Page 57 of Underworld
Kaito nodded in agreement. “I think that’s what he wants, actually. Lucifer ruled Hell for centuries before your mother came along. Cole thinks that Hell is the ultimate power, and with it, Calamity can be defeated. Lucifer is the Conduit, and if he takes the Throne, Hell’s power will fight for domination.”
I crossed my arms. “Which side do you think would win?” In a fight against Calamity or Hell, I put my money on the prior.
His ruby eyes rimmed with silver gazed over the campus, peering into the darkness littered with the tunnels that would produce Demonspawn at any moment. “Hell might put up a good fight, but ultimately, I don’t think it can last. Although, it’s not a coincidence that all the realms are merging into Hell, being devoured by it. That’s because Hell is the end of the long strand of realms, it’s the place where everything stops.” He sighed. “While there’s logic in his assumptions, even Hell won’t be enough to stop Calamity, I’m afraid. It’ll be a launch pad for destruction and chaos, exactly what Calamity wants to accomplish.”
“Then I need to face him,” I said, seeing no other choice. “Seven days isn’t enough time for me to learn anything, Kaito. I just need to face him and get it over with.”
Kaito pressed his lips into a thin line. “Not yet.” He pulled a vial from his pocket and held it up. “I’ve been dealing with Cole a lot longer than you have, Lily. I’ve learned a few tricks to give myself an edge.”
I eyed the familiar black liquid that rolled inside the vial.
Evil.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “The last time you had me drink that, I went into a past memory where something horrible happened.” I wasn’t ready to unlock the secrets of my past, not yet.
“It’s not for you,” he said, his gaze darkening.
I snatched his wrist before he could pop off the cork. “Don’t you dare take that,” I commanded. Fear spiked in my chest. The only reason that Kaito remained my Virtue was because he denied himself his demonic desires.
He’d originally responded to my summons because he wanted the “ultimate power,” something prophesied by Hell’s witch spirits. He’d overcome those ambitions, but now I understood the changes in him.
The horns. The Hellfire in his eyes. The blue flames that licked around his face.
He’d been taking evil this past year just trying to survive.
Because I hadn’t been there.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. I gave him a tender kiss, beckoning him to lower the vial. “You don’t need that anymore.”
He obeyed, but the ruby haze in his eyes said he was only appeasing me, for now.
Rage billowed in my chest at how all of my Virtues struggled, how they suffered.
This was bigger than Cole. He had targeted them because I had trapped him as a Virtue. Now he’d gotten grand ideas about forging my Virtues in flame. Either they’d become brittle and break, or harden into new versions of themselves.
Maybe it was something that was necessary.
Maybe it was what we needed to overcome Calamity.
I didn’t have to like it.
“Your eyes,” he whispered, brushing his lips over mine. “They’re soulless and silver, empty as if you don’t know who you are, but I see a ruby gleam in them when you let Cole in.”
I ground my teeth together, knowing that Cole’s rage was infecting me, but I couldn’t let it go.
If I was honest with myself, the person I was so angry with wasme.
“Breathe, Lily,” he murmured. “Don’t let him under your skin.”
Lily… are you actually listening to him?Cole’s voice taunted me inside my own head.He’s just another demon trying to get in your pants.
Kaito rubbed his hand up and down my hip, his touch grounding me. “That’s good, Lily. Deep breaths.”
After a few seconds, my mind felt like my own. But I was still enraged.
“I want tohurthim,” I said, voice shaking.
He took my hand once more. “I know. Let’s not focus on that. I brought you here for a reason, remember.” He held up the vial. “I know you don’t approve, but I need it to get in Cole's head.” His gaze pinned me in place. “Will you come with me?”
