Page 37

Chapter thirty-seven

“ H ow many does that make?” I gasped, my arms falling like wet noodles to my side.

“Just under a thousand,” answered Gor, pushing a chair towards me before I collapsed.

“Dammit,” I said, running the back of my hand over my sweaty brow.

“It’s only been five days,” he replied. “You and Talia have been working endlessly. It’s more than we had to begin with.”

“Lucifer has thousands,” I pointed out. “They’ve had months to prepare.”

“Yes, but we also have competent witches and six Princes of Hell. We are going to give them one hell of a fight.”

I looked at my friend: the brother I’d never had, the reclusive prince I now loved with my entire heart. “Promise me, if things go bad, you and G will get out,” I said, needing to know they’d be safe.

He looked at me, startled. “We’re all walking out of this, Seren.”

I scoffed, leaning over my knees. “Come on Belphagor, be serious for a damn moment. This isn’t the first war you’ve been a part of. It’s unrealistic to believe that. Especially with the odds we’re facing.”

He smirked. “I know I’m in trouble now … you used my whole name.”

“When in the hell did you get all playful on me?” I snapped. “You’re supposed to be the serious one here, remember?”

“I’m tired of always looking at the glass half empty. For the first time in my entire existence, I have a future worth looking forward to. I’m choosing to focus on that and not on the other things I can’t control.”

“Exactly! You have a future with G. Now, promise me … promise me that if the tides turn against us, you will take her and leave. Go somewhere he will never find you and live that beautiful life you’ve been waiting for.”

His eyes narrowed, brow furrowing. He remained silent for longer than I liked, while I watched the gears in his brilliant mind begin to crank. “What aren’t you telling me?” he said in a flat and stern tone.

“What?”

“You’re hiding something. I know you well enough to see that. Now, what is it? What are you planning?”

I retained my solemn expression, controlling my face not to give anything away. “I’m not hiding anything. I just … I love you Gor. You and G. I need to know you’ll be safe, no matter what that cost might be.”

He stood from his chair, kneeling in front of me. His beautiful porcelain face was calm, with a strong jaw and thin, slightly curved lips. His black hair was disheveled as usual. His deep eyes, seeming to pull you in as if they were black holes.

He kissed the top of my hand and rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. “I am your friend, first and foremost. I am your brother secondly; a title I wear with pride. But I am also your humble servant, Seren De Salvo. I will stand by your side in the midst of what is to come.” Tears began to well in my eyes. “I will fight next to you … for you. I would lay down my life to see th at you live.”

“No, Gor—”

“Seren,” he interrupted, holding my face in his hand, wiping the tears away. “Your life means more to me than my own. You are the most honorable person I have ever known. A born leader with a heart that I cherish deeply. Father made no mistakes when he chose you for this task. You will be victorious. I have no doubt.”

I fell into him, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. “I love you, Gor.”

“And I love you, little goddess.”

Keeping the portals open had drained me. I returned to our room, looking forward to a warm bath and my favorite pair of sweats. I opened the door and found nothing but darkness inside. Moonlight trickled through the glass doors to my balcony as the snow fell softly. I smiled at the beautiful landscape.

I felt the bite of the cold, metal handles as I pulled the panes of glass open, allowing the cool breeze to ease my heated flesh. Soft snow fluttered against my skin, tickling my nose. I closed my eyes, basking in the stillness of the wintery haven.

The sound of flapping caught my attention. I opened my eyes just in time to see a small white figure flying through the snow towards me. I squinted, trying to clear my vision. As the object approached, I realized it was a dove … a little dove. I swallowed, taking a step back. The bird was he aded straight towards me.

Its beautiful white wings fought against the strong gusts of wind as it beelined for my face. Before it made contact, the bird flung out its wings, hovered above me, and combusted into flames. The bird shrieked and whined in pain as its small body burned.

The blazing force that consumed the little dove sent me stumbling back to the floor. It flapped and flailed until its body turned to ash, falling into a pile in front of me. The remains shifted and swirled, gathering into the shape of a rectangle, no … an envelope. A black envelope, addressed to me.

Hesitantly, I reached out, taking it from the floor, ash sprinkling from the surface. I turned it over, breaking the seal and pulling out the paper within. It read:

Life.

An ever changing, ever escaping facet of this world we long to possess.

Possession.

An all-consuming obsession we all desire.

Desire.

That which we long to experience.

Experience.

The memories that build a life.

Life.

Unimportant until it no longer exists.

Something you will understand very soon, little Seren De Salvo.

…It is time.

~L

“Everyone, get your shit and get to your damn stations, now!” barked Nonna to no one specifically. The halls were filled with witches and warlocks scurrying from place to place, gathering weapons and telling their loved ones goodbye. Nonna had assigned each person a group location so it would be easy for those who could shift to move large numbers to the desert.

After I finished having a small panic attack reading Lucifer’s morbid excuse for a poem, I informed the others. Everyone snapped into action, readying to leave at a moment’s notice. With all the moving pieces now activated, I still couldn’t process that we were now stepping into a war, even though we had been preparing for months.

Frankie rounded one a corner, dressed in black fighting gear with green stripes decorating the sides of her arms and at her waist. She beelined straight for me, wrapping me up in her embrace as her loose strands of hair tickled the side of my face. I pulled her into me as tightly as I could, not knowing if this would be the last time.

She pulled away, forcing a smile. “You look good in black and red,” she said, touching the red leather swirls that extended from my shoulders down the length of my arms.

“I was thinking the same thing about you, except for the green,” I replied with a soft smile.

“House representation and all,” she said jokingly. I huffed a laugh, trying to hold myself together. “Hey,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against mine. “We’re all coming out of this alive. There is no alternative. Not after everything we’ve been through. There can’t be.”

“God, I hope you’re right,” I strained to get out, squeezing her arms.

“You’re powerful. You’re strong. You’ve got this. I believe in you.”

I took a moment, blocking out all the commotion in the busy hall. “Promise me you’ll be careful,” I said.

“Have you met me?” she replied.

I laughed. “That’s why I am making you promise. No unnecessary risks. Promise me.”

“I promise,” she replied, holding my hands tightly. “And when the time comes to send that sadistic bastard into his cage, I will be there, standing at your side.”

“Nonna told you about the plan?” I asked.

She nodded. “We know where we need to be and we’ll all be there, standing by your side.” She took a dagger that was strapped to her side and sliced her hand before grabbing mine and doing the same. She placed her wound over mine, squeezing my hand tightly. “Tied by blood,” she said softly. “Bonded by ancestry. Chosen by fate.” A tear silently rolled down her cheek. “We will always be connected to each other. You are my sister. My soulmate. My best friend.”

“I love you so much,” I replied, pulling her back into me.

“I love you too, Seren.”

“Move your asses,” Nonna yelled at a couple of young warlocks who looked like lost sheep in the halls. Frankie looked at me and we both smiled. Nonna headed towards us, dressed similarly minus the pop of color. “Are you both ready?” she asked, touching each of our faces while she assessed the weapons we had strapped to our bodies.

“Ready to battle a legion of demons from Hell?” asked Frankie sarcastically. “Sure as hell am.”

Nonna scoffed. “Smart ass.” She winked at Frankie, then turned to me, her face softening. “And you?”

“I know what has to be done,” I replied.

“As do I, bambina … as do I,” she said, rubbing the side of my face with her thumb. “Alright then, stop chitchatting and get your asses to your groups. We will meet again on the battlefield.” She pulled us both in for a hug. I relished the stolen moment of peace.

Deus appeared behind her, waiting respectfully until our moment was over. Frankie and Nonna headed in one direction and I in the other. Deus took my hand, kissing the back of it tenderly. “Is your mind clear?” he asked.

“I’m doing okay,” I replied. “And you?”

“Just ready for this to be over.”

“Me too.”

We approached the fork in the hall which would separate us into our designated groups. He stopped, pulling me into him and passionately kissing me. Pulling away, he pressed smaller kisses to my lips and face. I held on, breathing in his scent deeply.

“I won’t ever be far,” he whispered. “Keep that doorway of yours open to me, okay? If you get in over your head, I will be there in a second.”

“I know,” I replied. My heart broke knowing what I would soon put him through. “Don’t do anything stupid this time … like sacrificing your life to save anyone.”

He laughed, looking down into my eyes while holding my face tenderly. “A sacrifice I would make a thousand times over again just to see those beautiful eyes of your smiling back at me. ”

“I love you so much, Asmodeus. I wish you knew how much.”

He kissed me on the head, pulling me against his chest. “I do know how much, my love, but it doesn’t compare to the love I have for you.”

“Deus,” Mammon’s voice come from behind us. “They’re ready.”

Deus nodded at his brother, before kissing me one more time. “Send those fuckers back to Hell, baby,” he said, smiling hesitantly at me.

“With pleasure,” I replied, releasing him slowly.

I turned, forcing myself not to look back; because I knew if I looked into my mate’s loving eyes a moment longer, I would reveal my suicidal plan, hoping he would talk me out of it. Hoping there was a way out, but I knew there was nothing that could be done. Nothing would change my course or my fate. I had fought this path long enough. I was created for this very purpose, and now it was time to bring balance back to our worlds.

I entered the dining hall, greeted by the two neatly organized groups I had been assigned to shift to the desert. A presence that was becoming familiar slithered in my head.

“I will be close,” Talia’s voice scratched against my mind. “When it is time, call on me and I will be ready. Until then, don’t let your guard down. Be aware at all times.”

“Thank you, Talia … for everything.”

“Thank you, Seren De Salvo. I wish our destinies had been written differently, but I am grateful that our paths crossed. Knowing you has been an honor.”

“The honor is mine.”

“Have you seen G?” asked Tony, approaching from the first group.

“No, but I am sure Gor has her glued to his side,” I replied. His brow furrowed. “That’s the safest place she could be … I promise.” I said, trying to ease his worry.

“I know,” he said, running his hands over his face.

“Be careful out there, okay,” I whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I will. You too, beautiful.” He leaned in slowly, kissing me softly on the cheek. “The world would be a very dull place without you.” He placed his arm around my shoulder, and I placed mine around his waist as he escorted me to the first group. I looked at my fellow coven members, armed from head to toe with guns, swords, bullets, and knives. Some looked ready to shred some demons apart, while others fought against the fear, their hands shaking slightly.

I tried to think of something inspiring or passionate to say to them, but my tongue was tied. Some looked so young, while others looked too old to fight. Many might not survive this war, and though it was out of my control, I would still feel their deaths on my conscious.

“We are honored to fight by your side, goddess,” an older warlock said, breaking the moment of silence.

“We know what we must do and the sacrifices we must make,” said a witch beside him.

“And we are ready to make them pay,” said a familiar female voice from the back. The crowd parted. Delphine stepped forward, dressed in black from head to toe. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a braid, two sword hilts poking over each of her shoulders. She approached me with a smile, her eyes still empty. She stopped in front of me, taking my hand in hers. “For all they’ve taken from us.”

I nodded, feeling the sting in my heart. “I wish he was here fighting with us,” I whispered.

She placed her hand over my heart and then moved it to hers. “He has always been with us,” she replied. “He always will be.”

I nodded, knowing her words were true. I took a deep breath while the crowd made a circle, locking their hands together in unison. Delphine took one of my hands and Tony took the other. I looked at both of them for a moment and then shifted us to The Negev Desert.