Ruthless (The Seraphim Series Book 2)

by Sophia Stafford

  She knew the others had met him briefly. He’d helped them in his own drunken way when Ada had tried to kill everyone. That seemed so long ago, even though in reality, it had only been a few months.

  “The werewolf? Of course. That guy is a living, breathing Captain Jack Sparrow, but better dressed.” Sebastian rubbed his chin and smiled.

  “Yeah, him.” Lilliah smiled too. “Well, his uncle kind of runs the werewolves.”

  “Martin. I know him. Good man. He and Azrael have done business for years,” Benedict said. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

  “I met him at his offices. It was so freaky, but they had all the werewolves in the back. They were all boxed up and safe. He said he was moving them or something.” Lilliah waved it off. The finer details were slipping her mind, and she didn’t want the others to be put off by it. “You should have seen the way he cared for them and protected them. They aren’t just stone. I really think that with the right spell, we could bring them back.”

  Once again, the room fell silent. Lilliah watched everyone closely as they processed the implications of what she had said. Bringing the statutes back to life could change everything.

  Caleb surprised Lilliah by speaking first. “I say we give it a shot.”

  “Me too. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?” Iris agreed, lightly clapping her hands together.

  “Yeah, we say go for it. What other choice do we really have?” Rebecca said, speaking for her and Sebastian. He didn’t seem to mind, and he pulled her closer to his side.

  Lilliah turned to look at Benedict, begging him with her eyes to give it a try.

  “How do you propose we go about waking these statues?” he asked, his eyes trained solely on her.

  “I don’t know. With magic? I mean we do have the Holy Grail, after all.” She pointed to the table where the Grail had once sat.

  Benedict had had it hidden away safely, probably to stop it from getting broken or lost or used as a mug, because that was all it had been good for so far.

  Benedict gave in. “We could give it a try. I’ll make some calls.”

  Lilliah wanted to squeal with delight. He trusted her. He believed in what she was saying enough to really give it a go. She stopped herself from hugging him as he stood. It had happened once, and she really didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.

  “How long will that take? What do we do now?” Sebastian’s gaze bounced from person to person. Even though the bruises on his face had barely healed, he was craving more action.

  “It will take a few days. I suggest everyone rests, and go and see your families. Just be safe and stay low. The odds of Lucifer attacking are minimal. There are reports of him in Africa, recruiting more souls for his army. I doubt he will have time to come back to taunt Lilliah.”

  “What about Azrael?” Rebecca winced and looked over at Lilliah. “Sorry, Lil, but it’s true. What do we do if he comes back?”

  “If you see Azrael, run. None of you can fight him and win. Just get out of there as fast as you can.” Those were Benedict’s parting words as he left the room, already pulling his phone from his trouser pocket.

  “I don’t know. The way Lilliah’s been fighting, I’d say she has a shot.” Sebastian winked at her.

  “Maybe.” Lilliah stood, suddenly dog-tired.

  Just hearing Azrael’s name reminded her that he wasn’t here helping. It reminded her that he was the enemy—her enemy. Even after all these weeks, it still didn’t sound right.

  “I’m going to get some sleep.” She lifted her hand in a half wave and headed down the hall to her small bedroom.

  The room wasn’t even really hers. They’d all been sharing it and taking turns sleeping on the bed. Since losing Jeremy, everyone had let Lilliah and Rebecca have the bed, most likely so they wouldn’t have to hear them crying at night.

  Lilliah fell on the bed and immediately drifted off to dream of her favourite memory of Azrael.

  The creak of her door opening woke Lilliah. She shot up in the bed, squinting at the light.

  “Hey, chill out. It’s just me.” Rebecca held up her hands.

  Lilliah stretched out, twisting her neck side to side. “How long have I been asleep for?”

  “Hours. You slept all night. Dude, you were like the living dead or something.” Rebecca sat beside her on the bed. “I slept here last night, and I bet you didn’t even notice.”

  Lilliah shook her head. She’d had no clue. But she felt good. Better than she had in days. “I must have needed it.” She threw back the covers and started getting ready. After everything that had happened yesterday, she knew there had to be a lot to do today.

  A loud male voice boomed from outside and Lilliah stopped. “Who else is here?”

  “It seems like everyone is. I have no idea how he does it without getting dark circles under his eyes, but Benedict didn’t sleep last night. He was busy.” Rebecca stretched out on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

  Lilliah tiptoed over to the door, as if they could hear her footsteps, and opened the door a crack. “Who’s everyone?” she whispered while listening in on the loud conversation outside.

  “Maliki, his uncle, and a few of their guys, as well as some vampire chick. She arrived in a blacked-out limo and all the curtains are closed.” Rebecca snorted. “A few of her guys are here too.”

  “What?” Lilliah spun around and grabbed a pair of discarded jeans from the floor. How had she missed so much? “Has Benedict told them about the spell? What do they think?”

  Rebecca sat up on her elbows and watched Lilliah rushing around the room. “From what I can tell, they like it, but the vampires and werewolves are arguing about which one should go first. I think they’re afraid the spell will backfire and accidentally kill their loved ones instead of resurrecting them.”

  Lilliah shoved on a creased top and pushed her hair back. She didn’t care that she looked a mess. She needed to be part of this conversation as soon as possible.

  “Has Benedict found a spell that could work?” Lilliah walked towards the door. Why hadn’t anyone woken her sooner? But she didn’t voice that question. She was awake now, and she had way more important questions to ask.

  “You’ll have to ask him.” Rebecca pushed herself off the bed. “Come on then. Let’s go to the madhouse.”

  They left the room and walked down the corridor, the voices getting louder with every step they took.

  A woman’s high-pitched voice rang out above the rest. “I refuse to put our elders in that situation. This spell is new and unclear.”

  “But you expect me to put my elders in danger? I don’t think so, Amelia. That is not how compromising works.” Martin stood up and Lilliah saw that he was wearing the same light brown trousers she remembered so well from their first meeting. His jacket was sprawled over a nearby chair.

  Maliki was standing just behind him, arms folded and watching the argument with a bored but amused look on his face. His eyes lit up when they fell on Lilliah.

  “Well, look who it is. Even with your hair like that, you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” He walked over to her, his trademark three-piece suit in immaculate condition.

  “Hello, Maliki,” she greeted, holding back her smile.

  “It’s terrible about Azrael. The worst. But don’t worry, we’ll get him back.” He winked, casually putting a hand in his pocket. He looked calmer than Lilliah remembered, more in control. But then the soft smell of whiskey drifted to her nostrils, reminding her that Maliki was still Maliki.

  “I know we will.”

  He then looked at Rebecca. “And of course, you look divine. And colourful, as always.”

  Rebecca pulled at her bright orange top. “Not a lot of people could pull this off,” she joked.

  Lilliah moved past him to greet the others. Martin nodded his greeting. The vampire woman, Amelia, looked her up and down before giving her a small nod.

  “Glad you could join us,
Lilliah.” Benedict gestured to a seat next to him. “We were trying to iron out the smaller details of your idea.”

  “And what an amazing idea it is too,” Martin cut in.

  “We all agree it is our best chance at defeating Lucifer and his pathetic followers. But we have yet to agree which race will go first.” Amelia’s voice was clear and crisp, her posh English accent reminding everyone that she was above them.

  “As I said, we’ll try the spell on one group consisting of both werewolves and vampires, and I assure you, no one will die.”

  Amelia tut-tutted. “You should know by now not to promise such things, Benedict. But if those are the terms, then I agree. The vampires will take part.”

  Lilliah turned to Martin, who was rubbing his sweaty cheek. “If those are the terms, then I also agree. The werewolves will take part.”

  Amelia stood. Two men Lilliah hadn’t seen until now stepped forward to meet her. “Then it is settled. The spell will take place on neutral ground, which Benedict will choose. And I swear my kind will not attack your dogs.”

  With one more glance in Lilliah’s direction, Amelia walked out of the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

  “Dogs?” Martin repeated.

  “Leave it, Uncle. She’s gone now, and she’s agreed to take part.”

  Despite Maliki’s reassurances, Martin was growing redder in the face by the minute. “That vile woman makes it sound as if she’s doing us a favour,” he spat, still staring at the closed door.

  Maliki moved around the room, opening the closed curtains. “I hear her time is nearly up and the vampires are already looking for her replacement.”

  Martin chuckled and rubbed his stomach through his off-white shirt. “Good. I’ve had enough of that woman to last me two lifetimes.”

  “So that’s it?” Lilliah asked Benedict, while still watching and smiling at Martin and Maliki. The room slowly began to fill with natural light again as Maliki open the curtains.

  Benedict breathed in. “I’ve been working on the spell all night. I know what we need to do.” Lilliah watched him stand up and walk over to a nearby cupboard. He knelt down and opened it. “I’ve been harnessing the magic from The Grail, but I actually think you are the key to the spell, Lilliah.”

  Maliki and Martin both sucked in air as Benedict turned around.

  “Please, lord, tell me that isn’t what I think it is?” Martin took a small step forward, his arm stretched out slightly and his eyes wide with wonder.

  “Do you think it’s odd that we don’t have that same reaction?” Rebecca asked Lilliah as she walked over to the side of room where she had been watching.

  Lilliah smiled and watched Benedict walk over with the cup in his hands. He always handled it with such care, Lilliah noticed as he carefully put it down on the small coffee table in front of them.

  “I think it’s odd that we’ve become too used to it,” she shared, finally taking her eyes off the cup to look at Rebecca. It was then she looked around and noticed that a few people were missing. “Wait—where’s Sebastian, Caleb, and Iris?”

  Martin and Maliki were both crouched down at the table, keeping a healthy distance from the cup but still admiring it. Benedict was watching them both like hawks.

  “Training, I think. They’re all in the other apartment,” Rebecca whispered.

  Maliki stood first. “This—this is definitely something else.” He whistled. He looked like he wanted to reach out and shake Benedict’s hand. “Something else indeed.”

  “It will be used with the spell. I believe The Grail coupled with Lilliah’s blood should bring your ancestors back.”

  Lilliah hadn’t heard the extent of the spell, but she nodded. Her blood, her hair, her just being there. Whatever Benedict needed to get this spell moving, she’d do it. Then they’d have their own army. If everything went to plan, that was.

  “This plan is good.” Martin finally stood. “But what makes you think they would fight against Lucifer? From what I heard, a lot of angels fought with him.”

  Lilliah opened her mouth to answer, but Benedict got there first.

  “All of the angels that fought with Lucifer were put in Hell. All the fallen angels that were left on Earth were the unlucky souls that were caught in the crossfire. They fought with Michael, but when he had to make a decision, they were cast out too.”

  Lilliah liked Benedict’s explanation better than what she was going to say. But they both boiled down to the same thing. The Archangel Michael, her real father, was a dick.

  “But there’s a chance they could just turn their backs on us,” Maliki pointed out.

  “It’s a chance we’re willing to take.” Benedict spoke evenly, but Lilliah could tell his words weren’t spoken easily. His words were weighed down with contemplation and a lot of planning.

  “Then so are we.” Maliki reached out to shake Benedict’s hand, as did Martin.

  “We will see you in a few days, then.” Martin smiled warmly at both Lilliah and Rebecca before heading for the door.”

  “Be safe, you two. Nothing crazy.” Maliki winked before following his uncle. He turned just before he rounded the corner. “Keep in touch and keep us informed.”

  Benedict gave a single nod before Maliki disappeared.

  Rebecca let her head hang back on the sofa and sighed. “That vampire woman was a total bitch.”

  Benedict chuckled as he bent down to pick up The Grail again. “Always a way with words, Rebecca.”

  Lilliah watched him walk to one of the bedrooms, the one Benedict had been occupying while they had been staying at the apartment block.

  “I will need a little time to prepare for the spell,” he said. “I need to gather my thoughts and go over everything one more time. It needs to be perfect. This—this could be everything!”

  Lilliah and Rebecca both nodded, even though Benedict’s back was to them. Lilliah remembered the last major spell Benedict had performed on her. It hadn’t been anything like the tracking spell they had used to find Iris. This spell had been huge, and had been performed in a special room at The Cure. Benedict had gone into a different room for a while, as Azrael had explained, to prepare himself both mentally and psychically.

  This spell … well, this spell was bigger.

  “Is there anything I need to do?” she asked and Benedict turned around.

  “I will speak to you before the spell. I’m thinking about the day after tomorrow?” He looked at both Lilliah and Rebecca, as if waiting for their approval.

  “Yeah, I mean, any time.” Rebecca shrugged; it clearly didn’t matter to her when the spell was performed.

  “I’m good with the day after tomorrow too,” Lilliah agreed and Benedict carried on walking into his room, leaving just Lilliah and Rebecca sitting on the sofas.

  “I can’t believe it was that easy,” Rebecca muttered, still staring at Benedict’s closed door. Lilliah drummed her fingers against the fabric of the sofa, letting what had happened really sink in. They were going to try and resurrect the originals. The original vampires and werewolves. Actual fallen angels who had once fought Lucifer. She repeated it a few more times in her head, trying to get used to the idea.

  “This is crazy,” she finally muttered.

  Rebecca grabbed her hand and squeezed tight. “This isn’t crazy, Lil. This is it.”

  Lilliah hadn’t felt anything but fear and worry in weeks; it had been so long that she almost didn’t recognise the excitement and relief fluttering in her stomach.

  “We need to tell the others. They're in the other room; want to go and see them train?” Rebecca pushed herself up and stretched her arms. “Sebastian is going to die when he hears about the spell. They’ve been training like mad, but I have literally done nothing for the last few days. I’m turning so lazy.” She helped Lilliah off the sofa and they both headed to the next-door apartment.

  A man dressed all in black walked past them in the hallway. One of Derek’s men, Lilliah guessed, nodding her hea
d in a polite hello.

  “Those guys really do keep to themselves, huh?” Rebecca whispered, and then spied behind them, making sure the army guy hadn’t heard.

  Ever since Derek had left them, Lilliah had hardly seen any of his men. She knew they were still around the building, but they weren’t dropping in like before.

  They walked up the door of the apartment and gently pushed the already unlocked door open. They were met by the sounds of grunting and hitting.

  Caleb had a hold of Sebastian’s arm and was trying to flip him over. Sebastian looked like he had a good grip on the floor and wasn’t making it easy. All the furniture had been pushed to the sides of the room. Iris was sitting on one of the chairs and watching the fight very closely.

  “Oh, my gosh.” Rebecca covered her mouth with her hands. “Please do not kill each other.”

  Caleb and Iris both looked at the door. Sebastian, however, used this time to manoeuvre Caleb, kicking his feet and dropping him to the wooden floor. Caleb grunted as soon as his back made contact. Sebastian stood over him looking way too pleased with himself.

  “That doesn’t count as a point.” Caleb held up his hand for Sebastian to help him up, which he did.

  “Why not? You hit the floor, didn’t you? I’m taking that as a point.” Seb threw his arms out, and then blew a kiss in Rebecca’s direction.

  “Lovely,” Lilliah muttered, making her way to Iris. “The vampire lady and Maliki just left.” Everyone turned to look at them, waiting. “And they want to do the spell.” Lilliah threw her hands in the air.

  “Yes,” Sebastian hissed and Iris clapped. Caleb looked mildly amused, but Lilliah wasn’t about to let him rain on her parade. Rebecca was right: this was huge and she was going to enjoy it.

  “This is so amazing. Is Benedict happy? Has he told you about the spell yet?” Sebastian asked. Lilliah had never seen him smile so big.