LUCIFER

''Here'' Hestia gave Lucifer a small muffin with pink frosting. Lucifer stared at them with fear in her eyes. Lucifer's room was filled with small statues, some of which were dusty and kept in the dark. Hestia noticed this as she looked around. ''I think that I am too old for these'' Lucifer pushed the muffin away but her stomach played games as it was growling like a wild beast. Hestia laughed walked closer to the shelf and took a better look. Her amber eyes glowed in front of a glowing pink crystal snake. It was right on the edge, ready to fall but everyone could look at it and admire it. The rest appeared as animals, human beings, or even Spirits. Human figures with more hands than a human. More eyes are attached to the bodies than humans and no expressions like humans should have on their faces.

She took a step back and stared at Lucifer's dirty clothes. The maid grabbed them and tried to not react as she could feel the iron burning their skin. Hestia gasped, touching her covered gloves and thumbs to the scratched filthy fabric.

''Who did this to you?'' Hestia asked calmly. Lucifer flinched and got up from the bed that they were sitting on before. ''It...'' She looked down and then outside the window was the sound of kids playing catch. Lucifer walked closer and saw cousins of hers playing freely, talking without worries. Hestia stared too and looked back at the shelf. ''I am guessing they don't like you'' Lucifer turned away from the maid. She didn't have the right to talk to her master like that. She stared at her with furious eyes.

Hestia gasped and bowed with elegance. ''I apologize''

Lucifer tugged with her ring finger and grabbed an outfit so she could get dressed properly. Hestia looked away as she listened to her whining. ''It's not that they don't like me..'' Hestia took off her silver pajamas. With jealousy, she said, "It's their parents.". Her parents passed away a year ago. She was now a target for the family.

Hestia scoffed. Lucifer took a second look at the dark trousers. ''Rumor has it that you are close to the Great Ruler,'' Hestia whispered. Lucifer drew a deep breath and pulled on her trousers, holding every pain inside her mouth. ''...I...'' She turned her head up to look at the crystal chandelier and then scoffed. ''Why do you care anyway?'' She played with her ring finger while her maid was putting her soft grin tunic carefully above her skin.

Hestia apologized to her and turned back to help her fix her hair while she was looking at herself in the mirror. The cream-white ribbons were slowly removed from her curls, letting the luscious long curls fall on her shoulders.

But Lucifer just stared at herself in the mirror, studying her body.

Each time she looked at it something was wrong; she was getting thinner, sicker, and nothing like she had been before. The fifteen-year-old girl felt that her stomach and neck were tied up to a tightrope.

‘’You will attend your aunt’s meeting’’Hestia announced her schedule. ‘’When the clock strikes two you must be in the main hall for your tutors’’ She found a silver brush and held her long hair. ‘’History of the ancient city..’’

‘’Diyu’’ Lucifer corrected her, playing with her ring finger.’’ It's an ancient capital. The city is still alive, even with filth’’

Hestia hummed in surprise. ‘’I thought that people still lived there’’She mocked.

Lucifer bit her lower lip trying to remember what she had to say about Diyu.

Lucifer's friend brushed her hair back and exposed her strong cheekbones and dark circles. Lucifer’s head relaxed as her neck followed. But her eyes found Hestia studying her nape. Looking at the left side of her neck, she realized what she was looking at. Bruises. Bruises of iron.

‘’I am falling easily’’ She lied with a smile.

Hestia replied with a chuckle and kept brushing her locks. ‘’I am clumsy too,’’ She replied casually.

Lucifer looked behind her shoulder at the young maid. Spirits, she had beautiful features. Clean sharp like a warrior and a fierce fire. Her eyes were dazzling as she held her gaze at the young Royal. Lucifer's eyes looked down, right at her thick plump dark lips.

Hestia saw it and clicked her tongue, taking her compliment for herself

The door opened wide and a young boy shouted hello. Ukko. In a small hush, Lucifer told him to keep quiet

''I told you to keep your act together until you get inside.'' She tried to fix her hair on her own. Ukko touched her long hair and laughed. ''It looks terrible'' He said with a sarcastic tone. Lucifer let out a small laugh and looked at Hestia. She exhaled deeply and moved closer to Lucifer.

''You will be late'' She told her, touching a few strands of her hair.

The hallways were filled with relatives chatting or even scheming, as she walked along. And Lucifer could feel every sharp gaze from each corner from each shadow. From each light. She took a deep breath and continued walking towards Boudica's quarters.

A small child hugged Lucifer's legs tight as soon as they saw her. Lucifer laughed and kneeled to play with their red hair. ''Did my mother call you?'' They pointed at the door and whispered to her. ''She is talking with the scientist'' They explained and walked away from her. She got up and walked closer to the door ready to open it.

"Lucifer," her aunt said to her as her niece bowed gracefully. From the corner of her eye, she expected to see Thoth but it was someone else. She stayed frozen as soon as she laid eyes on him. ''This is...'' Boudica tried to speak but darkness appeared all around her.

'Lucifer?'' Her aunt's voice became distant.

''Yes?'' Lucifer snapped out of her daydreaming with her eyes trying to look behind her, feeling a shadow watching her.

''Is everything alright?'' She asked sincerely, pouring green tea into a jade cup.

Lucifer shook a yes, fixing her posture as she kept looking at her aunt's elegant emerald long dress, moving around her chair and underneath the desk.

''I know that you have classes to attend with your cousins'' She made a long pause, moving the green teapot back to the desk. ''So I will make this quick''

Her heart sank, watching how serious her eyes were, and yet her smile was kind and beautiful.

''Of course your Grace'' Lucifer sighed. Even if her aunt wanted to be called that by her, Lucifer could not stop calling her relative by her title.

Boudica's brow twitched. ''I heard that you are doing more than reading and calculating as lessons.'' She stood up, taking a sip of her tea.

Lucifer took a deep breath, waiting to explain what she meant.

''Such as sword fighting lessons?'' Boudica asked her.

''It's more like self defense'' Lucifer explained to her.

''At night? With your guard?'' Her eyes lowered down.

Lucifer's throat began to close stunned.

''It is just training.'' She was almost startled. ''I swear.''

''And I believe you, my dear.'' Her aunt moved closer, letting her tea rest at the top of the fireplace.

''But people talk, rumors are spreading'' Her hand rested at the top of Lucifer's shoulder. ''You know how it is when the entire Akhet is watching you.''

A royal slept with her guard in the garden. She took advantage of the Great Ruler's protection and made her life like a peasant. Maybe the Great Ruler made a mistake.

But nothing like that happened. And in a world filled with dark news, people love to make enjoyable stories. And some of them bring more darkness than before.

''It won't happen again.''

''I know but I had...''Her aunt looked at the warm fire and then back at her.''How about using those rumors to your advantage?''

Lucifer's eyes opened wide, frightened. ''I do not understand.''She acted like a fool, playing with her ring finger.

''Ukko is a guard.''Her aunt's fingers moved under her chin, letting her thoughts run through her mind. ''But it is also noble. A general's son. His father once commanded an army that sent hundreds of warlocks to a battle fire''

One long pause felt like an eternity.

''And you said that you were close enough for him to train you.''

''With all due respect your Grace.''Lucifer forced herself to hide every fear of that thought. ''But I think I am far too young to start contemplating this.''

''You are bleeding my dear.''

Lucifer's breath sank as she began to examine her wounded body, panicking.

''You are far older than you are trying to accept.

Oh. Lucifer relaxed. That kind of bleeding.

''Half of your cousins from the ages of twelve and fifteen are engaged or married already. I was engaged when I was fifteen.''

I am no kid. No mortal. A tight knot wrapped around her stomach, feeling the entire pressure of the world, attacking her body, mind, and soul.

''Is something the matter dear?'' Her aunt's eyes became soft. ''Is someone else?''

Someone else? Her fingers moved at her pants, slightly clenching them, feeling the iron dust burning her skin. If she ended up having an engagement with Ukko, she would be protected by him and he would have a life among jewels and flowers. And gems can cut and flowers have thorns.

Deep breath. No fear. No mortal.

''It is alright, your Grace.'' There was no mortal in her, no child, no girl in her. But she did not want to wrap Ukko into all of this. She did not want him to see the same stares she was getting.

''But can we please delay it? A better suitor may be found.''She suggested.

Boudica's eyes sharpened with hesitation as she studied her niece's gentle face.

Please, please, please. She thought with her big doll eyes staring directly at her aunt's eyes.

Her emerald eyes softened quickly, giving way to a tired sigh. ''I suppose you still need time for your studies.''

She cupped her thin face. Lucifer felt her care, her sweet warmth with her thick flower scent conquering her body.

''But do not forget. ''Her voice became rougher. ''You are no mortal, you weigh your shoulders.'' Her fingers traced Lucifer's jaw.''And I truly believe that you can become great.

Lucifer nodded with a forced smile.''Of course. Your Grace.''

She was back at Elysium, running away from someone as she kept holding the red bottle. A dark figure was following her in the middle of the night, craving her, hunting her, and catching her. As she turned her head back to see what it was she could see the entire hall room freezing. The walls were now decorated with ice as the snow was falling from the ceiling. And the dark figure. The dark figure had a pair of red crimson moon eyes and as the form, it seemed that it was a giant bull.

She was a few inches away from her aunt’s room. The door slightly opened as a man was coughing and groaning sickly.

The dream changed again, bringing her a memory that was now a current one. Hestia gazed upon her with her eyes shading down tears. But this was not what Lucifer paid attention to. She had a gift of feeling that something was wrong. A gift that her aunt made her carve. She could feel the gazes of the ones who were spies, who were against her, even if they were smiling or they were invisible. When her mind was clear, she could even feel an ambush coming from far away.

And she knew Hestia’s sacrifice was a mistake too. Not a mistake. Something else.

There was a dark figure made of mist moving being wrapped around her, pushing a blade to her stomach. She let out one more dry breath with her eyes turning to the figure. And her lips did not part form the perfect smile of hers.

She got killed? If she did then.

Lucifer and Ukko saw a giant dark fog right in front of them. The girl looked down and saw that the only way to get there was from an iron bridge while dark water surrounded the whole area. They were finally in Diyu. They had spent two days traveling nonstop. Ukko stretched his arms and let out a groan of satisfaction

Lucifer took a deep breath and looked up. ''I cannot believe that the meeting spot exists.'' She showed the fog. ''Inside there'' Ukko got out of the car. Lucifer scoffed and got out. ''What are you doing?'' She asked him as he walked to the bridge. They saw people walking on foot there. ''If we travel with a military car...we are probably dead ''

Clearly, he was right. Army and priests were hated throughout the area. Even temples existed, but their statues had been stolen. The warlocks had nothing to fear because nobody was guarding the area not without a phone warning.

They took off their coats and started heading for the bridge. They walked with other citizens who wanted to go inside as refugees. Next to them, there was a truck filled with possibilities for the people to live. But Lucifer knew that this truck was for the entire area for one whole month. The fog was not guarded. They could easily walk in and out. Lucifer stared at the others with a proud and arrogant gaze. She hated being around criminals, even if she was a criminal in theory right now.

As they stepped inside, the fog and the light from the sky disappeared. The wind was lost. The houses seemed ancient. Homeless people sat in the dirty background on every corner, begging. For light, they had electric lanterns with a green flame shining right inside the dark smoked glass. As she looked at her hand, she tried to create a glimpse of light. Nothing was able to escape her fingers. For her incantation to work, even if there were a light like this, it would not be enough.

The truck stopped with the driver getting out fast before any of the civilians tried to steal any of the boxes or take his life. When it was over, he drove away, leaving twenty wooden boxes down for everyone to take what they could fight for. Money, clothes, food, even water. Some of them were even fighting for one piece of fabric with daggers slipping from their pockets.

Focus. Lucifer shut her eyes and turned away from the devastating act.

She looked around the strange area in an attempt to clear her mind. Her eyes caught people stealing from others' pockets. Even in the dark marketplace where only meat and old fabrics were sold, there were thieves and con artists. With all of her strength, she held the bottle that was inside the pocket of her trousers that Kala gave her.

Stolen story; please report.

The smell of sewer filled her nostrils, making her want to puke.

The citizens' clothes were different from those worn by Aztlan or Olympus. Many of them were dark and lifeless, while others were half destroyed.

‘’I can take another disguise right?’’ Lucifer suggested, turning back to Ukko. His left eyebrow lifted. Lucifer scoffed, taking a few steps inside the marketplace. Her fingers touched one of the rugs.

‘’An old lady’’ Ukko suggested.

‘’Or a boy’’Lucifer said dramatically, finding a blue hat. ‘’His parents got murdered so kindly ‘’She let her hand reach for him. ‘’Old man is taking care of him’’

‘’I am not that old’’Ukko laughed, moving his arms behind his back, crossed together.

Lucifer forced a scoff as she returned to the shop owner. A wrinkled smile was curved as she was offering her a dark necklace. The chain of it seemed old and the dark stones dusted.

‘’Stones of the coldest pits of Naraka’’ She said, wiping the dust from the gems. They suddenly shone, reflecting Lucifer's eyes. She blinked two times before she turned to Ukko who just shrugged.

‘’A beautiful jewel for the blessed lady.’’The woman said, showing Lucifer’s eyes with her hand. She had heard from many stories that the ones with lilac eyes were a gift from the Spirits. And probably the only gift the Spirits have given her.

The woman pressed her lips to a thin line.‘’Thirty Eke’el’’ She said the price softly.

‘’Five’’A voice echoed behind Lucifer. She took a small jump before she turned back to find the one who spoke but her eyes found a shower of colors.

She was sure the most colorful person Lucifer had ever seen, especially in the area she was in the moment. Inky dark long hair tied on a braid with thin red and white ribbons accompany them. Her broad shoulders and wide arms were dressed in a turquoise shirt with no skin being exposed to the filth as for an electric collar on her neck. Probably the only part of her outfit that was black as above the shirt there was a dark yellow corset with sleeves. Lucifer could not forget her dark blue leggings that were covering almost her brown boots with heels. And last it was…

Her eyes, were in the shade of feathers from ravens when they were falling at night. Sharp, dangerous, and yet intriguing. Her bronze skin was perfectly sculpted by the spirits even with a few swollen marks around her hooked nose. Lucifer could have said she was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. If she could have seen her entire face as a half-leather helm with red, blue, and white paint covering her smile and chin

She was sure a girl around Lucifer’s age whose attention had driven everyone’s gaze at her. But not for admiration but in hatred, and fear. And Lucifer’s curiosity drew her into the girl and the crowd’s reaction. If she hadn’t the colorful fabrics around her curvy body she would be easy to blend in. Her height was almost a head shorter than Lucifer’s if she had got rid of her heels. She did not seem that she was easy to get snatched or carried away by any normal burglar. And yet everyone seemed to attack her, abduct her even, Yet none even dared to try.

The girl's eyes turned back to Lucifer and winced. Was she smiling underneath the helm?

I am staring. Far too long. Lucifer snapped from her daydreaming.

‘’I am sorry?’’ Lucifer asked with a stutter, forgetting how to talk.

‘’It is glass with dust of coal’’ The girl’s tongue was sharp. She flipped her thick raven hair behind her neck as it was tied to a low ponytail.

‘’The glass costs three Eke’els and your son’s chain’’She glared at the old woman. In response, she growled, looking up and down at the strange girl. In the end, she jerked her head, cursing to the Diyu dialect.

‘’My father also says you have till the end of the day to pay the debt’’The girl let out a cruel, demanding tone from her covered lips.

The woman slammed her hands on her table‘’Then you are not helping me’’ She growled eager against the girl.

Lucifer shifted back to Ukko as his hand reached for his wallet, taking out twelve silver coins, and giving them to the woman. He then showed her a red scarf. The woman curved one more smile before she took the money from his hands.

The girl scoffed and turned back to Ukko, exposing to Lucifer the back of her hair. A pin holds the tail together with the ribbons. Red and white gemstones are attached creating the shape of a flower. Unlike the glass, that seemed real. Valuable.More valuable than the holder’s life.

‘’Inka Diyu’’She welcomed them and pointed with her hand at a building.

‘’You are newcomers correct?’’ She asked Ukko who was moving back to Lucifer.

‘’Yes ‘’He said ‘’Me and my sister ..’’His gaze was rough on Lucifer. She shook her head, agreeing to play that role. ‘’Are new here’’

‘’I should have guessed, I would never forget such a beauty’’The girl’s gaze found Lucifer and she winked. Then, Lucifer’s cheeks flushed red.

‘’I see’’The girl laughed, showing an old building with a sign ten times brighter than the rest of the shops, written in dark metal FOURTH CIRCLE with the light globs accompanying those well-crafted letters. ‘’I work there as a maid,’’ The girl started counting her jobs with her fingers.’’Waitress and sometimes dancer.''’ She tilted her head to Lucifer, winking at her once more. ‘’You should come to see me one time.'' She invited her. ‘’Or maybe more than one.’’ Her eyes rested slowly on her curly locks, making the girl of Elysium blush all so suddenly.

‘’But today I am telling you're fates’’She announced to them.

‘’Our fates?’’ Lucifer arched her brow cockingly.

‘’I am telling cards darling’’She replied with a musical tone.

‘’I thought that they were forbidden’’ Ukko sighed, confused, pulling himself and Lucifer back.

‘’Sir,’’ The girl moved closer to him, hitting his shoulder with her fingers.’’You are here because you are forbidden, no such thing as rules.’’

‘’Yes, but this is supposed to be witchcraft''Lucifer had to read every rule, every law that the old and the current Ruler have drawn. And card reading was forbidden two hundred years ago as a form of reading fates, the future was considering the same tricks as warlocks. Even the punishments for using them were the same.

‘’Priests pray for success in fate all the time.'' The girl opened her arms and drew a packet of cards from her dress.

‘’Is it that terrible that I can tell you what is getting ahead of you?’’

She did not trust the girl. She just needed money after she would lie to them and make them worry for the rest of their day and then fall asleep, and forget about it the next morning.

But they could not also walk around until they found the one who they were looking for. Too many con artists, many thieves, and people gazed upon them like they were a rare opportunity to use for money.

‘’How many Eke’els do you take for one read?’’ She finally asked the girl, leaving Ukko stunned.

‘’I do each person’’She announced, eyes searching both of them. ‘’Fifty Eke’el each’’

‘’But I am in a happy mood for both of you. ‘’Only Fifty Eke’el, two readings.’’

It was not expensive, Lucifer thought but she saw Ukko biting his lip. Possibly it was not for him.

‘’How about just mine?'' Lucifer suggested.

The girl rolled her eyes. ‘’I am happy, but not cheap.’’

‘’Do you want Eke’el or nothing?'' She asked the girl and glanced around her, noticing that people were gathered around, watching all three of them. And others were doing their jobs but Lucifer could not stop looking at the ones who were gazing at her.

She arched her brow and sighed heavily. ‘’Twenty five for you then.’’The girl gave up and showed the Fourth Circle with her arm.

‘’Come with me please.’’

The FOURTH CIRCLE felt more like a smaller area from within Diyu. There were even more sellers inside with colorful fabrics, even spices. Small tables with people laughing and drinking as the waitresses were arriving with more and more for people to feist. Each of the workers had a similar helm as the girl's as she was the only one. One who had that touch of color around it.

On each floor there were people, smoking and touching each slender detail around each body. And even people were watching everyone from each balcony with greed in their eyes and souls. And just like the girl, the workers there were covering their mouths with a half-helm. But unlike the girl’s helm, theirs was pitched black, without any color or imagination.

There was no doubt about the difference between the outside and this place. As the people were hungry, they were starving for more.

Lucifer could smell the thick scent of Mana from every golden yellow corner there was, making her mind go numb. And the girl noticed it as she waved around members of the circle.

‘’First time smelling Mana?’’She asked her, showing one man who was placing the green and white herb inside his pipe.

I have smelled it before. That doesn't mean I like it. She thought, remembering a few of her cousins smoking it in the corners of the palace. One of them even tried to give her a taste of the drug, telling her she would be relaxed. But Lucifer knew she just wanted her to be in more trouble. So, because she refused, Hestia found the leaves hidden in one of Lucifer’s drawers the next day.

Hestia’s eyes darted surprised as she saw the leaves, being shocked as much as Lucifer.

‘’I know that you didn’t,’’ Hestia assured the panicked Royal. ‘’You are a good girl but we need to hide them.'' She whispered, resting her hand on the top of Lucifer’s shoulder.

‘’Oh, you will hate the place I am getting you.’’ The girl arched her brow.

Ukko caught Lucifer’s arm before she could walk even deeper into the place.

‘’Are you sure?’’ He whispered.

‘’There are many people here’’She replied. ‘’Maybe someone saw that person’’She suggested. ‘’Or heard something’’

‘’Is that the reason we came here?’’He grinned and jerked his head at the girl who was whispering to a heavy-looking man with tattoos marked all around his face.

‘’ Is there any other reason?’’ Lucifer asked, curious about his thinking.

‘’Well,’’ He frowned and showed with his gaze the girl who was guiding them to the FOURTH CIRCLE. ''She seems to be your liking.''

Lucifer’s cheeks were now heated with a shade of red.’’She... ’’ Her gaze fell to the girl and back to Ukko.’’ I just met her.’’ She explained to him as if it was something to hide.

‘’Oh, poor child, you never had any fun.’’He replied dramatically.

‘’I am not you, Ukko'' Lucifer frowned at him and kept walking to the girl's side.

"I know your grace but you are now a"

A fugitive? Does that mean I shall lay down every thief that I see catching my interest? Every law, everything that I had been taught is now broken.

No mortal

The girl stopped in front of a painted golden door made of old wood as a man wearing a half helm to cover his mouth was standing in front of the entrance, arms crossed, eyes deadly.

"They are malihher clients," she said to the guard in a happy, childish tone.

They are my new clients.

The guard narrowed his gaze and took two steps from the door, letting the girl open it.

This time, the room was night blue, with light curtains dressing the room so that could see a few details on the other side.

The girl was right. It reeked of drugs. The thick, heavy sweet scent of drugs.

"It's for the atmosphere, " she explained, sitting on a small chair around a wooden table with a dark dressing. Her tarot deck slowly slept to the fabric.

"Have a seat,’’ she said, showing one more chair on the opposite side of hers.

None of them moved.

The girl scoffed.

"You don't believe me, " she sighed and opened the deck, showing the crystal red cards

"This place is…" Lucifer looked back at the closed door.

"Different from outside?" The girl moved her back away.``Beautiful things hide ugliness darlin." Her hand slipped around her electric collar. ‘’An advice. Don’t be fooled by riches.’’

Lucifer swallowed hard as she moved closer to the table.

"You will take your money after".

If you have to lie, then lie good for the money.

The girl chuckled and started fixing the cards.

"Gladly," she said and showed the cards to her, hiding the truth from her.

"Pick three."

Lucifer gulped harshly and turned back to Ukko who gave her a half shrug instead of an answer.

One was the first one to the left. The second was the middle one. Thursday was the last.

She let them down, without showing them to the girl and slowly gave the close cards to her side.

The girl took a deep breath and her harsh fingers opened the first card, showing the first drawing with the name at the top.

Savior

Daffodils were printed around a dove with emerald green eyes as the sun was right behind it.

"This is your past. Bright, beautiful, and ready for achievements"

"Just like everyone before they ended up here," the girl told her. "It's a setup."

"Patience princess"

There was a thumb from behind. Like a marching sound, ready to bring a dark storm.

Something is wrong

"Your fate is either favorable or disastrous. But with my telling, you will be the one to either make it or prevent it."

The next card is now open.

LABYRINTH

This was just like the name was prevented with red lines drawn all over the Beiges building.

"It seems that you have found your way to the then".

One more bump. This time, Lucifer turned over to Ukko, panicking.

He frowned and looked behind the door.

"Is something the matter?" The girl asked again but there was a peculiar movement around the fabric this time. Steps from outside become rougher, closer.

Something is wrong.

"I think that we have to…" Lucifer pushed the chair back gently and stood up, moving her eyes back to Ukko. He shook his head, understanding that they both had to go.

‘’Pay her up’’Lucifer whispered quickly at him. His hands begin to look for his wallet. For a moment his eyes feel as if something was even more wrong.

‘’I don’t have it.’’ He whispered.

‘’What?’’

‘’Well, this is a disappointment.'' The girl complained. Both Ukko and Lucifer turned to her, noticing that she had his wallet in her fingers, counting each of the coins.’’You are not as rich as I thought.’’Her dark eyes looked at them just like the rest of the citizens in Diyu did. Painted with greed.

The wind became cold. Wind? There couldn’t be wind in the area of forsaken.

Because the wind was a change of motion behind her. An attack. Lucifer turned back to see four men jumping to Ukko with a pair of daggers hungry to take someone’s life. But the trained disarmed two of them with an instant hit on their faces. His hand slipped into his pocket, lifting his gun to shoot the rest.

Lucifer tried to run to him to raise her voice, to do something but a pair of giant hands pulled her far from the ground.

Her eyes saw Ukko now being kicked outside the room with the door closing as his panicking face was being held at Lucifer’s frightened eyes.

When the light was gone, the girl kept moving freely around the rest of the workers. She was the tiniest among the rest but she seemed to be the one in charge. The one who commanded them. She jerked her head, sending most of them outside. Lucifer tried to find Ukko from inside the crowd but it was pointless. Now, only the man who was restraining her and the girl were standing against her.

‘’Let me go’’Lucifer hissed, kicking her feet in the middle of the air.

Everyone laughed mockingly. Everyone except the girl. Instead, she gave a half-shrug.

‘’Let her go’’She ordered the man calmly.

Disappointed as he was, he set Lucifer free, making her fall to her knees. There was a laugh again. She clenched her belongings as she found one of the fallen daggers near her. With her hand, she took the bottle out of her bag and placed it tight to her fingers, tight.

She flexed her fingers from her free hand, reaching for the dagger and gathering every strength to stand up.

The man behind her growled but the girl halted him to stop.

Lucifer did not understand the reason why but she had to try. She had to escape.

The weight of the blade and the grip were not balanced as the blade was heavy, and not perfectly made, making Lucifer hesitant for a second.

Lucifer was born into a royal family. She knew that her life would always be in danger from everyone, Warlocks, assassins, and family ...she had to learn how to defend herself. She had begged Ukko for it. And every night at the gardens was an almost rough training. But clearly, not rough enough.

As she turned her head to the girl's side, she grabbed her fist and pushed her away one step. When she was staring at the floor, she let out a small laugh, and then her dark eyes returned to her.

She attacked again, this time Lucifer also tried to punch her. Despite Lucifer's attacks, the girl placed her left leg on Lucifer's right side and made her return. But Lucifer took another step. The girl flexed her fingers.

And then, her eyes looked at the dagger. Panting heavily, she understood she did not have another choice.

I prefer swords. This is painful.

She thought with her shaking hand.

Moving her right hand with the blade, her left hand keeps her balance behind her back with the bottle clenched tight.

The girl’s eyes lit up for amusement. And Lucifer began to attack.

''Ten seconds'' The girl mumbled as she dodged the attacks. Lucifer bit her lip and tried to move her leg so she could kick her head.

''Five'' She said right behind her. How did she get back there? Didn't Lucifer hear her or see her? Using the liquid in her hand, she made a fist as she pushed the dagger toward the girl's stomach. She heard her gasping for air as the blade found her skin. Four She thought inside her head, playing the girl's game. She turned one of her legs on the back and twirled around. Three. Lucifer placed her hand on the girl's slender throat with the broom and pushed her body back to the wall. Two. She twisted the dagger and leaned the sharp part closer to her bronze skin.

She scoffed with pride. ''Seems that I got you now. The girl's eyes moved up and down, shocked with a terrified expression. She moved her head back, exposing the end of the helm. Right at her ears with a rubber holder.

Lucifer's hand seized the helm by her ear, pulling it away from the girl's mouth with saliva drooling from inside. A long dagger had carved hideous scars from her mouth to the end of her face, making her skin look swollen.

Monstrous.

''Please'' The girl begged, lifting her arms, showing that she was giving up to Lucifer's mercy. Her eyes scanned the surroundings while her mouth inhaled heavily, pleading.

''Who are you? Who sent you?'' Lucifer asked nervously, turning back to the silent giant man.

''Please spare me. I will tell you everything.'' She whimpered shakily, bringing Lucifer's lips into a proud grin. ''I don't want to do this. I was forced to'' Fat tears streamed down her face, her lips shaking like leaves.

What am I doing? Lucifer asked herself as she pulled the dagger further from the girl and tried to look away from her puppy eyes.

As she spoke, the girl's lips twitched as her scar looked deeper than before.

''Is this what you wanted to hear me say, Princess?''' She spoke with a brooding and deeper voice than before. A grin formed around her lips as she leaned closer to Lucifer's earlobe, avoiding the sharp blade.

''One'' She whispered in her ear, sending chills down Lucifer's spine.

The girl saw Lucifer's face lifted. Her balance was unsteady.

She placed her hand on her face, pushing her back so she could cover her eyes. Her hand that clutched the dagger was shaking. ''I will take it from here Princess'' She said and took the dagger with ease. However, she opened her palm, causing it to fall to the floor.

She lifted her leg and kicked directly at Lucifer's stomach.

Her body was breaking as she knelt and gasped for air. The girl walked closer to her and looked at her lilac eyes that were staring at her empty hazel ones with anger. The girl groaned and looked at her feist. The feist had everything. There was red liquid in a small bottle. Suddenly her eyes changed shape. Finally, her entire face exhibited a shocking expression. Was it another act?

''This will be interesting'' the girl said, turning back to her target. Lucifer forced her hands to the ground and pushed her upper body to stand up, but it was too late.

‘’What is this?’’ The tall man moved to the girl’s side, looking at the bottle. The girl moved back and took Ukko’s pistol from the ground.

She aimed first at Lucifer and then with a deep breath and a curled smile, at the man.

‘’What are you doing?’’ He asked her as she covered her ear with her free hand.

The man’s eyes snapped in fear and anger as he tried to find a way to attack her.

‘’KOSANA’’ He cursed at her. That was his last word as a bullet found his heart.

His fall made the entire ground shake. Blood began to move to Lucifer’s side, making her sake. There was a warm kiss of death on her face, letting her eyes burn from pain. It was too late until she realized that the kiss was the man’s hot blood.

She tried to scream but the girl did not even let her catch a break to think of her next move.

‘’My deepest apologies princess'' The girl moved to Lucifer, throwing the last card at her. It was painted pitch black. So dark that Lucifer could see herself reflected in it. And at the end of the card was the name written, which made Lucifer's face red.

THE FOOL

The girl kicked Lucifer's head, making her pass out on the dirty floor. Her head was burning. It was light. Her vision became blurry as the girl spoke to her. And the bottle was free from her hand. The voice was an echo. She had to stand up. She could not stay down, waiting for her death. She could not die there. But her body was too weak. The only thing she could do now was close her eyes.

''But my boss needs your presence'' She emerged, moving left and right. ''And for me''

Lucifer trembled and twitched her brows, forcing her eyes to stay up.

''You are my ticket to freedom''