The Abyss Knows No Rest

The air inside the tower had shifted. It wasn't just the lingering tension from Asmodan's visit—it was something deeper. A weight that had settled in the bones of Kur'thaal itself, pressing down on them like an unspoken warning.

Lioren could feel it.

Vael, Tix, and Vehla could too.

Something was coming.

They gathered in the tower's war room—an ancient chamber lined with jagged stone, a massive map of Kur'thaal carved into the wall. The territory lines, the battle markers, the shifting control zones—it was all there, shifting like a living thing.

Vael stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Tix leaned against the table, absentmindedly flipping a dagger between his fingers. Vehla, usually the most composed of them, sat with her wings tucked tightly behind her, her jaw set.

Lioren remained quiet, watching them. He had been here for days, but this was different.

They were worried.

Vehla exhaled sharply. "Lilith is calling for the High Demons. Every single one of them."

Vael's grip on his arm tightened. "That's never a good sign."

Lioren frowned. "What does she want?"

Vehla hesitated. "No one knows."

Tix snorted. "Well, whatever it is, it's big. Even Nethros is in the dark about it."

That was rare. Very rare.

Lilith knew everything. Controlled everything. And if even Nethros—her second-in-command—didn't know her intentions, then that meant she didn't want him to.

Lioren shifted uncomfortably. A storm was coming.

Something in the air rippled. Subtle, but undeniable.

Vael turned his head sharply.

Lioren's runes were shifting again, flickering in and out of focus, the space around him vibrating like an invisible pulse of energy.

His power was unstable.

"Lioren." Vael's voice was calm, but firm.

Lioren blinked, looking up. "What?"

Vael stepped closer. "You're shaking the entire damn room."

Lioren frowned—then realized he hadn't even noticed. The stone beneath his feet hummed slightly, objects around them vibrating like an unseen frequency was rattling them apart.

Lioren inhaled, forcing himself to push the energy down.

Slowly, the air settled.

Vael's silver eyes studied him. "You need to control it."

Lioren exhaled. "I know."

And he did. But something inside him was shifting, and he had no idea how to stop it.

A slow, deliberate knock echoed through the tower.

Then, the door creaked open.

And Asmodan walked inside.

Vael didn't move. He didn't have to. His entire aura darkened instantly, sharp as a blade.

Tix straightened from his relaxed position. Vehla's expression hardened.

But Asmodan only smiled.

"Such a tense welcome," he drawled, his golden eyes flicking lazily over the room. Then, his gaze landed on Lioren.

And it didn't move.

Vael's aura burned hotter. "You have no reason to be here."

Asmodan smirked. "No reason?" He took a step forward. "I think I have every reason."

Lioren felt it instantly.

The way Asmodan's presence slithered through the air, how his gaze lingered too long, drinking in details he had no right to.

He hated it.

Asmodan's gaze flickered over him, slow, deliberate. Too deliberate.

He stepped closer, just close enough to make it uncomfortable.

Lioren didn't move. He refused to.

Asmodan tilted his head, a lazy smirk curling his lips. "Tell me, Lioren…"

His voice lowered, mocking, dangerous.

"Do you even know what you're becoming?"

Lioren's breath steadied. "I don't need you to tell me who I am."

Asmodan chuckled. "No. But I'd like to watch you figure it out."

The way he said it—**like a promise, like a threat—**made Lioren's stomach twist.

Vael's patience snapped.

"Enough."

The word cut through the air like a blade.

Asmodan's smirk didn't fade, but he stepped back, his golden eyes gleaming. He was enjoying this.

"Relax, Vael," he murmured, voice dripping with amusement. "I was just saying hello."

Then, his gaze flicked to Lioren one last time.

His voice dropped lower.

"Enjoy your new life, fallen star."

And then, he was gone.

Silence.

The tension still hung in the air like a storm that hadn't broken yet.

Lioren's hands curled into fists. His breathing was uneven. Asmodan had rattled him more than he wanted to admit.

Vael was silent. Too silent.

Then, Lioren exhaled. "He came last night too."

The entire room stilled.

Vael turned his head slowly, his gaze pitch black.

Not just dark—empty. Bottomless.

Vehla and Tix immediately backed away. Even they could feel it.

Vael's voice was dangerously calm.

"And you're just now telling me?"

Lioren hesitated. "I—"

Vael took a step forward. The air grew heavy.

"What did he want?"

Lioren looked away. "I don't know."

Vael exhaled sharply—his aura curling violently around him.

Then, finally—he spoke.

"We're going to Lilith."

Lioren blinked. "What?"

Vael's voice was sharp. "If she accepts you, the rest of the demons will back off."

Vehla and Tix exchanged glances. This was a risk. A huge risk.

Lioren clenched his fists—he didn't like it, but he knew Vael was right.

Finally, he nodded. "Fine."

Vael's aura was still dark, unreadable.

"Good." His voice was low, sharp, final.

"Then let's end this."