A few minutes later he was standing behind me. It had taken him all that time to get the strength to walk a few feet. He turned me around so I was looking at him, and he looked me deep in my eyes.
“I’m just so scared of losing you,” he told me.
“But you never will!” I said as a tear ran down my cheek. “Never!”
“Keira, you understand all the rules of Hell, yes?”
“Yes, so?”
“All of them?”
“Yes,” I said again, “Why?”
“So you’ll understand why you will need to think carefully about your answer to what I’m about to ask you. I’ve been around more than four and a half thousand years; you haven’t even seen a quarter of a century yet. I know how long forever can be, and I’ve still got forever to live. You’ll also understand why this is such a scary thing to ask you.”
“Eligos, you’re confusing me…Now what is it?”
“Are you sure you really love me, Keira, as much as you think you do?”
“I don't think I love you, I do love you, I more than love you.”
“Then…” he said, taking a deep breath and wrapping his arms around my waist.
“What is it?”
“Will you marry me?”
He looked me deep in my eyes when he asked me, and my stomach tied itself in knots. If my heart was still beating it would have just skipped a dozen beats.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
“Keira that means that even a million years from now, you would still have to be with me, are you sure you…?”
I silenced him by kissing him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. I felt him tense up and I let go of him quickly. I’d forgotten he was still in pain.
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry,” I said between kisses. “I will…I will marry you,” I said, kissing him again.
He held me as tightly as he could manage to. We stopped kissing each other but kept our faces close together.
“I was so scared of asking you,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“Like Lucian said a few months ago, ‘Can you imagine what it would feel like if the person you wanted to spend eternity with, said no?’”
“You should have known I would say yes,” I smiled.
“I was scared, just in case; there’s always a chance of someone saying no.”
“Are you sure you can handle being with me for all eternity?”
“I can think of nothing better,” he said before kissing me again.
This time when the kiss ended, I opened my eyes and realized we were in his bedroom.
“Before you think I’ve brought you here to get you in bed, I haven’t. I honestly wouldn't have the strength or energy to go through with it. As much as I may want to,” he smiled.
He let go of me and slowly made his way to a large chest of drawers. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a small shiny black box, before making his way over to me again.
“I’ve had this a long time; in fact I think we’d been together about a week when I bought it. I knew from the start that I wanted to marry you, and have you to myself forever,” he told me. “If I thought I’d be able to get back up, I’d get down on my knee with this.”
I couldn’t help but smile at him, and told him I didn't care whether he was on his knees or not. When he was in front of me again he passed me the box. When I opened it I couldn’t believe my eyes. The ring was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It was gold with a huge solitaire diamond.
“That’s a two-carat diamond. I’d have gotten you a bigger one if I could have found one,” he told me.
“Eligos…it’s beautiful,” I said, taking it out of the box.
“Not as beautiful as the woman who’ll be wearing it.”
I smiled at him and went to put it on my wedding finger.
“Ah-ah, oh no, that's my job,” he said, taking it off me.
He took my hand and slowly put it on my finger.
“I love you!” he breathed, once it was on.
“I love you!”
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him again.
When the kiss ended we lay on the bed next to each other. We held each other and kissed each other for hours. I put my hand on his chest and he tensed a little.
“You know,” I said, smirking. “If you wanted to hide them, all you would have to do is grow some hair on your chest.”
“Oh shut up! I’ve never had a hairy chest.”
“Actually I’m really glad, I hate hairy chests.”
“So why tell me to grow one then?” he asked, raising one of his eyebrows.
“I don't know. If it was part of you I’d love it I suppose,” I cringed.
“Behave!” he giggled.
“How long will it take you to get back on your feet again?”
“I don't know, a couple of days maybe…” he said, running his fingers through my hair. “Maybe not that long.”
“Do you want to stay here?”
“I’m not bothered. We can stay here. It’s not like you’re on a time limit now. Or we can go to yours. Just keep that bastard away from me, or I’ll kill him.”
“He won’t come near you; I don't want him in my house.”
“You know he said he was doing it for you. That if I was gone you could start enjoying your life again, and not be with someone because you felt sorry for them.”
“Did he?” I said between gritted teeth.
“He thought he was doing you a favor.”
“I never, ever, gave him reason to think that.”
“I know.”
My jaw clenched and I had to look away from him for a moment.
“Hey, forget it now. It’s over; he didn't win.”
“If Lilith hadn't have taken the life out of me, if I hadn't have come here…when would I have been able to see you?”
“I wanted to stay away from you, but honestly, I don't think I could have handled being away from you for more than a day.”
“Please don't ever keep me away from you again. Promise me you won’t.”
“I promise.”
I lay in his arms with my head on his chest, closing my eyes and breathing him in.
When I opened my eyes again the room was almost in complete darkness, I must have fallen asleep. I looked up at Eligos. He was still asleep. I sent a small orb of light over towards the large clock on the other side of the room. It was 10.30p.m. We had been asleep almost five hours. I tried to get up without disturbing him, but as soon as I took my weight off him he woke up.
“Where are you going?” he asked, tightening his grip on me so I couldn’t get up off him.
“Just to stretch my legs.”
“OK.”
He let go of me while I got up of the bed and stretched.
“I can’t believe how late it is; I can’t believe I fell asleep,” I said to him.
“You fell asleep before me.”
“Did I?”
“Yeah,” he smiled.
“How are you feeling now?”
“Better than I did, I just need to keep moving around now I think.”
“Yeah, well, just take it easy.”
“What time is it in Salem now?”
“I don’t know, probably about five-ish.”
“Hmmm, I wonder if Lily will be cooking,” he said, smirking.
“Only one way to find out.”
“Let me get changed first.”
He got up and got changed then I took him back to my place.
We arrived in the living room and scared everyone to death.
“Jesus, Keira, give us a bit of warning next time. You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Jake said.
I looked around the room, half expecting Tyler to be sitting with them, but there was no sign of him.
“Where is it?” I asked, referring to Tyler.
“We thought it safer for all concerned if he stayed at home. His parents are back now, so he’s not al
one. I don’t know how he’s going to explain his bruises though,” Lucian told me. “Luckily we managed to fix the house up, that little ground-shaking stunt you pulled broke a lot of things.”
“I don’t care.”
“How are you?” Lily asked Eligos.
“I’ll be fine,” he told her, smiling.
“I couldn’t keep her away. Sorry, mate,” Danny smirked.
“I’m glad.”
“Are you two OK?” Hecate asked, concerned.
We looked at each other for a moment and smiled. Then I held my left hand up so everyone could see the ring. Lily and Hecate stood up quickly and ran over to me. Danny and Jake went straight to Eligos to shake his hand. Lily and Hecate were hugging me and jumping up and down. Lily was in love with the ring; she couldn’t take her eyes off it. Once Danny and Jake had finished with Eligos they came over to me and hugged me, while Lucian got the chance to congratulate him, then he too came over to me. Finally Marley and Beth got to come over to us for a few seconds before Hecate and Lily took over again. They hugged us both to death and got very giggly and girly about it, which made me fifty times worse.
Danny teleported himself to his house then returned two minutes later with two bottles of champagne. He passed one of them to Lucian; they both shook the bottles then pooped the cork. It sprayed all of us. Beth and Marley ran into the dining room to get the glasses out of the cabinet. Danny and Lucian poured us all a drink, and everyone stood round us.
“To the couple who were destined to be together, may you enjoy every moment of eternity together!” Danny said, raising his glass.
Everyone raised their glasses to us. We all sipped our drinks, and then Eligos leaned forward and kissed me.
Chapter Fifty-One
My Powers
Over the next few days Eligos’s health returned to normal and his scars turned silver, just like the one on his face. He no longer cared if I touched them. I think the fact that I had agreed to be his wife and spend eternity with him, kind of made him realize how much I loved him. Finally he understood. We’d switched between Salem and Hell while he recovered. Tyler hadn't shown his face. Lucian and Beth had been to see him, as well as Jake and a reluctant Lily. She really liked Eligos and couldn’t bring herself to forgive Tyler for what he had done. Danny hadn't spoken to him at all; he was in Hell most of the time with Hecate and the rest of Eligos’s army. Brandameer was showing him a few things and making sure all the members of the army knew who he was. Marley had kept herself to herself, spending most of her time still trying to find out who was starting the war. But all she kept seeing was the blue eyes. Eligos and Hecate said they didn't know what that meant, but I was sure they did. I think they knew but didn't want to worry us. The problem was that made me worry more since I didn't know what we could end up dealing with.
I was now waiting in the main hall at the Palace for Lilith. She had given me a few days with Eligos, without calling me in for anything, but now that he was better I knew what was coming. She was going to try and put the life in me again; well, she would have a fight on her hands, I didn't want it in me again. Eventually Lilith and Lucifer walked in and took me into a little meeting room. I sat down with them at the small dark wooden table. The room was cozy; the walls were painted cream with a golden trim. The floor was covered in a beautiful thick cream carpet.
“First of all,” Lilith said after a few minutes, “congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I smiled.
“He asked me for my permission to ask you to marry him months ago. I’ve been waiting for the good news ever since. I knew you would say yes,” she told me happily.
“I’m glad you’re happy about it.”
“Oh we are. He will always look after you, Keira, and everyone knows he will never stop loving you,” Lucifer said.
“I hope not.”
“Now, we can be all excited about it later on,’ Lilith said, winking at me.” When it’s just us girls.”
“OK,” I giggled.
“Now, we’ve brought you here to talk to you seriously,” Lucifer said.
“You’re not putting life back in me,” I told them both, “so if that's what you want to talk about – the conversation is over.”
“We won’t do that,” Lucifer said. “And by the way, you owe me one.”
“Why?”
“Because when Eligos said he didn't want to see you, and told Danny and Hecate not to bring you. I told them to respect his wishes, knowing full well that you couldn’t get here without the life being removed. And knowing full well that it would completely piss Lilith off. She wants nothing more than for you two to be together. I knew she wouldn't defy me and bring you here…”
“Are you saying you did that so I would take the life out of her,” she asked, glaring at him.
“Yes, I believed Keira when she said she wouldn't be here all the time. I knew you doubted her, but I wanted you to give her the chance to prove to you that she would stay on Earth. I knew you would take the life out of her so she could get to Eligos,” he smirked.
“Bastard!” she called him.
“You’re right then. I do owe you one,” I said, smiling at him.
“Don't encourage him, Keira,” Lilith said to me. “I’ll deal with you later,” she told him.
“Yeah yeah…Anyway, this is what you need to know, Keira,” he said to me. “We pulled a demon in for question this morning. He didn't say much until just before he died.”
“What did he say?”
“He said something was on its way to Salem, and that Salem’s people were next.”
“What!” I said, panicking.
“He said it would happen soon, sooner than we thought; you don't need to hear the rest.”
“Yes I do!”
“Keira…” Lilith went to say.
“No, tell me.”
“OK,” Lucifer said. “He said the people would burn, that they weren’t going to possess them, just kill them, unless you and your friends surrendered yourselves to them. If you did that, they would leave Salem in peace.”
“No they wouldn't.”
“No you’re right. They wouldn't; they would kill you all, then kill everyone in the town,” Lilith said.
“And you have no idea when this is going to happen.”
“It may not even be the truth. He knew we would warn you. Maybe it’s to distract you, take your attention off something else,” Lucifer told me.
“Like what?”
“We don't know.”
“Right,” I sighed.
We all went quiet for a few minutes.
“OK, well I suppose I need to get back,” I said.
“Yeah,” Lucifer agreed.
“No, hang on a minute. I always do this. I always come here, listen to what you have to say to me, and never get to ask you what I’ve wanted to ask you for months now.”
“What is it Keira?” Lilith asked.
“How many powers do I have in me?”
“You have three. Mine, Abdiel’s, who is the…”
“Yeah I know about him. Where does his come from?”
“John Putnam called on him; it is his power that runs through your friends’ veins too.”
“OK, and the other one?” I asked.
“Arioch, he is a demon of vengeance; he gave the power to Elizabeth’s husband. He passed it down to you.”
“So he was John’s first power before he called on Abdiel for more?” I said.
“Yes.”
“OK finally I get to know. Right, secondly, what has blue eyes?”
“Erm, people, some animals…” Lucifer said.
“Cobalt blue and they happen to glow.”
“Why do you ask?” he asked seriously.
“Marley had a vision. She saw blue eyes. She didn't see the person or thing that had them, but she sensed it was female. She said she could feel the power coming from the being, she was so strong,” I explained. “Marley wasn’t frightened; she felt warm, and peaceful s
he said.”
“Hmmm, let me look into it for you,” he said before turning to look at Lilith. She glared back at him.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked.
“I’ll come back to you,” he said seriously. “Until then, stay with your friends.”
The last thing I wanted to do was get on the wrong side of him, so I agreed and left quickly.
I returned to my house and walked into the kitchen. Lily was rummaging through the cupboards.
“What are you looking for?” I asked her.
“I was going to cook us all a nice meal. Now that Eligos is OK, I thought it would be nice to sit together and kinda celebrate your engagement.”
“That would be lovely,” I said, smiling. “Hey I found out about all my powers today.”
“Really?” she said, turning to face me.
“Yeah, I finally remembered to ask before I left.”
“Well, do tell.”
I told her what Lilith had told me.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” she said wide-eyed. “A demon of vengeance, I wonder why?”
“I don't know; I didn't ask. I just wanted to know what power was in me.”
“Well, I’m glad you finally found out,” she said before turning around and rummaging through the cupboards again.
“What’s wrong, Lily, you’re like a woman possessed.”
“Everyone’s outside practicing using their powers with Eligos and Danny, and I haven’t got all the ingredients I need,” she said, stressing out. “If I go into town I won’t get everything done in time for the meal; everyone will be starving.”
“Well, I’ll go into town for you. I don't mind. You prepare what you’ve got here; write me a list of what you need and give me, what, an hour or so to get there and back.”
“Would you mind?”
“Not at all.”
“Great.”
“And listen, when I get back I need to talk to you all. I have some information for you.”