Page 90 of Dark Souls Academy: The Sacrifice

I didn’t stop there. Trigger and Kain were on the same wavelength as me and didn’t stop either, even as the others pulled away. They watched our backs as we carved Lucifer’s skin. Trigger flipped open the jagged square we made in the body. His giggles made me smile harder until my cheeks hurt.

When the heart was removed and we were coated in slippery, hot liquid, Kain turned around with the pulverized organ in his palm. He lifted it in the air with a roar of victory so others could see as he squeezed until the heart turned to dust. DUST! Lucifer Morningstar just died.

“YAAAAAY!!!” I screamed with all my might. Not just to tell everyone the Devil ended up blooded at our feet after all, but to let my soul cleanse itself. My face lifted to the rain falling fromthe sky. The smile on my face was huge enough it could crack my skin. Yes, we barely won, and the fatigue chomping at my heels would probably have me in bed for at least a week, but it was a triumph for us, nonetheless.

Others followed my shout of victory. As expected, Lucifer’s army stopped fighting. Their desire to tussle for a dead leader never rose.

It was over. There was no coming back from a shredded heart. We had done it. We won the fucking war!

I lifted my fist into the air as well. “All Hail King of Shadows.”

With their leader gone, and the demon way rising up inside of them, each demon bent at the knee. Kain and I pushed our energy into the air to help the ones with more power make their decision.

The beasts of legends let out piercing roars and bent at the head to show their position on the matter. Yet, to prove that they were not pets, they booked it off the destroyed lands immediately after. No one attempted to stop them. Their job was done, and the alliance had been announced to everyone present. I would reach out to them later.

The moment I set foot back into Hell, I made a promise to make a change, and now, I could deliver. It was time for a new demon way. I hoped the demons were ready for it because I wouldn’t stop until I succeeded. And I just proved nothing would get in my way. Not even the once legendary and feared Lucifer.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

“Ivy, if you don’t get your cute ass out here, I’m going to stop time and haul you out naked,” Vivian said outside of the dressing room. Molly had a bigger store downtown, and the black leather wedding ensemble that wrapped around my body gave me hives. Not really, but I grumbled anyway.

The pants clung to me. I had to admit the leather train that looked like a long dress from behind was fit for a Queen. The corset left my mate marks to be the stars of the show. Well, and my cleavage.

The outfit wasn’t really the issue. It was what it meant. The golden jewels embroidered into the leather were a symbol of my new status and the wedding happening today.

After Lucifer died, we spent months fighting for Kain to keep his spot as the king of Hell. My life had become one battle after another. But honestly, it didn’t feel much different since coming to Hell. The Fae stuck around to give us support, but they eventually went back to their realm, taking Marnie and her mates with them. They were all part fae, and the Queen, my cousin, was intrigued by Marnie. I promised I would go visit them since I had one of the keys to the portal. My cousin gave itto me because I promised to never fight to be Queen of the Fae realm.

“We both know you can’t do that yet,” I told Vivian after a long pause. Lilah giggled. The loud smack had me smirking. Lilah and I still had a shaky relationship. Mainly because my mates wouldn’t let her get near me. This was the first time she had been left alone with me since her betrayal.

I had forgiven her the moment she killed Demarcus, but my men weren’t as willing to forget. When I asked why, they told me how it felt to see me crumble and sense my devastation. I had faith we’d all move on, eventually. If I decided to get out of the bathroom anyway. I might just live in here.

Once I left this room, I’d no longer be a free demon. I’d be tied to the King of Hell. The fate I’d run from my whole life. My heart knew it wasn’t the same thing, but my brain was freaking the fuck out.

“Yet, is the key word. Just come on out please.” Vivian was cut off by a voice that had played over and over in my dreams.

“How bout I give it a go, my dears. Wait for us out there, okay? I think my daughter and I need to talk.” My mother’s voice was still the most beautiful thing I ever heard. My friends listened. They knew I needed her. “Open up, my sweet girl.”

I wouldn’t be able to resist, even if I wanted to, which I didn’t. Her soft melody had already soothed a part inside me, that was sharp and jagged only a moment ago. I opened the door with a smile.

“Hey, mom.”

She opened her arms as she stepped into the bathroom and pulled me out. We were in the new golden palace. Trigger had the old place destroyed. They made a pact with each other that when Lucifer died, they would build a gold castle that children could feel safe in. We made many improvements to Hell, but thelaw where anyone under eighteen couldn’t roam freely was still a thing. Change was a long and winding road.

The land was already turning into the colorful dimension it had once been. Bigger still, the beasts that had hidden away for so long that most people thought they were myths now mingled daily with the demons. Since Nati Demons were already monstrous in appearance, the transition went well. A few still tested the theory that they were only animals, but they never lived long to spread that poison.

“How are you doing?” She kissed my forehead and stepped away.

Her once hollowed cheeks were plump and full of life. Especially with a baby in her belly. It turned out that my Fae dad didn’t just take away her power when he cursed her. He made sure Lucifer couldn’t impregnate her. Once that was gone, she was ready to start her life back up in the safe new world we were creating. I personally was excited to have a growing family.

My parents helped us with the political aspects of ruling Hell. They handled any complaints by the people as of right now. There were a lot of concerns, especially from the Nati Demons. Since my parents lived like the extremely poor Nati Demons for most of my childhood, they were able to connect with them. When I attempted the role, people ended up dead. So, it wasn’t hard to figure out I wasn’t the person for the job. Even if the story of the Succubus Queen who took over the Underworld spread like wildfire. I wasn’t a fan of the attention.

I licked my lips before answering. “I’m freaking out a little. This is big, Mom. I can’t go back from this.”

She rubbed my back and guided me to the couch. The room was like a small apartment without a kitchen. This was one of the few where gold didn’t consume everything. I made it black just to get a rise out of the brothers, but my demon liked the gold. We put our glitter everywhere, and it blended perfectly.

“Yes, it is. Being Queen of Hell was always your role in life, though. I knew it the moment you came out shooting glitter everywhere. Succubus babies don’t have a color for their glitter until later, so we lived in a rainbow of sparkles for years. You were always meant to claim this world. Your demon knew it from the beginning.” Her soothing tone and words were just what I needed.

I squeezed her gently in my arms, careful of the growing bump. I’d missed her so much for so long. It was still unreal when I had moments like this.

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