Page 69 of Princess of Hell

It hurt me, deep into my fiber. The scream was so loud it shook me to the core. Blood dripped from my nose and landed on my boots. It wasn’t me screaming. Suddenly, time lost meaning and I lost sense of where I was. Preach appeared in front of me. A pair of silver wings tipped with blood appeared on his back. Enormous bird wings, covered in feathers, each drenched in blood. His body floated in the air, his back broken and in an awkward position. His wonderful mouth deformed into a mute call.

A pair of red, glowing eyes shone in the darkness.

Fear that grew bigger and bigger welled up in my chest, making it impossible to breathe.

“No, I’m not your mother,” said Preach with a voice I didn’t recognize. “But you gave yourself away. I now know where you are, and I’m going to get you. You are mine, Silver. Mine!”

I bit my fear away. I was sick of men making claims and telling me I was theirs.

“You know something, fuck you and your mystery! Who the fuck are you, and what the fuck do you want from me?”

A deep, rumbling laugh filled the darkness. “It’ll be entertaining to squeeze the life force out of you. If you want your Soul Mirror back, come and find me. I’ll wait for you in the Bayou. Bring courage with you!”

Preach still cried and screamed in silence when a huge force pushed me away and out of the dream.

When I woke up, Caspian was holding me. A wet cloth lay on my forehead.

“Are you well, love?” Caspian had so much worry in his eyes.

I gasped for air. It felt like a huge weight was on my chest.

“Preach, Preach!”

Lilith stood in front of me. “The guys are with him. He’s calm now.”

“What happened to him?” I knew what happened. The red-eyed beast took him, or at least a part of him, and what was left here was only a broken shell.

Lilith pulled over a chair. She held a small, dark green cup of tea in her hand.

“I talked to Preach before the ceremony. He knew this was a risk.”

“Lilith, need answers. You know things. You know stuff about Dad. Talk to me. Help me solve this puzzle!”

Lilith took a sip from her tea. “Caspian, would you leave me alone with Silver for a few minutes.”

Caspian kissed my cheek. “Do you mind if I go? I can always stay. if you like.”

“Caspian, it’s Lilith. I’ll be fine.”

Caspian left and closed the door behind him.

“You know I have a rather special status, with me being the first woman and all. Some of Luce’s spells don’t work as well on me, but don’t tell him. I just remember that he and your Mother had to hide you. Your Father was scared. Can you imagine him scared of anything or anyone? Ever?”

“You remember her? My Mother?”

“No, only bits and pieces. I can’t remember if she died or not. I’m sorry. And about Preach, I told him there was a danger for him of not being able to return from the place I sent you.”

“Lilith, it’s not that. A horrible beast appeared to me. I could smell Mother, but the beast called me into the Bayou. He’ll keep and torment Preach until I get him. I don’t know what or who that was, but it was powerful. It was stronger than Dad.”

Lilith bit her lip and her eyes turned demon black. “There were forces on this Earth even before your Father. Don’t you think that the upstairs department had enemies before Luce? They did. Silver, I want to ask you something for me. Allow me to tell Luce that you’re with me. He called yesterday, and I hate to lie to him.”

“Lilith, I have to see Preach, then I need to go to the Bayou. Whatever it is waiting for me, I’ll face it. Even if it gets me, Preach needs to be set free. Will you look after him while I’m gone? Please, Lilith?”

I stood and walked out of the room. Jacks waited outside, his eyes closed, leaning against the wall.

“Sorry, Silver, I heard. Shifter hearing.”

“How’s Preach?”

---