Sinful Obsession

29. 29 – Vienna

29 – Vienna

I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest as I slowly sit up. My head throbs with the new power surging through me, the name Lilith ringing in the back of my head. It feels so surreal, like it happened days or weeks ago and not a few hours ago in my bathroom. I call out to Asmodeus and find no answer, confusion settling in my expression as I head for the door. The little bit of sunlight spilling into my room means that it’s still morning or at the latest the afternoon.

Inches from the door, I stop, staring at the faintly glowing edges. I can’t read the symbols etched into the door but I quickly connect them to some angelic language, which means they’re from Michael himself. I press my hand against the cold but the second I make contact, a sharp jolt shoots through me. I yelp, stumbling back as pain radiates up my arm.

"Stupid door," I mutter, glaring at it like it’s an enemy.

The anger rises, hot and fierce, and before I can stop myself, I press my palms against the surface again. This time, something changes. The air around me hums with power, my vision sharpening as my frustration boils over into something darker. I feel it building in my chest, twisting and writhing like a living thing.

“Open,” I whisper, my voice low but commanding.

The door cracks.

It’s not much—just a thin line that spiders across the metal like a fissure in stone—but it’s enough to make me freeze. My breath catches as I stare at it, disbelief mixing with a flicker of excitement.

“What the hell?” I murmur, stepping back.

I turn and scan the room, desperate for something—anything—to help me figure out what just happened. I wish I had a phone, or a way to contact someone, but then I think of Kaua. The thought of his strength and steady presence makes my chest ache.

And then he’s here.

One second the room is empty, and the next, Kaua is standing before me, his nostrils flaring as he takes in his surroundings. His eyes lock onto mine, wide with confusion, and I stumble back further, my heartbeat hammering in my ears.

“Vienna?” he asks. “What the hell just happened?”

“I—I don’t know,” I stammer, my hands trembling at my sides. “You just… appeared.”

His gaze sweeps over the room, his confusion giving way to realization. “You summoned me.”

“I what ?”

Before I can process his words, the air shifts again, and suddenly, the room is filled with the other horsemen. Nevan, Vito, and Ewan stand before me, their expressions ranging from bewildered to alarmed.

“What’s going on?” Vito asks, his sharp eyes scanning the room. “Why are we all here?”

“I don’t know!” I cry, clutching my head as the throbbing intensifies. The power swirling inside me grows too strong, too chaotic, and I feel another crack—this time not in the door, but in the portal. The energy pulses through me until my knees buckle.

Before I can hit the ground, strong arms catch me. I look up to find myself wrapped in a tangle of limbs, the four horsemen surrounding me, their presence grounding even as my body shakes.

“Lilith,” Ewan whispers, the name a reverent murmur that cuts through the chaos in my mind.

I perk up at the sound, blinking at him as the weight of it settles over me. “You know?” I ask, my voice soft, almost afraid.

Ewan nods, his pale eyes steady. “We suspected, but now… it’s undeniable.”

Taking a shaky breath, I straighten, their arms loosening but not letting me go entirely. “After the library,” I begin, “something happened. I found this book, and it—” I pause, pulling at the hem of my shirt. “It marked me.”

I pull the shirt over my head, exposing the glowing symbol etched into my chest. Their reactions are immediate—sharp intakes of breath, their gazes locking onto the mark with a mixture of awe and unease.

“Eyes up here,” I snap, pulling their attention back to my face. “It’s not just the mark. I remembered everything. All my past lives, all the times Asmodeus found me. It’s overwhelming.”

They exchange glances, silence following my words until Ewan speaks. “What does it mean? For us, for you?”

“It means this is just the beginning,” I say, my voice trembling. “It’s a game we’ve played for centuries, a cycle of finding and losing each other. But this time, I’m scared. I know how it ends and it never lasts.”

Kaua’s hand comes to rest on my shoulder. “Maybe it doesn’t have to end the same way this time.”

Ewan shakes his head, his jaw tight. “The lore surrounding Lilith and Asmodeus is complicated. You’ve always been powerful, but your abilities don’t follow any rules. That’s what makes you so dangerous.” I flinch at the word, but he continues, his tone softening. “And that’s why the angels fear you. They can’t predict you.”

Before I can respond, I close my eyes and call out for him in my mind, focusing in a way I didn’t do before. Asmodeus.

His presence is immediate, a comforting warmth that wraps around me like a protective cloak even if he isn’t currently here. “Soon, love,” his voice purrs, rich and soothing. “We’ll be together soon. But I can’t come to you now—it will alert the angels.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?” I ask aloud, drawing confused looks from the others. “What’s the next step?”

“You must help the horsemen,” Asmodeus says, his voice reverberating through my mind. “Their powers are dormant, but you can amplify them. Together, you’ll crack open the portal.”

When his voice fades, I open my eyes to find the others watching me expectantly. “We have to awaken your powers. It’s the only way.”

“All right,” Ewan says. “Let’s figure this out.”

As we begin to brainstorm, I can’t help but feel the weight of what’s coming. The portal is calling, the cracks growing larger with each passing moment. And I’m at the center of it all, the key to a game that has only just begun.