“Lillian Abby Morningstar,” an older woman said after Lily and Jason walked out of the hallway together. She had dark black frizzy curls that ended at her shoulders and her eyes glowed a bright yellow. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
Lily just held onto Jason’s arm for comfort as her bright blue eyes gazed into the older woman’s. “I’m sorry if this is rude, but...” Lily squinted her eyes, “do I know you?”
“You haven’t met her yet,” Jason said.
“But she knows you!” Celeste’s voice came from the kitchen. Jason, Lily, and the other girl turned to look at her. She had her hand inside the ice machine spout.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jason sounded almost disgusted.
“Getting ice,” she said as if she knew what she was doing. “How else are you supposed to get it?”
“Not by reaching up inside the ice machine,” Jason uttered.
“Celeste,” Lily said softly. “You’re supposed to take your cup and press it on the button that’s under the ice machine. Then it’ll pour out of the fridge.”
Lily’s sister just blinked in confusion. “Say what now?”
Lily glanced up at Jason, her dark blue gaze asking him a question.
“Yes, it’s okay,” he said.
She let go of his arm and walked across the soundless floor boards, into the kitchen while Celeste pulled her arm out of the fridge. Lily held out her hand. “May I?”
It took a moment for Celeste to register what she was saying. “Oh!” She exclaimed, then she placed her glass in Lily’s hand. “I thought you were going to ask me to dance or something.”
Lily heard Jason’s choked chuckle from across the room. He always did that when he wanted to laugh but was trying to resist the urge. Celeste seemed to notice it too.
“Oi!” She snapped. “Don’t go making fun of me when you had to learn these things too!”
“What?” He said, feigning ignorance. “What did I do?”
Celeste just glared at him.
“Celeste.” Apparently, Lily was trying to gain her sister’s attention.
She turned to her. “Sorry.” Then she added, “You’re boyfriend’s a handful you know. I have no idea how you deal with him.”
“You know I can hear you.” Jason’s tone was edged with annoyance.
“She knows,” the older lady’s voice came from the other room. Lily almost forgot she was there. “She knows very well.”
“Anyway,” Lily said, trying to stop the fight that was about to start. She had just bought new dishes! It would be horrible if all of the new plate ware were scattered across the floor in pieces. “Celeste, this is how you do it.” Her sister watched as Lily pressed the rim of the glass to the lever on the door, and jumped when ice started pouring into the cup.
“How did you do that?” She asked in awe as Lily handed her a cup.
Lily chuckled softly. “You’ve never heard of kitchen appliances before?”
“Nuh-uh,” Celeste stared at her cup, her yellow eyes glowing as her mouth dropped.
Angel! Jason whined to Lily’s mind. Come back! My arm is cold.
Lily turned to look into his pleading green gaze, and her lashes lowered. “You’re very needy, you know that?”
“Wha...?” Celeste’s voice came from behind Lily.
But Lily sighed, shaking her head as Jason’s lips quirked up at the corners. “You love it,” he said playfully. “Admit it.”
She walked over to him and couldn’t help but smile. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t.” She latched on to his arm again, letting his warmth sooth her anxiety. Her fear. Why are you so addicting? She wondered to his thoughts.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Because I’m irresistible.” His breathed out warm air onto her ear, making her shiver. He pulled closer, taking her tremor as if she was cold.
“Okay, I don’t know what you two are doing, but stop it,” Celeste said, annoyed.
Lily decided to ignore Celeste’s comment. “By the way, who is that?”
Celeste, Jason, and Lily looked over to the older girl, who smiled softly at all three pressuring gazes. “My name is Nyla,” she stated. “I’m the leader of the archangels, and a ruler of all gods.”
“Why have you come?” Lily asked instead of throwing all her questions at Nyla for hours. Why are you the leader? Did you know my mom well? Were you and my mom distant or close? How did you become the leader?
Nyla set herself on the leather cushion of the couch. “Well, Lillian. I have come to ask for your assistance.”
“Hold up,” Jason said suddenly. “Define ‘assistance.’”
Nyla didn’t look amused with him interrupting her. “Well, half-breed," she snapped, “I wasn’t talking to you, was I?”
Jason just glared at her, but Lily was the one who responded. “Don’t talk to Jason like that,” she said sternly. She had a slight fire ignite in her eyes. “If all you’re going to do is insult us then you can leave.”
Wow, Jason thought, taken off guard by her protectiveness. You go girl.
“My apologies,” Nyla said. “Lillian, I have come to tell you something, and leave you something in return. And I have come up with an offer that none shall refuse, so if you’ll hear me out, then I’ll leave.”
“Fine,” Lily said, still latching onto Jason’s arm.
“Lillian, you are the most powerful breed in existence. Both heaven and hell were in agreement to no longer fight. But you’re father broke that agreement he very well signed. And yes,” she added, “I know that he was being controlled, but right now that’s not what I’ve come to talk to you about. There’s a new ruler of hell. He goes by, ‘Damean Morningstar.’ He is causing destruction and chaos that is beyond imaginable. He wants war with all gods, and he believes he will win. Damean is unstable. He is dangerous. And I’m sad to say that I’m not strong enough to defeat him. You see, my power is fading.”
“So what do you want?” Jason asked suspiciously.
“I don’t want. I need,” Nyla stated. “I need Lillian Morningstar to defeat him. And in exchange, I’ll bring all of her family to life.”
Lily’s stomach dropped. “And my dad?” She wondered.
Nyla hesitated. “Yes.” It sounded as if it hurt to let those words out.
“We’ll talk about it—” Jason started, but Lily interrupted him.
“I’m in. I’ll do it.”
He looked down at her, panic turning his cheeks red. “Lily—”
“No.” She looked up at Jason. “He is my father. And it is my responsibility to stop him.”
“You have chosen wisely, Lillian,” Nyla expressed with great relief in her tone. “In exchange, I have four people who are waiting to meet you. And they all will help you on your journey.”
The journey has just begun
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