Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

noise.
    Reluctantly, I pulled away from my Sight and returned to my body, tugging at the tie around my wrists to release my hands. Keeping my hold on the surrounding exiles, I yelled, ‘Now!’
    At the same time as my arm went up, the holder carrying my two katanas flew into my hand and I pulled them both free.
    Thank you, Spence.
    Lilith threw her head back and laughed as I began to move towards her. She took a step to the edge of her stage, completely unthreatened.
    ‘You cannot break my shields, little girl. Air protects me. It loves me and I wield and replenish it faster than you could ever comprehend.’
    I took another step closer, feeling the crushing pressure of her force field. My grip tightened on the hilts of my swords.
    Lilith was so wrong.
    Thanks to Phoenix’s essence, I understood exactly how her shield worked – I could see the way the air solidified around her, becoming something entirely impenetrable.
    I stepped into the zone of her power and felt my body tremble under its oppressive weight.
    Lilith continuedto give me her amused attention. ‘You are powerful to stay on your feet. But so human. So stupid. Is this all you have to offer? Is this your big moment?’
    I stared right into her eyes. I didn’t look beyond her. I didn’t give anything away.
    ‘No.’
    She shook her head. ‘You’ll never break my shields.’
    He struck.
    She gasped.
    Her chin jutted out, her mouth wide open as a blade sliced through her chest, from behind.
    ‘She knows,’ Phoenix said, at Lilith’s ear.
    Only now did I look to where Phoenix had moved and thrust the hidden blade into his mother. At her back and within her field, he had been in a prime position. And Lilith hadn’t even considered that he could be a threat. Pride had seen to that.
    Stunned, she stumbled forwards, turning shocked eyes on her son.
    Phoenix returned her look, his sadness evident. ‘I was wrong to bring you back. I’m sorry for my mistake,’ he said.
    Lilith reached behind herself and pulled out the blade, snarling at the pain. ‘You were wrong to try and betray me.’
    I moved slowly. Silently. Pushing through what remained of her shields. Just as Phoenix had planned, the injury had caused enough damage to weaken her defences.
    ‘You of all people should know that blade is not enough to kill me!’ She lunged, Phoenix’s dagger now in her hand.
    Frighteningly fast, she was in front of Phoenix, her fingernails digging into his neck, the dagger now in his stomach. She hissedand twisted the blade before ripping it out of him again.
    Phoenix fell to his knees, looking up at her with heart-wrenching understanding. And maybe it was true. Maybe there was a part in all of us that could not be denied. But Phoenix had already proved his nature was not set in stone and frankly, right then, I didn’t give a damn.
    He shook his head. ‘I didn’t need to kill you, Mother, just weaken you.’ He sank to the floor.
    Realising her error, Lilith spun, blade in hand. She lashed out towards my side.
    But I was already through her shields, and I was fast, too.
    I forced both katanas, imbued with shavings from Grigori weapons, through her chest and released my power, pushing it all into her, letting go of my hold over the other exiles as I did. Something burned above my hip but I ignored it.
    She stumbled, grabbing at the blades, but the sheer force of my power weakened her so she could barely move. She finally managed to wrench the swords free, a clanking sound echoing through the hall as they fell. Even so, the arrogance in her eyes remained. She still believed she would kill me.
    ‘For my mother,’ I said.
    I pulled my Grigori dagger from behind my back. The blade was fast across my wrist, the cut deep. I didn’t care.
    ‘For your son,’ I said.
    Lilith watched as I let my angelic blood, marbled with silver, cover the blade.
    Her eyes widened. I half smiled.
    ‘Impossible,’ she whispered, managing to move a couple of steps back.
    I simply movedwith her. ‘For those children and the parents you stole them from.’
    I took the final step and didn’t hesitate, thrusting the dagger, covered in my blood, straight into her heart.
    ‘For Lincoln.’
    Lilith fell.
    In that instant, before she could disappear, I felt the shift in reality. The air became thick and gravity’s hold seemed to falter. I closed my eyes and rode it out.
    When I opened them again, Uri and Nox stood before me – the rest of the room still. Operating on autopilot I