Chapter 8

 

Rise of the god

 

 

Lila stood before the mystical altar, the key clutched tightly in her hand. The power she had fought for, killed for, lay within her grasp. She placed the key on the altar, her heart pounding with anticipation. The altar pulsed with energy, and for a moment, it seemed as if the power was about to be hers.

 

Then, the voice spoke. Cold, indifferent, and unwavering. "You have shed blood. The power can only be wielded by one who is pure."

 

Lila's face twisted in fury, her eyes darkening. "After everything I've done, you deny me?" she spat, her voice echoing in the empty space. She clenched her fists, feeling her rage build.

 

Suddenly, a portal opened behind her, and Sabrina staggered through, her face pale and her hand clutching her injured side. She looked at Lila with a mixture of anger and desperation. "You can't run from what you've done, Lila," she said, her voice shaky but determined.

 

Lila turned, her eyes narrowing as she regarded Sabrina. "And what exactly do you think you can do to stop me?"

 

Sabrina took a deep breath, her eyes flickering with a desperate hope. "Jerry and Amanda” Sabrina said wincing

 

“And who the hell is Amanda?” Lila asked, irritated.

 

“His daughter. I saw them in your memories. You still have a chance to do the right thing, Lila. You still have some humanity left."

 

Lila laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "You think threatening me with Jerry will bring out my humanity?" She stepped closer to Sabrina, her expression darkening. "You're wrong."

 

Without hesitation, Lila lunged forward, her hand plunging into Sabrina's chest. Sabrina's eyes went wide with shock and pain as Lila's fingers wrapped around her heart. Lila smiled coldly, her eyes locking with Sabrina's as she ripped her heart from her chest.

 

Sabrina fell to the ground, her lifeless body collapsing at Lila's feet. Lila looked down at her, her smile fading as she turned back to the altar. "You'll never understand," she muttered, her voice dripping with contempt.

 

The altar's glow faded, and Lila let out a snarl of frustration. "Ugh, how bothersome," she spat, turning away and disappearing into a swirl of dark energy.

 

---

 

Lila appeared in Jerry's apartment, the place eerily quiet. She glanced around, her eyes narrowing. "Jerry?" she called, her voice echoing in the empty space.

 

Her attention was caught by the flickering TV, a news report showing Jerry’s mugshot. The anchor’s voice was serious: "Jerry Thompson, alleged accomplice of the notorious 'Blood Lady,' has been apprehended. Authorities are seeking any information regarding—"

 

Lila rolled her eyes, her form shimmering as she teleported to the police station, her appearance shifting to that of a sharp-suited lawyer. The officers barely gave her a second glance as she walked through the hallways, her heels clicking purposefully.

 

She reached the interrogation room, where Jerry sat, handcuffed and slumped over the table. He looked up at the sound of the door opening, his eyes widening when he saw her.

 

"Lila?" he whispered, disbelief and relief washing over his face. He could see through her disguise, her true form revealed to his eyes alone.

 

Lila gave him a small, almost reassuring smile. "I'm here to get you out," she said, her voice soft but commanding. “You need to contact Amanda”

 

Jerry swallowed, his voice barely a whisper. "Lila, what happened? Why Amanda?"

 

Lila stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Amanda is in danger, Jerry. But we don’t have time to explain. We need to move."

 

Jerry looked at her, confusion and worry in his eyes. "Danger? From who?"

 

Lila leaned over, snapping the handcuffs in a single motion. "You'll understand soon enough," she said, her tone dismissive.

 

The door burst open, officers rushing in. Lila barely spared them a glance as she raised her hand, a wave of dark energy slamming them back into the walls. They crumpled to the floor, unconscious or worse.

 

"Let's go," she said, grabbing Jerry's arm and teleporting them both out of the station.

 

---

 

They reappeared in Jerry's living room, and Lila let go of his arm, gesturing towards the phone. "Call Amanda. Get her here."

 

Jerry, still disoriented, nodded and picked up the phone, dialing his daughter’s number with shaky hands. "Amanda, sweetheart, I need you to come home. Right now. It’s urgent."

 

As Jerry spoke, Lila focused her energy, using her powers to trace the connection, locking onto Amanda’s location.

 

After Jerry hung up, he turned to Lila, his unease growing. There was something different about her—something colder, more detached. But he pushed the thought away, telling himself it was just the stress of the situation.

 

---

 

Amanda was sitting in her dorm room, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding around her father. When Lila appeared, she jumped in fright, dropping the pen she was holding.

 

"Who are—" Amanda began, but Lila didn’t give her a chance to finish. She grabbed Amanda by the arm, and in an instant, they were gone.

 

They reappeared in Jerry's living room, and Amanda stumbled, looking around in confusion. "Dad?" she said, her voice trembling.

 

Jerry rushed forward, wrapping his arms around her. "Amanda, thank God you're safe."

 

Lila stood back, watching the reunion with an indifferent expression. "Jerry, I understand now," she said, her voice calm. "I know what the key is for. I know everything."

 

Jerry pulled away from Amanda, looking at Lila with cautious hope. "That's good, Lila. I’m glad you remember."

 

Lila's eyes turned to Amanda, her gaze appraising. "There’s just one last thing I need," she said, her voice chilling in its casualness. "The body of someone who’s never killed before."

 

Jerry’s face paled, and he stepped in front of his daughter, shielding her. "No, Lila. You can’t. There has to be another way."

 

Lila tilted her head, her eyes almost pitying. "There is no other way, Jerry. This is how it has to be."

 

Jerry's heart pounded in his chest, fear clawing at him. "Please," he said, his voice breaking. "This isn’t you. You’re better than this."

 

Lila’s expression softened for just a moment, as if she were considering his words. Then her face hardened, a wicked smile spreading across her lips. "I'm not who you think I am anymore."

 

With a flick of her wrist, Jerry was thrown across the room, slamming into the wall. Amanda screamed, her eyes wide with terror.

 

Lila approached Amanda, her eyes turning pitch black. "Now, pretty girl," she said, her voice dripping with malice. She grabbed Amanda by the throat, her dark energy surging through her.

 

Jerry, his head spinning and blood dripping from his forehead, managed to get to his feet. He grabbed a kitchen knife, his eyes filled with desperation. "LEAVE MY DAUGHTER ALONE!" he yelled, plunging the knife into Lila's back.

 

Lila let out a laugh, cold and inhuman, as she turned to face Jerry. "When I become a god," she said, her voice dripping with disdain, "I won't feel any of this."

 

She pulled the knife out of her back, and with a wave of her hand, she sent Jerry crashing into the wall once more, pinning him there with the knife through his shoulder.

 

Amanda tried to run, but Lila slammed the door shut with her power, her eyes locked on the terrified girl. "You should be grateful," Lila said, her voice cold. "I’m saving you from a mundane, pointless existence."

 

She resumed her chant, her dark energy enveloping Amanda, the young girl struggling as Lila’s essence merged with hers. Jerry watched, his heart breaking, as his daughter’s body went limp, her eyes turning dark as Lila took over.

 

Amanda’s eyes opened, now filled with cold malice. Lila, in Amanda's body, turned to Jerry, smiling a wicked smile. "Don’t I look great, Jerry?" she mocked.

 

Jerry's eyes, filled with pain and despair, stared at the monster before him—the woman he had once cared for, now twisted into something unrecognizable.

 

Lila's laughter echoed through the room, cold and piercing, as Jerry's vision blurred, darkness taking over.