CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN
Aria's POV

I watched the cut on my leg heal, gasping in excitement and shock

“Octavio!” I screamed, rushing to where he was mixing herbs with Kiara and a pissed of Kora.

“Wait, what happened? You're on your feet!” Kiara exclaimed with so much happiness I nearly accepted the hug she was offering.

I ran into Octavio instead who began examining me all over, I ignored the look of hurt on her face just like she ignored mine when she betrayed me and nearly wiped my memories that night.

The last week has been a tormenting experience and although it felt like the punishment I deserved for mistakenly killing Lucas, I still hated how much pain I was in.

I'd been living in pain all my life, but this one was different, the ice in my veins trying so hard to heal, making it way worse.

The devil had inflicted me with a fiery disease where my skin kept burning. If I was completely human, I would have burnt to ashes the moment his fingers grabbed me.

But not only was I merged to an immortal, I also had ice in my blood.

So it was a constant battle, leaving me feeling tired and frustrated all the time.

None of the previous concoctions they'd given me to drink worked but nobody gave up. Even Kora, who was permanently upset with me, kept coming back with some idea of a healing herb, helping to process it for me.

It took me a while to get comfortable around them again after they abandoned me to Lucifer's wiles the day he did this to me.

“How did this happen?” Kora asked in shock.

“I was able to sleep after drinking the entire bottle Kiara brought to my room yesterday, –”

“I told you to stop giving her alcohol!” She cut me off, detecting her venom to Kiara.

“It's not her fault, I practically cried to her for it. But that's not the point, I passed out after taking it and woke up without crying myself awake because my arm hit the bedframe or something. Then I checked my leg, and it was healed, too! I can't even explain how,” I explained with a full smile, looking at my body like I'd never seen it before.

“Wow, this is literally a miracle and I am happy this means Alaric can continue on his journey,” Octavio noted.

I'd been worried sick about him and I had to tell them what the implications of me getting hurt meant for him. Safe to say the concoctions got more bitter after that revelation was spilled.

I doused myself in the happiness of the house as a heavy veil of sadness was lifted off of us. Everyone was all smiles and it felt like the elephant in the room had taken a hike.

We began cleaning the place of all the herbal war that was wrought on the kitchen in a bid to get me to be fine.

We finished in about two hours and we proceeded to my room to give it the same attention as it was filled with different - you know what, I'm sure you get the picture, no need for such sordid details - after which we all bathed and came out to see Kora had set out a banquet of food at the dining room, and for the first time, she allowed the Fallen beside Kiara in.

We nearly fought before she let her in; although I understood her point, Kiara was trying really hard to get into my good graces and that was enough reason for her to watch my back. I knew deep inside of me that if Lucifer decided to use either of them against me, they'd be powerless to his demands

I'm even shocked he hasn't done that.

He's been appearing in my dreams and promising me hell and heaven, all with the premise of joining him or perishing. My refusal always ended with me waking up in a pool of blood and sweat, crying and coughing out blood.

So I did need Kiara here because she wasn't bound to obey him, and if he went against the forces to hurt her, he didn't have Alaric on his side anymore to help him bear the consequences of his actions.

It's probably why he's only been inflicting physical pain on only me and not on any of the Fallen here with me.

We all sat at the table and began eating, although my heart was heavy at the fact that I'd still wait another two weeks before he returned.

“I wonder what my father would do when he realizes you've been cured,” Kora said as she piled more vegetables on her plate.

The way she ate, you'd think she was the human one here, susceptible to weight gain and unhealthy conditions from greasy food.

“Throw a fit, I'd guess,” Kiara replied grimly.

“Talk about the devil, and he shall appear,” Octavio whispered, but I heard it instantly, turning sharply towards the direction he was looking at with horror in my eyes.

I didn't think twice about it; I poured all the ice I could muster after the crazy week I'd had at him and that crooked smile of his.

The ice didn't cover him as it did with my other victims but it did hold him in the spot, surrounded all over his feet.

He laughed that scary laugh that always made me feel like I was in a badly productive horror movie.

“This is all you can do?” He sneered, “This little squabble is what you want to freeze hell with?” He laughed some more.

But then he tried to move but it was stronger than he'd expected.

“Take this crap off my feet, you little girl!” He commanded me, reminding me of my favorite during his fits.

“I'll not be doing that,” I muttered weakly, tired from the intense lack of energy which was converted to an ice lock around the devil’s feet.

“How dare you?!” He roared with his ugly, demon face, pointing his finger at me.

“You don't have to worry too much; you're made of fire; I'm sure it'll melt soon,” I said, my voice gaining more confidence as I realized I wasn't as weak as I'd thought I was.

I stood up, joining everyone else who was standing up, wondering if they should run or stay and watch the scene unfold.

It was obvious he was trying really hard to get out of the lock but he was unable to.

“You're going to regret this!” He promised me, “I'm giving you one chance to defrost this or face my wrath!”

“You remember I'm untrained sir, I can't even if I want to. I wish someone could teach me, though, that the sickness you inflicted on me would suit your skin as well since we're on the opposite sides of the elements,” I rambled on, trying to mask the intense fear I felt within me as time went on.

I didn't know what I was doing here, I didn't even have a single drop of energy left to defend myself when he got out of the hold, running was useless, he's the devil.

“Alaric is going to suffer for all of this, I swear to you! Kora!” He shifted his attention to his daughter, “Get me out of this right now!”

“You seem to forget you didn't give her a ‘useful gift’” I heard the unmistakable voice of Alaric as he appeared out of thin air, another man with him as he approached his father with a smirk