Days with the demon queen
Chapter 26: Double crossed

Chapter 26: Double crossed

The entrance of the dungeon was already swamped with low class demons ready to tear them apart. Lillith pulled out a spare sword from her magic storage space and tossed it to Aiden. Since the rest were magic users, they started to use elemental magic to subdue the enemies. Advancing further out of the dungeon.

Lillith cleared a path with her hellfire flames while Riya and Rachael cleared up the remaining. When Lillith looked back, Xander was nowhere to be found.

"I guess it’s only natural that he does not want to show himself. If we fail, he’ll be treated as a failure and Samael will have his head" Lillith muttered.

"They’re too many, shall I stay behind and make sure they don’t follow us?" Riya suggested.

"don’t be so quick to put your life on the life, Riya. We’re all leaving this place. The success of this plan depends on everyone of our efforts" Lillith said.

"Right" Riya said as they ran through.

"All of you, listen up. There’s an addition I’m going to make to the plan" Lillith said, punching demons out of their path.

They looked at her with eager eyes, Anissa looked like she was running out of breath already.

"I shall burn this whole fortress to the ground" she said.

Aiden, Anissa, Riya, Rachael and even Ronnie that couldn’t be seen all wore shocked expressions.

"Commander, let’s take a quick stop" Aiden suggested after taking a quick glance at Anissa.

"I suppose we should" Lillith said. They took a quick stop at a corner.

"What did you mean by burning the fortress down? Didn’t you just say we all were important to the plan’s success?" Riya asked. She wore an irritated expression.

"This is part of the plan, don’t you get it? We have to make a big enough statement to give these oppressed people the strength to revolt against his forces" Lillith explained, trying to convince the rest of them.

"You are going to get people killed for nothing" Riya said, the argument was getting more heated.

"These people need need to stand up for themselves so they don’t feel entitled to being saved all the time. It’s our responsibility not just to save them but to give them that power! do you understand, Riya?!" Lillith snapped.

There was sudden silence, then the troops started to approach closer again.

"My parents died fighting a battle they couldn’t win. So did Rachael’s. Maybe we wouldn’t be orphans if they were just cowards" Riya said.

The air became uncomfortable as they exchanged glances with each other before resuming on their escape.

None of them said a thing to each other till they got to the entrance of the dungeon. Riya was about to storm off in a haste, just then, Lillith gripped her hand.

"Riya" she called out. Riya stopped, looking back at her.

"You’ve been with me for the longest times, longer than anybody else here and I trust you. Take care of the rest of them. I promise I’ll meet up with you all in a bit. Just blend into the crowd. I’m about to make a show." Lillith said.

Riya stared at her in silence for a moment. The others gave Riya looks of approval and she sighed.

"Once you put your mind to something there’s no talking you out of it. I don’t know why I even bother" Riya said.

Lillith gave her a small smile.

"Be quick. You know we’ll come looking if we don’t see you" Riya said. Lillith nodded in silence.

The team parted ways, Lillith trying to find the most secluded spot in the fortress. She made her way to Samael’s chambers, in her favor, he wasn’t present.

Lillith sighed in exhaustion. She tried to gather her breath, releasing more and more demonic aura by the second. Suddenly, she stopped.

*You finally showed yourself. I thought you had deserted us." Lillith said in a low serious tone.

Xander then stepped out from the blackness of the shadows at the side of the room where he stood.

"I had things to put in place first. To make your escape smoother that is" Xander said, wearing a devious grin.

Lillith wore a bitter smile.

"General. Why do I feel like you have betrayed me?" She asked.

"It’s nothing personal. I do whatever entertains me and I find the outcome I just cooked up to be especially stimulating. My king is probably on his way here as we speak" Xander said.

"Where are my comrades? My friends?" Lillith asked.

"Those warriors? quiet the difficult bunch to deal with but I’m sure they’re all dead now. Takes a lot of power to survive a swamp of mid class demons with just a team of four." Xander said. He laughed at Lillith mockingly.

Lillith lost her temper and attacked general Xander.

She sent a barrage of flames his way but he dodged them all. The flames were so intense that they ripped through the wall. Lillith pulled out a flaming sword and attacked him again but she couldn’t land a blow. He was being evasive, stalling for time but she was too blinded by anger to see it.

Lillith’s whole body had been engulfed in flames. Her speed increased, she started to pummel Xander who looked like he was having fun.

The loud clicking of shoes from the staircase made Lilith and Xander aware of Samael’s presence. Lillith faced the door, her hands gripped tightly around the sword.

"Ah, well if isn’t my bride" Samael said with a big smile.

"I’m not afraid of you" Lillith said, a drop of sweat dripping down her chin.

"You got the party started before I got here, you have to be punished" Samael said in a seductive tone.

"She plans to take over as—" Xander said.

but he is interrupted by getting shot between the eyes with an eerie energy.

"don’t interrupt me when I talk" Samael said in a cold deep voice.

Lillith prepared her stance.

"I’ll kill you" she proclaimed.

"Come" Samael gestured to her. They were about to cross blades for the first time.

Lillith was more worried about her friends but she didn’t have time to worry about others, she was staring death in the face.