Chapter 20

It was too dark for me to see as the rock slid into place and I was barricaded from the rest of the world.

The space was narrow and I struggled against the grip of the man. He was breathing heavy and I let out a gasp when his hands reached my stomach.

Not my child, I thought and elbowed him in the face before rolling to a side. I heard shuffling on a side and pushed myself to my feet quickly. It was too dark for him to see anything and was I borne of darkness.

He whipped his head around, trying to catch me again and I pressed myself against the wet walls.

"You think you can escape, huh? You will die and so will your family." He snarled.

I grinded my teeth and focused on my breathing. In and out. It's going to be fine. I consoled the baby even though I knew it couldn't hear me.

One of hands still on my stomach, I tried to remember where I had heard this man's voice before. I was sure I had, maybe I had seen him too but I couldn't remember.

He smashed his fist against and the wall and hissed in pain and something on the side of my eyes moved.

I caught that movement again, this time near his hand. The darkness - flinching away from him.

I sucked in a sharp breath. A shadow witch.

He didn't use the shadows though, only thrashed about. Maybe he had never learnt how to use his magic. The Ideosy had been vagabonds for centuries. Slowly, they had lost their knowledge of magic while we preserved ours and passed it down generation by generation.

What was a shadow witch doing here? How was he alive?

There was no time for such questions and the answer to most of them was the same - he was trying to save himself so the rest of the members don't turn on him and hold him hostage against Lucifer.

He knew that if they found out one among them could replace me and Azriel; they would use him to threaten the Devil. Why would they go to such lengths to capture me or Azriel if they could just use him?

And this is where his scheme to protect himself had led him to - alone, in the dark, with a shadow witch, with no knowledge of how to defend himself. He did not know how to use his powers as a witch and he wasn't fae. That's why he had kept to the rock - because I would find out he was vulnerable.

Right when I was about to step forward, the rock jerked in it's place.

Someone was trying to get inside.

With it came light and he lunged upon me. I grabbed his neck and my knee connected with his stomach.

Something smashed against the rock again. I have to hurry.

His adrenaline washed away and he realised what he had done. He tried reaching out toward the door but I stabbed his outstretched arm.

One more push and I was about to lean against the rock to stop the Idesoy from pushing their way in when I saw a bit of leather peeking through.

I threw the man towards a wall, his head smashed against a wall and he wailed.

I hooked my fingers in the small cracks and threw my weight backwards. It took it a few moments but somehow I managed to push it open just enough for him to slide in.

"Cassian." I breathed out his name. "Why are you-"

He hit the man in purple with the hilt of his sword and he collapsed in a heap. "I can't let you go alone." He jerked his chin towards my stomach.

"Where do we go now?" He asked, looking at the slime and moss growing at the stone.

"This way." I pointed to my left. A narrow path twisted down the cave." This is where the altar is."

"Altar?" He frowned.

"That's where Azriel would be if they want to sacrifice him." I explained.

He nodded and stepped over the unconcious man. "We have to take him with us." I stopped him and pointed at the fallen man.

"Why?"

"He's a shadow witch. He can be used as a sacrifice." I said and Cassian's eyebrows flew up.

"I thought you were the only shadow witch."

"I thought the same. Maybe everyone did." I cast one glance at the purple and gold gleaming. "If we sacrifice him before Lucifer reaches me, they will be locked in hell forever."

Cassian didn't hesitate before bending down and grabbing the back of the man's cloak.

"Let's go." He said and started dragging his limp body behind himself. He gestured for me to walk in front of him and I immediately started leading the way.

It wasn't far away, I remembered. The ceiling must be very high and there should be only one rock, raised high above all the other.

"Where are you?" I whispered, in hopes that I would get an answer from Azriel but it was in vain.

Then I heard it and we both stopped short.

A growl, a snarl, metal upon metal and a yelp.

"Is it the Ideosy? Are they hiding something here?" Cassian whispered and put an arm around my front.

No. I shook my head. "It's Azriel." I whispered.

He pulled me closer. "And?"

"The Devil."

He didn't respond, then, after a breath, "I don't want you to go in there."

"Are you saying I can't look after myself?" I tried to joke.

"You know that's not what I mean. I have trained with you and so has Az. I know you can. I just don't like that you have to do this."

I didn't turn around to look at him but I could feel his heartbeat and I didn't need to.

"Let's go." He said and walked past me, towards the sound.

I carefully avoided stepping over the body he was dragging and followed him.

We soon saw it, like a mouth, waiting to chew us to bits and pieces - the opening.

The ceiling high, a single leafless tree, a pond; covered in moss and the altar.The air was buzzing with power and I saw them.

Two people, one face; both drenched in blood. They circled each other, waiting for an opening to strike. Cassian's eyes looked between them and he shook his head.

I knew which one was Azriel of course. I would know him anywhere, by the way his hands would curl around Truthteller, the way each moment was more easy and held much more grace. Or the way he was smirking while Lucifer bared his teeth like a wild animal blind with rage.

Neither of them looked at us, I think Azriel knew I was there. He didn't let it show though and I tugged at Cassian's arm.

Hurry.

He gulped and nodded.

It can't be that easy. I wondered and sure enough, it wasn't.

Something slammed against our bodies and both toppled over. Cassian tried to catch me but he was too late and my head collided with the hard ground.

Wetness trailed down my face and black dots danced in my vision. I groaned and braced an arm around my abdomen.

Azriel turned, "Lillith, no-" The words were snatched out of his mouth when Lucifer sliced through his leathers and his arm started bleeding.

This is how he had managed so long, by taunting The Devil; but now I was here, the crack in his armour.

I pushed myself up as soon as Cassian tried to grab the purple-robed man again but he stirred.

"No." I whispered and just as I was about to pin him down, he kicked wildly and Cassina pulled me back before he could kick my stomach.

"Finally." Lucifer sighed. "It didn't take you long, pet." The lop - sided grin on their face spoke of trouble. More trouble then we already had.

Three archways opened up beside the way we had come and again, people in white robes filled out.

Of course. Of course there were more of them. There were thousands.

In a hurry, Cassian dragged the man to his feet, his body still limp though he was conscious now, and pushed me behind himself.

My eye went over to Lucifer and I had never wanted to gouge out someone's eyes more than I did in that moment. They were standing with their arms behind their back, smiling at me and it took great effort to tear my eyes away from them and towards Azriel who was now running towards us.

He didn't speak as he reached us and both him and Cassian pressed their backs towards me.

"Get me my bride." Lucifer thundered over the noise of several feet and I took hold of the still struggling and gasping man who Cassian had in a chokehold.

He didn't look at me and let go of him as he braced himself for another fight.

They could do it, I knew that, together they could easily do it. So, I grabbed the golden viel and yanked it away, revealing a face I couldn't recognize. But that didn't matter, all that mattered was that he had killed my parents, and several more, had tried to kill Azriel and his family, my family now and our child.

I twisted his arm behind his back and he yelped in pain. Grabbing a fistful of his hair, I growled in his ear, "Who's the sacrifice now?"

Realization dawned on his face as he trashed against my grip but I refused to budge.

I heard a few screams and wet thuds, limbs chopped off, maybe heads; I didn't care.

I made my way towards the altar with the shadow witch gasping in my arms. He blindly reached out to something, someone but there was nobody but Cassian and Azriel in front of us. They were slowly moving backwards though, as the Ideosy were pushing back against them.

I saw a muscle twitch in Azriel's jaw and the gaping wound on his shoulder. Another gash ran down the length of one of his wings. I stole a glance at Cassian before screaming started from near the door.

I had just enough time to see a flash of red and white before air was stolen out of my lungs.

Someone grabbed me by the back of my neck and, in one swift motion, threw me on the ground. My grip on the man slipped and I braced my arms in front of me. I saved my head from hitting the rock but the hard edge pushed into my stomach with full force.

"Lily!" I barely heard Azriel yell through the fog settling over my brain. My child.

Azriel was only a few steps away from me but the man was quick on his feet. He knew death was upon him if he didn't do anything.

He grabbed my hair and pressed my dagger that had slipped out of my grasp against my throat.

"Stay back!" He yelled.

"No. Do not." Azriel warned. He put an arm in front of himself. "Let her go or-"

"No! I am not dying today." The man snarled. "I am going to be the one who holds your soul shadowsinger."

"Take your filthy hands off her!" Azriel roared.

"Get on the altar."

"And you will let her go?"

"I don't decide that, do I?" He nodded towards Lucifer. "Maybe if you listen to me, I can convince them to let your child live."

Of course they knew. I almost laughed.

"Just don't hurt her."

"Azriel, no!" I yelled.

Cassian turned around and tried to say something but my head was too loud and I couldn't hear it.

"Azriel, stop! No!" I begged as tears streamed down face. He wouldn't. He couldn't.

I tried grabbing onto him but he was out of my reach, already climbing onto the rock.

He didn't look away from me once. Not when he was on the altar and not when he sunk to his knees.

"You can't do that! You said we would-"

"Enough!" The man barked in my face. "It's time for me to trap his soul." A wolfish grin spread across his face.

"You wouldn't dare." I growled.

He barked out a laugh but I didn't look away from Azriel's face. His eyes slowly turn a little to my side.

I carefully followed them and there, on the ground was Truthteller. Right by my feet.

I blinked, hot tears burning my cold cheeks and thought, That wasn't a nightmare after all.

The witch pushed me to ground and lunged towards Azriel, my dagger in his hand and I leaped to my feet with Truthteller.

So much happened at once, I swung the blade as he sliced with his; I heard Lucifer roar in a distance and his powers slammed into me, my vision turned a solid black.