Chapter 184: Shattered Wings

Rayline.

To my horror, I watched as the skin of his wings was ripped away from the bones that reached out below, leaving only shredded pieces of flesh. His blood spilled onto the ground, soaking the tiles beneath him. She did not stop. With an expressionless face, Lilith continued to shred her own son's wings... the most precious thing to them.

"STOP!" Cole's shout echoed out, filled with pain. Tears flooded his eyes. In a fit of rage, he let loose a blast of power that sent the men flying across the room, crashing to the hard ground. Cole reached out his hand towards Lilith, trying to stop her.

Lilith froze in place, while Jesse's screams stopped, his body falling to the ground with a sound that struck my heart. I rushed towards him, my heart sank as I made my way to his side at the sight of the remains of his wings in a pool of blood, and a sick feeling came over me, making me bring my hand to my mouth, trying to hold back the gasps.

How could she do this? To her own son.

"...How dare you," Lilith hissed as her eyes shifted to stare at Cole, who was standing still, his eyes locked in place as he used his power to control Lilith, keeping her from harming his brother again.

"Jesse," I called softly as I bent down and placed my hand on his shoulder. His breathing was ragged as he tried not to move, his eyes wide, full of pain. He is in so much pain. Cole would not be able to heal him unless he let his hold on Lilith go.

I looked to see Jesse's face... Tears are streaming from his eyes, then they meet mine as his lips tremble. After that, he turned his eyes to look at Cole, and his mouth began to move with a great deal of difficulty.

"C-Co... l-le—" He can barely speak, trying to move his hands towards his brother.

"Jesse, don't move," I said. His breathing is getting more rapid. "We will get someone to heal you, just hold on."

"L-look out—"

All of a sudden Cole's body is tackled to the ground by Chris, which makes me snap my head towards him, startled. Chris used his weight to hold him down, and another man came from behind, and they both pinned Cole down as he shouted in frustration.

"Cole!" I started to rush towards him, but the pain in my shoulder stopped me, making me fall to my knees. The pain was stinging, though it only lasted for a moment.

"If you know what's good for you, then you should stay still," Lilith's snide remark sounded cold in my ears, and then I turned to her. She then slowly walked over to Jesse's body, and Cole started thrashing around, as Chris pressed down on his injured shoulder, making him cry out in pain.

Meanwhile, Lilith knelt down and ran her fingers through Jesse's hair as he remained motionless. "Now, see what you made me do?" She said bitterly.

"I will kill you," Cole hissed, anger radiating from every word, and Lilith rose to her feet.

"That's enough now," Lilith stated as she turned around. "Kill him."

"NO!" I shouted frantically, trying to move, but Levi grabbed me from behind, holding me down. Jesse tried to move but a cry of pain came out of his mouth. I spotted another demon coming towards him with a sword, and I frantically squirmed trying to break free, but Levi's grip was too strong. "NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

My body then started to burn as the stinging pain rushed back into my shoulder, so I squeezed my shoulder as I cried out in agony and fell down.

"I told you to stay still." her voice trembled with bitter rage. Her eyes burn into me with fury. I was still trying to crawl towards Cole, whose eyes met mine, the spark of hazel in his eye clearly visible.

"Let her go!" Cole shouted loudly.

"What an annoying little pest." Lilith walked towards me as tears fell from my eyes. "Perhaps I will let him watch me break you before we kill him." The pain was growing, making me scream out from it.

"LET HER GO! JUST KILL ME AND LET HER GO! PLEASE!" Cole shouted. I could hear him begging until everything started to ring again, my vision blurring. "STOP! PLEASE!" I curl into myself as it feels like my body is going to be ripped apart, burning and searing to the core, the taste of blood filling my mouth. "I WILL DO ANYTHING! I WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT! I WILL LET YOU USE MY POWER TO TAKE OVER THE DEMON WORLD! I WILL OBEY YOU! STOP!"

Another wave of pain swept through my body. It felt like fire burning on my skin, eating away at every nerve. It rippled. Another agonizing second.

Then it stopped.

I tried to open my eyes, but I was greeted with a blur of tears. It takes a few seconds before I see Cole tied down on his knees, his shoulders hunched forward as several men hold him down from behind.

"C-Cole..." I reached out my hand in his direction. His eyes are fixed on mine, and I see tears streaming down his face. They were going to take him away. "W-wait," I try to say, but all that comes out is a whisper. "Cole."

"Please." Cole pleads, looking up at Lilith. "Just remove the runes from her."

The strength gradually started to return to my body, and I forced myself to sit up. "Cole..." I whispered faintly.

"Are you holding him tight?" Lilith asked Chris.

"Yes, my lady," Chris replied emotionlessly.

"Good." Lilith stepped back, looking at Cole coldly. "Rip his wings off."

"What?" His eyes widened, filled with horror.

"No," I tried to scream, but all that came out was a weak cry.

Lilith walked back and forth quietly, while Jesse tried to move again, only to fail as his body gave in to the pain. "And feel free to take your time with it," Lilith said nonchalantly as if torturing was a game she was used to.

"Please..." Cole shook his head as the men approached him. He tried to retract them back onto his back, but the demons grabbed the ends and yanked them out, making him scream out.

"Make it stop..." I tried to crawl towards him, but my body could barely move. "Please."

They held his back down as they stretched his wings out, and then they approached with swords in their hands with grave stares.  I could see his head fall forward, and I watched him bite his lip as tears streamed down his face.

"Please," I sobbed, desperately.