“Do you require more rest?”she asked.
Lucifer propped one hand on the nearest stony wall to brace, Its shoulders raising and lowering with a heavy breath.The fallen angel shook Its head.“No.You’ve pleased me, Runeakael.You may go.”
She slid a hoof back.“Saer has brought you something, Master.”A sliver of contempt pierced through the words.
Lucifer nodded again, a small sound leaving Its throat.
Runeak paused, but retreated when no further command came, leaving them alone.
Saer swallowed, wanting to follow her, to search for Neyu, or even catch a glimpse of the others.
Craning Its neck to and fro, the fallen angel made a show of standing taller and stronger, then pivoted to face Saer.The vibrance of Lucifer’s icicle eyes had dimmed, Its skin bereft of the glow Saer knew from his own awakening.
“My Saerkhanum.”The sound of his name on his creator’s lips swirled a mixture of worry and hope in his chest.
Hellsfire.
“Yes, Master.”
The fallen angel’s attention sank to Ruki’s spirit.“What have you brought me?”A purr slithered into Lucifer’s curious voice as It moved towards them.
“Saer?”Ruki’s soul had found a voice.
The fallen angel’s footsteps slowed.
Saer hadn’t been expecting it.
Nor, it seemed, had Lucifer—who wore an expression of amusement.
“Answer it, Saerkhanum,” Lucifer said.
Saer’s silver-horned head lifted, brows pinched.He’d already tried to remove himself from Ruki, to bind himself to duty, dedication, and obedience.The idea of speaking with the soul sparked a discomfort he was ill-prepared to face, and he didn’t understandwhy.
The fallen angel nodded towards the spirit, amusement forgotten as Its voice lowered to a dangerous whisper.“I won’t say it again, my child.”
The soul watched the two beings communicate with wide, panicked eyes.Even kneeling, Saer stood taller than the boy’s likeness by several heads.He beheld the vaporous, formed energy which once inhabited Ruki, tucked against his side.
“Yes?”The human word grated with difficulty from Saer’s muzzle, between pointed teeth.
Ruki’s essence trembled but stood its ground.“Am I dead?”
Saer growled in assent.“The body of Ruki is dead.”
The spirit’s eyes wandered before returning to him.“If that is you, explain to me.Tell me who and what you are.You said you would.”The words conveyed more confidence than they sounded.
When Saer glanced at Lucifer, the fallen angel appeared delighted in a terrible way.Apparently, It could understand human words as well as Saer.
“Go on, Saerkhanum.”
He studied the frail bundle of energy.It acted like Ruki, looked like Ruki, sounded like Ruki.Yet, Saer had to remind himself that it wasn’t the boy—couldn’tbe the boy.Though if that were true, how could it remember the agreement the two of them shared?Saer frowned, but answered as his maker wished.“I am of theDaemoenica.I serve my master.”
The fallen angel rested a heavy, alabaster hand on Saer’s shoulder, leaning closer to the soul in rapt interest.
It’s not Ruki.Can’t be Ruki.
“Where am I?”
An unfamiliar, uncomfortable pang snagged the inside of Saer’s ribs the longer the spirit spoke.He shoved the sensation aside.“It wasn’t part of our agreement that I tell you where we are.”
