Chapter 23

23

The day had come to deal with my greatest enemy. The desert Ethan had us portal to didn't appeal to me. It reminded me too much of my old home. Hot, barren, and lifeless. Very much like my existence before I escaped my father. A father who even now, centuries since I'd fled, still sought to get his hands on me.

Ethan had confirmed Moloch was aware I'd chosen Earth as my base but hesitated to confront me. He feared me and yet I knew I couldn't beat him in a face-to-face battle because it wouldn't just involve magic but actual fighting. Having a chalum sword would do me little good. For one, I lacked the skill to wield the blade against one as experienced as Moloch. And two, I was just plain smaller, weaker. Unless Moloch stood still for me, I'd never get in a killing stroke.

Even Ethan, who'd been training since birth, would be hard-pressed to succeed. Hence why we'd come up with an alternative plan.

I glanced at Ethan by my side, the one person who'd been brave enough to steal visits with me when I'd been locked away. The one who'd helped me escape. Despite hopping a few worlds he'd managed to find me. Loved me. While I knew by Earth morals many would have condemned the relationship I had with Ethan, on Inferis, we had no taboos when it came to sex because unlike humans, we had no health issues with inbreeding. On the contrary, familial bonds made for stronger bloodlines. Add to that, Ethan and I had a connection. He understood me more than my first lover, Grigori, ever had, for we'd grown up in the same environment. Abused by the same father. Forced to live a life of subjugation. Wanting freedom from it all.

I smiled at Ethan, and he winked as he gave me that cocky grin I loved so much. Soon, I would no longer be hunted, and we wouldn't have to live in fear. But for the next few moments, I would have to pretend.

The air shimmered as a portal opened. The dais my father had built in this desert linked to the one on Inferis. He'd used my blood to activate them. There were half a dozen scattered around the planet, all of them giving easy access to this world that used to have no defense against the drones and other monsters that spewed forth.

That was until I formed a resistance.

Moloch appeared, looking as fearsome as always. He'd not come alone. At his back was a wizard and a handful of drones.

Despite our plan, I didn't bow my head. I couldn't pretend subservience, not anymore. Besides, Moloch would assume me tamed. After all, the collar around my neck should have restricted my power. It would have, if it were made of chalum instead of plain steel.

"You found my wayward daughter. Excellent work," Moloch boomed upon seeing Leviathan.

"My Lord." My lover bowed his head.

"I don't see why you insisted on meeting here," Moloch stated. "Why not bring her back to the fortress?"

"Given how tricky my sister has been, and her affinity for travel, I thought it best to put her into your care immediately, hence why I asked you to meet me here." Leviathan kept his tone placating.

A good thing he was the one speaking, because I doubted I could have been so polite.

"Now that she's back in my possession, we will need to expand this landing dais if we're to bring over my legions more than a few at a time," Moloch declared.

"Of course, my lord. I will hire workers to start at once."

"Excellent. You are not as big of a disappointment as usual." High praise coming from Moloch, who usually berated his children.

"Here. Take the girl." Ethan gave me a shove. "Best get her locked up before she tries to flee."

"She won't escape again. I've made sure of that," Moloch stated with a sadistic grin.

I walked slowly toward him, going over in my mind what I had to do. What I'd practiced with Leviathan. He'd been helping me to fine-tune my magic. To explore the limits of it.

Before I'd even reached the dais, Moloch reached for me, but to his surprise, I clasped his hand first. I looked into his eyes and felt a deep satisfaction as I said, "This is for the torture you put me through. Good-bye."

With that said, I called on my portal power, an innate magic that didn't need an active dais or even a talisman. Holding tight to Moloch, I took us into the cold space, a way station to other worlds. So many to choose from, but the one I shoved my father into had no kindness. No escape. No wild portals. No active dais for portalling out.

Only my magic could free Moloch from this prison, but to be sure, I placed a lock on the exit. Sealed it with a tiny piece of my spirit before emerging back into the bright desert sunshine.

Leviathan stood alone, the bodies of my father's servants on the ground, already fading in the sunlight.

He smiled at me. "You did it."

I couldn't help but beam. "We did it." I threw myself in his arms for a hug.

In that moment, I was so happy.

It didn't last.

The memories sifted by quickly, of Levithan's return to Inferis, his declaration that Moloch was gone. The chaos that followed as the princes scrapped for supremacy. And then the defining moment…

The loss of the Inferis king meant Leviathan often had to be gone as he tried to negotiate peace with his brothers. His frequent absence meant I was alone to wander his castle. Free but missing the lush fertility of Earth. Leviathan kept promising we'd return. I hoped we would. I'd spent the past few centuries building bonds with the people. Creating a force to fight the demons that kept slipping in through not only the wild doorways that formed between the worlds, but the ones my father made me build.

During my time on Earth, I'd discovered mixed bloods, males of demon descent who could see past the drone mist. Men willing to fight, and so I taught them everything I knew and helped them establish a brotherhood whose sole purpose was to protect. They called themselves FraternitasMessorum: the fraternity of the reapers.

They weren't the only group I established.

The daughter I'd had with my first lover, Grigori, and given away, went on to have children of her own. Three daughters, all blessed with a magical gift. And those women went on to have children as well, who also carried the seed of my power. As they became noticed, the humans—a superstitious lot—called them witches. And as if needing to keep safe from their own people wasn't enough, their magic also attracted demons. I put them in the care of the reapers for protection and taught them how to work together to combat the demons that kept invading.

To my embarrassment—but also secret delight—they took to calling me messovenata, a fancy name for someone who was both reaper and witch. I allowed it because I knew humans needed someone to look up to. I was their leader. Their teacher. Their shining beacon that allowed them to get ahead of the demons and actually protect communities.

After all that work, I'd abandoned them to be with Leviathan. It didn't sit well, but Leviathan assured me it would only be temporary.

On one of his long sojourns, I decided it was past time I checked on my guild. It never occurred to me to ask permission. Leviathan had told me I could do as I pleased.

I first visited my cave in the mountains. The dais I'd created in the main room linked to one in Inferis that Leviathan might easily visit me when we became lovers. From there, I spent a few days visiting with my people. Lauding their achievements. Feeling pride in what I'd built.

When I decided I'd been gone long enough, I returned to my cave, ready to rejoin Leviathan in Inferis. I entered to find him pacing and angry.

"Where have you been?" he spat.

I frowned for I'd never had him speak to me so harshly before. "I visited with the reapers and witches. How was your trip?"

"Do not change the subject," he barked, coming close enough to grip me by the arm. "You left."

"And returned."

"I didn't give you permission to go in the first place," he snapped.

I tore my arm from his grip and found my own temper rising. "I wasn't aware you wanted me to be a prisoner."

At my terse reply, his expression shifted as if he changed a mask. It went from angry to congenial. "I'm sorry. I was just so worried when I returned to find you gone and no one knew where to find you. I thought the worst had happened."

His apology did much to soothe, and I moved close enough to put my hand on his chest. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"Don't ever leave me again." His arms tightened around me. "Let's go home."

Home? Soon I would have to admit to him that I hated Inferis. Hated everything about it.

We returned to his castle, a grand name for the rough stone edifice. He insisted it was only temporary as he tried to muster enough support to take over Moloch's fortress. Never mind the fact I never wanted to live in the place of my former prison.

The portal brought us straight to his bedchamber and the dais within, the carpet he used to hide it shoved aside. I took a step from him and stared at the room which was in utter shambles. He truly had panicked upon thinking I'd been taken.

As he strode from me, I babbled, "You didn't mention how your trip went. Did you convince Magoth—" one of the brother's I'd never met— "to support your claim to the throne?"

"No." A flat reply. "They seem to think because I am youngest that I should step aside entirely."

He opened a cabinet where he kept his clothing, and I heard a jangle. Not the soft metallic ting of jewelry that he liked to drape around my neck. He turned and I saw a collar in his hand with a chain dangling from it.

"What's that for?" I asked, feeling my heart stutter for I recognized it. I'd worn it every time my father decided to parade me out in public to flaunt the fact that he and he alone had managed to make a female demon.

"You will wear this from now on unless I give you permission otherwise."

"No." I shook my head. "It cuts me off from my magic."

"Exactly. You're much too valuable to be wandering off. I can't have one of my brothers snatching you from under me."

"Excuse me?" I blinked at him.

"Enough with the questions. Come here," he ordered and pointed to a spot in front of him.

This couldn't be happening. I shook my head. "No, I won't be collared again."

"I said come here." His magic pulsed at me, trying to bind me, but I managed to push back.

"I said no." Then burst out with, "I thought you loved me. Why are you acting like this?"

"Love you?" He laughed, a harsh and cruel sound. "You are but a tool. And a stupid one at that. All it took were a few kind words and you did everything I asked. Got rid of my biggest threat, and now it's time for me to fulfill my destiny."

"Not with me, you aren't."

When I would have called on my magic to portal, he dove at me, the metal from the collar touching my skin, jarring my contact with my power.

His hands went around my neck, and he squeezed as he brought his face close to mine to hiss, "I'm glad I no longer have to play the weakling, or abide by your pitiful attempts to please me in bed. It was all I could do make myself hard."

Cruel words that cut deep.

"The first thing I shall have to do is disband your little guilds. Can't have those reapers warning the humans I'm coming. Although, I might keep the witches for breeding. Perhaps you're not that unique."

He must have seen the horror in my eyes for I couldn't speak without breath.

His cruel smile came with his whispered promise. "You will wear the collar and do as you're told. Unlike Moloch, I won't make any mistakes. You won't ever escape."

I believed him. I'd only ever gotten away from my father because Leviathan supported me. The thought of going back to that life, a prisoner to be tortured, was too much to bear.

His hands eased up on my throat but only so he could grip the collar, readying to place it around my neck.

I couldn't allow it. I threw a burst of magic at him, enough to shove him away, but I didn't count on his reaction. He swung the collar and hit me on the head. Stunned, I couldn't do much but taste the blood in my mouth. Pain roared in as he hit me again and again, the wounds not healing because chalum could hurt even someone with my blood. It could maim. Kill...

Maybe that would be best. Without a body, I couldn't be used. With that thought in mind, I feigned unconsciousness.

Ethan knelt beside me, muttering, "Defy me, will you."

As he leaned to place the collar around my neck, I reached for the dagger he kept by his side. A dagger made with the deadly metal.

He recoiled, thinking I would attack, but instead, without hesitation, I slashed my throat.

I could hear the panic in his voice as he screamed, "No, you can't die!"

And in that moment, I thought, No, death would be too kind to the one who betrayed me. As my life leaked from my body, I did one final thing. I called on my magic and entered the cold place between worlds just as I died.

I left my body behind but saved my soul.

A soul that could still think.

Feel.

Act.

I locked the portals I'd been forced to create, protecting the world I'd come to love. In so doing, I cut myself off and floated in nothingness. No one to speak to. Nothing to do but guide those with my talisman. And slowly I forgot myself…

I snapped out of the Continuum and landed on my knees on soft grass.

"Sadie!"

I couldn't have said who grabbed me, only that the arms were strong and familiar even as I didn't feel entirely like myself. I remained all too aware of Fay, remembered all that she'd endured, what she'd sacrificed. At the same time, even with all those memories and new emotions, I remained me.

"Fuck me, you had us scared," Cain murmured, stroking my hair.

"Hand her over. My turn." I was passed to Vance who squeezed me just as tight.

It felt so good to be loved.

So good to be wanted.

However, Leviathan would never allow us to have peace. I knew what I had to do. Not that I told them.

I pasted on a fake smile and said, "Where's Clover?"

Cain replied that they'd left my dog safe in my cave with Isadora. At least I knew he'd be taken care of.

Next, I took care of my grim-faced reapers. Despite their questions, we left the group on the pretext of bathing. We did splash in the water, but we also fucked in it. I wanted to feel them inside me one last time. Wanted to feel that pleasure, exquisite and perfect.

We eventually returned to the group, not saying much. I'm sure they recognized something amiss in me. Or did they? I answered when spoken to, told everyone of my experience with Leviathan. His plan to conquer Earth.

When they asked to return, though, I shook my head. "Mind if I have a nap first? I'm so tired."

Not true. I'd never felt so energized, but I faked fatigue so well that no one argued when I lay down to sleep. The boys played Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who would get first watch and who would get to snuggle me. A glowering Cain had to stand guard.

Vance spooned me, saying nothing, showing me his love by just being there.

He was the first to be put into a deep sleep. When I stirred and rose, Cain muttered, "You're not tired at all, are you?"

I gave him a sad smile. "What gave it away?"

"The fact you look like you're going to your funeral."

"Because I might be."

Before he could say anything, because I knew he would, I magicked Cain and left him lying alongside Vance.

Mizuki was already napping, snuggled in Barron's arms so she was easy to handle. But Nova…

She cocked her head at me as she repelled my attempt to put her under. "You're going back to face him, aren't you?"

"I am."

"You're not just Sadie anymore, are you?"

My lips held a ghost of a smile as I replied, "I am who I was meant to be." The hero the world needed.

"I am sorry for what I did." She truly did sound apologetic. "I'll understand if you want revenge." Nova clasped her hands and bowed her head.

"Your heart was in the right place. But your methods…" I grimaced.

"I wish I could go back in time and undo what I did."

"No point. I was always going to have to face Leviathan."

"How can I help?" she asked. "Do you want me to create a distraction so you can take him out?"

"What I need is for you to take care of everyone. I know what has to be done."

It involved me first heading to Inferis to the cell I could picture so easily in my memories. A cell I'd never been in myself but remembered because of Fay. The tower where she'd spent the early years of her life. Only this time, I walked out of it without Leviathan's help, the door blasting into chunks at the wave of my hand.

Demons came scurrying at the noise and grunted at the sight of me, eager to taste the magic they could feel brimming from my skin.

They died hungry.

I killed everything that got in my way as I headed for the armory that I'd never seen but knew of. The demon wizards guarding its door flung a vile ball of acid in my direction. I turned it into butterflies and smiled at their surprise before I exploded them.

The power in me was off the charts. No wonder Leviathan laughed at me before. Would he still find me amusing when we met again?

The armory door lock couldn't stand against me. After all, demon blood ran in my veins, but even stronger, my dual soul.

I marched in and took stock of the weapons. Not as many as you'd expect, but then again, demons usually relied on their claws and teeth. It was the king and the princes who needed weapons against each other.

The sword I chose fit as if made for my grip. Light and deadly. The chalum in it rendered the surface dull, without reflection, but I could feel it despite the grip bound in leather to stop skin-to-skin contact.

Armed and angry—and determined—I went back to Earth to face Leviathan.