do you know why?’’

''No'' Lucifer admitted with her hand moving close to the imaginary grip of a rapier. Spirits, she just now wished for her to have taken it from Ma’at’s room.

‘’For the one with the crown to keep peace'' Janus lifted his fingers close to his wounded jaw.

‘’How can someone keep peace with a wall?’’ Lucifer asked, confused.

Janus smiled and moved his other hand inside his pocket, keeping laughing with his eyes on the floor.

‘’How do you think peace is made? Agreements from both of the parties? No’’He shook his head left and right. ‘’A conversation, or their agreement about disliking violence?One party to surrender?’’

Lucifer disagreed with a nod.

‘’To keep the peace, balance to the world’’

Approaching her, his steps were making a loud echo by just simply touching the cold iron floor. Lucifer looked down, watching the explosives slightly shaking with each step he was making. And her eyes could not hide how frightened she was with his presence moving right on her side. Janus let out a laugh, showing his point.

‘’fear must exist’’ He explained. ‘’Fear of the unknown, of what is outside …the wall keeps everyone afraid and everyone still…’’He lifted his chin proudly and his right hand touched her chin.

‘’A perfect balance’’ He sighed satisfied. ‘’Wouldn’t you agree? Royal?’’

Lucifer frowned and pushed him away.

‘’Is this what you give your loyalty to?’’Lucifer asked him, trying to count her steps from one to twenty. ‘’You melted the iron container’’Her mind returned to the secret library. ‘’You stole and blamed it on Hephaestus.’’They could have died. He probably knew what they were too.’’Was it worth it?’’

No response.

‘’You killed Hestia, you …did everything for-’’

Janus shook his head and laughed once more.

‘’Do you think that Babel isn’t the same? That the sanctuary is just that?’’

Lucifer’s eyes opened wide and looked everywhere confused.

‘’Oh’’ She drew Janus' curiosity ‘’You don’t know, do you? What else is hidden from you..’’He hummed musically, trying to move closer to her. Lucifer kept walking away, facing back, noticing the wall was near her. She turned left, moving far from Janus once more and then to the edge of the bridge. the air began to turn thin.

‘’Two sides of the same coin’’He said after. ‘’I chose the one who has at least the chance to bring peace’’

Lucifer lowered her head and clenched the red stone in her left hand.

She took a deep breath and with her free hand, everything became bright.

Janus started running at her side.'’It won’t help you this time’’ He said, raising his voice and snapping his fingers. For her, everything became slower. Her movements, even the light she created were slow, being created as a blooming flower, ready to open its petals and cover the room. Janus simply walked away from the light and moved back to her.

Her eyes looked at his body, his clothing, trying to find any sort of weakness. But it was too late.

He lifted his leg and kicked her to the stomach, forcing her body to the edge of the bridge, succeeding in losing her balance and moving to the opposite side. She was slow, her body was moving, falling with the time being pointless around her. She tried to hold the iron bar but her hand was slow.

She was falling. Falling with time stopped all around her. But she was moving. She felt the energy around her fingertips light-tingling her skin.

Light. Light is powerful enough to move around the stopping time.

And Lucifer knew that she wasn’t ready to waste her choice of letting the others escape.

She had to think. She knew that he was far stronger than her. And more experienced. And yet, he could have stopped time and done whatever he pleased. He could have even tried to kill Ma’at once.

And yet, there were still strings of a puppet upon Janus’s# limps. And the master of the puppet is still alive and powerful. And he was not strong enough. He used one of them to break the curse. Why didn’t he kill them all yet?

Why was she still alive? He could make her old and weak or young like an infant, he could chop her bones within a snap of his fingers. And yet he still…

Playing with them seemed to be the answer to her question. But why was he using someone else to do the work?

Either it was a twisted game of his or…

‘’He is weak’’ Lucifer murmured.

Weaknesses lead people to their deaths.

I am not falling again.

Lucifer said with the made light making her hand warmer. She felt the warmth instantly. It was giving her what she wanted but only at her hand. Power enough to break time. She lifted her limb instantly and grabbed the iron with it.

Janus’ eyes opened with blood falling from his face.

''You saw me back then, didn't you?'' She asked him in a pant, forcing her legs to not break.

''Back inside Ma'at's laboratory, you lied to him.''She moved her other hand up, creating light bright enough to make him scream.

She pushed her body higher and her hips fell to the cold floor.

''Not quite. I saw a version of you. A shadow.'' Janus snarled, cleaning the blood from his lips. ''That it has nothing to do with,''

''I do not care about the reason you lied''Lucifer let out clear.''I care about how could you see me?''

He was surprised by her question as he tried to look skeptical, calculating each of his answers.

''Spirit blood is..''

''Please if I listen to this lecture once more''Lucifer bared her teeth.

''But there is no lecture, indeed, blood is everywhere. Warlocks, demons, and incantations even Made Ones manipulate the Spirit blood around them. Your incantation is just the crafting of the blood. In the form that your body, your mind chooses.''

''Trust me, if I chose this I would have done something more practical.''Lucifer scoffed and moved her fingers.

''Not you, your mind'' Janus corrected her.'' And if you are strong enough you can see blood everywhere. And places where the blood hides the more power.''

Lucifer's eyes opened wide, keeping his words in mind.

''You mean to tell me?'' She tried to explain his meaning again. That we can see where Ma'-''She stopped talking. ''He is because he is strong enough?''

Her question made Janus' vein almost pop from his forehead.''Don't feel special Royal, even the dead can do that''

''The dead?'' She gasped.

''The dead, their souls calling you, showing you dreams. Voices inside your head.''

He took a deep breath and scratched his face.

''He told me what he could do, '' Janus explained. ''Making dreams, visions to mess with the strongest of minds''His gaze fell to hers. ''Seems that he couldn't mess with yours enough.''

The girl. And him. Lucifer thought. Her soul was calling her, traveling, showing her. She was the one who showed her everything. Just a potion that made her a tracker for souls and immortals to mess with death, with the ones she cared about.

Darkness. Lucifer remembered when she first saw him. In time. In darkness.

Lucifer looked up with pride, gathering every part of her strength into her hands.‘’So that is a Made One’s incantation? Mind blurring.’’

‘’You are so incorrect, young girl. A Made One, is an Incantation.’’His words almost got out with admiration.’’A form made by spirits, blood, and flesh moving around their existence and creation. A made one is Everything’’ He made a long pause. ‘’And he is nothing all at once.’’

''And you still let us live. Lied to him.''She reminded him. ''You haven't killed any.''She stopped talking, facing the fallen bodies back.

You haven't killed. You...

''Why does he want one of us?''She looked once more at him.

Instead of answering he gave a half shrug to her.

''I know that he wanted a Phoenix holder.''He started circling her around, with steady, calm steps. ''Their minds, mostly.''

''Their minds?''

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

''Every curse that was made, every curse that had more value, it weakens everything'' He said. ''The dagger, Apophis sword weekend the Made One but also the blood. I had to lie to everyone, kill ..'' His voice broke, and took a heavy breath to carry all his strength.''For him to return. Every curse makes everyone weak. But none of them are flawless. There is always a window.''

''And their minds are a window... for what?'' Lucifer asked.

He did not answer.

Lucifer bit her lips and played with her finger as she inhaled shakily. If a conversation wouldn't make him answer then violence would probably work.

Pressing two fingers on her grin she offered him a challenge. ''Shall we do a rematch?’’ This time, Lucifer’s words reached right to his ears. She could see it from his raging expression. ‘’Of course,’’ Janus fixed his posture once more, making it look as if he was not even wounded by the blood around his face. He lowered his shoulder, moving down his long heavy coat, exposing two rapiers. One that was hers.

‘’Once again,’’ His hands found her blade and swiped at her in the middle of the air.

‘’I want to see the reason she wanted you alive’’He finished his sentence with Lucifer now feeling the cold grip of her blade.

Her left hand was behind her back, fingers into feist. Back straight, beat restrained, to perfection, eyes aiming the glare to his side.

And he was perfect too as Lucifer wanted to deny. His presence made her almost fall on her knees again and rethink every choice she had made from the moment she took her first breath until now.

Focus. His body, his clothes. His pocket watch.

His fingers snapped and began walking with his blade caressing the floor. But Lucifer paid attention to his watch. Five seconds. Time was moving only for him. And it was five seconds that felt like an eternity.

Her strength returned by her feet as she took a step front, calm with no time to stop her.

Janus’ eyes snapped.

‘’You,’’ There was a scar drawing upon his face.

‘’Five seconds’’ She panted. ‘’That is your limit.’’

‘’It does not matter.’’Janus frowned. ‘’I can kill you in one.’’

‘’Can you?’’ Lucifer grinned.

His green eyes narrowed, facing his hands who were restraining the painful shaking of his own soul.

‘’You can slow me down, but that means you will get hurt. And if it speeds up’’ She twisted her fingers. ‘’I will still have one wound. Less’’

Janus narrowed his gaze. And he did not dare to snap his fingers.

He was the first to attack, jumping the blade ready to pierce her neck. Lucifer dodged it by turning to the right. Her blade swung at him, slashing his shoulder blade. He did not feel pain, even with the slight blood dripping from his body.

He was a calm beast, hiding his anger, and his ambition to the blade as his movements became faster and far more violent to her. Every action she had made against him only made her bleed more and more. In the end, his boot found her stomach once more, kicking her to the floor, losing the grip of her blade.

She flexed her fingertip, trying to reach it with her stomach lying on the floor.

''Not so soon, little Royal,'' Janus hissed, kicking the blade far with his one shoe as his other was pressing with all his strength on Lucifer's back.

She arched her body up until she felt a cold blade kissing her neck. She could feel the iron around her skin with the rapier slowly moving away until it finally touched her flesh. For a second she was back at Diyu, chained and screaming. Her eyes were on the priest. Broken glass, cold. She wanted to get free, but the restraints kept her in pain, trapped, and weak.

But even around her screams, she could hear a voice encouraging her not to give up. He will die. He will pay. You just have to not die. Back then, she had the imagination that it was her mind, losing blood with the iron all around her. But now she knew who it was. The girl. Whisperting as she was watching she was reassuring her that she must not give up. She had to stay alive. She had to fight.

‘’You told me’’ Lucifer panted. ‘’Hestia was your sister.’’

Janus took a deep breath, moving his hair away from his brow.

‘’She was the closest to the family I ever had.’’He tried to explain. ‘’I did everything to protect her,’’

‘’Even joining the enemy?’’

He did not answer. He was once again ready to fight, pushing his anger, mourning, and compassion away.

''You were a disappointment''Janus sighed, moving his shoe a breath away before he stepped harshly at her body once more. Lucifer gasped again and the rapier finally stung. Blood fell.''You failed the ones you lost. And the ones that you will.''

What do you want? The girl asked her.

I want to stay alive.

''You...'' Lucifer grunted. ''You will pay.''

Janus did not hide his laughter as he heard these trembling words from the bleeding girl.

Fight.

Lucifer clenched her hands and shifted them behind making the room once more bright. But this time, the light became far stronger. Far more strong than she intended. She could listen to Janus screaming and his weight moving affair from her.

When the light vanished she had already stood up, her hand around her stomach. Her eyelids were heavy as she watched Janus’ hands moving close to his pockets, shakily.

‘’If the incantation is the way you want to fight’’ Janus’ right hand took four amplifiers from his pocket, placing them right on the right side of his neck, letting out a painful groan.

His other hand had a bracelet of fire, dancing around his wrist. The orange color reflected in his green emerald eyes. Lucifer could see a forest fire right at the center of it.

‘’So be it’’

Fight

Lucifer dodged his attack by lowering her body and jumped close to Orion’s and Talus' bodies. She avoided the blood and took their rings from their fingers. A wave of fire hit her back, scratching her skin, and making her scream and cry out loud, listening to her clothes slowly being turned apart. Without any other thought, she took a pistol and started hitting right at him. The pain still kept growing but the pain of broken bones over and over again was a memory of hers that could not compete from the pain of fire.

Fight

He was strong, but not strong enough to stop iron. On that fact, Lucifer had the advantage to win the battle. She could see blood falling from his body and his steps were messy. But his neck had a red liquid floating around his skin but it was no blood. Blood didn’t look like this.

He took a deep breath and placed his hands on his chest before he was now a breath away from her with a dagger in his hand. He was fast. He made time fast for him at least.

Lucifer shoved her hands to his face while he was making rounds with his hands around the handler, forcing the knife to move inside her body. Light got out from it, bright with heat to make him scream.

She found a way to move her body but Janus found a way to catch her. He pulled the knife out of her stomach, choosing her throat as the next target.

Pinning her to the floor with his body right above her and his legs making her too weak to move. She tried to move her hands again but the sharp look of the knife penetrated deeper into her skin. And then, Lucifer found his burned face. Completely ruined. Teeth showing without his lips and his eyes burning.

‘’I should have killed you when I had the chance’’He growled.

‘’But she was desperate to keep you alive.'' He sighed with a grin, making even more blood fall to her face. ‘’She is just a sweet girl’’Janus mimicked her voice, shaking his hand with the knife, pulling it closer, deeper, making her thin skin bleed.

‘’She doesn’t have to die ‘’

He lowered his eyes studying her body. Lucifer found his disgusting smile when he was observing each inch of her.

His eyes narrowed as his tongue licked his burned flesh. Her stomach was tied with a million knots of disgust.

‘’You loved her, didn’t you?’’ He asked with a devious sigh.

Lucifer shook a no. But her flushed face gave her away.

‘’Oh, you did. And now she is dead. She will never find out the truth…’’

‘’You killed her.’’ Lucifer cried. ‘’And yet you still obeyed her decision,’’ Lucifer yelled at him. ‘’Why?’’

‘’Because she didn’t want the artifact to Babel..’’He explained, a rough burn in his voice. ‘’She was no danger to me.''

‘’What do you mean?’’ Lucifer asked him.

‘’How many secrets have they kept from you? Did Mordred not tell you?’’

Lucifer clenched her jaw and tried to move.

''No'' Janus shook his head. ‘’He probably doesn’t know either’’

‘’Know what?'' Lucifer asked him again.

‘’The potion, what it can actu..’’

Suddenly, for a second, Lucifer saw Janus' eyes change from green to black. His face became worse like he was made of candles and there was a fire close to him.

She was aware that she could not take an answer from him.

‘’I might not know the secrets’’ Lucifer said. Her fingers played with the red stone and the rings.

‘’But unlike you’’ She inhaled and she was now close to the levers.

‘’I will live long enough to find the truth’’

Fight.

‘’You filthy bitch’’Janus hissed at her.

''Really? Cursing?''Her brow arched, tilting her head to the right.''You looked like a gentleman before.''

''Oh you would be impressed''He panted.''What a gentleman like me can accomplish.''

She found her rapier and jumped her hand to the side of the grip as she kept running her gaze flickering when she found what she needed. Chaos.

Lucifer smiled and looked at the levers and chains. She found which one could open the gate by the moving of the chains from around the room. With her other hand she made bright light but this time, it was thinner like the sharp edge of a sword as she swung it far, and hit Janus’ left side of his head like a bullet, pushing him to the iron bars.

She didn’t have the time to react with her hand pulling the lever down.

''No'' Janus screamed and crawled to her side, his hand grabbing her ankle.

Her eyes looked at the iron gate, moving lower and lower till a sharp wind caught her body and pulled her with Janus’s body to the ground.

Lucifer’s arm broke in the fall. Her ears rang with Janus' loud laughter echoing in the room.

‘’Thank you’’ He said, lighting up a fire in his hand, but this time, it was bigger, stronger than before, with the wind being by his side.

Lucifer tried to stand, making her legs move, to stand without the air pulling her closer to him.

In her hand, the only thing she had left was a ring. But she could not let him down. Not like this.

Instead, she broke the glass and moved her hand to her mouth, swallowing the dust. But unlike the last time she felt the strength of the red stones, this time she felt. Empty.

‘’It won't help you’’ Janus said and the fire attacked Lucifer burning her boots fast with the fire conquering her. Her hands sweaty, the grip of her blade slipping from her fingers once more.

‘’I am a Phoenix holder. Kill me and you will take it. ''

He grabbed her from her locks and was moving her slowly to the edge of the gate like a wild animal.

‘’No’’ Lucifer screamed, trying to kick the air with her melted shoes.

She turned back to see Janus' frightened eyes. His skin was slowly moving back.

‘’Do you think he will keep you?'' Lucifer asked him. ‘’He is using you just like he is using everyone'' The strong air kept hitting her ears moving her hair painfully left and right.

‘’I have no choice'' Janus yelled. ‘’You don’t know what is capable of’’

''No'' Lucifer murmured. ‘’But I know what am I of’’

A wave of energy rushed through her blood. She looked around her and every part of her body became bright like the sun. She could listen to Janus’ scream and his grip let her down, moving even more to the edge. Everything was black. She grabbed the nearest metal her fingers touched and did not let go.

When her blurry vision was restored she found herself being wrapped around the bar which was holding the gate. She took another look and found Janus keeping moving slowly with the wind pulling him away from her. She looked at her hand, waiting for the light. Nothing.

Janus placed his palms back on his chest and he was right in front of her. He took another stone and placed it on the other side of his neck but it did not matter. Most of his long blonde hair was burned from his crisped wrinkled head. He looked older, ancient. A body trapped in time. His burned hand grabbed her face and pulled her to his side effortlessly. But her blade was faster, piercing it to the center of his chest.

‘’Is this what you want?'' Lucifer asked him coldly.’’ Peace?’’

‘’Or are you blaming me that she died from your actions?’’She said with eyes watering from the heat of his hand around her face.

His eyes darted and he looked away from her.

‘’You killed her’’Lucifer said beneath her teeth, almost a hiss.

‘’And you will kill the pathetic little girl who she cared too’’She frowned.

‘’And it will be all your fault’’

It’s not your fault.

''It is all yours...''

''Silence'' Janus growled.

''You killed her, and you enjoyed it. You took her power and made your Made One satisfied. You must be so proud.''Lucifer smiled with a mocking laugh accompanied by her twisted words. ''You are far more pathetic.’’

He did not hide his frustration with his lips curving a snarl.

But instead of moving back, he pushed her to the floor and his long nails shoved into her throat, making her choke.

She lifted her arms moving to his face to shove her bails deep into his skin, scratching it.

Suddenly, everything changed around her. The ceiling was open like the sky at night. There was a sound of battle cries and slashing swords, instead of the noise of the machines. And Janus was a man. A striking young man with pale white hair. And his white long hair started to become white. And white again.

‘’You did this’’The man yelled, crying.

Lucifer blinked and she was back to the place she was before with Janus making her bleed. It was raining. She felt cold water falling onto her cheeks.

No. She lifted her eyes and saw Jnsaus crying, her body moving like a leaf.

‘’You did this’’Lucifer whispered, letting painful tears out of her eyes. ‘’You were a coward, watching the one you care about succeed in her own goal.’’She told him his own story. ‘’You had a choice. Her or yourself. And you choose yourself.’’

That made Janus’ eyes shatter from the pain that was hiding.

She lifted her hips and pushed Janus far from him just like the blade slipped from his skin, making him fall to the edge.

A sudden heat conquered her body and lowered that soon vanished when his fingers grabbed the cold metal.

She stood up, waiting to watch the man who refused to die. Refused to give up. Her gaze lowered down to him, the blade moving to his wounded face with the wind blowing his remaining hair around his flesh.

Janus cursed her between his teeth as he tried to snap his fingers, bathed in blood. When he succeeded, Lucifer imagined him to stand up and take her soul out of her body with his bare hands. But then, nothing happened, only for one more scar to get drawn on his face. Unlike the rest, this one was deeper, harder at his skin as if a beast had laid its claws upon him. He was finally on his limit.

''I don't wish to kill you'' She lied. She wanted to take his life so much, to pierce the blade to his head and see him fall. To kick his hand and listen to his scream. But she did not want his power. Her power. She would not risk her life for it. If she had to chase power with her only then her only power would be hers.

''More will come''Janus warned her with a tired rasp. ''They will ruin you, make you afraid.’’ His fingers slowly moved down to the last breath of the edge.’’ Are you willing to see the ones you love die?''

She held her breath, feeling the heat around her cheeks as her gaze became far sharper than before.

Parents, friends, and brother. All dead for the lord collect.

''Let them come.''She said steady, dry.

No mortal.

''Maybe they will learn to fear me'' She arched her brow with her lips curving a smile, filled with confidence. She did not regret saying it. She did not regret talking with sharp words like those.

She wished to live, to gain the power to survive, to make the ones who would hurt her again pay for everything.

Janus faced back at her, shocked by her poisonous words. His lips made a gentle, hopeful gree

''I see now,'' He whispered, with a dramatic pause. ''The reason she chose you.''

One more pause.

''The reason she loved you more than her own self.''

Lucifer held the grip of her blade even tighter.

And his hand let the metal free and the air pulled him outside the machine. She could listen to his screams of pain, scratching her skin.

No mortal, no mortal. No..

After that, she slowly walked upstairs to close the gate, eyes on Talus and Orion. Then to her hands and clothes, dressed in red.

I killed someone. No, no I didn't.

The heat again with the scent of poppies bloomed close to her with a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Souls.

''Your welcome'' She whispered with her eyes closed. When she opened the, her slight gaze found a dark form strolling around the bridge as it whistle amused.

"Impressive Lightbringer"

Lucifer gritted her teeth and turned completely to the shadow's side but it was long gone. Who was that? Why did he call her Lightbringer?

‘’Lucifer’’Ukko’s voice screamed from afar, She did not look back instantly. She took a few moments to play with her ring finger and returned to him with a shaking face.

‘’What..’’ Ukko looked at her and then at the others. He frowned with his eyes flitting from concern. "Happened?"

‘’I made it,'' Lucifer said silently.

‘’What?’’ Ukko asked her again, worried.

She held her throat, caressing her healed skin with her voice letting out a hysterical laughter.

A rush of emotions hit her. She couldn't tell him what had happened. She could have told him of Hestia and about Janus. She could have said to him what she saw, about the man with white or black hair.

But instead, she just rushed to his heavy coat, shoving her face into the fabric close to his arm.

Hestia. CRACK. Her parents. CRACK. Leviathan. CRACK. The dreams, Janus, Hestia again. CRACK CRACK. A Made One alive. CRACK.

‘’I won’’ Lucifer was muffled and broken. Breathing fast and heavily beneath the fabric, snorting and tears falling from her eyes to his mow wet coat. His arms were slowly wrapped around her thin body, covering every inch of her.

He did not speak. He just stayed. Stayed to let her feel mortal.

You will lose the ones you love.