The Ritual

Sebastian

I awoke next to Lilith out in the small forest that was behind the palace. I don't know how long we were going at it. I can't even really remember much of what happened. Azazel took completely over, and the intensity of everything made my brain foggy. It didn't help that I couldn't ask him what happened because he was asleep like always after having his time with Lilly.

I struggled to sit up. Azazel's healing steamed closed the lacerations I had on my body, but my muscles were still sore. I rested my arm on my knee, heavily breathing as I looked over to the right. Lilith was struggling on the floor, trying to rise to her knees. Her body was covered in deep cuts, all steaming shut. I gritted my teeth as I saw an especially deep one pinch closed as she sat on her knees panting.

"What... in the hell!?" She looked at me worriedly. My bite mark seared as I felt panic flood over me.

"You can't remember anything after the pathway either, can you?" I huffed out as I struggled to get to my feet. She pulled herself up, using a tree as leverage. She shook her head.

"No, I don't remember anything..." I took a step toward her, reaching my hand out for her to take. She placed her dirt covered hand in mine as we stood there, both trying to rack our brains around what happened. We both looked upwards, noticing it was nighttime, and it was a full moon.

"Maybe it's the moon? I know my magic gets amplified during it... maybe yours does as well?" She leaned on me as I wrapped my arm around her.

Possibly? I recalled what happened on the pathway. I've never been that aggressive before. Is it the pent-up stress? Is that what's going on? I held her tightly; her smell still swirling around my nose.

"Ugh... Lilith... are you..." I looked down at her. She whimpered and buried her face into the side of my shoulder.

"Yes, I still feel like I'm in heat... but it's not as intense as when it started. I'm good." She nibbled my arm, looking up at me. "I might be moodier, though." She giggled as we made our way back to the house and to the room to bathe and get ready for dinner.

We made our way into the dining hall after our bathing session. I pulled a chair out for Lilith to sit. I pushed her to the table as I sat next to her. Luna arrived shortly after us as the servers brought in the dishes George made. The two girls started arguing over the food. Luna demanded Lilith not eat her whole plate, which triggered the argument. My head was pounding as I ground my teeth. Normally I'd intervene, but I... can not... stop thinking about what I was missing.

Kain walked in, shooting me a glance. I noticed how he made an apologetic look towards me like he felt my pain with the bickering sisters. I sighed, rolling my eyes as he took a seat next to Luna. I was too busy trying to figure out what happened when I saw Lilith, out of the corner of my eye, lunge at Luna. What the hell?

I snapped my head in the direction she threw herself, only to see Kain grab her to stop her. I bolted up, grabbing Lilith from him, and yanking her away as I put myself between them

"YOU DON'T TOUCH HER!" I roared out, grabbing him by his chin. I ended up waking Azazel up. He grumbled as Kain told me to not touch Luna. I snarled at him as I turned back to my seat. Grabbing Lilith by her shoulders and forcing her to sit down. She was fuming, making my body ache.

I was stuck looking forward as flashes of what happened in the forest hit me. My jaw tightened as one particular scene hit me. I felt Azael hum as I saw Lilly draw runes on her; him biting her; them going at it like crazy and then her whispering how it's not guaranteed, but it's a high possibility. I froze.

"She's going to force us to go back home. She's going to want us and the other ten guardians to fight alongside Edwin." Lilith's voice rang through my ears, as the realization of my situation and what Azazel and Lilly did hit me. I stood up, slamming my hands into the table, breaking it.

"FUCK!" I roared out as I turned and stormed off. As I entered the foyer, I gripped my head.

"WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT!?" I flung my arms out in frustration.

"Because we need her here. She died in the last war we fought... I explained that to her, that's why she agreed..."

"NO!" I cut him off. He growled within me as I felt his rage boil up.

"YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I CONTROL YOU!" His voice rang through my head, causing me to wince and fall to the floor. This was the first time Azazel had dominated me. The first time he showed me who really was in control. I felt a comforting touch on my back. I pulled away from it, turning around to see Lilith. Her worry was clearly written across her face.

I swallowed hard as I stared at her. She needed to know, and she needed to know before Lilly woke up and told her. I couldn't have her go through what I just did with Azazel. I sighed, reached out, and grabbed her by the hand.

"Come. We need to talk." I pulled her gently towards our room.

I opened the door, letting her walk in first. She sat on the bed, patting the seat for me to sit next to her. I pursed my lips, slowly heading towards her.

"What's going on Sebastian?" She leaned her head on my shoulder as she wrapped her fingers around mine. I squeezed tightly.

"Did Lilly wake up?" I hoarsely said as I stared forward.

"Yea, she woke up when I got mad at Luna. She still won't show me what happened..." She paused as started to chew her lip. "She says... she wants you to fill me in?" With a curious tilt of her brow, she looked at me.

I took a deep breath.

"Lilly is Azazel's reincarnated mate," I stated. Lilith's jaw dropped. "She was killed in the last demon war. She apparently, backstabbed the deity that gave your clan powers. In doing so, she was cursed to be reincarnated repeatedly. Each time, she would lose a piece of her memories, unable to connect back with Azazel." I took a breath as I hung my head low.

"That's... wow." She blinked furiously as she tried to process what I told her.

"There's more." I paused as I removed my hand from hers, standing up. I ended up pacing the floor in front of the bed as she followed me with her gaze. Silence fell over us as I tried to form words. I stopped in front of her.

"Azazel convinced Lilly to do the conception ritual." I blurted out. Ugh! I gripped my hair as I returned to my pathway of pacing. Fuck this! Why is everything not going my god-damn way!? Why in the world, with a war happening, you would think getting her pregnant would help!? I seethed towards Azazel as he ignored me, humming.

I stopped my manic walking as I turned my attention back to Lilith. The color drained from her face. She stayed there, sitting like a statue.

"Lilith... please..." I went up to her, kneeling as I tried to look at her. She turned her head away from me. I felt sorrow skewer through my chest, right where my scar from the day I died resided.