Chapter 23

The next morning,I awoke and stretched, refreshed if horny. I'd really mishandled the situation with Cain and Vance. I'd been greedy, and it cost me. I went from two potential lovers to none.

As I flopped out of bed, yawning and hearing joints pop, I wondered what we'd be doing today. Magic-wise, Mizuki didn't feel she could really teach me much, but we had chatted about how the different witches utilized their powers.

For example, not everyone scried the same. Mizuki used a metal bowl filled with oil lit on fire and then the word malvado to discern the location of demons. Devika did her search using water. I would have tried to see if I could detect some demons, but Nova advised against it. She worried it might somehow lead to them being able to track me back to our safe location. Safe being debatable at this point, given the attack. I'll admit to being surprised she'd not moved us yet. Nor had she called in any reinforcements. The reapers who'd died had been replaced with strangers—which miffed Mizuki, who'd hoped they'd assign Barron.

When I asked Mizuki about us staying put, she'd shrugged. "If Nova is keeping us here, then she must have a reason."It would be nice to know what that reason was because it made no sense to me.

I also remained in the dark about what our next move entailed. I'd not been invited to join in the discussion about the invasion of the castle—and, yes, I might be a bit salty about it. In their defense, I had no idea how to raid an evil demon's lair. Still, it would have been nice to have been included, to have some idea what they expected from me.

Then again, that might be hard to pinpoint, given my abilities remained rather new and unpredictable. Strong emotions seemed to bring the magic to the surface, making my gift less than reliable.

When I emerged from my room without a protector in sight, I had to wonder where they'd gone. Usually, one of the two lurked. I descended to the main floor to find everyone watching the television hung on the wall. And by everyone, I meant Cain, Vance, Mizuki, Nova, and Devika.

A red ticker flashing the word Live grabbed my attention, but it took me a second to grasp what I saw.

"Is that the Vatican?" I asked, moving closer.

"Yes. It appears Moloch's making a move," Nova grimly announced.

I ignored the female reporter talking, my gaze fixated on a figure standing on a balcony. He wore all white, his bald pate and wrinkled visage most likely making him the pope.

"What's happening?" I asked, perching on the armrest of the couch by Mizuki, who sat, leaning forward, mouth open in shock.

"No one's a hundred percent sure of the details, but preliminary reports suggest the Swiss Guard, the pope's personal protection team, have been slaughtered, seemingly by other guards. Also, the cardinals and bishops have been diving from balconies one by one," Nova reported in a flat voice. As if her announcement were a trigger, the camera panned to show past the Vatican gates. Puddles of blood extended from the prone figures strewn on the ground, wearing voluminous robes of purple and red.

"Yikes," I exclaimed. "What makes you think this is Moloch's doing?"

"Because, as they jumped, each one screamed, ‘All Hail, Moloch, the one true god'," Cain spat.

I gasped. "He possessed them?"

"Moloch's done something," was Nova's low reply. "Even the pope appears affected."

As if her words triggered an effect, the man on the balcony stretched out his arms. The reporter on the screen fell silent, as did the entire crowd watching. The camera zoomed in to show the pope with a weird grin on his face, his head cocked slightly to the left, and his eyes unfocused.

The pope spoke, and his voice emerged louder than expected considering the lack of megaphone. "People of Earth, it is long past time you had a true god to worship and not the fake one long celebrated by your churches. It is time to make way for a god who is not interested in your souls and has no commandments to follow. A god who is powerful, but not merciful. A god whom you will worship or face the consequences. The name of your true god is Moloch. The Dark Lord has returned, and he is eager to mete vengeance on the humans who once opposed him. Curry favor by preparing your virgins, upon whom he shall bestow his seed. Turn in thy non-believing neighbors that their blood might fill his chalice. As the Dark Lord's era on Earth begins, so does that of humanity's end. All hail Moloch, and death to the infidels that oppose him."

With that said, the pope climbed the rail and once more spread his arms before tipping over the edge of the balcony. There was shocked silence as he hit the paving stones below and didn't move.

Chaos erupted as the female reporter, visibly shaken, faced the camera to say, "The pope is dead." Then a pause before she whispered, "Hail, Moloch, the new god."

Well, that was a quick conversion. Then again, given what she'd just seen, I couldn't blame her. Fear could be a potent motivator. I would know. It controlled much of my life.

"This is bad," Nova exclaimed, rising from the chair. "If people start worshipping Moloch and offering their support, he'll soon have a sizeable army and we'll never be able to get close."

"Meaning we must strike now." Cain paced, his body tense.

"Agreed." Nova whirled to face him. "We must make haste before this virus that he's unleashed spreads."

"What virus?" I asked in confusion.

Mizuki leaned close to murmur, "That of worshipping a false god."

"You really think people will fall for his scare tactics?"

"People have been convinced with far less. Group hysteria and fear can be powerful motivators," Mizuki explained. "And Nova is right. If humanity sides with Moloch to save their skin, we won't stand a chance."

"So what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Nova eyed me. "I don't know if you're ready."

"You said it yourself. We don't have time to wait. I'm ready and willing. Let's stuff this motherfucker." I jumped from the couch armrest, ready to go to battle.

My enthusiasm didn't sway Nova. "Your magic isn't consistent."

"You worry about your power. I'll worry about mine." My tart reply, which pinched Nova's lips.

"I will worry about your ability because, if it fails, it will cost lives, especially if there are reapers depending on you."

"You think I'm going to choke?" My stomach clenched at the insult, even as I recognized it as a valid concern.

To my surprise, Vance jumped to my aid. "Sadie's right. We can't afford to wait. We have to strike before Moloch is reinforced."

"She's not ready," Nova insisted.

"Agreed, but she's the only messovenata we have, and we could use every advantage, even an unreliable one," Vance argued.

Okay, so not exactly a glowing recommendation, but I took it. "Worst case, Moloch tears my head off and uses it as a soccer ball. Best case, we kill or imprison him."

"I haven't yet fine-tuned a spell to do either of those things." Nova's lips turned down. "I'd hoped we'd have more time."

"But we don't," I pointed out. "And if we wait, he'll get stronger."

Nova went silent, pivoting to look out the window covered in clear plastic, the pane of glass not yet replaced. Her shoulders slumped, and she sighed. "We have to do this now, before Moloch attacks anyone else. Be ready to go within the hour." With that, she left us.

Mizuki clapped her hands as she bounced from the couch. "Time to get dressed to kill. My first battle. How exciting."

I felt nauseated but also kind of pumped. This time, I'd be a useful asset. I hoped…

As I headed upstairs to see what I had to wear that might be considered battle-worthy, Cain followed—right into my bedroom. He closed the door and leaned on it. "Nova is right. I don't know if you're ready for this."

I glanced at him over my shoulder. "The team needs their reaper witch."

"You lack training."

"More time isn't going to change that. There is no one to teach me."

"Nova—"

"Is busy. And besides, you saw what I managed to do on my own yesterday. I'm sure I'll figure it out as we go along."

"And if you don't?"

"Then I guess I die." A statement spoken with more nonchalance than I felt.

His jaw tightened. "Since when are you eager to put yourself in danger?"

"Since I realized I'm not weak. Not to mention, what's the use of having an uber power if I don't use it?"

"Can't use it if you're dead," he replied flatly.

"Thanks for your confidence."

"More like being realistic. You barely know how to use your magic. What if it freezes up on you?"

"What would you suggest then?"

"Stay here. Let us handle it."

I blinked at him. "You want to leave me behind? But I'm the reaper witch."

"You are, and if you die, and we fail, then the world is fucked. But if you live, even if we don't succeed, then there's a chance."

"What if not having me is what causes the mission to fall flat on its face?" I countered.

A pacing Cain growled as he raked fingers through his hair. "Fine, how about if I said I don't want you to go?"

"Because you think I'm a coward."

"No, because I don't want you to get hurt, idiot." He suddenly reached out and dragged me close. "While I want to fight how you make me feel, I'm failing miserably at it."

"Why, Grumpy, are you admitting you like me?" My lips curved.

"As if that weren't obvious."

"Actually, it isn't."

"Does this help?" He had to lift me to press his mouth to mine.

Tingles went through me at the touch. I craved more. My fingers dug into his shoulders, and I parted my lips so that he might kiss me deeper.

Our tongues touched and slid, a sensual addition to the kiss that left me breathless. I uttered a soft sound when he suddenly dropped me onto the bed.

I might have protested the kiss ending, only he wasn't done. His hands worked my pants down my legs, leaving me in only my underpants, and then he stripped those, too, baring me from the waist down. His big hand cupped my pussy, and I squirmed against it, feeling the moisture pooling, my arousal already at a fever pitch.

He knelt between my legs, and I could only watch as he lowered his head and blew hotly against my flesh. I trembled with need, and when he got close enough to nuzzle my mound, I grabbed hold of his hair, a sign I didn't want him to stop.

A slow, long swipe of his tongue had me shuddering and uttering a soft moan. He licked me again, parting my nether lips, delving his tongue into the core of me. He jabbed it in and out, mimicking a dick. Tease.

His tongue began a rapid flick of my clit, lapping back and forth, sensitizing my button, making me lose my grip on his hair that I might dig my nails into the blanket. I writhed as his tongue stroked me. Almost screamed when his lips latched onto my clit for a tug.

Pleasure built within me. If he didn't stop, I'd be coming embarrassingly quick.

So I made a demand. "Fuck me." I wanted him to feel me climaxing.

"Not yet." He kept nuzzling me and teasing but also added fingers to the equation. He penetrated with a single digit to start, and I clenched it as he lapped my clit. When he added a second and curved those fingers enough to stroke my G-spot, my hips came off the bed. A heavy arm pinned me back down as he worked me, flicking my nub, finger fucking me, dragging me to the edge.

I stuffed a fist in my mouth as I came, wanting to scream but still aware we were in a house with people.

I couldn't stop the orgasm that shook me, though. My body trembled and rocked with pleasure. And it kept going because he didn't stop. Orgasm number one peaked, but my desire wasn't done yet.

As he kept playing with me, I quickly hit a second climax.

Then a third.

A rolling wave of orgasms that left me limp after four.

Fucking four!

I'd never thought that was even possible. Not for me at least.

I lay there heavy-lidded and expected him to take his turn. He'd earned it, but instead, he pulled me to a seated position to give me a kiss, where I tasted myself on his lips.

I murmured, "Wow."

"That was just a taste. If we can survive today, there will be more of that."

"Promise?" I offered him a crooked grin.

He winked. "We are far from done, reaper witch."

"So you're suddenly okay with me going?"

"No. But at least now you have a reason to not be stupid and get killed."

I grinned stupidly. "I can't wait for round two."

"Get cleaned up. I'll go downstairs and get my gear ready."

He left, and I snuck across to the bathroom to wipe the smell of pussy from me. I wouldn't want Vance to know while, at the same time wondering, did this mean I'd chosen Cain?

Technically, Cain chose me, and I was okay with it.

Until I saw Vance.