18

Lucifer was dancing in his chambers, humming to himself. Once in a while, he will twirl and laugh then continue to sway left and right. He was happy because everything was falling to place. Once he eradicates the cherubs, he will no longer have to listen to the gibberish of following God and it will be easier to convince the other angels who already looked up to him or were now scared of him.

Lucifer heard a light knock at his door.

"Yes?" The door opened slightly and Michael came into view. Lucifer stopped his little dance and faced him completely. He did not want to do anything to him, but he knew how loyal Michael was to God. He knew that very soon, he and his favorite angel would be on opposite sides.

"I came here to find out the names of the contestants for the tournament". He said. His tone was not laced with admiration anymore. This time it was just very formal. And he did not call him master. Lucifer stared at him and with a sigh and took a seat across him.

"If you have something to say, you might as well say it and not pretend like everything is going well with you". He said. Michael lowered his gaze to his feet for a time. He didn't want to say anything that sounded disrespectful and that was because he didn't want to die. He was scared of Lucifer. The decisions he had been making made him very uncomfortable and unsafe around him. Something had changed about him.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked. Lucifer tilted his head and looked at him slightly amused.

"Doing what?"

"Hurting us and taking pleasure doing so". Michael replied. Lucifer smiled.

"You think I am hurting you? I am opening your eyes, we have been living like slaves all our lives. I just merely want to change that". He explained.

"We are at peace. We are fine, we don't need our eyes to be opened". Michael said to him. Lucifer smiled at him again. The angel would soon understand what he was trying to do or maybe he already has.

"Whatever you are doing, please stop it". Michael said.

"And what do you think I am doing?"

"I....." Michael did not know the answer. No, he did know the answer, he just didn't want to believe it was true. He didn't want to believe that Lucifer was planning something sinister or slowly turning away from God.

"Michael, you do not need to bother yourself with thoughts that you cannot understand. Just trust me. You can do that right?" He asked. Michael stared at him not replying. He couldn't trust him but he could not go against him either. He still wanted to respect Lucifer's rank.

"Master, I truly want to know the angels who will participate in the tournament". He said. Lucifer smiled not in the slightest bothered that Michael ignored his question.

"Oh you don't need to worry about that. I will personally mention the names of the angels on the tournament grounds". He said and Michael stared at him in horror. It had been confirmed, Lucifer had finally run mad.

***

"Wake up!" Adriel slapped Nahamani on the cheek. Gadreel squinted his eyes at the impact but the former could not care less. She hit the unconscious angel again repeating the same words.

"I said wake up". Nahamani did not move despite all this and Adriel growled. Gadreel laughed at her. She turned to him, her eyes glowing in anger.

"What is so funny?" She asked. Gadreel shook his head.

"You really cannot control your anger, you and Lucifer are truly made for each other". He said in a mocking tone.

"What is that supposed to mean? The angel refused to wake up, the tournament would soon start and he does not have the key yet". She said. Her companion tsked.

"And very impatient too, you both are soul mates, I tell you". Adriel frowned at him, pretending the words didn't make her a bit happy.

"Lucifer had already released her from her sleep remember but she has been in this evil room for how long now, with no protection. Whatever mind twists this room causes must have had its way in her head, so be patient Adriel, and wait for her to wake up".

"Fine". She finally agreed and went to stand near Gadreel.

"I did not ask you to gum yourself to me". He said. Adriel punched him on the shoulder.

"Shut up". They both stayed in silence, watching Nahamani and sighing every two seconds. They waited for so long that Gadreel also got impatient.

"Perhaps you should resume your slapping". He said to her with a serious face. Adriel smiled and made her way in Nahamani's direction. But as she raised her hands, Nahamani groaned causing Adriel to lower her hand with a disappointed look on her face. Nahamani twisted and turned for a few minutes before sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Her vision was blurry for some seconds and she had to blink several times before the image of the two rebels appeared to her. She immediately screamed and attempted to run away, an effort that made her fall flat on her face because her legs were not stable yet. Gadreel and Adriel laughed at her.

"She's still trying to run away". Adriel said with an amused face.

"You don't give up, do you?" Gadreel also teased her. Nahamani frowned at them and stood up slowly using the walls as support.

"What have you done to me?" She asked. Gadreel had an amused look on his face.

"Me? Nothing, you're the one who tried to run across a room after a long sleep in a mind-twisting room". Her frown deepened.

"Where is Lucifer?" Adriel growled at her.

"Why do you want to know? You miss him?" Nahamani scoffed.

"Relax Adriel". Gadreel interfered then he turned to Nahamani.

"He had business to take care of but he'll be back soon, to have that key on your neck". He explained with a smirk.

Nahamani shook her head attempting to push the fear that was building up at the back of her mind.

"He can't take it unless I give him, the key can only be touched by me". She said proudly.

"I do not think that's true anymore". The soft voice of Lucifer startled everyone in the room. How he manages to sneak in without any sound was unexplainable.

"Master". Adriel called and bowed, Gadreel followed. Nahamani however glared at him as he made his way towards her. When he was standing face to face with her, he spoke.

"You see I did my little research and I found out that the key was protected by golden flames. The very flames that no angel can touch. But unfortunately for you, The stones of fire that surround the maker's throne are golden flames and I have walked through them". He said and without waiting for a response, he waved his hand over her neck and yanked the visible string holding the key before walking away from her.

The angels in the room were shocked by this revelation. Gadreel frowned at him.

"You are saying that all this time, you could touch that key and you refused to do so?! Why?" He asked astonished. Lucifer smiled.

"Because I didn't want to". He said in an obvious tone. Gadreel clenched his fists.

"You could have taken the key a long time ago, we could have easily defeated everyone without them breathing down our necks because you kept killing angels which was completely unnecessary. We could have won".

Lucifer shook his head at him. "What is the point of a rebellion when you cannot have fun while doing it hmmm?"

He then went over to Gadreel and patted him on the cheek.

"Stop pouting". He said. He moved swiftly across the room and grabbed Nahamani by the hand.

"Well, the tournament is starting, we do not want to be late". He said. Adriel and Gadreel exchanged puzzled looks.

"Master, you can't take her. She's supposed to be dead". Adriel called out. Lucifer smiled at her.

"I know, but then she being in the arena would add a little twist to the whole thing now don't you think?" He asked. Gadreel stared at him wide-eyed.

"It is going to cause confusion". He said.

"Exactly, and the more confused they are, the more distracted they would be on the arena and you two would then do whatever it takes to kill them". He said. Then he turned over to Nahamani with a devious smile.

"If I have not mentioned it, my dear, you will also participate in the tournament alongside your precious Carshena and dear Michael".Nahamani's eyes widened. Gadreel was too speechless and Adriel stared in horror.

"Think about it, five of the most powerful angels in the heavens battling for their lives". He paused and laughed. "It is going to be quite a show".

Even though this seemed like the scariest thing yet, Lucifer had one last menacing thing he intended to do. Something he personally wanted to reveal after the tournament.