Chapter 28:

Chapter 28: "I Need To Level Up."The black car purred quietly as Lucifer gave one last glance at the tall, glowing gates of the Lunar Mansion. The moonlight reflected off its silver designs, casting eerie patterns on the pavement.

He leaned back into the leather seat. "You can go now," he said, eyes still on the gate.

Zane nodded and turned the key. The engine came to life—but before the car moved, the door beside Lucifer suddenly clicked open.

A soft thud.

Temmy slid in, sitting beside him like she belonged there.

Lucifer turned, startled. "What the hell—how did you...?"

Temmy gave a smug grin, brushing an invisible speck off her shoulder. "I was there the whole time. From the second you walked into Greta's place."

Lucifer blinked. "Wait, what?"

She leaned closer, playful glint in her eyes. "Yup. Heard everything. Even when you called me your servant. I gotta say, you really sold that lie like a pro—even with that Heavenly Oath in the air. Impressive."

Lucifer groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah... about that. Sorry."

Temmy raised an eyebrow.



"I didn't mean it," Lucifer muttered. "It was just... the only lie that came to my head fast enough to sound believable."

Temmy chuckled and leaned back, arms crossed. "Mmm, forgiven. But don't let it happen again or I'll really make you my servant."

Lucifer gave her a sidelong glance. "I doubt I'd survive that."

Zane glanced at the rearview mirror, silently noting the strange dynamic between the two before stepping on the gas. The car glided down the hill, city lights shimmering in the distance like scattered stars.

Temmy stared out the window, her expression turning thoughtful. "You know... I don't blame you. Saying something like that under a Heavenly Oath? That's next-level guts."

Lucifer didn't answer right away. He was staring straight ahead, lost in thought.

Greta knowing about his parents changed everything.

No matter how much he pretended it didn't matter, deep down... it still hurt.

Being left behind. Forgotten.

Like he never mattered in the first place.

He closed his eyes for a second, exhaling slowly.

Temmy tilted her head, watching him quietly. She didn't say a word.

For now, they let the silence take over...

And the night carried them through the city.

The night was quiet, the moon hanging low as Zane's car rolled to a stop just outside the college. Streetlights flickered gently, casting soft shadows on the pavement. Lucifer and Temmy stepped out, the crunch of gravel under their feet the only sound for a while.

As they walked through the familiar campus path toward his apartment, Temmy stretched with a yawn.

"You really turned Zane into your servant," she said, laughing lightly.

Lucifer glanced at her with a half-smirk. "Servant? Nah. More like a personal secretary. I trust him more than you, you know."

Temmy scoffed and flicked her hair back. "Please. That's because you've got him wrapped around your finger like a pet. He's not a secretary, he's a damn puppet." She rolled her eyes, then suddenly stopped.

Her smile vanished.

Lucifer noticed the shift instantly. The air around her seemed to tighten. "What is it?"

Temmy didn't answer at first. Her eyes darted toward the sky, her aura flaring just slightly.

"...I have to go," she said quickly.



"What? Why—?"

"I'll explain later, I swear. I promise." Her tone was rushed, serious.

And just like that—whoosh—she vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but the faint shimmer of her departure behind.

Lucifer stood there, eyes narrowing.

Something was wrong. He could feel it.

He clenched his fists, jaw tightening.

First Greta, then her daughter, now Temmy...

Everyone seemed to have some kind of upper hand today. And he hated it.

"I need to level up," he muttered under his breath.

The cold wind brushed past him as he turned and walked into the night, heading straight for his apartment —where Anita was waiting.

But his mind wasn't there anymore.

It was already on the path forward.

The moonlight glimmered on the surface of the open book resting in Dera's hands. She sat on a bench near the college fountain, legs crossed, eyes seemingly scanning through the pages—but she hadn't read a single word.

Her gaze lifted slightly over the book's spine, locking onto a lone figure walking across the courtyard.

Lucifer.

"A rogue vampire and a teleporting mystery girl..." she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Well, one problem at a time. And he's first."

She snapped the book shut with a soft thud, the sound barely audible over the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Her grip tightened as she rose to her feet, the book in her hand glowing faintly with a subtle runic shimmer.

Dera had been here for hours, playing the quiet student, observing the flow of students and staff, watching for anything out of place. It was her job—hunt the ones outside the system. Rogues. Strays. Creatures not aligned with any coven, pack, or clan.

And Lucifer? He checked all the wrong boxes.

Her lips curled into a small, dangerous smile as she followed him silently through the shadowy pathway leading to the dorms.

"He doesn't even know he's already been marked," she whispered, tapping the book's edge lightly. The faint shimmer pulsed again.

But then—her steps paused.

She felt something. Like a pressure in the air. Cold... still... watching.

From the trees, a shadow stirred, then vanished.



Dera blinked, scanning the area, brows knitting together. "...I'm not the only one hunting tonight?"

Her grip on the book tightened.

Whatever this night was shaping up to be—it was just getting started.

Meanwhile, Lucifer walked down the quiet path leading to his apartment, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded like he was bored out of his mind.

He let out a sigh, tilting his head slightly as he cracked his neck.

"Tch... I was just thinking I needed to level up," he muttered.

Then he stopped walking.

A faint smile crept onto his lips as he slowly turned around.

"You guys really had to serve yourselves up on a silver platter, huh?"

His eyes lit up—glowing faint red, like embers dancing in the dark. The air around him rippled just a little, like reality itself was reacting to his presence.

He raised his hand slightly, as if inviting whatever was hiding in the shadows to come closer.

"Alright then," he said with a smirk. "Let's play."