Ariel ran.
Not just with her feet—with everything she had.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her pulse pounding so hard it echoed in her skull.
The halls of the palace blurred past her—obsidian walls twisting and shifting, like the entire structure was alive, watching, waiting.
The torches flickered violently, their eerie flames casting monstrous shadows, stretching across the corridors, chasing her like grasping hands.
Her vision swam.
Her body was weak, drained, burning from the inside out.
Yet she pushed forward, feet slamming against the cold marble floors.
She had hurt him.
The realization pulsed through her, nearly making her stumble.
Luciel—the untouchable Devil, the King of Hell—was bleeding.
Because of her.
Because of whatever was inside her.
She didn't understand it.
And right now—she didn't care.
She just needed to get away.
Away from that smirk.