Chapter 177: The Imp’s Punishment

RAVIAL

“My lord, I promise you, I did not mean to hurt her,” the demon whimpered, its voice a wet, rasping hiss.

It was a low-ranking imp, one of the pathetic prankster types that liked to scare mortals with flickering lights and cold touches, or whispering nightmares into sleeping ears, the kind that fed on fear but had no real power.

It had no business being here without my permission.

Right now it was pinned against the far wall of the locked room deep inside my private study, its scaly wrists bound by shadows I had summoned. Black ichor dripped from its broken horns and the deep gashes across its chest where I had already punished it once.

I stood a few feet away, hands clasped behind my back, blindfold firmly in place. From the window I could hear the soft footsteps of my lamb and her loud friend moving through the halls below, sprinkling holy water, chanting old orphanage prayers, trying to “cleanse” my house.

How adorable.

The blessed water would sting my men if they touched it directly, forcing them to avoid certain rooms for a while, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. The real irritation was that my lamb believed something had attacked her and she was right. This worthless creature had tried to get close, drawn by the divine spark growing inside her. It had dared to reach for her.

And my lamb had felt it.

She would never lie to me.

I had acted surprised when she told me, listening patiently as she and Marita explained their plan to bless the villa. I had even told them to do whatever they liked, smiling gently while inside I calculated how best to deal with this intruder without raising her suspicion.

Now, in this soundproofed room, there was no need for masks.

The imp trembled, its yellow eyes darting. “I only wanted to see her! The vessel of the Creator, the one everyone in the spiritual realm is whispering about! They say she carries a light that could burn hell itself if it grows too strong. I was curious, my lord! Just a little peek, a small scare…..”

I stepped closer.

The imp’s voice rose into a squeak. “I didn’t touch her! I swear! I only got close and and she felt me. That’s all! I would never harm what belongs to you!”

I tilted my head, voice soft and calm. “You got close enough that she felt you. You made my wife afraid. You made her think something was trying to hurt our child.”

The imp started shaking harder. “Please, my lord… mercy…”

I smiled.

It was not a kind smile.

In one fluid motion I grabbed the imp by its throat and slammed it against the wall so hard the stone cracked. Its legs kicked uselessly in the air as I lifted it higher, fingers tightening until black ichor(divine blood) bubbled from its mouth.

“You touched what is mine,” I whispered, voice still gentle, almost tender. “You made her protect her belly with her hand like she thought something was coming for our baby.”

The imp gurgled, eyes bulging. “I…I’m sorry..”

I leaned in until my blindfold was inches from its face.

“Sorry is not enough.”

With my free hand I pressed my palm against its chest. Hellfire, my own, flared under my skin. The imp screamed as the flames burrowed into its flesh, burning from the inside out. Its skin blistered and peeled, its wings shriveled, its bones cracked as the fire consumed everything it was.

I held it there, letting it feel every second of agony, until its screams turned into high, broken whimpers.

Then I spoke one final word in the old tongue.

The imp’s body convulsed violently. With a sickening wet sound, I tore its essence apart and hurled it back through a rift straight into the deepest pits of Hell, still screaming.

The room fell silent again, the only sound the faint crackle of dying flames on the floor where the imp had been.

I brushed ash from my sleeve and turned toward the window.

Down below, in the garden visible from my study, I could see my lamb and Marita moving around the building, sprinkling holy water and praying. Leitana’s hand never left her stomach. She looked so small, so determined, so beautifully mine.

A slow smile curved my lips.

She would never leave me.

Even if the whole house burned around us.

Even if heaven and hell both tried to pull her away.

She was mine.

I would make sure of it.

“The house is completely blessed now,” Leitana said softly, standing in front of the mirror brushing her long damp hair. She wore one of her silk nightdresses, the fabric clinging to her skin where water still dripped from her curls. “Marita and I walked the whole villa with the water and oil and now she is settling well in her room too.”

I walked up behind her without making a sound. My arms slid around her waist, one hand settling possessively over her stomach. I pulled her back against my chest, resting my chin on top of her head so we both looked at our reflection in the mirror.

Leitana’s eyes met mine. A small, grateful smile touched her lips.

“Tank you for bringing Marita,” she whispered. “It means everything to me.”

“Anything for you,” I murmured, my thumb tracing slow circles over her belly.

She looked down at the brush in her hand for a moment, then back up at me. I could see there was something else on her mind.

“Anything else, my lamb?” I asked gently.

Leitana bit her lip, then spoke carefully. “Well… yes. Mi know you have done a lot already, but mi was wondering if you could help mi sisters in the orphanage. They are really suffering. The roof is leaking, food is not enough, and Mother Superior had to let some of the older girls go. Mi really want to see Rosie too. She is only five… she must be so scared without me.”

I said nothing for a long moment, just watching her in the mirror.

Leitana shook her head quickly, eyes lowering . “Mi sorry… mi asking too much. Forget it.”

I leaned down and pressed a slow kiss to the side of her neck, my lips warm against her skin.

“No, my lamb,” I whispered.“I live to worship you and fulfill your every desire. If helping your sisters brings you peace, then I will do it. Whatever you want, it is already yours.”

Leitana’s face lit up with pure, radiant joy. Tears of happiness filled her eyes as she turned in my arms and hugged me tightly.

“Thank you, thank you, mi Ravial!” she breathed. “Mi so happy. Mi sisters… dey go be okay now.”

I smiled against her hair, then gently turned her back toward the mirror. With careful hands I lifted the hem of her nightdress, sliding it up until the fabric bunched just under her breasts.

Her stomach was bared to the mirror, that tiny, perfect bump already visible, a gentle curve that proved life was growing inside her.

Something that had come from me.

I still couldn’t fully believe it.

I, who should never have been able to create life, had done exactly that.

My large hand moved reverently over the swell, thumb brushing the warm skin in slow circles. I dropped to my knees behind her, pressing my forehead gently against her stomach, eyes still closed behind the blindfold.

Leitana’s breath caught.

Then, to her complete shock, I reached up and slowly untied the blindfold.

The black silk slipped away.

My eyes remained pressed to her stomach, hidden from her view, but I knew she could feel the weight of them, the raw, ancient power I had kept concealed for so long.

She froze.

“Mi Ravial…” she whispered, voice trembling with surprise and something deeper.

I didn’t move. My forehead stayed against her belly, breathing her in, feeling the tiny life we had created together, the impossible miracle that should never have existed.

The blindfold dangled from my fingers.

And for the first time, my lamb stood there, heart racing, wondering what she would see if I ever lifted my gaze.