**********************************************

The Archdemon of Lust

Prince Luxen from the Second Circle of Hell

***********************************************

"As her husband, I don't want her to get hurt nor suffer in my expense. It is my---"

All of them saw the giant red lotus bloomed in a gradual motion in front of their eyes, revealing Luna curled up into a ball.

She laid at the centre of the floret with her Archdemon wings safely tucked below her.

A golden haze surrounded her as she slept, cradled in an elevated bed of honey while white feathers landed all over her clothes as an Archangel claimed her.

Her eyes were closed while his palms were wrapped protectively over her flat stomach.

The slit of her flowing lilac dress draped over her thigh, exposing her long ivory legs.

"I guess there was no need to kill the lady just to pry the Archangel's Lotus open, then." Hearing the wonder in his Uncle's voice, Luxen knew that Satan was awestruck at the elegant display, but that didn't mean their Domina was safe from her punishment for summoning magic without the trainer's permission.

"The future of Hell looks promising with this lady's existence. She will fit right into my plans of revenge to the Heavens." Satan was determined not to let her get away. "I will bring the lady with me right now so that I can train her."

"If you want to train her right away, can you spare her from meeting with the Grand Torturer?" Even if Luxen's ego was now in shambles, he still petitioned for Luna's safety with his head bowed, showing total submission.

"No can do." Satan clicked his tongue as he wagged his forefinger in his face, wearing that smug grin. "Rules are rules. Even Archdemons aren't exempted, Luxen. Not even you."

Luxen's jaws clenched as he cursed his Uncle in his mind for this.

Tilting his head, the old man tried to appear contrite but failed miserably at it. He sneered, "Do you remember your time with the Grand Torturer when you were punished?"

"How long will she be with you, Uncle?" Ravin asked their uncle politely, knowing what was at stake.

To save Luna, they had to grovel to the firstborn Archdemon.

"She will train with me along with the fledgelings, and until she knew the rules and used Archdemon magic properly as my student, I wouldn't give her back." Satan squared his shoulders with an air of superiority as he lifted a hand to fix his crown. "The last decision will depend on me."

Satan shrugged with nonchalance. "She will be my property."

The Archdemon of Gluttony stared at his Uncle in stunned disbelief.

Scowling, Ravin argued, "She is my wife first before she became a property of Hell."

"Mine." Satan retorted. "I turned her into an Archdemon."

"Ours." Luxen declared, referring to Ravin and him as Luna's blood mates.

Luxen can't believe they had resorted to this.

Other demons would have never believed if Luxen narrated this exact situation to anyone who might care to listen.

They sounded like three young lads fighting for their ownership over their plaything.

"If you have decided with that, can my Domina stay with me for one last week?" Luxen raised his head and met his Uncle's shrewd gaze. "She was unwell—"

Ravin asked pointedly. "Why was she unwell?"

The Archdemon of Gluttony never missed a thing, huh?

Luxen replied, and it came out as a question. "She was paralyzed?"

Ravin almost went ballistic.

"You hurt her so that she wouldn't escape. You kept her paralyzed," Ravin murmured with gritted teeth. "Did you do magic on her and let her suffer?"

The two of them shared a long silent gaze.

Luxen had never wanted to kill Ravin this much before, but he didn't want to admit that he owned an angel blade and tried it on her for a little bit.

Worse, he would also be sent to the Grand Torturer.

"Uncle. Don't let Luxen have my wife." Furious, Ravin faced Satan, hoping that his Uncle would listen to him. "He had his chance, so I want my Amare to be with me even for just a week."

"Give me three days." Luxen asserted, cutting him off.

He will not be taking a 'no' for an answer.

"You had your turn, Luxen." Ravin glared at the Archdemon of Lust. "I will not allow you to hurt her any further. You can't be trusted with my Amare."

Luxen shot back in anger. "And you can be trusted?"

Ravin jutted his chin. "We shall know if she stayed with me."

Luxen and Ravin watch their Uncle hover at the Lotus petals' edges.

The Firstborn Archdemon wasn't stupid to enter the auric field, or the Armor of God might destroy him.

Luxen had this strange vision of Satan sucked into the golden centre as the petals shut itself quickly similar to how the crocodiles snapped their jaws shut when their prey had wandered close enough for it to snap down and have a snack.

This Lotus could also be similar to a carnivorous plant in the rainforest, trapping insects in their digestive glands--but instead of flies, they trap Archdemons.

Even the inner petal whorls of the lotus shoot lightning sparks to any witless demons who dared to draw near.

They waited for a while to find out the floret's next move.

The massive floret lowered itself slowly back into the lake waters until it disappeared into bubbles of mist.

"The Lotus Flower had separated itself by its own free will," Satan observed as he rubbed his chin in contemplation, not at all surprised. "I guess the Archangel have control over it despite it being in Hell."

Demonic sirens broke through the water surface and surrounded her as Luna floated without care, riding the imperceptible waves like she was a message in a bottle.

"Ravin will have her for a week then after that I am going to take her away," Satan announced. "She will be in my custody after her punishment for breaking the Laws of Hell.

"Uncle, let me handle her rather than Ravin," Luxen demanded. "I can do better. It was a mistake."

Satan mused, "I'm sorry, but my decision is final."