‘Alive. But not. The soul has more power than anything else. Wouldn’t you agree?’
I focused my attention on her and not on the man I loved more than life itself. ‘I would. Now I have a question for you.’
She laughed. ‘Yes?’
‘Did you really think you could beat me? Did you really think, even with all your power, that you could match the power of the Sole?’
‘I’m yet to see anything that proves to the contrary,’ she said, condescendingly.
I smiled, the action showed only the emptiness that filled me. Lilith flinched. Closing my eyes, I delved deeper into my well of power than I had ever done before. I called it forth. Then I used my Sight, knowing now that it was so much more than its name implied. I lifted my consciousness from my body and, for the first time, took my power with me.
Then I released it onto the room.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
‘Adam’s wife, his first. Beware of her. Her beauty’s one boast is her dangerous hair. When Lilith winds it tight around young men she doesn’t soon let go of them again.’
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Dozens of exiles were instantly trapped by my power. I felt a surge of energy; it was intoxicating to know that each one was rendered motionless under my command. Every exile was now at my mercy. All but two.
I deliberately left Phoenix untouched by my power, though he remained stock-still like the rest of them. Even if I hadn’t, I suspected he would be immune to it now, due to our new … relationship.
Lilith, on the other hand, revelled in proving I could not disable her with my abilities. She walked through my amethyst mist, chuckling. But despite her boldness, her steps were slower; she was not as invulnerable as her angelic ego would have me think.
‘Impressive,’ she said, looking at my physical form and then to the ceiling, tracking my incorporeal movement easily. ‘You are indeed of the Sole. But you and I both know you cannot hold the room like this for long. You certainly cannot strip every unwilling exile of their powers.’
It was true. It took all of my concentration to hold so many at once. But just to make a point, I honed in on one exile – one of the ones who had been so keen to beat Lincoln earlier – and stripped him of his angelic power, reducing him to only-human status, against his will. He dropped to the floor, screaming hysterically. With a look of disgust, Lilith flicked her wrist and sent out a gust of wind so powerful he was thrown into a nearby wall. He stopped making any 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 continued to 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.