Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“This is not what you’re going to want to hear,” Tabatha starts, and before she even says anything, she’s right. Unless it’s a battle plan, I don’t want to hear anything. “But there is nothing we can do at the moment. Lucifer seemed…worried. And if something can make the devil anxious, we need to take it seriously. Lucas did what he did so you could live. We both know that.”
I just nod, unable to speak without crying, and I hate that Tabatha is right.
Right now, I have no plan. No idea how to get to the Underworld. I don’t know if I can pull Lucas off the horse or if he can get off willingly.
And I don’t know how much of him is actually in there anymore.
“It’s late. You need rest. And then we’ll regroup in the morning.”
I nod again, looking down at Juliet, our miracle child. Becoming a mother was the absolutely last fucking thing I thought would happen. Even if Lucas was able to procreate like a human, I wouldn’t have planned for this anytime soon. But she’s here and it’s not fair for her to be born into a world that demons are trying to end.
“Her diaper bag is fully stocked and I grabbed you extra clothes,” Eliza tells me.
“Thanks.”
“The same room is set up for you,” Tabatha says. “Are you hungry, darling? I can bring you anything.”
“No, just, uh, maybe some water.”
“Of course.” She kisses the top of my head and goes to the door, motioning for Evander and Ruby to follow. I lean back, grabbing a pillow to put under my arm to help support Juliet.
“I think Julian was right,” Eliza says as soon as the door closes behind Tabatha.
“About what?”
“You’re stronger than Lucifer. You knocked him on his ass, Callie.”
“You saw that?”
“There are windows in the attic.”
“Right. Then you also saw…” I trail off, not able to even bring myself to say it because it sounds so ridiculous.
“Shiny black wings a giant raven would be jealous of?” Eliza’s blue eyes widen and if her face could pale, it would right now. “Yeah. I saw those.” She tips her head, looking me up and down. “They were…fitting for you.”
“I guess I take after my dad more than I thought.”
“I think so too, but your mother’s magic flows strong in your veins as well. Alone, each side of you is bloody powerful, but together, you are a force, Callie. A force strong enough to go to the Underworld and bring back my maker.”
“And then kill the Horsemen once and for all.”
Chapter
Three
I wake with a start, sitting up and gasping for breath. The fact that I actually fell asleep doesn’t surprise me. My body is exhausted and closing my eyes and forgetting about the world is a defense mechanism with my name written all over it.
I’m in the same room Lucas and I stayed in after he whisked me away here when Paimon attacked and killed Julian. This room is getting a bad vibe fast. Though this time, a little wooden bassinet has been added, and Juliet is sound asleep inside of it, granting me an hour and a half of sleep at least. Eliza is asleep in the armchair in the corner of the room, completely still and unmoving. Vampires look dead while they sleep, though Eliza would make a very pretty corpse.
Running my hands through my hair, I let my eyes fall shut. This is really happening. Lucas is trapped in the Underworld and I’m waking up alone. I could easily let this break me, to accept it for what it is.
But that’s not me, and I won’t give up on Lucas.
He’s still there, still himself, and still believing that we will be together again. Because we will. Reaching over, I touch the empty spot in the bed where Lucas should be and feel my sadness turn into anger. Why did he do that? We could have found another way!
It should have been me. I know I can withstand hellfire. I can flit between dimensions with no issues. Though…I have divinity in my blood and can’t be possessed. Maybe I wouldn’t have been able to become a Horseman.
“That’s it,” I whisper and silently swing my legs over the side of the bed. The horses are the true demons. They’re the source of power. The riders can be unseated, and I know I can do it. Once Lucas is off, once I’ve cut that connection, I can find a way to kill the demons. “How?” My eyes fall shut and I shake my head. I have no fucking idea. That was our plan all along, and deep down I know I couldn’t have taken them on alone. I need magical backup, and not from other witches.
I need help from other angels, and I’m fresh out of angelic relatives ready and able to fight with me.