Chapter 2 Courtship Begins
The maids arrived like a plague.
One moment, Lilith and Sera were alone. The next, the door flew open and seven figures came in, beautiful women with eyes that reflected no light, moving in eerie synchronization.
Lilith scrambled backwards on the bed. “What—”
“The presentation begins in one hour, Your Highness.” The lead maid’s voice echoed strangely. “You must be prepared.”
“I don’t want to be prepared.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
The maids descended before she could protest. Hands pulled her from the bed, stripped the nightgown from her body. Sera lunged forward, but two maids caught her arms.
“Don’t touch her!” Lilith shouted, and the room cracked. Fissures of golden light split the marble floor.
Every maid froze.
The lead one smiled slowly. “Ah. So the rumors are true. The Seraph has teeth.” She released Sera with a graceful gesture. “Forgive us. We forget that the mortal-raised need gentler handling.”
“Don’t call me mortal-raised like it’s an insult,” Lilith hissed, wrapping her arms around herself. “And don’t touch my friend again.”
“As you wish.” The maid gestured, and suddenly seven magnificent gowns covered the bed.
One dress was made of moving shadows. Another seemed woven from literal flames. A third was covered in jewels that whispered.
Each gown clearly designed to mark her as belonging to one of them.
“No,” Lilith said flatly. “I’m not wearing any of those.”
“The princes sent them specifically.”
“I don’t care.” Lilith’s voice hardened. “I don’t belong to any of them. Find me something else. Something neutral.”
The maids exchanged glances. Then the leader nodded slowly. “Interesting choice, Your Highness.” She clapped her hands, and two maids disappeared, returning with a gown that made the air hold its breath.
It was the color of starlight drowning in silver and indigo and something that hurt to look at directly. The fabric moved like liquid night.
“They made this for the Vestibulum itself,” the maid explained. “For no kingdom. For no prince.”
“Perfect,” Sera said firmly. “She’ll wear that.”
What followed was a transformation that felt more like a ritual. The maids washed Lilith’s skin with water that smelled of lightning and roses, brushed her hair until it shone, wove tiny diamonds into golden waves that tumbled over her shoulders.
When they finally allowed her to see herself in the mirror, Lilith barely recognized the creature staring back. Her green eyes seemed to glow against the dress’s darkness.
She looked divine.
“Holy hell,” Sera breathed.
“Now the companion,” the lead maid said, turning to Sera.
“She’s not a companion,” Lilith snapped. “She’s my lady-in-waiting. Dress her like royalty or don’t dress her at all.”
The maids hesitated only a moment before descending on Sera. They chose deep emerald green that turned Sera’s brown skin to burnished gold.
“Beautiful,” the lead maid purred. “The princes will go to war over you tonight.”
A knock shattered the moment. Heavy, final.
“It’s time.” Malachi’s voice carried the weight of executioner’s bells.
Lilith grabbed Sera’s hand. Her friend’s fingers were ice-cold.
“We can do this,” Lilith whispered.
“We don’t have a choice,” Sera whispered back.
Malachi stood in the corridor like a reaper in gentleman’s clothing. His silver eyes swept over them both. “You look the part,” he said. “Now you must play it.” He began walking. “Stay close—the palace shifts. Things that get lost in the Vestibulum don’t always find their way back.”
The corridors were nightmare geometry. Stairs spiraled in the wrong direction. Hallways stretched into infinity. And everyone’s eyes were on them.. Servants, guards, creatures Lilith couldn’t name. All of them stopped to stare.
“Ignore them,” Malachi said. “You’re the most valuable thing in the seven realms right now. Everyone wants a piece of you.”
Finally, they reached doors that made Lilith’s breath stop.
Massive. Easily thirty feet tall. Carved from black wood that pulsed like a living heart. Symbols covered every inch, writhing when she tried to focus.
“The Devil’s throne room,” Malachi said quietly. “What waits beyond is ancient. Powerful. Dying, yes, but still more dangerous than anything you’ve faced.” He turned to look at her directly. “Show no fear. Answer honestly. And whatever you do, do not lie. He’ll smell it on you.”
The doors began to open.
Not with a creak. With a scream. Metal tearing, reality breaking, a thousand dying breaths.
The throne room beyond stole her breath.
Vast didn’t cover it. The ceiling disappeared into darkness. Twisted black stone pillars lined the walls. And at the far end, elevated on a dais, sat eight thrones.
Seven were occupied by the heirs.
The eighth, carved from bone and skulls, held a figure so diminished he seemed lost in it.
Lucifer.
He was ancient in a way that made mountains look young. Paper-thin skin stretched over too-large bones. But his eyes—
His eyes were burning coals of red fire.
Those eyes locked onto Lilith the moment she entered, and the weight nearly drove her to her knees.
“Come closer, child.” His voice was a whisper that filled the room. “Let me see what my sons will destroy each other over.”
Lilith forced her feet to move. Each step echoed in terrible silence. She stopped at the base of the dais and, despite every instinct screaming to run, lifted her chin and met the Devil’s burning gaze.
Something like approval flickered in those ancient eyes.
“You have your mother’s spine,” he said. “Good. You’ll need it.” He raised one skeletal hand. “My children. Show yourselves.”
As one, the seven figures stood.
Azrael, she already knew. Pride incarnate. He watched her with intensity that made her skin prickle.
Beside him stood a terrible beauty, Lucian, with features almost too perfect and eyes like mirrors. Envy.
Then came the shock.
The third figure was a woman.
Tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in black leather armor. Dark hair pulled back revealed sharp features and a scar through her left eyebrow. But her eyes, volcanic glass, dark red with amber fire.
When their eyes met, Lilith felt something shift in her chest.
The woman’s lips curved into a sharp smile. “Cain,” she said, voice rough like whiskey and smoke. “Princess of Wrath but always referred to as prince. Welcome to Hell, Seraph.”
Lilith couldn’t look away.
“Keep moving,” Malachi murmured.
Mammon was next, dripping in gold and jewels. Then Beelzebub, sensual and indulgent, always eating something. Asmodeus made her breath catch, dangerous beauty with a smile that promised sin. And finally, Belphegor, lounging rather than standing, seemingly half asleep. But his eyes drifted past Lilith to fix on Sera with sudden, complete awareness.
“Seven heirs,” the Devil rasped. “One Seraph.” His burning gaze returned to Lilith. “They will court you. Seduce you. Try to win you. Some will use charm. Others will use force. All of them want the power you represent.”
“I’m not a prize,” Lilith said, voice steady despite her racing heart.
The Devil laughed, echoing in the hall. “No. You’re a weapon. The question is: who will wield you?”
“I wield myself.”
Silence. Then the Devil smiled, revealing too many teeth. “Oh, I like you. You’ll break them or bind them, girl. Either way, this will be entertaining.”
His eyes closed, exhausted.
Azrael stepped forward. “Father needs rest. The formal introductions are complete.” His golden eyes fixed on Lilith. “Tomorrow, the courtship begins. Tonight, you’ll dine with all of us.” His smile was sharp. “And then you can begin the impossible task of choosing which of us to bind yourself to for eternity.”
Lilith looked at the seven of them, beautiful, dangerous, powerful beings who saw her as a prize, a weapon, a key.
None of them saw her as just Lilith.
Except maybe Cain, whose eyes held something like understanding.
And Belphegor, who was still staring at Sera.
Malachi led them from the throne room, and Lilith could feel seven pairs of eyes burning into her back.
The courtship had begun.
And she had no idea how to survive it.