CHAPTER 179: COMES WITH A PRICE

Lilith woke up earlier than usual with much determination. Today, she would merge with her powers once and for all. It was taking longer than she had expected, and she was ready to overcome the delay.

After getting dressed, she tied her hair into a tight bun, keeping every strand away from her face. As she stepped out of her room and walked down the stairs, she heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw Viktor following behind her.

"Viktor? What are you doing out this early?" she asked, surprised.

"I’m coming with you," he said, catching up to her.

"Coming with me? Why?" Lilith narrowed her eyes at him.

"Because I want to. I want to make sure you’re safe. And... maybe I can help you with getting your powers." He threw his arm over her shoulder with a grin.

"I don’t really know what you’re going to do there," Lilith replied, making Viktor place a hand over his chest in mock hurt.

"You wound me, Lilith. I’m sure I can be useful." He chuckled, pulling her gently along as they continued walking.

"I didn’t tell Salistra you’d be joining us today. I don’t know how she’ll feel about seeing you," she admitted.

"I doubt she’ll care much. I’m just going to watch and see how your training goes, that’s all," he explained.

"Alright... if you say so. Still, it’s unexpected that you are suddenly interested in my training."

"I have always been interested. Don’t think too much about it," Viktor said with a light shrug.

The rest of their walk passed in silence until they reached the familiar clearing where Salistra was already waiting for them.

As she turned around, her gaze flicked between Lilith and Viktor, lingering on him longer than expected.

"Good morning," Viktor offered with a polite nod, which the woman completely ignored.

She looked away. "Lilith, we must begin."

Lilith flashed him an apologetic smile before walking up to the witch and sitting on the ground as instructed. Viktor stayed back, watching from a distance with his arms crossed over his chest.

"We must make haste. Time is running out," Salistra warned. "The demon is not patient. We must stay a step ahead if we want to win."

Lilith nodded firmly. "You’re right."

The woman reached out, her cold fingers brushing against Lilith’s hand like ice. "This might be your last chance, Lilith. I want you to give it everything you’ve got. You must believe you can do this, because we all believe in you. You are our last hope, and we are all counting on you. You can do this, Lilith."

Lilith swallowed, smiling softly. "Thank you, Salistra. I won’t disappoint you."

"Thank you and good luck." Salistra gave her hand a final squeeze before stepping back. "Now, do as you have always done."

Lilith nodded, folding her legs beneath her and closing her eyes. Her heart pounded and her palms grew damp as she focused on controlling her breathing. It took her less time now to block everything out.

Soon, she felt the witch’s fingers press lightly against her temples as the familiar whispering began.

The trail of golden light appeared, guiding Lilith into the familiar dark space but this time, it wasn’t dark. The figure was already waiting for her. Lilith frowned as she approached, her steps cautious as she moved.

She walked around the figure, standing directly in front of it. The brightness no longer blinded her, as though her eyes had grown accustomed to the light.

The figure opened her eyes. "You are back."

"Have you been waiting for me?" Lilith asked.

"I have always been waiting for you. It is you who has yet to accept me," the figure replied, blinking slowly as she tilted her head to the side. "How interesting."

Lilith followed the figure’s gaze, but she saw nothing unusual.

"What is it? What are you looking at?" Lilith questioned.

The figure turned her attention back to Lilith. "Nothing." She raised her hand. "It is time."

Lilith’s breath quickened as she slowly lifted her hand to meet the figure’s.

The figure tilted her head slightly. "You should know that power of such greatness comes with a price. I wonder, what price are you willing to pay to the gods?" There was a subtle sadness in her voice, but before Lilith could ask what she meant, their hands joined and pain exploded through her body.

Her eyes rolled back as violent tremors overtook her. Heat surged slowly, agonizingly, through every vein in her body. A piercing scream ripped from her throat as she collapsed to her knees, clutching her head, blood pouring from her mouth and vanishing into the surrounding darkness.

Viktor’s eyes widened in horror as he watched Lilith start bleeding from her nose and ears. The wind around her intensified, swirling fiercely, whipping up leaves and sticks in a violent storm. He rushed toward her, but a hand on his arm yanked him to a stop.

He turned sharply. "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

"You cannot go to her," Salistra warned, her grip tightening. "She must endure this alone. It’s dangerous for you to intervene."

Viktor tore his arm free. "She’s fucking bleeding! She’s going to die!"

"No, she won’t. She will survive this. I promise you." Salistra’s voice softened.

Viktor hesitated, raking a shaky hand through his hair, his chest heaving. All he wanted was to stop her pain but he couldn’t.

"We need to move away. We’re too close," Salistra said, tugging his arm but he didn’t bulge.

"What do you mean? You have to explain...."

"We need to go! Why won’t you listen to me?" Salistra snapped, yanking him farther back until he finally allowed her to pull him away.

"I..." His words were cut off as the wind suddenly stopped. Silence fell. Then, without warning, a violent gust of wind exploded outward, slamming into them and flinging them both across the clearing.

Viktor’s body collided hard with a tree, pain shooting up his back and knocking the breath from his lungs. Darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. He was sure he blacked out for a few minutes. A gasp escaped his lips as he jolted awake. He coughed roughly, struggling to push himself to his feet. His body screamed in protest.

Standing, he spat out blood and staggered toward Lilith, who now lay unconscious on the ground. He looked around, the witch was nowhere in sight.

Viktor knelt beside Lilith, gently brushing his fingers across her cheek. Her skin was burning hot. Ignoring the searing pain in his back, he carefully lifted her into his arms.

Without wasting another moment, he carried her back to the mansion and to her room.