Chapter 87
“I’m not afraid of you. You don’t scare me.”
—LAURIE STRODE, HALLOWEEN (1978)
I struggled against Jezebel’s impossibly strong grip as she shot through the House of the Fallen toward my bedroom.
“Jezebel! We have to go back; we can’t leave him. Yahweh will unmake him!” The memory of the dream Yahweh had sent me burned in the back of my mind. Ramel’s and Shem’s lifeless bodies were all I could see. I couldn’t lose them. I couldn’t lose any more people. I wasn’t strong enough.
“I’m sorry, Lilith,” she said, her voice cracking. I could hear the worry in her tone. “We have to keep you safe.”
“Please, Jezebel, I won’t survive it if they die.”
Jezebel landed in front of my bedroom, her expression more serious than I had ever seen it. She gripped my shoulders tightly and looked me in the eye.
“Listen to me, Lilith. Ramel and Shemhazai are the most powerful demons to have ever existed. You made sure of it when you made them. If anyone can protect Hell from Yahweh, it’s them. Right now, I need to keep you safe until you ascend. Once you’re fully in your power, Yahweh truly won’t stand a chance. It’s almost midnight; please, just let me protect you until then. The second you have your powers back, I’ll let you tear Yahweh apart your damn self. Okay? ”
I bit my lip, unable to respond. My heart was pounding in my chest. This all felt so familiar. I could feel them slipping through my fingers. The fear of losing them was so strong I could barely breathe.
“I know Art freaked you out saying I was going after Ramel, but you have to believe me, Lilith; if I had known the reincarnated version of you would have a problem with it, I never would have done that.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she swallowed hard enough that I heard it. “You gave me a body to match how I felt in my soul, Lilith. I will always be grateful for that. I would never betray you. And these past few days with you have been… You’re my friend, Lilith . Let me protect you. I promise we’ll fuck Yahweh up as soon as you have your strength back.”
A tear slid down her cheek just as Art arrived. He shifted back into his human form, looking back and forth between Jezebel and me, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Everything alright here?” he asked suspiciously, giving Jezebel a dark look.
I stared at Jezebel. I believed her. I didn’t think anyone was this good an actor.
“Yeah,” I said, nodding once. “We’re good.”
Art pursed his lips but didn’t push it. “Alright, let’s get out of the hallway; we’re too out in the open.” He gestured for us to go into the bedroom.
I turned the knob and stepped into the room that had become so familiar over the past few weeks to find Rafael leaning against one of the bedposts.
I froze.
“Hello, Lilith,” the angel said, his voice dripping in venom. “I’ve been waiting for you.