Please… please, I'm not ready to die yet," he cried, pleading as he crawled on his knees before the cold, beautiful man.
"You humans never are," came the calm, cold voice.
"You made your wishes," he said to the man. "Three, to be exact. Wealth, fame, and the woman who never loved you. I gave you everything you asked for. Now it's time for payment."
"Please, my family… my son…" he begged profusely.
"Your soul was the price," Lucifer whispered, leaning closer. "And I always collect what's mine."
He snapped his fingers. Shadows rose from nowhere and engulfed him, swallowing his screams.
"Humans," he muttered. "Always begging for life after wasting it."
He looked up at the sky and murmured, "Father, this is what you chose over me."
Then his head turned slowly, his eyes locking onto the spot where she hid. "You can come out now, little human. Do not waste my time," he said softly.
She stiffened. What she had just witnessed was enough—she wanted to go home. But his voice felt like a magnet, pulling her closer. Was he going to kill her like he had killed the helpless man? Still, she walked up to him.
"You have seen too much," he added, his voice low and dangerous.
She had just had a full view of him—tall, dark, and terrifyingly beautiful, with eyes that glowed in the dark. He was staring at her, almost as if he were prying into her soul. He then grunted, frustrated. "And yet… I can't read you."
His eyes narrowed. "Interesting," he said, curling his lips into a dangerous smirk.
"What is your name?" he asked, not out of curiosity.
"You're not planning to kill me, are you?" she nervously asked before adding, "Or… are you a grim reaper?"
"What? Wh—why did you even think I am that dirty immortal?" he asked, looking annoyed.
"I read in a book that if a grim reaper asks for your name, you will die immediately after telling them, so I needed to be sure."
"They must have really filled your head with lies about those idiots. If you see one, will you stay?" he asked rhetorically, not expecting her to answer.
"You should be scared of me, little one, but surprisingly you are not. So I will ask again: what is your name before the kind man over here loses his temper, which wouldn't be good for both you and your creator?" He smiled dangerously. How could a man smile like this and still be so beautiful?
"Elina, that's my name," she said with an awkward smile.
"Light. Good. Now you will pretend as if you've never seen me before. Are we good?" He turned to walk away.
"Is it true that you can grant three wishes if I ask you to?" Elina asked curiously, prompting the man to stop and face her again.
"Little human, you are supposed to be thanking me for letting you off the hook so easily. Now you're proposing that I grant your wishes? Are you not afraid that I just killed a man? You should be shaking in a corner right now," he said, almost helplessly.
"I am not afraid of you. Can you grant me my wish?" Elina asked again, this time with determination.
"Such a brave little human. I will grant you your wish, but know that you also have something to give me in return." He curled his lips upward.
"Anything. I am ready to give you anything in return," Elina said, almost desperately.
"Are you sure you don't want to ask me what I will ask in return?" He smirked.
"I don't need to, as long as you grant me my wish," Elina answered.
"Okay, what is it, little human?"
"I want you to marry me," Elina said, her eyes filled with determination.
"What?" For the first time, the man who had remained unmoved while killing countless people, who had fought against his father, was shocked.