The city of Pandemion pulsed like a living thing.
Sprawled across the obsidian ridge of Hell's spine, the capital glittered with fire-veined spires, its towers humming with infernal chant. Crimson skies rolled overhead. Every street was a contradiction — ancient carvings etched into chrome walls, soul-markets operating beside data-thrones. The old and the new, fused in endless blasphemy.
Lucifer walked its streets like a king returning to an unwanted throne.
Black leather jacket. Collar popped. Silver rings. No wings.
His face was calm, sharp as a prophet's blade.
The satisfaction of having his own kingdom was always contradicted with the self disgust when he compared this place to Heaven.
Maybe he should have never..... rebelled.
Curse the thought, Lucifer sneered. However he welcomed Hell because it was part of him he couldn't share with anyone. All it's citizens where a part of his conspiracy. Even the prideful Lucarion.
He didn't speak as he entered the Ninth Archive, it was a hollow cathedral ironically in Hell. It was here he first welcomed what mortals called The Illuminati's prayers. It was now the sanctum of Lilith.
She was already waiting.
Sitting cross-legged atop a shattered seraph statue, sipping from a crystal glass filled with something red that wasn't wine.
"Lucifer Morningstar," she drawled, "still pretending to be mortal chic. Should I get my stilettos?"
"Lilith," he said coolly, "if I wanted a pleasure, I'd call Asmodeus."
She laughed, it was a laugh that could bewitch any mortal.
"You always were the favorite son. Sit."
He didn't.
She smiled. "Fine. Let's skip foreplay. You're here about the Djinn."
Lucifer's eyes flared slightly. "He's awake."
"The last one," she mused. "Ramiel. The Ash-Walker. Took longer than I thought."
He narrowed his eyes. "He's stronger than expected. And the Bloodhound Crest already made contact."
Lilith leaned back. "You're worried he'll remember, then come for hell?"
Lucifer said nothing.
She slid off the statue, boots clicking. Her voice darkened.
"You remember how it started, don't you? The Shurahims. Outcast Djinn. Banished by their kin for blasphemy — left to rot in the Silent Vale. But demons offered them more than exile. They offered worship."
"They sold their secrets," Lucifer said flatly. "To Asmodeus. To Bael. To the Black Accord. They opened the thresholds into Shrak. They gave us a reason to conquer one foe."
Lilith raised a brow. "Gave you, darling? You weren't just a bystander. You led one of the three flanks. Don't look for innocence now."
Lucifer's voice was quiet steel. "I led because I thought Heaven wouldn't intervene. Elyon can't intervene in the war between Djinns and demons. It is an eternal war. Besides i didn't order for an entire annihilation"
"You didn't know?" she murmured, stepping closer, "that they'd kill them all."
He looked away.
Lilith circled him like a serpent coiling an angel. "And now he's back. And he'll want answers."
"He wants war, even with his number"
She smiled. "So do I."
A long silence stretched between them.
Then Lucifer finally spoke.
"There's a war coming, Lilith."
She sipped her drink again. "Sweetheart, it never ended."