Chapter 11 Broken wings
The door burst open.
Sera stormed in like a hurricane, took one look at Lilith sprawled in bed, and her face went from worried to furious in a heartbeat.
I hate him so much! “Sera said”.
What did he do to you?
Lilith managed a weak smile. Training.
Training? Sera’s voice climbed. You look like you got trampled by horses! You can barely move!
I’m fine.
You’re not fine. Sera sat on the edge of the bed, hands hovering like she was afraid to touch Lilith and cause more pain. That bastard pushed you until you passed out. That’s not training, Lily. That’s abuse.
He was teaching me what I’m up against.
By nearly killing you? Sera’s eyes blazed. No. Absolutely not. You’re not going back to him.
Lilith tried to push herself up again, but she failed, her arms shook with the effort.
See? Sera gestured at her. You can’t even sit up! What happens if someone attacks you right now? What happens if there’s an emergency and you’re too weak to move?
The words hit harder than they should have. Because Sera was right. Azrael had pushed her past every limit, and now she was weak and useless.
Exactly what he’d accused her of being.
I have to get stronger, Lilith said quietly.
Not like this. Sera’s voice cracked. Not if it destroys you in the process.
A knock interrupted them. Gentle, almost hesitant.
Come in, Lilith called, though even speaking hurt.
The door opened. Cain stood in the doorway, still in training leathers, hair pulled back tight. Her volcanic glass eyes swept over Lilith, and something flickered across her face. Anger. Guilt. Something else Lilith couldn’t name.
He went too far, Cain said flatly.
He showed me what I’m facing.
By crushing you? Cain moved into the room, arms crossed. I’ve trained soldiers for centuries. You know what happens when you break someone down without building them back up? They shatter. Permanently.
I didn’t shatter.
You passed out. Cain’s voice was sharp. Your body shut down because it couldn’t handle the stress. That’s not strength, Princess. That’s your mind protecting you from permanent damage.
Lilith looked away. The shame burned almost as much as the physical pain.
Cain sighed and sat in Azrael’s usual chair. Look. My brother isn’t wrong about what you’ll face. The things hunting you are worse than any of us. But there’s a difference between pushing someone and breaking them. He doesn’t know where that line is anymore.
Anymore? Sera asked.
Cain’s jaw tightened. He used to. Before Celestia. Before he learned that gentleness can kill just as surely as cruelty.
Silence settled over the room.
So what do I do? Lilith finally asked. Give up? Stay weak?
You get stronger the right way. Cain leaned forward. I can train you, really train you, not by crushing you, but by teaching you to build your own power until nothing can crush you.
What’s the difference?
Azrael teaches survival through endurance. I teach survival through becoming the thing others need to endure. Cain’s smile was sharp. He wants you to withstand the storm. I want you to become the storm.
Lilith felt something shift in her chest. A spark. A flicker of the rage she’d felt when Azrael called her weak.
When do we start?
When you can stand without wanting to die, Cain stood. Rest today. Tomorrow we begin.
She moved toward the door, then paused.
And Princess? Whatever you felt yesterday when his power crushed you, that terror, that helplessness, that rage? Remember it. We’re going to make sure you never feel it again.
Cain left.
Sera immediately turned to Lilith. You like her.
It wasn’t a question.
Heat flooded Lilith’s face despite the pain.
I don’t…
You absolutely do. Sera’s smile was knowing. You look at her the way you’ve never looked at anyone. Not even the princes are trying to seduce you.
She’s just being kind.
She’s being more than kind, Lily. She’s offering you a choice. Power on your terms, not Azrael’s. Sera squeezed Lilith’s hand gently. That’s rare here. Maybe anywhere.
Before Lilith could respond, another knock, this one louder and more demanding.
The door opened without waiting for permission.
Mammon swept in, dripping in gold as always, followed by Asmodeus, whose smile could melt stone.
Heard you had a rough day, Mammon said cheerfully, producing a bottle of something that sparkled. Thought you could use a pick-me-up.
We brought gifts, Asmodeus added, settling gracefully on the couch. Because, unlike some of our brothers, we believe in making people feel good, not breaking them.
Get out, Sera said flatly.
Now, now. Mammon ignored her completely, focusing on Lilith. We’re here to help. Look—healing wine from my personal collection. Worth more than most kingdoms. One sip and you’ll feel brand new.
What do you want? Lilith asked tiredly.
Want? Asmodeus looked genuinely offended. We want you to feel better. We want you to know that not all of us believe in Azrael’s methods. We want to offer you an alternative.
Meaning?
Meaning choose one of us instead. Mammon sat on the other side of the bed. I’d never push you until you broke. I’d shower you with luxury, comfort, pleasure. Everything you deserve.
And I’d make sure you enjoyed every moment of your existence, Asmodeus purred. No pain, just bliss.
Lilith looked between them. Both beautiful. Both offer escape from the brutality of Azrael’s training.
Both are full of shit.
Get Out!
She let a hint of golden light flicker in her eyes. Now.
Mammon raised his hands in surrender. Just offering options, Princess.
They left, taking the expensive wine with them.
Sera laughed despite herself. You’re getting better at the whole intimidation thing.
Yeah, well. Lilith managed to sit up this time, though it took everything she had. I’m tired of people treating me like a prize they can win with the right combination of words.
Good. Sera helped adjust the pillows behind her. You shouldn’t be won. You should be chosen. By someone you choose back.
Lilith thought about Azrael’s cold assessment of her weakness. Cain’s offer to teach her differently. The two brothers who’d just tried to seduce her with gifts.
None of them saw her clearly. Not really.
Except maybe Cain, who’d looked at her broken body and offered strength instead of pity.
Tomorrow, Lilith said quietly. Tomorrow I start again. But not with Azrael.
Not with Azrael, Sera agreed. With someone who actually wants you to survive this.
They sat in comfortable silence as the alien sun moved across the sky, casting strange shadows across the room.
Somewhere in the palace, Azrael stood in his war room, staring at maps of territories he didn’t really see.
He’d pushed too hard. He knew it the moment she’d hit the ground unconscious. But the fear of watching another Seraph fade had overridden his judgment.
Better she hate him and live than love him and die, or so he told himself.
In Cain's quarters, she sharpened her weapons and planned tomorrow’s training.
She’d teach Lilith to fight, really fight, not to endure but to conquer.
And if that meant stealing the Seraph from Pride’s grasp?
Well. Wrath had never been good at sharing anyway.
The courtship was getting more complicated by the hour.