BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon
Chapter 104 – Lies, Betrayal, and Love
LUCIUS…
“Lucius… answer me.” Lucija had always been brave, but the she-demon in front of me looked like a scared cat – soaked in the rain and with nowhere to go.
I couldn’t help but flash her an evil smirk. I took ple@sure in knowing even the strongest one feared me. I was anticipating that she would throw fire or ice at me, but she didn’t. Instead, her eyes pooled with tears as she tried to control her breathing.
And I couldn’t take it any longer. My laughter echoed around my room as I shook my head. “The f*uc*k, Lucija! I could have K*lled you when you were 11 or when you were asleep because I have access to your room. Why now? Why while Guillermo is here?”
“Lucius…” The pain was still flitting in her eyes. And I knew I should never feel guilty. I’d done thousands of cruel things and had never regretted any of them.
I raised my hands in the air before I spoke. “I was just kidding with that deadly expression. I didn’t know you would buy it.”
“You! f*uc*king moron!” She snarled before a ball of ice swooshed past me and hit the wall behind me, creating a loud thud and ice spikes sticking to it like daggers.
“Whoah! That was close!” I chuckled. “Calm down. We’re on the same team.”
“Why are you not K*lling me yet?” Her eyes squinted as she slowly took her seat.
“Because I had no plans of K*lling you. I told you I would always have your back, and I mean to keep that.”
“Am I the heir, Lucius?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“I want to hear it. Am I the heir?”
“That’s what our father believes.”
“If he thinks it’s me, why didn’t you K*ll me? It’s your easiest way to the throne.”
“Yes, and that was the plan until you showed up and asked me if I would let you go once, I took over as king. I knew right there that you never wanted this life, and you were putting your whole faith in me that I would save you from here. No one had put their faith in me the same way you did when you were eleven.” I smiled at her and placed a hand on my hips while the other cupped my lips, playing with them. “I felt like I had a purpose for the first time. I know this might have come too late and you waited too long, but I still want to fulfill the promise I made to that eleven-year-old girl. If I become the king of Kalmerus, I will let you go — away from here.”
Lucija’s eyes watered, but she blinked back her tears. “Is it bad that I didn’t want this part of me?”
“There is nothing wrong with your demon part, Lucija. The reason we exist in this world is because we have a purpose. We have our own world and community. The only thing that is wrong is that we are abusing our power to take advantage of the weaker ones, of souls who should not be here. Embracing your demon side doesn’t make you a bad creature. We only look bad to other species because of the way we live in our realms, the same way the wicked sirens are being rebuked for luring unmated males and destroying them, and the same way werewolves claim humans as their mates and mark them without the human’s approval. But I’m not saying you have to choose. You are lucky to be given both sides.”
“But I still don’t want to be here, especially now that I have Adan. I love him, Lucius. I’m not even sure I was capable of loving until I met him, and I’m slowly dying inside because I’m so far away from him that I’m willing to do anything, bow down to anything, and even K*ll anyone, just to have him back.” The first tear dropped from her eyes as she stifled her sobs.
I walked toward her and stopped to crouch in front of her. My hands took hers and cupped them between mine. “I will get you out of here. I told you that. Just trust me again like you did when you were eleven, and I promise you, princess, I will not fail you this time.”
“I never lost my faith in you. Even if the other side of me wants to believe you were out here to destroy me, I’m still here, aren’t I?” She tried to smile despite the tears trickling down her face.
“I know. I’m not even sure I was worthy of your trust, but I’m glad you’re still here. Now, stop crying. We can’t be vulnerable on this big day.”
She nodded her head as I let go of her hands, and headed off to grab a drink that was sitting at one of the tables.
“So, Father thought I was the rightful heir. But if he d*ies, will the heir d*ie too? If someone K*lls him, will I d*ie too? Am I here for slaughtering, and you just don’t want to do it on your own.” She asked as she wiped the tears off her face.
“No. It is only one way. That’s why he wanted you by his side, so you’d never try to K*ll him.”
“What if Father is mistaken? Do I really give out a strong aura?”
I nodded my head. “So you have nothing to be scared of. I’m sure if chaos falls from the heavens, you’re the first one he will save. It’s the reason he didn’t want you away and he didn’t want you to mate with Stone. He wants a guarantee that you will be safe here, so he can live as much as he can.”
“And I’m the only one who can K*ll him?”
“Maybe, maybe not. But it takes someone stronger than him to K*ll him. And I am a*s*suming the heir could, especially if you can let out your ultimate form.”
“Ultimate form?”
“When a demon is threatened or in rage, the demon takes another form. The demon form you have is just a preview of your ultimate form. “When you reach your full potential, your ultimate form will emerge, as will your full power.”
“Where are you learning all this?”
“Father was so selfish, he didn’t want to share this. But Kalmerus is not the only kingdom with a king and powerful demons. And your brother here has a charm no one can turn down. I had lured kings and queens, I f*uc*ked them until I get answers. I’m not the prince of l*st for nothing.”
“Do you think I have an ultimate demon form?”
“All of us have. Even me, the weakest son…” I chuckled and shook my head before I continued. “We just need to open the portal of our strength.”
“How do we open it?”
“I’m sure it will happen for you at your cleansing.”
“Lucius, I’m still confused. Don’t we need a weapon or something? What if this portal of strength doesn’t open anything? Then we’re dead!”
“Then I’m dead, but not you. So, you have nothing to worry about. Don’t think too much of it and just go with the flow.”
“I have more questions now than ever! And you’re making it sound like this conversation is over.”
“It is.”
“Damn you! You can’t do that! I still don’t know what to do!”
“Once your strength is unleashed, K*ll him with your fire, ice, or whatever f*uc*king energy that can come from you. If he can’t match it, he will d*ie.”
“Why did we have to wait for the cleansing when we could have attacked him whenever we wanted? While he’s resting or watching his f*uc*king hologram or whatever?”
“Father is letting his energy down during rituals. He cannot overpower the energy being used by those in the rituals. It’s our only chance to get him off guard.”
“Lucius…”
“Enough, Lucy. We still have things to do.”
“You’re still hiding something from me.”
“No. You knew everything you needed to know. Once your ultimate form comes out, you’ll be more powerful than him.”
“What if not?”
“Father doesn’t have an ultimate demon form. He’s powerful, but he has not reached that level yet. He couldn’t.”
“Why?”
I smirked at her and curled a finger under her chin before tilting her head up to meet my eyes. “You will find out once your ultimate form comes out. But, just to be clear, demons feed on anger, rage, and lies. It strengthens and empowers us, but we must never forget that demons were once angels. We are fallen angels.”
“You’re talking in circles.” She sighed in desperation.
“You’re my weapon, Lucy. As long as you know he will never harm you, then you can attack and K*ll him. That’s all for now. Prepare yourself for your next task.” I held her arms and transported our bod*ies into her chamber.
“Guillermo.” She murmured as I let go of her arm.
“Yes. I will see you in thirty minutes. Patrea is here with me.” I winked at her before walking away, not waiting for her to say anything else, or I’d have to admit her mate was also in this realm.
I knew I should have told her the last details on how the ultimate demon form could be summoned, but I knew Lucy was too smart, and if she figured out my plan, she would stop it, and everything would be wasted.
Demons feed on anger, rage, and lies. But like I told her, demons were also angels – fallen angels. And angels, they feed on love.
Anger, rage, lies, and love – these are what a demon needs to feel within him to summon his ultimate demon form. And I would bet my whole life that if Lucy’s heart was filled with rage and love at the cleansing, she would be able to summon her ultimate demon form.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Don’t be confused between demon form and ultimate demon form. Lucy, with her horns, and tails (and still beautiful), was just in her ordinary demon form. Her ultimate form is yet to surface. Hades presented himself to Adan in his ultimate demon form before shifting to his regular form.