Chapter 403: The Curse Of A Broken Bond

[Music recommendation: Osi and the Jupiter - They Ride Through the Skies on Horse Drawn Chariots]

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"I don’t understand..." Aliana whispered.

"You came here because you wanted to know the truth about why you were born into the world of the living, did you not, Aliana?"

When Aliana remained silent, Lilith continued, "I am here to give you that truth. But it is meant for your ears alone. A great storm is approaching, and with it comes real danger. When the time comes for Gavriel to face it... you may be the only one capable of handling him."

"Danger?" Aliana asked. "Are you talking about Mord?"

"Someone else... someone far more wicked," Lilith replied cryptically before glancing at her.

"Are you able to walk?" She eyed Aliana, who was leaning against the cold stone wall to keep herself upright.

"Yes..." Aliana replied, beads of sweat forming along her forehead.

"Follow me then. We must not waste any more time," Lilith said, turning to lead the way into the deeper section of the cave.

Aliana stared at the woman’s retreating silhouette and frustration burned in her chest at Lilith’s riddles.

Yet with no other path forward, she forced her trembling limbs to move and followed her, determined to learn the truth.

Reflecting on the encounter so far, Aliana took note that Lilith had displayed no true malice toward her until now. She had not returned Aliana’s hostility with aggression. Instead, every gesture carried the timeless, regal elegance, while her eyes bore a striking, undeniable resemblance to Gavriel’s own.

Yet beneath that poise lay an inexplicable sadness that surfaced whenever she spoke, as though she were carrying the weight of untold agony.

Perhaps pain was inevitable, given that she was now a ghost.

But that still left her wondering... how had she come to be here?

Just then, they entered the deeper recesses of the cave, which opened into a circular chamber constructed of ancient stone.

More glowing blue crystals illuminated the space, casting soft light across the dark walls.

Aliana scanned her surroundings and noticed a few flat rocks surrounding the room, but what truly caught her attention was an ancient looking urn resting atop a central stone pedestal.

The moment she laid eyes on it, she sensed something extraordinary about the object.

An inexplicable pull drew her towards it, as though it were calling to her.

She took a step closer, but Lilith interrupted her. "Why don’t you take a seat on one of those rocks?"

Aliana’s eyes snapped toward her. "What is inside that urn?"

Lilith offered her a faint smile. "You feel a resonance with it, don’t you?"

"I do," Aliana admitted.

"It contains something that will play a significant role in restoring your memories," Lilith explained. "However, before you touch it, there are things I must explain to you myself. Once you come in contact with what lies within that urn, we will no longer be able to speak like this."

"Why can’t we?" Aliana raised her eyebrows.

When Lilith remained silent, Aliana murmured, "And yet... another mystery."

Lilith chuckled softly, her eyes warming. "You truly are my fierce daughter-in-law." She gestured toward a flat stone to the side. "Take a seat. It will be far easier on your body."

’Daughter-in-law...’ Aliana repeated in her mind, the reality suddenly washing over her.

This was her very first meeting with her mother-in-law.

The realisation felt surreal and absurd given their extraordinary circumstances.

Yet, despite the strangeness of it all, Aliana had no intention of wasting any more time. She wanted answers, and wanted to get to the bottom of everything. Besides, her energy was rapidly dwindling, and she could no longer ignore how increasingly difficult it was becoming to remain standing.

With a reluctant sigh, she finally did as Lilith suggested and lowered herself onto the rock.

Once seated, Lilith began speaking as she slowly walked around the cave. "Let’s start by addressing your very first doubt."

She paused beside the urn, placing her hand near it before turning to face Aliana.

"I was the one who instructed your ancestor to perform the ritual that would bind your family’s bloodline to the Devil. To be more precise... it was meant to bind you to Gavriel. The reason was simple. It was my way of ensuring that the two of you would meet."

Aliana’s brows rose in shock. "What..."

Lilith smiled faintly. "You must be wondering why."

Aliana nodded, prompting Lilith to continue. "Call it a mother’s love for her son. I had to make sure he would never have to suffer anymore."

Her gaze grew distant, and her voice softened. "Fate has not been kind to him..."

She paused before turning her eyes back to Aliana. "Nor has it been kind to you. So this was my way of ensuring that neither of my children would have to suffer any longer."

A strange heaviness settled in Aliana’s chest as she asked, "Why would you go to such lengths?"

Pain flickered once again across Lilith’s features. "Because it was a mistake my mate made that set all of this in motion. And so, I took it upon myself to help my son, as any parent should."

Aliana felt dread coiling in the pit of her stomach as she braced herself for another big reveal. Her voice shook slightly as she asked softly, "What did... he do?"

Lilith asked, "Tell me, Aliana, how much do you know about demons having mates and the nature of mate bonds?"

The question left a bitter taste in Aliana’s mouth. It brought back memories of the very thing that had plagued her for days before she had finally forced herself to bury those worries deep within her heart.

Nevertheless, she answered, recounting everything Cillian had told her.

"That it is a special bond, written in the stars for two people destined to be together. Once solidified through the mating ritual, mates follow each other even beyond death."

"That is correct. It is a sacred bond that no one should ever tamper with. In the Underworld, for a Devil, only his true mate can sit as Queen, and only she can bear his bloodline."

Lilith paused, raising her arm to display the mark on her wrist once more. "This was my mark... the mark I wore with immense pride after my mating ritual with Gavriel’s father."

Aliana was stunned by yet another revelation.

Her gaze drifted towards Lilith’s wrist, where the intricate design of the mark was marred by dark, root-like patterns that spread upwards, extending all the way to her beautiful face.

Lilith’s voice grew heavy as she continued, "In his desperation for an heir, my mate allowed himself to be influenced by the greedy vultures surrounding him. Rather than wait for me, he sullied our sacred bond by performing a dark, forbidden ritual with other women. And that... led to the consequences we now bear for corrupting our bond."

She lowered her hand, her gaze clouded with pain.

"This is what became of me. The marks are the curse I have carried for centuries, a constant reminder of my husband’s mistake... and the shame it has brought upon me."

Aliana had heard the story from Cillian before, but hearing it from Lilith herself, she could now sense the profound pain woven into every word.

Silence settled over the chamber as Aliana waited for Lilith to continue.

Lilith took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a quiet moment before opening them to meet Aliana’s gaze. "With our bond corrupted, it was only a matter of time before the curse claimed both our lives."