Chapter 97

Irene

The stage was set, the plan meticulously laid out. It was time to put the plan into motion, to set the gears of destiny in motion. My stomach churned with a nervous energy, the anticipation and excitement of what was to come. As the sun slowly slipped below the horizon, the full moon gleamed in the sky like a silver coin. The stage was ready, the players in place, and the game was about to begin.

I found myself trembling as the figure of my father, Lucifer, emerged from the shadows of the clearing. A cold sweat broke out across my skin as his imposing presence loomed over me, the devil himself standing before me. His booming voice sent shockwaves through my body, and I couldn't help but take a small step back in terror. My mind raced, struggling to find the words to respond. "I... er... I..." I stuttered, my thoughts scattered by the sheer weight of his powerful presence.

He stepped closer, his gaze ablaze with crimson fury. 'You youngsters are always up to no good. First it was Victoria, then your dear brothers. And now...' His words caught in his throat as Tay plunged the enchanted blade we had all anointed with our own blood into his back, piercing his very soul. The dagger sliced through muscle and bone, delving straight into his dark heart.

Carter

My insides coiled with tension, jolting me from foot to foot, the seconds stretching into an eternity. Dread crept over me, coalescing into a mass of raw anxiety. It was then that I saw him, Lucifer looming before me, his eyes brimming with savage rage. A bellow tore from his lips, a deafening cry of retribution. He charged at me with all the fury of a caged beast, but I refused to cower. I pushed my hands forward, summoning every last shred of power to banish him to another realm. Yet it was not enough. Our bodies collided with a sickening thud, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Beneath the crushing weight of his body, I fought to breathe as his fist rained down upon me. But just when I thought all was lost, an unexpected savior appeared, tossing my attacker aside with ease. Elijah. In one swift motion, he hoisted me to my feet, and I clung to him gratefully.

"I'm sorry I'm late," came Kingsley's voice from behind us, and I turned to see him standing tall and resolute. Together, the three of us stood before the Prince of Darkness himself. And there was something strange in his eyes, something that didn't belong to the Devil. Fear.

Come, Carter!" Kingsley bellowed, seizing my hand as Elijah seized the other. The strength of their magic coursed through me, intertwining with my own. With a mighty surge, we unleashed our power, a force so immense that even Lucifer was unable to withstand it. The Prince of Darkness erupted into a cloud of inky black ash, vanquished before our collective might.

As the final speck settled on the ground, I collapsed onto my knees, gasping for air. Had it truly ended? After all we went through, could it finally be finished?

"Excellent work, my comrades," Kingsley uttered, but his gaze betrayed a melancholic undertone.

"Elijah, the moment has arrived," he announced, his voice laden with emotion.

I raised myself to a standing position, confused at Kingsley's words. "What moment?" I inquired.

"It's time for me to journey towards the magnificent light," Elijah stated, although the sorrow in his grin was evident.

"What! No!" The words left my lips in a frantic outburst as I stared at my dear friend. "But...how can this be?"

"Carter, my time here has come to an end," he spoke with a solemn tone, his form slowly dissipating into the ether. "I stayed because I felt that I was needed, but now...now it is time for me to move on."

My heart weighed heavy with sorrow and disbelief as I struggled to comprehend the reality of his departure. "We will meet again someday," he assured me, his words as ethereal as his presence.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I managed to choke out a final farewell. "I love you, man. Take care of yourself and our friends." His voice echoed around me, a haunting melody that lingered long after he was gone, leaving me alone in the void where my dear friend once stood.

Lilly

"So, it appears that I am the devil," I murmured, my eyes fixated on Irene in utter disbelief. "Father has passed away, and the underworld is in dire need of a commanding presence." She explained calmly, unruffled by the gravity of her words. "But why choose me, when we have Yoongi and Tay, who are better suited for the role?" I asked, feeling completely out of my depth. Becoming the ruler of the underworld was not a prospect I had ever entertained.

"You bear the weight of being the first born my dear," Irene said, giving my back a gentle pat and flashing a smile that could light up the darkest of alleys. "But never fear, we'll be here to support you. You are not alone." Her words filled me with warmth and affection for my beloved siblings, yet a nagging thought crept at the back of my mind - they were keeping something from me.

We shall deal with whate'er fate may bring us when it comes to pass. Our present focus must be on bettering this world through my reign as Queen of the underworld. A fresh start, a new chapter for all of us.

The End