The Broken Halo

Chapter 1076 - 1075: A Very Jealous Sword

The Chaos Blade trembled above Simon’s head.

His Seed of Pride held it there, but Lilith hadn’t loosened her grip.

He could teleport.

That was the first solution that came to mind.

Unfortunately, escaping the room wouldn’t solve anything. They were bound together. She would find him, and he would be having this argument somewhere less private.

Preferably without a sword over his head.

”Lilith-”

Behind him, the sheets rustled.

Simon froze.

Seraya stirred. A small frown creased her brow, and her arm stretched across the pillow where he had been, fingers searching. When they found only fabric, her eyes cracked open. She pushed herself up on one elbow, silver hair spilling across her face, and let out a long, unguarded yawn.

’Oh shit.’

She rubbed her eyes and glanced at Neris, who was still wrapped around her pillow. Then she looked around the room.

Her gaze landed on Simon.

She blinked and rubbed her eyes again.

”...Blackmoon?”

Simon dispelled the wind barrier and turned to her with the warmest smile he could manage.

”Good morning.”

Seraya looked at him.

Then at the black sword hanging in the air, its tip trembling a hand’s width from his skull as though it wanted nothing more than to split him in half.

Then back at him.

”What... is going on?”

”I’m practicing.”

”With a sword pointed at your head?”

”It’s rather stubborn. A little crazy, too.”

Lilith’s eyes narrowed.

[Did you just call me crazy in front of her?]

Simon’s smile stiffened.

[Can you relax?]

[Would you like me to show you crazy?]

The blade pressed harder.

Seraya swung her feet to the floor, her breasts and nipples showing completely as she did not bother to cover herself.

”Are you sure everything’s fine?”

Before he could answer, Neris groaned and dragged the pillow over her head.

”What’s all this noise? Can’t a lady get some sleep?”

She lowered the pillow and squinted. Her bleary eyes found Simon, then the floating blade, and snapped wide open.

”What-?” She sat up so fast the sheet slid off her shoulders. Her gaze swept the window, the door, the corners of the room. ”What’s happening? Are we under attack?”

”No,” Simon quickly responded.

Beside him, Lilith smiled.

[That depends on how this conversation goes.]

[You’re making me look insane.]

[You’re the one who called this practice.]

He had no answer to that.

Neris glanced around the room, searching for an enemy she couldn’t see. Seraya was already reaching for her spatial ring.

Simon raised his free hand.

”Both of you, please. I have it under control.”

Lilith lifted a brow.

[Do you?]

Knock. Knock.

All three of them turned toward the door.

”Honoured guest Blackmoon.” The maid’s voice was polite and careful. ”Lord Varn requests your presence when you are ready.” A short pause followed. ”Lady Seraya. Lady Neris. Lady Maelis wishes to see you both once you have bathed and dressed.”

The footsteps of the maid retreated down the corridor.

Nobody moved.

Slowly, Seraya turned to her sister with a wry smile.

”It seems Mother and Father know.”

Neris snorted.

”Of course they do. You were the loudest one last night.”

Colour rose in Seraya’s cheeks as she blushed.

”That wasn’t my fault.”

”Then whose fault was it?”

Seraya pointed at Simon.

”His. For being so good in bed.”

The corner of Simon’s mouth jerked, and a bead of sweat slid down his temple.

Heat was rolling off Lilith in waves.

’Any other day, I’d be glad to hear that,’ he thought. ’Not now. Definitely not now.’

He looked at her.

Her face was a storm. Her knuckles had gone white around the hilt.

Then, without a word, she let go.

Simon blinked. The Chaos Blade dropped, and he caught it on reflex. When he looked up, Lilith was already walking toward the window.

[Where are you going?]

”None of your business.”

[Lilith-]

She glanced back. One look, and the rest of his words died.

”If I stay here any longer, I won’t be able to control myself. Either someone dies, or I cut it off.”

Simon’s lips twitched. There were several things he wanted to say.

He wisely said none of them.

Lilith slipped through the window and vanished into the city.

Simon let out a long, tired sigh.

Warm arms suddenly slid around him from behind. Seraya pressed her body against his back, while Neris rested her chin on his shoulder.

”Are you alright?” Neris asked.

He looked at one, then the other.

”I’m fine.”

Seraya eyed the blade in his hand.

”What kind of sword attacks its own owner?”

Simon looked down at it.

”A very jealous one.”

The sisters exchanged a glance. Then both of them shrugged.

Simon dismissed the blade and sent it back into his heart. Neris’s finger drifted across his chest and traced the scar running from his left shoulder toward his heart, slowly, as though she were following a map.

”Your skin is flawless everywhere else,” she said. ”But this looks permanent. What happened?”

Simon glanced at it.

”I fought an enemy who nearly killed me.”

Neris’s eyes lit up.

”Is he dead? What happened in the fight?”

”I won.” A faint smile touched his lips. ”But no. He isn’t dead.”

Seraya tilted her head.

”Who was he? If you want, we can find him. Our family has resources and connections everywhere. He won’t trouble you again.”

”Thank you.” He meant it. ”But he isn’t someone who can be found that easily.”

He paused. His gaze drifted toward the window, and something solemn settled over his face.

”Still, I have an idea where he is.”

Then he placed his hands over theirs where they rested on his chest.

”Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

Seraya nodded.

Neris had already moved on. She pointed at the cube set into his solar plexus.

”And this? I’ve been curious about it since last night.”

”I was about to ask the same,” Seraya said.

Simon looked down at it.

”It’s difficult to explain. It’s part of my body.”

”A treasure that fused with you?” Neris asked.

”No.”

He considered how much to tell them.

”You know about Daemons, right?”

Both of them nodded.

”This comes from that.” He paused. ”But I wasn’t born like this. I was born a hybrid. Half demonic cat, half one-horned demon.”

Silence.

Neris’s mouth fell open. Seraya stared at him as though he had announced he was secretly a fish.

”A cat?” Neris said faintly.

”A one-horned demon?” Seraya looked up at his four horns. ”You?”

”Me.”

”But those are...” Seraya searched for a polite word.

”Weak,” Simon said. ”You can say it.”

”Then how did you become this strong?”

”Luck, mostly.” He shrugged. ”Lucky encounters. Opportunities I didn’t let slip away. Risks most people wouldn’t take.” His thumb brushed the edge of the cube. ”Eventually, I evolved into a Daemon hybrid. This came with it.”

The sisters stared at the cube with something close to awe.

”I wish I could become a Daemon,” Seraya said quietly.

”So do I,” Neris murmured.

Seraya’s jaw tightened.

”When the four protectors the Abyss sent stand before us, I feel small. When The Dominion attacks, or when those three sea daemonic beasts come for the city...” She exhaled. ”My bloodline trembles. My body knows it’s weaker before my mind does.”

”It’s the same with you,” Neris admitted. ”You’re holding your aura back, so it isn’t bad. But...” She pressed a hand to her own chest. ”Something in my blood just wants to kneel.”

Simon was quiet for a moment.

He knew of methods that could change that, but he wasn’t going to tell them yet. He wanted to know them better first.

”Strength isn’t only blood,” he said instead. ”I started at the very bottom. You didn’t.”

Neris looked at the cube again.

”Can I touch it?”

”Why not?”

Her fingertips brushed its surface. A moment later, Seraya’s followed.

”It’s warm,” Neris whispered.

”What can it do?” Seraya asked.

”I’m still figuring that out.”

Neris tilted her head, watching the pale lights shift across its faces and within it.

”It’s beautiful. Like something that shouldn’t belong to a body at all.”

”It suits him, though,” Seraya said.

Simon let them look a little longer, then sighed.

”We should get ready. Your parents are waiting.”

”We need to bathe first,” Neris said at once. ”We can’t see Mother like this.”

”Not after last night,” Seraya agreed.

Then both of them looked at him.

”You’re joining us,” Neris said.

Simon smiled.

”Of course.”

Seraya’s fingers trailed slowly down his arm. Neris leaned in until her lips brushed his ear.

”We might even have time for a little more sex,” she whispered.

”If we’re quick,” Seraya added.

Simon’s gaze flicked toward the window where Lilith had vanished.

He thought of the Chaos Blade. Of her cold eyes, and the promise in them.

’...Fuck it.’

He rose from the bed.

”Then let’s not waste time.”

The sisters each took one of his arms, and the three of them walked toward the bathroom without a single thread of cloth between them.