The Cursed Demon Prince-Chapter 233: Broken Hearts
After what felt like hours, Lilith slowly pulled away from him. Her face was strained with tears, her nose and eyes reddened from the intensity of her crying. She wiped her face with her sleeves, still unable to fully process what she had just heard from Viktor... her brother.
She had always noticed a few similarities between them, but the thought of them being related had never once crossed her mind. It was... too much. All of it. Too overwhelming for her heart to absorb.
She lifted her gaze to him and found his eyes red as well, tears pooling in them. "Are you alright?" she whispered.
Viktor nodded softly. "Yes, I am. I’m... I’m so happy I finally got this off my chest. I know we’ve spent so many years apart, but now that we’re together, we’re going to make up for all the lost time. We’ll create new and beautiful memories, Lilith."
Sadness washed over her again. How wonderful it would have been, how perfect to rebuild what they had lost. To laugh together, to share stories, to be a family for years and years. But she didn’t have years. She barely had days. In only a short time, the goddess would take her soul. And there would be no memories left for her to make.
Fresh tears brimmed and spilled, running silently down her cheeks.
"What happened?" Viktor asked, panic rising in his voice. "Did I say something wrong?"
Lilith shook her head, her breath trembling.
"Then why do you look so sad? Why are you crying so much?" His voice cracked with worry.
Lilith swallowed. "..." Before she could finish, a harsh cough tore from her chest. She doubled over, covering her mouth as wave after wave of painful coughs wracked her body. Her chest burned, her throat felt as though it were lined with sharp nails. Viktor’s hand rubbed her back in frantic circles, but the pain wouldn’t ease.
At last, the coughing stopped. She lowered her hand and her entire body froze. Thick, black blood stained her palm.
Her breath caught. If she hadn’t been so shocked, she might have tried to hide it. But Viktor was right beside her, watching her every move, and there was no way to conceal it.
Viktor grabbed her hand instantly. "What is this? Lilith, why are you coughing blood?" His voice rose. "We’re going to the physician. Now. We have to..."
"I’m not going." Her quiet words hit him like a slap, freezing him mid-step.
"What do you mean you’re not going? Lilith, you’re bleeding. You need treatment." He reached for her arm, but she pulled away from him, her face pale as snow.
"There’s nothing the physician or anyone can do about it," she whispered, her voice hollow.
"W... what do you mean by that?" Viktor’s voice wavered. Fear crept into his eyes. "You’re starting to scare me, Lilith. What’s going on?"
She didn’t answer.
And that silence... that silence broke him. His eyes widened as dawning horror washed over his face.
"Hold on," he breathed. "The goddess... Lilith, did you... give her your life in exchange for the prince’s?"
Lilith bit her lip hard, trying herself from crying out.
Viktor dropped to his knees in front of her, cupping her face with trembling hands. "Tell me I’m wrong, Lilith. Tell me the blood means nothing. Tell me you didn’t..." His voice broke, a raw and painful sound. He swallowed, tears streaming down his cheeks. "..please, please tell me I have it all wrong."
"I’m sorry, Viktor." Her voice cracked instantly. "There was no other way. That was the only way to save him. I... She choked on her tears and tore her face away from Viktor’s shaking hands.
Color drained from his complexion. His mouth hung open as he stared at her, as though her words had knocked every breath out of him. His heart pounded so violently that it hurt, his chest tight, his lungs refusing to pull in air. His stomach twisted, nausea curling deep inside him. For a moment, he couldn’t feel his own legs.
"You..." His voice cracked. "I only just found you, Lilith." Tears cascaded freely down his face. "I can’t lose you again. I can’.." He dragged in a trembling breath, wiping his face with a shaking hand. "There must be a way to reverse this. Something... anything."
He shot to his feet, panic surging through him. "We can go to Salistra. She will know what to do. She always does. I will give my life for you if it comes to that, I swear it." He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, desperation pouring from him. "We can fix this. We can..."
Lilith gently pulled her arm free, her legs barely holding her.
"There’s nothing we can do, Viktor. This is the end. This is my end." Her voice trembled, fragile. "I only have a few days before the goddess comes for my soul. The..."
"No." His voice exploded furiously, "No, that’s fucking bullshit." He reached for her again, his hands shaking violently. "She has no right to your soul. None. Let’s go to Salistra, she can fix this. She has to. I’m sure..."
"Nobody can fix this, Viktor." She placed her hand over his, lifting it gently to her cheek. Her skin was cold. "It’s over." Her smile was thin and broken. "I’ve come to terms with my fate. I guess I was meant to die sooner or later." A small, shaky chuckle escaped her, but Viktor didn’t move, didn’t breathe. "I wish I had met you sooner. You’re a wonderful person, Viktor... and I’m glad you’re my family."
His lower lip trembled hard as he clenched his jaw, trying and failing to hold himself together. "We... we were supposed to grow old together," he whispered, voice fracturing. "You and I. We were supposed to make up for everything we lost. And now you’re..." His voice collapsed into silence. "You’re leaving me again. I can’t... I can’t do this, Lilith. I can’t."
Lilith stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. He broke instantly, his entire body shuddering as he clung to her.
"Everything will be fine, Viktor," she whispered into his shoulder, though her own tears streamed down uncontrollably. "You have Charlotte, Lucian. Hades. You will all mourn for a while... but eventually, you’ll be alright. All of you will be alright." Lilith bit her lip hard, trying to stop the sob building in her throat, her words not only trying to convince Viktor, but herself too.
