Pawns

Prologue

Giant bright colored floats line the streets, and thousands of people fill in any empty spots. Hot bodies, loud music, and the feeling of euphoria winds its way through the crowd creating memories for people to look back on when they are old and grey. Drinks are being tossed into the air out of cups as big and long as arms. The parade of the century is what everyone called it.

Apparently I'm not the only one to get distracted with a good time and good booze. Or bad booze depending on who you ask. Turning twenty-one the day of this freaking monster of a party in itself is a gift from God, but then also shacking up with the hottest guy in my college last night! Man I'm getting some  serious mojo from the guy above. I think if he keeps working these miracles, I'll be graduating with honors and working at the largest tech company in the world!! Yeah, you heard me.

The Phoenix float starts to pass us and everyone around me starts to go crazy. "Yeah, go Phoenix AU!!" Phoenix American University is the largest tech school. And although we are total nerds, who's to say we can't also be cool and party like wild animals.

I tilt the crafted brew to my lips tasting the salty bitterness and scream at the top of lungs. "Wooooohh!" I am way too drunk to be in this heat. Robby is behind me holding onto my hips as he throws his arms up and yells too.

I feel his lips caress my ear and start kissing my neck. "Even sweaty you taste  sweet. Damn I can't wait to get you back in my bed." I laugh tilting my head up and smirk knowing the only way to play this. Don't catch feelings.

"Who says I'll be getting back in your bed?" His eyes heat and I know he's like a cat with a mouse. The game is so easy with guys like him. They love the chase and hate the needy.

But with girls like me, we know the game too well. I eat them up and spit them out when I'm done. When your mom was easily the biggest whore in your home town and your dad was the pastor who got caught stealing from the church, you learn how to deal with shit. I don't get attached and I don't catch feelings. Best friends are messy. Boyfriends are heart break waiting to happen. So I do my own thing and enjoy it while I can. One life, that's all I get. That's all anyone gets, so why waste it on other people telling me to do this or do that.

Fuck that.

I look but to the floats. Ignoring the bunched up look I got from Robby. His face is betraying his tough guy attitude. He's definitely all twisted up about there not being a second time. But whatever.

Maybe I'm not the first to notice the shimmering that appears out of nowhere but I am the only one whose instincts kick in. I turn pushing Robby off of me and start running, my feet having a mind of their own. I push through the bodies but I know it's useless. I barely hear Robby's voice over the screams that start to erupt.

"Lillian! Where are--" Robby words cut off by screams! I turn to see what my fate beholds and it's hundreds, if not thousands of people coming from... portals. I've read plenty of books and seen tons of movies. Fairies and other realms alike. But this is real fucking life! This is actual magic. But evil as it gets. Those people coming from the portal dressed to the T in black inky skin tight clothes are soldiers shooting fire from their hands and blasting body after body.

One body ignites another, a train of withering people dying before my eyes.

I feel him before I see him. He steps out of the portal emanating power and retribution. Jet black hair, tall, skin so white he almost shines in this blistering summer heat. The most noticeable feature is the midnight black wings he spreads wide to cast shadows and blame over us humans. I know without a shadow of a doubt that before me is the fallen angel himself. Lucifer. I don't know how, but deep in my soul I know that it's him. Suddenly I really wish I payed more attention to my father's ramblings.

I'm still staring at the angel before me when his steel grey eyes meet mine. A chill runs up my spine and I shiver knowing my end is near. Instead of running, I want to look this devil in the eyes and show him I'm not scared. Quite honestly, I'm doing my best not to shit myself with terror, but he doesn't need to know that. I'm not sure why I disobey my instincts to run like hell and have him eat my dust. Maybe that makes me brave or maybe that's makes me really fucking stupid.

He tilts his head still looking at me and smiles wide. A crazed wickedness  etched into those bright white teeth. He hops off the Phoenix AU float and the crowd parts like the sea. My feet betray the bravery I tried to set forth. Taking several steps back, I begin to run.

God damn it! His heavy boots hit the ground like thunder, shaking the earth and causing me to stumble. The soldiers I pass ignore me, but continue to ignite others around me. Did they get a message that I'm his to kill since I dared to stand up to his wrath? Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Sweat rolls down my back, beading at my brow and drenching my clothes as I run faster and faster. Pushing myself to the point of almost getting sick to escape the Devil. Turning a corner, I run towards the dorms. Maybe I can hide. Hell, who am I kidding? He will catch me and then kill me. Probably brutally. He is the devil after all. But I'm not gonna make it easy for this bastard.

I can still hear the screams of every one behind me left in the open with flames high. The worst part is the smell drifting with the wind. Burnt flesh and ash floats around me causing me to gag as I run. Tears flow down my cheeks, and the fear is the only thing making me keep running.

I can see the door to my building and it's so close. If I can just hide in a room and bide my time, maybe I won't die today. Wishful thinking. My fingers reach out to grasp the door handle but before they connect I feel it: the heat, the fire, the excruciating pain. The fireball hits my side and I collapse in agony.

Have you ever seen static on a TV? The black and white static screen with little dots everywhere. Yeah, well imagine that being every nerve ending in your entire body igniting with unimaginable pain. That's what this fucking feels like. I scream and scream until my vision is blurry and I'm not sure if what I see next is even real. Lucifer's attention turns to the skinny red headed girl wearing all black. One of his minions.

But instead of thanking her for blasting me, he stretches his hand out. With ease a smoky essence starts drifting out of her mouth. Her back arched and feet lifting from the ground, black smoke climbs from her lungs and disappears into the ground. My skin is charred to a crisp and I can no longer feel anything. I just know death is here. With only a few breaths remaining in my lungs, I hear the Devil say the words that scare me more than his thundering feet did chasing me.

"Lilith, die and be reborn. I shall find you again." With one last shuddering breath, I slip into the abyss of souls lost.