Chapter 99 The Question That Burns
Lucifer stepped into the heart of the Queen of Nature’s palace. The air was different here he could feel it buzzing with quiet power, a mix of life and restraint. The palace had changed. What once felt wild and untamed now gleamed with human-like precision. Marble floors reflected the soft glow of enchanted lights, carved wooden pillars stretched toward the ceiling, their edges lined with delicate, swirling patterns. Fragrant blooms filled the air, mingling with the subtle smoke of incense that curled lazily toward the domed roof. His fingers brushed over one of the intricate ornaments, tracing the delicate grooves, feeling the energy humming beneath the surface.
“It’s been a while, sister,” he said, voice smooth, almost casual, though each word carried an unspoken weight. His eyes roamed the palace, noting every change, every detail. “Your palace… it’s different. More… human now.”
Dorcas pivoted sharply, her green eyes flashing like knives. “You’re not welcome here, Lucifer,” she said, her tone crisp and sharp, leaving no room for argument.
A faint smirk curved his lips, slow and deliberate. “And why is that? Are you still angry because I defiled your love, stepping into the Garden of Love? I am your brother, Dorcas.”
Dorcas’s jaw tightened. Her fingers twitched at her sides, unable to hide the tension coiling through her. “I am your sister, yes. But that law our father made it, not me. And you… daring to go against him, daring to destroy the mate thread between two lovers because of your jealousy…” Her voice cracked at the last word, a mixture of anger and disbelief spilling out, raw and unguarded.
Lucifer’s shadow stretched long across the marble, his wings flickering faintly, catching the soft glow of the palace lights. Dorcas’s words would have cut anyone else, but he seemed untouched, his amusement simmering beneath the surface. His eyes sharpened, scanning her face as if reading her very thoughts. “I wonder… when did the mighty Lucifer start to fall in love?” he murmured, the words soft but dripping with curiosity, taunting her without effort.
Her glare did nothing to faze him. He leaned slightly, the smirk on his lips widening, and then, almost casually, he asked, “Mind if I sit?” He didn’t wait for her answer. The bench by the carved fountain seemed to welcome him, and he lowered himself onto it, his presence immediately filling the space with quiet dominance.
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, fingers steepled, eyes burning with restrained fury. “Tell Father I broke his law. Tell him I destroyed the mate thread,” he said, voice low, each word sharp like a blade, simmering with anger. He moved closer, the heat of his gaze pressing on her like the edge of a sword. “Tell him his ‘useless son’ did it. Don’t shield me, Dorcas. Let him do his worst. I’m not afraid. He cast me into Hell once… what else can he do?”
The palace seemed to hold its breath. Every light flickered faintly, the air thickening as if sensing the tension between the siblings. Dorcas’s pulse raced. Every instinct screamed at her to step back, yet she remained rooted, trapped in the silent storm that was her brother. The faint scent of fire and roses lingered in the air, carrying with it the promise of confrontation, secrets, and revelations yet to come.
Dorcas’s chest rose and fell rapidly, each breath shallow, betraying the storm inside her. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails digging faint grooves into her palms. “Lucifer… watch your words,” she said, voice tight, trembling with the effort to stay composed. “Father… he loves us equally.”
Lucifer’s laugh cut through the air a sharp, hollow sound that bounced off the high ceilings, lingering like a blade. “Equally?” His tone dripped with bitter amusement. He leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting with something dark, something she hadn’t seen before. “Don’t fool yourself. He loved Michael the most. You… you spent your life bending, pleasing him, waiting for a glance, a word, a nod… and yet who always takes the prize? Michael. He takes it all.” He leaned back, letting his words settle like ash in the air. “That’s why you come to me, Dorcas to complain in Hell, because up there… you were invisible.”
Her stomach twisted. Shock widened her eyes, her mind reeling. She had never imagined her brother could harbor such hatred, such calculated resentment. And yet there it was, laid bare before her, a weapon sharpened over decades.
But then, as quickly as it came, his fury seemed to settle, replaced by that infuriating smirk she knew too well. His posture relaxed, arms folding across his chest, though the fire in his amber eyes did not dim. “I’m not here for that, sister. Not tonight.” His voice softened, but the tension underneath it still cut like steel. “I need something only you can give me.”
Dorcas’s brow furrowed. A flicker of curiosity mixed with apprehension ignited behind her green eyes. “And what is that, brother?”
Lucifer leaned back further, the shadows from the carved pillars stretching across his sharp features. His patience felt deliberate, but on the edge, fraying like a taut rope. “Tell me… who is Michael’s child?”
Her body stiffened, every muscle tightening. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as memories she had locked away threatened to surface, clawing for release. She had never, not once, whispered a word of it to him. Never. And now how had he found out?
She drew in a slow, steadying breath, pressing a hand lightly to her chest as if to calm the storm within. Her voice was measured, controlled, though her pulse betrayed her. “I don’t know what you mean, brother.”
Lucifer’s smirk widened, dangerous and knowing, his amber eyes gleaming with quiet menace. “You do. Dorcas, you know exactly who Michael’s child is. Don’t lie to me.”
The palace seemed to hold its breath. Shadows stretched long across the polished marble floors, curling toward the walls as if the very stones were straining to hear her reply. Silence pressed down like a living thing, thick and suffocating, as if the air itself awaited her answer.
AUTHOR NOTE
Hey lovely readers!
I hope you enjoyed this intense moment between Lucifer and Dorcas it’s one of those chapters where secrets start to surface, and the tension just won’t let go. I had so much fun writing it, and I’m curious… what do you think Dorcas will say next?
Don’t forget to show some love by liking, commenting, and subscribing! Your thoughts mean the world to me and keep me inspired to write even more twists and turns for you all.
Stay tuned things are about to get even more heated!