Chapter 52: Hino Wuma (Part II)

In the midst of my slumber, someone kicked me.

"Are you the one named Aurora?" A harsh kick landed on my body. "To think Cass hid you here behind my back! He actually didn't tell me that you are Lilith—that you are the Queen!"

I furrowed my brows, blankly opening my unfocused eyes.

"How can you still sleep? Can you not hear your kin weeping and wailing? The Inquisition has already opened the gateway. With the Queen missing and both the Arbiter and the Chancellor dead, the demons are leaderless and fractured. The Demon Realm is about to vanish from the three realms forever." Someone squatted beside me, speaking with a cold sneer.

My mind gradually cleared, and I sat up. "Hino Wuma?!"

The icy floor made me realize I had been moved. Hino Wuma's words caused the former Queen within me to go wild once more, and my head throbbed with agonizing pain.

I gritted my teeth, my left hand violently tugging at the silver ring on my right index finger. Aurora, Lilith—whoever you are—take my body! Take this useless, cowardly, foolish Aurora! What use is there in keeping such a soul!

Alastor, who taught me and protected me...

Little Mountain, who believed in me and adored me...

Albus, the white-clad judge who gave me my Proffering...

I want revenge!

"Director, Lord Cass is coming this way," a voice rang out abruptly.

Hino Wuma let out a cold snort. She hooked her finger under my chin. "It seems our Lord Cass has, after all, succumbed to mortal feelings."

My world was pitch black. I curled the corners of my lips into a sickeningly sweet smile. "Are you jealous?"

The hand gripping my chin suddenly tightened, as if trying to crush my jaw, yet I felt no pain at all. All my sensation was concentrated on my right index finger; I wanted to strip off that silver ring, but I couldn't.

My finger hurt terribly from the pulling, yet the silver ring remained motionless. It was as if it had taken root in my hand, firmly shackled to my index finger, impossible to tear away.

"You will cause his death once again," Hino Wuma leaned in close, whispering coldly into my ear.

Once again?

"I will not let you have your way, monster. Die!" Hino Wuma spoke coldly by my ear as a sharp wooden stake was pressed against my heart.

"Don't even dream of it." My lips curled slightly. I exerted force with my left hand—snap—the sound of bone breaking echoed as my right index finger twisted outward at a grotesque angle.

With my own left hand, I had... snapped my right index finger off.

My vision suddenly cleared. I saw the stunned look in Hino Wuma's eyes.

"What are you doing?!" Following a flurry of hurried footsteps, Cass’s voice rang out sharply at the door. He looked at the sharp wooden stake in Hino Wuma's hand, and ripples appeared in his usually calm, fathomless eyes. "Put it down."

Hino Wuma shook her head. "I won't let you keep making mistakes. If the elders find out you are bending the law for personal reasons... have you forgotten what happened that time..."

"Shut up." His brow furrowed slightly, and Cass’s breathing became unstable.

"In any case, I will kill her!" Hino Wuma raised her hand and lunged the stake toward my heart.

"Are you sure you can?" I smiled, gently catching Hino Wuma's hand—the one holding the stake—with incredible speed.

Hino Wuma gasped in shock. "Your eyes?!"

I looked at the girl in red before me. She had stylish short hair, rosy skin, and a long whip wrapped around her waist. Currently, she held a sharp stake in her hand, her bright black eyes filled with astonishment.

Hino Wuma, an exceptionally gifted exorcist, took over the position of Director of the Inquisition at the age of sixteen. It has been two years since then; she is the 265th Director of the Inquisition, and the youngest in history.

In this moment, I saw my own pale face and blood-red pupils reflected in her beautiful eyes...

I had snapped the finger wearing the silver ring. The ring used to seal the Queen's power finally slipped off my finger.

"Do not dream of escaping me..."

In the darkness, that somber voice drowned out everything else.

I won't run. I won't run. I am right here at the Inquisition. Samael, come and get me!

I looked down and watched as a brand-new finger quickly grew from the stump. Raising my hand, I lightly pressed it against my chest. The corners of my mouth curved into a slight arc as cold liquid slid from my eyes.

Aurora, don't cry. Don't cry. We will get revenge together. We will...

We will get revenge together...

For Alastor, for Albus, and for all the demons who died!

At this moment, I became a true living corpse.

"Aurora..." Cass sighed softly, his voice carrying infinite grief.

He lowered his lashes, simply closing his eyes for a moment to hide all the sorrow and tenderness. When he opened them again, he was a complete stranger.

That gaze was icy to the bone.

Ignoring him, I turned my head and with a smile, pinched Hino Wuma’s rosy cheek. "Hino... Wuma?"

Her face turned beet red, and she glared at me indignantly. "Don't you get arrogant!"

"Let her go," Cass said.

I looked at Cass. Life is truly fickle. The person he hurried here to save was originally me, yet now, the one waiting for his salvation was someone else.

I began to smile faintly.

Dozens of elders in white robes appeared soundlessly, surrounding me in the center.

"Elders!" Hino Wuma gritted her teeth. "Eliminate this monster! She is the reincarnation of Lilith!"

I smilingly covered Hino Wuma's mouth, letting her glare at me with her beautiful, wide black-and-white eyes as she tried to shake off my hand with a series of muffled protests.

I looked at the white-robed elders. They wore white cloaks like ghosts; I could only see their hands, which looked like withered branches, poking out from the robes. This group of old timers wouldn't be easy to deal with.

The elders ignored Hino Wuma's command and instead looked toward Cass in unison.

Cass lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Seeing his tacit permission, the white-robed elders solemnly encircled me. They raised their scepters and struck the ground, creating a discordant, chaotic noise.

How unpleasant.

Countless beams of white light wove into a dense net, suddenly binding me so tight I couldn't move.

I smiled and allowed myself to be captured.

Under the personal escort of the elders, I was locked in the underground dungeon of the Inquisition to await trial.

Sitting in the pitch-black cell, I toyed with the silver ring that had been removed along with my finger. I looked at the newly grown index finger on my right hand, the corners of my mouth curving slightly.

"Don't waste your energy, Lilith. I can sense your dark power. The Heavens, the human realm, the Demon Realm—no matter where you are, I can find you."

No matter where I am, you can find me?

Then... come, Samael.

Come to the Inquisition.

Level this place... to the ground, just as you did in the Demon Realm.

"Hehe..."

In the darkness, I laughed softly, my face covered in cold tears.