Chapter 5 (Part 2/2)

Nick walked into the dining room. Once a week, Lilith had Nick brought to the obsidian cathedral for a proper meal. There usually was long table overflowing with various sorts of meats, vegetables, sides, and desserts that could feed at least three dozen men. Today the table was much shorter. He could actually see the table settings thus time. Two empty plates with silverware on either side and a crystal goblet at the top right corner of each setting. It was very….intimate.

Lilith walked into the room in a floor length, A-Line champagne colored dress with a very deep V-neck and thigh high slits up each side.

"Now I feel terrible. I should have changed," Nick joked as he gestured to his tattered clothes. "Then again, who would judge me down here for wearing the same underwear for 9 months?"

"How charming, Mr. Scratch," Lilith said as she headed to the table. The dress flowed as she moved, her legs peeking through with each step. "Please, come join me."

This was a trap. It had to be. Nick knew better than to trust her. He was sure there was a little part of Lilith that wanted to help him, but as long as the Dark Lord was inside of him, she would take more pleasure in hurting him.

Be careful, Sabrina's voice said.

She is deceiving you, the Dark Lord agreed. She wants something from you.

It definitely sent up red flags when his subconscious and the Dark Lord agreed. Nick slowly made his way to the table, but did not sit right away. If he knew anything better than conjuring and binding, it was women. Lilith, most certainly, was a woman.

"If I knew we were going to dress nicely, I would have changed," he joked as he sat down. Lilith snapped her fingers and Nick's clothes were suddenly new again. His hair combed back and his face, hands….everything was clean. "That...uh...happened."

Lilith signaled for her minions to start bringing in their courses. They brought in salads and bread while filling the goblets with a dark red wine.

"Tell me, Nicholas," Lilith said as she sipped her wine. "How are you feeling?"

Nick looked up at her curiously. She was kidding right? Yesterday, the Dark Lord decided that he would allow Nick to hear Sabrina cry for two hours. He wasn't sure if it was actually Sabrina crying or something the Dark Lord just wanted him to hear to drive him insane. Before a week before that, his lovely hostess left him in the lake of Judecca for a few days after the Dark Lord attempted to make Nick bash his own head.

"I thought I was supposed to be telling the jokes," Nick said, his tone was much less jovial. "If I'm not in the lake, I'm in my cell in the dungeon - sometimes chained like an animal - left with nothing but the Dark Lord's voice in my head. Everyday he plays out his plans of revenge in my head like home movies. Every one of them involves hurting….Sa….he hurts her. So he played it in my mind again and again and again. So back to your question, I'm not doing very well at all."

"I can apologize for how I have treated you But the Dark Lord my be kept contained by any and all means."

"I understand that more than anyone else will, Madam Satan."

"You are welcome to call me Lilith."

"I'd prefer Madam Satan of it's all the same to you."

Lilith gave Nick a half smile and shrugged. She was playing at something, trying to be coy. Nick couldn't imagine what he had to offer. He was in a constant battle the the Dark Lord. Even now, he may have seemed calm but inside his head he was in a match of wits with the Great Deceiver. It was a dangerous game for her to play to be this close to him.

"Edward tells me you have been in more control of yourself these days."

"For the most part, but the Dark Lord prefers to torture me by trying to rip through my flesh or drive me insane by playing horror movies of him torturing my loved ones. Well, loved one."

"Love," Lilith laughed. "Do our kind truly know what love is? We are driven by lust and desire. It is our nature. Love….we believe we know it. Feel it. But it is a foreign emotion we don't need."

"I don't know about that. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my love for Sabrina."

"Hm," was all Lilith said. "Still, it must be hard being here on your own."

Nick laughed. "Everything the Dark Lord gives us comes at a price. This is the debt I owed for the devotion he asked of me." He closed his eyes, gripping his utensils as he felt Lucifer's anger grow.

Debt? Did you not get what you want? Was Sabrina not yours?

"Well, perhaps we can make arrangements to be sure you are much more….comfortable," Lilith said. Nick opened his eyes with a raised brow when he felt her hand on his. "No need for our time here to be lonely and apart."

He chuckled to himself. "I'm flatter, Madam Satan," he said before pulling his hand back, "but I will have to respectfully decline." Lilith pressed her lips together into a line. She was not pleased to be rejected. "Perhaps it's time I went back to my cell."

Nick stood to leave. The moment he turned around he felt something hit his chest quickly followed by a sharp pain. He looked down to see an arrow sticking out of his chest. As his breathing quickened, the more painful the arrow became.

"Unholy shit," Nick groaned as he began to stumble backwards, his vision doubled and blurred. He suddenly became very aware of a brawny man in black armor with a bow in his hand standing in the corner of the room. He donned a helmet with a gruesome face. His eyes black like the night and his skin was an unnatural bluish grey. He had a feeling the man's face was scarier than the mask he wore.

"I would suggest not panicking," Lilith mocked. "If you're wondering, that gentleman is Orion. I know what you're thinking, Orion was a Greek hero. In reality, he wasn't. The Dark Lord granted him his skill and good looks to all of which Orion praised False Gods for. He was a murder, rapist, and was ultimately killed for his arrogance. To atone for his sins, Orion has pledged his unwavering fealty to the Ruler of Hell. The poison coursing through you right now is disabling each and every one of your motor skills. Don't worry, you won't die. I need you alive. You'll wake up, but you will be in excruciating pain."

Lilith made her way around the table and stood over Nick. He coughed up some blood as he pulled himself up to a sitting position.

"I want you to know, Nick," she said as she squatted so she was eye to eye with him, "this isn't about sex." She grabbed the shaft of the arrow and slowly turned it as she dug the tip deeper in his chest, causing him to scream out in pain. "I just don't like being denied."


Nick stared down at his wound. It has been weeks since his dinner gone wrong with Lilith. As if being in Hell wasn't terrible enough, now he had to deal with the wrath of a spurn woman and her mountain of a bodyguard Orion. He sighed, accepting that it would be another scar to add to his collection. True to her words, Nick lived. The arrow missed his organs but the poison it injected into his body burned like hell fire in his veins for two weeks.

Why do you deny Lilith? The Dark Lord asked. Had you any sense, you will be here for the rest of eternity and being her companion would have made it more bearable.

"I don't love her," Nick said aloud.

"You love my daughter," Edward said suddenly. Nick looked up at him. "It is rather clear how devoted you are to her."

Edward Spellman is a greater fool than you, Nicholas.

"I was no fool, Lucifer Morningstar. Love does not make you a fool."

"Wait, you could hear him this whole time?" Nick asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"He wasn't speaking to me. It would have been rude."

Nick laughed. It was the first actual laugh in a long time. "Why did she choose you? You were the greatest conjurer of your time, but I don't think she sought you out."

"She did not. I sought her when news travelled about you, Nicholas. I had to see for myself. The warlock that imprisoned the Dark Lord and saved my sweet Sabrina. I had to see you. And thank you."

Nick stayed silent for a moment. Edward Spellman had been in limbo for 17 years searching for a way to get back to his wife, then abandoned his research to thank him?

"May I ask you a question, Nicholas?" Edward asked.

"Sure."

"What is my daughter like? What is Sabrina like?"

Nick smiled. "She's beautiful. The most beautiful being that has ever walked the Earth. She's very smart. And headstrong. If she sets her mind to something, it will get done. She loves her family and friends more than anything."

"And you."

Nick paused. "I don't know. I hurt her. I lied to her. I'm not sure she will forgive me. Well, not that it'll matter. I'll never see her again."

"You will. If she is anything like her mother, she will come for you. We Spellmans are a stubborn people."

"Forgive my if this sounds rude, but I thought the Dark Lord was her father."

Edward stare at Nick for a moment. He was choosing his words carefully. "To deceive the Great Deceiver, one must play the odds to their favor."

"I have no idea what that mea…."

A swarm of guards burst into Nick's cell, Orion at the front of the pack. Nick jumped to his feet, prepared for a fight. But the guards did not advance toward him. They grabbed Edward and dragged him out as he struggled against them.

"Wait! What the Heaven is going on?!" Nick shouted at the horde.

"Remember what I've taught you! Do not give in!"

The door slammed shut once the last of the guards was through. Nick stood staring at the door in disbelief. He had begun to enjoy having Edward around. Though he came mainly to strengthen the binding runes or take him to shave, Nick enjoyed his company.

In his head, he head a slow, menacing laugh. Alone at last.


He didn't know how much time had passed. He lost track since they slowly started to starve him. His Sabrina still came to him, begging him to not give up, but his will was breaking. He couldn't remember the last time he saw the outside of the walls of the room other than when Orion came to torture him.

They're trying to break you. Please, Nick, just hang in there.

"I can't," he sobbed into the floor. He couldn't move. He didn't care to either. "I'm so sorry, Spellman. I….I can't anymore. I just want to die. Please just let me die."

Please, just a little longer…

Nick rolled onto his back, rubbing his stubbled face. The little part of him that wouldn't give up was fading. He wasn't sure why it hadn't yet, but he was tired. He had nothing left. He dropped his arms outward and his right hand hit something cold and smooth. He grasped the object. It was the razor he used to shave.

It wasn't a coincidence it would show up now. The Dark Lord sensed Nick's weakness. Nick stared at the blade, contemplating his next move.

Nick's hand shook as it did the first few shaves. He brought the blade to his neck, pressing the cold metal against his skin. He took several deep breaths. He could rid himself of the torture. The pain. It would be so easy….

The dungeon door swung open with force and no warning. Nick dropped the blade and backed into the wall. He had seen the horror that was beneath Orion's helmet. It was more terrifying than any nightmare the Dark Lord could come up with.

He felt anger rising in him. This was it. If he was going to die, there was no sense in waiting. "If you're going to fucking kill me just get it over with!" he yelled.

A figure stepped into the doorframe, they were much smaller than Orion.

"Nick?" she called.

The sound of her voice sent a chill down his spine. No. It couldn't be. He shut his eyes again, covering his ears so not to hear the voice again.

"Nick!"

"Please, God, no," he cried. "Not again."

"It's him! I found him!" The voice yelled behind them. "Nick, it's me. It's Sabrina."

Nick shook his head. He knew better than to fall for this trick. "You're trying to trick me. Just stol. Leave me alone. Go away!"

"No, Nick," Sabrina cried. "It's me. It's really me."

He felt the warmth of her hands on top of his, pulling them from his ears. He looked up slowly. Tears flowed from her green eyes. "Sabrina?"

She just nodded, unable to speak. He wasn't sure if he was laughing or crying, but her pulled her into his arms and held her. He could hear other voices and footsteps entering the room, but he didn't care. All that mattered was her.

She finally pulled away, wiping the tears from her face. "You need a shower," she teased.

He nodded with a smile. "It's been a while."

"Brina!" Roz called. "They're almost here. We have to hurry."

Nick suddenly realized that Sabrina's company were her three mortal friends. "You shouldn't be here," he said. "You need to leave. Now."

"Not without you," Sabrina said.

"You don't understand. They'll kill your friends. They needed me alive. They won't care about three mortals."

Sabrina looked back at her friends. "Where are they?" she asked.

"They were right behind me," Theo said.

"We have to get started now, Brina, or that horde will be on top of us," Harvey stated.

Sabrina groaned, "Ok, ok. Just draw exactly what I showed you."

Harvey nodded and slung his shotgun over his shoulder. He knelt down and started drawing shapes into the dirt.

"Sabrina, what is he doing?" Nick asked.

"He's helping me save you. Just….stay calm ok? This might hurt." Sabrina closed her eyes and started muttering a spell. Nick knew what she was trying to do now.

"Sabrina," he said in a panic, "stop. You need to sto….ahhh!" Nick's body was on fire. His body arched off the floor as they attempted to pull the Dark Lord from within him.

"Sabrina, it isn't working," Roz said worriedly.

"It has to work," Sabrina said desperately. "Let me try again."

"Sabrina don…." He was cut off by his own screams. He could feel the runes burning in his skin.

"Sabrina, stop!" Theo said. "There's something on his leg. It started glowing when you were saying your spell."

Sabrina pulled up Nick's pant leg, finally seeing the rune there. He checked his other leg. Another rune.

"What….what are they?" she asked.

"Binding ruins. To keep the Dark Lord in," Nick said weakly. He pulled down his collar to reveal the rune on shoulder, then the other. "I have one more on my back. I know you're trying to do. But it's useless. He trapped in here."

"No," Sabrina cried. "No. I won't accept that. There has to be something we can do."

Nick shook his head. "Babe, I wish there was."

"They craved them into you….Oh Nick, who did this to you?"

"I did," a familiar voice answered. Nick looked up as Sabrina turned around. In the doorway was Edward Spellman.

"Dad?" Sabrina asked in disbelief. "How…."

"I wish we had time, my girl, but we do not. The horde marches. We must remove the Dark Lord. We must remove the runes."

"I thought you said they were carved into his skin," Harvey said.

"They are," Edward said simply.

Nick shook his head. "No….Edward, please no."

Edward grabbed Nick's face, holding it still. "Listen to me, son, it's the only way. You must stay strong." Nick nodded. Edward removed his leather belt and handed it to Nick. "Bite down on this. You, boy, come here. You'll need to help hold him down."

Harvey and Theo ran over to hold Nick down. Roz came to hold Sabrina.

"We're here! We've…." Ambrose trailed off and stopped in his tracks when he saw Edward. "Uncle?"

"There's no time to explain, Ambrose. I need your help."

Ambrose slowly made his way over. Behind him, Prudence entered the cell, dragging the Dark Lord's new vessel.

Edward looked down at Nick who was biting down on the leather belt. "Please forgive me, Nicholas." Edward began to slice Nicholas's skin, removing each rune.

Nick's muffled scream was still agonizing through the belt. They soon turned into sobs as Edward moved on to the next rune. Sabrina turned away, in pain and sadness. Even Prudence couldn't bare the sight.

"You have the new vessel?" Edward asked once the last rune was removed.

Prudence nodded, unable to meet the warlock's gaze. "Here he is," she said as she shoved Faustus Blackwood into one of the circles drawn on the floor.

"Sabrina," Edward called. He put his hands, still stained with Nick's blood, on her arm. "You must hurry before the Dark Lord frees himself."

Sabrina nodded. She mumbled a chant again and Lucifer appeared in one of the circles drawn on the floor.

"Foolish children," he laughed. "You let this old fool take slices from the boy as if he were ham at a feast. You've only just freed me and doomed yourselves."

The group quickly started another chant, trying to bind the Dark Lord and Father Blackwood.

With the flick of his finger, everyone except Sabrina went flying across the cell. "You, daughter, have been quite the nuisance."

"My name is Sabrina Spellman," she stated firmly.

"Now that is just hurtful. Come with me now and we will finish what we started."

"No."

The Dark Lord sighed. "I knew you would say that." He moved toward Sabrina, but was tackled down. He shoved the body on top of him. It was Nick. "Aren't you dead yet? No matter, you wish you were." Lucifer pulled a dagger from his side. He tore open Nick's shirt and began carving something into his chest. "One mind. One body. Forever entwi…."

Suddenly the Dark Lord stopped and was throw away from Nick. "I knew you would be trouble," Lilith said. She spotted Faustus Blackwood and uttered a few words in Latin before putting her hands together. The Dark Lord's body flew into Father Blackwood's just as it did to Nick's a year ago.

"Hurry," she said. "I can put him to sleep, but his minions approach. Orion will clear a path for you. Edward, stay with me and we will hold them off as long as we can."

Sabrina nodded and helped Nick to his feet. The others all rose as well, gathering by Sabrina and Nick. The wound on his chest sizzled and bleed profusely.

"It's infected," Edward said. "The blade he used is a cursed blade. It was given to Lucifer by the False God when he was general of his army before being casted out. When he fell, the blade became cursed. Tell Hilda. She will know what to do." Sabrina nodded and turned to help Nick. "Nicholas, wait." Edward reached into his pocket and handed something to Nick. "Give this to Zelda. And them….I love them."

In the distance, a horn sounded. "You must leave now," Lilith said.

"We should listen before she changes her mind," Nick said weakly. "She might change her mind."

"Why would she change her mind?" Ambrose asked.

"She might still be mad at me for not having sex with her."