Kapitel 4: Chapter 4: Ideas of Hades
The infernal chamber was quiet now, the heat of the previous night still lingering in the air like a ghost of passion. Eve lay tangled in the black silk sheets, her body marked by the possessive touch of Lilith. Faint bruises in the shape of fingers lined her wrists, a testament to Lilith's unrelenting dominance. Her neck and shoulders bore marks as well—small bites, vivid bruises, each a claim that Lilith had staked on her.
Lilith, reclining next to her, ran her fingers idly through Eve's hair, her eyes dark and watchful. The possessiveness radiating from her was palpable, a silent reminder of the claim she had made. There was no escaping it—Eve belonged to her now, and Lilith had made sure to leave her mark both physically and emotionally.
Lucifer stood by the open archway, looking out over the fiery expanse of Hell with his usual easy grace. His wings shifted lazily behind him as he gazed into the distance, a faint smile playing on his lips. But his mind was elsewhere—on the plan, on the future they were about to shape. Eve's proposition was audacious, and even Lucifer, with all his charm and wit, knew that they were about to walk a fine line between cosmic rebellion and outright war.
"We need to start," Lucifer said, his voice breaking the quiet in the room. He turned back to look at Lilith and Eve, his golden eyes gleaming with purpose. "If we're going to reshape Hell, we need to move now. Charlie's ambition can be useful to us, and Alastor…" He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, he's an interesting one, isn't he? His power could turn the tide in ways no one expects."
Lilith's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Charlie and Alastor. She wasn't one for relying on anyone but herself, and the idea of involving others in Eve's plan didn't sit well with her. Still, she remained silent, her fingers tightening possessively in Eve's hair, tilting the woman's head so she had to look up at her.
Eve stirred beneath Lilith's touch, her body still aching from the intensity of the night before, but her mind was sharp, focused on what lay ahead. The younger woman used doe eyes on the first woman. It didn't fool either of them. Eve was as innocent as Lilith was heavenly. She played complacent and good, but they would fight for control forever. Perhaps God had created them that way.
Last night was Lilith's.
Tomorrow might be Eve's.
Or perhaps…Lucifer's.
"What makes you think Charlie will agree to help us?" Eve asked, her voice hoarse but steady. She could feel Lilith's presence beside her like a weight, grounding her, but there was still uncertainty in her voice. "She's Hell's princess. She's still attached to the idea of redemption for all souls. I'm not sure she'll be willing to work with us on this."
Lucifer chuckled softly, pushing away from the archway and strolling toward the bed, his wings rustling behind him. "Oh, she'll help," he said confidently, his eyes gleaming. "Charlie's got goals, even if she doesn't fully realize everything yet. She's wants something better even if she wants to do it her way. If we approach it right, she'll see our way is better than redemption."
Eve frowned, considering his words. Charlie was known for her hopeful ideals, her almost naïve belief in redemption. But what they were proposing was far more complex, far more dangerous than anything Charlie had likely imagined.
"And Alastor?" Eve pressed. "He's… unpredictable."
Lucifer grinned, his eyes flashing with amusement. "Exactly why we need him. Alastor is the wild card. He thrives on chaos, and if there's one thing this plan will cause, it's chaos. He won't be able to resist."
Lilith, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, her voice low and possessive. "I don't trust either of them," she said, her gaze flicking between Lucifer and Eve. Her fingers trailed down Eve's arm, leaving a faint trail of heat in their wake.
Lilith, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, her voice low and possessive. "I don't trust either of them," she said, her gaze flicking between Lucifer and Eve. Her fingers trailed down Eve's arm, leaving a faint trail of heat in their wake.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his golden eyes. "You don't trust your own daughter, Lilith? That's quite the admission."
Eve turned her head slightly, meeting Lilith's gaze. The weight of Lilith's words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, Eve could feel the tension tightening around them like a noose. She had been around Hell during the beginning of Charlie, but not since she had grown up. She was well connected still to know the story.
Lilith controlled Charlie until she didn't. Until she had disappeared for a time much like Eve herself.
Alastor the forever dreamer had lost touch until his daughter had made him save all of Hell from Adam.
Lilith's eyes flashed with cold calculation, her grip on Eve tightening ever so slightly. "Charlie is weak. Her vision of redemption is built on naivety, not power. And Alastor?" She snorted, her disdain evident. "He's an opportunist, nothing more. His chaos is useful, but fleeting. If we're going to reshape Hell, we need more than tricksters and dreamers. We need real power."
Lucifer tilted his head, intrigued. "And what do you suggest, Lilith? If not Alastor, then who? Who would you trust to help us seize control of Hell's future?"
Lilith's smile was slow, deliberate, her eyes gleaming with something darker. "There are demons far older, far more dangerous than Alastor lurking in the depths of Hell. Power that doesn't need flashy theatrics to prove itself. If we're going to do this, we need a force that no one—not even the oldest of Hell's denizens—would dare challenge."
Eve's brow furrowed, her pulse quickening beneath Lilith's possessive touch. "But Alastor has influence. He may be unpredictable, but his reach—"
"Is nothing compared to what I'm suggesting," Lilith interrupted, her voice firm. "Alastor's theatrics may stir chaos for a time, but he's not the kind of power we need to build something lasting. If we rely on him, we'll be no better than puppets dancing in his little radio show. No, we need someone with ambition that matches ours. Someone whose power is unquestionable."
Lucifer crossed his arms, his expression turning more serious. "Who are you proposing, then? You're hinting at something grand, Lilith. You've piqued my interest."
Lilith's eyes flickered with a dangerous light. "There are beings buried deep in Hell, ancient ones that most demons have forgotten. They've watched Hell evolve over eons, waiting for the right time to assert their dominance once more. They don't play games like Alastor—they don't need to. One in particular has been quiet for far too long. It's time we woke him."
Eve frowned, the tension in the room thickening as she processed Lilith's words. "You're suggesting we seek out something more powerful than Alastor? Something buried?"
Lilith nodded, her expression sharpening. "Precisely. If we're going to reshape Hell, we need an ally that can stand above both Heaven and Hell's petty squabbles. A demon who holds the kind of power that no one—not even the oldest celestial beings—can ignore."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, his wings shifting slightly as he processed Lilith's plan. "You're talking about Hades, aren't you?"
Lilith's smile widened, dark and dangerous. "I am. The true ruler of the underworld. A being whose power is unmatched by any demon in Hell. Hades has stayed dormant for centuries, watching Hell from the shadows, but if we approach him with a proposition like this…" Her voice trailed off, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. "He could tip the scales entirely in our favor."
Hades was a name spoken in whispers, a force of nature long forgotten by most of Hell's current denizens. Unlike Lucifer, who had fallen from Heaven, or Charlie, who sought to redeem Hell, Hades was Hell's foundation, the bedrock of its power. Lilith wasn't pulling punches with this plan.
"But why would Hades help us?" Eve asked, her voice hesitant. "What does he gain from reshaping Hell?"
Lilith's fingers tightened on Eve's arm, her gaze intense. "Hades isn't interested in ruling Hell as it is. But a new Hell—one built on his terms? That's something he might find appealing. He's waited long enough in the shadows. Offering him control over a new order could awaken his ambition."
Lucifer's smile returned, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, well. That's quite the proposition, Lilith. You always did have a flair for the dramatic. But you're right—Hades' power is something even I wouldn't want to cross. If we can convince him to join us, Alastor's influence will seem like child's play."
Eve shifted under Lilith's possessive touch, her mind racing. Aligning with Hades was a bold move, one that could completely alter the balance of power in Hell. But it was also a risk. If Hades decided he didn't need them, he could crush their ambitions before they even began. And Lilith's possessiveness, while thrilling, added another layer of complexity. Eve had come to Hell to take control of her own fate, but with Lilith marking her so thoroughly, could she truly claim independence in the face of such raw, ancient power?
She seriously doubted this plan was the same one she had come with.
"What about Charlie?" Eve asked, her voice quieter now. "If we bring Hades into this, what role does she play?"
Lilith's smile faded, her expression turning cold. "Charlie's idealism will be her downfall. She's a child playing at being a ruler. Her vision of redemption for Hell is weak and will only slow us down. Once Hades is in place, Charlie will either fall in line or be swept aside. We don't have the luxury of catering to her fantasies."
Lucifer's carefree smile wavered, and something shifted in his golden eyes—an emotion rare for him, something close to protectiveness. He straightened slightly, his wings rustling behind him as he regarded Lilith with an intensity that wasn't typical of his usual teasing demeanor.
"Charlie isn't just some obstacle to be swept aside, Lilith," Lucifer said, his voice soft but firm. There was no hint of amusement in his tone now. "She's our daughter. And I won't stand by while you talk about her like that."
Lilith's eyes narrowed, her grip on Eve tightening as she turned to face Lucifer fully. "You've always had a soft spot for her, haven't you?" she hissed. "But sentimentality won't save her from the reality of what's coming. She's playing at power, and when we bring Hades into this, she'll be crushed if she doesn't fall in line."
Lucifer's jaw tightened, and for a moment, the devilish charm that usually adorned his face vanished, replaced by something far more dangerous. "I said no," he repeated, his voice lower now, the authority in his tone unmistakable. "Charlie isn't going to get hurt in this. Hades or no Hades, if she's part of this plan, then we find a way to protect her."
Eve, caught between the brewing storm of Lilith's cold fury and Lucifer's protective resolve, felt the tension spike. Lilith's fingers gripped the younger woman's arm, her fingers leaving bruises from the pressure. The silence in the room became deafening, the weight of their opposing wills crackling in the air.
Lilith's smile slowly returned, sharp and dangerous. "You're willing to compromise the entire plan for her, Lucifer? You think Hades is going to show her any mercy? She's a weakness, and weaknesses get exploited."
Lucifer stepped closer to Lilith, his golden eyes blazing. "Charlie isn't a weakness. She's stronger than you give her credit for, and she's our daughter…my daughter. This plan moves forward without risking her. Do I make myself clear?"
"Fine," Lilith said, her voice cold as ice. "If you want to protect her, then you'll be the one to manage that risk. But make no mistake, Lucifer—if Charlie's idealism interferes, it'll be your responsibility. And I won't hold back if it becomes a problem."
Lucifer's expression softened slightly, though the tension in his stance remained. "I'll handle it," he said, his voice quieter now but no less resolved. "Charlie won't get in the way. And Hades… we'll keep him on a leash."
Eve's heart raced as she watched the exchange, feeling the undercurrent of power shifting between them. She had known Lucifer cared for his daughter, but seeing him so protective, so adamant, was a stark reminder that even the Lord of Hell had limits when it came to family.
"Is Hades even capable of being controlled?" Eve asked, her voice cutting through the tension. "He's ancient, far older than any of us. If we wake him, what's to stop him from taking control of everything—Hell, us, even Charlie?"
Lucifer's gaze shifted to Eve, his expression thoughtful. "Hades is powerful, yes. But he's also been dormant for centuries. He knows the rules of Hell, knows the balance that's been maintained. We're offering him something—control over a new order. He'll see the value in that. And as for Charlie…" He hesitated, his expression softening for a moment. "I'll make sure she's protected."
Lilith remained silent, though the tension in her body was palpable. She didn't like compromises, and it was clear that she viewed Lucifer's protectiveness of Charlie as a liability. But for now, she would let it be. She had bigger plans in motion, and if Lucifer wanted to shield their daughter, that was his problem.
"We proceed carefully," Lilith said finally, her voice sharp. "We wake Hades, but we do it on our terms. If he tries to overstep, we're ready."
Lucifer nodded, though his gaze lingered on Lilith, the unspoken warning clear between them. "We'll be ready."
Eve, feeling the weight of Lilith's grip on her wrist easing, nodded as well. The plan was dangerous—awakening a power like Hades was a gamble that could reshape Hell in ways they couldn't fully predict. But if it succeeded, they would wield a force unlike anything Hell had ever seen.
And as they moved forward, one thing was clear: they were playing with fire, and not even the rulers of Hell were safe from the flames that were about to ignite.
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"Lucifer. Lilith. You dare disturb me after all this time?"
Lucifer stepped forward, his usual playful demeanor tempered with something more respectful. "We've come to offer you something, Hades. Something that only you have the power to help us with."
Hades' eyes narrowed, though he didn't move from his throne. "You offer me something? You forget your place, Morningstar. I am not one of your demons to be bargained with."
Lilith, her expression sharp but controlled, stepped forward as well, her voice soft but firm. "We're not here to bargain, Hades. We're here to propose a new order. One that will benefit us all—including you."
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