Ruthless (The Seraphim Series Book 2)

by Sophia Stafford

  “I think he was excited. I don’t know, he just kind of ran off. He's practising.” She motioned to his sweaty, bloodstained top with her finger. “So this is what you’ve been doing? Play-fighting?”

  Iris smiled and rolled her eyes. “Pretty much. It started off as one fight, which turned into a championship with points and winners and everything.”

  Lilliah shook her head, for the first time noticing the blood on her brother's shirt. His hair was a messy array on his head, his face still bruised from his last fight.

  “Don’t you think you should heal between fights?” She pointed at her brother's eye.

  Sebastian grabbed his drink from the table and gulped it down. “I don’t even feel it anymore. It just looks worse than it really is,” he answered after downing his drink.

  Their mum had freaked when she’d seen his face. They had been dressed in black for Jeremy's funeral, and there was no hiding the huge purple marks on Sebastian’s face.

  “Oh, my lord.” Anna had grabbed his face and angled it to a window to try and get a better look. “How could you do this to me? On today of all days!” She had practically screeched, still not letting go of his head.

  “It wasn’t my fault!” Sebastian tried to defend.

  Feeling sorry for him, Lilliah backed him up. After all, their mother would have seen her covered in bruises and cuts had she not healed faster.

  “It really wasn’t his fault, Mum. Some guys jumped him, but he’s okay now.” Lilliah didn’t feel so bad about this particular lie, as some of it was the truth.

  Still not looking utterly convinced, Anna had let go of Sebastian’s head. “If anything happens to you two, you tell me. Okay? I don’t care if you’re on holiday or the godforsaken moon. I need to be told these things. I need to know you’re both okay.”

  She waited for both Lilliah and Sebastian to agree before looking at Rebecca, who had been hovering in the background. “You too, missy. If anything happens to you, Rebecca, you must call me, okay?”

  Rebecca gave a jerky nod.

  “You might not be my child by birth, but you’re still one of mine. Okay?”

  Rebecca’s eyes had filled with tears and she had mumbled a soft, “Okay.”

  A few days after the funeral, when Rebecca and Lilliah were in a room alone, Rebecca had brought it up again. “I love your mum.”

  Lilliah had nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

  Iris pulled Lilliah out of her daydream by pulling at her sleeve. “Are you going to fight?”

  Lilliah took one look at the wooden floor and shook her head. “Hell, no. The only practising I’m going to be doing is the magical kind.”

  Caleb walked over to them from the other side of the room, his drink in one hand and his towel in the other. His hair was messy like Sebastian’s, but there was no blood on him. Because of this, Lilliah assumed he had been winning before Rebecca had put him off.

  “I heard you’re a good fighter,” Caleb said, his white top almost clear with sweat.

  “Good?” Rebecca laughed from beside her. “Lilliah isn’t a good fighter. She’s an amazing one.”

  Caleb arced an eyebrow while Lilliah scowled. “She’s exaggerating.”

  Caleb didn’t look convinced. “Iris showed the video of you beating that werewolf on the road. You looked like you knew what you were doing.”

  Lilliah looked down at Iris, who at least looked a little embarrassed. “I was telling him about the time we were run off the road. He didn’t believe me that you could fight so I Googled it.” She ended with a shrug.

  “I don’t want to fight. I’ve been fighting a lot the past few days, I know how to pack a punch. It’s the magic stuff that I need to learn,” Lilliah told him honestly, but by the faces of everyone around her, she had disappointed them.

  Caleb looked thoughtful for a second, his eyes going between Lilliah and Iris.

  “Tell you what. You fight me and win, and I’ll help you with your magic.”

  Lilliah crossed her arms and frowned. “And why exactly would I want to you help me with magic?”

  “Because I’m a warlock.”

  Chapter 24

  “This is going to be a good fight.” Sebastian sat on the floor next to Lilliah as she stretched. “I mean, I still don’t fully get what his job as ‘the Keeper’ is, but let me tell you something: that guy can fight.”

  Lilliah stopped what she was doing to look her brother in the eye. “You’re really not helping.”

  She shook her head and eyed Caleb at the other end of the room. Who would have guessed that he was a warlock? As it turned out, no one had known apart from Iris, who was now standing with him.

  “He’s been helping me try and get my visions back,” Iris had told her when Lilliah had questioned who knew. “He’s been a really big help.”

  So Lilliah had agreed to the stupid fight because she needed help, and Benedict was busy. She had quickly run off to change into her workout gear, a tight pair of running trousers and sleeveless Nike top that she had picked up from her mother the last time she went home.

  “You ready?” A chipper Rebecca came to stand beside her.

  Lilliah wasn’t but she nodded. She really wasn’t in the mood for this, but if it meant help trying to use her powers, she’d do it.

  “You ready, Caleb?” Rebecca called over. Caleb nodded and Iris scurried out of the way to the sidelines with the others. “Right. I want a nice, clean fight. Whosever back touches the ground first loses.”

  Lilliah shook her head at her friend. “You’re having way too much fun with this.”

  Rebecca shrugged and Lilliah and Caleb moved into position.

  “Ready, go!” Rebecca called out.

  Caleb moved in first, going straight for Lilliah’s torso. She stepped out of the way, punching him in his stomach as she moved.

  He bent over in pain so Lilliah grabbed his head and was about to pull him to the ground when his large hands grabbed her wrists. He was a lot stronger then she had anticipated; no matter how much she pulled, her wrists just wouldn’t come loose.

  Caleb pulled her body to his until they were face to face, chest to chest.

  “You’re a lot stronger than I thought.” He laughed a little, at the same time trying to trip her with his leg.

  Lilliah saw it coming and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. The movement startled Caleb for just a second, but it was long enough for Lilliah to pull her hands free. Caleb dropped to his knees and was about to drop Lilliah to the floor on her back, but she twisted her body. She had just the right angle to twist Caleb and she pushed down on him. They landed on the floor in a heap, Caleb lying flat on his back with Lilliah lying on top of him.

  “I think”—Lilliah pushed up from his chest—“I won.”

  Caleb didn’t move as Lilliah lifted her body off his. He just stared at her.

  She stood over him and offered him her hand. “I wouldn’t take it so hard. I’ve been fighting a lot recently.”

  Caleb smiled and took it. “You were amazing. I have never seen someone move like that. There were times when I couldn’t even really see you.”

  “Part angel, I guess.” She turned to the others, about to ask if she had moved too fast for them to see, but stopped when she caught sight of their faces. “What?”

  All three of them stood with their mouths hanging open. Rebecca looked shocked but a little impressed, Sebastian a little confused but ecstatic nonetheless. But Iris—Iris’s eyes darted between Lilliah and Caleb.

  “That was pretty intense.” Sebastian spoke first.

  “Yeah, it was. But you won!” Rebecca clapped her hands, yet she still looked a little awkward.

  Caleb cleared his throat beside her. “I’m going to change. I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes.” Without so much as looking at the others, Caleb left the room.

  Again no one spoke or moved.

  “What the hell is wrong with you guys?” Lilliah demanded, hands on hips and staring at them all. She h
ad just won for goodness’ sake; weren't they supposed to be happy for her?

  “You-you did really well.” Iris slowly backed away. With one last sad look at Lilliah, she turned and headed out the door.

  Lilliah pointed to where Iris had been standing. “I’m sorry, did I miss something? What the hell was that?”

  Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck. “That was pretty weird to watch.”

  Lilliah raised her eyebrows, needing more of an explanation than that.

  “Dude, it was kind of sexual.” Rebecca pressed her lips together, as if she was trying to hold in a laugh.

  “What?” Now it was Lilliah turn to look stunned. They had been fighting; she had literally kicked the heck out of him. How could fighting look sexual?

  “Yeah,” Sebastian agreed, but he clearly didn’t find the whole situation as funny as Rebecca.

  “He kind of stopped fighting when you wrapped your legs around him. It actually got a little uncomfortable to watch. You were using his body like a stripper's pole and then he dropped to his knees, with—well, with this look in his eyes!” Rebecca was fanning her face as she spoke, her words getting higher and higher.

  “He dropped to his knees because we were still fighting,” Lilliah reminded, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

  “Yeah, but that look. He looked like he wanted to take you there and then. Like he was just going to lay you down and be damned who was watching.” Rebecca still looked shocked and excited, but the laughter had gone.

  “Iris.” Lilliah headed straight for the door and into the next apartment. Poor, poor Iris! Lilliah knew she had feelings for Caleb. The girl wasn’t very great at hiding them, so pretty much everyone knew. And if their fight had been like Rebecca and Sebastian had described, she must have been heartbroken. Lilliah rounded the corner into the second apartment and hit what felt like a brick wall.

  Caleb stood in front of her in a fresh pair of jogging trousers and a new top. “You ready?”

  Lilliah stepped back. “Yeah. I was just going to go and talk to Iris for a second.”

  For what felt like the first time, Lilliah had a good look at Caleb. They had been living in the same two apartments together for the past week, yet she had barely spoken to him. She hardly knew anything about him.

  “Why, what’s wrong with Iris?” He looked genuinely concerned for her.

  Lilliah liked that; she liked that Iris’s feeling weren’t just one way. “This …” she scratched her head, getting a little embarrassed at what she was about to say. Maybe Caleb had no idea what their fight had looked like? “This is going to sound so strange, but Rebecca and Seb both said our fight looked a little, well, a little sexual.” She laughed, but Caleb didn’t laugh back. He just stared down at her, a corner of his mouth turned up in a sort of smirk.

  “Right,” he drawled.

  “Well, of course it wasn’t.” She spoke quickly, not liking his smirk one bit.

  “No, of course not,” he said, still smirking.

  “Look. Iris might have seen something that wasn’t there. And I think she might have got a little upset.”

  Caleb’s whole body straightened; his smirk had disappeared. “Me and Iris aren’t together. She’s a kid—I’m just helping her with her powers.”

  Lilliah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Iris had been wearing her feelings for Caleb on her sleeve; how had he not known? Or had he known and just ignored them? Lilliah stared at his face, her mouth hanging open slightly.

  “She likes you.” Lilliah decided to spell it out for him, seeing as he seemed to have missed all of Iris’s obvious flirtation.

  Caleb shook his head. “No. Don’t get me wrong, I really like her. But more as a little sister than anything else. God, she’s like what? Eighteen? I’m twenty-three.”

  Lilliah knew more than anyone that age was just a number. She had no idea how old Azrael was, but she guessed that she couldn’t count to it. And in all honesty, five years really wasn’t that bad.

  “I’m eighteen! And I don’t think Iris knows that you look at her like a sister. So I am going to go in there and explain to her that our fight was just that. A fight. Not foreplay!” Lilliah stormed past Caleb and headed for the bedroom door. “We’ll meet you in the other room!” she spat out behind her before slowing her pace until she stopped outside of the bedroom door.

  “Iris?” She knocked once and then waited.

  “Just a minute,” Iris called out, along with a sniffle. Lilliah’s heart broke a little inside. She’d been crying.

  After a few seconds she opened the door just a little so Lilliah could see her eyes.

  “Can I come in?” Lilliah asked softly.

  Iris nodded and opened the door. Her eyes were red, as was her nose.

  “Have you been crying?” Lilliah pried gently as she sat on the bed.

  “Oh, no.” Iris shook her head and wiped her eyes. “I just get runny eyes sometimes.” She stood, but wouldn’t look at Lilliah’s face.

  “Rebecca told me that the fight looked a little …” Lilliah paused, trying to find the right words. “A little weird.”

  Iris folded her arms, still looking down at the floor. No longer hiding her watery eyes.

  “Iris, you have to believe me. It was just a fight.” She stressed the last word, almost willing her believe she was telling the truth.

  “I know.” Iris nodded her head and bit her lip.

  “I don’t want anything to do with Caleb. He really isn’t my type.” She tried to make a joke but failed when she saw Iris’s shoulders drop slightly. “I have Azrael.” She tried again.

  “I know,” Iris repeated, finally looking up. “I know you don’t want him, but he wants you.” Iris didn’t say the words accusingly, but softly, sounding slightly defeated.

  “I honestly think that Caleb is a bit of an arsehole,” Lilliah told her honestly.

  A hint of a smile graced Iris’s lips before it vanished. “I’ve been hanging around him for days. I thought, for just a second, that he liked me too. He treated me so nicely, and he was just so great trying to teach me how to use my visions, that I stupidly thought he felt the same way.” Tears now flowed down Iris’s cheeks.

  “Iris.” Lilliah reached up to hug her, and Iris practically fell into her arms. “If Caleb doesn’t see how amazing and funny you are, well then, screw him!”

  Iris’s body shook with laughter. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. Iris just let Lilliah hug her. Eventually she lifted her head. “Are you nervous about the spell?” she asked, her face still streaked with tears.

  The spell. Excitement bubbled in the pit of Lilliah’s stomach. After what felt like weeks of no progress, something was finally happening, and not just any something. This was huge.

  “I’m nervous because it might not work. I’m nervous because it might work. Does that make sense? It’s my idea; what would I do if the spell kills them instead of bringing them back to life?”

  Since the spell had been agreed to, Lilliah hadn’t had time to really process what it meant, or what it could mean if everything went to plan. Beings that are thousands of years old would be free on Earth. If that would be a blessing or a curse, she didn’t know. One thing she did know was that they would be powerful. And power was what they needed right now.

  “I wouldn’t sweat it, if I was you. Benedict knows what he’s doing.” Iris looked away and wiped her face with both of her hands. “I must look crazy stupid right now.”

  “No. You’re not stupid.” Lilliah waited until Iris looked at her again and smiled. Once she did, Lilliah continued, “As much as I think Caleb is a compete jackass, he’s also the only one, it seems, that can help me with my powers. So I need him. Do you want to come to practise?”

  Iris looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded. “Yeah. That would be nice. Just let me wash my face.”

  Ten minutes later, Lilliah and Iris walked into the second apartment. Rebecca and Sebastian had gone but Caleb sat on the floor, a plate of sand
wiches in front of him.

  “About time,” he called out when he caught sight of Iris and Lilliah.

  “We were just getting ready.” Lilliah dropped on the floor. She really didn’t want to sit next to Caleb, but with only three of them, she really didn’t have a choice.

  Iris sat down as well. Caleb smiled at her and she smiled back, but it wasn’t a big smile. Caleb either didn’t notice or just ignored it.

  “Right, how do we do this?” Lilliah leaned forward, ready to get the show on the road. The less time she could spend with Caleb, the better.

  He grinned and motioned to the sandwiches. “Have one if you want.”

  Without thinking too much about it, Lilliah leaned forward and took a sandwich off the plate. She hadn’t eaten all day and was starving.

  Iris also took one, and for a few seconds none of them spoke while they ate.

  “Do you have to do this on a full stomach or something?” Lilliah asked, having just finished hers.

  Caleb shook his head. “No, I was just hungry.” He smirked that smirk again, the same smirk that made Lilliah want to hit it off his face. He then clapped his hands to the side to get rid of any crumbs and then held both his hands out, palms up. “Grab my hands.”

  Both Iris and Lilliah looked at each other for a minute before both taking Caleb’s hands in their own.

  “Now you two hold hands.”

  Iris and Lilliah both joined hands, so they were now forming a sort of circle.

  “I have a theory that with me being a warlock, Iris having her visions, and of course Lilliah being an angel, all this power will somehow trigger something. Am I making any sense?” He looked between Iris and Lilliah.

  “Nope. Not really.” Lilliah had no idea how their holding hands would trigger anything. She looked over at Iris, who looked just as confused.

  “Just go with it.” Caleb wiggled his arms a little and relaxed.

  They all sat like that for what felt like twenty minutes, but what could have, in reality, been only five. Lilliah didn’t know; there was no clock in the room. Caleb had closed his eyes and seemed to be meditating. Iris had started fidgeting in her seat. Lilliah's arms were starting to hurt, her hands turning clammy. And seeing how she still had to hold hands with Iris and Caleb, it was totally gross.