Ruthless (The Seraphim Series Book 2)

by Sophia Stafford

  Rebecca patted Lilliah’s crossed legs. “Is this what you’re doing on the floor? Practicing your magic?”

  “Trying to. As you can see, not a lot is happening. If I could just get the powers under control, I would be able to protect everyone. I’d actually be able to fight Lucifer and we’d stand a chance of winning.”

  “No one expects you to have all the answers. You can’t put that pressure on yourself to save everyone. This isn’t just your fight, Lil.”

  “It is, though,” Lilliah burst out, unable to hold it in anymore. “Lucifer took my boyfriend. He wants me to join him in his sick war. He wants to get revenge on my father, Michael.”

  Everything she had been feeling came pouring out, until she sat on the floor breathing heavily but feeling lighter.

  “Okay.” Lilliah swore Rebecca had sat up straighter, but she wasn’t looking at her to tell. “This can’t happen. You’re allowed to be sad, Lil, you’re allowed to not have every answer. You’re only human.”

  Only human. If Lilliah was only human then she wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. She’d be back in London, going to college and hanging out with her friends and possibly meeting her mother’s knew boyfriend.

  “I wish I was human. But I’m not, I’m an angel.”

  Rebecca waited until Lilliah had quieted. “Okay, so we need a plan.”

  “We do. I just don’t know where to start.”

  “I don’t think anyone out there had a clue, either. They’re just running around and yelling at each other.” Rebecca reached over and took Lilliah’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “So this is where I step in.” She gave her a huge, fake smile, but quickly dropped it and got down to business. “First things first: How did Lucifer know you were here?”

  Lilliah shrugged. She had no idea, and until this moment, she hadn’t even questioned it. Good bloody question, Becca, she thought.

  “Well, that needs to stop.” Rebecca looked so adamant that Lilliah couldn’t help but get pulled in.

  Lilliah nodded. “But how?”

  “We’re surrounded by witches and warlocks. There must be some kind of spell that can block him out.”

  “Or hide us.” Lilliah’s mind was already racing at the possibilities. Why hadn’t she thought about this before? “He must have been able to track me or something. He can get inside my head. I just need us and my mum and Seb to be safe and out of his reach. Is that possible?”

  “Fuck knows. So let’s find out. I mean, remember what we found out about those psychics?”

  “The Delphines?”

  “Yeah. Who are they? How many people know about them? What kind of visions do they have? I think it’s weird they haven’t been brought up before now.”

  “You’re right, that is unusual.” Lilliah racked her brain, thinking of everything they had found out about the Delphines. As soon as Benedict had told her it was useless information, she’d kind of pushed the psychics out of her mind. Luckily for her, though, she’d brought Azrael’s laptop.

  “And another thing we need to do is talk to Benedict. Last time we tried to do this on our own, we basically wasted a night, so let’s talk to him first and take it from there.”

  Lilliah felt better. Not completely better, but she wasn’t as afraid. Rebecca had a talent for soothing her nerves the way only a best friend could.

  “You know what?”

  “What?” Rebecca was already standing.

  “You’re amazing. I needed this pep talk.” Lilliah stood as well. “You’re getting really good at them.”

  “Yeah, it’s my superpower.” She winked. “This is what friends do.”

  They found Benedict a few minutes later. A bunch of panicked people had him surrounded and they all turned as Lilliah and Rebecca approached.

  “You.” One of them pointed at Lilliah—an older man with aged blond hair and huge blue eyes. “You’re a fool. You’ve put us all in danger.”

  Before Lilliah could speak, Rebecca held out her hand and stepped forward. “Hold on there, Harry Potter.”

  Lilliah snorted.

  “This isn’t Lilliah’s fault. She’s basically a human and you’re the ones with powers. So why don’t you do something?” Now it was Rebecca who was pointing.

  The man looked astonished that someone would speak to him that way. “No one can take on Lucifer. And we have seen her power. What kind of magic was that?”

  “My magic,” Lilliah said sounding a lot calmer then she felt. She waited for another person to question her, to demand to know more about her powers, but they didn’t. Instead they all stared at her, as if she was going to put on a display for them at any moment.

  “I agree with Rebecca. None of this is Lilliah’s fault. If you think it is, speak up now, and then get out.” Benedict stepped forward; again no one spoke.

  Lilliah crossed her arms. Benedict was a badass. She knew it, and they knew it. Everybody knew it.

  After a few seconds of silence, Benedict headed down the hall, motioning with his head for Rebecca and Lilliah to follow.

  “How are you feeling, Lilliah?” He glanced at her, his eyes doing a once-over, checking that she was physically okay. She liked that. She also liked that, after what had happened with Lucifer, Benedict had given her space.

  “I’m doing okay,” she told him honestly as he opened a door for them. “We’re ready to do something. You know? To get this show on the road.”

  He stared down at her. “I never doubted you.”

  Benedict had more faith in her than she had in herself. She dug her hand in her pockets, feeling a little uncomfortable, but also a little proud. Rebecca nudged her arm and smiled at her with a look that said, “See? Benedict knows you’re hard core.”

  He had led them into a huge social room that contained a few chairs, sofas, and a fire burning at the back. It was completely empty.

  “I can picture myself reading in a room like this,” Rebecca said, looking around.

  “If you read,” Lilliah reminded as she walked over to lean against one of the leather sofas.

  “Yeah, if I read.” Rebecca fell into the seat opposite Lilliah, her eyes still scanning the walls.

  “You mean you don’t read?” Benedict’s mouth hung open, the look on his face pure sarcasm. “I am just shocked.”

  Lilliah laughed a little.

  “That’s it, all of you laugh.” Rebecca snickered along playfully. “I read biographies and magazines. I’m proud of that. So the next time there’s a quiz and you want to know who designed Princess Diana’s wedding dress, or the name of Madonna’s first husband, don’t come looking for me.”

  Rebecca looked so serious that all Lilliah could do was shake her head. “Noted,” she finally said before turning to Benedict. “We have a plan.”

  Benedict folded his arms.

  “Is there a spell that can hide people from Lucifer?” Benedict pursed his lips, thinking, so Lilliah explained. “When I say people, I mean my family.”

  “There was a spell, but not anymore.” He looked at Lilliah, clearly refusing to elaborate.

  “‘Was’?” Her eyes darted to Rebecca to make sure she hadn’t gone dumb. Rebecca looked as confused as she felt.

  “Yes.” Benedict nodded simply. “Was.”

  “So spells have a shelf life or something?” Rebecca asked while Lilliah wondered whether Benedict was dodging the question.

  “No. There used to be a spell, but it was deemed too technical and was forbidden to be practiced.”

  “Too technical?” Lilliah shrieked in disbelief. “What the heck does that even mean?”

  “Yeah,” Rebecca said, with the same confused and silently bewildered look on her face that Lilliah imagined was on her own. “I think it’s time you warlocks took off the stabilisers and started riding with the big boys.”

  Benedict didn’t look impressed, so Lilliah ignored Rebecca’s attempt and tried a different approach. She didn’t want to insult Benedict, but she had to admit it just didn’
t make any sense.

  “Why was it deemed too technical?” she asked, shooting daggers at Rebecca with her eyes, but she ignored her.

  “When you hide someone, as you put it, it’s like cloaking their soul so it can’t be tracked or traced. Tampering with the soul in any way is dangerous and not worth it.”

  “But … what about my old necklace?” Lilliah’s hand rose to her neck where her necklace usually hung. She hadn’t worn it in months. It had originally been used to hide and protect her from those out to harm her, but thanks to Ada Washington and Lucifer, it was now useless.

  “The Archangel Michael put the spell on that necklace. I’m just a warlock. I don’t have that kind of power.”

  “What about the family of psychics?” Rebecca sat forward, tapping her hands on her knees. “Why doesn’t anyone go looking for them? Why can’t we go looking for them?”

  “The family of psychics are protected so no one can find them. They asked for this to happen, of course.”

  Lilliah pressed her lips together to hide her amusement. Everything was so absurd she had to laugh. “I’m sorry. So let me get this straight. There isn’t a spell that can hide someone.”

  “No, there is a spell,” Benedict corrected.

  “Of course. So, there isn’t a spell that can hide one person, but there’s a spell that can hide an entire family.”

  “Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.” Benedict straightened and smiled politely. “Well, I’m going for a walk in the gardens.”

  Lilliah and Rebecca watched incredulously as Benedict walked out of the room.

  What was happening?

  Rebecca stood. “What the fuck was that?”

  Lilliah shook her head. “I have no idea.”

  They looked at each other, Lilliah knowing what Rebecca was thinking: Follow him!

  Benedict was standing in the gardens—gardens Lilliah had had no idea were even there. The space wasn’t particularly big, but the neatly trimmed hedge and small flowerpots made it cosy, as if it were hidden away from the busyness of The Cure. Two cushioned seats sat in a corner, next to a small path that led to a more open space. She could hear the faint sound of water—a small fountain maybe? One thing she did know was that she loved this place. Even the buzz of New York traffic couldn’t ruin its tranquillity.

  “Benedict,” she demanded, restraining herself from storming up to him. She really didn’t want to disturb the peace of the garden, no matter how confused she was. Rebecca hid behind her. “What’s wrong with you?”

  He turned to face her, his eyes back to the seriousness she knew so well. “The Cure has ears everywhere.”

  Lilliah stopped, a little apprehensive. “Are you having some kind of a breakdown?” She looked him up and down; he looked fine. “Because I wouldn’t blame you if you were.”

  “Yeah, totally,” Rebecca agreed enthusiastically.

  “No.” He smiled and shook his head. “I just didn’t want anyone to hear me. Even the walls have ears in that place.”

  Rebecca’s eyes narrowed, and she nodded slowly. “Mind fucking. Love it.”

  Lilliah was still confused. “Okay. What didn’t you want them to hear?”

  “I can’t do the spell.”

  Lilliah’s shoulders sagged.

  “But I know someone who can, or who will.”

  “Who? And why can’t you?” Lilliah twisted her hands together. Their plan might just work, finally.

  “If I attempted that kind of spell, I’d be cast out of The Cure. That just can’t happen, not now. I need to be here.”

  Lilliah agreed. Everyone at The Cure was useless. They needed someone like Benedict to guide them. “So who will do the spell?”

  “Zena.”

  Lilliah raised her eyebrows. “The woman from the meeting?”

  “Yes. She’s not part of The Cure, and she doesn’t exactly stick to the rules.”

  Rebecca smiled. “My kind of girl.”

  “But someone said she deals with dark magic.” Lilliah looked to Rebecca, who shrugged. Clearly the thought of dark magic didn’t faze her.

  “If it’s not in the rules, it’s dark magic.” Benedict clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening as a deep V creased his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “Zena will help you, but you have to understand the risks.”

  “Well, what are they?” She had already made up her mind; she was doing it. She just wanted to sound more responsible.

  “Every spell has risks and complications. And don’t forget, it doesn’t just affect you, but whoever you’ll be protecting.”

  Lilliah didn’t jump in and say yes straight away. Instead, she braced herself against Benedict’s intense stare.

  “Is there like a brochure we could look at?” Rebecca suggested. She was standing with her arms folded, listening intently.

  Benedict’s eyes cut to her. He wasn’t amused.

  “I’ll take that as a no.” She took a step back, effectively dropping out of the conversation.

  That left Lilliah. “So, what are the risks? Run them down for me.”

  “Unconsciousness, dizziness, memory loss.” Lilliah’s body flinched in horror, but Benedict didn’t stop there. “Sickness, bleeding, hair loss, cottonmouth, death.”

  Lilliah held her hand up. “Wait, just wait a second.”

  She looked back at Rebecca to see if she was having the same reaction. Rebecca stared at Benedict, her mouth slightly agape.

  “What the fuck?” Lilliah mouthed.

  Rebecca mouthed back, “I know, right?”

  Turning back to Benedict, she hid her fear and asked, “Death?”

  Benedict nodded. She didn’t need him to elaborate on that point. Bleeding, however, wasn’t so self-explanatory.

  “Bleeding, you say? Bleeding from where?” She sounded a lot calmer than she felt. Inside, she was on edge and ready to bolt.

  “Everywhere.”

  She hadn’t realised it was possible, but her shock intensified. She had been under a spell before, and Azrael had begged her not to go through with it. Had that spell come with the same risks? She understood that the spell had gone wrong, namely because of an evil witch who had been in cahoots with the Devil, but apart from that, she hadn’t suffered any adverse effects.

  “That’s a lot to think about,” she said.

  And it was a lot to think about for everyone else. As terrifying as it was, it was still a no-brainer for her.

  “We should call Seb and see what he thinks,” Lilliah suggested.

  Benedict’s stare was softening. The information had clearly been weighing on him. “Talk about it. Shout at me if you’ve forgotten anything and let me know what you decide.” He walked past them, heading down the small garden path Lilliah had noticed earlier.

  Rebecca spoke first. “That’s crazy.”

  “Yep.” Lilliah had already fished her phone out of her pocket and was dialling Sebastian’s number. She wanted to get this done as soon as possible. The more she sat around waiting, the more she’d worry.

  “We could bleed.” Rebecca’s hand went to her throat. “He definitely said you could bleed. And death!” She laughed without any humour. “Let’s not forget about death.”

  Lilliah stopped dialling. “I get that it’s a lot, and I would totally understand if you didn’t want to go through with it.”

  “What are my other choices?” Rebecca wasn’t being snarky. She didn’t even look mad, just thoughtful. “Azrael’s been gone for what? Three days? And already the Devil has dropped by to say hi. This spell can hide us from him. It’s our only choice.”

  Lilliah wanted to disagree so badly. She wanted to reassure her friend that if she wanted to, she could leave. The reality was that she couldn’t guarantee her safety. She couldn’t guarantee that Rebecca wouldn’t be a target.

  “I’m sorry.” The stupid apology, which in reality didn’t mean a lot, was all she had to offer.

  “Why are you sorry? You didn’t start any of this.” Rebecca kicked
a stone on the ground. “You know what?” She looked up, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. “I’m in.”

  Lilliah beamed. “Thank you.”

  They walked back into the building, heading for Lilliah’s room.

  “Actually, should I call Seb, or should you?” Lilliah asked, keeping her voice down. She didn’t want any of the people walking past to overhear.

  Rebecca waited to answer until they had reached Lilliah’s bedroom door. “I think you should. When I talk to my boyfriend, I don’t want to just be talking about magic.”

  “That’s sweet.” Lilliah pushed the door open.

  They stopped in the doorway, staring at Azrael. He was standing in the middle of the room, his hands casually in his pockets as though nothing were wrong. His black hair was swept back from his face. Lilliah couldn’t move or speak; her body and mind were in complete shock.

  Rebecca slowly reached out and grabbed her hand. “We … should … run,” she whispered, inching towards the hall.

  As quiet as she was, Azrael had heard her, and with a twitch of his hand, Rebecca was sent flying across the room and into the built-in wardrobe. The door slammed shut behind her.

  “Run, Lilliah! Run!” Rebecca screamed, the door almost breaking off its hinges as she banged against it.

  Azrael smirked and the room fell silent.

  “What did you do to her?” As if the silence had awoken her, Lilliah crossed the room and yanked on the door. It was locked. She slammed her fist against it. “Rebecca? Rebecca, can you hear me?”

  “She’s asleep,” Azrael said. “Don’t worry. She’s okay.”

  Slowly, she turned to face him. “Why are you here? What more do you want?” Then, mostly to herself, she said, “You’re wearing grey.”

  His change in style had thrown her off at first; she’d never seen him wearing anything that wasn’t black.

  Azrael looked down at his smart three-piece suit.

  Was even a fraction of her boyfriend left in the Azrael standing before her? Or was he gone forever?

  “You confuse me with your question.” He sounded so formal.