The Great War

XIV

I lay my head on Theo's shoulder watching him scroll through random shit. I turn my head up and look at his distracted face. I smile slightly, bringing a hand up, resting it below his jaw, my forefinger trailing along his jawline.

He looks down at me after a moment, the corners of his lips twitching when his eyes meet mine. "Need something?" He asks after a moment, setting his phone off to the side.

"Perhaps," I hum with a slight smirk, my finger venturing higher catching his bottom lip, smooth against my fingertip.

"What do you need?" He brings his own hand up, gently grabbing my wrist to press a kiss to my finger.

I sit up, deciding not to answer him as I throw one leg across his hips and settle onto his lap comfortably. He brings his hands down to my hips, resting them there, thumb circling the fabric of my pants. "You're so beautiful." He sighs, his eyes roaming my face.

He grips onto a loop in my jeans, tugging me forward rough enough for me to fall slightly. He tilts his chin up to catch my lips with his, one hand leaving my hip to rest on my jaw.

I pull back after a moment of languid kissing, his thumb caresses my cheek gently as he looks into my eyes like I was the only thing he saw. "Wanna take a shower?"

The question sparks a look in his eye and a smirk slowly rises on his face, "Yeah," he grunts as he lifts me up, holding onto the backs of my thighs as he moves off the bed. I laugh as he rushes into the bathroom, kicking the door shut with his foot.

𖤐

I button my jeans before leaving the bedroom, happy to finally change out of my other clothes after having them on for so long. That shower, and Theo, definitely added to my good mood.

Cora immediately approaches me with a smile, "Azrael's waiting for you in your spare bedroom." I nod and sigh, I don't know how he'll react to Beelzebub or if he'll even agree. I don't know their history, or how he feels about him.

I walk into the guest room and the angels sat on the bed twirling a tassel on a knitted blanket between his fingers.

"Ah! Hello, nice to see you after 6 hours." He says with a flat face, I give him a cheeky smile.

"Sorry Az," I retort, he seems taken by surprise at the sudden nickname.

"It's fine, what'd you want?" He crosses his arms, leaning back on the bed slightly.

"I saw another piece of your sister's memories, a man appeared—"

His face turned sullen, "Baal, you saw Baal."

I nod a bit nervously and lace my hands together behind my back, I feel terrible having to bring up bad memories for him. "I know what you two were, or what I assume you were before he was taken?"

Azrael nods and sighs, "He was someone I cherished, someone I still cherish. What'd you want to know?"

I look down and close my eyes debating this, "Could we try summoning him?" I ask sheepishly, scared to lose Azrael over this. He gives me a soft smile and pats the spot next to him. I sit beside him and places my hands in my lap.

"If he's still imprisoned it won't work, I've tried in the past. But for you, for Ophelia, for what we're doing, I'll try again. I apologize if it doesn't work, we can try summoning Lilith, she might help us."

I smile, I've learned about Lilith in the mythology books I got with Lilium. "Hopefully one or the other comes through."

He nods and gets up holding his hand out to me, I grab it and he walks us out of the room to the living room. "We'll try later today, give you a rest from all the chaos. I know the rest of us need it too. If Beelzebub doesn't come through, we'll try Lilith tomorrow." I nod and make my way over to Theo; I sit next to him on the couch and look at Azrael.

"If we get through to Beelzebub, he might be unpredictable; he's been locked away for millennia. If we get through to Lilith, stay on her good side." Azrael warns before disappearing.

I look at Smilla who didn't look so happy, "What's wrong?" I ask and she snaps her head to me.

"Why did he bring up Lilith?" She stalks her way over to me and glares at me, I shrink into myself unsure why she was mad.

"She'll be our backup plan if we can't get Beelzebub." I say, trying to be as placating as I could with how I said it.

She grasps my face and lifts it closer to hers, my eyes widen. "We'll do no such thing. We won't muddle with the second hand of your father. Beelzebub is crossing a line. Lilith we'd be jumping into a territory you do not wanna be in, little girl."

Theo shoves her arm away from me, forcing her hand off my face. I place a hand on the mark on my cheek, the pain radiating through my jaw. Theo scoots closer to me keeping an arm crossed over my body, holding tightly to the side of my opposite thigh, his eyes boring into Smilla's.

"We need someone who knows more about Mist's father,"

Smilla straightens herself up and looks back at me, "You know more than anyone. Her memories are in you, We don't need any of those demons. We just need your memories." She stands beside Cora and gives her a look.

"They don't come fast enough; it's already been too long. I've only seen so little of her. I have nothing to actually help us. We need them,"

Smilla lets out a huff crossing her arms, "Then I will not help you in this. I've caused enough stirring in the celestial realms. Cora?" The women look at each other again and Cora steps to the side near Mani.

"I'm staying, I want to help."

Smilla sighs and her shoulders slump, "Fine then," she doesn't move an inch after that, I guess that means she's staying.