CHAPTER 25
Recharged with Lily's blood, Philip smiled as he watched his revived members move towards him. He had unveiled the rift and different forms, beings, and creatures roamed around. They were all under the command of their master, Adrain/Philip. The sounds of his minions resonated the whole place and thrilled his ears. Philip master of the underworld was totally immersed in the pleasure swirling within his core, his being. Pleasure resulting from the success of his schemes, tactics and all of that. He had won it all. He watched as the forms came before him and prostrated. Toby the one who had given the house to Philip, came to stand by his side and also bowed. Many more were on their way. He had assembled them there in the town's citadel.
"Friends and members of this entity, today the world is ours. Take as many souls as you please. I'm aware that some of you have already started launching attacks. But, know one thing, the lady "Eucharia, Magnus and all other PrE" members who are the "Earth Protectors" are our greatest opponents. They will stop at nothing to see us fail. Do not hesitate to finish them off. For as many souls you take, your powers will wax stronger. I took you out of your domains of torment. Do not I repeat, do not make me regret ever lifting the veil".
The members of his entity nodded with their heads bowed. He was indeed their salvation.
"Here comes your queen!" At Philip's declaration, serenity flowed through the whole place. The minions turned towards Lily's approach, who moved alongside four of Adrain's surbordinates. They held her firmly. It was obvious that she wasn't with them on this as she was compelled to attend the meeting. Regardless, every form bowed down to her.
"In the next two days, there will be a ceremony to consummate our intimacy. All of you are to witness the union of the king and his queen."
The claps from the members was deafening and there were gleeful cheers. Philip's joy was even more. He was to be united in flesh with her to pave way for his true nature to be harnessed. To make him evolve … to the beast.
Lily on the other hand, just stood there. Her face expressionless. This man who had deceived her into believing he was her protector was actually the nemesis she had actually dreaded. The young lady was scared of what was to come for he knew so much about her. In her trust of him, she had fallen for his manipulative schemes. If there were things he didn't know about her, they were indeed few.
Donating her blood to Philip had been her greatest mistake … like ever. She didn't know before now that he had staged the whole thing and here she was, listening to this whole gibberish. How would her mum feel and everyone else? Lily had tried to transform into her inhuman form, to fight off these sick people but the change wasn't forthcoming, perhaps her body wasn't ready for the transformation yet. When then would it be? She couldn't believe that at the moment, she was helpless, well … Magnus would always fight by her as he was her protector. That's why I always feel the connection between us the whole time, she thought. But would Magnus destroy this whole entity unaided? It was unlikely. There has to be some way, she thought again.
Well for the record, she would make sure to reject the intimacy despite what it was going to take. Adrain or whatever he was called would never have her. Magnus was hers and nothing else would make a claim on her.
"But we won't just stand and watch the "Earth Protectors" try to save the world in whatever methods they've devised." Philip was still speaking to his minions. "We have to conquer it all. Nothing I repeat, nothing gets in our way. First of all, we will start with this city. Suspend your attacks on other towns and cities let's concentrate on San Diego!"
At this moment, one of Philip's subordinates whispered in his ears. They conversed quietly as the others looked on and when they had ended their little talk, Adrain spoke up.
"I'm just being informed that the "Earth Protectors" are completely centred on this town. Well then … let's create some confusions; we will make them think that this town is our only target. They will be busy guarding this town while we take hold of other countries. Spread your attacks far and wide; to Asia, Africa and Australia."
They chorused their agreement and he dismissed them. Everyone of the minions dispersed to their various domains. Toby stayed behind, he was Philip's assistant. He watched Lily his master's queen. But Philip needed to be alone with Lily. Hence, he gave his assistant a signal, to leave him and Lily for a while to discuss. Toby bowed and exited the place.
Lily and Philip now alone, faced each other. He stared at her. The young lady cringed inwardly though, didn't show her emotions when he slowly explored her with his eyes. The eyes, she really longed to strike at seemed to devour her and this further irritated her to the core. Well … he would be filled with so much misery because she would make sure of it. Never was she giving in to him.
It took all of Lily's strong will to stand rooted as Adrain silently approached her, his steps slow and deliberate. He studied his "queen" . Coming to stand before the young lady, he touched her hair.
"You my flower, do not resist this going on between us, let's not pay heed to our discussion when you said your heart didn't beat for me. You are mine and I'm yours."
"You're really delusional, nothing will ever go on between us." Lily stated flatly but firmly.
"Is Magnus the reason? I saw the way you both looked at each other. Despite telling you that he was evil, you loved him still." Adrain paused and whispered. "Something has to be done about that."
"And what would that be?" Lily reduced her voice to a whisper. "You've clearly lost it all. Magnus is your nemesis, it's no wonder you always show up at my house when he isn't in. You're really a great timer I must say. You're scared of him that's why you never wanted to meet with him, always giving the excuse of traffic and the likes. So cowardly of you Philip..."
"Enough!" He held her by the throat. "You are mine alone and we will fulfill this quest; the world together. Nothing is every changing that." He whispered.
Despite this, Lily smirked in his stronghold.
"You wish, you really wish. You uncivilized creature, you and I can never have similar interests. You're an animal."
Adrain closed his eyes for a moment and reopened them, probably trying to check in his bursting anger.
"We will see about that my Lily and your meal will be served by 7." He pecked her right cheek as he silently left her and made some signals. His four subordinates came over to Lily and took her to the room, she had been placed before the meeting. The young lady didn't fight them. Her thoughts were on how to fight back. As she thought, Toby Philip's assistant came to mind.
******†*******
Alone in her room prison, Lily sat calmly waiting up for her so-called meal. Adrain needed her healthy for the "intimacy" hence he had meals brought to Lily timely. The young lady had her plans as Toby was the one who usually brought her meals. Smiling, she knew how to play Toby's buttons, as his weakness was so obvious.
As the seconds ticked off to minutes, she waited patiently, he would be there in the next one hour. She had a wall clock in her cell. And as Philip had said, there was a knock signalling "supper time". Lily glanced at the clock,7pm. On time! She thought. Sitting in a much more comfortable position, she silently counted the seconds it took Toby to wait outside before he eventually came in with her meal.
That was his routine and she was just familiar with it. It was her guess that Adrain, Philip or whatever he called himself had given the instruction. It was his sick way of showing his care; he didn't want anyone aside himself to show up unannounced in Lily's chambers, presuming she was tidying up herself or attending to private matters. So careful of him, Lily thought sarcastically.
Toby eventually stepped in as the young lady watched him place her food on the little table situated at the right dark corner of the room. Without as much as a glance, he moved to step out and Lily seeing the opportunity, halted his move.
"May I have a word Toby?" He ignored her and moved further away. Lily knew she had to do something if she wanted leaving or escaping.
"Adrain does not see you the way you see him." He halted at the words and Lily cheered inwardly in triumph, hence she continued. "He only has his eyes on me." The man turned to face her.
"I do not know the reason for this Miss, but for the record, I'm not allowed to speak with you. That's your meal, good night." He turned back. But before he could as much as take a step forward, Lily cut in.
"Adrain will look at you the way you wish him to, only if I'm gone. So, I need to leave this place but then with your help. What do you say?" Toby turned to her again this time, with a heated look in his eyes.
"How do you think I'm gonna help? I am a captive here as much as you, following orders from him. If I deviate from the rules, you know what … of course you know the consequences."
Lily sighed defeatedly, her only chance of escaping was going off into thin air. What would she do? Toby on the other hand, wasn't quite finished.
"But then, why would I help you? For all I know, you're to help him accomplish his destiny. I would ensure he fulfills it as it's what I want. I always want him to be happy."
"You are forgetting something Toby. Adrain and I need to be intimate with each other first, before anything else comes in. Do you not wish it were you … you know, being intimate with him? I have seen the way you look at him and I know. Toby I know what it is to be unable to touch ones love and share loving moments together, I have been there. As it is, I am the obstacle between you and him. Get me out of here and he's yours forever. Toby I assure you, he's yours forever."
They stood looking at each other for some moments, Toby appeared to be at a loss for words or perhaps searching for the right thing to say, but not for long because, he came up with:
"I agree it would really break me to watch you and him do … whatever it is you will do, on the contrary, if you are really escaping, how is that possible? I mean, this citadel is vast. How are you gonna make it out of here without being caught? Just how?"
"That's why I'm asking you to help me out here. I obviously can't do this on my own but with you, it's gonna work out, of that I'm positive." Lily looked at him beseechingly as the man nodded.
"I will come up with something, for the meantime you have to act like none of "this" happened"
"I can live with that." As Toby moved to exit the room, Lily said the final words.
"Anything you're doing should be done quickly, our so-called intimacy is in the next two days."
"On it Miss." And he left. Lily was alone once again.
†*****†**†
Lily looked around her cell room, a little bit weak from sleep. She had slept off in the middle of her thoughts and something definitely roused her from sleep. Still checking to see the cause of her sudden sleeplessness, she heard a sound. It appeared someone was unlocking a door not very far from her room's. Suddenly, she heard whispers. Two voices to be exact; one of them belonged to Adrain and the other, she couldn't exactly place as the person just breathed out a word or two and became silent.
"There will be an international conference of entomologists in Cape Town tomorrow. You and the others are to reinforce your attacks there, take souls as many as you can. All the while, keep up with your work at leading on Eucharia and the "Earth Protectors". Thanks for always being with them. Its good we lead them away from the real thing. Also, It's the best way for us to know their next move and be steps ahead. Let them think we're only centred on San Diego."
Adrain's voice faded hence, Lily heard nothing more. The depraved man's words puzzled her. Who had been deceiving them all these while? Who was Adrain's minion amongst Eucharia's members?