CHAPTER 71: DEMON LURKING WITHIN

Even with the searing pain, Lilith’s grip did not waver. Her teeth clenched tightly, tears pooling in her eyes as she squeezed them shut. A sudden surge of warmth erupted from deep within her—golden, glowing vines burst from her body, wrapping around both of them, blanketing the room in an almost sacred stillness.

The flames at Hades’ fingertips flickered... then vanished, snuffed out as if the vines themselves had devoured them.

His trembling ceased. The violent energy in the room dissolved together with the golden vines into utter silence.

Lilith slowly loosened her arms and drew back a few inches, her gaze locked on Hades. He knelt motionless before her, head bowed low, as still as a statue carved from marble.

A sharp cry escaped her lips as the burn on her arm flared painfully. She turned to look—what remained of her sleeve was charred away, and where his hand had gripped her, his fingerprints were scorched into her skin. The angry red welts throbbed, the scent of burnt flesh hanging thick in the air.

Tears blurred her vision, but she sucked in a shaky breath and forced herself to look back at him.

Hades was staring at her now, his eyes dark and cold. His gaze dropped to the burn marring her arm, and for a moment, he looked as if he might shatter.

"Why did you do that?" he rasped, voice low, raw, and trembling with exhaustion. "I could have killed you."

Lilith gave a small, broken chuckle, trying to ease the weight in the room. "Well... you didn’t. I’m still here."

But Hades didn’t smile. He didn’t even blink. He just stared at her, haunted.

She swallowed thickly and looked away.

"You’re not healing," he said, voice quieter but no less intense.

Lilith glanced down at the burn again, forcing a smile she didn’t feel. "It will. Burns take longer to heal. I’ll be alright. You have nothing to worry about."

Her words were meant to reassure him that she was going to be fine but it seemed to do the opposite of that as his expression changed.

"I..." Hades’ voice cracked. He lifted his head slightly, and she saw the way his throat bobbed. "Forgive me," he whispered. "I didn’t mean to hurt you. I would never... hurt you."

Lilith’s heart twisted painfully. She smiled through the sting in her chest and whispered, "I know that."

And she knew he heard her—because something in his rigid posture softened, just slightly.

For a long moment, silence stretched between them.

Then Lilith spoke breaking it.

"Can you tell me about the curse?" she asked carefully. "How did you get it?"

She thought he might retreat again into silence but instead, after a long, heavy pause, Hades finally answered.

"I was born with it," Hades began, his voice low. "My father, Azazel, was the Gatekeeper of Hell. He and his brother were high demons, created by the Devil himself. They were meant to serve him for eternity. They had no business meddling with the human world, no business falling in love or having children. But Azazel somehow found his way to Earth during a mission, and that’s where he met my mother, Celeste."

He paused, his jaw tightening as if the very memory pained him.

"My mother was an Arnix... one of the most powerful witch tribes among the Five. She, too, was forbidden from bearing children. Their union—a high demon and an Arnix—was strictly forbidden. When they fell in love, they were both banished from their homes for their betrayal. However, they accepted that punishment, but... then my mother discovered she was with child."

"She was overjoyed by the idea of having a child with the love of her life. But Azazel, he thought differently, he wanted nothing to do with it. He demanded she get rid of me. My mother refused. It tore them apart, but she stood her ground. She carried me, despite knowing that if I were born, I would be cursed."

He exhaled shakily, running a hand through his hair.

"She thought she could heal me, but she had no idea how strong the curse would be."

"I have part of the Arnix magic in me and a dangerous demon who seeks to take control over my body and soul. I can not let that happen because Zal, who is a demon of destruction, will have access to the Arnix magic and will be unstoppable if he succeeds in taking control my body."

"That’s why I need you to break the curse. I need you to keep Zal locked away for eternity—before it’s too late."

Lilith stared at him, dumbfounded, her heart aching with an almost unbearable sadness for everything Hades had endured. Now, more than ever, she wanted to tear the pain from him, to shield him from the darkness that had clung to him for most years. No matter how hard he tried to mask it, it was clear—the pain was consuming him, piece by piece.

"Why didn’t you try to break it sooner? Why wait this long?" Lilith asked, her voice a trembling whisper.

It took him a long moment to respond. When he finally spoke. "I have been trying... but no one has ever been able to do anything significant. You are my last hope."

Lilith felt her heart skip a beat again. "I will do whatever it takes. I will rid you of this horrible curse. I will set you free," she said determination. She had no true understanding of the full weight of the task before her, but it didn’t matter. Now, she was willing to give it everything she had to free the prince, even if it meant giving up her own life.

"I would like to be alone, please," Hades said quietly.

Lilith rose to her feet. "Very well, Your Highness," she said, offering him a low bow before turning toward the door.

As she lifted her hand to open it, she noticed her burns on her arms had healed completely. A soft smiled graced her lips.

She turned back to the prince. "Your Highness!" she called out. Hades lazily turned his head to look at her.

"Look," she said, pointing to her arm. "I told you it would heal. I’m fine," she added with a bright, reassuring smile.

To her surprise, Hades smiled back at her—a small, fleeting smile, but a real one nonetheless.

Satisfied, Lilith turned away, opened the door, and stepped out, leaving the prince alone with his swirling thoughts.