Sin of the Saints (Between Delusion and Sobriety Duet #2)

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hillel

A ll the air leaves my lungs as Lilith rises above the surface of the water. So many years, so many incarnations, and for the first time I know what true fear is.

Ellis leans over to her and whispers something, I can’t make it out but Lilith’s expression turns my stomach.

“Aren’t you going to intervene?” Naama whispers at my side, and I hush her, lest she give away our hiding place. We may be well-concealed behind the ferns, but angels have sharp hearing.

Ellis pulls her out of the water and I grimace. Lilith isn’t fighting him. He caresses her face and pushes her long black hair away from her face. Damn it, the collar’s gone and she still isn’t fighting him. What’s going on here? She lowers her gaze submissively and I almost choke as I realize she’s wrapping her naked body in her two wings, which have turned pure white. Has she been purified? How is that possible?

What’s in that water? I look down at the shoreline and pull back. An ill feeling tells me something’s wrong with that water.

She presses her forehead against Ellis’ chest and closes her eyes. He wraps her in his arms, shouts an order – “To the Vatican!” – and ascends to the skies. His whole group of winged ones, Walter’s platoon, take off after him. The Pope sent his biggest guns, but it was pointless. Lilith willingly gave herself over to them.

If she’s been purified, that means she’s found who she was looking for. She chose Him, betraying me again. But this time I know I’ll never be able to recover.

“They’re heading back to the Vatican,” I address Naama once the coast is clear. “It’s time to go back.”

“Go back where exactly? After them? After what we’ve seen with our own eyes?”

“No,” I answer, “not before we destroy every creature and creation of His , and for that I’ll need the souls Ashmedai stole from me.”

Naama’s stern look is replaced with a satisfied smile. “It’s about time. If he refuses, Daddy’s armed his plane with enough weapons for me to wipe out a whole country.”

I stand tall and caress her face. She shivers under my touch. “You’ve done well, Naama.” I kiss her forehead.

If she only knew I had a similar fate planned for her.

During Bartimaeus’ initiation, he was taught that God does not impose His love on his followers. They must accept his authority and leadership wholeheartedly, of their own volition, to reach the inconceivable goal they call redemption.

I chuckle at the notion that maybe this whole scheme worked out for Him. What we all have in common – mankind, angels and demons alike – is that we’re drawn to the inconceivable. Just as Lilith was drawn to Him , just as she believes she is unworthy of Him. Just as I’m drawn to she who does not want me.

Just like Ashmedai.

So I can’t blame him when he refused to let go of the purpose he’d set for himself. It turned out his goal had never been just about Lilith. She was just a means to an end, to obtain control of all: My throne and the lands of Adam. My sin was copied over to him. Just as I coveted the throne on high, so too did he covet mine.

God’s creations, humans, are driven by cheap thrills, they live from one bit of excitement to the next without appreciating what happens in between, but when their eyes are drawn to expensive thrills, they’ll even sell their souls to attain them.

Bloodthirsty, frenzied, lost. Just the way I like them. And once I’ve stripped them of their souls, they are of no further use to me.

That’s why I felt nothing as I ordered Naama to cut down every demon in Ashmedai’s castle, from whom he draws his strength. They had nothing but emptiness in them. I must note that Naama’s offer to arrange a day trip at the University of Bologna and a visit to the castle, without Ashmedai’s knowledge, was brilliant.

One by one they bled on the expensive floors, their blood spilled on the ancient works of art, their filth exiled as I fed on the rest of their blood. Their ashes were carried on the wind as I opened the windows in the main hall and let Ashmedai witness his palace of cards collapsing before his eyes.

Naama and Othello hold him on both sides as he kneels before me, his eyes full of wrath, with the rest of the Council standing behind him.

“Where exactly do you think you’ll banish me?” he bursts out into mocking laughter. “Back to the underworld? You’ll never be able to hold me there!”

“Fortunately, I had the very best teacher in these matters.” I seek out Alfredo’s eyes and nod to him. Alfredo approaches Ashmedai and I take a step back, giving him the space he needs. He lifts his hand before Ashmedai, whose eyes widen as he suddenly realizes what’s about to happen. I can’t help laughing. “I always wondered if any of our offspring would receive anything from me. The others might not know, but I do.” He turns his panicked gaze from me to Alfredo and tries to tell him something, but Naama strikes the back of his neck hard and he falls silent. “Now, Alfredo!” I command.

He places his hand on Ashmedai’s forehead, and the latter begins heavily panting for breath. Transformation isn’t a pleasant process, so I’ve heard, but to see it happen before my eyes is fascinating. Just like the day Lilith first shapeshifted in front of me. Every member of our dynasty inherited a priceless gift from us. But they inherited the curse of the mother of the damned as well, her rage and volatile temper, which always complicate my role as he who sits the Burning Throne.

Ashmedai lets out a deafening scream and I smell his foul blood. He’s gathered so many souls, and their filth has finally consumed him.

I smile as gleaming black wings materialize before me, bursting out of his back, tearing his flesh. A winged demon who’d managed to hide his true form. Finally, all I hear are his heavy gasps for air as he leans forward on his hands, powerless.

I lift his head with my hand, and my long talons pierce the flesh of his face. His blood is dark and thick as it drips onto the marble floor. “You want to be me?” I tilt my head and look deeper into his empty eyes.

“I’ll never be like you,” he hisses. “I want to be worthy of her. She would have given herself to me if only I’d been worthy…” Pain flashes in his eyes and vanishes in an instant, but I don’t let that throw me off.

I click my tongue. “Today you’ll finally understand that no one deserves her. So prepare yourself, Ashmedai. The night’s still young and I’m going to be your worst nightmare.” In a quick, sharp motion I slice his wings off, ignoring his screams. He doesn’t yet know he’ll have to ease up on his vocal cords, since the worst is yet to come. I attach his wings to my own back and let out a sigh of relief. I feel whole. “You will fly no more, the underworld will be your prison for the rest of eternity. And if you think your spirit will allow you to reincarnate in the lands of Adam, you’ll leave me no choice but to break it. To break you, as Lilith broke me.”

I nod my head, signaling everyone to leave the hall. They hurriedly obey, and I notice Alfredo lingering a bit behind them. I’ll wait no longer, giving myself permission to punish Ashmedai as I longed to do from the moment he put his hands on what was mine.

I grab a fistful of his hair and hurl him onto his back. He gasps as his torn back touches the cold marble floor. “No, no!” he tries to protest, but I leap onto him and clasp my hand over his mouth.

I grip his flaccid cock and tighten my fist, and he screams like the worm he is. “What’s wrong? Doesn’t it turn you on just as much now that you’re on the other end?” He wails and shivers uncontrollably. If I’d had a heart, he would have moved it to pity. I give one strong tug and his manhood is torn away, blood shooting everywhere. He doesn’t even scream as his eyes roll back. I laugh bitterly and turn him onto his stomach. “Start praying, Ashmedai, and perhaps He will grant you grace when I’m done with you,” I say, thrusting deep into his asshole. His body goes slack in my grip, his head pressed against the marble floor, and I think I see a hint of a smile on his lips. I peer in the direction he’s staring in and notice Alfredo. His eyes are white and gleaming, while his face shifts into the form of a black horse’s head.

The nightmare.

I’m his nightmare now.