Diana Skagen awoke from a broken sleep, unable to keep her mind from what had happened in Rai. She could still picture Lucifer as though he were there in front of her, the Hateful man landing before her and ruining the protest she had spent weeks organising. It was supposed to be her moment where she defined herself, the moment she finally separated herself from—

  I failed at that too, she thought, throwing the quilt off her body as cold rushed towards her skin. Diana swung her legs over the side of the bed, hunching with her forearms resting on her thighs. She spent a couple of minutes ruminating over what had happened, knowing that she shouldn't, knowing the path it led towards. Still, she couldn't avoid the fact that Jenny was dead. So were Bruce and Christian. Diana pictured all three of them, half-blown away, while the memory of Christian's screams caused her to shiver.

  'They shouldn't have attacked,' she said, shaking her head while drawing her resting hands towards it. 'I tried to stop them.'

  But that hadn't been enough, had it? she remembered. All the mistakes. All the failures. They started coming to her like crashing waves, eternal and never-ending. Diana's breathing quickened. It was a familiar cycle, which she had fought thousands of times before, knowing where it led. Her eyes bubbled, which only furthered her agitation.

  'Stop it! Control yourself!' she snapped, only increasing the feeling that she had failed.

  I wasn't the one who called him "Cursed". I didn't throw the bottle. I tried to make them stop!

  But you didn't do enough, did you? Three people are dead now, and you know that more will follow.

  "My name is Lucifer Armedeus. I will become the new god of this world."

  Diana's mind froze on that image, picturing Lucifer as he stood before her, pain strewn across his face, fuelled by what could only be years of torment and hatred.

  He was right, though. Despite all my counters, he was right about the one thing that mattered. When I mentioned what the Divinity has done, I never considered his kind. I preached to him, just like how I preached towards all the others. Yet I hardly know anything about him or the Hateful.

  'I'm a hypocrite. Oh, Divinity, how could I not see it?'

  Her mind didn't answer her. Diana sighed and allowed the weight of her head to rest on her hands, appreciating the rare moment of peace. She looked towards the bedside table, reaching for her phone, which illuminated to her touch. It told her it was 07:04, and that she had no messages from anyone. That didn't surprise her. Diana had expected no one to contact her over what had happened.

  Because they pretended to be your friends, your followers. Yet, no sooner as it seems you lost, they're gone. I'm alone with nothing.

  'And I hate myself,' she murmured, her mind weary from exhaustion. Diana heard something and froze. She listened for another couple of seconds, becoming certain that someone was knocking on her door. She rose, reaching for a dressing gown on the floor before putting it on. Diana made her way towards her bedroom door before entering the hallway. The knocks were becoming louder now, sounding more like soft clangs against the metal surface. Diana wondered who it could be, considering everything that happened. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs and walked into the hallway between it and the door, she paused in realisation, feeling a sinking in her gut.

  The DFA.

  You were gonna have to deal with them at some point, she concluded. Diana took in a deep breath before she stepped forward and reached for the door handle. When she opened it, she half expected to see a young and attractive man around her age, ready to speak to her. Perhaps a rookie who was still learning how things worked. Instead, she ended up facing an older suited man who wasn't attractive to her, but might be attractive to many women older than her. He appeared to be in his 40s, possessing a thick chestnut moustache and short hair of the same colour. He had a powerful physique, filling the suit that Diana realised was spattered with dried spots of blood and had a torn right sleeve. Unable to help herself, she frowned at it before looking up questioningly. The DFA agent smiled in return.

  'I apologise for my appearance,' he said, his voice rough and gritty. 'I apprehended a suspect around an hour ago. He didn't come…peacefully, shall we say? As you've probably guessed, I work for the DFA.'

  The agent paused, expecting her to say something.

  Diana said nothing, causing him to shrug.

  'I assume you are Diana Skagen?' he asked next.

  'Yes.'

  'Very good. My name is Lieutenant Newman. I have some questions regarding what happened in the Rai District.'

  Diana bristled. 'It is well within my rights to stage a protest,' she said.

  'I'm aware of that,' the Lieutenant replied, his expression impassive. 'That doesn't concern me. I'm interested in what ended it…'

  Lieutenant Newman paused, as though expecting her to say something. When she didn't, he shrugged again before reaching into his suit, pulling out a single cigarette and putting it into his mouth.

  'Mind if I…?' he asked.

  Diana nodded, and he flicked his fingers to summon a tiny flame on the end of his thumb, drawing it towards the cigarette.

  'You're an Elemental?' she asked, drawing his gaze. 'I am too.'

  For a moment, Lieutenant Newman appeared to consider that. Lines appeared on his face, which surprised Diana.

  'So, what happened?' he asked.

  Diana pondered why he was avoiding her question. However, she knew better than to try pushing her luck with a DFA agent, the Lieutenant seeming more reasonable than any she had faced in the past. Yet even that intrigued her. Everything about the man seemed…off. The way he spoke. Even the way he looked. Lieutenant Newman was not like other DFA agents. There was a forced detachment to him, as though monitoring himself to keep control.

  'Are you alright, Miss Skagen?' he asked, snapping her attention back.

  'Miss Skagen?' she asked.

  'It is your name, isn't it?'

  'Yes, it's just that…I'm not used to being called that.'

  'Then Diana?' Lieutenant Newman asked.

  Diana nodded, which prompted the Lieutenant to nod as he took in a breath of his cigarette, before blowing out a puff of smoke.

  'What happened last night?' he asked.

  Diana figured there was no point in lying to him. 'A Hateful man interrupted us, but I think he was planning to sabotage it, anyway. I think something I said made him do it earlier.'

  'What was that?'

  Diana paused, knowing the dangerous territory she was entering. While protesting was not a crime in Ethero, heresy was. The DFA had been created by Seraphu himself, one of the Divinity's five Angels. Their aim was to ensure order and the Divinity's will. Anyone who questioned the divine creator questioned the way of the world. Still, that didn't change Diana's views towards them, and why she wasn't afraid to tell the truth. If she was to be punished for her beliefs, so be it.

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  'I questioned the existence of the Divinity,' she said, watching for the Lieutenant's reaction. He grimaced.

  'Well,' he began, unsure, 'that's a controversial topic. How did he respond? You think this was what provoked him to act?'

  You have no intention of arresting me for that? Diana thought, surprised. She allowed herself to nod in affirmation.

  'Yes. As soon as he landed, he asked me if I could explain the reason behind his kind's existence if it wasn't the Divinity,' Diana said, noticing a change in Lieutenant Newman as she finished. It was subtle, but Diana was sure that she saw the Lieutenant's expression saddening, as though her words had affected him.

  'And what was your response to that?' he asked.

  'Nothing,' Diana replied. 'What could I say to something like that?'

  She paused then, noting the pain and wisdom in the Lieutenant's eyes. A part of her was sure he understood exactly what she was saying, compelling her to continue.

  'My fellow protesters became…aggravated by his presence. One of them threw a bottle at him. I couldn't see who. Then, three of my fellow organisers turned to engage him. I'm sorry to say it, but they and the other protesters were not friendly towards him.'

  'Had he displayed any threatening behaviour?'

  'No. But I think the fact that he was Hateful, and because he interrupted our protest, it didn't help. It doesn't justify how they treated him. I tried to—'

  Diana stopped herself then, her mind turning again, reminding her of her failure. She closed her eyes and willed it to stop, trying to focus, as she knew the Lieutenant would watch all of this.

  'You did more than most,' the Lieutenant said, as though he understood what was going through her head. There was even a warmth to his voice, a warmth that surprised Diana as she opened her eyes and stared at him. She had never expected to feel warmth from anyone who worked for the DFA.

  'What happened next?' the Lieutenant asked.

  "My name is Lucifer Armedeus. I will become the new god of this world."

  'He said he was going to become the new god, before he killed my co-organisers,' Diana said, watching as Lieutenant Newman nodded before turning his eyes towards the forever black sky.

  'A new god? Does he really believe that's going to change anything?'

  'Sorry?' Diana asked, before the Lieutenant looked down at her, smiling.

  'Nothing,' he said, before reaching for his cigarette and discarding it behind him.

  'You sound like you have a lot of experience with the Hateful,' Diana said.

  The Lieutenant snapped his gaze towards her as though afraid he had given something away. It was only a couple of seconds before his expression relaxed.

  'My role within the DFA is to handle all the cases involving the Hateful,' he replied, sighing. 'So yes, I know much about them.'

  Diana nodded again, considering his response, and Lucifer.

  'He seemed in a lot of pain,' Diana said, scratching her chin. 'He helped me realise I know nothing about the Hateful, except what everyone else has told me. I want to know how I can change that. I want to understand them.'

  The Lieutenant said nothing to that, instead turning his gaze towards the three towers that stood taller than any other building in Exia. Sadness marred his face alongside a sense of longing, like a lost child wanting to return home.

  It's as though he were Hateful himself, Diana reflected.

  'Perhaps he is,' the Lieutenant said. 'Most of the Hateful are. Their minds are so different from that of a human. They struggle when trying to connect with others. Often they are isolated, and when they see how much humanity despises them, they often wonder what they have done. There are also two kinds of Hateful. The likes of Lucifer are known as Less Cursed, while in the towers the majority are More Cursed. They're the ones who suffer the worst, including the Hateful Dreams. They're mostly non-verbal, and their sensitivity to everything around them is amplified. Even touch can bring them great distress and suffering.'

  Lieutenant Newman returned his gaze to her then, appearing pained for even speaking of them.

  'As for the likes of the Less Cursed, their struggle is different. Trapped between possessing Hateful traits alongside traits of humans, they feel as though they don't belong to either. They become isolated, which fuels a sense of depression, forcing them to turn to delusions and madness in order to cope.'

  The Lieutenant paused then, as though an idea had just come to him. 'Your best bet would be to visit the Institute itself, if you can—'

  His phone interrupted them. He reached into his suit pocket and revealed it, before answering it.

  'Yes? Alright, I see. I'll be over as soon as possible, Greene. I'm just wrapping up this visit. I'll meet you there.'

  The Lieutenant drew the phone away and pressed the screen to end the call, his thoughtful expression returning.

  'It's him, isn't it?' Diana asked, knowing that she shouldn't be asking. The Lieutenant regarded her then, giving no sign.

  'I don't know,' he admitted, 'But my partner has his suspicions, and I trust him more than anyone else in Ethero. Thank you for your cooperation, Diana. If you hear anything or see him again, call me. Just ask for Lieutenant Newman at the DFA.'

  The Lieutenant turned and walked away without waiting for her response, walking along her drive towards a sleek black car with two seats and a long bonnet. It reminded Diana of the classic cars she would see in films. Chrome arches across the wheels and edges of the vehicle seemed to glow under the bright white streetlights, while rounded front lights flanked a silver grille. The Lieutenant walked around it and opened the driver's door, looking towards Diana as she watched him leave.

  'Was his name Lucifer Armedeus?' he called out, as though only just remembering the question.

  'Yes,' she said. The Lieutenant nodded back before getting into the car and switching on the ignition. The older car's engine roared into life like a blue-tongued dragon, before Diana watched him pull away. Once the Lieutenant was gone, her eyes fell upon the three towers every human being told her to avoid, stirring with the desire to act.

  Perhaps it's time I learnt why my race hates you so much. If I wish to help others, that must include the Hateful too.

  Diana turned back to her home, knowing what she had to do next.

  I must go to the Institute.