Ok... so here it is. But be warned... it's kinda... graphic? Yeah, let's go with that.
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I clenched my fists tight in my pockets. The bile was crawling up my throat faster than I could force it back down. I could even taste remnants of my lunch. It only made matters worse…
The first scream sounded through the arena. I didn't dare look in the pit, but I could hear the crowd cheering Lucifer on. Some of demons chanted his name. Most of them only screamed unintelligible words…. Down near the entranceway, all of it was just noise. Noise I couldn't stand.
Another scream came… I could imagine the prisoner's struggling form tied to the cross we use in the arena. One of the guards usually stuck the end of the cross into the ground and tied the prisoner to it. Lucifer thought it was fitting because our prisoners were usually from the war against God's Army. Sometimes, they were even high ranking officers… like today's captive…
I felt something seeping from a corner of my mouth. I pulled a shaking hand out and wiped away the vomit as fast as possible.
I couldn't let anyone see that…
As the general of Hell's Army and Lucifer's right hand man, I was supposed to be cold, ruthless, and bloodthirsty for angels… everything I wasn't. But I couldn't let it show. Only weak demons couldn't stomach "The Games". And a weak demon was… was… lower than an angel!
Suddenly, I had the sensation that someone was staring at me. I looked up to see Lucifer smiling at me from in the pit. He was gesturing for me to join him. I shook my head and pointed to my watch. In reality, I couldn't care less if Lucifer and I made it on time to his appointment, but Lucifer's right hand man was supposed to—
A scream interrupted my thoughts. Its unearthly sound rose above all of the shrieking demons together, silencing them. By reflex, I looked up…
There was so much blood.
The bile flooded my mouth. I jumped into the shadows and puked. Even in the dark, I could see chunks of undigested meat swimming in the puddle of acid. I wanted to vomit again as I moved back by the door, keeping my eyes down.
After an eternity, I heard footsteps coming towards me. When I was sure my face wouldn't give anything away, I looked up into Lucifer's unnerving blue eyes.
I was trapped in those eyes. So powerful… mesmerizing… lonely. Lucifer's eyes called out to me, and some innate desire tried to compel me to comfort him. I would've reached out and hugged him if I hadn't looked away from his eyes in that second.
He was covered in the prisoner— the angel's blood. In his right hand, he held the its heart. I almost shuddered when he bit into it and blood began to ooze out. He watched me as he ate it… and I wanted to slap him for it. But I couldn't. I could only watch in agony as he finished the heart and smiled.
It amazed me how I could see loneliness in such a cruel beast. He had tortured an angel, eaten its heart, and smiled... but it didn't stop there… Lucifer held out his hand to me. He didn't say anything.
I knew what he wanted. But I still hesitated.
"Something wrong, general?" Lucifer asked, raising a blond eyebrow.
The words rolled off of his tongue like silk, but a suppressed threat laced his tone… I knew from experience that I had to be careful when he spoke like that. I'd seen what happened when he was mad. It wasn't a good memory…
But I didn't have to worry. My mask had already slipped on.
"You are the demon king, my lord. One as low as myself should not touch your holy hand."
I smiled. My mask never failed me. It wasn't a real mask or anything. I could just control which emotion someone saw. Whenever I went down to earth with Lucifer, I somehow wandered into these things humans call theaters. It's fascinating to watch the humans there. Once, I caught myself wonder if I could become a 'thespian' too… if I'd been born human that is. But that was a stupid thought. Demons ate humans.
"You of all my loyal subjects are the only one who stands so close to my side. You are my most trusted warrior. Why do you doubt your greatness?"
I didn't have time to mentally gag. The mask was still in control. I felt myself kneel down and watched in horror from behind the mask as I licked the blood off of Lucifer's hand... the angel blood.
Lucifer was beaming down at me. I kissed his hand before standing up. When I smiled, the mask didn't have to force me…
Lucifer had no idea that I'd just thrown up— no idea that tiny particles of vomit were on his hand.
I would have laughed, but the sight behind him caught my eye. My smile vanished but the mask rescued me from showing any signs of disgust…
Lucifer turned to look at the pit, too. He chuckled before nodding to a guard to open the immense doorway. As he walked out, I heard him whistling a song he'd learned the last time on earth.
I meant to follow, but I couldn't help but feel so… lost. This wasn't who I wanted to be. The vomit in the shadowy corner reminded me of that. And the pit…
"Dark, come now. We'll be late to our meeting. Apparently, Cerberus caught an angel trying to sneak in through the gates. The stupid thing was prattling on about rescuing her sister. The guards swore that she looked exactly like that angel I used in today's games. I wonder if she tastes as delicious…" Lucifer said before walking off down the hallway.
My heart felt like it was going to explode as I walked through the door, too. The sight behind that door would stay in my mind forever. Those empty stands... and the corpse, surrounded by demons as they ripped off pieces to eat.
I heard someone call me. When I turned around, Lucifer was waiting at the end of the hall. He grinned and began walking down the stairs, whistling that song again.
I hurried to catch up with him, bile still crawling up my throat faster than I could force it back down… remnants of my lunch only making it worse…
Because…
I'd eaten that captured angel's wings for lunch…and now I was about to meet her sister.
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Chapter 3 coming soon...