Ruthless (The Seraphim Series Book 2) (24 page)

Knowing Benedict wasn’t in the mood to talk, Lilliah let him go. She could ask her questions tomorrow.

The apartment they were staying in wasn’t much nicer than the one next door. It was old and everything in it was worn. Lilliah and Iris slept on the sofas while Rebecca and Sebastian took the bedroom.

“What do you think’s going to happen tomorrow?” Iris asked in the darkness.

Lilliah lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. “Get the Holy Grail I guess?” She twisted on her side, pulling the quilt up to her chin.

“We saw the Devil yesterday, Lilliah,” Iris said with awe and fear in her voice. “And he wasn’t red with horns.”

“I know. He looks human.” She wasn’t sure whether her words would scare Iris more or comfort her.

“I think that makes it better, because humans can be killed. So I think the Devil can be killed.” She snorted. “Weird logic, I know, but it makes it easier.”

Lilliah had no idea how true that was, but like Iris had said, in a weird way, it made coping easier.

Chapter 19

“It is way too early for this,” Sebastian rested his head on the wall and closed his still swollen eyes.

They were all standing in the living room, dressed and ready for orders. Lilliah had no idea what the plan was, or even where they were going.

Benedict came in and out of the apartment, talking on the phone, with the occasional word to Derek.

Lilliah and Rebecca were on the sofa, watching everyone work. The apartment was filled with armed men, as if they were preparing for war.

Rebecca tucked her legs under her. “Do you think they’ll let me shoot a gun?”

“Probably not.” Lilliah watched as a man entered the room, carrying a huge black gun.

“It’s an AK-37.” She hadn’t been aware that Caleb was in the room until he sat on the sofa opposite her.

“What?” Lilliah muttered, looking away from the terrifying hunk of black metal. Caleb looked fresh and clean, his brown hair damp and pushed away from his face.

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “The gun you were looking at. It’s called an AK-37.”

“Oh, that’s great.” Lilliah shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Not big on guns?”

“Not big on violence, actually.” She looked around the room, avoiding his piercing eyes. She felt as though he were assessing her, taking her answers and cross-examining them.

“That’s strange. From what I hear, you’re a fighter.” A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“I fight when I have to. I like training—that part’s fun. But hurting people, killing them …” She shuddered and shook her head.

Just as Caleb opened his mouth to speak, Derek walked into the room.

“Okay, people. We have the location. We will split up into two groups,” Derek shouted. More military-looking guys walked into the room, all carrying guns. “One group will go into the premises with Benedict and Caleb. The other will man the outside with me.”

Caleb scanned the room, running his palms on his thighs. “This really isn’t necessary. We’re not going to war. ”

Derek smiled at Caleb and put on his sunglasses. “I hope you’re right.”

As quickly as they’d entered, the room emptied, leaving Lilliah, Rebecca, Iris, and Sebastian alone with Caleb.

Benedict walked in, dressed all in black, looking as if he were ready for business. “Lilliah, Caleb, and Iris. You’re with me.”

“What about us?” Sebastian pushed off the wall.

“You’ll be outside with Derek.”

They all nodded and stood. Iris nervously twisted her hands together and moved next to Lilliah.

Caleb rubbed his shoulder. “This is way over the top, man. It’s just an ordinary house in London, not goddamn Buckingham Palace. She did me a favour and now I’m bringing a bloody army to her door.”

“The mission should be simple: get the Grail and leave. But we can’t be too sure. Let’s go.”

They followed Benedict out of the flats and onto the crowded streets. Blacked-out vans and cars had pulled up. Men were everywhere. It looked more like a scene from an action movie than real life.

“Well, I know what I want to be when I grow up.” Sebastian grinned and took Rebecca’s hand, pulling her towards a waiting car.

“Guess we’re in this one.” Caleb pushed past Lilliah and got in another blacked-out car. “Are you coming or not?”

Iris jumped and scurried over to the car. Lilliah took one big, deep breath and followed, praying no one would need to use their guns.

“This is it.” Caleb pointed out of his window. “Number three, over there.”

“Right. Derek’s men are getting into position.” Benedict looked back from the front seat. “You all need to stay with me. Caleb will talk to his friend and get the Grail. Iris, you will confirm it is the cup you saw in your vision.”

Everyone nodded.

“So why am I here?” Lilliah asked, sitting forward.

“Iris might have another vision. They come easier when you’re around,” Benedict said simply.

Iris took Lilliah’s hand in hers. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Her breathing picked up and she closed her eyes, resting her head back.

“Are you having a vision?” Benedict asked apprehensively, his eyes darting from Lilliah to Iris.

“No, I’m just scared.”

Lilliah squeezed her hand tightly. “No need to be. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Derek’s given me the signal. Let’s go.”

Benedict was out of the car and opening their door before Lilliah had time to think. He looked so at ease as they crossed the road that Lilliah couldn’t help but wonder whether he had some kind of military background. Or had he been born a badass?

Caleb walked ahead of them and pressed the buzzer next to the door.

“Hello?” a female voice rang out from the speaker.

“Hey, Jean. It’s me.” Caleb crossed his arms, nervously moving from one foot to the other.

The door buzzed and they all walked in.

“There really was no need for this GI Joe crap.” Caleb headed straight for the stairs. “She’ll give us the Grail and then you can leave me alone again.”

“We need to talk after this is over.” Benedict waited for Iris and Lilliah to walk through the door before he followed.

“What in the world do we need to talk about? We haven’t seen each other in years. Why change that habit?”

A woman met them at the top of the stairs. She was small, with short brown hair and a big smile.

“And here I thought I’d misheard you.” She reached up and hugged Caleb. “I’ve been trying to call you like crazy. Why did you leave Istanbul?”

He shot an annoyed look back at Benedict before turning back to Jean. “I need something from you.”

Jean glanced at Benedict, looking thoughtful for a moment, before turning back to Caleb. “Okay, come in.”

They followed her down a hall and into a large, bright, open-plan living room. Everything was white and clean. Jean, Caleb, and Benedict all headed towards the white sofas and chairs.

“Lilliah.” Iris grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. “I don’t feel too good.”

Lilliah turned, making sure the others, namely Jean, couldn’t see Iris’s face.

“Did you have a vision? What did you see?”

Iris’s eyes were watery and she had her hand on her throat. “No, not a vision. Just … I just don’t feel right.”

“Okay.” Lilliah took Iris’s hand and led her to the sitting area.

Jean watched them closely, her eyes slightly narrowed.

“So where’s the Grail?” Caleb asked, pulling Jean’s attention back to him.

“Why do you need it?” Jean asked sweetly, crossing her legs and leaning back.

“What?” Caleb stood. “I need it because it’s my responsibility. I gave it to you so you could keep it safe.”

“And it is safe. But before I give it to you, I need to know why you brought an angel here. And why is
he
here?” she spat, her head snapping in Benedict’s direction.

“Why does it matter? I just need the Grail. I trusted you with it and I need it back.” Caleb grabbed his head in his hands and started pacing.

“Fine.” Jean stood, sighing and headed for a door in the far corner of the room.

As soon as she was far enough away, Lilliah leaned closer to Benedict. “Iris doesn’t feel too good. She has a bad feeling about this.”

Everyone looked over to Iris. Sweat was dripping down her face, and her eyes were glazed over and unfocused.

Benedict moved to kneel in front of her. “Iris, look at me. Describe how you’re feeling.”

“It feels like I want to have a vision, like I should be having one, but something is stopping me.” She fanned her face with her hand, taking in long, deep breaths.

Benedict rubbed his hands up and down her arms soothingly while talking to Caleb. “What do you know about this woman? Who is she? What does she do?”

“She’s a witch, I know.” Caleb was still pacing the living room, hands fisted in his hair.

“We need to get the Grail and get out of here.” Benedict stood just as Jean walked back into the room with a black box in hand.

“Here you go.” She handed it to Caleb, who looked as if he wasn’t sure whether he should take the box or run away.

Benedict stepped forward. “This is the Grail?”

“No.” Jean lifted the lid, and thick, black smoke poured out.

Benedict fell to the ground first, then Caleb. Iris and Lilliah turned to run, but the smoke caught up with them before they could make it to the door. Lilliah fell to her knees, and Iris grabbed the wall, trying to stand.

“You didn’t expect me to just hand this over, did you?” 

Lilliah couldn’t see who Jean was talking to; she was too busy trying not to fall into the darkness the smoke was still drawing her into.

“So, you are the angel—the one Azrael fell in love with, hmm?”

All Lilliah could see were Jean’s shoes as she approached and knelt in front of her.

“Wha-what … do … you want,” Lilliah choked out, staring down at the floor.

The only other sound in the room came from Iris’s harsh intakes of breath.

She placed something on the floor. “He thought you would come to me looking for this.”

Lilliah managed to turn her head to see what it was—the Grail. It had to be. It looked just like Iris had described—small and wooden. It was so close, yet Lilliah couldn’t reach for it.

“Now that you’re here, I need to make a call.” Jean stood, leaving Lilliah on the floor.

She could hear Jean walking around somewhere behind her, her heels clacking against the wooden floor. “She’s here, and she brought some friends with her.”

Using all her strength, Lilliah managed to lift her head. Iris was sitting on the floor, with her back to the wall and her eyes closed. Her breathing wasn’t as harsh now.

“Iris,” Lilliah tried to shout, but it came out as a hoarse whisper. “Iris, please. Are you awake?”

“They are on their way over here. The Devil and your beloved boyfriend, Azrael.” Jean walked over to her and knelt back down and grabbed Lilliah’s head and arm, turning her over so she was on her back.

“Before they arrive, I need to take care of a few things. Namely, the spell that’s surrounding you. What is this? A shielding spell to hide you from the big, bad Devil?” Jean’s nails dug into Lilliah’s head.

Despite all the pain, she still couldn’t move. Her body felt as if it weighed too much, and was crushing her lungs. It was as if her body was no longer hers to use, it felt like she was a guest in her own body. Darkness was pulling her in. She knew as soon as she would let it, the pain would go away. As much as she wanted to, or as much as her body might have craved the relief she somehow knew the darkness promised, Lilliah couldn’t go there. If she gave in, Lucifer would win.

“You need to hold on tight. I’m just going to get this spell out of you.”

Jean started chanting softly and quietly. Lilliah couldn’t even make out the words.

“Oh, this is one tough spell.” Jean laughed, her grip tightening. “I’ll just have to try a little harder.”

She restarted the chant, this time louder. All Lilliah could do was lie there, helpless.

She could feel the spell leaving her body, its power slipping away. Lucifer would be able to find her again. Would he be able to find her mother as well? She couldn’t let that happen.

Lilliah closed her eyes and focused in on her power. She had no idea how to summon it, but if there was ever a time to use it, this was it.

Closing her eyes, Lilliah tried to draw it out. She could feel something building in her stomach, like pent-up energy that needed to be released. She needed to use it somehow. She never had to really think about the spell before. Her body normally took over and always knew what to do or how to protect her. But nothing was happening. Her body or power wasn’t protecting her anymore.

“There.” Jean sat back on her heels. “The spell is gone and you are …”

Jean fell on the floor with a thud. Lilliah couldn’t see what had happened; all she could hear was Iris screaming. A hand pulled her up until she was standing and staring into the eyes of a man—a man with a gun.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked, shaking her slightly.

Men filled the room. They helped Iris off the floor and then helped Benedict and Caleb, both dazed, to their feet.

“Sir, we need to leave the premises now.”

Lilliah didn’t know who he was talking to. Slowly, she looked down at Jean. Blood was spilling from her head. They’d shot her. Jean was dead.

“Lilliah! Lilliah, are you okay?” Rebecca was in front of her, her hands running up and down her body, checking for injuries. “You don’t seem hurt. What did that bitch do to you? What happened up here?”

Lilliah wanted to speak, to tell everyone about the spell, but she couldn’t. Nothing was coming out. Iris was crying behind her, and blood was pooling around Jean’s head.

“I couldn’t … I couldn’t do anything.” She placed her hand over her stomach. The pressure was gone. Why hadn’t her powers worked? Why couldn’t she have saved them?