Lucas POV

Lucas chuckled softly, reflecting on how long it had taken him to confront his lingering feelings for Kyle. Kyle's playful teasing after that strange dream had been the first clue Lucas dared to acknowledge about their more profound connection. Ironically, this realization came after meeting Teufel at Empanadas Mariana; the contrast between Teufel's menacing presence and Kyle's genuine nature only made Lucas appreciate Kyle even more. Deciding to open the store together had been Lucas's way of understanding Kyle better.

"Oh boy, I learned a lot about Kyle," he mused, his thoughts drifting to their shared moments.

The necklace Kyle had given him, engraved with "Eternity," lingered in Lucas's mind. Why would Kyle provide him with something so precious if not out of love? He wondered how he could interpret this gesture.

"It is because I am the witch's grandson," Lucas whispered. He had always known it but had hidden the truth, even from himself. His grandmother's legacy had been shattered, leaving only her wisdom and his intuition as a remnant. Though not always reliable, his intuition had once predicted his future with Jacob, yet it had failed to warn him of Jacob's betrayal or Kyle's past—or had it? When they met, he sensed Kyle's soul was as ancient as the sea.

Had Kyle known about Lucas's bloodline, just as he seemed to understand Lucas's sexuality? Was Kyle manipulating him all along? No, that couldn't be. The desire in Kyle's voice when he gave the necklace had been palpable, not a mere ploy but a raw, intoxicating need. Kyle wanted to break down the walls Lucas had built to be with him.

The room where Lucas was held was stark and oppressive. The faded white walls, cold gray tiles, and a fluorescent bulb's harsh, flickering light starkly contrasted the dark memories it seemed to hold. The oppressive silence was occasionally broken by distant shuffling footsteps and urgent voices from the hallway, amplifying his sense of claustrophobic dread.

His body ached, but the pain in his heart was overwhelming. Teufel had left him alone, but the echoes of his words lingered, whispering doubt and fear into the oppressive silence.

Lucas had known about doubt and emotional manipulation. His ex-husband, Jacob, had used such tactics not to damage him but to appear as a bigger man than he was, unable to handle Lucas's imperfections. Instead of dealing with their relationship, Jacob sought solace with others, leaving Lucas alone. When Jacob betrayed him, Lucas walked away, thinking it was too complicated. Their intense relationship had been a whirlwind of passion that left him broken. The betrayal seemed like a closed chapter, but its lessons now whispered in his mind.

"Love doesn't have to be a battle," Lucas whispered.

He had sought refuge with Kyle in their cozy apartment in Arguelles, but their world had been shattered hours ago. Kyle's revelation, standing next to a pentagram with wings unfurled, was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. The worst part was that when Kyle left the apartment, Lucas wanted to follow him; their connection was too profound to be severed.

Kyle and Jacob had secrets, but Kyle was trying to protect him, not only himself. When Lucas lashed out at him, Kyle let him vent, repeatedly apologizing and asking for forgiveness. When Kyle left, he was driven to give Lucas space to reflect and decide. Jacob, on the other hand, had let him go to face the world alone. What was his intention?

Lucas shuddered, realizing Jacob intended to make him bend to his will, forcing him to accept Jacob's other lovers. In contrast, Kyle tried to empower Lucas by giving him the power to decide.

When the bell rang, Lucas opened the door, hoping to see Kyle. Instead, he was met by Teufel's menacing figure. The contrast between the comforting presence he yearned for and Teufel's threatening demeanor highlighted his despair.

Was it foolish to love someone like Kyle? Someone who wasn't even human? Lucas had never imagined himself caught in a world filled with demons and angels, yet here he was, entangled in a cosmic struggle.

Now, the room felt like a prison. Alone and hurting, Lucas couldn't ignore the fear gnawing at him. Loving Kyle meant risking their safety. Teufel's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of their danger. Was it selfish to stay with Kyle, putting them both at risk? Would it be better to walk away, to protect them both from this impossible situation?

His thoughts swirled in confusion and longing. He had thought he'd left love's complications behind with Jacob, but Kyle was different. And perhaps, so was he. Lucas needed to find his center amidst the chaos and figure out how to escape the situation.

Lucas wasn't sure how many hours ago he was captured, but he hoped it wasn't long and that he was still in Madrid. Dread washed over him as he feared he was in Hell already and that it might be impossible to leave. Was he dead? That would be impossible as the pain of his injuries was palpable. He struggled with the ties but to no avail. 

Lucas examined the room, his eyes examining the faded white tiles and dampness seeping through the walls. In Madrid, many buildings bore such signs of neglect, but this place felt different—as if sorrow had seeped into the very fabric of the walls.

"A haunted house," Lucas concluded, shivering at the thought.

The faint sounds of someone—or something—trying to break in grew louder and more frantic. Shadows danced across the room, elongating and twisting with the flickering light, creating an unsettling, ever-shifting landscape.

Without warning, the door to the room burst open, and a figure stepped in, enveloped in a blinding, almost holy light. He resembled Kyle, but his eyes were a striking silver. Uriel strode in, his radiant wings unfurled and his face set with a fierce, righteous fury. His gaze fell upon Lucas, tied to a chair, battered, sweating, and bloodied, electric cables connected to his body. Uriel's eyes widened in horror, and his expression turned somber.

"Hold on, Lucas," Uriel said, his voice soothingly contrasted with the chaos. He rushed to Lucas, hands trembling slightly as he began untying him. "I am so sorry I couldn't arrive earlier. Can you walk?"

Lucas nodded weakly. "Take me out of here, please."

The oppressive environment overwhelmed Lucas's senses as they fled through the crumbling corridors. The corridors stretched endlessly, their walls streaked with peeling paint and grime, illuminated only by the flickering light of antique sconces that cast eerie shadows.

"Where are we? Is this Hell?" Lucas muttered, trying to keep pace.

Uriel grimaced, his eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced vigilance. "Almost. We're inside Santo Ángel de la Guarda Sanatorium. Be careful of the floor. It's going to get worse before we make it outside."

The uneven and stained floor added to the sense of decay and danger. Lucas, limping with pain, gritted his teeth and pushed forward. His determination faltered when the discolored tiles gave way, revealing a bare concrete floor. He tripped and fell, scraping his hands and knees.

Uriel helped Lucas to his feet, his gaze sharp and protective. As they continued, Lucas's eyes were drawn to the ceiling, where remnants of old, rusted fixtures hung ominously. Dust and cobwebs filled the corners, and a grotesque shape emerged from the shadows—a monster more like a slug than an insect with teeth, eyes, and tangled hair. It was a featureless blob, poised to pounce.

Lucas screamed, "Run!" He sprinted in the opposite direction, with Uriel close behind. They darted through the decaying corridors, navigating around broken furniture and debris. The creature's howls echoed behind them, a chilling reminder of the danger they faced.

As they rounded a corner, a pair of metal doors with rusted hinges came into view, but Teufel and his agents were already there. Teufel, overseeing the scene with a sinister calm, straightened and smirked. He raised a hand, signaling his agents to lock the doors with chains and step back.

"Uriel, always a pleasure," Teufel's smooth, taunting voice cut through the tension.

Uriel's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You're leaving too easily, Teufel. What's your game?"

Teufel's smile remained as he melted into the shadows. "No game, Uriel. Just a change of plans. You know where to find me."

The metal doors slammed shut, and Uriel and Lucas reached them, trying in vain to force them open. Uriel cursed under his breath and summoned a flaming sword, preparing to break through the lock. Behind them, the monster was closing in. Lucas winced, struggling to push through the confusion and pain.

"Why did they leave like that? It doesn't make sense," Lucas said, his voice shaky.

"It doesn't," Uriel agreed, his expression grave as he helped Lucas to his feet. "We need to find out what they're planning."

As Uriel helped Lucas outside, the atmosphere grew with palpable energy. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a portal of swirling flames burst open, casting a fiery glow over the desolate gardens of the Sanatorium of Santo Ángel de la Guarda. Kyle stepped through, his eyes blazing with determination and his wings partially unfurled, creating an imposing silhouette against the backdrop of decay.

Kyle's gaze fell upon Lucas's injured body, his expression darkening with somber resolve. Rage and grief contorted his face. He sprinted toward Lucas and Uriel, his voice urgent. "Lucas, are you okay?"

Lucas looked up, relief and surprise evident in his eyes as he took in Kyle's arrival amidst the chaos of the garden. A sudden rush of warmth flooded through him. "Kyle... you came."

Uriel nodded in acknowledgment, his relief visible. "Your timing is impeccable, brother."

Behind them, the monstrous creature lunged with its sharp teeth, aiming for Lucas. Kyle acted swiftly, shoving Lucas to the ground and summoning his flaming sword to cleave through the beast. Although he succeeded in saving Lucas, the monster's fangs sank into Kyle, causing him to stumble and fall onto the overgrown vegetation.

Uriel's voice rose in alarm, "Brother!"

Despite the searing pain, Kyle's resolve hardened. He swung his sword with fierce precision, splitting the creature in half. Blood and red goo splattered over him as he lay amidst the tall grasses and wildflowers, the pain of the battle settling in. The silent, haunting gardens bore witness to the struggle.

Lucas and Uriel hurried to Kyle, helping him to his feet. As they rested against a broken bench, Lucas inspected Kyle's injuries—a deep cut in his chest being the most severe. Lucas's chest tightened with a mixture of relief and guilt. Lucas knew he might not have survived the monster's attack if Kyle hadn't intervened.

"Kyle was injured because of me," Lucas thought, his voice tinged with determination. "I won't let that happen again."

Though visibly pained, Kyle scanned the rusted garden structures overtaken by creeping ivy and neglect. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and overgrowth, adding an eerie ambiance to the scene. His mind raced, searching for answers.

"What happened?" Kyle asked, his voice cutting through the melancholy.

Uriel grimaced. "Teufel and his agents were here. They left too easily, and it feels like a setup."

Kyle's expression grew darker, his protective instincts sharpened by the desolation around them. "He's playing a deeper game. We need to stay alert."

Lucas, still recovering, added, "He wanted information about you, Kyle."

Kyle's eyes burned with determination as he took in the grim reality of their surroundings. "Then we'll make sure he doesn't get what he wants. Let's get you to safety first."

The trio navigated the overgrown garden through debris and the distant sounds of the Sanatorium's neglect. The dim street light filtered through broken windows cast long, eerie shadows, heightening the tension of their escape. As they moved, the remnants of the once-grand garden served as a stark reminder of the challenges they faced and the depth of the conspiracy they must unravel.

Kyle frowned as he surveyed the imposing Sanatorium. The building loomed like a specter of its former grandeur, its dark, weathered stone facade marred by decades of neglect. Cracked walls draped in patches of moss and creeping ivy seemed to echo his concerns. "We can't let our guard down. Teufel's motives are more complex than we thought."

Uriel's eyes narrowed as he took in the desolate surroundings. The wild vegetation had overtaken the once-grand gardens, adding to the decaying atmosphere. "He might want to restore Hell's old order."

Lucas, still shaken, glanced at the broken windows, their splintered frames offering only fractured glimpses into the shadowy, neglected interior. "But why involve me? Why not go directly for you, Kyle?"

Kyle sighed, his expression reflecting the dim light filtering through the grime-covered stained glass. The eerie, fragmented colors cast a haunting glow on his face. "Because he knows I care about you. Using you as leverage is his way of drawing me out."

Uriel's voice was steady as he scanned the crumbling roofline, where faded tiles and broken chimneys stood as silent witnesses to the building's decline. "We need to be strategic. Anticipate his moves and stay one step ahead."

Kyle nodded, his resolve cutting through the melancholy ambiance. "Agreed. We'll protect each other and uncover his true intentions. Together."

As they walked through the rusted gates, the moonlight cast long shadows over the cracked pathways, reinforcing their sense of urgency and the looming threat they faced. Lucas's thoughts swirled with emotions—fear, relief, and a growing sense of camaraderie with Kyle.

The oppressive weight of their ordeal began to lift as they approached the van. Uriel guided them into the vehicle and took his place behind the wheel. He glanced back at Kyle and Lucas, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "To where now?"

"Let's head to the apartment," Lucas suggested, his voice carrying a note of exhaustion.

"I think we should go to Lilian's café," Kyle interjected, his tone softening as he added, "She has some special medicine for my injuries."

Uriel scratched his head, looking between the two. "Alright, Lilian's it is then."

As they drove through the night, the distant hum of the city began to replace the eerie silence of the Sanatorium. Lucas sat quietly, his mind racing. The terrifying encounter had shaken him, but he found a strange comfort in Kyle's presence. His thoughts drifted to the café, which promised warmth and normalcy, a respite from the night's chaos.