58. Olivia

Olivia

M urmurs erupt all over the Inferno Room.

Ansel looks so…lonely on the dais.

I asked him to let me stand beside him, but he told me it’s something he has to do on his own. Bullshit! He’s not alone in this. He has blood-brothers. He has me!

I should have never agreed to this meeting or let Ansel expose himself like this in front of everyone. He did nothing wrong.

No one understands Ansel like I do.

He left his old life behind when he chose to save the one who was meant to be my Guardian. After we returned from Malta, I had several conversations with Ansel. He told me about Andy and how they became one. How he started falling in love with me even before we met. How everything was so confusing to him, how he had to fight his inner demons. Why he had to stay away from me even when he knew of his duty.

I had to make it clear once more that I never blamed him, Tyson, or Rueben for what happened to me. On the contrary, if I had been more mature and trusted Tyson or my grandparents more, things might have been different. But I’ll never know that, so dwelling on the past is a waste of time. I can only learn from my mistakes so I won’t repeat them.

Ansel traces the scar on his chest. When I first saw it, I thought that he had had heart surgery, but it is only now that I learn about Nephilims not having a heart. How awful. Ophyr took that part from them, not wanting the Nephilims to have any sort of feelings—the perfect soldiers.

No wonder Ansel is so good at keeping his emotions in check. He has had centuries or more of practice.

Several Lords stand. “If he’s a Nephilim, why was he allowed in here? Better yet, why isn’t he in the Catacombs?”

A chill runs down my spine. Ansel barely made it out alive from the Catacombs the first time he was there. The sound of his wings being ripped from his back still echoes in my ears.

My darkness rises, ready to protect Ansel from any harm. Ready to protect those I love from anyone who wants to harm them.

The Lord keeps talking. “He’s a danger to all of us!” one of them says.

He has no idea what danger means.

“I am no longer a Nephilim. I am a Lord. I still have the memories of my past life, although some are confusing, but I no longer have an immortal body or the ability to steal divine power from demons or angels,” Ansel explains. More murmurs rise in the air. “If you wonder about what I just revealed, let me tell you another thing: Nephilims fight dirty. They have no code, no honor, no shame. Their only purpose is to destroy everything God created.”

“Why?”

Why indeed. No matter how much I asked, Ansel couldn’t reveal much about Ophyr.

Ophyr made sure the Nephilims never knew the entire truth about the hate toward everything God created. They were only told that everything became evil and they turned their backs on their creator. It was a source of constant pain for God, whose heart was broken by his creation, who no longer believed in him. The Nephilims were the ones who would put an end to the corruption by destroying everything.

“Because Ophyr wants to restore everything to how it was in the beginning,” Ansel replies.

Mose snorts softly. “In the beginning, it was nothing but God. Why would the Nephilims want to restore everything to the original state? Unless Ansel is not telling the entire truth.”

Mose still doubts Ansel.

I glare at him. Despite him being a snitch, I kept my mouth shut about what he did, with the condition that he leave Ansel alone. Since he is not about to keep his end of the bargain, I might as well take matters into my own hands.

Mose won’t stop being spiteful toward Ansel, who did nothing to him until I teach him a lesson. I’ll kick him in the ass and even tie him with those ropes of his that he has promised to use on me then restrain him against a tree for however long it takes him to realize what an ass he is. Maybe I should let Juniper kick his balls a few times.

Rueben runs the tips of his fingers up and down my right thigh.

“In the beginning, you weren’t such an asshole,” I mutter. Mose’s chair is close to Rueben’s and I don’t doubt that he heard me even if he pretends otherwise.

Rueben’s hand pauses. “What did I do now?” he asks.

“I wasn’t referring to you,” I quickly reply. I keep my voice low, not wanting everyone to listen to what I say to my men.

“Oh? Then who were you thinking about while in my arms?” Rueben inquires.

When I don’t come up with a quick reply, I press my lips against Rueben’s. His kiss is almost desperate, pleading with me for more. I never thought I would end up loving Rueben so much. Not the way I do now.

All the fear I once had of Rueben has turned into love and happiness.

I once wanted him to kill me, but now I want to live with him and the others, with the family we all made together.

Even with Mose, who’s a mama’s boy. But I’ll cut the umbilical cord myself. No wonder Grandma Khloe used to say that a man will let go of his mom’s tit the day he starts sucking on his wife’s tit. Mose is like that.

“The only men on my mind are my bondeds,” I assure Rueben.

He seems happy with my reply, so I turn my attention back to Ansel. His wings are spread wide as he says, “Ophyr has destroyed too much. The time to end what Pandora started and to stop the Nephilims has finally come. I will share everything I know about how Nephilims can be killed.”

“How can we be sure you are telling us the truth?”

Ansel seems to have prepared for this question, replying quickly, “If my years of loyalty are not enough, nor all the missions I took part in, then my family will vouch for me.”

Eyes turn to us. I stand.

I’m not the only one. Rueben, Tyson, Jasper, and even Mose do the same.

It’s not only us who trust Ansel but his friends as well. Alekos and his blood-brothers, Rin, and many more show their support. It brings a smile to his face. It’s the first time since Malta that I’ve seen him relieved. It must be from seeing how many have his back.

It would be better if Jasper spoke, but maybe my words will weigh more. “I don’t blame any of you for doubting Ansel. Not in these difficult times. After all, it’s not every day that one of ours,” men speak among themselves, wondering what I mean by ‘ours’ when I’m a Duchess, but I don’t bother correcting them, “reveals that he used to have ties with one of our enemies.”

I don’t reveal that Ansel used to be the general of Ophyr’s army. If he hasn’t mentioned it, it is for a reason.

“It’s more than ties. He is one of them! How could a demon choose him as a vessel?”

“I don’t have a demon. I am one! Or used to be part demon since all Nephilims are made from demons and angels. This is why Nephilims are so strong.”

I have known Ansel didn’t have a demon since the day Jason almost killed him and Rueben. It took me a bit by surprise and I even said as much.

I didn’t expect that. That’s what I told him back then.

Knowing that there’s no way to convince everyone that Ansel is a Lord without proof, I go to the dais. The Elders glare at me, probably thinking I’ll put on another sex show for them, but don’t dare to try to stop me since they know it’s useless. My powers would tie them to their chairs in mere seconds.

When I stand next to Ansel, with the help of my darkness, I make a small cut in his palm and show everyone the blood dripping from his skin. “If he bleeds like us and for us, I say he’s one of us!”

“You were a pornai for the Dukes. Of course, you would side with Ansel after he took you in.”

My men glare at the man who said that, their gazes letting me know that they want to tear him apart.

“You seem to know so much about me, so you would also know my family sold me to Carlos when I was only sixteen. Ansel and his blood-brothers saved me. Gave me a home. A family. Saved my life. All that before they realized I’m a hellstar.” Most of the murmurs die when I say that. “I am Ansel’s bonded. He is my ride-or-die. All my men are. The bond between us lets me know he is sincere about everything. Yes, I might have been a pornai, but the hate I have for the Dukes makes me want to see them punished for everything they did. But we have a bigger problem on our hands now. Ophyr and the Nephilims. While I understand your doubt, we can’t punish Ansel for what he used to be. It’s all he knew. He was made into a killing machine.” I place my hand against the scar on his chest. His heart beats strongly under my palm. “He’s not like that anymore. He’s loyal not only to the Lords but to me as well. I want to stop Azael, Carlos, and everyone else who wants to destroy our world.”

“Hellstars must be protected, not allowed to put themselves in danger.”

I interlace my fingers with Ansel. “Men need to realize that a woman’s place is not in the Lair popping out kids or in the kitchen making sandwiches. Wasp and many other hellstars are doing the impossible to get ready for what’s to come. So am I. I faced a Nephilim. A real one. Even with my hellstar powers, he almost killed me and Ansel. Only Mose’s demon was able to defeat him.”

The attention turns to Mose. “In January, Olivia and I were taken to Azael’s facility. I won’t go into full detail about everything that went down, but I had to let my demon take over my body to save Olivia from being abused. The bond with her saved me and allowed my demon and I to have a sort of hybrid existence. As for what Olivia said about the Nephilim, it is true.” Looking at me, Mose says, “I also have to beg for her and my blood-brothers’ forgiveness because while Ansel had no ill intentions, I did. Especially after I found out what Ansel used to be. Scared that he was leaking information to the enemy, I contacted my parents. They are part of a cult that wants Armageddon to take place. They call themselves The Bringers of Doom.”

Before Mose can say anything else, Tyson snarls, “Tell me you didn’t put Olivia or Spencer in any danger. Because if what happened in Malta is because of you, I’ll make you eat your own liver.”

Tyson told me what Mose’s demon had to do to kill Asa. He must have been so sexy scary when he did that. No wonder I love him so much.

“I didn’t! I promise,” Mose tries to defend himself.

Knowing that Tyson won’t believe a word, I step in.

“Mose told me about what he did,” I reveal to my men that I kept this hidden from them all this time. “I kept quiet because I’m not a snitch like Mose, but I did check whether what he said was true or not. After asking my grandparents when Asa started snooping around and after checking Mose’s email and phone, I am sure that Mose is not at fault for the attack. But,” I add, “he did reveal important information about Ansel. I’m afraid that more attacks will follow unless we find where the cult hides and put an end to it.”

The Elders have been quiet until now. One of them says, “We’ll look into it.”

I nod, letting them know it will be for the best.

“We should send Maddox,” another Elder says. I should learn their names but they already look like they are half dead, so I don’t think it’s worth my time.

My eyes narrow to slits. “I thought you killed Maddox,” I comment to my men.

Rueben shrugs. “He learned how to breathe with a straw.”

“He’s still buried?” I ask.

A smug expression appears on Tyson’s face. “And risk him getting away? Nah, we put him in a cement block. We take him out once every few days, beat the shit out of him, give him food and water, treat his wounds, and then back to the cement with a straw in his mouth. Good thing he has a strong demon to keep him alive.”

They never told me the extent of what Maddox did but they are taking this to the extreme.

“And his blood-brothers?” I shouldn’t question them right now, but despite everything, I don’t think Maddox or his blood-brothers are bad people.

“They are working as servants for other Lords,” Jasper replies.

At least they are not dead or sharing the same fate as Maddox. “Maddox made mistakes, like any of us, but I’m sure he’s sorry.”

“Olivia, drop it,” Ansel says.

I know this is not about Maddox but about Ansel and the Nephilims, but I can’t stop myself. “Maddox took care of me when I was sick.”

My words anger Tyson, so he says, “Jasper took care of you, not Maddox! He drugged me, Rueben, and Ansel. He took advantage of us being drugged and made us do… things. When we brought you to the farm, he whispered into our ears, making us hate you even more. He spied on us! He kept Azael informed about you and many other things.”

I didn’t know things were so serious—no wonder they hate Maddox.

The Elders don’t look surprised at what Tyson revealed, making me think they already know.

“I never once hated Olivia!” Ansel reminds Tyson and Rueben.

Tyson looks taken aback for a moment before saying, “The drugs didn’t affect you because of what you were before?”

Ansel thinks for a few seconds before replying. “Could be. Nephilims spend a long time training with their weapon of choice, usually a sword made from metal found in meteorites. Those swords, along with removing their livers and heads, are the fastest ways to kill them. Weaknesses are not an option for Nephilims, so they make sure they don’t have any. I used to spend all my free time training, making sure I was the best. Drugs only numb my senses.”

No wonder Ansel was so strange while we were in the facility. He was the last one brought to me, but no matter how much I tried to speak to him, he just kept quiet. The only thing he did was sit on the floor, his back leaning against the door.

Someone suggests, “If the drugs numbed you, it could have the same effect on other Nephilims. We could use it to our advantage.”

“It didn’t cross my mind,” Ansel says.

“Is there a way to test this theory?”

“We would need a full-fledged Nephilim for that, and I don’t see any around,” I point out.

Ansel hesitates before saying, “The Nephilims that were once trapped inside the Dybbux box. If we find out what happened to them, we might be able to get our hands on some guinea pigs.”