Scene Shift — David and Lydia ....
I rushed into Lydia's chamber, the heavy doors shutting behind me with a low, echoing thud.
The room was dim, yet strangely alive—fiery-toned sofas near towering bookshelves, floating runes turning slowly above her desk, and half-finished experiments glowing faintly, like something barely contained.
Lydia stood at the center, hands steady over a crystal bowl, mixing a substance that shimmered like liquid light.
She didn't look up immediately.
"Lydia," I called, my voice tight.
She stopped at once.
Slowly, she turned.
"What happened?" she asked sharply. Then her gaze narrowed slightly. "Don't tell me… it's happening again."
I stepped closer, my breath uneven. "It is."
A pause.
Then, heavier, I added, "And it's worse than before."
Her expression hardened.
I lowered my voice. "Lucian… his eyes turned purple. When he was with her, they looked at each other for the first time… and nothing happened to her."
Lydia's fingers tightened around the edge of her desk—but she stayed silent.
I continued, my voice controlled but strained. "And he gave his blood to Cristina… through a kiss. She refused at first."
For a moment, even the glowing runes above us flickered.
Lydia finally set the bowl down—slow, precise. Too controlled.
"I know," she said quietly. "It's because of her. Lucian is changing. We can't allow this to take him over completely. For now… I'm preparing something to conceal it."
"What are you trying to do?" I asked.
Her hands remained steady over the glowing mixture, her voice low.
"You already understand… if his red eyes fail to appear, you know what follows. I'm preparing an ointment. It will keep his eyes anchored to red… prevent the purple from surfacing. But it's only temporary. We still need a real solution."
A faint pulse moved through the runes above us at the mention of his name.
"If the red state is lost completely," she continued, "then purple becomes permanent. And you already know what that means… what will happen next."
"I understand," I said quietly, exhaling. "But I don't know what's really happening here… what if this is tied to his past life?"
"Maybe," Lydia replied. "But Lucian himself doesn't know. He came here as a human soul—arrogant, cruel… empty of human emotion. He crossed every level because he rejected both Earth and Heaven… and you were the one who made him a demon."
"I didn't make him," I said, my voice lowering. "I only gave him what he was already becoming. He chose this. I tried to stop him."
My gaze darkened.
"In the Judgment Chamber… when he first appeared, one demon looked at him and said—'He didn't come here to be judged… he came here because he already belongs.'"
My voice dropped further.
"And then… Lucian laughed."
The room seemed to still.
"Not in fear. Not in madness."
A pause.
"But like the verdict meant nothing."
I looked at her.
"Two lakh people… burned alive by him. That was the record."
Silence settled between us.
"And even after hearing it… he didn't flinch. No regret. No hesitation. No pain."
Lydia's expression hardened slightly.
"That laughter… no one in the Judgment Hall forgot it."
"Because it didn't sound human," I said quietly.
A beat.
"It sounded like he had already chosen Hell… long before he died."
Silence stretched between us.
"Do you think that girl is related to him?" Lydia asked.
I shook my head. "Impossible. He has been here for almost a thousand years."
"Then give me a reason for his purple eyes."
I exhaled slowly. "…You're right. I don't have one."
She studied me carefully. "Tell me one thing honestly… has there ever been a case where a demon reacts like this… to a human?"
"Never," I answered immediately.
A pause.
"And that's exactly why this feels wrong."
She hesitated. "Did a demon and a human ever…?"
My expression tightened. "No. That's not possible. It has never happened in our history… and I hope it stays that way."
Silence again.
"Whatever the reason," Lydia said finally, "first we must find out what happened to him on Earth… why he chose Hell. And we must keep Lucian safe."
"Yes," I said quietly. "Whatever it takes."
She nodded. "Yes."
"You know him," I continued. "He doesn't listen. He doesn't fear anything—not even the King."
"I know," she said. "That's why it must be different."
I helped her finish the ointment. She placed it into my hand.
"Keep it. When needed… give it to Lucian."
I looked at her, then pulled her closer, brushing my lips against hers.
I looked at her and said softly, "Thank you… I don't know what I would have done without you."
Then I added, more quietly, "You're everything to me… you know that."
She held me firmly, her arms wrapping around me as she lifted her gaze to meet mine.
"I know," she said gently. "I am… yours."
For a moment, we stayed like that—close and silent—before our lips met again, slower this time, deeper… like we were holding onto each other while everything else threatened to fall apart.
I pulled back slightly.
"Come on, baby… we still have work to do."
She didn't let go immediately. Instead, she leaned into me a little more.
"I know… but stay like this a little longer."
I brushed my fingers lightly over her hand.
"We'll handle this together… my demoness."
She tightened her hold for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Yes… together. And we'll hide this from Lucian while we uncover his past."
After a moment, she stepped back slightly.
"Let's go. We'll eat first… then get back to work."
A brief pause.
Her voice softened.
"And the rest of the night… is ours."
I let out a quiet laugh. "Deal."
She smiled faintly....