13

"You don't know who has the key?" Adriel asked in shock. Lucifer growled.

"I told you to stay there and shut up!" He yelled. Adriel looked down at her feet again. She needed to do something that will make Lucifer be pleased with her again.

"Why would the maker not give the key to you?" Gadreel asked. Lucifer had no idea to that question. Had he chosen someone else over him? Even if he did not want to serve anymore, he wanted to be the one to leave not for him to be kicked out. That will be humiliating.

"I do not know". He said then paused. He remembered that he had to address the angels concerning the situation of the competition and the fate of his followers. The new rank will not be given and neither will there be any new angels because the tournament was stopped. But then how will he get Adriel and Gadreel to live freely and come up with a lie good enough for the angels in heaven?

He then remembered Nahamani and the two angels he had kept in the white room. A form of prison for angels. At first, the room is completely empty and white and sometimes it feels like you aren't even existing. Then, later on, the angel starts to see illusions and lose their mind. The maker had kept it hidden and had given the keys to him to be used when necessary. He remembered he killed the two seraphs earlier and he decided to use them as bait for the angels.

"Master?" Gadreel called. Lucifer looked at him.

"I asked if you will like me to secretly interrogate or even torture some angels for answers". Gadreel said. Lucifer shook his head. He was not going to make Gadreel's redemption so easy. He planned to send them on a very dangerous quest that might even take their life so they will still be punished for his amusement.

His mind then settles on the thought of Nahamani. He remembered that she was the only angel that had seen him in his cloaked form. Something she wasn't supposed to do and this made him think for a second she may have the key. This angered him. Why would a lowly angel possess the key and not him? It would embarrass him a lot if that was the case.

"Gadreel, something happened while the tournament was going on". Lucifer started. The tone he used pricked Gadreel's attention.

"What happened?"

"Nahamani saw me". He said. Gadreel did not react then he completed his statement. "While I was cloaked". This made Gadreel widen his eyes in shock.

"But that's..."

"Impossible". Lucifer completed for him." I have her in the white room and we are going to interrogate her or torture her if we have to. She better not be the one with the key". Gadreel was shocked to know that Lucifer dropped an innocent angel in the white room. It was supposed to be for rebellious angels. This made him scared of what Lucifer can do.

"How would you convince the angels we are dead"? He asked.

"I have a plan. But till then, we have a special place to visit. Close your eyes and clear your mind". He instructed. Adriel and Gadreel did so and a bright light shone in front of their eyes before they vanished from the room. At this moment, Michael came to Lucifer's chambers. He called twice before opening the door and was shocked to see no one in the room.

"Master Lucifer ". He called again but he only received a soft breeze as an answer.

***

Nahamani was admiring the golden key in her hand. She didn't know what it was for, she had a thought that it was for the forbidden door but she was not sure. The key had mysteriously appeared in her chambers the day of the tournament. She had no idea who put it there but she knew when she touched it, it was very special as tingles filled up her hands so she kept it and cloaked it on her neck. Perhaps Lucifer knew the importance of the key and that was why he kept her as a prisoner.

She had plans to use it to delay Lucifer and get as much information she needed, then she would find a way to escape without giving up the key. She was still gazing at the key before a bright light shone in the room, she quickly cloaked the key and stood up facing the light. Lucifer appeared after the light disappeared and so did Adriel and Gadreel.

Nahamani stared at three of them. She wasn't surprised to see the two angels behind Lucifer. They had been acting strange from the beginning. She was scared however of Lucifer. How many people had he recruited to join in his darkness? What scheme was he playing? When did he even get the time to recruit them?

"Oh she isn't even bothered by your presence Gadreel. But I expected that anyway, she is of a higher rank than you are". Lucifer taunted. Gadreel growled lowly in reply.

"Nahamani".Lucifer called.

"Lucifer". She replied without any form of respect. He smirked in response. He loved when the angels were stubborn, it meant that he could torture them.

"I'm sure you have wondered why I still haven't killed you". He said. "I believe you have something in your possession that is of great use to me". He said quietly. Nahamani's breathing was unsettled for a while and Lucifer noticed it. She then straightened up and looked at him in the eyes.

"And what might that be?"

"A key". He replied. Nahamani stared at him. She had suspected it but she would not let him have it so easily. She was going to trick him.

"I do not have it". She said. Lucifer smiled

"I know when you lie". he responded.

"Even if I had it, I will never give it to you". She said. Adriel and Gadreel were shocked at how she spoke to Lucifer and how calm he was with her. It made Adriel jealous. But they were scared for her still.

"And why not?" Lucifer teased. He knew she wanted something. This was how he tricked others after all. Her body language had given her away and so did her unsteady breathing. Lucifer was however enjoying her attempt.

"Because you will kill me when I do". Lucifer smiled. She wasn't wrong about that.

"What do you want?" He asked. Nahamani paused. He seemed like he knew where this was going already. But she continued anyway and it was a big mistake.

"I'll give you the key if you let me live". She said. Lucifer smiled widely. Without even touching her or saying anything, she had given herself away. He then laughed. Something she had never heard before. It was a dark laugh, a laugh of victory.

"Ah. Angels had never been good at keeping secrets". He said to her. It was at this moment she realized she made a mistake and she covered her mouth as if that will make her change her words

"Lucifer". She whispered. She was scared now. He would torture her for the location of the key or kill her either way. She knew he will find it and it scared her.

"You should also know, I do not like making deals". He said to her with his eyes glowing at her. She was doomed.