Angel opened her eyes slowly. Around her stretched a desolate desert, but the sand was black as ash, and the sky burned red like blood. The only sounds were distant screams of pain and eerie laughter, carried by the hot, dry wind.

  She turned around, taking in the grim landscape. “Of all the places... why did it have to be here?” she muttered, her voice tinged with despair.

  Before her stood a massive gate leading to what appeared to be a city. Its towering structure loomed ominously, shrouded in shadow. Angel swallowed hard. “Maybe it’s time for me to pay for what I’ve done,” she whispered to herself.

  Steeling her nerves, she knocked on the gate.

  From the other side, a disembodied voice called out, “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  “Well... I’m here,” Angel replied softly. “Even if I’m not ready, it’s time to face whatever this is.”

  The voice responded smoothly, “Come in. My lord wishes to make a deal with you.”

  The gates groaned as they opened, revealing a path that led to a grand mansion. Its structure was eerie, almost alive, with twisting spires and flickering lights in the windows. Angel hesitated but forced her feet forward, crossing the threshold.

  The doors slammed shut behind her with a deafening bang. The darkness enveloped her, and then—soft, haunting singing echoed through the mansion.

  “All of the angels protected us now if we sing thy song, we will be brought down to the depths again, it brought tears in my eyes when they cried for help once again, now trapped because thy could not bring us light in this eternal night”.

  The melody stopped abruptly, and every candle in the mansion burst into flames, illuminating the vast, shadowy halls.

  “You finally decided to show up, little one,” a voice taunted from the darkness.

  Angel clenched her fists. “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” she yelled, her voice trembling but defiant.

  The voice laughed softly, its tone laced with malice. “I want you to understand what you’ve done.”

  Angel began to walk cautiously through the labyrinthine mansion. Every hallway seemed identical, yet small, unsettling changes marked her path—shifting shadows, faint whispers, and walls that seemed to breathe.

  “I know what I did,” Angel said, her voice wavering. “I just... I don’t want to be here.”

  “If you wish to leave, you may,” the voice answered coolly. “But you cannot escape without my help.”

  Eventually, Angel reached a grand chamber. Candles lined the walls, and in the center of the room stood a throne. Seated on it was a woman with a regal yet menacing aura.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The woman smirked as Angel entered. “Oh, so you’ve finally found me,” she said mockingly. “I was beginning to think you’d lost your way.”

  Angel froze, her breath catching in her throat. “You... You’re Lilith,” she stammered. “How could I forget? You’re the one who ruined everything for me!”

  Lilith chuckled, her grin widening. “Ruined everything for you? Oh, sweet Angel, you’ve got it all wrong.”

  “Just tell me how to get out of this hell,” Angel pleaded, panic flickering in her eyes.

  Lilith leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “If you want to leave, you’ll have to complete a few tasks for me. And for the record, I didn’t ruin anything for you—you did that all on your own.”

  “What tasks?” Angel asked hurriedly. “Just tell me, and I’ll do them.”

  Lilith gestured lazily toward a nearby door. “Your first task is to speak to another prince of hell in the neighboring kingdom.”

  Angel nodded, her resolve hardening. “Fine. Point me in the right direction, and I’ll go.”

  Lilith smirked and pointed at the door. “That way. Off you go.”

  When Angel looked back, Lilith was gone. The room suddenly felt colder, heavier.

  Angel ran out of the mansion, desperate to escape its oppressive atmosphere. Outside, the residents of the city stared at her, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity.

  “Why are they looking at me like that?” Angel thought uneasily.

  Without stopping, she headed in the direction Lilith had indicated.

  The desert of ash stretched endlessly before her, and the oppressive heat mixed with a chilling wind, making her shiver despite the warmth. Eventually, a massive gate loomed on the horizon, its jagged edges sharp against the sky.

  “Finally,” Angel muttered, chuckling dryly. “Even if it didn’t take long, it felt like an eternity.”

  But as she approached, the gate’s guards called out.

  “If you’re here for an audience with our prince, turn back now!” one voice boomed.

  “NO! I need to speak with him!” Angel shouted back, her voice firm despite her fear.

  The guards burst into laughter, the sound cruel and piercing. It echoed endlessly, making Angel’s ears ring.

  “Come back when you know who you’re dealing with!” another guard taunted.

  Angel clenched her fists, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “Why does everything here have to be so difficult?” she whispered.

  Turning back, she began the trek to Lilith’s mansion, her mind racing with questions.

  When Angel finally returned, she found Lilith waiting in the entryway, her arms crossed and a smug grin on her face.

  “You came back sooner than I expected,” Lilith said, her tone dripping with mockery. “Maybe you’re more than just a useless, one-winged angel after all.”

  Angel flinched at the words, her emotions a mix of anger and reluctant pride. “The voices at the gate told me to come back,” she explained, her gaze fixed on the floor. “They said I didn’t know who I needed to talk to. So I came to ask you—why do I need to speak with their leader?”

  Lillith suddenly stands right in front of Angel with a manic grin.

  “Oh, Angel,” she said, leaning in. “You’ll understand soon enough.”