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“Lucifer?” I gasp, my blood running cold. “Why would I need to speak with Lucifer?”
Before Asmodeus can reply, there’s a flash of light. Lucifer himself appears in my room. I instinctively grip the sheets to my bare body, but he doesn’t seem to notice or care. “I believe I can answer that, Elara.” His eyes, dark and inscrutable, meet mine. My phone call with Asmodeus ends abruptly, leaving me alone with Lucifer, my heart pounding with fear and uncertainty.
Lucifer’s dark gaze scans the room, his presence filling the space with an oppressive weight. Even in my own suite, I suddenly feel like an intruder.
“Elara,” he begins, his voice as smooth as silk, “Your work here at Damnation Financial has been…impressive. Your improvements to the soul audits department have truly exceeded my expectations.”
He pauses, a small, inscrutable smile playing on his lips. “I suppose you must be relieved to return Aboveworld. After all, you’ve done your part, haven’t you?”
His question hangs heavily in the air, laden with unspoken implications. I swallow hard, feeling the cold weight of his gaze. “I…have unfinished business here at Damnation.”
His laughter is a low, dangerous rumble, like the stirrings of a dormant volcano. “Unfinished business, you say?” Lucifer’s eyes gleam with a dangerous sort of amusement. “And what might that be?”
I hesitate, biting my lip. His gaze sharpens, and I feel a chill run down my spine.
“No need to answer,” he says, his voice rich with amusement and something darker. “I think I can guess your reasons.”
The unspoken name hangs between us, a silent accusation: Bax.
Lucifer’s eyes narrow as he paces the room, the heavy silence broken only by the sound of my own heart beating hard in my chest.
“Elara,” he begins, his voice cool and measured, “I understood when I hired you that there would be…temptations. After all, it’s the nature of our kind.” His gaze flickers to me, a dark amusement in his eyes. “But I did not anticipate—could not have anticipated—the extent to which you would tempt one of my highest-ranking officers.”
My heart pounds in my chest at his words. “What are you talking about, Lucifer?”
He stops pacing, turning to face me. His expression is unreadable. “Possession, Elara. You’ve driven Bax to the point of possession.”
The word reverberates through the room like a death knell. Possession? The implications of it cause a shudder to ripple through me. “I…I don’t understand.”
Lucifer’s expression is pitiless. “Of course, you don’t. You’re from the Aboveworld. But here, in our realm, possession is a serious matter. It’s not just about desire—it’s a claim, an ownership. It can lead to a demon’s downfall.”
“But…Bax,” I stammer, “he…we…”
“Perhaps you didn’t intend for this to happen,” Lucifer interrupts, his voice ice-cold. “But it did. And now, you should leave. For both your sake and Bax’s.”
“I can’t just leave. I can’t—”
Lucifer’s eyes fix on mine, his gaze as sharp as a blade. “You’re not understanding the gravity of the situation, Elara,” he says, his voice low and stern. “This is not just about your soul or a simple desire. Bax wants topossessyou.”
I flinch at his words.
His tone drops an octave. “This isn’t a light matter, Elara. It’s forbidden. This type of possession goes against the pact I have with my Father. Against the balance we’ve maintained.”
I feel my heart drop. “So, what…what does this mean for Bax?”
Lucifer sighs, but his next words are almost nonchalant. “It means he is being punished.”
“Punished?” My eyes widen, pinning him with my question.
“Tortured.”
The words hit me like a punch, stealing my breath away. “Tortured?” I echo, my voice coming out as a horrified whisper.
“Yes,” Lucifer confirms, his gaze heavy on me. “For his desire for you, for his intent of possession, Bax is paying a steep price.”
“Wait,” I say, my voice shaking. “If this is about my soul, then there must be something I can do to fix this. There has to be a way.”
Lucifer’s gaze is unreadable, his face a mask of cool indifference. “And what would you propose?”
