“You viewed Diane memories, isn’t that obvious master?” Myu said with a hit of curiosity, “I too was with you but there is something wrong…” Myu’s tone changing from curious and informative into concerned with worry.

I pause and tense up then roll my shoulders leave the cave and slowly walk to my temporary camp and sit beside me incomplete fire pit. Sitting in silence I reflect on what I saw in Diane’s memories and try to suppress her lingering emotions of everlasting sadness, fear, and most strongly the feeling of regret. The regret of leaving behind her daughter, the regret of not being able to protect Shawn, and the regret of not listening to orders.

Hours seem to pass as I sit in the deafening silence of the caves. I feel waves of exhaustion rush over me and I feel my mind go blank as I fall into a deep sleep. I find myself in a large dimly lit room with torches with flames of green casting off an eerie glow and a once lush carpet now molding and threadbare leading to an elevated throne.

Slowly I walk down the carpet towards the throne. As I walk closer to the throne I feel immense pressure pushing down on me. I finally make it to the foot of the platform I collapse to my knees I feel the sweat drip from all my pores as I struggle to raise my head and look at the throne, then I notice it the throne is elaborately put together using bones each one unique and intricately placed to hold the structure together.

I hear muffled footsteps behind me and I struggle to turn my head to see who is walking towards me when I feel my heart freeze, I feel a mixture of emotions all at once happiness, anger, joy, rage, and longing. “Imagine seeing you here its been a long time Markus, did you get sent here too?” a voice asks each word pronounced with dignity, and precision giving it the most beautiful melodic tone.

I feel tears stream down my face I am seeing her before me the most beautiful thing to ever exist the perfect symbol of grace, light, and balance befitting of her status and ability. Her blonde hair shines like that of a rising sun her eyes crystal blue matching a clear blue sky and her skin perfectly smooth without any trace of imperfection.

A smile touches her lips as she continues walking towards me, my mouth drops open but flaps around loosely as I try to warn her not to come closer and warn her about the strange power around the throne but no words come out. “It’s fine Markus, nothing this weak will ever affect me,” she says walking past me and stands beside the throne placing her hand on the armrest before slowly moving it with a hint of distaste on her face.

“Now Markus, you must be wondering where you are and what I am doing here,” she sighs lazily obviously unhappy about whatever she sensed when touching the throne, “this place is the afterlife…well one of the many facets of the afterlife created by humans during the several millenniums of their existence. This place, in particular, was once called the Underworld and run by the god of death named Hades, since the decline of his power this place has become empty and all the souls once kept here have moved on to another version of the afterlife which now would be called Heaven and Hell as we know it.”

I feel numb and confused as I try to process what I am hearing but I can’t seem to be able to. Noticing my dumbfoundedness she continues, “I understand you are confused but it does not end there once upon a time there entirely different gods in existence each important in their own ways and ranging in dominion and power. But with the coming and going of time and the fickleness of humans these gods all or a majority of their powers and were dispersed elsewhere some fading from existence while others retaining a small fraction of their past powers sought to live among the humans in the mortal realms and the process continued as such for as long as existence itself until now it would seem with God being the only god to hold power and no signs of a new god to be born or created bringing the natural cycle of things to a grinding halt. Which is where our little rebellion came in but it ultimately failed causing us both to be banished.”

I hold my breath and stare into Lucifer's empty eyes trying to say anything…anything at all but I am unable to. Lucifer walks slowly towards me and crouches before me placing her hand under my chin and causing me to stare her directly in her eyes a hint of a smile reappears on her face as she stands back up and starts to walk away from me. I feel the pressure removed from my body and I quickly try to scramble up but I feel my muscles collapse.

“Markus… I can tell you still see me as I used to appear, stop lying to yourself for I no longer am Lucifer the Bearer of Light, I no longer contain the beauty I once had… stop lying to yourself and see the truth and accept me for who I now am Lucifer the Devil, Bringer of Evil, the Lord of Hell, the True Traitor of Heaven, and the Enemy of God. “

I stare at Lucifer as her golden hair turns jet black, her sky blue eyes turn crimson, and her once pure white skin turns ashy gray. I watch Lucifer smile with approval, “You know the truth, that is good I am no longer who you once used to know I have been reborn and I will never return to who I once was. I have a final thing to tell you, Markus, you and I are not very different because, within you, you too contain the seeds of a devil which is why if you haven’t yet will experience dramatic changes in personality and power and numerous other ways. I am struggling to keep myself as I once was to talk to you normally now but soon I too will change completely then I truly will be gone forever. So this is a goodbye return to where ever you were and survive for the very fabrics of reality will change shortly as I once again try to regain the balance of the world which once was, goodbye Markus, my friend….”

Lucifer waves her hand the room around me starts to crumble and I feel my consciousness fade once again I hear the sounds of maniacal laughing along with the sounds of tortured screams echo within the void Lucifer created before fully passing out.