Happiness in love in hell (English version)

Chapter 33: The Rulers' Source of Power

A scream jolted Lucifer out of his reverie, startling him so that he fell off the sofa, "what is it? He looked towards the bed, there sat Shinoa, pressing the duvet tightly against her body. "I-I don't have any clothes on..." Lucifer stood up "yes. You went to the shower with your clothes on and then took off your clothes." Shinoa blushed "I-I have... what?!" Lucifer sat back down on the sofa "don't worry I didn't see anything. There are fresh clothes for you in the bathroom. Do you remember anything from yesterday?" Shinoa thought sharply "um no... did I do something stupid?" "Get dressed first." Lucifer said.

Shinoa went into the bathroom with the duvet around her body and changed. When she came out Lucifer had not moved an inch. She laid the duvet neatly on the bed, Lucifer watching her every move so she was tense and nervous, straining not to look at Lucifer. When the duvet was reasonably neat, she sat on the edge of the bed to put on her shoes, her mind on last night, trying to remember little things.

When she had her shoes on, she tapped the floor twice with her left heels and then did the same with her right. She propped her hands on the bed and was about to get up when Lucifer rose from the sofa in one swift movement and pushed Shinoa back onto the edge of the bed with one hand. "Why are you so tense, little employee? Is it really that bad here?" He asked in a whisper, seeking Shinoa's gaze. Startled at how close his eyes, and indeed his face, was, she backed away with her upper body, but the king followed.

"Here... with me?" His voice became a seductive whisper, sending a pleasant tingle through Shinoa's stomach. She had already leaned back enough for Lucifer to push her easily, onto the bed, as he bent over the startled demoness, Lucifer's face still inches from Shinoa's, a slight smirk, visible on his lips.

"Tell me, little employee, what do you desire in your boyfriend that you could not have from me?" Murmured Lucifer in a low, charming voice right by her ear. "I can give you everything you desire and more." Continued the king as his lips began to gently tug at Shinoa's neck. Shinoa's mind went completely blank and she did not move.

Lucifer's hand travelled over Shinoa's dress down her side to her hip, where he grabbed the fabric and began to slowly push it upwards. His warm fingers tenderly touched the exposed skin. Slowly Shinoa realised what was happening. A growl sounded as Shinoa struggled in vain against the flattering hands on her skin and the lips on her neck. But she was lying on her back under Lucifer, who was a lot bigger and stronger than her, and he didn't seem to intend to let her go so easily.

"STOP!" Shinoa shouted in panic. Instantly the touch disappeared. She pushed the king away from her with all her might and slid as fast as she could, onto the other side of the bed. Greedily, Lucifer looked at her body until he saw her frightened expression. "Shinoa... please forgive me... I didn't mean to..." murmured Lucifer, looking away gloomily "I guess I had too much hope from... your statement yesterday..." Shinoa stood up and bowed "forgive me your majesty but I don't remember."

Majesty. The word kept echoing through Lucifer's head and his gaze became sad.

"Go and get some more rest and eat something. I'll seal your demon in the evening." Lucifer said and went out onto the balcony. Shinoa bowed again and left the room. "I guess love is denied me... it's not meant to be anymore... I can't hold any anyway" he sighed sadly.

In the evening, Shinoa followed Lucifer's order and went to the throne room. She bowed to her king. "I will not seal your demon in a vessel, I will not take the risk, so I will do it the old fashioned way" he said and left the throne room "follow me."

Lucifer left the castle and went into the garden, Shinoa following him. "Your Highness this is a Dead-end street..." she said as he stopped by a wall at the end of the garden, "it is not." He gave in reply. Lucifer knocked three times on the wall and a door appeared. "Where does that lead?" She asked again, "you see then" came from him. Lucifer opened the door and a long spiral staircase led deep down where a strange bright orange light shimmered. "What is that?" Shinoa asked again. "You ask too many questions" said the king and descended the stairs, Shinoa hesitated. Lucifer stopped and cleared his throat in annoyance, whereupon she slowly followed him.

After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the bottom of the stairs. It was a large round room that resembled a circus ring, in the middle of the room was a large pit where the orange light shone out. Shinoa went closer to the pit to see what was inside, it was bright orange flames.

"Before you ask, this is where I draw my power from. The one in front of you is the pit of fire, inside it is the vortex of eternal flames, it has indescribable power." Explained the king, "if for any reason the flames should go out, it will end with me too. The colour of the flames change with each coronation of a new ruler." "The flames reflect personality?" Asked Shinoa, Lucifer nodded "and what you stand for." "Bright orange? Then you stand for family, friendship, joy, loya" began Shinoa but she was interrupted by Lucifer "yes, yes. Let's get to the real reason we're here." He said and walked closer to her "well then, I will seal your demon from the inside and put another seal on your body. This will be painful for you though."

Shinoa turned to him, startled, but before she could say anything in reply, Lucifer rammed his glowing hand into her chest. Shinoa cried out, it hurt like she was burning inside, after what felt like an eternity of agony Lucifer pulled his hand out again and Shinoa fell to her knees, exhausted.

Lucifer walked around her "I'm not done yet" he said and put a hand on her back. He mumbled barely audible words. This time it felt like several electric shocks, to keep from screaming out loud again Shinoa bit her wrist with all her might, so hard that it started to bleed. Just as Lucifer finished the sealing spell, Shinoa collapsed unconscious.

Lucifer knelt down to her, he undid his tie and wrapped it around Shinoa's wrist. "Excuse me," he apologised. He carefully turned Shinoa onto her back, placed her arms on her stomach and put his arm under her back and the other under her knee joints, he rose with her and walked up the spiral staircase. With his foot he pushed open the hinged door and pushed it shut again, whereupon the door disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Lucifer took Shinoa to his room and put her in his bed. He took off her shoes and placed her neatly beside the bed and tucked her in. Then he sat down in his armchair, exhausted.

A little later Saphyra knocked on his room and entered "forgive me. Prince Draven sent me to bring you this, he said it will restore your strength" she handed him a container and Lucifer grinned "fresh souls. Thank you." Saphyra bowed and left the room. Lucifer devoured the entire contents of the container in a few seconds.

In the afternoon of the next day Casandra examined Shinoa, after a while she looked at Lucifer "how many seals did you put on her?" "Two. One inside her body one outside." Answered the king. "If Shinoa is ever to wake up again, you will have to loosen the inner seal a little so that the demon is not completely locked in." Said Cassandra. "Why?" Asked Lucifer "Shinoa and her demon are like ying and yang, one doesn't work without the other." Explained Cassandra, Lucifer nodded.

No sooner had he loosened the inner seal a little than Shinoa startled. "There you go, here she is again." Said Cassandra "you'll excuse me?" "Yes, thank you for your help." Thanked Lucifer, Cassandra nodded and left the room. "Shinoa...that other day..." Lucifer tried to find the right words. "Already forgotten." She said and stood up "how can you dismiss it so easily?" "Because it was certainly my fault too. I was drunk, I don't remember what I did or said. I take responsibility for my behaviour." Lucifer sighed "don't say that... that..." Shinoa smiled "it's alright Majesty. Thank you for sealing my demon. May I go back to work tomorrow?" "If that's what you want." Shinoa nodded "I do. Can I have my medication back, please?" Lucifer took the medicine from the table and handed it to her.

Meanwhile, in Kazuto's office

Kazuto rubbed his hands together in satisfaction "So Lucifer has feelings for Shinoa. Forget the whole plan. I have a better idea. I'll take care of it on my own." "What do you need for that boss?" Asked Hawk "just guard armour. The laboratory for a vulnerable emergency plan I'll put in place myself." Said Kazuto "I'll get you the armour." Confirmed Hawk and left the office. "Lucifer prepare for your demise."