Chapter 178 : Lilith 1

Chapter 178 : Lilith 1
Rayline. 

Not a single person dared to speak. I could even hear every breath taken in the room. She made her way slowly towards the throne, the only sound heard was the click of her high heels hitting the floor. She spins her body around elegantly and takes a seat on the throne, crossing one leg over the other, and leaning back haughtily. 

Silas and the other demon followers knelt on one knee before her. As I subconsciously reached out my hand towards Cole's arm, he instantly grasped my hand tightly, his fingers intertwined with mine.

"Mother?" Jesse finally let out a hoarse voice, his eyes full of horror and disbelief turned towards Lilith as her eyes glanced over at her son.

"I see you did not follow my orders," Lilith's voice was full of cold authority as her eyes shifted over to Silas. "I told you that he should be put aside." 

"I know, my lady. There was... a bit of an issue," Silas replied in a voice full of remorse, bowing his head obediently. 

Lilith then turned her attention to Levi, her eyes looking at him sharply. "You were the one on that mission, right?" she asked, her tone crisp and cold.

"Yes, my Lady," Levi replied in a respectful tone, though there was clearly fear hidden within. 

"Hmm..." Lilith eyed Levi up and down, judging with eyes full of scorn. Then, with a simple flick of her wrist, Levi abruptly collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, as if his strength had suddenly vanished. Silas and Chris quickly rushed to his side, trying to help, while Levi clutched his throat, choking and barely catching his breath.

"I gave you my orders," Lilith said coldly, her voice piercing like ice. Levi could do nothing, just struggled to breathe, clutching his throat desperately. His friends held him with gazes full of anguish and helplessness, making my chest feel tight as if the air around me was getting thinner. 

Silas turned to Lilith, his voice filled with pleading. "Please, we apologize. They would not have agreed to come otherwise," he said, trying to defend themselves, but there was no confidence in his words. 

The look on Lilith's face did not change at all, and yet I could see the pain radiating from Silas' eyes. Lilith was still silent, just waiting. Levi was already almost turning blue when she flicked her wrist again, making Levi gasp for air as it filled his lungs again. The rest of us could only watch the scene in heart-wrenching shock. 

"Thank you," Silas said with a bow, his voice barely audible amidst the eerie silence. 

"This is not mercy," Lilith refuted in a cold, piercing voice. "You will still be punished later." She sat back on her throne with a graceful gesture of authority. Silas simply nodded, submitting without a fight. 

"Mother?" Jesse whispered faintly, his voice filled with bewilderment. I could see the anxiety in his eyes as he stared at Lilith, searching for answers. "What... what happened?" 

"I want to know too," Cole added, his voice no less puzzled. I felt the tension build as Lilith smirked, a wicked smile etched on her lips, sending chills down my spine. 

"Have you been enjoying my little gift to your pet?" Lilith mocked, tilting her head slightly, and looking at Cole with satisfaction. "I must say, the look on your face the first time she tried to kill you... it was absolutely priceless. And when you saw how weak she became—" 

I hold Cole tighter, feeling the fear and hatred mixed together in my chest. Lilith's smile broadened even more, implying a devastating cruelty. 

"So it was you?" Cole muttered, his eyes wide with cold shock. "All of that?" 

"I don't understand..." I whispered, just as shocked as Cole. It was hard to believe what we had just heard. 

Lilith just laughed maniacally, the sound piercing like a dagger slicing to the bone. "Granting my power to them was easy, albeit draining. But it was well worth it to see how you suffered." She said it in a mocking tone that made my blood boil. 

"But," Taylor cut in, his voice full of suspicious disbelief, "what about Leon?" 

"Oh, that." Lilith straightened up, a cold elegance radiating from her every movement. "Leonardo and I have a history... back in the rebellion years ago. He was intrigued by the cause, but never really got involved. I think he would have loved to stand by my side, but alas he was too afraid to ruin his relationship with the other lords after clearing his name." 

She rolled her eyes with a look of obvious annoyance. I could feel the hatred behind her words. 

"But the letter Taylor found," Cole asked, his face reflecting deep bafflement. 

"Ah yes. After that encounter, I knew you would be looking for a more powerful demon with the ability to cast the rune's spell, so I sent word to him. The letter you found was not to him, but rather he sent it back to me." Lilith's answer left me stunned, a feeling of unease creeping into my brain. 

"I also sent him those maps to show him your current plans, since I knew you would be watching him as well." Lilith went on, her tone triumphant. The maps of Italy and the faerie realm that Taylor had seen... those maps were hers. Seeing Cole's eyes flash orange in an instant, the resentment buried beneath his calmness. 

"And that meeting... it totally helped portray him as a villain," Lilith added, her voice so calm yet filled with sinister glee. 

"So, it was all set up?" Taylor asked, his voice now sharp with a hint of disappointment. "A way to frame him?" 

A dark smile appeared on Lilith's face as she gave Taylor a dismissive look. "I knew there was a brain inside that pretty little head of yours," she smirked, while Jesse's lips pursed into a furious snarl. 

"Such a pain in the ass," she added in a mocking tone, "he used the knowledge I sent him, turned into such a sneaky bastard, and sent protection to the faerie realm." 

So, it was not Asmodeus who provided the protection. It was Leonardo. He was the one who had been helping me. 

"But why?" I asked, feeling overwhelmed by all this. Her dark eyes looked straight into mine as if searching for answers that I could not express. "Why are you doing all this?" 

"Why, you say?" Lilith replied as she slowly got to her feet. Cole's grip on me tightened. "You're asking me why?" She started making her way down the stairs, watching my every breath. "Why don't you ask that damn creature sitting next to you?" she snapped through gritted teeth. I tore my gaze away from her and stared at Cole, who stared back at me, dumbstruck. 

Her glare then shifted to Cole, full of buried resentment. 

"Everything. It all started with you. The moment he saw her. The second she stepped into the picture of his life, the second he felt something for an angel... the moment you came into our lives." Lilith snapped at him, pointing her finger furiously. Her words are harsh, piercing straight to the core of my gut. 

Cole's eyes flashed orange as she started pacing back and forth, clearly agitated. 

"And I did everything." Lilith shook her head with a laugh, a laugh that sounded bitter, filled with an indescribable pain. "When he found me... weak, left to rot. He promised me... he promised to keep me safe, to give me the power I wanted and deserved." Her hand was placed on her chest as emotion began to creep behind her cold face. "He gave me an equal place by his side, gave me everything I wanted. I even gave him a son to ensure that loyalty remained... that I would never lose him."