Hypnotic

Sixteen

A low growl rumbled in my chest as I kept myself firmly planted in front of Damiar. Lilith was stiff with anger, her eight wings shifting along her sides. "Venus, what are you doing?" She asked, her voice silky with a cutting edge. I flinched slightly, my own wings expanding in order to further shield the bloodied angel behind me. "I don't know," I answered truthfully. "But I will not let you kill him." "Venus." Lucifer heaved a sigh, rubbing his face with a clawed paw. "You know fully well what he intended to do." "Yes," I again replied, stepping back so my tail brushed against Damiar's flank. "I do."

You strangled me like an addiction.
You captured me like an affliction.
And I will be nimble and I will be quick.
I will overcome all of this.

"I want to move on from this," I continued. "I want you to let him go. In return, I will stay with you." Lilith and Lucifer exchanged a look, and I watched them carefully. "This is my only offer. If you refuse, I will go with Damiar instead. And if you stop me, I will fight you tooth and claw." Lilith huffed in frustration, clawing at the ground. Lucifer studied me, ignoring his mate as he spoke. "All right. The hybrid gets to live. But the moment he steps foot back in our territory, I will kill him." I nodded, shifting so that Damiar could be seen. His right eye seemed to be stained red with his blood, and I cringed upon seeing his exposed ribs.

The shadows are falling, they're falling, they're falling around me.
The wolves are closing, they're closing, they're closing in on me.

I stepped up to him, supporting him as he shifted back into his human body. I nudged him gently, and I marveled as a soft, blue glow emitted from the paw holding Damiar upright. It was obvious he was still weak, but I was relieved to see that he was clear of wounds. Lucifer cleared his throat, flapping his wings by way of telling me to hurry up. I returned my attention to the male who's gaze never left my form, and I knew what he wanted me to say. I wanted to say it too. But I couldn't. I love you...

Everything changes when the sun goes down. Everything changes when the sun goes down. Everything changes when the sun goes down.

I turned away from him, leaving him there as I followed after my "new" parents. It was difficult to not look back as we took off into the air. Not only was I leaving the man I loved behind, but I was abandoning my entire human life as well. The people who raised me, my friends, my college classes, my teaching degree, everything. I could feel something inside of me screaming at me to turn around, but I knew better. I had no idea what powers I had. I had no idea how to control them. If I was forced to fight my parents, I would die within minutes. But it hurt like hell having to leave it all behind me. I took a deep breath, focusing on keeping my body in the air as we flew. Whatever was in store for me...

I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid.

______________________________________

Three Years Later

"When you're cornered in a fight, what do you do?" "Act weak and defenseless." "If your wings are injured, what do you do?" "Distract the enemy long enough for you to heal." "If your comrade is injured, what do you do?" "If there is time, heal him. If there is not, lead the enemy away until he can heal himself."

She says I'm crazy. I said I'm not the problem. She says she made me. I said I'm not a product. She says look at us. I just see my reflection. I'm tempted to trust. But she got bad intentions.

My eyes never left my mother as she paced back and forth in front of me. They say time heals everything. I used to believe that. But as I sat and listened to my devil of a mother quiz me on everything I've learned these past three years, that belief slowly died. Lilith was not a good mother. She had no patience and no tolerance. For every answer I got wrong, I would be hit. I suppose that could help me later on.

And she comes at night. She's the devil in disguise. Always picking fights, Trying to take over my mind. She wants my eyes. She's the voice that isn't mine. No where to hide. She's the devil in disguise.

Lucifer had left the picture long ago. He had his own issues to deal with in heaven. The angels were getting ancy without their precious God. "Venus!" I was snapped out of my thoughts as a hand landed a sharp blow to my cheek. I barely flinched. "Are you even paying attention to me?" She snarled. My wings itched to curl around me to shield myself from her. "Yes," I answered numbly. "Liar!" My head once more flew to the side as she slapped me.

She tries to enslave me. But you can't control the water. She says I am she. But I am not her daughter. Should of known better. Cause to my recollection, When I have let her, She leads to self destruction.

She wanted me to act like her. She wanted me to do everything she wanted. She wanted me to be her. "I did not lie," I sighed, smoothing my cold fingers across my stinging cheek. "You're just like your father," she spat. "Stubborn, rebellious, and untruthful!" My eyes flashed magenta as I stared her down. "My father was blamed for a crime he did not commit. You were the one who rebelled against God - just because you refused to serve your husband Adam." Lilith roared at me, her form quickly shifting into her true face.

She's the devil in disguise, Trying to take over my mind. She's the voice that isn't mine...
She's the Devil in Disguise.

I dodged her claws as she pounced, and I shifted into my true form in response. I was done with her abuse. I was done being isolated. I wanted to see the outside world again. I wanted to see him again. I twisted her head back to face me as I balanced on her back, and I relished the sickening snap of her spine. I knew that would not kill her, but it would slow her down. The blade was hidden in the church, but I knew where it was. Her claws raked down my flank, and I hissed in pain, but I would not stop. I gripped the handle and blindly threw it her way. It buried itself into her middle head, and her body fell with a loud thump. It was easy to take a bite from her flesh.

And she comes at night, Always picking fights. She wants my eyes. Nowhere to hide.
She's the devil in disguise.

I was free from her. I was free to find my love. Ripping the blade from her skull, I watched as her body dissolved in a brilliant white light.

I was free.

Venus's new look:

The Blade: