Sinful Obsession

48. 48 - Asmodeus

48 - Asmodeus

T he Earth trembles beneath our feet, a world undone by chaos and destruction. Fires rage in the distance, their smoke curling into the heavens like black tendrils of defiance. The screams of humanity, once so sweet to my ears, now feel muted, their echoes fading beneath the light—the angels’ counterstrike.

I can feel it, the sickening, familiar pull of their power. Waves of light ripple through the land, spreading like an infection, undoing everything we’ve wrought. The Earth, scarred and broken by our hands, begins to heal. Cities rise where ruins once stood. The charred remains of forests sprout new growth. The cries of the dying soften, replaced by a growing calm.

The angels are rebuilding. They always do.

“Do you feel it?” Lilith asks beside me, her voice steady but sharp with tension. She stands tall, her silhouette outlined by the fiery glow of the destruction we’ve caused. Her dark hair whips around her face, her eyes glowing with power—a queen in the midst of ruin.

“Yes,” I reply, my gaze fixed on the horizon where the angels’ light creeps closer. “They’re undoing our work. Faster than before.”

“They’re stronger,” she mutters, a bitter edge to her tone. “Stronger than the last time.”

I glance at her, my chest tightening. She is radiant, a goddess of darkness, her presence commanding, unstoppable. But beneath her confidence, I see the truth—the same fear that festers within me. The angels are growing stronger, their strategies more cunning, their resolve unyielding. Every time they rebuild, they learn. Every time they hide her from me, they make it harder to find her.

And one day, I might not.

That thought festers in the pit of my stomach like poison. I’ve searched for her through countless lifetimes, across the stretches of eternity. I’ve always found her, always brought her back. But the angels are clever, their light insidious. They know what she means to me. They know how to keep her from me. And if they succeed...

“I’ll find you,” I say, my voice low, fierce, as I turn to face her. “No matter how long it takes, no matter what they do, I’ll find you.”

Lilith meets my gaze, her expression softening. For a moment, the weight of her power slips, and I see her—the woman she was before the portal, before the chaos, before the destruction. The woman who loves me, who fights for me, who would burn the world for me just as I would for her.

“You always do,” she whispers, her hand brushing against mine. “But Asmodeus... what if next time... what if next time is different?”

“It won’t be,” I say firmly, though the doubt gnaws at the edges of my mind. “It can’t be.”

She doesn’t answer, her gaze drifting to the angels’ light as it draws closer. The pull of the portal tugs at us, subtle but unrelenting. We don’t have much time left. Soon, we’ll be forced back into Hell, the cycle beginning anew. The angels will rebuild, the balance of the universe will be restored, and Lilith will be hidden away once more.

And I’ll have to find her all over again.

The thought is unbearable. The centuries we’ve spent apart, the lifetimes I’ve endured searching for her, clawing through the darkness just to catch a glimpse of her light—it’s a torment I wouldn’t wish on anyone, mortal or divine. And yet, it’s my reality. My curse. My purpose.

“Let’s go,” I say, taking her hand in mine. Her fingers are cold, but her grip is steady, strong. She doesn’t hesitate, following me as we turn away from the destruction we’ve wrought.

We return to the portal, its swirling darkness beckoning us home. The horsemen are waiting—Kaua, Vito, Nevan, and Ewan. They stand together, their forms still radiating the power they’ve unleashed upon the Earth. Each of them looks to us, their loyalty unwavering, their roles fulfilled.

“It’s time,” I say, my voice steady despite the weight in my chest. They nod, their expressions solemn. They know the cycle as well as we do. They are bound to it, just as we are.

We step through the portal, the familiar darkness swallowing us whole. It’s cold, suffocating, yet comforting in its familiarity. Hell awaits on the other side, a world of fire and shadows, a kingdom that is ours to rule but never truly satisfy.

When we emerge, Satan is there, his massive form towering above us, his eyes gleaming with approval. He steps forward, his presence commanding, his power palpable.

“You’ve done well,” he says, his voice a rumble that shakes the ground beneath us. His gaze shifts to Lilith, and he bows his head slightly—a rare gesture of respect. “You’ve fulfilled your purpose, my queen.”

Lilith inclines her head, her expression calm but distant. “For now,” she replies, her voice steady. “The cycle isn’t over.”

Satan chuckles, a deep, throaty sound that echoes through the chamber. “It never is,” he says. “But you’ve earned your rest. All of you have.”

With that, he turns and disappears into the shadows, leaving us alone.

The horsemen retreat to their quarters, their presence lingering but distant. It’s just the two of us now, standing in the quiet, oppressive heat of our realm. Lilith turns to me, her eyes softening, and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, I feel at peace.

“Thank you,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “For finding me. For always finding me.”

I step closer, my hand brushing against her cheek, my thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. “I always will,” I say, my voice low, filled with a love that words can’t capture. “No matter how many lifetimes, no matter how many cycles. I will always come for you.”

Her lips curve into a small, bittersweet smile, and she leans into my touch. “And I will always wait for you,” she murmurs. “No matter where they hide me, no matter how long it takes. I’ll always be waiting.”

We stand there, the weight of eternity pressing down on us, but for now, it doesn’t matter. For now, we have each other. For now, we are together.

And as we retreat into the shadows, into the fleeting solace of our love, I know that this moment won’t last. The angels will rebuild. The cycle will begin again. But until then, I will cherish this. I will cherish her.

Because she is mine, and I am hers.

Forever.