Page 34 of Eternal Sacrifice
“Help! Lucifer is being murdered. We have to stop it!”I yelled into the minds of my mates while pushing against Justice.
He arrived in his body just in time to roll face-first off the bed and onto the floor. I may have pushed with more strength than was necessary. Justice scrambled to his feet, his demon mouth hanging ajar as he turned shocked eyes toward me.
“Lilith,” he breathed.
“Lilith?” I said, searching my mind for the few times I had seen the legendary demon.
“Lilith,” Justice echoed, his voice hardening.
“Lilith?” Jace asked, making his way into the bedroom first. The others arrived a few breaths later.
“Lilith has Lucifer chained in the pit. She’s doing a spell, and Lucifer needs our help,” Justice said when everyone was gathered. “We need to go,” he added after a moment passed, and everyone stood dazed.
I didn’t need more time to process and jumped off the bed before erupting into a shadow to get past the others. It was enough to get everyone else moving as we tore through the cabin door and headed for the nearest ring portal.
Returning to the palace from ring nine took less time than I thought possible. It was as if the realm was just as desperate for us to get to its King as we were. Our feet thundered against the stone as we ran down the dark hall lit in crimson. The doorway to the pit faded into view, still ajar.
My feet slammed against the floor one moment and dangled above it a breath later. Jax’s voice spoke inside my mind. “Wait.”
The others came to a stop, heaving as they caught their breath.
“We need a plan,”Jax whispered, even though he spoke in our minds.
“Lucifer doesn’t have time. We need to rush in and get him,”I replied, struggling against Jax’s invisible hold.
He can’t hold a shadow, though.
My body burst into wisps of darkness, and I billowed into the Pit.
Jax
“Fuck.”
Jace moved the instant Mor turned to shadow, mimicking her and heading straight into danger. I surged after them, knowing that Jasper and Justice would follow. We burst through the door, and I struggled to make sense of the scene in front of me.
Lucifer was positioned with his arms and legs spread wide, mirroring the shape of the frame that held him. Thick cuffs wrapped around his arms and legs, appearing to be made from cloth. But I didn’t know of any fabric strong enough to bind the devil himself.
Lilith stood mostly behind Lucifer, using him as a shield while she pressed a dagger to his neck. Her trembling hand had already caused the blade to slip several times, and beads of gold-flaked blood oozed over pale skin.
Mor stood directly in front of Lucifer, her back to the pit. Cold waves of terror filled my soul, making the scene play out in slow motion.
“This is none of your concern, Princess,” Lilith spoke with the same air of superiority that she did when speaking to any of the other demons. But there was a tremble to her tone despite her attempt to choke it down. “Take your pack and leave while you have the chance.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Mor answered, facing down one of the most powerful demons in Hell.
A deep laugh curled Lilith’s body inwards, expressing genuine shock.
“Oh, no, little one. I was giving you an order. Or stick around for thirty more seconds and see for yourself.” Her hand holding the knife raised above her head, and we all moved toward Lucifer, including Mor.
I watched in horror as Mor appeared in front of Lucifer. Her hand covered his chest as Lilith’s arm arched downward. The tip of the blade inched closer toward Lucifer’s heart, where Mor’s hand rested. I took in a deep breath and blinked.
When my eyes opened, I saw Lucifer with a blade in his chest to the hilt. I swung my gaze and found Mor across the room, cradled in Jace’s arms.
Lucifer coughed, and blood spit from his lips, dripping onto his chin. The gold flecks inside seemed lit from within and pulsed in time with a beating heart. Lilith came around from behind the frame, leaving the dagger in Lucifer’s chest. The moment she came into view, he smiled, revealing blood-soaked teeth.
“You had what you needed. You didn’thaveto kill me.” Lucifer laughed like his blood wasn’t betraying the slowing of his heart. Celestial bodies could heal from devastating injury as long as we were in a place like Hell. But, some magic could create lasting injuries even our bodies couldn’t repair.
I didn’t know what it would take to permanently kill Lucifer. I suspected that the blade in his chest, and the markings carved into it, were designed with precisely that in mind.
