Death Lilly

Prologue

Jude the Cursed One.

Jude swore to himself as he saw the startled look on the woman's face after she heard a branch hit the side of the house. Thankfully there was a storm brewing and the wind had picked up, making the noise less suspicious. Her hand gently covered the monster that was growing inside of her. He had known it was only a matter of time before they would kill her, and her little monster. Jude couldn't think of the thing that grew inside the demon as a baby, for it would have made his task impossible to do.

Uziel shifted cautiously beside him. "I don't feel good about this Jude." He whispered. Jude didn't either, but he wasn't about to admit that.

"This is our key home. You heard what Michael said, if we kill the mother and child, then the curse will be broken and we will be able to return home. You know they have the power. You have heard the stories."

"Yes, I heard. But look at her, she doesn't look evil and to kill a baby," Uziel sighed heavily. "I just don't know if I can do that. There is enough blood on our hands as it is...we don't need the blood of an innocent as well."

"Don't you want to go home?" Jude asked, knowing the answer; of course, Uziel wanted to go home, all the Cursed Ones did. They lived an existence knowing nothing but bloodshed down here, instead of the bliss and inner happiness found in heaven. Uziel looked once more at the woman who was now seated in a large rocking chair in the lounge room. Her long ebony hair hung damp around her pale ivory face. She had her eyes closed as she rocked backed and forth, her mouth moving as she sang to the child that was inside her. He knew there was no way he could kill this woman and her child. At this moment, she was no more demon than any other human mother he had seen. Jude began to climb down the tree as Uziel continued to watch. The sooner the deed was done the sooner they could return home. It was then that Uziel noticed the slight grimace to the woman's face and the shift of her body. 'Oh shit' he thought to himself, 'she is close to having the baby'.

Uziel jumped down from the tree, hitting the side of the house with a bang. A light from the upstairs window flicked on and there was yelling from inside. Jude looked furiously towards Uziel, before shoving him into the car. A young man, no more than twenty, exited the house.

The guy who was only in jeans, shouted "Who's there?" as he checked the front yard. Jude drove a few blocks away before pulling over. His face was askew as he fought to control his temper.

"Why did you do that?" Jude hissed.

"They don't deserve to die. No matter what Michael says, she is just a mother trying to protect her young."

Jude paused; he couldn't believe that Uziel was sticking up for one of THEM. Mother or not, Child or not, they were from the Fallen. They didn't deserve to live. Most of all, Jude just wanted to go home. This life was draining whatever part of his soul remained.

"You would risk staying here...risk the wrath of the Order... for what? for HER?"

"If it is the right thing to do, then, yes. Jude whether you see it or not, she isn't evil, she isn't someone to fear and neither is her child. Don't let your hatred blind you."

Jude shook his head at his brother's words; maybe he had been compromised somehow. Maybe this life had finally taken its toll on Uziel. Either way, Jude knew it was Uziel who was being blind. The woman might have had her life spared tonight, but he would kill her and her child... soon. He would return to the Order, no matter what he had to do.

Sixteen years later.

A dark black 70's Plymouth Barracuda pulled up to the curb and parked. Its dark tinted windows working to mask the driver that was behind the wheel. The hunter straightened, his hands gripping the wheel tighter.

He could feel his prey close by, his eyes glued to the front steel cage that seemed like a pathetic attempt at security for the building. The hairs on his arms prickled up with anticipation, the search was finally over. She had escaped him once, never would he allow that to happen again.

Across the road stood an old man, no more than seventy, watching the car with a curious gaze. He was dressed in tan slacks and a plaid collared shirt, a newspaper was tucked under his left arm, Jude observed. Jude let his focus shift back to the building; the old man was of little consequence to him. A can of warm soda that sat in the drink holder was nearly empty. Picking it up, he drank the last few drops before crushing the can, tossing it in the back with the rest. He had had to make a move before he was spotted. Ever since the Fallen had discovered a way to exist in both planes, the cursed had been finding their numbers dropping. It wasn't easy to kill a demon. You could shoot them through the heart but if you didn't bury them and carry out the death ritual, then they would rise again.

A loud tapping sound against the glass startling Jude as he rolled down the window. The old guy that had been watching the car moments ago, used his walking stick to hit the driver side window. Jude forced himself to be polite even though he wanted to shoot the old man.

"Can I help you?" Jude asked sharply, he was unimpressed and if not for the distraction he would have killed the old guy. Alas, he was on a mission, and that was more important than taking the life of someone who was bound to die soon anyway.

"I was going to ask you the same thing, sonny." The old guy took a good look inside Jude's car before continuing. "Why are you parked in this neighborhood? looking at that building?" he gestured with his walking stick to the building in which Jude had been studying.

"Just working up the courage to see a girl."

"Really?" the old man raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You make a habit of asking girls out at 6 am in the morning?"

"Not exactly. I drove a long way to see her. I wasn't expecting to arrive until a little later." Jude told him, wondering why he was bothering to justify himself. For some unexplainable reason, Jude found himself liking the old man. The thought almost made him shudder. Humans are forbidden, not to be trusted. They were the reason that he was cursed. Humans were barely a step up from the Fallen. He might be unable to kill this man but maybe the old guy could be useful, Jude thought as an idea struck him.

"Look at me," Jude ordered the old man grabbing him by his shirt so that the man had little choice.

"I need you to take me to a girl. Her name is Lilly Vale and she is sixteen. Do you know the girl I am talking about?"

"Yes, I know her."

Jude smiled, this old guy couldn't lie to him, not when he was under Jude's power. "Where does she live?" he asked.

There was fear in the old guy's eyes. "Next door to me. Apartment Number 6, with her Grandmother."

Jude smiled as he shot the man with his gun that had a silencer. The poor human had never seen it coming. The old man stared, his newspaper falling from under his arm. Jude emptied the man of his keys before placing the body in the trunk of his car. He would have to dispose of the body later as right now he had to complete his mission.

Cautiously Jude entered the building. He had been told about how dangerous this girl might be and didn't want to take any chances. For sixteen years this girl had eluded not only him but every one of the Cursed, that had tried to find her. Word on the street was even the Fallen didn't know where to find her. He exited the second flight of stairs, catching a glimpse of a young lady dressed in jeans and a dark blue sweater. He watched as the young lady approached. Jude's breath caught as he gazed into the girl's eyes. Those eyes, like liquid emeralds, so green and lovely. Just like her fathers. Quickly he had to look away. It was her, his target... Lilly Vale.

She was part of the Order. Her mother had not lied. Jude struggled to swallow the lump in the back of his throat, forcing himself to look back up at the girl, but she was already gone. He wouldn't tell anyone, not now. How funny fate was, that it should deal him this hand.