Unfortunately, she was correct. Liliana wouldn't tell me anything about devils; she always walked away when I asked, as if I'd never asked in the first place.
"Only Heralds and Horsemen leave a scent on an angel because their power is so potent. Devils are fewer in number but more powerful than angels. Once you are in contact with a higher devil, you'll always be able to smell their scent."
"So it was a Horseman or Herald, you met with?"
"It was a devil around that level of strength."
"You don't know?"
"Not exactly. I was alone walking along the city streets, absent-minded, when a shadowy figure appeared from the darkness. Their bodies were enveloped in mist, and they wore black and white masks. I couldn't tell, nor do I have many memories of the meeting. But they were most definitely quite short, that is the only thing I can remember thinking."
"You don't remember anything about what they said?"
"I do remember a small thing, the most horrifying thing about the encounter. 'If you don't follow my will, little lamb, then your family will be plunged into darkness. Never to awake again.'"
A noticeable shiver ran throughout Lilia's body, uncontrollably breaking out into a sweat just by hearing the words again.
"I'm sorry, Lilia. But are you sure that the devil wasn't just bluffing?"
"No… It led me to the outskirts of Grandheart and down a small basement, they…"
"It's okay, you don't have to."
"No, I need to get this out. They were in a state worse than death… The curse of war, I didn't think such a putrid force was real. It was just a story to scare children into being good, well, that's what I once thought. Impaled by a flurry of blades but still breathing, still conscious…"
"The devil is a war devil, then? Do you remember anything else about it, a name?"
"It called itself the Horsemen of Mysteries."
"Does such a thing exist?"
"Not that I know of. If another devil race had been born, there would have been a public announcement for more warriors on the front lines."
"I want you to say it, you didn't actively make contact with this Horseman, right?"
"No, I did not."
"Then perhaps Ickni will free you."
"I severely doubt it. All I wish for now is for my family's safety. Please, Evernight, if you can, please find a way to cure them from the curse of war. I beg you!"
Lilia's face was flooding with tears. She reached out and grabbed my hands. My sleeves slipping down, Lilia's eyes immediately darted to the fresh bite wound on my wrist. Her tears stopped, her fingers poking and prodding at the wound.
"Evernight…? What have you done? Only a devil's fangs can inflict such a wound, don't tell me— what have you done…"
"It's nothing."
I pulled back my arm from Lilia's grasp, stepping back and averting my gaze away from her harsh glare.
"No, it's nothing. Have you been feeding a devil? Even the Primordial String would be executed for committing such a sin. Who is it? Does it show its face?! Tell me!"
Lilia's voice got more desperate; she wouldn't let me go, no matter what excuse I would string together. Lying was hopeless, but I still couldn't tell Lilia about Liliana.
"I can't tell you if I did that, then I'd risk everything."
"Why would you save a devil in the first place?"
"Evernight. You need to stop this, or else you'll be killed. Kill the devil and bring its head to Ickni."
"No! I won't kill her, I won't!"
"Her?"
Lilia stepped back, falling onto the bed, her face sinking into horrid recognition. She sat there for a couple of seconds that felt like an eternity.
"Don't tell me, Evernight. The girl you found in the Broken Lance, she's not an angel, is she?"
I didn't answer Lilia's question, stepping up on the windowsill, my body tilting towards the ground below.
"Tell me, Evernight! Is Liliana a devil?!" shouted Lilia.
"You already know the answer… I'll find a way to save your family, I promise."
I couldn't withstand the way this conversation was turning; I had to leave, or else I'd slip up, risking my plans in Grandheart. Without saying another word, I dropped from the windowsill, landing gracefully against the grass.
I didn't withdraw my light around Lilia's sacred band. If the light was truly effective, then I couldn't risk Lilia's mouth slipping and Liliana's devil nature being exposed.
Stepping into the darkness, my next meeting would be with the moon.