Page 71 of Unholy Fate

I sat alonein the living room of the penthouse, a glass of whiskey in my hand. The crystal tumbler caught the soft glow of the city lights streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The hum of the world outside felt distant and irrelevant.

For centuries, I had existed in a cycle of indulgence and destruction, my role as one of Lucifer’s lieutenants ensuring I could always have what I wanted without question. But Evelyn’s arrival disrupted that comfortable chaos. Her presence stirred something unfamiliar—an odd mixture of curiosity, protectiveness, and unease.

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed heavily. “What is it about her? Why does she get under our skin like this?”

Images of Evelyn flashed through my mind: her defiance when we first met, her vulnerability in moments of pain, and the growing fire in her eyes as she began to rediscover herself.

I smirked faintly and raised the glass to my lips. “She’s got claws now. Good for her.”

I had always respected strength, and seeing Evelyn evolve into someone capable of standing up to us—even pulling a gun on us—filled me with a strange sense of pride.

My thoughts drifted back to a time long before Hell, before Lucifer. Memories of Tartarus crashed over me like a tidal wave, dragging me down into the depths of an ancient pain I had long tried to forget. I saw myself as I had been then, a proud Titan, stripped of my power and chained like a beast in the bowels of the earth.

Beside me, Aziz and Ian snarled and strained against their bonds, their once-mighty forms reduced to shadows of their former selves. The darkness pressed in on us from all sides, suffocating and eternal. It seemed we would be trapped in this hellish prison forever, forgotten by the world above.

But then, he appeared.

Lucifer strode into our midst like a king entering his court, his presence commanding attention even in the gloom. His eyes glittered with a light that was almost hypnotic, drawing us in despite our wariness.

“I can give you freedom,” he said, his voice a seductive purr that echoed through the caverns of Tartarus.

I’d been torn between my pride and my desperation. The thought of bowing to another, even one as powerful as Lucifer, galled me. But the prospect of remaining in Tartarus for eternity was even more unbearable.

Desperation won.

The memory dissolved, and I found myself back in the penthouse, the whiskey in my glass now a shallow amber puddle.I swirled it absently, my brow furrowed as I contemplated that long-ago decision.

For centuries, I had followed Lucifer without question, reveling in the power and freedom he had granted us. But now, doubt crept in like a persistent weed, its roots burrowing deep into my mind.

Ian’s flashbacks, Aziz’s growing skepticism, my own resurfacing memories, were all pointing to a picture I didn’t like. What if we were merely pawns all along?

The thought made me feel sick to my stomach. I tossed back the last of my whiskey and set the glass down with a heavy thunk, my gaze drifting toward the closed door of the bedroom where Evelyn slept.

I stood, stretching my muscles with a groan. Whatever happened next, one thing was certain—the old rules no longer applied. It was time to forge a new path that would lead us to true freedom or to our ultimate destruction. With a final glance at the master bedroom door, I made my way through to the kitchen.

As I set the espresso machine to work its magic, I found myself staring out the window at the city below, watching as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky in shades of pink and orange.

For a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the beauty of it all, my existence feeling just a little bit lighter. But even as I savored the rich aroma of the coffee and the sizzle of eggs in the pan, I knew that this moment of peace was fleeting.

The sounds of movement from the bedroom told me that Evelyn was stirring. I leaned against the counter, sipping my coffee and trying to steel myself for whatever came next.

Rebellion. The word tasted strange on my tongue, foreign and exhilarating all at once. For centuries, I had been content to follow Lucifer’s lead, to revel in the power and pleasure that came with being one of his chosen few. But now, with the truth of our past staring me in the face, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to existence than this.

I drained the last of my coffee and set the cup aside, taking a deep breath to center myself. It was time to face the chaos, to embrace the uncertainty that lay ahead. And as I heard the bedroom door open and the soft padding of Evelyn’s feet on the hardwood floor, I knew that whatever happened next, I would face it head-on.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

LUCIFER

I saton my throne of jagged bone, its edges catching the flickering light like frozen flames under Hell’s molten rivers. My finger tapped against the armrest as uneasiness gnawed at my mind. Something was wrong.

Ian, Levi, and Aziz, my top three generals, had stopped reporting to me. At first, their absence seemed trivial, even amusing.

They’ll come crawling back.

But now, the silence stretched too long. Their absence took on an ominous weight I could no longer ignore.

Rising from my throne, I paced the room. Realization dawned on me.

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