Pride was, and always had been, very good at lying to himself.
What do you love now, Saerkhanum?Lucifer growled in Saer and Neyu’s mind.Errshek’s body bent down, a stalking animal.Slinking forward, the fallen angel used Envy’s throat to produce a low rumble while It spoke into their minds,Who do you love now, Saerkhanum?
Saer’s breath sped with his heart rate, clambering for some semblance of a safe answer.“I love my life here, Master.I love the counterpart you made for me.We do good work together.”
The growl continued.You love Neyuukhan more than you love me.Another shiver ran under Saer’s skin, though without a question asked, he remained silent.But then,Don’t you, Saerkhanum?
The world slowed.Saer’s heart plunged into his guts while desperation clawed up to take its place.He shut his eyes to keep from glancing at Neyu, despite the instinctual urge to leap towards her, scoop her in his arms, press her against him until neither of them could breathe.
What could he say?If he stalled, what good would it do?
Saer let out the answer in a breath, not even a whisper.“Yes, Master.”
Truth.Errshek’s body raised upright, leisurely and resigned.That will have to be corrected.
Both Saer and Neyu spoke at once.
“Master, if—”
“Father, please—”
Silence.Not a loud command, but the word broached no argument.We have a decision to make, Saerkhanum and Neyuukhan.You must be separated, that much is clear.
Saer bit down on his need to protest to avoid agitating their maker further.
Errshek’s chin lifted, brows quirking, an expression of consideration on his face.But how.How, how, how.The words came quiet in Saer’s mind, as if they weren’t meant for him, but for Lucifer to Itself.
It’s worthless to keep one of you near me at all times.If I merely separate you, what’s to stop you from disobeying me?No.Errshek’s head shook, the expression sluicing from pensive to solemn.No, you’ve both forced it of me.
Saer’s mind worked overtime, looking for a way out.If they transported by Hellsfire, it would take them to the Hells—where Lucifer inevitably waited—before they could go anywhere else.Could they make it in time?Could they run?Where could they go where their maker wouldn’t—
Saer’s entire body slammed backwards as the Sixth’s claws dug into his shoulders, Errshek’s hoof against his gut, just under the sternum.The massive appendage shoved down and Saer choked.His stomach spasmed to force up food while the pressure prevented it all at once.
“Master!”Neyu leapt to her feet and rushed to them.
Blood oozed where Errshek’s claws dug, bright pain springing from each razored tip.Ribs crunched and cracked.Saer’s lungs seized, though he pushed at the hoof crushing his torso.He dug his heels into the ground to wriggle or shift.
He couldn’t move.
“Father, please!”Neyu’s hands grabbed Errshek’s elbow and pulled.
The arm Neyu pulled at flipped up.Errshek’s clawed hand wrapped around her throat and shoved her to the ground next to the First where Lucifer pinned each of them, side-by-side.Why should I do what pleases you?Lucifer’s voice shrieked, murderous between their ears.Either of you?You have each failed me, betrayed me!
The Second wrapped her delicate hands around Errshek’s right wrist, neither fighting nor struggling.Another of Saer’s ribs cracked under Errshek’s weight, ripping a sharp cry from his throat.
Shadows crept to the edge of Saer’s vision while his lungs struggled, muddling the world, and Lucifer hissed in his mind with devastating heartache,My First, my immaculate, exquisite First, how could you—
Neyu’s voice broke through, “How can we right this wrong, Mas—” The question ended with a gagging cough as Errshek’s claw tightened its grip around her neck.
The snarl snapped to an expression of curiosity.Neyu struggled, desperate for breath.We.Lucifer’s voice parodied Neyu’s, tasting the word.Those black eyes shifted from Neyu, back to Saer.‘We,’ she says, Saerkhanum.Do you hear her?
“Yes, for the sake of the Hells, yes!”Saer’s strained reply rose pained, urgent.
Lucifer smiled with Errshek’s muzzle, the expression neither kind nor reassuring.The claws buried in Saer’s chest withdrew with a wet tearing and the fingers around Neyu’s throat loosened.The First and Second coughed and gasped in turn, rolling towards one another to collect themselves.
Simple enough.Their maker’s voice reverberated in their minds.I’ll unmake you both.Or—A bloody finger rose and tapped against Errshek’s lips.Envy’s tongue darted forward and tasted, an absent-minded gesture.Or one of you.Just one.Yes, I think that’s better.
Saer didn’t comprehend through the pain of his broken ribs, panting.
