Chapter 19

Cassian leaped up from his seat and faced the door, Alcina and Morrigan right behind him.

The rush of blood in my ears was the only thing I could hear as they turned the corner.

A little bit of wood was keeping me from my worst nightmare.

None of us breathed as they stood before us, for me - Azriel; I couldn't speak for the rest of them but both Morrigan and Cassian clenched their jaws.

"They look like whoever you desire most." I whispered and Cassian nodded. Morrigan only shifted closer to me, shielding me from Lucifer's view with her body.

I brushed my fingertips against my stomach and said a silent prayer before wrapping my fingers around my daggers as a cruel smile bloomed on their face.

"Look at you- looking lovelier than ever." The devil smiled at me.

Cassian growled something I couldn't hear but didn't move, planting himself between all three if us and them.

"Would you all mind moving? I'm here to collect my bride." If I hadn't known any better, I would've thought it was a request and not mockery.

"She's taken." Cassian unsheathed his sword.

"By your friend? Sadly, not for long since she is leaving with me." I would have sliced that smile off their face if I hadn't been carrying a child.

Cassian said something but my eyes were fixed on something gleaming. Alcina was fumbling with something behind her back.

I blinked once, blinding by the light reflecting off of it before swiftly taking it from her hands.

The glass vial was cold against my sweaty palms as I slid it into Morrigan's hands. She looked at me with wide, questioning eyes and I gave her the briefest nod, indicating that she should put it on.

For Love and Protection. That's all Alcina wanted for her.

I wondered for a second why she had waited so long to give her the necklace but that thought was chased away by the lethal smile blooming of Lucifer's face.

Lucifer. That's all they will ever be. Even when they looked exactly like the shadowsinger. Their eyes, following everyone in the room with a predatory accuracy was enough distinction between the two.

"See what lengths I have to go to for your sake?" Lucifer feigned hurt. "I had to come myself to get you. That's not very obedient of you, pet."

Obedient.

"It's not very smart of you to think that someone like me could be tamed, either." I returned their feral smile. "Perheps, it's best that you crawl back into the rotten hole that you come from."

They snarled, " You've got quite the mouth on you, don't you?"

I twisted the blade in my hand, "And what are you going to do about it? On that note, how's the chest healing?" My eyes flickered towards their chest, where there was a gaping hole, thanks to Azriel.

Cassian had moved to the side and Morrigan was digging her nails into my arm. Their eyes were flickering towards a window but I didn't have the time to see what was wrong.

"You'll know how it's healing well enough when you're chained to my bed." The words were barely out if their mouth before a fist collided with the smooth skin and Lucifer stumbled backwards.

Cassian shuffled backwards, wary perhaps of what the spymaster might do. He looked over at me, there was a hint of worry in his eyes before it was gone and he gave me his usual smirk.

I was too stunned to even breath for a moment as I gaped at Azriel's sharp eyes cut through Lucifer's soul, if they had one.

"What - How -" I was too shocked to form sentences but I didn't have the time anything anyway.

The cabin was engulfed in darkness, like a giant mouth had swallowed it and then I found myself standing on slimy rocks.

It looked like the inside of a cave, tangled roots reaching out like claws and darkness blooming at every corner. We were all still together, Alcina to my left and Morrigan to my right and Cassian in front of us.

"Where are we?" Morrigan asked, looking at the small waterfall.

"Reapersbrook. " I answered.

Alcina gulped; it was a new place for her, for all of them.

"Where is Az?" Cassian questioned and my blood ran cold.

Azriel.

"I- I don't know." I turned around at my place.

The serpent. Where can I find a serpent? " I can find him." I assured them. Can I? I have to.

"Why worry so much about a lost cause?" This time it wasn't Lucifer who spoke. A tall figure, clad in purple and their face covered with a gold viel stood on the one of the higher planes. "The sacrifice is safe."

The sacrifice.

"He isn't a sacrifice. "I bared my teeth, refusing to let the fate play out this way.

"Then who is?" The man said. "You?"

Alcina stepped in front of me protectively. "She's not your pawn to power."

"One of them has to be." He shrugged. He flicked his wrist and hundreds of men in white robes filled into the room.

The Ideosy.

"Cassian, no." I said in a low voice when he looked ready to pounce on one of them. "Not yet."

We all closed in, all three of them with their backs pressed against me. And my child.

"I have to find Azriel." I mumbled. They were only fifteen feet away.

"Lily, no." Alcina protested. Ten feet.

"I am the only one who knows this place." Five feet.

I sucked in a breath and, hoping it wouldn't harm the baby, unleashed myself on the Ideosy.

Screams rang inside the cave when the blood magic took over and crimson bubbled out of throats, eyes, nose and ears.

Some collapsed into a broken heap of blood and flesh, their bodies little more than a gruesome sight of bent bones.

It was strange to see Cassian and Morrigan, people who hated my presence a few weeks ago, killing people now.

They are doing it for Azriel- A voice inside my said but I shoved it away. We were far past questioning the sense of familiarity building among us.

Blood sprayed out of bodies on the ground when Cassian stepped over them, slaughtering his way to the man in purple. He was still on that rock, his face hiding and hands shrouded in gold.

I didn't turn around to look at Morrigan but the screams of terror were enough to tell me she would hold her own. Not for long perhaps, but long enough. Besides she had Alcina.

I only looked over my shoulder only when I heard a "Oh, you didn't. " from my sister. My heart leaped into my throat seeing her standing in a pool of blood.

Everything I had ever protected her from was now catching up.

I had just enough time to see her hex one witch who had tried cursing Morrigan and see the man tear at his own skin as thorns pierced their way through it, before they were both lost in the crowd.

I dodged outstretched hands as Cassian made way for me and ran past them as swiftly as I could.

I had to step over the limbs that were bent at odd angles and once I felt a spray of hot blood on the side of my face but that was the last thing on my mind.

I had to look out for any witch that might use magic against Cassian. None of them were his match in battle but if they decided to use whatever little magic they had learnt from their years in woods, it would be difficulty for him to control them.

"Five." I counted the number of people I had to hex. "Cassian!" I yelled his name but he didn't turn around. "Very few of them know actual magic. You will be fine."

"That's good." He answered.

"No!" I yelled over the shouts. "You have to promise me! Take care of yourself till I come back with Azriel! If you die, I won't name the baby after you!" I threatened.

He turned briefly, his face coated with blood, and smiled, "I promise! Just come back with him."

I nodded once, taking in his features before tearing my way though The Ideosy.

I will come back and I will bring Azriel back.

Someone tried to latch onto my clothes and I drove my daggers through their heart. "You-" I stabbed another one. "- are not going to hurt my family anymore." The noise that escaped my lips was not my own voice. It was the part of me that I had buried long ago.

It was the girl who had survived hell when she was twelve and the girl who had seen the devil and laughed in his face. She was here to take what was hers and she had never learnt how to lose.

Every second felt like an hour as I caught sight of a door, carved out of the stone. I made may towards it, leaving bones and ashes in my wake.

Before I could reach it, however, something slammed against my body. I fell forward, in the doorway and thrashed against the iron grip on my legs before looking down and seeing the purple-robed man pulling me back.

I sliced his arm and he winced but didn't let go of me.

"Let go!" I kicked his face and blood stained his viel which refused to move from his face.

I gripped the doorframe and twisted my body, when he still didn't let of my leg I pulled with all my strength.

"If I'm going to hell then so are all of you." With this, I pushed the rock and we were both engulfed my the dark.