The confusion in the room became unbearable.
The air itself seemed to thicken, grow heavier… as if something invisible were pressing down on everyone's chest. The tension didn't just rise—it coiled around their throats, their thoughts, every heartbeat turning more erratic.
—Damn it! What happened? What the hell is going on? Why are you both like this…? Luzbel, what the hell happened?!
(Zarathoz demanded, irritation laced through her voice.)
Morgan slowly pushed himself up from the bed.
—Don't be like that with her… this is my fault… let me explain—
But he couldn't finish.
Luzbel's voice cut him off.
—You're not wrong… this is my fault. I caused all of this.
Zarathoz turned toward her. Her gaze shifted… hardened, darkening into something dangerously close to a threat.
—What do you mean by that, Luzbel…? What did you do…? What did you do?
Her voice carried fury… but it was restrained, clenched tight between her teeth.
Luzbel couldn't hold her gaze. Her eyes drifted away, as if facing her was too much.
—I… I…
(her voice trembled, fragile, breaking with every syllable)
—Damn it, Luzbel! What the hell did you do?!
The atmosphere began to heat up—not naturally, but oppressively, suffocatingly. The veins at Zarathoz's temple bulged, throbbing violently.
—I… I ruined it… w-we were in the training chamber… and Helios showed up… he started insulting me… me and my students… and then… she proposed a bet…
(Luzbel could no longer hide it—her voice was cracking, on the verge of tears.)
—What kind of bet…?
Zarathoz spoke low.
Too low.
But in that whisper there was something worse than a scream.
Her hands tensed, and her claws began to emerge, lengthening with a wild, almost monstrous presence.
—S-she said that… she would apologize… that she wouldn't bother us again… if… if one of my students proved stronger than one of hers… b-but… if I lost… I… I would have to…
The words died in her throat.
She couldn't say it.
Didn't dare to.
—Go on…
Zarathoz's voice didn't rise.
But it was unavoidable.
An order.
—I… I would have to give her… Morgan.
Silence fell.
Heavy. Brutal. Suffocating.
A silence that brought no calm… only something far worse.
—You would have to do what…?
Zarathoz took a step forward.
Then another.
Each footstep echoed like a dull удар against the room.
—I would have to give Mor—
She didn't finish.
Zarathoz lunged.
The movement was violent, sudden, unrestrained.
Her hand closed around Luzbel's throat, lifting her effortlessly. Her feet left the ground as Zarathoz's claws pressed lightly into her skin.
Not enough to tear…
But enough to make her feel exactly how close she was.
At that moment, the air itself seemed to shatter.
Silence died instantly.
Everyone reacted.
Morgan didn't think—his body moved before his mind. He rushed toward Luzbel, desperate to reach her.
But he didn't make it.
Zarathoz's tail slammed into his stomach.
Dry. Brutal.
The air was knocked out of him in a choked gasp as his body was hurled back, crashing into the wall with a force that made the structure crack.
The sound… was awful.
—What kind of stupidity was that, Luzbel…?
Zarathoz's voice trembled—not with doubt, but with contained fury.
—What kind of damn stupidity did you just commit…? I never thought you'd be so… stupid.
Without the slightest care, she threw Luzbel's body aside as if it weighed nothing.
It hit the ground.
Rolled.
Once.
Twice.
Until she lay curled into herself.
Galahad, pale and shaking, rushed to her. Her hands hesitated, clumsy, uncertain… she didn't know how to help, didn't know what to do—she could only watch as Luzbel began to cough.
Cough up blood.
—And then what?
Zarathoz continued, pacing back and forth, her presence contaminating everything with violence.
—When the hell were you planning to tell me, Luzbel…? WHEN?!
She stopped dead.
Her eyes burned.
—Do you know what's going to happen now…? That idiot… is going to fall into that crazy bitch's hands… and everything… EVERYTHING we've done…
(her voice cracked)
—is going to go to hell.
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
—All because you couldn't endure a few damn insults…
She brought her thumb to her mouth.
Bit it.
Thinking. Calculating. Shaking.
—Now I have to clean up… your mess.
The wet sound of Luzbel's coughing filled the room again.
With Galahad's help, she barely managed to sit up. Her body trembled, her breathing was a wreck… but she still spoke.
—S-she… won't take him… she can't…
Zarathoz froze completely.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Her eyes… wide open.
—What… do you mean…?
Luzbel touched her throat, trying to steady her voice.
—S-she… made a bet with Morgan too… but he… he won… she can't take him… but…
She stopped.
Fear closed her throat.
Zarathoz took a step forward.
Slow. Heavy.
Threatening.
—But… what, Luzbel…?
(she said, her tone deeply menacing)
Luzbel swallowed.
She knew there was no way out now.
This… was her fault.
—They made the same bet… the same one she made with me… but she…
(her voice broke)
—saw something in him…
Her hands began to tremble harder.
—Something that scared her… no… no, it wasn't normal fear… it was… terror… I've never seen anything like it… she almost lost her mind…
Silence fell again.
But this time… darker.
—She tried to run…
she continued, her voice weakening more and more
—and when I tried to get her out of there… His Majesty… found us…
Every word was a nail.
—She… told him everything… and he… took her… to the throne room…
Zarathoz didn't react immediately.
Her face… emptied.
Disbelief.
Denial.
As if reality itself had to be wrong.
But then…
Something broke.
And what remained… was pure rage.
—LUZBEL!!!
The scream shook the walls.
Zarathoz moved like an unchained beast, with a single clear intent—
To kill her.
Satana stepped in her way.
—My lady, wait—
She didn't finish.
Zarathoz shoved her aside effortlessly, as if she were nothing.
In an instant, she was in front of Luzbel again.
She grabbed her by the throat.
Again.
Lifted her.
Forced her to look at her.
Her face… was something monstrous.
—Do you know what you've just done…?
she whispered, but her voice was worse than a scream.
—You've condemned all of us…
She tightened her grip.
—Now nothing will stop that son of a bitch from coming for your "pet"… and when he learns the truth…
(she smiled—a sick, twisted smile)
—we're all going to be executed.
Her claws began to lengthen.
—But no…
Closer.
Closer.
—I won't give him that pleasure.
Her eyes burned with absolute hatred.
—I'm going to kill you… right here… right now.
She raised her arm.
Claws ready.
A breath away from piercing her—
She stopped.
Her hand… didn't move.
Someone was holding it.
Firm.
Unmovable.
Silence returned… but now it was different.
More dangerous.
Zarathoz slowly turned her head.
And saw him.
Morgan.
Standing.
His gaze completely different.
Dark.
Threatening.
—Let her go… now.
End of chapter.
Next chapter: This is more than I thought.