Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

LILY

The moment I laid eyes on Calyx, my magic roared to life.

I clenched my fists, forcing the hellfire to hold steady and the shadows to obey. Calyx’s gaze landed on me, a slow, easy smile curling his lips. He leaned against the rock, one boot propped up, arms crossed like he had nothing better to do than lounge in the middle of Hell’s wastelands. The dim glow of the sky cast gave him an eerie blood-red aura, his dark hair barely stirring in the thick, stifling air. He looked comfortable. At ease.

I hated that. Hated him .

Gripping my blade tightly, I immediately scanned the surrounding horizon, the ridge lines, the rock spires, every shadow, every pocket of heat-distorted air, in search of the other fallen. Where there was one, there were others.

“Eliza,” I said under my breath. “Flank left. Stay alert. If you see so much as a shadow, you yell.”

She didn’t question me—merely shifted her footing and angled slightly to the side, her daggers drawn.

Calyx’s relaxed laughter dragged my attention back to him. He watched me with a lazy grin, as though he was enjoying what he saw.

“Oh, calm down,” he drawled, voice as smooth as silk. “This isn’t an ambush. It’s just me.” He gestured to himself with a mock flourish and fake pout. “Unarmed. Unaccompanied. Tragically outnumbered.”

I stared at him, then burst out laughing. “And I’m just supposed to believe you? Weren’t you trying to kill us a day ago?”

He gave an exaggerated sigh and pressed a hand to his heart. “Sweet Lily, you wound me. Truly. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it the second you stepped out of that cave. But alas, I’m here to play nice.” His pale eyes glittered with mischief. “No nightmares from me, no fire from you, no biting from you”—he gestured lazily at Rathiel—“and no whispering sweet nothings from you.” He glanced at Eliza, let his gaze dip a fraction too low, then winked. “Although, in your case, I might make an exception.”

I ignored his smarminess and said, “Then where are the others?”

“Oh, they’re around. Searching for you three, I presume. I just found you first. Lucky me.”

“And you just…want to talk?” I replied, my tone disbelieving.

“I understand your wariness,” he said, “since, as you pointed out, we were recently fighting to the death. But times change. People evolve.” He turned his gaze to Rathiel. “Even you, it seems.”

I considered his words, then shared a glance with Rathiel, who slowly nodded.

Fine.

Chatting it was.

I faced Calyx and studied him. He wasn’t the worst of my father’s fallen—Gremory held that title without contest—but I definitely feared him. And when I feared something, I hated it.

He didn’t just kill things—he unmade them. He slithered into their minds, peeled them apart layer by layer, turned every weakness, every terror, into a weapon. More than once, he’d used my father’s image against me, knowing Lucifer’s voice, his presence, his rage would break me faster than anything else. He never had to strike me in training. He would smile—much like he was now—step forward, and let the nightmares do all the work. I had to quickly learn how to block him out, and fight tooth and nail for every inch of my mind that he tried to take.

But back then, I’d been weaker.

Now?

If he so much as tried to penetrate my mind, I would show him what kind of nightmare I could be. I would flay the flesh from his bones and set it aflame right in front of him. I would show him how it felt to have his own skeleton blacken and splinter, to feel his bones crack and char as the fire ate through him, slow and merciless. I would burn him from the inside out and make damn sure he was conscious for every second of it.

Calyx’s grin widened, his eerie, pale eyes gleaming with something that sent a cold chill slithering down my spine. He tilted his head, as if amused. As if the flames crawling up my arms and the shadows writhing at my feet were nothing but a childish tantrum.

He barely blinked, just lounged against the rock like this was a casual reunion. It was a performance. It always was with him. He calculated every word, every action. All designed to get under someone’s skin, to slip past their defenses and settle deep where he could inflict the real damage.

“Well?” he asked. “Shall we chat then?”

“And what exactly do you want to talk to me about?” I asked.

His smile was slow, deliberate. “Still self-absorbed. I never said I wanted to talk to you , darling.” His gaze landed on Rathiel, and his smirk turned knowing. “I came to talk to him. Alone.”

Immediately, I stepped forward, cutting off his line of sight. “No.”

Calyx arched a brow, but I didn’t miss the way his lips twitched, like he was fighting back a laugh. “Protective, are we?” He tilted his head, studying me like I was some fascinating little creature. “I wonder, is that because you care, or because you don’t trust him?”

Rage burned through me so fast I almost let the hellfire loose. Almost.

But I held it. Barely.

“I trust Rathiel,” I said. “You, on the other hand? You’re a walking infestation. That you want to speak with him alone makes me want to set you on fire.”

Calyx sighed dramatically, rubbing his temple like I exhausted him. “You really are annoying, you know that?”

I took another step forward, my magic surging at the challenge. “Ditto.”

Rathiel moved then, stepping up beside me. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can do it here,” he said, his voice edged with steel.

Calyx turned his gaze to him fully, the amusement fading just a fraction. “Are you sure about that?”

Rathiel’s silence was his answer.

“Fine,” Calyx said with an exaggerated sigh. His focus landed on me. “But stay out of this conversation. It has nothing to do with you.”

The hell it didn’t, but arguing would only drag this out longer. And the last thing I wanted was to waste time standing out in the open, where anything could be watching. Retreating to the cave wasn’t an option either—not when it reeked of blood and was littered with corpses. No, we needed to keep moving. But if Rathiel was going to entertain this conversation, I wasn’t walking away.

I crossed my arms, levelling Calyx with a glare.

He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back to Rathiel, his expression shifting—less amusement, more calculation. He studied him for a beat, then finally asked, “How did you do it?”

Rathiel’s expression didn’t change. “Do what?”

“Break free.” Calyx’s voice dropped slightly. “How did you sever your vow to Lucifer?”

I blinked. That was what this little visit was about?

Rathiel didn’t answer right away. He just watched Calyx, his expression hard. Assessing. Measuring. Deciding how much truth to give. I recognized the look—had been on the receiving end of it enough times.

Calyx’s jaw tensed. “You said we could walk away from this. That we could break the vow. I want to know how.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Calyx let out a bitter laugh. “When is it ever?”

Something passed between them then, something grim and unspoken. Then Rathiel said, “Lucifer released me.”

Calyx’s expression blanked. “What?”

“I didn’t break the vow by myself,” Rathiel admitted. “Lucifer did it.”

Calyx’s whole body went rigid, his hands flexing at his sides. “And how, exactly, did that happen?”

Rathiel didn’t answer.

Calyx cursed, then shook his head. “Look, Lucifer never told us what really happened between the two of you. He simply said that you betrayed us. That you left us for her.” He shot me a hateful look before turning back to Rathiel. “When we asked how that was even possible, he lost it. Punished us just for questioning it.” His voice dropped lower, almost a growl. “It wasn’t until a few years ago that we learned you weren’t bound to him anymore. And I need to know how. Because I don’t care what it takes. I. Want. Out.”

Silence thickened around us. Heavy. Unyielding. Even the distant wails of Hell’s infernal winds seemed to dull, like the realm itself had paused to listen.

I stared at Calyx, trying to reconcile the words that had just left his mouth with the person I’d always known him to be.

Calyx wasn’t like Rathiel. From all that I did remember, Calyx had never wavered, never questioned, never hesitated when it came to doing Lucifer’s bidding. He had revelled in his power, in the fear he could instill, in the way he could break people without ever lifting a blade.

And now he was standing in front of us, claiming he wanted to leave?

A cold knot formed in my stomach.

Was this some kind of trick? Another mind game? Some new, twisted way of getting inside our heads? I stole another quick glance around to ensure the other fallen weren’t surrounding us while Calyx and Rathiel chatted. When I didn’t see anyone else, I turned back to the others.

Eliza let out a low whistle. “Damn. And here I thought Rathiel was the only traitor in your ranks.”

Calyx’s eyes snapped to her.

She offered him an imitation of his lazy smile, twirling a dagger between her fingers. “Relax, demon boy. I’m not judging. If I were stuck under Lucifer’s thumb, I’d be looking for the nearest exit, too.”

Calyx turned his attention back to Rathiel, his body wound tight. “Tell me how he did it.”

Rathiel dragged a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t a negotiation. He let me go so I could infiltrate Lily’s rebellion. He knew I’d need to prove myself to her. That I couldn’t gain her trust if I wasn’t acting of my own free will.”

Calyx’s expression twisted. “So he expected you to betray her.”

“He expected me to stay loyal to him,” Rathiel corrected. “He thought that no matter what, I’d choose his side in the end.” He flashed a rare grin. “He was wrong.”

Calyx muttered a curse, and his hands flexed at his sides. Yes, I’d imagine that wasn’t the answer he’d been hoping for.

Finally, he said, “So that’s it? That’s the only way?”

Rathiel nodded. “Lucifer has to sever the vow himself.”

Calyx’s face twisted with frustration. His fingers curled into a fist like he wanted to hit something. “That’s not a damn solution. You told us you can free us.”

“I can,” Rathiel said evenly. “By killing Lucifer.”

Calyx clenched his teeth so hard I saw the muscle in his jaw jump. He dragged a hand through his hair and asked, “You really think you can take him down?”

Rathiel didn’t blink. “Yes.”

Calyx laughed. “Right. Because that worked out so well the first time.” He gestured around at the desolate wasteland surrounding us. As though to remind of us of our past failures.

Rathiel’s expression didn’t change, but something in his stance tightened.

“You forget, brother,” Calyx said, “I saw you in Lucifer’s dungeons. I saw what he did to you. How he treated you.” His voice was quieter now, almost contemplative, but it carried weight. “He made us watch as he flayed the skin from you over and over. As he shattered your bones, then healed you, only to shatter them again. We saw him burn and break you. And you want to risk going through that again? For what? Her?”

Rathiel’s body tensed.

Calyx scoffed, shaking his head. “Tell me—what’s different this time? How are you going to win?”

Rathiel didn’t answer. Neither did I.

Calyx might have claimed he wanted out, but that didn’t make him an ally. He was still one of Lucifer’s fallen, and as far as I was concerned, that meant he was still a threat. I wasn’t about to hand him our plans on a silver platter.

Instead, I held his gaze, let the silence stretch, let it turn uncomfortable.

He waited.

And when neither of us spoke, he shook his head. “Right,” he muttered. “Of course. I ask a simple question, and you two clam up like I just asked for the keys to the kingdom.”

I arched a brow. “Maybe because you’re still technically the enemy.”

Calyx’s expression darkened, his smugness finally slipping.

“And you’re technically insane,” he shot back. “Do you honestly think you can get anywhere near Lucifer without him ripping you apart? Because I know you remember how this ended last time.” He tapped his head again. “Thanks to me.”

I froze, my stomach suddenly twisting. Rathiel and I had suspected Calyx was responsible for returning the memory of the final battle to me, but we hadn’t known for sure. Now we did. I filed that away for later.

For now, I just smiled. “That’s the thing, Calyx. You don’t get to know what we’re planning.” I tilted my head, watching his every move. “You know why?”

His nostrils flared, but that was the only sign of his annoyance. “Enlighten me.”

“Because I don’t trust you.”

His eerie pale eyes locked onto mine. Then he laughed. Not the slow, lazy chuckle from before, but something harder.

“Yeah,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “That makes sense. And what about you?” he asked Rathiel. “Do you trust me even a little?”

Rathiel was still as stone. “No.”

Calyx growled and dragged his fingers through his hair like he was trying to rein in his frustration. “Then what the hell am I supposed to do?” His voice was low and tight. “If Lucifer has to release me himself, which we all know will never happen, then how the hell do I even begin to break free?”

Still, neither of us answered.

And this time, it seemed to piss him off, if his murderous experience was evidence of anything.

“You know what? Fine,” he snapped. “Forget it. Enjoy your little rebellion while it lasts.”

He turned on his heel, moving to leave.

I almost let him.

Almost .

Then, at the last second, an idea blossomed. A dangerous, reckless idea. I was probably crazy for even considering it. But the moment the idea took root, I knew I wouldn’t be able to shake it.

“If you really want out,” I said, my voice carrying in the still, stifling air, “then you’re going to have to prove it.”

Calyx stopped mid-step. His head turned slightly, just enough for me to see the tension in his jaw. Slowly, he faced me.

“And how exactly do I do that?” he demanded.

“Lily.” Rathiel warned, turning to face me.

I lifted a hand, stopping him before he could say more. “Wait.”

I wasn’t sure this was a good idea. Hell, it was probably the worst idea I’d had in a long time. But I couldn’t ignore it. Couldn’t shake it loose.

Calyx had returned one memory to me already.

So, why couldn’t he return the rest?

I turned back to Calyx, my fingers twitching as I considered my next words carefully. “You gave me back the memory of Lucifer ripping off my wings.”

Calyx’s gaze narrowed. “And?”

I took a deep breath and spoke words I never thought I’d say. “And I want you do it again.”

Silence fell over our group.

Eliza made a choking sound. “I’m sorry— what ?”

Rathiel stiffened beside me, his entire stance going rigid. “No.”

I ignored them both, my focus locked on Calyx, who watched me with a calculative gleam to his eyes.

Finally, he spoke. “You want your memories back.”

I swallowed hard. “I want my memories back. Rathiel said he used an artifact. And he has no idea where it is or what happened to it. For all I know, my father has it. But you —you’ve already accessed one of my memories. You pulled it to the surface, made me relive it in my dreams.” I took a slow step forward, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. “That means you can do this. Can’t you?”

Calyx hummed, tilting his head as if savoring the thought, rolling it over like a fine wine on his tongue. “I can ,” he admitted, drawing out the words. “I know the artifact Rathiel used. It doesn’t erase memories—not exactly. Think of it more like a vault. Your memories are still there, locked behind an impenetrable door. A door only I know how to pick.”

Excitement quickened my heart.

“Lily,” Eliza snapped.

I shook my head.

“And you’re willing to let me in, just like that?” Calyx asked, his tone dripping with amusement.

Rathiel stepped between us, his broad form cutting me off from Calyx in a single, fluid motion. “She’s not willing,” he bit out. “Because this isn’t happening.”

“Now that sounds more like you, brother.” Calyx shifted his weight, crossing his arms. “And here I thought you were going soft.”

Rathiel’s wings flexed ever so slightly. “This isn’t a game, Calyx.”

“Oh, but it is ,” he countered smoothly. “And right now, you’re losing.”

“Enough,” I snapped before Rathiel could respond. “Calyx, you want out? You want free of my father?”

His expression blanked. “Desperately.”

I held his gaze, searching for any cracks, any hint of deception lurking beneath his words. But there was nothing. Just raw, unfiltered truth staring back at me.

I sure hoped my instincts weren’t betraying me. Because this? This was insanity. Even considering it was foolish. But then, wasn’t I desperate too?

I wanted my memories back. I wanted to know . To finally understand everything Rathiel and I had been through. To have all the missing pieces, not just scattered fragments of who I used to be. I hated being an unfinished puzzle, waiting for someone else to decide when and how to put me back together. I wanted to be whole. Complete.

And Calyx wanted freedom. Neither of which we could gain without the other’s help. If we killed Lucifer, Calyx would be free. Win-win for us both.

He’d come here alone. No other fallen at his back, no hidden army waiting in the shadows. Just him, standing before two people who had every reason to kill him, knowing full well we might try. He had taken that risk anyway.

Maybe this was a trick. Maybe I was making the worst mistake of my life. But something in my gut told me I wasn’t. Something told me—for the first time—I could trust him.

Yeah. I was definitely insane.

“Fine. This is my price,” I told him. “You give me back my memories— all of them. And in return, you get a place at our side. I know you’re bound to Lucifer and can’t disobey him outright. But you have to help us when and where you can. We’ll keep you hidden, off his radar, for as long as possible. And then, when we win, you gain your freedom.”

“Agreed,” Calyx instantly said.

Rathiel’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm in a firm grip. “Lily. Think about what you’re asking.”

I had thought about it. And the more I did, the more I realized I didn’t have another option.

“I have to do this,” I said, my voice quieter but no less firm. Then I turned, leveling Calyx with a stare sharp enough to cut through bone. “But know this. If you do something to betray us—something you can control—I will rip you apart, piece by piece, and feed what’s left to the hellcats. It’ll be slow, it’ll be messy, and you’ll still be conscious when they start gnawing on your entrails.” I tilted my head. “Are we clear?”

Calyx blinked at me. Then, to my absolute lack of surprise, he grinned. “Crystal, darling.”

Rathiel’s grip on my wrist flexed, his entire body wound so tight I thought he might snap. But I refused to back down.

I met Rathiel’s gaze head-on, unflinching. I need this.

For a long moment, he didn’t move. The tension between us stretched tight, a silent battle waged in a single look.

Then he let me go.

Calyx clapped his hands together. “Great. Now that that’s settled.” He took a slow step forward and gestured at me. “Let’s see what’s locked inside that head of yours.”