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Three

Austeria

Him

He was back to the dark empire, a place with no source of light. A kingdom his soul resided in, where he was bound by his duty; bound to do evil irrespective of anyone's feelings. A demon from birth, a demon he shall be.

He stood behind his father, watching him meditate. The mist surrounded him, the thunder stuck with every twitch of his eyes. So much power, so much everything. Will he ever grow powerful like his father?

"Aren't you tired of this?"

" Of what?"

"Of living with Demons and being a puppet? Aren't you tired of seeing darkness daily? Have you never wondered what it's like being in a different world?..."

He remembered his sister's words.

Did he ever crave to be free?

If he had the chance, could he have escaped?

Was there another way?

Definitely, no. This was his life. He was forever bound to be a demon.

"What brings you back, Lucifer?" A voice spoke from the background. His father already sensed his presence. He was still meditating, floating between worlds.

Did he ever crave to be like his father?

Would he, one day, have powers like his father?

"I have completed my mission, King Deville. I have brought the woman you asked me to bring."

Suddenly, fire engulfed Deville. This was normal, for Lucifer. He'd seen his father go into deep meditation and do unimaginable things.

"You possess weakness, Lucifer!"

Lucifer tried everything possible to make his heart as dark as the world, to fit in. He had to shut down every feeling inside that felt pity, want, or weakness. He was Lucifer, the son of King Deville, the greatest demon. Weakness wasn't an option.

"A weak soul will not have the audacity to walk into King Deville's meditation, father."

The fire vanished, his lips elongated into what seemed like a grin.

"Your heart is weak, you are strong, son. Nevermind that. Once you awaken your demon, finally, you will be deemed strong in my eyes. "

"Soon, King Deville. Quite soon. What shall I do with the bride? "

"Tell her the reason she's here. Give your bride, Adrianna, a warm welcome. "

Her

Her chuckles fill the air. She sings like a mermaid. She spots her father watching them through a distance.

"Okay, Adrianna. It's your turn to sing."

"Sing it again, I love your voice, magic aunty. "

"No. If I keep singing, you won't learn it. "

"Please? "

"Okay. One last time. "

Adrianna clapped with so much enthusiasm, watching her magic aunty transform into a different world, a world where the song is all there is.

"Love transforms the hardest soul/ Love alters a demon-prone

Love is all it takes to win /When love is primary, an angel is sealed.

She closed her eyes, letting a drop of tear fall,

"In the midst of chaos and turbulence/Coupled with the trials of nation's tempestuousness;

Close your eyes and breathe/Love calms the mightiest beasts. "

She opened her eyes and brought out a wide smile, trying to enclose her sadness.

"What's wrong, Magic aunty?"

She bent her eyes and rubbed her belly.

"Have you ever wondered what it's like to have a baby sister?"

"I already have a baby brother. I don't like him. And my big sisters aren't fun like you. "

She closed her eyes again, feeling King Jerome walk away.

"What if you have a baby sister from me, Adrianna?"

Adrianna gasped, unable to contain her joy.

"You have a baby sister in there?"

Adrianna beamed, she was overly excited.

She caressed Adrianna's hair,

"Listen, child, I was only given little time to see you. This may be our last time together."

Adrianna's expression changed immediately.

" But... Why? "

"Listen, child... "

Adrianna could not contain her sadness.

"Is it because Queen Elena warned me to stop seeing you? Are you in trouble because of me?"

"No, just listen. "

"Don't leave me, Magic Aunty. No one cares about me like you do. "

Adrianna was already in tears. Her magic aunty could not stop her tears from falling too. She noticed some guards approaching her,

"Don't worry, child, I'll make sure you're always happy."

"No, I want to be with you. I'll ask my father. He likes you, doesn't he? "

A tear dropped her eyes again, she immediately cleaned it when the guards drew near. They bowed to greet them.

" The time given hasn't been exhausted yet. Why have you come to take the Princess?"

"The Queen has summoned you, my lady. "

She drew her breath, Adrianna was too busy sniffling to notice what was going on.

"Give me five minutes, please. Let me say goodbye to the Princess."

They hesitated for a moment but decided to do it anyway.

The princess would not stop sobbing.

"Is everything okay, princess?"

"They came to take you away from me, right? Mother doesn't want you as my nanny again, right?"

"Listen, child, I may not come to you anymore but I want you to have this. "

She drew out her pendant. It had the face of a demon king and an angel behind, frozen. Adrianna gasped,

"It removes?"

She chucked. Adrianna had tried numerous times to take it away but it never got away from her neck.

"I want you to wear this. Never take it away from you. Likewise, no one will see it on you."

"It has magic? " Adrianna asked, beaming.

She smiled, wearing Adrianna the pendant. She placed her hands on her belly, bringing out a bright star.

"Wow!" Adrianna exclaimed,

She brought it near Adrianna's chest and it instantly dissolved.

"A time will come when you'll have to face the world for a good cause. Never let your guard down. Angels don't fight with demons."

The guards came back again, she dropped Adrianna and went with them.

    • "

Darkness engulfed her. For a moment, she thought she was in a dream state. She opened her eyes and found nothing, except the reflection from the moon through the window high up. A minute ago, she thought, she was about to kiss her husband-to-be.

"Congratulations, Princess. Welcome to hell"

She jerked up, trying to wake up from her nightmare. She saw nothing.

"Hello,"

An eerie voice spoke. She turned with reflex and saw nothing. Her body shrieked, she was slowly losing it.

"Wh..where am I?"

"In hell,"

Another eerie voice replied. She was losing it. She tried to make do with the environment around her.

Where was she?

Was she in hell?

"I want to go home," She cried. It was too dark and she saw nothing. The place quaked and she lost balance and fell.

However, her body did not hit the ground like she'd thought, only what felt like a strong mist or fog whatsoever.

Where did all the maids go to?

Who made the place dark?

Was it all a dream?

Why was she hearing voices in her head?

"It's not voices, Adrianna, this is your life now."

The eerie voice replied to her thoughts. With every movement, she became certain of her insanity.

"Help me out of here!" She screamed. The place was dead quiet.

Suddenly, a light appeared in the form of a person. The whole room became so clear she wished she was dead.

It was filled with mist, situated around. Googly eyes at every corner, with things that looked like ophidians and also like tendrils: Orphidrils. They were everywhere, she feared they'd choke her to death.

Worse, still, she was in her wedding dress.

Then his face appeared.

It was Rainier. He too, was on his wedding suit. The light adjusted and Adrianna felt more comfortable.

What was going on? Were they put in a trance after she'd said yes to him?

"Rainier..?"

"It's Lucifer, here, Adrianna!"

She shivered, not understanding a thing. Who in the world would name their child Lucifer? Except...

"Why am I here?"

His face curled up into a smile,

"You signed a deal with the Devil. "

Her heart leaped, what did he mean by that?

He walked around the room, causing anything he stepped on to glow.

"You were right, Child."

"About what?" She asked, following his gaze.

"About demons. You should've run away when you had the chance. "

"But you stopped me, remember? "

He smiled, his once beautiful smile was now cynical. His fireball eyes were now red with hate. He was different - not the Rainier she said Yes to.

"Twenty years ago, my birth sister, Lucille... "

"Lucille? "

The name, Lucille sounded familiar. She'd heard it before.

"Twenty years ago, my birth sister, Lucille," He repeated, not minding her question, "fell in love with the king of Lebington, King Jerome."

Her face widened, she was trying to understand his narration.

"She'd appear on earth occasionally, to fulfill a task or the other from my father. She met Jerome on one of her trips. He was disguised as a commoner to check the welfare of his kingdom. "

She could hardly believe her father would dress or walk like a commoner. However, she listened.

"They met and fell in love. He didn't tell her he had a wife till she found out on her next trip two years later when you were one."

He turned his back and faced her directly,

"He promised to marry her, and make her his second wife. "

"But, it's illegal to take a second wife in Lebington, " Adrianna interrupted again.

"Interrupt my speech again and I swear you'll lose your voice. "

She shrieked. He was no longer the kind gentleman she thought she knew. Seeing her quiet, he decides to continue his speech.

"She ran away from Austeria to Lebington, believing his lies. When Lucille came to him, he told her to work as your nanny, and he'd marry her if she treated you like a daughter. What a stupid deal. "

She closed her eyes, trying to remember Lucille.

She tried to think of anything, everything.

"Love can turn the heart of even the most ferocious demon into an Angel."

It was magic Aunty! The only person who made her childhood worth living. How could she forget?

"For love, she agreed. They lived happily for a while. Until she got pregnant for your father when you were five. As a result of this, your cruel mother had her killed. She miscarried the child. "

A tear found its way down Adrianna's cheek. Her mother was indeed responsible for the death of her magic aunty.

"Worse, still, your father, who claimed to love her, did nothing to stop her."

Her heart sank. He married her for revenge - there wasn't any doubt now.

"So, by kidnapping and mistreating me, you are trying to obtain revenge?"

He smiled,

"Well, close enough. We disappeared into thin air right after I whispered to your neck. I'm sure that by now, your parents are almost killing themselves searching the whole earth for you. "

She didn't bother about it. She'd warned Queen Elena earlier.

"So, what are you going to do to me? Since you've gotten your revenge by messing with my parent's psyche?"

His face curled up into a smile. A smile so cynical, so evil.

"You will experience everything Lucille felt during her last days. You will live till eternity like a needful bride. You shall watch your husband live and marry while you work like a maid to eat for the rest of your life. "

Her heart shattered. Was this going to be her new life now?

"But, I didn't do anything. I'm just an innocent Princess. You can't punish me in such a way."

Adrianna tried to beg and reason, however, his countenance remained the same.

"You carry the blood of the King in your veins. Therefore, you shall be punished. "

She instantly fell on his knees, forgetting her shame.

"Please, Rainier, don't do this to me. I don't believe you're wicked. I don't believe you're a demon. Please... "

He laughed. His voice was stern.

"You are wrong to think I am king. I'm going to make your stay here a nightmare."

Adrianna arose and wiped her tears. She was a princess. Through and through, a Princess mustn't stoop so low as to beg a lowlife.

"I can't believe I trusted you. Do you think you can make my life a nightmare? Watch and learn how I escape this place!"

He laughed louder, the eerie voices joining too. Adrianna was scared but refused to let him know.

"You think this palace is like Lebington, no? Your movements are monitored. There are eyes and ears everywhere. You can't breathe unless I permit you to. Your thoughts are your only weapon. Anything else, I'm aware."

She shivered. He was more and more of a bastard.

"Bastard, incompetent prince, traitor! You played me for a fool, Rainier. As long as you make my stay here miserable, you shall never have peace!"

He disappeared as soon as she stopped cursing. As he was gone, it was dark again. She knelt to cry, tears giving way to sleep - not till she saw her...

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