Chapter 4 Blood and Fire
The dress they’d laid out for dinner was weapon.
Deep crimson silk that clung to every curve before pooling at her feet. The neckline plunged just enough to be daring, and the back was entirely open, exposing her spine. When Lilith moved, the fabric shimmered.
She looked like sin wrapped in silk.
Perfect, she thought bitterly. Dress like temptation for dinner with demons.
The maids had woven her hair into an intricate updo, leaving golden tendrils to frame her face. They’d painted her lips the same deep red and lined her eyes with kohl that made her green eyes look feline.
She looked like she belonged in Hell.
Her fingers found the locket at her throat, the only piece of home. Inside were tiny portraits of her adoptive parents, smiling. She pressed it to her lips, whispered a prayer, and squared her shoulders.
“You can do this,” she told her reflection. “It’s just dinner.”
Her reflection looked unconvinced.
The walk to the grand hall felt like marching to execution. Every servant she passed stopped and stared. Some bowed. Others whispered. One creature with too many eyes licked its lips.
The doors to the grand hall were already open. Conversation, laughter, argument, the clink of glasses, spilt out.
Lilith paused at the threshold, gathering courage.
Then she stepped inside.
Conversation died instantly.
The grand hall was obscenely opulent, vaulted ceilings disappearing into shadow, walls lined with tapestries depicting battles and orgies, and a table so long it could seat a hundred. But tonight, only eight places were set.
Seven seats were occupied.
At the head sat Azrael, looking every inch the prince in black and gold. His golden eyes found her immediately, and the possessive heat made her skin prickle.
Down both sides, his siblings had arranged themselves like chess pieces.
Lucian raised his wine glass, mirrors reflecting her crimson dress in fractured images.
Mammon gestured to the empty seat at the opposite end. “Only the finest for our Seraph,” he called.
Beelzebub was already eating, tearing into meat with disturbing enthusiasm. He paused to lick blood from his fingers and wink at her.
Asmodeus’s smile was slow and devastating. “Red. Bold choice. Though I think you’d look even better out of it.”
Belphegor lounged lazily, but his eyes were sharper than before, tracking her movement.
And Cain sat with boots propped on the table, goblet dangling from one hand. She’d changed into a fitted black leather outfit. When their eyes met, Cain’s lips curved into a sharp grin.
“Well, well. The Seraph cleans up nicely.” She swung her feet down and stood. “Though that dress is going to make it hard for the rest of us to concentrate on dinner.”
“That’s the point, isn’t it?” Lilith moved toward her seat. “Dress me up like a prize so you can all fight over me?”
“Oh, I like her.” Cain laughed. “She’s got teeth.”
“She’ll need them,” Azrael said quietly, and something in his tone made Lilith’s skin prickle.
Lilith lifted her chin and sat.
Immediately, servants appeared, filling her glass with wine that glowed faintly purple. Placing dishes before her that looked beautiful and vaguely threatening. Everything was excess.
“So,” Lucian said, swirling his wine. “Tell us about yourself, Seraph. What does a divine being raised among mortals do for fun?”
Several of them laughed.
“I read,” Lilith said coolly. “Train with swords. Manage political correspondence. The usual princess things.”
“Swords?” Cain’s interest sharpened. “You fight?”
“I’m learning.”
“We should spar sometime.” Cain’s grin was all challenge. “I’d love to see what you can do.”
“I’m sure you would,” Azrael said, voice edged with warning. “But the Seraph is not a toy for you to play with, sister.”
“And she’s not a possession for you to hoard, brother.” Cain’s eyes flashed amber. “The prophecy said she’d choose. That means all of us get a chance.”
“Some chances are better than others,” Mammon interjected smoothly. “For instance, I could offer you three kingdoms’ worth of wealth, Seraph.”
“She doesn’t want your gold,” Beelzebub interrupted, mouth full. “She wants something real. Something that satisfies.” His dark eyes fixed on Lilith with disturbing intensity. “Tell me, Princess, what do you hunger for?”
The question felt obscene, layered with implications.
“I hunger for freedom,” she said flatly. “And the only desire keeping me awake is the desire to go home.”
“Boring,” Asmodeus declared. “Freedom is overrated. Desire, though,” He leaned forward. “I could show you pleasures you’ve never imagined.”
“Make her run screaming,” Cain cut in. “Not everyone wants to be seduced by the walking embodiment of a brothel, Asmodeus.”
“Better than being propositioned by a violent brute who smells like sulfur.”
Cain’s goblet hit the table with a crack. “Say that again.”
“You heard me.” Beelzebub smiled, and there were too many teeth. “Though perhaps I should clarify. You’re not the only one who smells appealing.” His gaze slid to Lilith. “I wonder what divine essence tastes like. Sweet? Intoxicating? I imagine devouring a Seraph would be exquisite.”
The temperature dropped.
“Careful, brother,” Cain said softly, dangerously. “She’s not on the menu.”
“Everything is on the menu.” Beelzebub stood slowly. “Everything can be consumed. Even you, dear sister. Even her.”
“Sit. Down.” Cain was on her feet, hand dropping to the knife at her belt.
“Or what?” Beelzebub’s smile widened impossibly. “You’ll fight me? Please. I’ve been hungry for centuries. I could devour you both.”
“Try it,” Cain snarled. “Let’s see if you choke.”
The air cracked.
Beelzebub moved first, inhumanly fast. But Cain was faster, meeting him halfway with a roar that shook the chandeliers.
They collided like thunder.
Lilith’s chair scraped back as she stood. Around the table, the other brothers watched with expressions ranging from amusement to arousal. No one moved to stop it.
This wasn’t a fight. This was a demonstration.
Cain’s fist connected with Beelzebub’s jaw with a crack that echoed. He staggered back, laughing, actually laughing, blood on his teeth.
“There she is. There’s the Wrath I know.” His eyes went completely black. “Come on, sister. Show the Seraph what we really are.”
Cain’s eyes ignited, literal flames of amber and crimson. “With pleasure.”
She launched herself at him, and this time there was nothing human about the violence. They moved too fast, hit too hard, bled too much. Combat skill against raw demonic hunger.
A table shattered. Tapestries caught fire on blood-spattered marble.
And through it all, Beelzebub kept laughing.
“Stop!” Lilith’s voice was lost in the chaos. “STOP!”
No one listened.
Beelzebub caught Cain’s throat and lifted her off the ground. His mouth opened too wide, jaw unhinging, revealing rows of teeth that shouldn’t exist.
“Let’s see how you taste,” he hissed.
Terror exploded through Lilith’s chest.
“NO!”
The word tore from her throat, and reality broke.
Golden light erupted from her body. Every window shattered. Every flame roared to life. The air screamed as divine power flooded the room.
The force threw Beelzebub backwards, his grip was broken. Threw both of them to opposite ends of the hall. Left scorch marks on the floor shaped like wings.
Everyone froze.
Lilith stood at the centre, breathing hard, hands glowing gold, terrified of what she’d just done.
Silence.
Then Beelzebub started laughing, a sound like breaking glass. “Magnificent,” he gasped from where he lay against the wall, half his face burned. “She’s absolutely magnificent.”
Cain pushed herself up, staring at Lilith with something like awe. “Holy hell,” she breathed.
“Not holy,” Azrael said softly from his seat. He didn't move or flinched. “Divine.” His golden eyes burned into Lilith. “This is what you’ll be ruling, little Seraph. Violence. Hunger. Demons who would devour you as easily as desire you.” He stood slowly. “Can you handle it?”
Lilith looked at the destruction she’d caused. At Beelzebub’s burned face. At Cain’s blood. While the princes were watching with expressions ranging from hunger to calculation.
“You’re all insane,” she whispered.
“We’re demons,” Azrael said. “What did you expect?”
Lilith turned and ran.
Behind her, she heard Cain’s voice: “I’ll go.”
“No let her be, She needs to know what she's capable”. Azrael said.
Cain ignored him and went after her.