Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
"Lucien?„ flashed through Lily's mind.
Opening the door, she saw Ellie standing there.
"Hi."
"Hi, Lily. May I come in?" Ellie asked.
She held a box of dark chocolate and a pack of expensive tea brought from distant English lands.
"Of course, come in. I'm not the owner of this house, I'm just a guest," Lily replied.
Narrowing her brows, Ellie said as she walked toward the kitchen:
"Come on, you and Lucien are basically a couple now — you live together."
Lily blushed and wanted to respond, but Ellie was faster.
"Kidding! I came to sit with you, drink some tea with chocolate, and talk about boys," Ellie smiled.
"And your job?" Lily asked.
Spinning around herself, Ellie said:
"There are few visitors now. Everyone is afraid of the killer — well, the demon. Alright, Lily, let's boil the tea and start eating the chocolate."
Putting the kettle on the stove, Lily sat at the table with Ellie, who was already happily eating the chocolate.
"This is delicious!" Ellie mumbled with her mouth full.
"Don't worry, it's not too fatty. Perfect for keeping your figure," she added.
[House on the Port's Outskirts – Noon]
"I know you're here. Come out honestly, while I'm still calm," Michael said.
Silence answered him.
The house wasn't large, but it had a nice interior.
"Fine, you chose this path yourself," he shouted.
Stretching his palm forward, he released a wave of golden energy. His eyes flashed with a golden glow.
"Found you!" Michael smirked.
A sudden dash into the next room — and the demon hiding in the fireplace was already in his hand.
Michael squeezed the demon's neck so hard that it snapped, and the creature fell to the ground, desperately gasping for air.
Putting his hands in his pockets, Michael bent over the demon, showing how greatly he towered over him in strength.
"Tell me honestly — what is your goal? How do I get to the High Ones?" Michael asked.
"Or to hell with it… once Mister Virgil gives the signal, we'll take this town," the demon muttered, healing his neck.
Michael laughed.
"Idiot. That stinking old man is already dead. My good friend took care of him."
Panicking, the demon tried to escape, but Michael broke both his legs in a fraction of a second.
"When did he? I didn't even feel the pain yet… flashed in his mind before agony struck.„
Exhaling, Michael turned his back to the demon.
"So he doesn't know the High Ones either. Another failure. Just another pawn of Virgil,„ Michael thought.
Sharp turn.
He stepped toward the screaming demon trying to crawl away.
Stepping on its head, Michael said:
"Pity."
A single instant strike — and the head was smeared across the floor.
[The Inn — Evening]
Lucien sat at a small table, staring into the dimly lit streets.
"This time I'll catch you," he muttered.
Leaving the inn, he began wandering through the city, looking for any clue.
He watched every odd movement, every rustle.
Suddenly, he saw a girl walking into an alley and immediately followed her.
Entering the alley, he noticed she sped up — forcing him to speed up as well.
Running through the narrow passages like a labyrinth, a thought struck him:
"This way I won't catch her. She's unnaturally fast. I'll have to use my power.„
Closing his eyes for a second, his legs burst into flames. Each step replaced thirty normal ones.
A dash.
A flash.
A moment.
His hand reached its target — grabbing the girl by the hair, he slammed her against the wall so hard it cracked.
Instantly, her eyes changed from brown to red.
"You haven't changed one bit, Lucien Graves. Don't ask how I know you. A faithful servant of my brother is already doing his job. Now listen carefully:
I will hunt you until the end of your days. I will cause you unbearable pain.
How happy I am that after so many years… I found a worthy opponent.
By the way, we already met once — in a small medicine shop," she growled, not in her own voice.
Then, shoving Lucien's hand aside, she broke her own neck in a single second.
Dying instantly.
"He used hypnosis on her… I'll send all of those creatures to hell," Lucien said through clenched teeth.
Running out of the alley, thoughts raced in his mind:
"He distracted me on purpose. A good move.„
Bursting out, he noticed faint cracks in space to the right.
Everything had fallen into place — deliberately set for him.
This time, he didn't wait.
He rushed forward immediately, crossing the boundary between reality and illusion.
In the distance, he saw the two-meter-tall man with broad shoulders.
Black sickles protruded from his arms above the wrists, stretching down to his knees.
A long black cloak covered his body, and on his head was a gray top hat.
In his huge hands, he held an already dead girl.
Suddenly the giant slowed — feeling an intruder in his space.
A thought crossed the giant's mind: destroy the outsider.
But an overwhelming, crushing energy stopped him.
So immense, he chose to flee through a blue-black portal.
"I won't let you escape!" Lucien shouted, instantly sprinting toward the fleeing figure.
Reaching out, his fingertip barely touched the black cloak—
And the giant vanished into the portal.
Lucien flew forward, breaking through the illusion's boundary and crashing into a bench.
People immediately rushed toward him:
"Are you okay? Where did you come from?!"
Standing up, Lucien brushed himself off:
"I'm fine. I just drank too much and tripped over a stone. Sorry, I need to go. Thank you."
Walking back to the inn with quick steps, Lucien thought about what he saw.
In the giant's right hand hung a strange necklace with a purple stone.
"I need to get home quickly. I think I've seen something like that before," Lucien said.
[Lucien's Apartment — Morning]
Reaching toward Lily's neck, Ellie pulled out a necklace with a beautiful purple stone.
"It's so pretty. I've never seen anything like it. Where did you get it?"
Taking the necklace back, Lily answered:
"I remember it from my childhood, but I rarely wore it. My grandmother didn't know about it — I don't know who gave it to me.
Once, I asked her about it — I've never seen her look so terrified. After that, I never mentioned it again. And when I was leaving home… I decided to take it with me."
[Next Morning]
A thunderous knock instantly woke Lily.
She jumped out of bed and ran to the door — this time checking who stood behind it.
It was Lucien. Covered in sweat, with dark circles under his eyes.
Opening the door, Lucien rushed inside and pulled Lily into his arms without a word.
"W-what are you doing?" Lily said, blushing.
"Show me your necklace," Lucien replied.
She grabbed his hands and gently lowered them.
Then, reaching to her neck, she pulled the necklace out—
A sharp pain and unbearable burning engulfed her entire body.
So strong she screamed before collapsing.
At the last second, Lucien caught her and tore her hands away from the necklace.
"Please… I can't take it off, I can't… it hurts too much," Lily sobbed.
He held her against him and said:
"Don't be afraid. I'm sorry for making you go through that pain."
Lucien gently turned her face toward him. Their eyes met.
"So it can't be removed… I'll have to take you with me," Lucien said, standing up.
He extended his hand:
"Get up. We have a lot to discuss."
Thank you for reading the chapter. I'll be glad for every comment and will gladly answer your questions. You can learn more on the Discord server. I'm really looking forward to seeing each of you there.