A test, as always, to see who is stronger.
“What are you doing?” he screams, stepping forward, and for a moment my darkness retreats a bit, but with a mental flick I shoot it out and it hits him, throwing back his golden power until it curls into him with a pained groan. He likes to think his light is the strongest, but everyone knows darkness always wins. It’s where people seek power and conduct rituals, letting out their fantasies and energy. It’s where they find solace in warm blankets, their hate, anger, love, and hope all coming together. It’s where they hide. Light has only one thing to offer, shining on you...spotlighting everything.
No, darkness will always win. I will always win, and it’s about time the angel realised that. I never cared to prove it before, never needed to. I could do this job with my eyes closed, but now...now I have something I need...I want.
Her.
It gives me a purpose, something to use, and there is nothing more dangerous than a demon with a mission. He must see it, because he falters for a moment, unused to me pushing back as much. His eyes flicker nervously, wondering what hell I will bring down on Earth and the humans he cares so much for.
They pray to me for redemption and him to save them...he is worried I will walk among them, killing and seeking bloodshed, bathing in the pain and death. Maybe I will, but first I will find her. I will find my mate, the one who called me from my slumber. If it is a trick, I will wipe this world clean of sinners and saints alike. If it is not...it’s unknown, something I have never faced before. I have nothing to offer in the way of love or kindness, my heart is as black as my forms and power, unbeaten for thousands of years. I live in hate and darkness with betrayal and lies wrapped around me. She will hate me, but I don’t care, I will take her anyway. She will be mine, to do with as I wish, chained to me for eternity, forced to burn with me—a cruel outcome, but I cannot stop it now. It is fate, it is destined...she is meant to be mine.
“Xaph,” I greet conversationally.
He straightens his back, lifts his chin, and steps closer, showing he is unafraid. I smirk, we both know that’s a lie, for there is nothing the angel fears more than me. One day I will be his downfall. We have been locked in this game for thousands of years, light versus dark. I do not know who will win, but it was my only entertainment until now, the only creature who could stand against me.
“Demon,” he replies, refusing to call me anything else, even after all these years. He hates that I have a seat on the council, but this world needs balance and light and dark to lead. If I did not, it would fall into chaos. “Why are you awake?” he demands, his holy power ringing with truth and calling the same forth from me, but I snort at the simple trick he tries to wield on me. He should know by now I keep things close to my chest, never to be used against me. Lies are my usual and my power comes from secrets, those whispered into the night, both mine and theirs.
“Why not? I was tired of sleeping.” I grin, flicking my fingers and setting the torches in here alight, pretending to examine my nails as he glares at me. His holy righteousness takes over as he steps closer yet again, his wings still spread like a declaration.
“You should not have been able to break the spells holding you,” he states. It’s not a question, so I don’t answer and he carries on, his voice growing angrier with each word. “It is my turn to rule and yours to sleep, this is out of place, you will upset the rules of nature and our world. You cannot be awake, demon, it is not right!” he finishes on a scream.
I turn my head, not my body, no doubt looking disjointed, and stare him down. “Is that right? I do enjoy the chaos of breaking the rules,” I purr, my voice wrapping around him like a tightening leash, probing for chinks in his armour. That’s the thing with being so good, so angelic, there is always a part of you, a dark little