“While someone brings Chizuru to the Underworld, we should go back to the apartment and let Vincent rest,” Glen suggested, because it was the only plausible thing to do.

And no one dared to object—they were all tired.

That’s when Ada finally decided to say something because no one else did, “Clearly killing her isn’t enough, we should figure out something else.”

And while it sounded like Ada was feeling pity, her words didn't come from a place of mercy. They came from the type of anger that fueled revenge.

Glen got another hit in to stop her from talking, hoping it wouldn't leave her unconscious for too long. Since they planned on dragging her back to the Underworld and he wanted to make it as painful as possible. When Vincent coughed it snapped Glen out of his rage and back to senses.

“You do not represent the mistress and her cause. How dare you even think to understand the lengths I went to to complete her wishes! I'm her favorite, I've been working for this my entire life!" she argued, her tone becoming more deranged the longer she spoke.

“I'm the mistress's right hand, you shouldn't even be allowed–”

Elian's words cut her off like a sharp knife, "You're not allowed to call him a servant, you are below him now. Awaiting your judgment.”

They expected Chizuru to behave after that warning, but instead something shifted in her.

She kept lashing out nonetheless, “How dare you touch me, you lowly servant?!”

“I’m not the one on the ground, so I would be very quiet if I were you,” he threatened in a low voice.

But instead of scaring her, it annoyed her.

In her eyes wasn't a single hint of remorse or regret. She felt insulted rather than scared. Which only triggered him more.

Glen couldn't help himself and kicked Chizuru back to the ground out of pure rage. She deserved to suffer, to feel pain and despair the way she made them feel. The way she made Lacie and Lucian suffer and so many more people.

But the moment Chizuru moved without being told to, that fear shifted.

And Glen became near unrecognizable.

The conversation was far from over, but it was also far from the most important thing happening. Glen had no choice but to put it aside to help Vincent up, encouraging and fussing, blinking tears back he probably thought no one saw. The fear rolling off of him was staggering.

Elian shook her head and looked away. She couldn’t have made up something convincing if she’d wanted to—and she didn’t want to. She’d done enough concealing and manipulating.

“We should take her to the Underworld until we decide what’s happening or whose decision it is,” was all she would say.

“Took Igor back home,” V said, her eyes fixed on Chizuru. “What are we doing with her? What’s wrong with her?”

“She’ll do what I say,” Elian said, flinching when Glen’s eyes slid her way.

“Why?” he asked in a near growl.

“Let me see,” Glen said when he’d caught his breath, crossing the space between them in two strides, rending Vincent’s shirt in two, recoiling at what he found. They were almost healed over—but only almost.

“Where’s Alucard?” Elian asked V.

Elian only had around two seconds to be confused by Lilith's quick departure. As soon as they had passed, Glen and V were somehow there, both of them looking like they might pass out when they saw the state of Vincent.

Lilith stared down her nose, face twisted in disapproval. “She is my chosen. The bearer of my will. You will listen to every order she gives you and every whim she has, regardless of the implications. Do you understand?”

“Your will is mine,” Chizuru said desperately. “I will obey.”

“Raise your head, Chizuru,” Lilith said to the still kneeling woman. “Do you see the princess of the gods behind you?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Chizuru whimpered, her eyes like those of a kicked puppy.

Elian wished she could have grown another set of arms to comfort Ada. She was thankful for Kento making his way over to them, stubbornly placing himself between Vincent and both Lilith and Chizuru, one of his hands steady on Ada’s shoulder.

“You should have some strength back in a moment,” Lilith said, brown eyes on Vincent this time. “Use it to heal.”

“Wh—”

“Shh,” Ada interrupted, tears streaming down her face. “Do it—heal it, you have to—”

“Put your hand over the wound, pet,” Lilith instructed over her shoulder.

Elian tried not to meet Vincent’s incredulous stare. Sighed in relief when he allowed her to touch him as Lilith wanted, warmth blooming between them.

“Are you okay?” Ada asked before she could, hands fluttering frantically around him. “You—you’re breathing, how the fuck you 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, I—”

“‘m okay,” Vincent gasped, one hand clutching his chest over a still spreading crimson stain.

The speed with which Chizuru obeyed was mind-boggling. Any other time, Elian would have been impressed, but right now, all she could do was scramble over to Vincent on her hands and knees, Ada right behind her, reaching the side of him opposite Elian at the same time.

“Open your fist,” Lilith snarled through her teeth, difficult to hear over the ringing in Elian’s ears and her own panted breaths. “Remove your hand from my grandson’s chest and move away from him. 𝘕𝘰𝘸.”

“Chizuru.”

All he could hear was Elian screaming, but he wasn't sure what. He could only hope for Ada to get out alive, she had to. With or without him.

‘𝑀𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟’ was the last thing Vincent managed to say to Azhdaha.

Vincent barely had time to react when Chizuru's hand pierced his chest, squeezing his heart carefully.

He couldn't breathe.

She hissed, “We will see if Azhdaha really needs you.” And she meant it. Her grip getting tighter as his vision blurred.

“Get off me!” he yelled as Chizuru grabbed him, having no intention to let go.

“You are such a nuisance, just like your mother. But I'm not making the same mistake twice”

He didn't understand what she meant by that, until he felt it.

Vincent couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His manager, fighting alongside him with a power that was completely new to him. How was that possible?

“Kento?! How are you–” before he could finish he was pushed with so much force it knocked the air out of his lungs.

It was Chizuru.

𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟, 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤ℎ𝑜'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟, 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤ℎ𝑜'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aye2...

𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑛𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aye2...

It was almost as if she had completely forgotten about needing him alive and intact, hitting one attack after another as blood began to splatter. Vincent knew he had to be careful but she was so much older and faster than him.

Just as hope seemed to be lost, the elevator dinged.