Chapter 20 - Ticking

Cain:

Lucifer and I walk out of the library feeling more discouraged than we did before. According to the Breija, we spoke to, Hod’s Arrow should have worked. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much information because the tome’s writing was so limited.

I’m about to turn to Lucifer when a young female rushes up to him, crying hysterically.

Lucifer wraps his hands around the female’s forearms and holds her steady, “What’s wrong, Bree? Are you and the baby alright?”

The female, Bree, cries mournfully as she recounts something that just occurred, “Fallon is missing! We were going to find shelter at your fortress to get away from everything happening around the city when he just suddenly disappeared. What if something happened to him, Lucifer.”

Lucifer’s brow furrows, “Where was this? Did he say anything?”

Bree shakes her head, her long curls bouncing against her angelic façade, “No, and you know he wouldn’t leave me without a word.”

Just as Lucifer is going to ask another question, Ma’at’s husky female voice echoes in my head, “It’s time to end this, my pet. Come to me.”

Suspicion spreads through my mind. What are the odds that Ma’at is contacting me the very same moment Lilith’s son vanishes? I look at Lucifer, “I think I might know where he is.”

Lucifer arches a brow, and the female gives me a confused look, “Who are you?”

I keep my gaze on Lucifer, “The Divinity Pantheon goddess, Ma’at just mentally contacted me. She said it’s time to end this.”

Lucifer’s eyes widen, “What are the odds that she has Fallon and Lilith?”

I shrug, “Ma’at shouldn’t have been able to find Lilith while she was in my home.”

Lucifer shakes his head, “Where’s Lilith?”

The female tries to redirect Lucifer’s attention to her, but Lucifer pulls her back and calmly says, “Calm down, Bree. You’ll upset the baby. Now, I’m going to find him, but I need you to go and stay with your sister until I get back.”

Before she can retort, he waves his hand and sends her to what I assume is her sister’s home before he turns to me and says, “Lead the way.”

I wave my hand and flash us both to my house, but Lilith isn’t there. Lucifer follows me as I search the house, but there’s no sign of Lilith.

“Well, where is she?” he asks.

Once again, Ma’at’s voice sifts through my mind, “Do not make me wait, my pet. I’d hate for your lady love to worry about you.”

My nostrils flare, and my fists tighten with emotion. “Ma’at has her.”

Lucifer arches a brow. “Where is she?”

Teeth gritted, I flash us to Ma’at’s throne room. Though I suspected she had Lilith and Fallon, I am not prepared for what I find. Ma’at has Lilith and Fallon restrained inside of a coffin-sized cage.

Lucifer growls when he sees them, “I will kill you if you’ve hurt my son, you bitch!”

Rather than be offended, Ma’at leans back on her throne and snickers, “Lucifer… darling…it’s so lovely to see you.”

Lucifer snarls, “I wish I could say the same, Ma’at. What have you done to them?”

Ma’at ignores his question, her eyes honing in on mine. “They are both well.” She waves her hand, awakening Lilith and Fallon.

Lilith moves toward the bars and looks at all of us. Her face is pale, and her lips are set in a grim line. “Cain,” she whispers.

Fallon moves forward, his eyes focused on his fathers’, but he doesn’t say a word.

“You’ve been a naughty boy, pet,” Ma’at reprimands me.

Standing stiffly, I steadily reply, “Don’t hurt them, Ma’at. We just want to safely harness the power. I swear once we do, I’ll give it to you.”

Ma’at holds her palm up and scowls, “Don’t bother, Cain. I know about the arrow. Unfortunately for you, having the arrow makes little difference for Lilith’s fate. The power is quickly spreading, and we have little time.”

Lucifer stops beside me and asks, “If the arrow makes no difference, then why are you still holding on to Lilith and my son?”

Ma’at turns her cold eyes to him, “Because I need Lilith to sacrifice herself to the Tenebrous, and the only way she will do it is if I threaten to use her son in her stead.”

Fallon glowers in her direction, “She’s telling the truth, father.”

My heart thrums in my ear, and my breath whooshes out at Ma’at’s candid reply. “What? No, I can’t let you do that!” I call out desperately.

Ma’at snaps up from her throne and glowers down at me, “I suggest you rethink your tone, pet. You are not the one in charge here.”

I take a couple deep breaths and move my gaze to Lilith’s form. “Please, Ma’at, listen to me. All we have to do is find out how to use the arrow, and the Tenebrous will—”

“The arrow will only work if Lilith sacrifices herself. The whole purpose is for the arrow to fully harness the Tenebrous once the host has died. It’s to keep it from being passed to another host and to keep it locked because no other power can contain it. Do you understand what I’m saying? The arrow was not meant to be shot into the Tenebrous but to a willing host. Hod set it up as a form of redemption for what he did to his brother. Lilith has to willingly sacrifice herself.” She leans close and gazes into my eyes so that I may see the truth of her explanation.

At her clarification, agony strikes through me like a tidal wave. I feel like someone has torn my heart into pieces and stuffed it down my throat.

I look at Lilith, who gives me a sad nod, “It has to be this way, Cain.”

I shake my head heatedly and focus back on Ma’at, “Then take me instead,” I mumble dejectedly, “I’ll take the Tenebrous and sacrifice in her place. Please, don’t take her,” my voice breaks with my pain.

Ma’at leans back in her chair, her expression softening, “I can see that you truly care for her, Cain. But only the host or someone of her blood can take the Tenebrous power. It’s either her or her son. We have no other choice. We have to do this before the Tenebrous consumes the world. The more time we waste, the more the power destroys.”

Lucifer shakes his head, “There has to be another way.”

Ma’at shakes her head, “There isn’t. You know there isn’t, Lucifer.”

I meet Lilith’s resigned face and bite my tongue when she shakes her head and says, “There’s no other choice. I can feel it growing stronger as we speak.”

My world threatens to fall apart when Lilith's cell door opens, and Ma’at says, “I will give you a moment to say goodbye.”