Chapter 27 Mirrors
The training started immediately.
Lucian led them to a courtyard Lilith had never seen before hidden deep in the Vestibulum’s twisting architecture. Circular. Stone walls rising thirty feet on all sides. No windows. No doors except the one they had entered through.
“This is a containment yard,” Lucian explained. “Built for practicing destructive magic. Whatever you do in here stays in here.”
“Comforting,” Sera muttered. She had insisted on coming despite Lucian’s suggestion that she wait in the library. No way was she leaving Lilith alone with Envy.
Lucian ignored her. His mirror eyes fixed on Lilith. “Show me what you did in the courtyard. The golden light that pushed my brothers apart.”
“I don’t know how I did it.”
“Then we figure it out.” He moved to stand ten feet away. “Close your eyes. Remember that moment. What did you feel?”
Lilith closed her eyes. Remembered the courtyard. The brothers fighting. Her fury. Her fear. The overwhelming need to make them STOP.
“Anger,” she said. “And fear. They were fighting and I just needed them to stop.”
“Good. Emotion triggers power. That’s normal for young Seraphs.” Lucian’s voice was clinical. Detached. “But emotion alone isn’t enough. You need control. Focus. Try to summon that feeling without the anger.”
Lilith tried. Reached inside herself for that golden warmth. Found it barely like a candle flame instead of a bonfire.
“I feel something,” she said.
“Open your eyes. Show me.”
Lilith opened her eyes. Held out her hand. The golden light flickered around her fingers. Weak. Unstable. Nothing like what she had done before.
“That’s a start.” Lucian circled her slowly. “But it’s not enough. You pushed seven demon princes apart. That takes serious power. This is ” He gestured at her hand. “This is a nightlight.”
“Helpful,” Lilith snapped.
“I’m being honest. You wanted honesty.” He stopped in front of her. “The power is there. I can literally see it in you. My mirrors show me energy. And yours is ” He paused. “Significant. You just don’t know how to access it.”
“So teach me.”
“I’m trying. But you’re holding back.” His eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I’m not ”
“You are. You’re afraid of it. Afraid of what it might do. What it might make you?” Lucian moved closer. “But power isn’t something to fear. It’s a tool. And right now, you need to learn how to use it before someone attacks this palace and you’re defenceless .”
The bluntness of it hit hard.
“Okay,” Lilith said. “How do I stop holding back?”
“Stop thinking. Start feeling.” Lucian gestured to the center of the courtyard. “Stand there. Close your eyes. And instead of reaching for the power let it reach for you.”
Lilith moved to the center. Closed her eyes. Took a breath.
Let it reach for me. What does that even mean?
She stopped trying to grab the golden warmth. Just waited. Listened. Felt.
And there it was.
Not a candle flame. Not something small she had to coax into existence. A sun. Burning inside her chest. Huge. Powerful. Waiting.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“There it is,” Lucian said quietly. “I can see it now. Don’t fight it. Don’t control it. Just let it out.”
Lilith opened her eyes.
Golden light exploded from her.
Not focused. Not controlled. Just raw power radiating outward in waves. The stone beneath her feet cracked. The air shimmered with heat. Her hair lifted like she was underwater.
“Good!” Lucian’s voice cut through the light. “Now shape it! Give it direction!”
Shape it how?
Lilith tried to focus the energy. Push it in one direction. But it was like trying to hold water it slipped through her mental grasp, flooding everywhere.
“I can’t!”
“Yes, you can! Picture what you want it to do!”
What did she want?
She pictured the courtyard. The brothers fighting. She needs to separate them. To push them apart without hurting them.
The golden light responded.
It condensed. Focused. Became a wall of energy that shot forward across the courtyard and slammed into the far wall with enough force to crack the stone.
Then it was gone.
Lilith dropped to her knees, gasping. Her whole body shook. Sweat poured down her face.
“Holy shit,” Sera breathed.
Lucian was smiling. Actually smiling. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
“That was ” Lilith couldn’t finish. Her lungs burned. Her muscles felt like water.
“Exhausting? Yes, using that much power drains you.” Lucian offered his hand. Helped her up. “But you did it. You accessed your real power and shaped it. That’s progress.”
“I feel like I’m dying.”
“You’re fine. Just tired. It’ll get easier with practice.” He looked at the cracked wall. “You put a dent in demon forged stone. That takes significant force.”
“Could I do it again?”
“Not right now. You need rest and food and you need to recover.” Lucian guided her toward the edge of the courtyard where Sera waited. “But tomorrow we try again. And the day after. Until you have full control over your power.”
Sera handed Lilith water. “That was insane.”
“That was nothing,” Lucian corrected. “She’s barely scratching the surface. Seraphs at full power can level cities. Heal mortal wounds. Bend reality almost as well as ” He stopped. “Well. Almost as well as Pride.”
“How do you know so much about Seraphs?” Lilith asked between gulps of water.
“I see things. Read things. My mirrors show me history others have forgotten.” Lucian’s expression turned thoughtful. “And I’ve been researching you specifically since you arrived.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re interesting. Because you’re powerful. Because ” He paused. “Because I want to understand what makes you different from the others who came before.”
“And?”
“You’re filled with rage, the others tried to be perfect. To fit the role. To be what the prophecy demanded.” His mirror eyes reflected her exhausted face. “But you? You fight. You push back. You refuse to give in.” A slight smile. “That anger that defiance that’s your strength. That’s what’s going to keep you alive.”
The words settled in Lilith’s chest. Warm despite the exhaustion.
“Come on,” Sera said. “You need actual food and actual rest before you pass out.”
“We?” Lilith raised an eyebrow.
“You think I’m missing this? Watching you throw golden light around like a weapon?” Sera grinned. “Not a chance.”
Lucian lingered in the doorway. “Rest well. Tomorrow we will work on control. On sustaining the power longer without draining yourself completely.”
“Lucian?”
He paused.
“Thank you,” Lilith said.”
Something shifted in his expression. Softened. “You’re welcome, princess.”
He left, closing the door behind him.
He is being being surprisingly nice, “Sera said”.
“I don’t know.” Lilith bit into bread. It tasted amazing. “He’s either genuine or playing a very long game.”
“My vote is long game.”
“Maybe. But what choice do I have? I need to learn this. I need to be ready.” She looked at her hands. The golden light was gone but she could still feel it. Waiting. Ready. “Whatever’s coming I won’t be helpless when it gets here.”
“You were never helpless.”
“I felt helpless. When the brothers fought. When they talked about the Crossing. When Cain left this morning.” Lilith set down the bread. “But today when I accessed that power I felt strong. Like I could actually protect myself. Protect you. Protect ” She stopped.
“Protect them,” Sera finished quietly. “The brothers.”
“Yeah.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“This is getting complicated,” Sera said.
“It’s been complicated since day one.”
“Fair.” Sera grabbed fruit from the tray. “For what it’s worth? I think Lucian is being genuine. Mostly. He’s still Envy he wants what he wants. But I think he’s realised manipulation won’t work on you. So he’s adapting.”
“That should terrify me.”
“Probably. But at least he’s useful.” Sera bit into an apple. “And hot. Can’t forget hot.”
“Sera!”
“What? I have eyes! They’re all hot! It’s deeply unfair!” She grinned. “You’re living in a paranormal romance novel. Might as well enjoy the view.”
Despite everything, Lilith laughed. Real laughter that made her chest feel lighter.
They ate. They talked. Eventually, Sera left for her own chambers, leaving Lilith alone.
Lilith changed into sleep clothes. Climbed into bed. The sheets still smelled faintly like Cain…sm. Her chest ached.
But underneath the ache was something else. Something new.
Power. Real power. The kind that could protect. Could fight back. Could change things.
She closed her eyes and felt the golden warmth waiting inside her.
Tomorrow she would train more. Get stronger. Learn control.
Because whatever was coming whoever was building those constructs, whoever destroyed the Crossing they were going to find out that the last Seraph wasn’t something to break.
She was something to fear.