Chapter 22

22

A dog. That's what I was. Collared and made to kneel by my master's side.

Not that I thought of Leviathan as my master even though he appeared determined to break me. At least he'd allowed me to bathe the blood from my skin and I now wore a simple gown of black to match him. Apparently, we'd made an appearance on television and people commented on my attire. It shouldn't have surprised me that folks fixated on what I wore as opposed to the whole fact the apocalypse had arrived. However, their criticism— Some dark lord he is. Can't even dress his people. Someone needs to give the guy in charge of those demons some fashion tips— bugged Leviathan. He'd ranted about the peons of Earth not recognizing his greatness.

Railed and yet seemed bound and determined to change the media narrative. So there I knelt, looking and smelling pretty, at odds with my insides that churned with misery. When the grand doors to the throne room opened, I wanted to both cheer and cry as Vance and Cain got magically dragged into Leviathan's presence. They'd come for me. I loved them for it, but I wished they'd stayed away because they'd walked right into a trap.

Leviathan had predicted the reapers would try and save me. " To them, you are the only hope. You're not," he'd stated with a smirk. " You don't have anywhere close to the skill or power to defeat me."

Or so Leviathan kept claiming, as if asserting it often enough would make it true. At times I wondered if he was trying to convince me or himself. After all, his father feared me with good reason. I'd engineered Moloch's demise.

That knowledge didn't help, though, when my lovers came to my rescue. While Leviathan sent the bulk of his army to begin the takeover of Earth, he kept many behind to warn him when my rescuers arrived.

Those brave, dumb, loveable idiots.

Seconds after Cain and Vance were forced to kneel before Leviathan's throne, more people arrived. A scowling Barron, a wide-eyed Mizuki—no surprise as she was always too brave for her own good—and an annoyed-looking Nova. It surprised me to see her. Angered me too. This situation could be directly laid at her feet. She'd caused this. If she'd not attacked me, not acted rashly, the doorway would have never opened and let Leviathan through.

I'd have never found out he was my father.

The thought still made me want to puke. So much for Fay's claim my parents were likely mundane. Had she known? Lied? Then again, could I blame her? I doubt I would have taken the news of my father being a demon prince who raped my mother too well. Just like I probably would have stopped talking to her the moment I found out she was Moloch's daughter.

So many lies had led to this moment. I could have wept seeing my only hope, the people I cared about, caught.

It didn't help that Leviathan chuckled. "Well, well, what do we have here? A fire witch, three reapers, and the Regina who freed me."

Nova ducked her head in shame, as she should.

Cain, though, glared. "Why not let me loose, fucker, and fight me, man to man."

"That would hardly be fair to you for I am not a mere man," Leviathan boasted.

"Just a coward," I muttered.

"What's that?" Leviathan turned to eye me sharply.

"You heard me, coward. You're scared of me. Why else tie me up like a dog?"

"I fear nothing," Leviathan boasted as he pushed up from his chair. In that moment, he sounded just like Moloch. Problem being, I didn't have a talisman to drag him into a portal. Even if I did, would I be able to make it work with this collar around my neck?

"If you're not frightened, then why the choker?" I tugged at the restricting metal banding my throat.

"To ensure you don't do anything foolish that would require punishment. You might say this is for your own good," Leviathan stated.

"Says every coward who can't handle a strong woman." Insults were the only weapon I had left. That and a faint hope that maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to save my friends and lovers.

"Do you really think you can best me?" Leviathan sounded incredulous.

"Yes." A big fat lie, but again, false confidence was all I had left.

"Very well, let's see what you can do." He reached for me, and I am not ashamed to admit I flinched.

Leviathan did something that undid the mechanism holding the collar closed. It fell into two pieces beside me. Magic returned and I could have sighed in relief.

I rose, body creaking from being on the floor without a chance to stretch. Leviathan towered over me, big, strong, even regal looking, unlike me. Some savior I'd turned out to be, but I was all they had, therefore I stood tall, chin up, holding in my quavering, looking my demon father in the eye.

"You are brave. How unfortunate you're stupid. You must get that from your mother." He stepped down from the platform to an open spot on the floor. "Shall we get this over with? Show me what you have." Leviathan beckoned with a smile.

To give myself time, I followed him to the floor, my fingers flexing as I prepared to cast magic. It simmered below the skin, ready for me to use, only I had no idea what to do. Leviathan's cockiness unnerved me.

I started simple and launched a fireball.

Leviathan held out his arms and let it hit him. The fire spattered and sparked, doing no harm.

That didn't bode well. Electricity zapped from me next.

It got absorbed with a bored sigh. "Is that really all you can do?"

I glared at Leviathan and imagined him being shoved.

He didn't even stagger.

"Definitely expected more." He tsked, shaking his head. "My turn to show you what real power looks like."

The fist that slammed me took my breath. Literally. I whooshed and then flew. A cry of pain escaped me as I hit a pillar then fell to the floor.

Ouch. I pushed to my hands and knees, panting and grimacing in pain.

"Are you done?" Leviathan asked.

"Never," I huffed.

Leviathan strode for me. "I see it's time for your first lesson in obedience, which will actually serve as one for your allies. I think they need to realize their messovenata isn't the prize they imagined. So let's get it over with. I have other things to do, you know, like enjoying my conquest of this world."

I struggled to stand but I managed. Even raised my hands in preparation for my next spell as if anything I did would make a difference.

Rather than aim another missile at him, I tried something a little trickier.

The pillar I yanked with magic fell and crushed Leviathan. He went down under the shattered stone, but my victory didn't last. The rubble stirred and he rose, unharmed and no longer smiling.

"Are you stupid? You know nothing of this world can kill me."

I knew but still did it because while he'd been buried, I'd moved closer to my friends. They were clustered, almost touching. Wide-eyed. Silent. Leviathan must have muted them.

Leviathan raised his hand and I had just enough time to invoke a shield before his blow hit. I grunted at the impact, closed my eyes, and strained to hold my measly barrier against his brutish push.

"You can't maintain that shield forever," he taunted.

No, I couldn't. I took a step back, giving way before his pushing strength. Back again. My left heel nudged Cain but I didn't dare look. I already knew what I had to do, and I couldn't afford to fuck up this chance.

I didn't so much drop my shield as put everything I had in it to create a light bright enough to blind. In that same moment, I turned and reached for the talisman around Cain's neck. His eyes widened as I grabbed it and tore it free while shoving a wish at my bound friends.

Together. Magic pulled them into a huddle that had them touching as I clasped my fingers around the amulet and opened a portal to the Continuum. I heard Leviathan shout in anger as the cold enveloped us.

The sudden lack of body and sight, and the fact I'd gotten away, didn't relieve me. I wanted to weep with frustration.

I can't beat him . It appalled me to realize for all my strength, and the belief of others in me, I wasn't enough. Humanity was doomed.

Fay murmured, I am glad to see you and your friends managed to escape.

Are they safe?

I've sent them to Topiia as you requested but they are upset. I've denied their requests to re-enter the portal to find you.

Good. They'd already done more than enough. The least I could do was keep them from a futile mission.

Shall I return you to the battle?

I sighed. What's the point? I can't beat Leviathan. He's too strong.

I don't know why you're surprised by this. After all, you were born of his seed.

Don't remind me. And then because she apparently knew, Why the fuck didn't you warn me?

Would it have helped?

I had a right to know.

Knowing would have preyed on you, therefore, I did what I thought best.

She had a point, but it still pissed me off. Rather than focus on my annoyance, I went back to something she'd said. How did you know he'd be stronger than me?

There was never any doubt. The children of demons, even princes, are rarely more powerful in their youth than their fathers.

I'd hardly call myself young, was my wry reply.

Decades versus his centuries. Add to that you are part human. In a battle of magic, he'll win.

Great pep talk. Glad to know I've been wasting my time and never stood a chance. Knowing that, want to dump me somewhere pretty before I die?

You would give up? Fay sounded surprised. Like, hello, had she not met me?

I tried going up against him and failed. You just stated I can't beat him in a fight. At this point, Earth is lost, but maybe by keeping out of his reach, places like Topiia can be kept safe. After all, he'd claimed he needed me to open doorways to those other worlds.

Even if you were to escape his reach, it would only be a temporary reprieve. After all, he made one messovenata, he only needs a witch with strong magic to make another.

Fuck me. It hadn't even occurred to me he could do that.

Perhaps rather than choosing to die, we should discuss our bargain. You owe me a body.

Was Fay seriously going to bug me about that? In case you failed to notice, I've been busy.

I'm aware, but you didn't let me finish. If you let me merge with you ? —

I cut her off with a fierce, No. Being possessed was still not high on my list.

What if I told you your power would increase tenfold?

If I could have blinked in that nothing space, I would have. Hold on, are you saying if you possess me, I could be strong enough to face Leviathan?

Yes. And it wouldn't be possessing. Our souls would intertwine to become one, combining our power.

Will I know everything you do? Have your memories? Your personality? I had so many questions, but little time and options.

I don't know. I've never done this before. From what I understand, though, the living body will retain its sense of self. It is I who might be lost.

And you're okay with that?

He must be stopped.

If you've never done it, then how do you know it will work?

I don't. But I can assure you if we do nothing, then Leviathan will win, countered Fay.

My initial impulse was to say no. No way would I become some puppet for a voice making claims I couldn't verify. But then I thought of Leviathan. How he'd casually evaded my best attack. Laughed at me. How if I did nothing, I condemned Earth and the billions of people living there.

And, as Fay stated, fleeing would only be delaying the inevitable. Die now, die later, or merge with the spirit of Moloch's daughter and maybe still manage to be a hero.

First though, Why didn't you tell me you were Moloch's daughter?

Would you have kept speaking to me if you knew?

No. I didn't lie.

I didn't ask to be born of his seed. Didn't ask to be used. Or abused. Or lied to. Like you, I wanted to live and love.

Are you evil?

I gave my life to save billions. You decide.

Ironic that the demon princess had martyred herself for a cause and I still hesitated. I didn't want to die. However, if I didn't do something about Leviathan, he would keep coming after me. After my friends. After everyone. Did I really have a choice?

Do it, I stated. Take my body.

Are you sure? I do not think this act can be undone.

It's a chance to live. A chance to save the world. A chance to further explore what I'd discovered with Cain and Vance.

Very well.

I'll admit I expected it to hurt. Instead, the infiltration of her spirit with mine felt like a warm hug. In that sightless and weightless place, I became bigger, fuller, just plain more.

It also came with memories. Not my own.