A.N. Hey everyone final chapter. Wanted to give all my readers and reviews a big thank you for coming along on this journey with me. The Interlude is being posted now it's called Baby and Bonding, after the interlude is completely posted I'll start posting the sequel. Enjoy.

Chapter 20

11:37 p.m.

For twenty minutes she and Cole stayed in her room, the held each other while he explained some of what would happen in the ceremony. He didn't know everything because he wasn't a Shapeshifter or Ticatra but he knew the basic rites that occurred in every demon initiation.

"You ready to go?" Cole whispered in her ear. While he'd explained some of the ceremony parts she had remained silent taking everything in.

Slowly she nodded. "Guess I don't really have a choice. I'm already dressed up for this shindig." Liz didn't mean to sound nervous or unsure but that's what she felt.

Cole turned her around. "You can still back out of this. It is completely your choice." He would never be able to leave her or their son's side for a moment but he'd stay glued to them if it meant keeping them forever safe.

"As much as I'd love to say let's leave now, if I don't do this our son and I will be helpless. My father's people will want us and him dead—no, I can't do that." She was just shooting her mouth off, in the end nothing could make her turn back or run away. In her short life she'd done that enough to last her a lifetime.

"If you're sure."

"Completely sure. Nervous butterflies mostly." She breathed in deep and steady. The knock on her door signaled everyone was ready and waiting. Moving out from in front of her Cole stepped to the side and held his arm out. Liz almost threaded her arm through his but he took it and placed it next to his holding her hand firmly in his—well more like holding her fingers.

"We must walk out like this." He lifted their joined hands up and straight out making sure her hand was over his. Only couples that preformed the rites of marriage could walk with arms looped. Until that time in the company of demons her hand was to be settled over his, she being of higher ranking than he.

Together they walked to the door and with a wave of his hand the bedroom door opened. A young demoness with long silky blond hair curtsied for them. "Allow me to escort you Princess to the altar?" She kept her eyes lowered awaiting her answer.

Remembering what Cole told her she stood straighter and spoke in a clear loud voice so the people out front could hear as well. "You may continue." It was important during their Clan's rituals to accept the servant sent to lead you down to the altar if pleased because that servant would be with you the rest of your days. If the servant weren't accepted he/she would be killed for upsetting the Royal. She wouldn't have minded refusing Gre-Neta, but this girl of no more than fourteen didn't deserve death; she seemed to be doing fine.

Smiling the young one curtsied and gestured for the Princess and her mate to follow. "Right this way Princess." She kept her eyes lowered and didn't look the demons in attendance in the eye. One glance and her eyes would have been gauged out.

When a servant was younger, even younger than she, they weren't punished as severely. That would be seen as excessive, but once a servant had been in the thick of things for as long as she had very little leeway was given. The only hope a servant had of avoiding punishment was if they were friends or lovers of high-ranking members of their Clan.

Upon entering the living room Liz was surprised how many were actually there. Not necessarily at the ceremony itself but the fact that they all fit in the living room with room to spare. There were at least fifty people/demons standing and bowing as she passed. Dad stood at the end of the aisle, a short green demon with horns stood next to him holding open a book.

Once she and Cole were at the front the servant curtsied to Dad and the green demon that she assumed was like a priest. "Your Highness, Your Grace." She backed away and sat on her knees where a pillow lay.

"Lakarisha, Belthazor. Step forward." Liz didn't lower her gaze. Cole told her that all Prince's and Princesses lower their gazes showing the King or Queen were higher on the demon food chain. But that didn't make sense, wouldn't her father's people, her people want a strong leader? What kind of leader lowered their gaze giving up power to someone else—even if they were below them rank wise?

Instead of the uproar she expected Dad grinned. "Princess Lakarisha you passed the test." His eyes sparkle with pride. "No self respecting Princess lowers her eyes even if it is to their father. That fire, that spirit will serve you well in the future."

Liz wondered if that's how her people chose who would assume the throne when it came time. Did the Royalty that lowered and bowed to the King or Queen not get chosen and were forever looked down upon? Thankfully that wouldn't happen to her now…if it happened at all.

The demon priest began to speak his voice a hoarse, scratchy sound that grated on her nerves. Couldn't he pop a Halls or something? He spoke of duty, honor, responsibility, and loyalty. At Jeff's nod Cole released her arm and stood off to the side, still on the altar but out of the way. This part Liz had to be by herself.

Dad passed a chalice around, it looked like the one that was in her dream when she was in that cave with Cole, only the designs on the cup were different. This was decorated in fine jewels that glistened in the candlelight and had an intricate design of a crown. Each demon behind her cut their hand and let a few drops of blood—which was made up of all the colors of the rainbow—into the chalice.

When it reached her father again he cut his hand and let a single drop fall before filling the rest of the chalice with a blue liquid. It looked like Kool-Aid. "My daughter, drink of your people, drink of our family, and allow the power and history to wash over you." He handed her the chalice.

Without hesitation she drank it down to the last drop, immediately she noticed a change. She could hear the thoughts of the demons around her, their power thrust into her willing body, their long history slammed into her mind till no amount of willpower could keep her standing. For what seemed like hours she lay on the floor breathing deeply watching and feeling the secrets of her race.

Finally the images slowed till they stopped coming at all. Blinking she turned and rose off her stomach to her knees until she stood on her own. She glance at the clock, it hadn't taken hours, it had only been a few minutes. From beside her Dad's voice boomed out. "Now you must mark the book with your blood and the ceremony will be complete."

Liz took the outstretched knife from his hand and sliced her palm. She placed it on the book and smeared her blood over it, once she was done the blood changed from a messy hand print to two separate "photographs" one was a picture of her human self, the other was her base demon form.

"It is done." Jeff spoke. "When you're twenty-one you will mark the again and all the forms you've managed to accomplish will be placed on the second page."

Although she had no clue what he meant by that she nodded anyway. She'd ask him later when there weren't so many people around. There's a lot she had to learn, that much she knew but she was looking forward to it.

But there was one question that tickled her curiosity. "Dad? Where's Mom?"

THE END…kinda

Next:

Interlude Baby and Bonding--just posted

Sequel Strange Old World will post a month-two months after Interlude is complete