Page 41 of Sinful Obsession

Michael takes a step closer, grinning down at me. “Today won’t be the end,” he says softly, almost like a promise. “You’re not ready, and neither is the portal. But don’t worry. We’ll stop you before it’s too late.”

The condescension in his tone lights a fire in me, and before I can think, I lash out. The air around me crackles as I summon every ounce of power I can feel, throwing it toward him in a desperate burst. It’s uncoordinated and chaotic, but it’s enough to make the walls tremble.

Michael doesn’t flinch. He raises a hand, deflecting the attack with ease. The energy dissipates, the angel watching me for several seconds before stepping forward and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“You’ll understand soon enough,” he says calmly. “But for now, you need to rest.”

I try to fight as his grip tightens, but it’s like my body is no longer mine to control. A wave of cold washes over me and darkness creeps in at the edges of my vision. The last thing I see is Michael’s face, serene and impassive, as the world fades away.

I wake up to a small room bare of any color, just like my own room but this place seems even less lively if that were possible.Solitary confinement.Of course.The air is stifling, heavy with the weight of silence, and my head throbs with the aftereffects of whatever Michael did.

I sit up slowly, my hands trembling as I press them against the cold floor. The mark on my chest burns faintly, a reminder of who I am—of who I’ve become. For a moment, I feel lost, trapped between Vienna and Lilith, between humanity and something far darker.

And then he’s there.

“Asmodeus,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

He steps out of the shadows, his form solidifying into the man I know so well. His golden eyes are warm, glowing softly as he crosses the room. He kneels before me, his hands gentle as they cup my face.

“My love,” he purrs, the warmth wrapping around me. “They can never keep me from you.”His arms wrap around me, strong and unyielding, and for a moment, the world feels less heavy.

“She’s disappearing,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “Vienna is slipping away.”

He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, his expression soft but resolute. “Ah, you must have helped Death with his gift. You were always selfless, love. However, you’ve always been Lilith, my queen, my chaos. Vienna was just a mask, just like all the others.”

“Asmodeus, we’re running out of time and I have absolutely no idea how to use my powers. It ebbs and flows with emotion but it’s not enough. I don’t know how to be Lilith but—”

“You don’t have to,” he says, his thumb brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “You already are.”

I close my eyes, his words sinking in. More memories come, filling my head and calming me further. Lifetimes of love and destruction, of finding and losing him over and over again. Eachmemory is a shard of glass, cutting deep but fitting into a mosaic I didn’t know existed.

I pull back, my hands gripping his shoulders as I meet his gaze. “How long do we have?” For the first time, I see something in his eyes that I never expected: tears. They glisten against the crimson glow, threatening to fall, and it breaks something in me.

“As long as the end takes,” he says softly, his voice thick with emotion. “We have until it all burns.”

The truth of his words are devastating, but I nod anyway, resolved to spend every last moment that I can by his side. “Then let’s make it count.”

A sweet smile spreads across his lips before he pulls me into a kiss. It’s not frantic or desperate—it’s slow and deliberate, a promise made in silence. His love wraps around me, grounding me even as the darkness inside me blooms, unfurling like a flower in the night.

By the time we pull apart, I feel different. Stronger. More certain.

“I’m ready,” I say, my voice steady.

He nods, his hand brushing against the mark on my chest. “Then let’s begin.” The general hum of his energy flows through me, empowering me, taking Vienna away and placing her to rest. It isn’t perfect but she didn’t suffer. She’ll be reborn into a peaceful life as I take her body and give my existence to the man I’ve loved across lifetimes.

He guides me to the floor and pulls me into his lap, both of us content to sit in this embrace as he feeds me his power. This time when I close my eyes, I feel loved and protected and I know that we’re moments away from fulfilling the purpose we were created for.

34 – Ewan

Waking up to an empty bed didn’t terrify me at first until I realized that Vienna—Lilith—wasn’t with the others either. We hurried to the cafeteria, hoping that she had found her way there before us but her absence feels like a kick to the gut.

Even as we assume our table toward the back, each of us ignoring the lifeless, gray food on our trays, we can’t help but wonder where she disappeared to her. The new signature of power from her is thick and strong but distant. It’s pulsing through me, powering the portal. I can only imagine that she probably followed the energy and one of the angels stopped her.

"She’s somewhere in the building," I say under my breath, my voice just loud enough for the others to hear. My hands are clenched into fists beneath the table, my plate untouched. “We just have to figure out where.”

“She’s locked up tight,” Vito whispers. “And Michael’s not stupid. He’ll have her somewhere close, where he can keep an eye on her.”

Nevan shifts in his seat, his sharp eyes scanning the room. “What do we do if they’re right?” he asks, his voice low but tinged with unease. “If Vienna’s body can’t handle it? She’s human.”

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