Chapter 33

Without a word Lucian bent over and then carried her up and to the bed. He lay her down carefully and then palpated her puls. "She is alive." He said calmly.
What happened to her? Lothaire?
Just as I thought of him I felt icy air just behind my back and I knew immideatly that he was there.
I turned to him. "Lothaire? What happened to her?"
"She is just a bit unwell. I'll take her with me."
He walked passed me and to the bed were she lay unconsious. Just when he was about to lift her up Lucian grabbed his wrist to prevent him from touching her. "You are not taking her anywhere." Lucian said sternly looking his father in the eyes.
"And why is that?" Lothaire asked.
"She is a witch and you are the devil. How do I know you are not keeping her against her will?"
For the first time I saw Lothaire looking confused. "You think I am manipulating her?"
"Why would a mother not visit her son?"
My eyes widened when I realized what Lucian was thinking. He thought that Lothaire was the one who kept his mother away from him.
"Is it because she is a witch? Is it because I am half witch that you wanted me dead?" Lucian stared Lothaire in the eyes demanding an answer while still holding his wrist in a steel grip.
"I would never stop your mother from visiting you." Lothaire spoke.
"I'll ask her myself once she wakes up, until then she will stay here."
.
"Irene? Are you awake?"
Irene opened her eyes but everything was a blur and it took her awhile before she could see Hazel looming over her with a concerned expression.
"Haz...el." Her voice cracked as if she hadn't spoken for days. "How long was I gone?"
"Two days." Hazel spoke. "You got me worried. What happened?"
Irene recalled sneaking into her sons room at night to take his pain away. She had practiced the spell for days and even though he had told her he didn't want to she couldn't let him stay in pain. But as she took some of his pain away she realized she couldn't even handle half of it. It was too much and knowing that her son was in so much pain, pained her even more. She wanted to take all of it away so she pushed herself over the limit and ended up in this condition.
One thing she would never forget was seeing Lucian in that dark well, getting burned over and over again. She would make sure Pierre went through the same and even worse.
"I haven't slept for days, that's probably why." She lied. "Where is Lucian?"
"Do you want me to bring him?" Hazel asked.
"No, its alright. I am sure he is busy." Irene was nervous to meet her son. She didn't know what to say to him to make everything alright. She felt like the worst mother on earth.
"You haven't eaten for days. Let me help you up and then we will have some lunch." Hazel suggested.
Irene nodded.
After taking a bath and getting some new clothes to wear she sat at the garden with Hazel while some maids served lunch.
"Did...Lothaire come to bring me?"
Hazel who was chewing her food paused and looked at her.
She nodded and swallowed the food in her mouth. "Yes but...Lucian didn't let him take you away. He believes Lothaire is the one who kept you away from visiting him." She explained.
Irene knew her son was in too much pain so he was trying to find different reasons as to why his mother didn't visit him. It was understandable.
Hazel put her fork down slowly on the table as if she wanted to say something important. "Irene, I want to help but I need you to show me the rest of your story. I want to know everything."
Irene nodded. "Alright."
Once they were done eating they went back to the chamber and Irene decided to show the rest of her tragic story to Hazel and this time she would not leave any details out.
"Close your eyes." Irene ordered while holding Hazel's hand.
Hazel closed her eyes and Irene took her back in time, to when she was married to the King.
Weeks had passed since she arrived to her knew home and so far she didn't like it here. Her husband treated her well and she was his favorite but his wives and mistresses were a pain to deal with. They envied her and felt threatened by her beauty and wits. Nyx wouldn't mind if she had other friends she could spend time with, but she was utterly alone. The other wives and mistresses would invite each other from time to time without including her and make sure to spread bad rumors about her every time they got the chance.
If the King didn't believe in her she would have been in trouble, but she had him by her side. She was thankful for that yet he didn't take away the emptiness she felt. He was only there at night, to satisfy his needs without thinking of satisfying hers and then in the morning she was back to laying alone in her bed again. She didn't want this life and she decided to speak to her husband about it. Maybe he could let her stay with her family from time to time. He often granted her wishes.
When the sun went down Nyx dressed beautifully and waited for her husbands arrival. He caught her attention as soon as he walked into the room. He was handsome, she couldn't deny it but tonight he was something more. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but he made her heart race.
"My lord." She stood up from her seat and walked over to him.
She took his hand to kiss his knuckles but he turned his hand and kissed hers instead. His lips felt cold yet his kiss warmed her. Strange, she thought. He never made her feel that way.
Nyx helped him take off his crown and his royal robe before he sat down at the table. A maid served him his night tea and Nyx went to sit in front of him. She studied him carefully while he took a sip of his tea and wondered why he seemed so different. If her mother had returned her magic she would have been able to read his thoughts.
"My lord, I have a request." She began
He put down his cup and looked at her carefully. "And what is your request?" He asked.
Nyx got a strange feeling as he spoke but she shook it away. "I was wondering if I could stay with my family from time to time. I know that the rules don't allow such thing but can't you bend the rules for my sake once. I feel..."
"Suffocated." He finished.
Nyx looked up at him surprised. How did he know?
He stood up and reached his hand out for her to grab. She took his hand and he drew her into his embrace. His closeness made her heart skip a beat. "If you feel that way, why have you never called for me yet?"
Called for him?
She looked into his eyes and realized that this gaze did not belong to her husband.
"Lucifer!" Startled she pushed him away.
Lucifer let his disguise fall and showed his true self.
"What do you want?" Nyx asked.
She knew the Devil never wasted his time on meaningless encounters.
Lucifer narrowed his cold gaze. "I have been unable to stop thinking about you since I met you. I believe you are the one."
The one? Did he mean his mate? She shook her head. Nyx knew demons could know if someone was their mate with only a few encounters but she had only met him once.
"I believe not. I am married."
"That doesn't change anything." He said coldly.
She knew nothing could change the fact that he thought she was the one. Demons claimed their mates despite everything.
"I am a witch." She said hoping the hatred between their species would make him change his mind.
"I know. It still doesn't change anything."
"I don't want to be your mate." She said taking a few steps back.
Spending her life with the Devil? What kind of nightmare was this?
"I thought you wanted to leave this place." He pointed.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that I want to leave with you."
He strode toward he with determined steps until he trapped her between him and the wall. "I won't force you to come with me but I can tell you this. I would never let you spend your days alone, or leave you frustrated at night, or leave you alone in bed in the morning, or stop you from living your life the way you want. I would never suffocate you. I would treat you like an equal, give you the life you deserve."
Nyx looked into his cold eyes that didn't match his warm words. The life he described was tempting but he was the Devil and tempting people was his specialty.
He took a few steps back, "Think about it. I'll come back tomorrow." He said before vanishing and just as he promised he was there the night after.
Her husband had just taken her to bed and once he was done with her he fell asleep, leaving her unsatisfied once again.
Disappointed Nyx slid into her nightgown and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before going out to the garden. She looked up at the sky. If she only had her magic, she would fly among the stars for a while or maybe she would fly away from this place forever. Maybe that's why her mother took away her magic. If she knew she would have protected it.
Suddenly the air became cold and a chill went down her spine. Someone was behind her. Turning around slowly she found him standing there, blending with the darkness as if they were one. His silver hair glowed like the moonlight and his cold blue eyes stared at her with a blatant appreciation. It reminded her that she was only wearing a nightgown which made her wrap the shawl around her shoulders even tighter.
"I am not coming with you." She said.
"People complain too much about their lives, yet when they have the chance to do something about it they don't." He said thoughtful. "Don't you wish to live the way you want?"
"I just wish for you to leave me alone."
He strode toward her slowly. "You are already alone. I wish to take your loneliness away. Together with mine."
Yes, she was alone. Alone, frustrated and unappreciated. She felt useless. No! She felt used and then forgotten. How long would she be able to put up with this?
"How will you take my loneliness away?" She asked.
"Like this." He said lowering his head and then captured her lips with his.
Nyx never knew a kiss could make her so deeply aflamed. She was breathless, her stomach bubbling with excitement as he grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. All rational thoughts fled her head and her body came alive. The intense feeling shocked her and soon she pushed him away appalled and disgusted with herself.
"I can't." She shook her head in denial. "I am married and you...you are the devil."
Yes, he was the devil and he just made her sin. She ran back to her room without looking at him, because if she did she might have changed her mind.
But the devil was persistent and he came every night, at first only stealing kisses but he was also slowly stealing her heart. She found herself opening up to him and trusting him because he always kept his word. Sometimes he would take her away from her boring life and show her the world and sometimes he would just hold her and chase her loneliness away. All that without asking anything in return. Or so she thought.
"Come with me." He said one night.
"I can't."
He grabbed her face between his hands. "Even if I say that I love you? I love you Nyx."
The words echoed in her mind. Words her husband never said to her. Her eyes teared up. Why did the man she loved had to be the devil?
"I can't Lucifer."
"You can, but I can't. I can't stand the thought of you laying in the same bed as that man. I can't stand the thought of him touching you and...I just can't. I feel...suffocated."
It was the first time she saw him vulnerable and at that moment she knew his feelings were true.
"Come with me. I want you...I need you next to me."
She wanted to leave with him so badly but the consequences would be grave. The witches and even the demons would do anything to destroy their relationship. She knew they could never be and that suffocated her. She grabbed his face and kissed him softly while tears ran down her cheeks. This would be the last time, she would let him go. That night she let go as well and they made love under the starry night sky. But who knew the best night in her life would lead to 25 years of misery.
"My Lady, You are pregnant." The midwife told her, excitement clear in her voice.
Nyx should have been dancing with joy but she wasn't. She loved children and she wanted so badly to have her own, so why wasn't she happy? At least her husband would be happy she thought but she was dead wrong.
The king barged into the room, his face red with anger. "Leave!" He told everyone and once everyone left he grabbed her by the neck and pinned her to the bed. His grip was tight, cutting all air away.
"What ...are ..you doing?" She managed to ask while in pain.
"What have you done?" He growled bringing his face close to hers. "Whose child is this?"
Nyx grabbed his wrist and tried to remove his grip but he held her in place. Her eyes teared up.
"It's...yours."
"Don't lie to me!" He yelled letting go of her neck. She took in a sharp breath and then began to cough while holding her neck. "Tell me whos child it is while I am asking?"
With a sore throat, "Why would you think it's someone else's?" She asked.
He grabbed her arm and yanked her out of bed. "I have birds who whisper into my ears and I have been hearing a lot about you but I have been ignoring them. Now you have crossed the line."
Birds? Her mother had once told her that many powerful kings either had help from demons or witches. Why hadn't she listened and which one did whisper things into her husbands ears?
"Tell me you are not bearing a demon's child?" He said utterly disgusted.
Nyx froze in place. This couldn't be possible. She could not be pregnant with the devil's child. She hadn't met Lucifer for a month, she could not be pregnant with his child.
"No! This is not his child." She shook her head. "No!"
"Who is he?" Her husband asked.
Nyx kept shaking her head in denial. "No! It's not." She kept repeating. What would she do now? What would happen to her child?
"I don't need you, or this demon child. Guards!"
Nyx panicked as some guards entered the room.
"Lock her up!" He ordered. "Tomorrow you'll be beheaded infront of everyone."
Beheaded? What was he talking about? What about her child?
The guards grabbed her arms and began to drag her out of the room. "Wait! What are you doing? Let go! This is absurd."
"Let her go!"
It had been so long since she had heard this voice.
Mother.
The guards dropped their hands and left the room as if nothing happened.
Nyx turned around still in shock and shaking in fear. "Mother." She squeaked relieved someone came to her rescue.
Her mother looked very angry as she stared at her husband. "I gave my daughter to you, not so that you could abuse her." She told him.
"You gave her to me yet there is a demon in her w.o.m.b." He said with revolt.
"I'll take care of it, but you won't lay a hand on her."
"You don't give me orders." He spat.
With a twist of her hand, the king fell on his knees, his face twisting with pain. "Don't forget who gave you the power to order people around." Her mother reminded.
Everything fell into place. The witches supported her husband. That's why he was one of the most powerful kings.
"Nyx! Leave us alone." Her mother ordered giving her a stern look.
Nyx hesitated for a while but then left the room with shaky breath. What was going to happen now? Whatever happened she would never let anyone hurt her child.
After what seemed like forever her mother called her inside again. Her husband walked passed her without giving her a look.
"Come here, dear." Her mother said opening her arms.
Nyx was surprised. She had thought that her mother would be furious but she wasn't. Relieved she ran into her mothers embrace and began to cry hysterically.
"I am sorry mother. I was just so alone. I'll never meet him again. I promise."
"It's alright. It's not your fault. He is the devil, tricking people and ruining families is what he had done since the beginning of time."
"Please don't let them hurt my child. I'll do whatever you want." Nyx begged.
Her mother grabbed her face. "No one is going to hurt you. I'll look after you." Her mother promised and just as she had promised she looked after her during her pregnancy.
She had stayed with her all the time, saying that she wouldn't let the devil manipulate her again. At this moment Nyx didn't care about anything than her childs safety but sometimes she wondered what her mother told her husband to make him keep quiet.
"He hates me mother. How do you expect me to live with him? Take me home with you."
"This is your home from now on." Her mother said with finality. "You better get used to it. I never said it would be easy."
Nyx didn't know what plans her mother had for her but as her stomach grew and she was near to giving birth she got a bad feeling. She even had nightmares where her mother took her child away from her. Somehow she knew they weren't just nightmares, they were signs.
And then the day came. After much pain and agony, she heard the cry of her baby. The most beautiful sound in the world.
"It's a boy." The midwife smiled holding the baby.
Nyx her held arms out. She wanted to hold her baby. The midwife placed him in her arms and at that moment all the pain and suffering she went through were gone. She looked at her son. He was the most beautiful sight she had seen. His face so angelic that her heart melted and tears filled her eyes.
She held him close for a while but then she noticed something. His eyes. They were just like the ones in her nightmares, sometimes burning like wild flames and sometimes glowing like molten gold. They were beautiful but her mother would not think the same. She was going to take her child away from her.
Nyx stood up despite all the pain. She was going to run away with her child before her mother came, but just then the door opened and her mother stepped inside.
Nyx tightened her hold around her son while taking a few steps back.
"Nyx my dear..." Her mother began walking toward her slowly.
"No! I won't let you take him."
Her mother sighed. "You are only bringing more evil into the world. You don't need him. You are still young and you can give birth to many more."
"He is a child. How can a child be evil?" Nyx said in his defense.
"He won't be a child forever. Now give him to me." She said reaching her arms out. "I won't let him suffer. It will be quick."
Nyx couldn't hold her tears. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her mother had let her go through childbirth just so that she could kill her child. What could be more evil than that?
"You..." Her throat tightened. "You are evil."
Her mothers face hardened and then she nodded toward the maids.
"No, no, no!" They held her in place while taking her child forcefully away from her arms before giving him to her mother.
Nyx fought, cried and yelled hysterically. "Please mother! Don't hurt him. He is just a child. I'll never forgive you if you do."
But her mother was not listening and that's when Nyx did something she never thought she would. She called Lucifer.
"Lucifer! Lucifer, please help!"
Her mothers eyes widened. "You dare!" She said fuming with anger but there was also fear in her eyes.
"Lucifer!"
And just like that, he appeared to her surprise. Everyone fell to the ground except for Nyx and her mother. Whatever Lucifer did Nyx didn't care. She just wanted him to save their child.
"Shyla." He looked at her mother.
They knew each other?
"Lucifer." Her mother looked surprised but collected herself quickly. "My stupid daughter here thinks that you will save this child. Have you told her that your kind are not supposed to reproduce?"
"No. Have you told her that your kind should not get involved with mine?"
Shyla's face turned into one of distaste and anger. "You both have done something forbidden and you shall be punished for it."
"Mother please." Nyx felt suddenly giddy and her legs couldn't hold her up anymore so she sat down carefully. "Lucifer plea..."
As she sat down she realized there was a pool of blood underneath her feet. She was bleeding. "Mother."
Shyla turned and looked at her daughter and then slowly a frown settled on her forehead. But before she would hurry to her daughter Lucifer was already by her side. "What's wrong? Why are you bleeding so much?" He asked.
With a snap of his fingers he woke the midwife. Nyx couldn't hold her eyes open anymore and her heart slowed down to a painful rate. What was happening to her?
"She is bleeding."
"Then stop the bleeding." Lucifer ordered.
"I'll try but she has already lost a lot of blood."
"What does that mean?" Lucifer asked anger evident in his voice.
It became dead silent. By the way Lucifer tightened his hold around her and by her mother's silence, Nyx could tell it was bad news. She could feel how the life drained out of her still she shot her eyes open. She had to save her child.
As she opened her eyes she found Lucifer holding her with a frown on his face. Was he sad? She couldn't tell but her mother was crying silently next to her while holding her baby.
"Mother..." Nyx forced herself to sit up and Lucifer helped her. She reached her arms out, wanting to hold her child. Shyla placed him in her arms and Nyx held him tightly.
Nyx looked at her son's face and a tear ran down her cheeks. Would this really be the last time she would hold him? She didn't want to die.
She turned to her mother. "Mother, please promise me you'll protect him. Please."
Her mother cried shaking her head. "If I do others will hurt him in a worse way."
"That's why I am telling you to protect him." Nyx almost yelled.
"If that's what you truly want." Her mother wiped her tears away and then determination showed in her green eyes. Reaching out she took her grandchild away from her daughter.
"Wait. What are you doing?" Nyx asked confused.
Shyla looked at Lucifer and then back at Nyx. "You told me to protect him. That's what I'll do. From now on no witched or demons will ever be able to come near your son."
"What do you mean?" Nyx asked confused.
"It means I won't be able to raise your son nor his father. He will grow up among humans."
"No! You can't do that. Lucifer say something." Nyx was terrified. Who would raise her son if not his family? He could not grow up among humans. He needed someone who could understand his abilities and help him hide them. The humans would kill him if they found out what he was.
"Don't worry. Your husband knows of witches. He will take care of him." Shyla assured.
Nyx wanted to laugh. Her husband would not raise his wife's child from another man.
"He will," Lucifer said. "I'll make sure of it so don't worry about it."
Nyx couldn't believe her ears. Even lucifer agreed with her mother. "Do you know what this means?" Nyx asked. "This means you will never be able to see your son."
"I know. But that's for his safety."
Nyx shook her head. "No!" She pushed Lucifer away and tried to get up but as soon as she stood up her head began to spin and her legs wobbled. Still, she tried to get to her son but she could barely see where she was going and stumbled on her own feet.
Lucifer caught her before she fell and wrapped his arms around her tightly while she saw a foggy image of her mother walking away with her child.
"Mother! Come back now!" She yelled struggling to free herself from Lucifers hold. "Let go of me. Give my son back!" She cried.
"Nyx, please. He is safer with humans. The demons and witches will never spare his life."
After fighting a bit more Nyx gave up and leaned into Lucifers arms. Lucifer sat her back down onto the ground and then loosened his hold. He slowly stroke her back in a comforting way but it didn't comfort her at all.
She knew that he was right. Her son was not safe among their kind and the thought of her bringing such child into this world weighed her with guilt. On top of that she was leaving him, alone in this world.
"I don't want to die." She whispered and then felt a teardrop land on her cheek. She looked up and saw another tear fall down Lucifers cheek.
Nyx was surprised. She thought the devil had no feelings, how come he was crying?
"I think this is my punishment." He whispered. "I am sorry I got you involved."
He even apologized.
Why? Did this mean he cared? Did this mean that his feelings had truly been sincere? That he didn't manipulate her as her mother made her believe.
"Lucifer?"
"Yes."
"Am I really the one?"
"Yes. The one and only."
"Then why didn't you show up all this time?" Nyx was confused.
"I am the devil. Living with me will not take you good places and you are a good person. You deserve good things."
But in the end, she was dying and leaving her child alone. What was so good about that? Or maybe this was her punishment for betraying her husband and sinning with the devil. She wondered where she would end up after her death? Would she end up in hell?
"Lucifer. I don't want to die."
She knew she was dying. Her heart had slowed down even more and her chest felt heavy making it difficult to breathe. Her skin turned cold and her throat and lips felt dry.
Lucifer hugged her closely but that didn't make her less scared or sad.
A cold shiver went through her body and then she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore.
"Nyx!" She heard her mothers footsteps before she felt her hand grab hers.
"Lucian." Nyx whispered. "I want to name my son Lucian."
"He shall be called Lucian." Her mother sobbed kissing her hand.
"Tell him I..." Her voice cracked and a cold shiver went through her. Her body felt numb and there was no pain anymore. Except the one in her chest. "Tell.. him.. I am sorry."
And then everything became dark.
Nyx shot her eyes open with a gasp as if someone punched her soul back into her body. Then she took a few deep breaths but there was no air and she found herself trapped in what seemed like a box. It was pitch black, she could see nothing nor could she move or breath.
Panic kicked in when she realized that she was suffocating. She tried to kick and push the walls that surrounded her but to no avail. She was locked inside and soon she was out of breath.
Air. She needed air now! What had happened to her and who had trapped her in this dark place?
Her heart quickened because of the panic and her lungs burned. Her body jerked uncontrollably while every cell in her body screamed for oxygen until her eyes watered and she finally found peace in the darkness.
Then she was awake again, but she was still trapped without oxygen. She panicked again not wanting to go through the same pain. But she did. This time she managed to scream for help but no one came to her rescue and she fell into the darkness again.
The same thing happened a few more times before Nyx could understand that she was in a coffin. Buried, under the ground. And there was no way she could come out. Another thing she realized was that every time she ran out of breath she died, but then she came back alive. How and why she didn't know.
She didn't know how to escape either. The little time she was alive she did everything she could. At first, she tried to open the coffin herself but didn't succeed and it didn't seem like the wisest choice. Even if she opened it the soil would suffocate her before she could crawl out.
So she tried to use her magic but it didn't work. She called her mother and Lucifer but none came to her rescue.
Nyx slowly began to give up hope because there was not much she could do the short amount of time that she was alive without oxygen.
But after a few days of torture, she felt that she heard something or someone.
"Nyx! Nyx!"
It was Lucifer! Nyx's eyes teared up of happiness.
"Lucifer!" She called beating the coffin so that he could hear her. "Lucifer!"
She prayed that he would hear her because she was running out of breath again. Her eyes teared up and her body jerked, her lungs screaming in pain. She was fading away again.
No!
Lucifer!
Did he hear her?
That, she wouldn't know until next time.
The next time she came back to life she couldn't open her eyes at once. It was too bright. She had to peak a few times to adjust her eyes to the brightness before she could open them completely.
Nyx looked around both surprised and relieved that she didn't wake up in that dark coffin. But where was she?
Scanning her surroundings, she found herself in a large room with two big windows on each side of the large bed she sat on. Heavy velvet curtains hung on sides of the window leaving the faint sunlight to peek through. Antique furniture stood one the thick black rug that covered the ground and the walls were decorated with strange-looking paintings. Everything in the room was either black or red, even the bed she sat on. It was black with red silken sheets that felt so smooth against her skin.
How did she end up here?
Slowly she recalled hearing Lucifer's voice. He must have saved her. Yes, he did. Suddenly she wanted to scream in joy. She didn't have to die anymore. She fell back on the bed, enjoying a simple thing like breathing the air inside the room. How long has it been since she was able to breathe? It felt like she was in that coffin forever.
Abruptly Nyx felt a heavy feeling inside her chest. She began to sweat and it became difficult to breathe.
Her son!
Where was he? What did they do to him?!
She climbed down the bed and rushed toward the door. Just as she opened the door and was about to exit she ran into Lucifer's chest. Stumbling a few steps back she looked up at him.
"Where are you going?" He asked with his usually serious face.
How he could maintain the same expression all the time she wondered.
"Lucifer. My son. Where is my son?"
"Our son is safe."
"I want to see him." She said and tried to get past him but he grabbed her arms.
"You can't."
"He is my son! Why can't I see him?!" She yelled.
"He is my son too!" He yelled back while shaking her slightly as if to wake her up.
Nyx froze in place. He had never raised his voice before, but then she became angry and pushed him away.
"It's all your fault. It's your fault I can't see my son!" She hit his chest but he just stood there and let her take out her anger on him. Once she was done he wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. She cried because she felt helpless.
"What will happen if I meet him?" She asked with red swollen eyes once she calmed down.
"He will die. If you meet him other witches will find him and not only kill him, therefore, your mother made it so that if you met him, he better die without pain."
Nyx could understand her mother's intentions yet she couldn't help but hate her. She knew very well that if witches caught demons they didn't just kill them, they tortured them until they admitted that they were sinful creatures. Then they burned them. Demons cannot die by getting burned therefore they would burn until the witches decided to kill them.