Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

Phoenix triedto steady me. I looked around. We were in the middle of a forest. I started to run, faster and faster, so much faster than ever before.
    But I was not the wind.
    I’d picked up some of whatever it was Phoenix had. It would come in handy, but I couldn’t harness the power of the wind in the same way. I stopped running. Phoenix was beside me, Spence holding his hand again. Wordlessly, I put out my hand. The three of us moved like wind once more.
    Moments later we were on the outskirts of Lilith’s estate. It was nightfall again and had just begun to rain heavily. Everything had changed in such a short time.
    Dark clouds rolled in and thunder echoed around us, closely followed by lightning that struck so sharp it looked as if it had split the sky in two.
    My heart turned inside out for the world to see.
    Ignoring the heavy downpour, I pulled out two daggers and made my way towards the first line of guards. As I neared them, I started to run, using my newfound speed. I ran straight for them, not slowing even when my blade slid into the first, then the second, then the third. I took them all down, every one I passed. I didn’t look back. Anything that came at me from the side or from behind, I knew Phoenix and Spence had covered.
    We were fast. We were silent. We were deadly.
    When we neared the front gates, I stopped and gave both of my daggers to Phoenix, then turned to face Spence, taking off the holster holding the katanas.
    ‘Stay back and out of sight. When you spot the Scripture – that’s on you.’
    Spencenodded. ‘I’ll get it.’ He took my blades and held them up. ‘And I’ll be ready.’
    He started to move away from us until he had disappeared completely under an invisible glamour. I took my Grigori dagger out of its sheath and tucked it into the back of my pants, concealing it with my top.
    I looked at Phoenix. ‘Do it,’ I said.
    He didn’t hesitate and I was glad. He struck me hard across the face. Once.
    The pain was nothing.
    He hit me again, opening up a gash on my forehead, and shook his head. ‘Good enough.’
    I turned, clasping my hands behind my back. Phoenix tied them together, carefully placing the pull tie in my palm so I could loosen them any time I wished.
    As his captive, we walked out of the rain and right through the front doors to Lilith’s lair.
    Phoenix led me past groups of exiles, who started to follow us, and into the ballroom, where Lilith sat on her throne. When we reached the end of the black carpet, he kicked my feet out from under me and pushed me to my knees.
    ‘I suggest someone kills the guards who were responsible for her,’ Phoenix growled, throwing one of the daggers I’d given him onto the ground and out of my reach. ‘I’m getting sick of being the only one who can capture her. It took me the whole goddamn day this time. If it weren’t for my control over her, you would’ve lost her altogether. When I found her, she was dead. I had to revive her just to bring her back for you to kill yourself!’
    He was convincing.
    I noticed thesmall man in the business suit standing to the side of the room, watching with great interest. He adjusted his spectacles and his eyes flitted between the three of us as if he suspected shenanigans.
    Lilith looked on suspiciously as well.
    ‘Olivier was responsible for her,’ Lilith said.
    Olivier stepped forward. ‘As I explained, we were attacked.’ He eyed Phoenix suggestively.
    Lilith stood and walked towards Olivier, her hips swaying and her hair flowing like liquid gold. I wanted to rip her heart out.
    Patience.
    I spotted a low black sofa beside Lilith’s throne. Lincoln’s soul-less body was lying on it, a collar around his neck from which a single golden chain led into Lilith’s hand. He was breathing. I didn’t look for long. Didn’t react. Couldn’t.
    Evelyn was there as well. She was chained around her waist to a pole. I let my dead gaze connect with her fire-blue eyes. I could see she, too, was trying to work out what was happening. She raised her eyebrows, questioningly. I gave her the smallest nod, letting her know I had a plan. It was a good thing such a gesture couldn’t also convey that she probably wouldn’t like said plan.
    Lilith took her time, sauntering up to Olivier and circling him, before her hand caressed his chest. Even now, she didn’t consider me a threat, not bothering to have me searched or further restrained. Her ego would be her undoing.
    ‘You told me you were