Josh had found them. He stood at a distance staring holes through them.
"Lily, what do we do?! We ca— we can't hurt him. He's my best friend" Ronnie said, he trembled in fear as he looked up at Lily.
"That might be our only option at this point. I do not have a way to save him" Lily replied in a serious tone. she kept her eyes locked on Josh.
"I'm your master right?! I summoned you to this world so you listen to me!" Ronnie yelled, his lips shook violently and the fear was evident in his eyes.
Lily took a deep breath.
"Listen, Ronald Carpenter. I'll say this once and I'll say it so you understand. I couldn't care less about your life or the life of your friend. The only reason I try to keep you safe is because of your foolishness. Our lives are tied together, if you lose your puny meaningless life, I lose mine. I absolutely cannot fall in a place like this" Lily said. her demeanor had changed, she had a lifeless look in her eyes.
"Y— you really are a demon" Ronnie muttered with his head down.
"Stay out of my way. I can't kill you, but I can still break every bone in your body and leave you praying for death if you annoy me" Lily took her eyes off Josh, raising Ronnie's chin so he could look in her eyes.
"This soul tie we have is abnormal, you might have summoned me, but you have nowhere near enough power to control me, don't forget th—" she was interrupted by Josh who came charging at them with sinister laughter.
"I must have your soul!" He yelled.
Lily pushed Ronnie aside in an instant and grappled Josh who tossed her aside almost immediately.
"Ronald! you have to run, get out of here. I still don't have my powers. I'm too weak, run or I'll kill you!" She yelled.
Josh's body had started transforming, he looked monstrous.
"If I leave then what happens to you?! If he kills you I'll be dead too right?!" Ronnie asked, making it to his feet while his knees trembled.
"foolish human!" She responded irritably.
"Josh, buddy, what is wrong with you? Why are you acting this way? It's me!" Ronnie said, he stood at a distance from the beast.
It laughed and launched at him with Josh's nails that had turned to claws. Ronnie couldn't evade quick enough. He was slashed across the chest and he cried out violently.
Josh had pinned him Ronnie on his knees with one hand around his neck. Josh drew breath in through his mouth and a physical manifestation of Ronnie's soul was being transferred into him.
The light had started to leave Ronnie's eyes when Lily came out of nowhere, grabbing Josh's head and launching him into a tree which collapsed on him.
She ran back to Ronnie who was almost lifeless on the leafy dirt of the woods.
"Ronald, Ronald! you have to be strong, I grow weaker by the second. We'll both die at this rate" Lily mustered the strength to talk.
"What can — you do? Isn't there something that can be done?" Ronnie asked, his voice barely escaping his throat.
Lily kept silent, her eyes locked in the direction where the collapsed tree held Josh down. Blood dripped off her injured head.
"Lily? Shouldn't we be on the run?" Ronnie asked.
"He'll just find us again. we wouldn't get anywhere. I'm too weak to even sustain my physical form." Lily said, her voice fading.
"I guess this is the end. sorry I made you a promise I couldn't keep" Ronnie had a brief bitter laugh. Josh had found his way out from under the tree
She was quiet again, then she cleared her throat.
"Ronald Carpenter, are you ready to complete the summoning ritual? it's the only thing that can keep us alive at this point" Lily said, laser focused on Ronnie's eyes.
"What do we do?" He asked.
"We need to seal the tie. Be warned that this might mean that we'll lose every chance of breaking it and you might end up dying in the process" She said.
"Are you okay with that? spending the rest of your life with me?" Ronnie asked.
"I can't afford to die here. Not like this" Lily replied in a serious tone.
"Let's do it then"
Josh stood at a distance.
"Why's he just standing there?" Ronnie asked.
"He has to take breaks, he's being careful not to break the body of the fragile human before achieving his objective. This gives us time" Lily explained.
Ronnie showed his understanding with a nod.
She whispered some words to him and stood across from him.
"I tie us together, in body and in soul, as long as I live, you shall, if I die, you die with me" Ronnie said the chant he was given by Lily.
"Say my name, my true name,!" Lily yelled as she realized Josh had started moving again.
"I bind my soul to yours, Lilith!!" Ronnie yelled.
The clouds turned dark, the trees shook violently and the sky's rumbled with lightening.
The sinister aura had enveloped the forest, just like in Ronnie's room.
Suddenly, Lily grabbed Ronnie's chin and kissed his lips. He shut his eyes and didn't resist.
a dragon sigil appeared on the back of Ronnie's right palm right before Lily let him go.
Ronnie heard Josh's growl as he charged at them, he shut his eyes tightly.
"Insolent fool" a woman's voice said, it sounded like Lily's voice but thicker.
When Ronnie forced his eyes open and got on his feet, he was beheld a terrific sight.
A woman in a magnificent attire that left little to the imagination. She was blonde, had two curved horns protruding out of the sides of her head, ruby coloured eyes. She was much taller than him.
"Hello, Master" she gave a mischievous smile, holding Josh by the neck as he struggled to break free.
Ronnie recognized that smile.
"Lily?!" He asked.