CHAPTER SIXTEEN: LONELY DEPATURE

She opened her eyes to an inferno. She was back where it all started, at the beginning of her existence. How could she forget who she was? The symbol of an unholy union. A single encounter with a gentle breeze had changed her entire existence—the thing called love. A beautiful rose that had rapidly become a thorn in her flesh.

Something so all-consuming yet diced with confusion

She had been running from herself, knowing she was half human. Unable to come to terms with love but yet unwilling to let it go. The gentle breeze that gave her a reason to fight for this supposedly lonely world.

For the first time, it all became real to her. Her heart wanted more, yearning for an adventure in this all-consuming fate, swimming depths into the oceans of love. It had become a new revelation for her, exposing her weak human self and making her a shadow of her original self. A loner in desperate longing to lose herself in another. She had fallen deep, and she knew it.

It was only a matter of time before she went insane. She couldn't get him out of her mind, and the thought of never seeing him was getting unbearable. Starring at the infernal throne right before her, on her left a flaming image of her father staring emotionlessly at her. She bowed her head in fear, knowing the time had come, and there was no stopping it. Sitting amongst the Elders of Terror, she placed the box of Pandora on the altar right before them.

"A present for the terrors, as promised!" They whispered amongst each other, searching for a fault to prey on before Abaddon cut in. "It seems the human is more precious at the expense of your honor! He will be set free in the human realm, but not with you. You will fulfill what demands of you.. a rightful queen of hell!" he proclaimed and ended the discussion.

Lilith clenched her fist, but said not a word. She knew it would eventually come to this—letting go of what she had come to cherish. Damien was out of the elder's claws, and she was pleased, but her heart struggled to come to terms with letting him out of her sight. Their love has blossomed in a sad tangle of blood-soaked fields. But she knew what had to be done to secure the life of her beloved human.

She pondered how things could ever get back to normal, but found solace in knowing Damien was alive and well. Lilith sighed as she walked to the dungeon, where he remained captive. The chains of hell forged in Damascus steel locked his hands apart as he lay unconscious on the heated ground traced around in molten fire.

His skin had suffered a great deal of torture, stripping him of humanity with only his panting breaths as compensation. Tears rolled down Lilith's cheeks as she held him in her arms, breaking off the chains in anger. Her eyes raged in red flames as she appeared in the dark streets of Los Angeles.

She walked into her apartment, drenched in scars and blood oozing from Damien's body. Her eyes couldn't bear the pain he was in, causing her to turn away towards the door. She wished he was also immortal, so his pain could have been less felt. Her wounds have begun to close, sealing up in a few moments. She picked up a clean towel, gently wiping the bloodstains off Damien's body, careful not to inflict pain on him. After she had cleaned him up, she sat on the bed, staring at his pitiful state while she watched him drift off to sleep.

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Her eyes flickered as Damien regained consciousness. He opened his eyes slowly, his hoarse voice crying out in exhaustion. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked Lilith, holding her hand in his. "Two days!" she replied in a bright smile. He had never seen her smile so broadly and wondered how beautiful she looked, mesmerized by her touch.

She caressed his chin, gently pressing her lips on his. Her firm touch caught him off guard as he held her waist, pressing her body close to his. "I love you." Lilith whispered.

Her words were like chilled water running through the spring fountains. She was one who rarely spoke of love, but her words penetrated deep into his heart. "I love you more, Lilith," he murmured, burying his head in her neck as he trailed soft kisses on her. She patted him back, knowing he was still in pain but tried hard to look strong.

It was only a matter of time before she left forever, fulfilling her duties to the underworld in exchange for protecting him. Lilith smiled as tears trickled down her cheeks, her humane self coming to full expression. Her heart hurt much more than the wounds inflicted on her body. The blisters on her hands were sore, hurting deeply as she hugged him.

Tears dropped from her eyes for many reasons. Losing the one she had tried to push away hurt like a burning stone carved into her chest. The blood moon was to arrive the following night, putting an end to all memories she held onto.

"It will be alright," Damien reassured her. Hugging her closely, unaware of the thoughts going through her mind. Lilith sighed, unable to tell him what had transpired within her heart. She couldn't bear to hurt him again. Shutting her eyes, she patted him gently on the back in silence. "Yes, yes, it will."

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