CHAPTER 15 —
FIVE YEARS LATER
The sun shone brightly over the rolling hills of the Southern Capital, warming the soft blankets spread across a quiet meadow. A gentle breeze rustled the trees, carrying the scent of wildflowers and the distant laughter of children. A picnic had been laid out with care: wicker baskets overflowing with fresh bread, fruits, and honeyed pastries, and the scent of roasted meats drifting in the air.
Lucas leaned back on his hands, green eyes warm, watching Leon chase after Mira and Lisa—Maya's twin daughters. The girls squealed with delight as they darted through the tall grass, their laughter ringing across the meadow. Louise sat nearby, her fiery red hair glowing in the sunlight, cheering on the children, her eyes alight with joy and pride.
Leo stretched beside Maya, who laughed as he tried to lift the twins, only for them to wriggle free and tumble to the ground in giggles. "You've got to keep up, Uncle Leo!" Mira shouted, her brown curls bouncing with every step.
Leo chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm trying, I promise. But I think your father and mine have spoiled you both with strength and speed already."
Lucas ruffled Leon's hair, smiling down at his son. "And your brother is already learning to keep up. Leon, you've got a lot of energy to match these girls."
Leon's green eyes sparkled. "Dad… were you like me when you were small? Did you run like this?"
Lucas laughed, brushing back his dark locks. "Stronger. Faster. And yes… sometimes I got into trouble for being too curious about the world."
Maya, settling back against Leo, laughed softly. "And now you're paying for all those lessons through your children. We get to enjoy them while they wear us out." She placed a hand over her growing belly, the small swell of her second pregnancy evident now.
Louise leaned toward Leon, eyes softening as she brushed a lock of hair from his face. "And you, Leon, will need more than just strength. You'll need patience… cunning… and the wisdom to know when to fight and when to listen. Just like your father."
Leon giggled and turned toward her. "Mom… tell me about your family. About when you were little."
Louise's smile faded slightly, her eyes clouded with memories she had long buried. The laughter of the children faded into the background as her mind drifted back to the day her life had changed forever—the rogue attack that had stolen her mother and elder brother.
She took a deep breath, kneeling to be at Leon's level, and spoke slowly, carefully, her voice carrying the weight of the past. "My parents… they were strong. Brave. They fought to protect me when I was ten. But I… lost them in an attack. And my father… he is… not like anyone you've ever known."
Leon tilted his head, curious, unafraid. "Not like anyone? How?"
Louise's red eyes, shimmering with her demon heritage, locked onto his. She took his small hands in hers, the warmth of the sun casting a glow over them. Her voice dropped to a whisper, tense and solemn. "My father… is the Devil. His name… is Lucifer."
A hush fell over the meadow. Even the playful twins paused mid-laughter, sensing the gravity in her tone. Lucas's green eyes widened in shock, Leo's jaw tightened, and Maya instinctively moved closer to Louise, protective and alert.
Louise looked out across the meadow—her children, the laughter of her family, the sun, and the peaceful field—and felt a pang of both fear and relief. "I never told anyone… not even your father. But you deserve to know. One day… you'll understand why I hid this from you. But now… you know."
Leon's eyes, wide and bright, reflected both wonder and confusion, but no fear. "The Devil?" he whispered.
Louise nodded once, a shadow of sadness passing through her expression. "Yes. He's real. And one day… I will have to face him."
The meadow, alive with warmth and laughter moments before, seemed to pause, the revelation hanging heavy in the air. And in that moment, the future—the challenges, the battles, the dark truths yet to come—loomed just beyond the sunlight.
"My father is the Devil. His name is Lucifer."