Chapter 20

Steam still curled from Zane's skin as he walked into his room, the fresh scent of soap lingering on him. A hot shower after a brutal fight was heaven, but the moment he stepped inside, he realized he wasn't alone.

Mia was already there, lounging on his bed, flipping through the Book of Secrets like she owned the place.

She had one leg folded under her, the other dangling off the edge, her oversized shirt barely covering her toned thighs. Her usual black combat attire was gone, replaced with something softer, looser, more casual.

Zane barely looked at the book in her hands. Instead, his gaze drifted downward, appreciating the subtle curves hidden beneath her relaxed posture.

Mia didn't even glance up.

"Pervert."

Zane smirked, stretching his arms. "If you're going to walk around dressed like that in my room, I think I'm allowed to appreciate the view."

She finally lifted her eyes from the book, giving him a nasty glare he found cute. "Appreciate too much and I'll stab you."

He chuckled. "Noted."

Shaking off his amusement, he dropped onto the chair beside his bed, running a towel through his damp hair.

"So," he started, nodding toward the book in her hands. "Find anything new?"

Mia leaned back against the pillows. "Just confirming a few things is all before we dive into the demonic world. Wrath demons are nasty, but they're actually one of the more straightforward types."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "Straightforward? That thing nearly caved my skull in."

"Exactly." She flipped a page. "They don't have any hidden tricks or elaborate schemes like the others. Just pure, mindless destruction."

Zane thought back to the way the Wrath Demon fought, it really had no tactics, no planning, just overwhelming force.

"Alright," he said, tossing the towel aside. "Then what about the others? What should I expect if we run into, say… an Envy Demon?"

Mia's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ah. Now those are tricky bastards."

She sat up, resting her elbow on her knee. "Envy Demons don't rely on brute strength like Wrath Demons. Instead, they feed on jealousy and resentment. They can manipulate emotions, twist people's thoughts until they drive themselves insane. The more people envy something, the stronger they get."

Zane let out a low whistle. "So basically, walking toxicity."

"Pretty much." She smirked. "And don't get me started on Pride Demons."

"Let me guess." He leaned back in his chair. "They're arrogant as hell?"

Mia chuckled. "That's putting it lightly. Pride Demons refuse to believe anyone is above them. They won't accept orders unless it's from their demon king of course, they won't bow, won't even consider the idea that they might lose. And because of that confidence, they actually tend to be some of the most dangerous."

Zane nodded. "What about Lust Demons?"

Mia shot him a knowing look. "Thinking of visiting one?"

"Just being thorough," he said innocently.

She rolled her eyes but humoured him. "Lust Demons aren't just about, well… you know. They feed on desire in all forms. The more someone craves something, power, wealth, sex, revenge....the stronger they get."

Zane hummed in thought. "So demons literally live off sin."

"More or less," Mia confirmed. "But that brings us to a common misunderstanding." She tapped the book. "The Demonic Realm isn't Hell."

Zane tilted his head. "Come again?"

"This isn't some fiery pit where damned souls are thrown, though there are damned souls.... plenty of them" she explained. "It's an entire functioning world."

Zane narrowed his eyes. "Then where the hell do the demons come from?"

Mia closed the book. "According to the book, they were once angels like Christianity suggests, though the bible isn't nearly as detailed. But what we do know is that their world runs on hierarchy."

Zane leaned forward. "Hierarchy?"

"The demon population is divided into Lower, Middle, and High-Tier Demons. Most of the ones we fight on Earth are Lower-Tier, they are the only ones that can be summoned by regular humans. Middle-Tier demons are commanders and warlords, while High-Tier demons are powerful enough to rule entire regions of the realm."

She paused. "And then… there are the Royal Demons."

Zane straightened. That was his target.

"Royal Demons are the oldest, strongest, and most terrifying beings in the Demonic Realm. Some are Demon Lords, some are Kings, but all of them are monsters in their own right."

Zane exhaled. "Great. So I have to kill one of those."

Mia smirked. "Yep."

Zane let out a tired groan, running a hand down his face. "And here I thought Shadowhunters had it bad. How the hell did you guys manage to get their blood?"

"Well, as powerful as they are they do need things from other realms, so they mostly trade with blood while some are killed by Angels" Mia laughed softly. "And don't blame me for what you have to go through. I never said it was going to be easy."

Zane shot her a look before shaking his head. "Alright, then how do we actually get into this wonderful place, we just jump into the portal when nobody is looking?"

Mia's smirk faded slightly, turning more serious.

"The portal that will manifest isn't for us," she explained. "It's only for demons to come through. Shadowhunters have tried for centuries to enter through normal means, but every attempt has failed."

Zane frowned. "Why?"

Mia hesitated, then gestured to the book. "The Book of Secrets says that the realm itself rejects non-demonic beings unless they use a special method to bypass the barrier. Just being in the realm is harmful for beings without demonic blood or dead, Zane even we aren't going to be totally safe there since we do have angelic blood flowing through our veins"

"What is the special method?"

Mia tapped the book. "A ritual."

Zane arched an eyebrow.

She exhaled. "We're going to use the portal as an anchor point and perform a ritual that will send us into the Demonic Realm. But it's not as simple as walking in. The ritual won't let us choose our entry point."

Zane rubbed his chin. "Where does it drop us?"

"The entrance."

Zane narrowed his eyes. "Meaning?"

Mia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Meaning, we'll have to progress naturally through the Demonic Realm if we want to find my sister… and a Royal Demon for you to kill."

Silence settled between them.

For the first time, a question hung in the air.

One neither of them wanted to ask.

What happens after that?

Zane was supposed to return home. That was the deal. That was the whole point of this.

So where did that leave them?

Neither spoke. Neither acknowledged it.

Instead, Mia cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Anyway, we have little time to prepare. According to the time Lilith gave you we barely have a week."

Zane nodded, before he frowned. "Yeah and we still haven't found Eve"

Mia frowned back. "Don't worry about her, didn't you say you could feel her? That probably means she isn't dead.....and we are still looking so we will find her sooner or later"

She was right, during the two weeks Zane had felt a growing feeling in his soul, it was similar yet different from how he felt attached with his shadow, but he was sure that connection was Eve.

Still what will happen to her if he should enter the demonic realm and complete the task?

Will he leave an innocent girl to deal with his own decisions?

Even Mia, They hadn't spoken about what will happen after he completes his task....will she be willing to follow him like Lilith? He couldn't find a convincing enough reason for her to come though he would naturally want her to go over to his own earth.

They both knew they were avoiding the real question.

But for now…

Neither of them was ready to face it.