Lucas POV

Lucas felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized the man before him was the same guy from Empanadas Mariana. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the danger he faced. He tried to keep his voice steady, knowing any sign of fear could be dangerous.

"He's not here," Lucas said, his voice firmer than he felt. "Who's asking?"

Teufel's eyes narrowed with a predatory gleam, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Oh, just an old friend. Would you mind if I came in and waited for him?"

Lucas knew better. Kyle had warned him about being pursued, and this man was another fallen angel, a dangerous entity from Kyle's past. He blocked the doorway with his body, every instinct screaming at him to run. "I'd prefer it if you didn't. Kyle won't be back for a while."

Teufel chuckled, a sound that sent chills through Lucas. "You're a terrible liar, Lucas."

Lucas's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. How much did Teufel know? He stepped back, trying to maintain his composure, but Teufel seized the opportunity to push past him into the apartment.

Teufel strolled into the living room, his eyes sweeping over the chaos of Kyle's hurried departure. His gaze lingered on the charred remains of the six-legged creature, and he touched his face unconsciously, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. Turning to Lucas, he feigned surprise. "Such a cozy little place you have here. Shame about the mess."

Lucas retreated against the wall, clenching his fists. The pendant Kyle had given him—now cold and heavy against his chest—was the only thing he had left to hold on to. The necklace's circle, engraved with the word "Eternity," glinted faintly in the dim light.

 "What do you want with Kyle?" Lucas demanded, trying to focus on Teufel despite the growing fear.

Teufel stepped over the scattered papers on the floor, ignoring the debris. As he moved closer, his tone shifted, becoming more sinister. "It's not just Kyle I'm interested in. You might be useful in gathering information, Lucas."

Lucas's mind raced. How much did Teufel know? Had he been watching them? If he had, he would have known that Kyle had left. But if Teufel was targeting Lucas, that meant...

A spark of hope ignited within Lucas, mingling with the fear. Kyle had warned him about the dangers of his past. Lucas frowned, his resolve hardening. The man before him was more than just an unwelcome visitor; he was a threat—a fallen angel who had walked the same path as Kyle but arrived at entirely different conclusions. Lucas took a deep breath, mustering the courage to stand his ground. He couldn't let Teufel intimidate him.

"I think you're mistaken," Lucas said, his voice steady. "I can't help you with anything. Kyle does things his way. He won't be back for several days."

Teufel's bemused expression deepened. "Is that so? But you know who he is, don't you? I said Morningstar, not that other name he's using now."

Lucas gulped, realizing his mistake. He couldn't afford another slip-up. "Kyle's not here, and he's not coming back."

Teufel sighed, pausing his advance. For a moment, Lucas thought he might leave, but the blond only paused to glance at the books scattered on the floor. He muttered, "The Mythology of All Races? He's a romantic."

Teufel scoffed, tossing the book aside. He returned his focus to Lucas, his gaze piercing. "Tell me, where is Kyle?"

Lucas stammered, "I don't know."

Teufel roared, "Liar!"

Adrenaline surged through Lucas as he realized the danger he was in. He needed to flee, but where? Then he remembered Kyle's room, the fire escape.

Lucas darted around the torn couch, trying to escape Teufel's grasp. "I won't tell you anything. I won't help you."

Teufel smirked, effortlessly vaulting over the couch to block Lucas's path. "I admire your spirit, but I have ways of getting what I want."

Lucas tried to back away, but Teufel was too fast, too strong. He felt himself pinned against the wall, Teufel's grip like iron.

Lucas struggled, desperation fueling his resistance. He remembered sparring with Kyle and how he'd managed to hold his own, but this was different. Teufel had the upper hand, and Lucas understood the magnitude of the threat they faced.

Teufel leaned in, his voice a low, chilling whisper. "You see, Lucas, I can't have you interfering. Your little outburst might attract unwanted attention, and I can't afford that right now."

Lucas glared at him, refusing to show fear. "You think you can just take me? We're in the middle of a city. Someone will notice."

Teufel laughed softly, his amusement having a sinister edge. "Oh, I have my ways, Lucas. Trust me; this won't take long."

With a swift motion, Teufel overpowered Lucas, rendering him unconscious. The world around Lucas faded into darkness. Teufel examined him, removing any personal belongings that might cause trouble later.

The scene was eerily quiet, the signs of struggle hidden from the world outside. Teufel was meticulous, ensuring that nothing appeared amiss. If Kyle returned, he couldn't trace Lucas's disappearance back to him.

Teufel's smile flattened as he checked the apartment once more. "Dammit, it must have been a tough battle; this must be Lady Lukresia's work. Or maybe it is Robespit?"

He shuddered at the memory of monsters like the one lying on the ground, common in the Stix River, where they had nearly killed him long ago. Only Lucifer's strength and strategic thinking had saved them. Teufel steeled his resolve. He had one goal: bring the old Lucifer back or kill him.

"This man must be the key; Lucifer's scent is all over him," Teufel muttered, lifting Lucas's limp form and carrying him out of the apartment. In the darkness of the night, Teufel descended the stairs, leaving the building with his unconscious prey.

He crossed the street, depositing Lucas in the back seat of a waiting car. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Teufel climbed into the driver's seat, his mind racing with plans.

As he drove away from the bustling streets of Argüelles, Teufel didn't notice the newspaper van following at a discreet distance. His thoughts were consumed by betrayal within his ranks, by whoever had given away Lucifer's location, and how to avoid the wrath of his master for kidnapping Lucas.

Teufel smiled, satisfied. "Well, now that I have good bait, it's time to go fishing."

Lucas awoke in a dimly lit room. His hands were bound, the ropes cutting into his skin, making every movement painful and restricted. The pendant around his neck was his only source of comfort as he struggled against his restraints. The air was cold, and the walls seemed to close in around him. Foul smells of decay and dampened water filled his nostrils, making him grimace. He could hear the faint drip of water echoing in the distance; each drop was a reminder of his captivity.

Teufel stood nearby, watching Lucas with a calculating gaze. His presence exuded a menacing aura that made Lucas's skin crawl.

Lucas examined the area around him. The room was barren and industrial, wires snaking across the floor, their ends attached to electrodes on his body. The sight made his stomach churn, and he gulped, trying to prepare his mind for what could happen next. 

Teufel leaned forward, voice dripping with malice, "Welcome back, Lucas. Now, let's chat about Mr. Morningstar, shall we?"

Lucas felt a knot of fear tightening in his stomach but steeled himself for what was to come. He wouldn't give up easily, no matter the cost. The stakes were too high, and he couldn't afford to falter.

"I don't know anything," Lucas repeated, his voice steadier than he felt.

Teufel chuckled softly, sending a shiver down Lucas's spine. "Ah, but small things might have escaped Kyle. Does he have more friends, for example? Or maybe he likes someplace to eat? Or has he a girlfriend or boyfriend?"

Lucas didn't even look at him; his silence was all the answer he needed.

Teufel sighed, returning to his seat. The room was still and quiet as if the air held its breath. But Lucas knew that this was far from over. He would have to endure whatever Teufel had in store. Teufel was not the only one capable of being ruthless. 

Lucas's eyes focused on the stains on the floor. He wondered where he was and if the red stains belonged to another person that Teufel tortured in that exact location. The air felt thick as if the cruelty that permeated the building had settñed inside and never left. He felt shivers in the back of his neck. Lucas suddenly realized, "We aren't alone."

Teufel paced around the room, the echo of his footsteps filling the silence. Lucas struggled against his restraints, his mind racing with fear and anger. He knew he had to be strong, but the uncertainty gnawed at him, threatening to unravel his resolve.

Teufel spoke casually as if discussing the weather, "It's a shame. I didn't want it to come to this, but you leave me no choice."

Lucas's voice was hoarse but defiant. "Once again, I have no idea where he is."

Teufel headed to the wall and returned with a baton, twirling it in his hand. He smirked, a predator savoring his prey. "We'll see about that."

Teufel's methods were precise, and each movement was calculated to inflict pain without causing permanent damage. Lucas gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to the agony coursing him. He knew that pain was a weapon, a tool to break his spirit, but he wouldn't let it win.

Teufel mockingly said, "Lucas, pain can be a powerful motivator. But don't worry, I'm not a monster. I'll give you a chance to cooperate."

Lucas's mind raced for something to say, something to stall for time. He mumbled, feigning weakness, "I am remembering something. He is seeing a girl. She lives in Paris."

Teufel's eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing across his face. He applied an electric current through the electrodes, sending a jolt of electricity surging through Lucas's body like wildfire. His muscles contracted violently, contorting his limbs into unnatural positions. The pain was indescribable—a sharp, burning agony that tore through every nerve, leaving him gasping for breath.

Lucas's heart raced erratically, each beat a frantic drum in his chest. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness, only to be brought back to the excruciating reality by another jolt.

Lucas whispered, almost unintelligible, "I think she sells croissants in Montmartre. She has an aging dad with a horrible taste for garden statues."

"Name?" Teufel asked, his patience wearing thin.

Lucas smirked through the haze of pain, knowing he was playing a dangerous game. "Amelie."

Teufel's face contorted in anger, and he again applied the electric current. Lucas screamed, the sound echoing off the walls of the dimly lit room. The burning sensation lingered, his skin seared by the electrodes, leaving angry red welts. He could feel his muscles twitching involuntarily, each spasm a cruel reminder of his helplessness.

Lucas's mind was a whirlwind of terror and confusion. Thoughts of Kyle and the life they had built together flickered through his mind, offering brief moments of solace before the next wave of pain crashed over him.

Lucas was breathless but resolute, "You can torture me all you want. I won't betray Kyle."

Teufel smirked, "Ah, loyalty. It's a rare quality these days. But everyone has a breaking point, Lucas."

Lucas met Teufel's gaze, his resolve unwavering. He wouldn't give in, not when so much was at stake. But as the torture continued, Lucas felt the edges of his resolve fraying, the darkness closing in. He was caught in a nightmare with no end in sight, his body and mind battered and bruised but not yet broken.

Lucas whispered a mantra of hope, "Kyle will come. He'll find me."

Teufel paused, studying Lucas with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "That's what I am counting on."

Lucas closed his eyes. He couldn't hold the pain longer and vanished, focusing on Kyle's face as memories of their time together flashed before him.

Lucas dreamed of Kyle leading a battered warrior group through endless darkness. When they reached the edge of a freezing river, Lucas was gripped by an ancient, primal fear: something monstrous was watching them. With their hearts racing, the group hurried into the icy waters, struggling desperately to reach the other side.

When they finally emerged from the river, they collapsed, gasping for air; as they gathered themselves to move on, Lucas felt something grab him from behind; it was trying to drown him. He cried out, but his comrades were too far away. Their figures blurred as he was dragged to the abyssal waters.

Lucas shouted, the sound ripping at his throat. Lucas's eyes fluttered open, heart pounding while the dream's remnants faded. The asylum room felt cold and unforgiving. He gasped, the memory of the dream lingering like a shadow. The tugging sensation, the unseen horrors—something about it felt achingly familiar.

"I had this dream before." Lucas wondered as he sat there; Teufel's presence seemed to stir the dream's remnants in his mind. He recalled the touch of the darkness, the fear that had gripped him. Lucas focused on the dream, the flicker of power he'd felt. The dark valley, the warriors, Kyle leading them—it was a glimpse into something he hadn't fully understood. But now, as he sat in the cold, dimly lit room, the pieces began to align.

His mind latched onto the vision, diving deeper. He remembered the dark presence that had grabbed him. Lucas realized the creature in the apartment, which had nearly killed Kyle, was very similar to the one in his nightmare.

"You are awake again. Do you mind if we continue our little chat?" Teufel asked.

Lucas braced himself for the pain, but something shifted within him as Teufel approached. Lucas nodded. "I remembered something. Your face wasn't always that ugly."

Lucas saw Teufel as a warrior, proud but scarred, leading a charge against monstrous foes. The creatures they faced were unlike anything Lucas had seen, their forms twisted by malice and hunger.

"You were betrayed, too," Lucas whispered.

Lucas's heart ached for Teufel, the demon's bitterness from loss and betrayal. But beneath it all, Lucas sensed a flicker of something else. However, his thoughts were interrupted by a jolt of pain as Teufel resumed its torture.

"So you are a child of Lilith? Well, that explains a lot." Teufel mused.

Lucas shivered as he sat in the cold, dimly lit room of the asylum, his mind racing. Teufel's words echoed in his ears.

Teufel's voice dripped with malice. "You are protected by a covenant between Lucifer and Adam's first wife, the first witch. He is bound to honor it."

Lucas squeezed his eyes shut. He barely remembered hearing the name Lilith; she had fled his husband because she wasn't willing to be bound and lay below him or something like that. 

"What does it have to do with having a nightmare?" Lucas mumbled through the pain as another jolt of electricity hit him.

Teufel sneered. "It doesn't matter since you're just a pawn in his game. Or do you think he truly cares for you?"

Lucas shook his head, trying to silence his doubts. He wanted to believe Kyle's genuine feelings, but the chaos of recent events left him unsure.

"Why am I here, really?" he whispered, feeling the weight of his uncertainty like a warm breeze caressing his skin. Instinctively, he focused on it, willing the sensation to grow. For a moment, Lucas felt a sense of peace, a connection to something greater than himself. His heart ached with longing—for Kyle, truth, and understanding.

"Bait." Teufel taunted, his shadow looming over Lucas. "Lucifer will come, and we'll have a party when he does."

As Teufel left Lucas alone, the weight of his words lingered, but so did the warmth in Lucas's chest. He allowed himself to acknowledge the truth he'd been avoiding—the depth of his feelings for Kyle.

"I love Kyle," Lucas admitted to the empty room, the words both terrifying and liberating. "If he loves me back, that might be the reason for our demise."