Naina has always been the fragile sister, she differed greatly from her older sister Tina, she didn't mind being compared to her on daily basis by Ananke nor being bullied by everyone else, but not Tina, she always drew the line when it came to her.
Both of them had rough upbringing, they lost their parents at very young age and Tina had to be Naina's mother and father, helpless she begged Ananke to take them as her apprentices, they where thrown in the red palace as servants first then were taken to the witches tribe, there they met the other disciples who were high born or nobles unlike them.
Tina showed remarkable talents and was quick to learn and adapt, while Naina constantly failed. For Tina she had to be ruthless to survive, she took that role so her sister can enjoy a better life. For Tina, her sister was her world and the only person she ever truly loved and trusted, so when they got older and Ananke set Tina with Mordroc she begged her to find a suitable husband for her younger sister.
Ananke only agreed on Naina and Marvok's marriage out of spite, she hated him to her core and being wedded to Naina was only to humiliate him. Little did she know that Naina would get pregnant with twins and one of them was greatly favored by The Fallen.
From his birth, Lucifer showed signs of greatness. While his older brother Satan enjoyed all the fame, Lucifer was the quieter one. Ananke thought that he was slow just like his mother but at his second spring Lucifer was able to manipulate matter.
At the age of four, Lucifer was able to conjure almost anything he wanted or imagined, and at the age of six Lucifer had mastered the ability of flying by control the air around his body.
Amused by this, The Fallen took few feathers from his own wings and forged him new ones. Lucifer was the only one to received such recognition and was soon called the prince of Hell. Marvok grew jealous of his fame and treated him harshly, constantly shunning him and when his brother made a mistake, he'd be punished in his stead.
Lucifer grew resentful and didn't want any fame nor recognition, so he had to act like a fool and drowned himself in booze and women during his teens just to avert his father's attention from him, and after The Fallen was sealed things didn't get better between him and his father.
Marvok would find new ways to get under his skin and make himself the victim when Lucifer defended himself, so he learned how to ignore him and walked away, he rarely stayed in the red palace, and once his mother brought a house far away from everyone he was the first to stay by her side.
The constant display of favoritism didn't weaken the bond between him and Satan, for Satan he didn't want to be the heir nor take responsibility, he was forced by his father to be his replica.
In front of Marvok he was just like how he wanted him to be, it was when he stayed with his mother that he felt like himself.
Naina was the only thing that brought the family together and the only reason that they associate with Tina's children, both him and Satan didn't want to be in this family but had to stay because if they leave their mother would have hard time with Marvok.
They would always meet in a brothel when they aren't staying with their mother so the rumors that they are philanderers began from there.
During his adolescence, Lucifer had a huge crush on a human girl way older than him, they had a secret relationship going on for quite a while before his father found out. When he did, he ordered an attack on the whole city. No one survived, especially her.
When Lucifer found her body hanging from her feet at the city center, he went on a rampage, it took efforts to stop him from killing Marvok. From that time onward, Lucifer cut his ties with his family completely, he'd visit his mother from time to time and meet with Satan occasionally at Ishtar's temple.
Marvok always thought that his son was weak and too sentimental for his own good, but Naina had always encouraged her children to seek love and have a normal life.
When Lucifer first met Satasha at the brothel and heard her singing the same song that his lover used to humm to him as he slept on her lap, something lit up deep down in him, a very old feeling he thought he'd never feel again; longing.
Their first interaction didn't go easily as he had anticipated, nor their second interaction, and their first mission was a nightmare. It was around the time when she came back in the evening, drenched in blood and shot the shifter from the sky that he had truly started to notice her.
Satasha was this mystery that intrigued him, he couldn't figure out her intentions nor why she was acting like a brat at times, but when he saw how she was fighting in the battle he was impressed with her skills, and when she unleashed her true powers he immediately thought 'An opportunity'. He'd finally be released from his miserable life and rest in peace.
What he failed to anticipate is how much he'd grow attached to her.
After the incident in the northern temple he felt like he had failed his lover again and brought her to her imminent death, so when he found out that she can't be saved from The Fallen's grip, he planned to take her out of her misery even if it meant releasing The Fallen.
For him he felt like they are the same, their lives is as miserable as ever, life won't smile upon them ever.
He had to make a choice whenever he was around her, either let her meet her creator or help her, but he'd always choose to help her, even he didn't understand why.
After he killed Osiris he remained with Zeta, now that he was declared an enemy to the system Zeta was the only one who could help him.
...
[At Zeta's cabin]
Zeta was overwhelmed by all the visitors that he had at the moment. Satan, Lucifer, Sitka, Perseus, Mika, and Satasha.
"It's all because of you!" he scolded Satasha "Now the poor boy is a fugitive because of you! At least thank the poor soul"
"I did" she lied "And what would you like me to do back there? We were cornered and Mika was going to die"
"How convenient" Sitka scoffed
Satasha stared angrily "You think that I told The Fallen to possess Osiris and trap us there?"
Sitka shrugged "I never trusted you! I like how you're handling things but trust is not my thing"
"Unbelievable!" she sneered
Perseus "It's not time to blame others, what's done is done and can't be changed! What we need to do now is to act accordingly"
"Thank you" Zeta address the lot "Everyone here must trust the other at least for now, we must reunite because soon war will break out, we must prepare. Any suggestions?"
Satan "The demons are always on your side, it's just that we don't know for sure if Tina would be on our side after this incident"
Zeta "I'll talk to her, do you think Yama would help us?" he asked Sitka since he and Yama were in a good terms.
Sitka "Yama is as he'd always be, just and unwavering. If he saw that we are the good, he'd help. However, he might not side with us if Lucifer stays. You know how close he and Anubis were"
"What about Yu?" Mika suggested
Lucifer answered "Yu would ride or die for Keno, if we can get Keno on our side then we automatically get Yu's support"
"Is there any news from the west?"Zeta asked Mika
"No! They are in complete chaos after the temple fell" Mika answered
Satan "Will Poseidon help this time?" he asked Perseus.
Perseus "Neither he nor Hades wants to fight again, and Zeus has his own desires"
"What about Hera?" Sitka asked
Perseus shook his head.
Satan "So all that's left is the minorities"
Zeta "That's won't be enough and their loyalty shifts with whoever have the best interest"
Sitka "So our only hope is mother!"
"Indeed" Zeta pondered, he glanced at Satasha who was oddly quiet "What are you thinking?"
Satasha didn't answer immediately, she glared at the gathering as if she was calculating something, after what felt like minutes she finally spoke "What if we didn't participate in this war?"
Sitka scorned "You started this mess and want others to take care of it?"
Satasha calmly "We don't know why The Fallen wanted from Mika yet! Do you think it's wise to move against him at the moment? I don't think he'd stop at Osiris. Let's wait and see how things work out for now then decide what to do"
Sitka angrily "If you can find what he's thinking then it would save us loads of trouble, news flash you don't, so stop spewing nonsense"
Satasha mocked "Just because you have muscles for brain doesn't give you the right to judge me"
Sitka angry "The fuck you said to me?" he stepped forward "Who do think you are? I dare you say that again"
Satasha grinned "Ball sack!"
Sitka was ready to fight "Oh that's it! I had enough of your bullshit!" he was about to throw a punch but was stopped by Lucifer and Zeta.
"Behave yourself!" Zeta addressed both of them.
"Tell her that!" Sitka barked as he adjusted his clothes.
"Satasha stop picking fight with everyone and be more sensible" Zeta scolded her
Satasha crossed her arms as she scoffed.
Zeta reasoned "As much as I hate to admit this but she's right"
"The fuck?" Sitka objected
Zeta explained "Even if she laid her argument poorly I see her point. The Fallen had acted almost out of his character this time, and we don't know what his next move would be, maybe he'd possess Yu or even worse mother, we need to find out what he's planning first then act"
Satan "It's simple, he wants everyone dead"
Perseus understanding what Zeta said "As simple as it seems but we don't know how he'd do that. I believe he wanted Zeta to be the one who kills Osiris and not Lucifer, it might cause the same result but if it was Zeta the consequences would be far worse"
Mika "So you think he's targeting Tina through him?"
Perseus "I think he's targeting Zeta more, perhaps because he has defied him in the past"
Satasha glared at Zeta thinking, then it hit her why he'd target Zeta, then it occurred to her who his next target would be, she wanted to say her plan but Mika spoke with the same idea as she had, similar to some extent.
Mika "I have a plan that everyone here would hate" he glanced at Zeta who nodded "Well we need to avert the attention from us by dragging another to its center and I think Keno is the best distraction out there"
The lot either scoffed or gagged at the idea of helping Keno, Satasha found it amusing that everyone here agreed on hating Keno, even Perseus seemed to be disgusted.
"I know trust me! I hate him like everyone here but if the attention is shifted to him he'd die sooner than planned"
Satan objected "What if he didn't and ended up taking all the credit?"
Mika "Then we crown him and make him believe that he's ruling while we hold all the power behind the curtains"
Sitka disgusted "That's the worst idea I've ever heard"
Perseus "Although I hate him but I think Mika might have solved our dilemma"
Sitka scorned "I'd rather die than to help Keno ascend, why don't we choose another one like Apollo or something"
Perseus sneered "Apollo? Are you mental? He's way worse than Zeus! I loath that twat!"
Lucifer calmly "Honestly we don't like anyone out of this circle, but I think Mika is right. Even if Keno took the throne we can take it back from him anytime we like, but if The Fallen fell for this and started attacking the east then we'll have time to prepare"
Satasha nodded, thankfully Mika was the one who said the same idea that she had otherwise she might've ended up making new enemies. She kept calm as they started to convince the others with Mika's plan, while she was dwelling in her thoughts as she kept nodding and spacing out. Both Zeta and Lucifer noticed that she was making plans on her own.
"I'll try to help him have all the attention and keep him alive for a while till we need him on our side when we face The Fallen" she spoke while zoning out.
Satan "You want to be a spy?"
Satasha glanced at Zeta "I don't want you dead, nor anyone here harmed before we seal The Fallen, and as much as you all hate it but Keno's abilities might be helpful"
Zeta and Sitka exchanged looks.
Sitka sighed "I told you! She fancies that petty boy"
Satasha closed her eyes trying not to insult him "I fancy no one! All I want is to use him just as I am using everyone here to defeat The Fallen, you fail to realize that last time it took from everyone, everyone to seal him and ended up failing miserably. We cannot kill an immortal, God knows we might be able to seal him this time or end up dead like Osiris and he was his loyalist! So if you have any brilliant idea share it and save me time and effort!"
Sitka gritted his teeth, as annoyed he was with that idea he had to admit that she's right. They need to swallow their pride and join hands with everyone they disliked for a while.
The gathering started to leave one by one.
Satasha stood pondering at the garden holding cup of ale, she was quietly sorting her thoughts when Lucifer approached.
"You are planning something reckless again I assume"
Satasha kept staring at the garden "Umm" she sipped from the cup "You keep thinking that I do things randomly, don't you?"
Lucifer "No, you just never fallow any plan you make"
Satasha arched her brows "How so?"
Lucifer "You plan, go there, and all hell break loose"
Satasha nodded "Can't argue with that! What do you suggest I do next?"
Lucifer sighed "I was never the one who plans, I just go with the flow"
Satasha tapped the cup as a thought occurred to her, she sipped from it as she decided her next plan, she suggested "If I asked you to tag along with me would you come?"
Lucifer "Where to?"
Satasha smiled brightly as she patted his shoulder "Does it matter?"
Lucifer let out short laugh as he shook his head "You're about to do something chaotic"
Satasha nodded "Indeed"
Lucifer crossed his arms amused "Brilliant! When do we leave?"
Satasha "Right now"
Lucifer went to the next room, brought her cape and his sword, then helped her put the cape on saying "Do you need any weapon?"
Satasha flirting "I have you"
Lucifer gazed at her through his lashes as he made a knot securing the cape on her waist, his lips curled upwards "You are trying too hard"
Satasha "It's either this or nothing at all"
Lucifer scoffed "I'd like the nothing please"
Satasha placed her hand for him to hold "Suite yourself"
Once he held her hand they immediately transmitted to cliff's end, he lost his footing for a minute then straightened. She walked to the edge and he followed.
"Where are we?" he scanned the area, it was too dark to recognize the place.
Satasha squatted pointing down the cliff where many lights shimmered, there was a village ahead.
Lucifer recognized it immediately "Why are we in the east?"
Satasha stood up "This village needs some blood shed"
Lucifer immediately "Why?"
Satasha explained "How do you think the war would start"
Lucifer refusing "I am not killing innocent people"
Satasha sighed "We won't kill anyone, someone else will do it, right...now!"
A loud bang echoed and the village started to catch fire, many screams were heard through the valley, Lucifer watched it happen not understanding what role they'd play "How did you know this would happen?" he was confused.
Satasha calmly "I have my own sources"
"Keno?" he immediately guessed
Satasha "No, he wouldn't tell me a thing. It doesn't matter how I know, what matters at the moment is for you to go there and help them"
Lucifer doubtful "Why? Wouldn't Keno be more suitable for this job?"
Satasha nodded "Exactly"
Lucifer "I don't understand what you want to achieve here"
Satasha dared "You can leave if you don't want to help" she jumped off the cliff.
Startled he immediately tried to grab her hand but noticed the portal under her, she fell into the portal to the village.
Lucifer didn't know what was going on her head but he used his wings to fly there since the portal was closed.
When he got there, he saw her knocking the attackers out, she wasn't killing them so he did the same. It didn't take long for them to get all the attackers since they were far weaker than them.
They villagers came to thank them for helping them, Lucifer smiled faintly and waved as they grew large in numbers, while Satasha wore a warm smile, her eyes were far too wicked. Lucifer grew restless.
"How can we thank you dear strangers" said the village elder
Satasha spoke gently "We are just passing by anyway, no need for rewards"
"No I insist!" said the elder
Satasha smiled brightly as she glanced at Lucifer who feared that she might kill them all "Well if you insist, we have something to ask for"
"Ask away" the elder was eager to help
Satasha dropped her smile as she clarified "Show me where I can get the chosen"
The elder backed off as his smile was completely wiped off and held a shocked expression "How did you know about that?"
Satasha sighed "I knew you weren't going to help me with that, what a shame!"
She started to walk away, Lucifer followed.
She stopped suddenly "Oh I forgot to tell you something important"
The elder was frightened "What?"
Satasha smiled brightly "They would wake up shortly" she walked away after she waved goodbye.
The villagers panicked "Tell her! He can't protect us but they could"
Lucifer glared quietly at her amused expression "That's cruel!" he whispered to her.
Satasha "I was never merciful"
"Wait!" the elder cried "I'll tell you where you can find him, but you have to get them away" he pointed at the unconscious attackers.
Satasha delighted "Sure, tell me his whereabouts first then I'll get them away"
The elder hesitated for a bit then said "If you follow the mountain range to the west you'll find his house at the end of it where grass ends and desert begins"
Satasha processed the terrain then smiled gently as she lifted her hand making her palm facing the sky, then shifted it so it faced the ground.
With this simple move all of the unconscious attackers were engulfed by the earth leaving only one hand out.
Lucifer glared at how she did that with ease and immediately questioned if she was truly hurt or faking it.
Satasha addressed the villagers "It's up to you if you leave them to suffocate to death or help them" then walked away.
Lucifer questioned her actions "Why did you do that?"
Satasha coldly "As much as I don't like The Fallen but he's right about one thing, human nature is far more wicked than he ever is"
Lucifer objected "And by testing them what would you achieve? That's straight up bullying"
Satasha indifferent "I'd like them to prove him wrong"
Lucifer wasn't amused by this he asked "Who are you looking for?"
Satasha "The Fallen's child"
Lucifer was stunned to hear that The Fallen had a child, then he remembered Lilith and how she disappeared years prior "Why is he in the east?"
Satasha "Let's ask him that when we see him"
Lucifer confused "Wait how did you find out that this village knows his whereabouts" then another question popped in his mind "Don't tell me the attack was your doing!"
Satasha didn't answer, she simply continued walking, Lucifer grabbed her arm "Answer!"
Satasha pushed his hand away "I don't care if you think that I had anything to do with this!"... she did "Nor do I care what you think of me! If think that I'd harm innocent just to get what I want then this is on you"
Matter of fact, she didn't care about the innocent nor she cared about others opinion of her; the end justified the means. That was what she'd usually act upon, but what end she meant exactly it wasn't known.
She'd likely do things far more brutal if Lucifer wasn't with her, but she needed his help at the moment so she had to soften a bit.
They traveled on foot for several days to reach their next destination during which the both of them didn't talk much. Lucifer would hunt and grill meat while Satasha stood gazing at the horizon pondering, she'd catch animals from time to time but not to eat them.
Lucifer was puzzled by that behavior, he could swear that she could communicate with them and after releasing them she'd take a detour.
"What are you asking them?" he asked once out of curiosity.
Satasha "There are traps and bandits in this area, and I don't want to encounter either"
Lucifer curiously "How do you understand them?"
Satasha scoffed "You think that I am an animal whisperer or something? I just look into their memories"
Lucifer nodded, it had never occurred to him that animals have memories, then it clicked "Is that how you knew the village was about to be attacked?"
Satasha smirked then whistled, he waited with her as she lifted her arm for whatever she called for, it didn't take long before a raven landed on her arm.
Lucifer was amazed, he had never seen such majestic bird before, he was white with black eyes then another one flew over his head and landed on hers, this one was black with star lit white eyes.
Satasha introduced "These are Huginn and Muninn, Odin's Ravens"
Lucifer rejoiced "I thought that they've died in the massacre! It's good to see you guys again"
The Ravens croaked in union.
"How did you find them?" he inquired as she fed them grilled meat.
"They found me one day and stayed as my eyes ever since" she answered
Lucifer confused "Then how do you communicate with them? I haven't seen them while you stayed with us"
Satasha didn't answer his question instead she stated "They told me that the son wasn't in the same place as the old man told us, his house was empty but nothing were taken"
"Someone came for him" he concluded
"Or he was tipped off by the old man" she suggested
Lucifer pondered for a minute before asking "What are you going to do once we find him?"
Satasha "Kill him" she didn't hesitate to clarify her motives.
"Can't we talk him over?" he argued
Satasha "I am doing him a favor by killing him, dying by my hand is a blessing for everyone"
Lucifer objected "That doesn't make sense"
Satasha explained "He has The Fallen's essence and inherited some of his powers, if The Fallen remembers him do you think he'd keep him alive?"
Lucifer "But you're no different from him? You both want to kill him and take his powers"
Satasha calmly "I never said I am different from him, I just want him dead"
Lucifer "Why?" he pressed
Satasha petted the Ravens as glared at the fire "Does it matter?"
Lucifer insisted "It does, for me at least"
Satasha stared at him, her eyes darkened as she answered "I want to give him back everything I've suffered because of him"
Lucifer "So vengeance is what you seek"
The Ravens croaked "Vengeance!" as they battered their wings angrily.
Lucifer was baffled, he didn't know that they could talk.
Satasha calmed them down "You can say so"
Lucifer calmly "You can easily take the son out without me, why am I here?"
Satasha "I need you because I can use your wings to track him down"
Lucifer confused "But you haven't used it so far"
Satasha smirked "I don't need to pluck your feathers to do that, I can trace the sense of familiarity that you carry. If you don't know that but you and The Fallen has the same sense to me, perhaps that's why I am always repulsive when you're around"
"I am repulsive?" he interrupted
Satasha scoffed, she stood up and the Ravens flew away "Make haste, we might miss the chance to catch him"
Lucifer followed after putting the fire out, they walked for two days till they reached the plain, as they stood up hill they noticed far ahead there's a valley, they walked there and stopped at large lake beneath the valley.
There they noticed a body floating, Lucifer dived in to get it, once he reached the shore with the body Satasha's expression darkened, Lucifer knew what it meant.
"Shall we bury him?" he asked as he stood up again.
Satasha was scanning the area "Not now!"
Lucifer peaked at the area that her eyes were fixated on "I don't sense anything!"
Satasha made a water spear out of the lake next to her and launched it to where she was glaring, the spear traveled fast and was unavoidable as it followed it's prey, once the prey was hit a loud cry was heard.
Lucifer was confused to see a black panther in this area, he thought that Satasha was looking for the son instead she stabbed a shifter in his belly.
They stood in front the shifter who was completely naked and bleeding.
"How did you notice me?" the shifter asked
Satasha ignored "I can heal you if you cooperate with me"
The shifter "I'd rather die"
Satasha squatted next to him glaring at him eagerly wearing an amused smile.
The shifter asked "What are you doing?"
Satasha "I like seeing my prey's souls leaving their bodies, it excites me to see your demise"
The shifter "You're psychotic" he coughed blood
Satasha giggled "You're so good at this! I see this isn't your first time doing so"
Lucifer confused, he thought that the shifter was dying 'I mean the spear is in the middle of his abdomen' he thought.
The shifter sighed and made the spear along with his wound disappear "I thought I was good but you've proven me wrong"
Satasha stood and offered her hand for him "No you're good, you fooled him" she pointed at Lucifer who nodded.
The shifter scoffed as he took her hand to stand "Liar, but I like you. What's your name?"
"I am Satasha and this is Shettsu" she introduced
The shifter "So we're using our aliases, I am Damon"
Lucifer scoffed "Is that the best you came up with?"
Satasha bullying "Easy on him, he might have limited imagination"
Lucifer mocked "Yeah, maybe that's why he guised as a panther"
Satasha whispered "He do smell like one"
The shifter "Okay I get it! Cut it off, if you don't like what you're seeing then leave"
Satasha mocked "There's nothing to see, don't strut"
The shifter coughed up once he covered his groin, Lucifer took off his cloak and gave it to him, he wore it asking "What do you want?"
Satasha straight to the point "Have you met your father yet?"
The shifter froze "Isn't he sealed?"
Satasha "Not anymore, and from what I've gathered he's after your head"
The shifter "Why?"
Lucifer clarified "He received a big hit that weakened him, so he wants to take your soul to heal"
The shifter scoffed "What a reunion!" he glanced at Satasha saying "My mother told me about you"
Satasha smirked "Did she? What did she say?"
The shifter "Thank you! That's what she told me to say if I met you"
Satasha coldly "Did she mention that I would seek you again to kill you?"
The shifter "She did"
"And?" she arched her brows
The shifter presented her a bracelet "I think this is enough"
Satasha took it and nodded "Indeed!" she patted his shoulder warning "Find yourself new place to hide, he'll find you one way or the other, until then try to stay alive"
The shifter smirked "How about we enjoy what's left of our time together?"
Lucifer stepped forward between them, he glared angrily at him.
The shifter "I see you found yourself a guard dog, care to share?" he scanned him from head to toe.
Lucifer felt uncomfortable as she drew him closer "Find yourself one, this one is mine" she teased.
The shifter "Tsk! What a pity! He has that broodish charm that you can't resist"
Satasha "Can't deny that!"
Perplexed, Lucifer cleared "That's enough! Let's go!"
It was the first time Satasha saw him in this state, she laughed wholeheartedly at this rare sight.
The shifter smiled and walked away waving goodbye to them.
Satasha wiped the tears off "You need to loosen up a bit and stop being gloomy all the time"
Lucifer smiled faintly, he was shocked to hear her genuine laugh and sudden warmth filled his heart "Shut up!" he nervously glanced once at her before walking ahead.
Satasha dropped her smile once he turned and glared at the bracelet, she tucked it in her bag and followed.