Chapter 29

Now that he stood still Lucian could take a closer look at him. The man was tall and well built, with black hair that reached his shoulder and a tanned skin. His eyes were a mixture of brown and green and they stared at him with curiosity.
"You should have protected that fine face of yours." He said waving his dagger in circular motion.
"Who are you?" Lucian asked.
"Are you asking my name or are you asking if I am a friend or a foe?"
"I am asking both." Lucian said.
"Human name? Roshan. Demon name? Ramiel. Friend or a foe? Neither."
Demon name?
"What are you?"
Roshan or Ramiel grinned, showing long pointed fangs. "What do you think I am?" He said flipping the daggers between his fingers.
He was a demon. Why wasn't Lucian very surprised? In fact he thought that he might just have found the answers to his questions.
"And do you know what I am?" Lucian asked.
The man with too many names tilted his head to one side and arched a brow. "Do you know what you are?" He said pointing his dagger at him.
Lucian wasn't sure yet. Even though he proved to be a witch he felt like a demon. Something inside of him whispered to him everyday that he was a demon.
"I believe I am demon."
"Demons don't believe they are demons, they know they are demons. It's inside of you and it reminds you everyday of what you are."
This man just described what Lucian felt everyday. It meant only one thing, Lucian was indeed a demon. Then what about him being a witch?
"These things that you killed..." Lucian began.
"Yes, these hideous things were also demon. Different kind of demons." He explained.
Different kind?
"And by the way, burning doesn't work on demons, we are creatures of fire, and when you kill them you need to stab their spine. That's the only way they die."
"Why are you telling me? I could kill you."
The man swung his daggers and put them back in their pockets on each side of his h.i.p.s. "You could try." He smirked and began to walk away.
The man had confidence. Lucian still had some unanswered question so he followed him.
"Thank you for saving me...Re..Ro.."
"Roshan." He prefered to be called his human name. Interesting.
"And you are Lucian."
"How do you know that?"
"Every demon knows that."
"Why? How?"
Roshan came to a halt, then turned to him. "Because you are half witch and we hate witches."
Half demon half witch, that's what he was according to Roshan. But his father was neither witch nor demon, then maybe...he wasn't his father at all.
Then who was?
The devil?
What if the rumors about him were true after all? It could be possible. If demons existed and he was one then everything else could be possible as well.
"You said different kind of demons, what did you mean?"
"Different rank. Demons are either created, turned or born. Those created are the first demons and highest in rank. Those demons offsprings are the born ones and next in rank and the turned ones are lowest in rank. There are other ranks in between but it's a long story." He explained.
"I want to know." Lucian said.
Roshan sighed. "Alright, very short. If you are born your rank depends on if both your parents are created, only one of them, or none. If both are created then you are in a higher rank. If you are turned, your rank depends on who turned you. The more powerful the demon who turned you is the higher rank you are."
"Which rank are you?"
"I am a born demon and both my parents are created."
He was very high in rank. Lucian could actually feel the power that emanated from him.
"And the devil?"
Roshan came to a halt. "What about him?"
"Does he exist?"
"He does indeed."
"Do you know him?"
Roshan paused for a moment then spoke. "Yes."
"I want to meet him."
Irene, Klara and I were back home after helping all the soldiers and providing them with food. The moment I saw them, looking like they did, I really wanted Lucian to punish his brother in the worst way. He didn't deserve mercy after all the inhuman things he did to all of them.
"Don't be sad. Think positively. At least they are alive." Irene said trying to cheer me up.
"Irene, I really want to punish him." I said unable to control my anger.
"Don't worry. He will get what he deserves. I'll make sure of it now that the curse is broken."
Right. I almost forgot about the curse.
"How did it break?" I asked.
"I am not sure. I had always been able to watch Lucian with the help of some magic but one day I just couldn't see him. I instantly knew something was wrong and just then Lothaire appeared and I could see it on his face. I could see that the thing I dreaded the most had happened. My son had died."
"But he is alive." I said.
Irene nodded. "He died but he came back to life and when he did he changed. That's why I couldn't watch him anymore and that's why I truly believed that he was dead."
"Can demons come back to life?"
"Actually they cannot, but they are very difficult to kill. I guess its because he is a demon and a witch. He has the entity of both which means, when one dies the other one saves." She explained.
"How do you know this?"
"I am only guessing. It happened to me after all. I died and came back. It's a long story." She said when she saw the confused look on my face.
"Irene? Lothaire told me the curse would kill you if you tried to save Lucian..."
"You think I value my life more than my sons happiness and safety?" She cut me off looking hurt.
"I didn't mean..."
"Yes you did. I know what you think before you even think it."
"Alright, I did. Lucian suffered so much and I just don't understand that you as his mother did nothing because you could die." Now I was mad.
"Yes I could die if I helped him but that's not why I didn't. It's because he could die. My mother knew that if only for a moment I could hold my son I would not regretting dying. Therefore she made the curse a bit more complex. If I ever met Lucian he would die and that was my punishment and if Lothaire ever met Lucian I would die and that was Lothaires punishment. I had several times forced Lothaire to help Lucian but he refused because..." She had a hard time finishing her sentence because she had been crying while speaking.
"Because you almost died. He told me. I am sorry Irene. I shouldn't have said something I knew nothing about."
"Do you know what it feels like to...to have your baby taken away from you right after you give birth to him? Do you know what it feels like to see him grow alone, to see him hungry and not be able to feed him, to see him cry and not be able to hug him, to see him get hurt and not...and not be able to protect him. I am sure you don't. There is no worse torture than that." Her tears ran down her face like rivers. "I'll pay back all those who hurt him. I will."
I felt so guilty for hurting her like this. "I am sorry."
"Don't be. You are not the one to be sorry. The ones who hurt him on the other hand will be very sorry." She stood up and wiped her tears away. "I have something to show you, follow me."
I followed her silently and she took me to what seemed like a bas.e.m.e.nt. It was dark but with the snap of her finger the room lit up. Somewhere in the back of the bas.e.m.e.nt a man was chained to the walls, his body covered with bruises and burn marks. His head hung as if he didn't have the strength to hold it up.
"Do you know him?" Irene asked grabbing his hair and turning his head up so that I could see his face.
It was Luke. The one who betrayed us. He opened his eyes trying to look and when he saw me his eyes widened.
"Yo..your highness. Pp...please save me. I...I.." He could barely talk and seemed to be hurting a lot. "I didn't mean to betray you. Please your highness, I'll do whatever you want." He begged.
Irene looked at me as if letting me decided what I wanted to do with him. "It's too late to do something now." I said remembering what happened to Lucian in that dark well. I could just not forgive him.
"I guess no one will save you." Irene said letting go of his head. "Come Hazel."
"Please your highness. Save me." He yelled as Irene and I left him behind in the cold and dark bas.e.m.e.nt.
"Don't worry. You won't be alone. I'll make sure to send the devil." Irene called before closing the door.
After we took a few steps I heard the most agonizing scream.
"He is getting what he deserves." Irene said simply. "I would have brought Pierre here but I am sure Lucian wants to punish his brother himself. I didn't want to take that away from him."
I nodded understanding what she meant. We stopped in front of the guest room where I sleep. It was late but I wasn't sleepy at all.
"Should I serve you my special tea then?" She asked.
Suddenly it hit me. Irene, my maid at first, then my friend and now my mother in law and I was still speaking casually with her and even letting her serve me tea. Oh no.
Irene smiled. "It's alright my dear. I like that we speak casually and remain friends. I hope you don't start treating me differently."
How could it be alright? I even talked to her about my problems with Lucian and she teached me how to...seduce him. Good lord. How embarrassing.
Now Irene laughed. "You worry too much. I am not only your husband's mother I am your friend as well."
I felt my cheeks burn. It would take a while to get used to the idea that my mother in law was my friend as well.
"Go inside I'll bring some tea." She said opening the door and giving me a slight push before leaving.
I walked inside and found a nightgown on my bed. Irene had everything ready for me as always. I slid into the gown and began to untangle my braided hair when Irene came back. As always her tea smelled wonderful as she put the tray on the table.
"Let me help you." She said grabbing a brush from the dresser then standing behind me.
"It's alright. I can do it myself."
"It's not the first time I am brushing your hair besides I like doing it so don't worry." She smiled. "When I was pregnant even though everyone expected me to give birth to a boy I wanted a girl. I just loved the idea of dressing her up, brushing her hair, talking to her about female things but most of all I wanted to teach her everything. I wanted to make her a strong and wise woman who could be a role model for other women. I wanted to teach her that women could do as much if they are given the opportunity."
"If you had a dotter, I am sure she feel very lucky."
I would. My mother barely taught me anything. All she did was scold me when she thought I did something unlady like.
"What happened when you found out it was a boy?" I asked.
"To be honest, the last days of my pregnancy I was in a lot of trouble. My mother and the coven had found out that I was pregnant with the devils child so they were planning to kill him as soon as he was born but after begging my mother she decided to put a curse instead. At that moment I was just happy that my child was safe."
"So they didn't know from the beginning?"
"No. They thought he was the kings child."
Right. She was married to the king, then how did she meet Lothaire?
"It's a long story." She said.
"I would love if you told me the whole story. I am curious."
"It will be a long night."
"I am not tired." I said.
"Alright then." She put the brush down then took me hand. "Come."
She made us sit on the bed then took both my hands in hers. "How about I show you instead?"
"You could?" I asked surprised.
She nodded.
"Yes I want to see." I said eager.
"Then close your eyes."
I closed my eyes and slowly vivid images appeared.
I saw the back of a girl running. She had long black hair that swayed side to side as she ran greeting and waving to people she passed by. She seemed to know them very well.
"Good morning uncle Ben." She waved to an old man who was just about to open his store.
"Good morning Nyx." He waved back and the girl continued running.
She stopped when she saw a women trying to pluck some apples from a tree but had a hard time reaching.
"Good morning, Mrs Pearl."
"Oh, good morning Nyx. Good you are here. I would need your help to..."
Before she finished her sentence Nyx had already climbed the tree and was now throwing apples down into Mrs Pearls basked.
"It's enough. Thank you dear." Mrs Pearl smiled.
Nyx climbed down. "Of course. Anything to have a taste of your apple pie." She winked.
Mrs Pearl laughed. "How did you know I would make an apple pie?"
"What would you need so many apples for otherwise?"
"Clever girl." Mrs Pearls said clapping Nyx on the shoulder. "Come by later and take some pie home with you."
"I will. I'll see you later Mrs Pearl."
Nyx continued running and helping a few more people on her way. People in her village seemed to like her a lot. She was vibrant and beautiful, charming everyone around her with her personality.
"Nyx! Come here!" A woman called standing at the doorstep to a little house with arms crossed and a displeased look on her face.
The smiled that had been on Nyx's face the whole time disappeared as she walked up to the woman. "Mother."
"How many times have I told you to not run around like a child. You are going to be a leader and a queen so act like one."
"But mother, I told you I don't want to be a leader or a queen. I want to marry someone I love."
Her mother turned her heels and walked inside. "Selfish as always. Haven't I told you that the coven comes first and your desires after. The demons are increasing their power and we have to do the same."
Nyx followed her mother inside. "By making me a queen? How is that going to help? It's not like queens rule."
Her mother stopped and turned back around. "I am not talking about you. I am talking about your son. I saw him in my dream, I saw him become a great ruler. You know what my dreams mean right?" Her mother asked.
"Yes. They become true." Nyx's shoulders fell in disappointment.
"You know that I didn't go to the king myself and asked him to marry you. He came here on his own after having seen you somewhere. He was bewitched by your beauty and he isn't bad looking himself." Her mother tried to cheer her up.
Nyx had seen him. He did look good and he had seemed like a gentlemen but Nyx was used to living freely, and getting married to the King would force her to sit locked in a big castle with people serving her and following her everywhere. It wasn't the King she was opposing, she didn't know him after all, it was the lifestyle of a queen she didn't want.
"Sometimes we have to sacrifice a few things for bigger purpose." Her mother explained. "Now, your wedding is soon so behave yourself." She returned to her stern self.
Nyx knew that her mother and the coven would not let this opportunity slip away and they would do everything to make her marry the King so she just decided to accept her fate. Maybe God had planned something better for her.
But the day came too soon, when she would be taken away from her home and into a new one. The King had sent a lot of gift to her family and a carriage for her to be taken home. She said goodbye to her family and then she was on her way to a man she knew nothing about. There was no doubt that she would use her magic if she had to.
Suddenly the carriage stopped on its way and she heard the sound of clinking swords. "My lady run!" Someone called.
They had been attacked.
Nyx quickly got out of the carriage to help the men but realized they were already dead.
"Kill her!" One of the enemies ordered. Nyx gathered her strength to use her magic but to her surprise she failed. Her magic was not working. She tried again but to know avail. What had her mother done?
The man walking toward her seemed to have changed his mind when he saw her face. "It would be a waste to kill her sir." He said eyeing her up and down.
The one who gave the command turned around and once he saw her he licked his lips.
"I think you are right." He agreed.
Nyx took a few steps back but the men surrounded her and two of them grabbed each of her arm holding her in place.
Suddenly the sound of a horse galloping from a distance made the men stopp in their tracks. A man with a black cloak riding on a white horse came into sight. As he neared Nyx called for help.
"Shut up!" The soldier yelled.
When the man was close enough he stopped. Nyx got her hopes up even though she didn't think a single man could defeat all those armed men.
"Continue further like you have seen nothing and you will live." The commander spoke.
The man in the black cloak that hid most of his face was silent for a moment but then he climbed down the horse and walked up to the commander. "Let the Lady go and I'll spare your life." He spoke in an icy tone.
"Alright then. If you want to die fine by me."
The soldier was about to draw his sword but the man in the black cloak already snapped his head off. The other men stared with shock and began to hesitate.
"Someone else who wants to die? I'll make it quick." Just his voice made them tremble in fear. One of them took the courage and moved forward but his arms were shaking.
"I'll give you one last chance to leave, with your body intact." The man warned.
They looked at each other before retreating carefully and then running away. Something about the man's presence was too frightening. Nyx could feel it. He was one of her enemies, but why did he save her? Maybe he had other, worse plans for her.
The man removed the cap from his head and Nyx could finally see his face. He was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen, yet frightening. Her mother had told her that demons looked beautiful but she said to not be deceived by their beauty because it was only a mask to hide all the ugliness behind. Even though Nyx knew she couldn't help but gawke at the man in front of her.
No! He was not a man, he was a demon she reminded herself. A very powerful one and he probably just saved her to kill her in a more painful way.
"What do you want?" She asked.
His expression remained the same. "What made you think I want something?"
"Why did you save me?"
"You called for help." He said simply reminding her.
"You are a demon." She pointed still suspicious of his intentions.
"The King of demons." He corrected.
Nyx froze in place. The King of demons? He was the devil himself.
God! She was in a big trouble. What would he do to her? Especially now when her magic was not working. While weighing different options the man turned around and climbed his horse.
He was leaving her?
"I see your magic is not working. I would take you home but I am sure you don't trust me." He said.
Was this one of his tricks? He was the master of manipulation after all.
"My magic is working just fine." She lied.
"Alright then." He said turning his horse and then riding away.
Nyx was confused. Did he just leave her despite knowing that she was a witch? She shook her head still in disbelief that she had met the devil and he actually let her live. She had a story to tell but first she needed to figure out how to get home. To her new home.
The sun went down and Nyx had still not found her way to the castle and her magic had still not returned. This was all her mother's fault. Why would she take her magic away when she had agreed to marry the king. She wouldn't have agreed of she had planned to escape.
It was getting darker and darker and she was still clueless as where she was going. She had asked some people for direction but that didn't help at all. This was bad, walking alone at night when she was the kind to attract attention and now some men were already following her. She tried to pick up her steps but they kept following her.
"Hey, you beautiful lady. Why are you running away?" One of them called.
They were close so Nyx began to run afraid.
"Hey! Wait!" They started to chase her.
Just when she rounded a corner someone grabbed her arm and with a pull, a magnetic force swept her away. She knew this feeling and soon she found herself somewhere else, outside an old dark castle.
With the devil.
"I knew you wanted something." She said afraid backing away from him.
His icy eyes gazed into hers. "You are right. Maybe I do." He said taking a step toward her.
She held her arms out to stop him from coming any closer. "What do you want?" She asked looking around for an escape, as if that would be possible.
"Your name?"
What?! Nyx wasn't sure if she heard it right.
"If I tell you my name, will you let me go?"
"You mean let you go back to the streets were you can get r.a.p.ed."
"It's not like you would do anything less." She retorted.
His face that had remained without expression now looked upset.
"I don't force myself on anyone." He said in a cold tone.
Nyx could see that he got upset by her remark.
"Fine. Take me home, to my husband and I'll tell you my name."
"Deal."
In a blink of an eye she stood in front of another castle she recognized. This was where the king of Decresh lived, her now husband.
"How do I know you will leave me here once I tell you my name?" She asked.
"We made a deal and I am the devil. I never break my part of the deal." He explained.
She shouldn't believe him but she did. Maybe this was how easily he manipulated people.
"Nyx. My name is Nyx."
For a short moment his expression softened and looked at her in a way that made her shiver for all different reasons. What did he want? It was not her name she was sure.
"Nyx.." the way he said her name made her heart flutter. " If you ever want to make a deal, just call me."
"And what should I call you?" She asked.
"You know my name. Everyone does."
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. His lips were cold yet heat spread through body.
"Good night, Nyx." And then he vanished into thin air.
"What happened? Why did you stop?" I had just began to enjoy the story when the pictures suddenly disappeared.
I looked at Irene who looked like she had seen a ghost. "What is wrong?" I asked concerned.
"He is here." She said. "My son is here."
Lucian and Roshan arrived in front of a white mansion that loomed behind a big iron gate. The gate opened by itself and Roshan stepped inside. Lucian followed him silently until they arrived at the front door.
"Are you sure you want to meet Lucifer?" Roshan asked turning to him.
"Anything I should know before walking inside?" Lucian asked in turn.
Roshan paused for a moment as if contemplating what to say. "Nothing I can summarize." He said then opened the door and led the way.
They walked through long empty halls with some strange paintings on the wall. Even the ceiling was painted with some dark, strange yet mysterious figures that sometimes seemed to be looking at him. They walked past several doors till Roshan stopped in front of one. This door was different from the others that were only a plain white. This one was made of old wooden with some shapes and symbols carved into it. Just like the gate the door opened by itself and Roshan gestured for him to go inside first this time.
Lucian took a moment before stepping inside, feeling a bit nervous as he looked around the big empty room. No one was there so he turned to Roshan but he was already gone and the door suddenly shut by itself.
"You came to see me?" Suddenly a cold voice spoke.
Lucian recognized this voice and as he turned back around he recognized the man standing in front of him as well. It was the silver haired man in his dreams. This time he could see him clearly. He had the coldest blue eyes Lucian had ever seen and the palest skin. It complemented his hair in a strange way, but what caught his attention the most was the man's facial features. They were a mixture of feminine and masculine, angelic and devilish that it made you gawk in fascination yet keep a distance in fear.
Could he be the devil?
Yes. Lucian could feel his dark powerful energy.
"Yes," Lucian began nervously. "We have met before I believe."
"We have." The man spoke taking a few steps forward.
This man or the devil had come to meet him before. Why?
"I am Lucian. The seventh prince of decresh... who is believed to be dead now and before that people believed me to be the devils son."
The devil just looked at him with no expression on his face. Lucian didn't know what to say next so he just decided to get to the point. What he was about to ask made no sense but after everything he went through he truly believed that everything could be possible.
"Are you my father?" He said the words quickly as if he didn't want to hear what he was saying himself.
Lucian had at least expected the devil to be a bit surprised but he wasn't. Instead he was quite for what felt like hours before he replied.
"Yes."
Yes. The word echoed in Lucians mind. He had decided on his way here to not be surprised by whatever happened but he felt as though someone punched him in the gut. He felt sick, angry and confused but most of all betrayed.
The man who was claiming to be his father stood there indifferent to the whole situation. There wasn't even a tiny bit of emotion on his face.
"Why...why would I believe you?" Lucian asked.
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't believe it already." The man stated.
It was true. If the devil was his father it would explain everything that had happened to him so far. It would explain his powers, it would explain why his father, the king hated him so much and it would explain the dark side of him, that he usually called his demon without knowing why. Everything would make sense, yet nothing made sense right now.
Why did he grow up with someone other than his father? Why did he have to endure all these years of confusion and loneliness?
Somehow Lucian knew the answer. His father didn't want him, and here he was, looking for him like an idiot and spoiling his peace.
No one wanted him. Nor his real father nor his fake father.
"It's true I didn't want you but your mother did. She wants you very much."
Lucian got even more confused. "My mother?"
Why didn't he think about it. If his father turned out to be the devil than his mother could very much be alive.
"Yes, your mother. Her name is Nyx and she would very much like to meet you."
"My mother...wants..." Lucian mind became a fog and his head began to throb in pain.
A part of him wanted to meet his mother, but the other part of him, the angry part didn't want to. All those years he had spent alone and none of his parents bothered to see him so why would he want to see them now?
"I asked what I wanted to ask. Now if you will excuse me I have somewhere to be." Lucian said before turning to leave.
The devil didn't try to stop him and Lucian expected nothing less. He couldn't say that he didn't feel hurt or disappointed though.
As he walked through the halls a part of him hoped his father would come after him and at least explain why he abandoned him but he knew that wouldn't happen. No one wanted him.
No one.
"Lucian."