Celia's eyes widened in terror as she struggled to break free from Lucas's vice-like grip.
Tears of pain and fear threatened to spill down her cheeks, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Xulan, her only source of light in this dark world, couldn't know the truth. He couldn't know the depths she'd sunk to in order to protect him.
Having no other choice, she gave in as she said in a soft yet trembling voice. "No please...Don't pull him into this. He is just a poor and innocent soul and has done nothing wrong to you."
Lucas scoffed as he said, "Again, you said something similar like that whore of my mother. You remember how I was once like him? Weak, naive and innocent. Do you plan to break him as well?"
"Never...I would rather die," Celia said with gritted teeth as tears flowed down her reddened cheeks.
"But this world doesn't spare the innocent just like how I wasn't spared. So you can't expect me to follow your rules. I follow the rules that were forced upon me," Lucas said, his tone sending shivers down her spine.
"No, please...I will do anything but please don't hurt him. Please...I am sorry for what I said. I am the one who wronged you. You can punish me. Not him," Celia begged as she bit down on her lip.
She realised Lucas was no longer the boy she knew but a terrifying man who may not even hesitate to kill her son or something worse.
Even if she still harboured hatred and anger towards Lucas, she knew she had to say things he wanted to hear to make him spare Xulan.
Lucas sighed, his hand still gripping Celia's head, "A mother's love is truly touching. I remember enjoying the warmth of such love. I can guess that Xulan must also love you more than anything. So I can see why you are worried. If his image of you shatters, he will definitely break."
Her heart raced within her chest, blood pounding in her ears as the glow spread throughout her entire being.
Her face flushed scarlet, not just from embarrassment and pain, but also due to the overwhelming warmth that radiated outward from where Lucas's hand still rested.
A soft whimper escaped her lips as she tried to make sense of the jumbled mess of emotions swirling inside her head, having no idea what he was doing to her.
But she knew it was not anything good and the feeling of this eerie darkness spreading through her terrified her.
She just realised this light was similar to the power of demons she had heard about. Could it be that Lucas was really a demon? No, how could that be possible?
Her mind was left in shambles, shocked by the realisation of what he truly was. Was there even any part of Lucas left? Was this why he was so different and terrifying?
As quickly as it had appeared, the demonic light vanished, leaving behind only faint traces of its presence.
The mysterious yet devilish symbols carved themselves into Celia's very essence were no longer visible to the naked eye, but they remained there nonetheless, pulsating gently with each beat of her heart.
Satisfied with his work, Lucas pulled back slightly, wearing a self-assured smile. He spoke again, his tone colder than before:
"Words are cheap, and trust must be earned. Consider these markings a symbol of our bond, forged in fire and sealed with blood. They serve as proof of your servitude, lest ever doubt should arise. You are now officially my slave for eternity."