Chapter 1: Soulless

Fallon- Past

              “Kill them all, my monster. Make them pay!” My mother screeches out as she watches the carnage that I’m reaping around her. My next strike hits the demon’s back, adding to the maze of cuts decorating his body. You’d think that I would be horrified but what I have done, but I feel nothing but hate and hunger for more pain. My body radiates with power as I tear through every creature standing in my way. My rage feeds me, vibrating with the flow of blood pouring everywhere. My body shudders, but I remain standing.

              This is who I am, a soulless creature who feeds off the souls of hateful and greedy creatures. The only emotions that I feel are greed, hate, rage and the need for more. I just want to make everything around me hurt, and that’s what the woman that created me uses me for. I call her mother, but I feel no connection to her. The creatures in the Nether speak of humans and how they sacrifice and care for each other, but I feel no such thing for the woman who bore me. I’ve felt very little emotion for as long as I remember existing. It’s what the Creator made me.

              According to my mother’s minions, I’ve only been alive for eighteen years. And though most of those years, my mother, Lilith, has used me to vanquish her enemies, there has never been a kind touch or word that she has shared with her son, who she despises in truth. There is no happiness or affection here. I’ve heard the shadow dwellers speak of laughter and kindness in the human world with derision, but I have yet to experience it. Those vicious beings charged with caring for me instilled in me the idea that I will be nothing more than an object of destruction. It’s what I am, and I’ve always thrived at it.

              Before she found a use for me, Lilith would beat me to break me. But you can’t break something that has no soul or emotions. Once she realized that I would destroy without remorse, she found a new use for me and basked in my destruction.

              You may ask why I have no soul? Unlike other beings, I was borne from my mother’s hatred and vengeance toward my father’s disloyalty. And because I was born in between worlds, I was never granted a soul.

              Of course, now that I’m older, I understand that I will never be more than a tool for my mother’s destruction. She doesn’t understand that eventually, her creation will turn on her. I’m just biding my time until I can find a way to end both her and my father. Once I’ve ended them, I will go to earth and make those filthy humans pay for their existence. I will gorge myself with all of their souls and laugh at the Creator who has condemned me to live as a soulless monster.

              As I rip the final creature’s life. I take a step back and sneer. My mother brought the demon lord to her kingdom in hopes of allying with him and destroy Lucifer. Regrettably, the lord had no quarrel with my father and declined my mother’s offer. To his dismay, Lilith isn’t one for accepting rejection, and his life was instantly forfeit.

              Even though I find the task tedious, I do take pleasure in their misfortune. However, I can’t help but feel that Lilith is a bitter, angry sow with very little vision. I mean, why waste a bloody moment on simply killing Lucifer when you can be the ultimate ruler of all the worlds. I roll my fire-tinted eyes as she cheers and bathes herself on the demon’s blood while she rages over Lucifer’s continued existence. It’s all just such tosh.

              You may wonder why she hates Lucifer so much. Well, let me educate you. Lilith is the bloody castoff wife of the first human man, Adam. When Adam saw that Lilith was not made in the image of what he desired, he cast her aside and replaced her with Eve, which managed to piss her off. Lilith is the epitome of a woman who is scorned. As soon as Adam denounced her, she cut out her heart, cast herself into the pits of hell, and siphoned the purest evil into the empty crevice. As centuries passed, she collected her army of death and evil, reaching the notice of the ultimate lord of darkness, my father, Lucifer.

              According to rumors, it wasn’t a match made in heaven. In fact, my mother is very vocal about the fact that she shagged Lucifer, and as soon as the deed was done, she tried to kill him. Which was complete rubbish considering Lucifer is a former Arch Angel and the king of hell.  

              As for me, I’m an unwanted product of their mating. My mother makes every effort to remind me at every moment of my existence. From what she told me, Lucifer was disgusted with the idea of bearing a child with a woman he despised.

              Lately, though, I’ve become suspicious as to whether my father even knows of my existence. There have been moments where my mother has unknowingly dropped hints telling me that Lucifer doesn’t know.

              Not that I care. If my mother has lost the plot with her cruelty, who’s to say that my father is any better.

              For now, I am content with feeding off souls and honing my powers.

              I’m brought back to reality as my mother slumps back in her throne with a satisfied grin and mutters. “You did well, my monster. However, it’s time you do what you’re meant to.”

              I arch a brow. “And what is it that I’m meant to do, mother?” I spit the last word venomously.         

              Lilith’s lips curl with a cruel grin, and her ebony hair flutters around her as she approaches me. You’d think that my mother’s cruelty would make her as ugly on the outside as it does inside, but that’s not the case. My mother is extremely beautiful. Her voluptuously creamy frame is the envy of every creature in the Nether, and her ice-blue eyes can make any gem look like a lump of coal.

              Blood coats my lips and claws as I sit up in my seat and observe her approach like a predator would watch its prey. If I had to name one of my mother’s biggest faults, I’d say it is her arrogance. She honestly thinks that she’s the most powerful being here. Even though I’ve proven again and again that I can rip her into pieces without a thought. Lilith knows that the only reason she’s still alive is that she is my tether me to this plane. She can’t kill me, or she will lose a great deal of her power, and I cannot kill her because she’s the reason I can exist in the Nether. However, once I find the means to break the tether and walk freely in all dimensions, all bets are off. I will kill her and anyone who stands in my way.

              By the dodgy gleam in my mother’s eyes, I know she’s up to something. She gives me a cruel smile as she waves her arm around her. “It’s time for you to kill your father.”

              I narrow my eyes.  “And how am I supposed to bloody do that if I cannot leave the Nether?”

              Her expression is smug as she lays a book in front of me, opens it to a specific page, and reads. “A blood-red moon shall mark the end of Lucifer. A rift will weaken the Nether and the king of hell, allowing the soulless born to leave and challenge the dark angel and become the new king. To bring an end to his reign, the king must fall to his own blood.”

              My lip twitches at the thought that I can leave the Nether and never return. You might wonder where the Nether is. Well, the Nether is the dimension between hell and earth. It’s a form of hellish purgatory that my father placed my mother in after she tried to kill him. There is no sunlight in the Nether. It’s a cavernous, rocky landscape with lakes of lava and nightmarish creatures that will haunt anyone’s nightmares.                Unfortunately, my father did little in the way of punishing my mother, considering she rules over the Nether like a queen. I’m sure that’s not the result he wished for.        

              “What’s in it for you, mother?” I ask.

              Her expression hardens further. “Indeed, there is one thing I want, my little monster. Once you destroy your father, you will abdicate the throne to me, and I shall become the queen of hell.”

              “And why would I do that?”

              She smirks. “Because I can release you from my tether and grant you the power to walk between worlds. Once I do, you are free to set your vengeance upon humanity and the Creator.”

              My dead heart stutters at the thought of what that might mean. “How do I know you’re not lying to me? Or that you won’t kill me once I destroy Lucifer?”

              Lilith shrugs. “I know you have the ability to read lies, my son. You know that what I am telling you is the truth, and I can make a blood pact to not kill you as long as you do me no harm.”

              She’s right. I can absorb information from others, including the truth, and she is being truthful. However, I can sense subterfuge in her words, which makes me wary.

              I don’t read thoughts, but somehow, I manage to collect knowledge from those near me. It’s why I know how to speak and understand things I was never taught. Over the years, I’ve gathered knowledge from my mother’s advisors, other prisoners, and her most influential followers. I can also heal mortal wounds into my own body, which I try not to do because it’s too dangerous. I learn about this power when my mother forced me to heal one of her lovers after discovering that he was shagging one of her maids and slit his throat. I almost died, but Lilith didn’t care as long as she made him pay for being disloyal. He never strayed again.

              Ever since Lilith learned about the prophecy regarding Lucifer’s death, she has been relentless. Regrettably, the prophecy is intertwined with the knowledge of how I can regain my lost soul. I learned the prophecy from an oracle that my mother had imprisoned years ago. Lilith brought the oracle in to see if she could help her find a way to destroy Lucifer. Once the oracle gave Lilith the bloody information, Lilith had me kill her because she had no more use to her.

              To this day, I still remember the prophecy that even now still puzzles me. I didn’t realize then that the prophecy would forever change my life. My jaw ticks as I recall the conversation with the oracle.

              I step confidently into my mother’s dark, dingy dungeon. Earlier, Lilith came to me and ordered me to get any information on Lucifer from the Oracle by any means necessary. As I stare at the small female, I still balk at the idea of hurting her. I don’t know why but something about her awakens a curiosity and protectiveness that I never knew I had. For someone who has never faltered in killing and maiming anyone who dares to cross me, I’m at a loss.

              The woman is almost as tall as I am and lithe with an ethereal quality. Her white hair is close to her scalp, and her face is regal with high cheekbones and full lips. What is most entrancing is the onyx color of her skin and her moon-colored eyes. At first, I assume that she is blind, but when she tracks my movements across the small cell, I know that she’s not. She’s beautiful, but I feel no desire for her.

              Since I reached manhood, many of my mother’s maidens have sought me out. But I have resisted their offers. I can't trust that one of them won’t stab me in the back at Lilith’s behest. However, it doesn’t mean that I don’t partake in the pleasures offered by the peasant women outside my mother’s palace. Many have commented on the paleness of my skin, high cheekbones, and symmetrical features. And some comment on my muscular frame and great height. However, I am unmoved. I do not care that my hair is the color of obsidian or that my face and body are perfect. I simply take the little bit of pleasure that I can feel and move on.

              The woman steps closer to me, her colorless eyes staring intently into mine. “Your mother is a persistent creature, son of the morning star. Unfortunately, the prophecy she desires will only bring her misery.”

              I circle around her until I’m facing her again. Crossing my arms behind my back, I concentrate on her emotions. “I believe you. Unfortunately, Lilith will not be satisfied with your response.”

              She arches her neck proudly and scoffs. “I care not for your mother’s satisfaction. I know that she’ll kill me anyway.” She angles her head as if listening for something, then nods her head as if coming to a decision. “However, I do have something for you, son of the morning star.”

              My lip curls with derision. “Stop calling me that!”

              Her brow furrows with confusion. “But that is who you are. You are the son of Lucifer Morningstar, the fallen angel, and the king of hell.”

              I grit my teeth, refusing to argue. Moving forward, I push her into a nearby wall and wrap my hand around her fragile throat. “You are trying my patience, Oracle. Now, what is it that you have for me?”

              Nonplussed by my hostility, the Oracle raises her chin and begins to hum. As a soft sound escapes her lips, her eyes begin to glow. The light is almost blinding, but I can’t let her go.

              I listen, entranced as she speaks. Every hair on my body stands on end, and the fiery flames in my eyes burn brighter.

              “Soulless son of the morning star. What you seek is not in this time or in this place. When the blood moon rises, the Erue will rise into the human world, and the Creator’s champion will be entwined the North Star in war. The Erue will seek to reap death upon the fallen one, and destruction will befall all, but hope can be restored if the bringer of the Erue can restore the soul of the fallen one’s begotten. Find the North Star, and ye shall find the Oracle and the bearer of your soul. Fail to do so, and your soul and hope for freedom shall be lost. A true sacrifice must be made, and once the soul is restored, the enemy shall fall, and the offspring shall be redeemed. Take heed, soulless son of the morning star. For your path will begin once you reunite with the north star. You will rule as you desire and vanquish all enemies.”

              As soon as the last sentence leaves her lips, her body slumps forward, and the light of her eyes diminishes.

              I look down at the woman’s nearly senseless form and squat before her, thinking about all that I wish. I will not let this Erue take what I desire. The human world is mine, and my father will die by my own hands. “Who is the Oracle?” I demand.

              The Oracle shakes the haze from her mind and replies. “Find the one who bears the north star.”

              Before I can ask another question, my mother storm into the room. Her lips are pulled back with rage as she approaches. “I knew there was a way to kill Lucifer. Unfortunately, your use is at an end. Is there anything you need to say before we end your worthless life?”

              The oracle straightens her stance and narrows her eyes. “I have nothing to say to you, Lilith bearer of darkness and hate. Do what you will. I have no fear of death.”

              Lilith’s lip curls into a sneer while I continue to look at the Oracle. The Oracle gives me a determined glare. She truly does not fear death because she has done what she was meant to do.

              Lilith tightens her fists angrily and turns to me. “Kill her.”

              I don’t know why, but I look at the Oracle. Something inside of me rebels at the thought of hurting her. To my surprise, the Oracle gives me an approving nod and raises her arms up. I’m shaken by her dignity as she waits for her final moment. “Please,” she states gracefully. Without a word, I produce a sword covered in blue flames and impale the oracle. She doesn’t even flinch as the fire consumes her until there’s nothing left but ashes.

              My mother’s grating voice snaps me out of my memory at that moment. “Are you listening to me, Fallon? You must kill Lucifer and give me the throne if you want me to set you free of the Nether.”

              Before I can reply, the floor trembles and a feeling of oppression fills the air. Looking around me, I see a man dressed in black, striding towards us. Rising from my perch, I release my wings and claws.

              My mother’s outraged screech echoes across the hellish throne with its dank, rocky walls.

              “Lucifer!” she calls out angrily.

              I face the man who shares similar features to mine and prepare to fight.

              Lucifer’s eyes run appraisingly across my features as he continues his trek. I narrow my eyes and ready to fight as he comes closer. “My son,” he mutters with surprise. “When Balathael told me that Lilith was claiming that I had a child, I could not fathom it. But it’s true.”

              Lilith stops beside me and hisses angrily. “You fool! Did you think I wouldn’t create a means for your destruction?”

              She turns to me, her expression full of glee. “Here is your opportunity, Fallon; kill him, and you come one step closer to gaining your soul.”

              I twirl my sword and approach Lucifer. My gaze is calculating as I take in his features. He’s almost as tall as I am with the same hair color. However, where my eyes are flames of fire, Lucifers are as dark as an abyss. I don’t hesitate to attack. Lucifer gives me an incredulous look but quickly goes on the defensive.

              At that moment, I learn why Lucifer is the king of hell. His power is unparalleled. He’s an amazing fighter who knows how to find weaknesses. However, I’m also a very well-trained fighter. Lilith might have cursed every breath that I took, but she also made sure I could be a weapon in her arsenal. Our swords clash several times as we strike and parry. Kicking out, I send him flying back, but he uses his large, leathery wings to halt his descent. Rushing forward, I attempt to use my momentum to run to a nearby wall, somersault over his head and swing my blade toward his neck. Lucifer rolls forward and wraps his hand around my leg, putting me off balance. Using that to his advantage, he pushes me to my knees, kicks my sword from my hand, and holds his sword to my throat. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. I came to take you with me.”

              I sneer. “For what? You want me to be your slave!?”

              Lucifer shakes his head. “Not at all. You’re my son, and it's time for you to take your rightful place as my son and the rightful prince of hell.”

              My brow furrows with confusion. “But why?”

              Lilith takes that moment to attack but is easily disarmed by Lucifer. To Lilith’s misfortune, Lucifer uses the full extent of his power to disable her. A blast of power shoots out of his hand, wrapping around Lilith like the poisonous serpents she keeps in one of her torture rooms. I watch dispassionately as Lilith struggles inside of the vines. I don’t move from where I am, even though I know that I should, but I’m intrigued.

              “You can’t take him; he has no soul! He belongs to the Nether. He will die if he tries to leave the Nether without me tethering him!” She screams out like a deranged banshee.

              Lucifer’s eyes snap to mine, shocked. “Is that true?”

              My response is sarcastic. “I’m a bloody abomination.”

              Lucifer doesn’t laugh. Instead, he turns away from my mother and approaches me. “Then let me rectify that.”

              Before I can ask what he means, he slams his palm against my chest and releases a burst of raw power. My head falls back with a silent cry as an agonizing feeling spreads through my veins. My eyes close, and my shudders painfully. It feels like I’m being run through by a never-ending sword encased in hot ice.

              “No! No, you can’t!” Lilith’s shrill scream echoes throughout the room. “You can’t do this! He’s mine! I’ll kill you!”

              Spots float in front of my eyes as my vision wavers. As quickly as the pain begins, it also ends. Falling forward, I hold myself up by one arm and gasp for breaths. I blink my lids to clear my vision until I see flames engulfing parts of the hall. Looking up, I rub my chest and face the man before me. “What did you do to me?” I ask as unfamiliar emotions threaten to overwhelm me.

              Lucifer tilts his head sideways and mutters. “I gave you a piece of my soul and released you from Lilith’s tether.”

              Rising up, I stand before Lucifer and question why he did this.

              Lucifer gestures to my mother’s writhing form. “You have a choice…” he stops, looking confused. “What’s your name?”

              My brows furrow with abashment, “Fallon. My name is Fallon.”

              Lucifer arches a brow. “Really?”

              I nod. “That’s what the slaves who Lilith left to care for me called me.”

               “She let slaves name you?” He asks as he sends a derisive glare toward Lilith’s writing form.

              His jaw ticks with righteous rage as he stands before me and says, “You have a choice now, Fallon. You can come with me and rule by my side, or you can stay here.”

              Feeling wary, I take a step back. “What if I want to go to the human world?”

              Lucifer shakes his head. “You can’t go to the human world until I’ve trained you. However, once you are ready, you may go.”

              I can sense his sincerity, and for once in my existence, I feel something other than rage and the hunger for death─I feel hope.

              “What about her?” I gesture to Lilith.

              Lucifer snaps his fingers, making the tendrils around Lilith’s frame encompass her body until it raps her inside an impermeable shell.   

              I know that I should care for her wellbeing, but I only feel relief that I don’t have to deal with her evil presence any longer.

              “What did you do?” I ask.

              “Don’t worry, it's temporary. I can’t kill her outright, or her darkness will be let loose and destroy our worlds’ balance. However, it will take a very long time for her to break out of her shell and rebuild the Nether. I hope that by then, we’ll be able to find a way to contain all of the evil that rests within her.”

              Looking around, I see that my mother’s kingdom is destroyed. I rub at my chest as emotions I’ve never felt before threaten to overwhelm me. I look back at Lucifer, feeling a warmth inside of me and nod. “Very well, I accept your offer…father.” I stumble at the foreign words and the warm feeling that settles inside of my dead heart when he smiles.

              Lucifer connects our forearms and winks as the world turns and twists around us. “Hold on then, Fallon. Your new life is about to begin.”

              As the world fades and I disappear from my mother’s grotesque dimension, I can’t help but wonder what this life has in store for me.

              I guess I’m about to find out.