The Devil And His Rose

After a few moments of making sure Rose was alright, Lucifer's focus sharpened. He couldn't delay the ritual any longer.

With a calm, deliberate motion, he stretched out his hands, the dark, leathery wings behind him flexing slightly.

One of the ancient cups that had once rested on the ground began to float, the air around it thickening with energy as it hovered in front of him.

He didn't look at it; his attention was on Rose.

"This will hurt for just a little while," he said softly, his voice steady, despite the tension rising in him. "So please bear with me."

His hand that was free began to shift, his fingers elongating into sharp claws.

His gaze never left the baby as he gave her one last, almost affectionate look.

Without hesitation, he used the claws to slice across her small palm.

He expected the cry, the panic. But Rose didn't scream. She didn't even flinch.

Instead, she just stared up at him with those wide blue eyes, watching him with such curiosity, as though she wasn't entirely sure what was happening.

Lucifer's amusement flickered in his chest, a chuckle escaping his lips before he could stop it. "No tears?"

He raised an eyebrow. Teleporting makes her cry, but this doesn't? He was starting to see just how different she'll always be .

With a wave of his hand, he used his mind to guide the cup toward her cut, bringing it gently under her palm.

The blood dripped into the cup, crimson against the gold, and Lucifer's gaze never left her.

When the cup was full, he healed her hand using his mind, the cut disappearing instantly as though it had never been there.

He didn't give her a second glance before he lifted the cup to his lips, tipping it back and drinking the blood.

The taste was sharp, raw. It pulsed through him, his power swelling with each drop.

Next, he turned the cup toward Rose, now feeding her a drop of his own blood. The ritual was ancient, forbidden.

He cut his own palm with the same claws, the blood dripping into the cup again, before lifting it to her lips.

She didn't cry. Didn't even react. She just let him feed her, her little eyes still wide and focused on him.

Lucifer stood tall, his wings spreading wide as he held Rose in his arms. The air around them shifted, growing heavier, thick with power.

The once steady flames of the candles began to flicker wildly, their light bending as if bowing to an unseen force.

He closed his eyes, took a breath, and began to chant.

"Vashtor d'kora annaleth,

Nir'ka raell imbroth,

D'rashan vir'ul neth,

Kah'zan ser'taoth..."

The words dripped from his tongue like molten fire, ancient and commanding.

Each syllable seemed to pull the world around him closer to the edge of chaos.

The wind howled through the clearing, swirling the fire's embers into the night sky.

Beneath him, the ground began to glow, faint at first, but then brighter as jagged lines etched themselves into the dirt.

The marks spread outward, forming an intricate star-like symbol.

The demonic sigil pulsed with a deep crimson light, illuminating the clearing in an otherworldly glow.

Lucifer's voice grew louder, more forceful, as the power built around him.

Rose shifted slightly in his arms, her wide blue eyes reflecting the burning sigil beneath them.

"Sha'kor anthir ekk'zar,

Vhen'tar lorki d'hael,

Veris'ah korael,

El'naad ven'thar zehn..."

His wings stretched further, casting dark, looming shadows over the clearing.

The candles' flames surged upward, feeding on the raw energy that now consumed the space.

Lucifer tightened his hold on Rose, his voice dropping an octave as he continued the chant.

Her small hand reached up, clutching at his collar, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the swirling light below.

The sigil flared brightly, its crimson light exploding outward, casting a sharp heat that rippled through the trees.

Lucifer raised his clawed hand, and with deliberate care, pressed it against Rose's tiny chest.

"Dru'khal erran jath,

Rhel'dan vir'seth kalar,

Tzan'rith d'karat ash,

Sol'mar ithor tal'raas!"

The final words rang out, a command that echoed through the night like a thunderclap.

The sigil beneath them burned brighter than ever, then sank into the ground as though swallowed by the earth.

The wind stopped. The fire stilled. The clearing was silent, save for the faint hum of energy lingering in the air.

Lucifer looked down at Rose, who blinked up at him with her curious eyes. The bond was done.

He could feel it deep within his being—a tether unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

Rose smiled suddenly, a small, innocent giggle escaping her lips.

Lucifer's lips curved into a smirk, the amusement in his expression belying the monumental weight of what had just happened.

"You really have no idea how important you are, do you?" he murmured, brushing a stray strand of her hair back. His voice softened, almost fond.

Rose, of course, didn't respond. She was a baby, after all. But her giggle was answer enough.

After some time, Lucifer returned to Rose's nursery, his figure materializing silently from the shadows.

His fingers had returned to their normal, human form, no longer clawed or bloodied.

He cradled Rose in his arms for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her peaceful expression.

But the peace didn't last. As soon as he placed her back in the crib, the moment her tiny body touched the mattress, she stirred.

Then, as though sensing the shift, her face scrunched up, and the wail began.

Lucifer froze.

The cries pierced through the silence, sharper than any blade.

He tried rocking the crib gently, even muttering softly under his breath, but it was no use.

She only cried louder, her tiny fists flailing in the air.

This time, nothing worked.

He let out a frustrated sigh, his wings twitching slightly as he took a step back. He glanced toward the shadows in the corner of the room, his escape. His jaw tightened.

Without another word, he stepped into the darkness, his figure dissolving into it completely.

But he didn't leave. He stayed hidden, his glowing red eyes watching from the shadows as the baby continued to wail.

Moments later, the door creaked open. Becca entered, her hair slightly disheveled from sleep.

She looked exhausted, but her face softened immediately as she rushed to the crib.

"Oh, my sweet girl," she murmured, scooping Rose up into her arms. The baby's cries softened slightly as Becca cradled her, rocking her gently.

Lucifer stayed silent, his gaze never leaving them.

Becca began to hum a lullaby, her voice soft and soothing, filling the room like a gentle breeze.

Rose's wails turned into hiccups, and soon, she was quiet again, her tiny head resting against her mother's chest.

In the corner, Lucifer watched the scene unfold. Something stirred within him, a faint ache he didn't quite understand.

But he said nothing, his expression unreadable as he melted deeper into the shadows.