Let It Slip

Part XIX

"We can't find her, Mistress." The minion trembled before Lilith and Zelda, imagining that this information would lead to their demise but Lilith only waved them away and they scurried back into the shadows at light speed. Lilith had sent minions throughout the reaches of Hell to engage her spies back into locating Alukah, to no avail.

"How would you feel about a family reunion, Zelda?" Lilith arched a brow and turned to her lover. Zelda raised her eyebrows in response and Lilith continued; "Our best bet is the Archives and I have a feeling Ambrose might also be of help."

Zelda couldn't help but laugh, "You threatened to kill him if you ever saw him again!"

"Indeed. Which is why it's probably best that I leave you to meet your family without me. None of them are fans of mine." Lilith looked away with a slight frown.

Moving into the Queen of Hell's personal space, Zelda wrapped her arms around the witch's trim waist, letting the Bec de Corbin press tight against Lilith's spine; "They just don't know you like I do, darling. I agree that they will be more likely to cooperate if they think I am coming to them without your influence but once I've explained everything, may I summon you? I would like them to know you as I do....well....not quite as well."

Lilith's bejeweled eyes met Zelda's sparkling emeralds and they both laughed softly, leaning in to brush their lips against one another's and the Queen acquiesced, "I am surprising even myself as I realize I would like that."

Lilith had never spent much time worrying about what others thought of her because she'd never had the opportunity to be seen as anything other than The Villain. The thought of being accepted into a family was almost too overwhelming a consideration and she banished the very wisp of the dream before it threatened to awaken that ever-elusive Hope within her. The last time Lilith had felt hopeful was when Lucifer had fallen from the sky and allowed her to nurse him back to health; and from then he had done nothing but systematically and psychopathically ruined her even as he tethered her to him more tightly.

"I'm somewhat overdressed to see my family." Zelda pulled away and waved her hand; Lilith's Soul Collector and the Consort of the Queen of Hell disappeared and in her place, a beautiful fitted navy suit hugged her every curve, the crushed velvet softening her features. Her hair fell in long waves and she threw it over her shoulder before reaching out to grab Lilith's hand and bring it to her lips, "Thank you."

Lilith smiled softly, "What for?"

"Allowing me to love you and being open to whatever that love looks like." Zelda yanked with a grin and Lilith stumbled towards her, caught in the redhead's embrace, "For being open to meeting my family as....my Queen."

Lilith swallowed the lump that rose annoyingly in her throat and distracted herself by kissing Zelda, the witch that had both broken her heart and mended it in ways she never knew would be possible for her. The kiss deepened until both witches were spinning in ecstasy and Zelda gently pushed her away, stepping back several steps with a shy smile.

"I imagine we don't have much time, so I best be on my way." Zelda hesitated, the idea of going back topside, to Earth, to a life she barely ever thought of anymore, paralyzed her. She wasn't ready for the onslaught of memories and feelings that would accompany her on her trip. She felt like an entirely different person, something beyond personhood, and she found herself whispering; "Who am I outside of Hell?"

Lilith straightened, regal as a Queen, and her voice shook Zelda to the core, feeding her strength and renewing her confidence; "You are the incomparable Zelda Spellman." Then she waved her hand and sent Zelda to Earth in a whirlwind of flames.

----

The cottage deep in the Greendale Woods was dark and no smoke came from the chimney. When knocking yielded nothing, Zelda peeked through the windows and was surprised to see all the furniture covered in thick white sheets. Frowning, she walked slowly around the perimeter of the small building where a silver glimmer on a small sapling caught her eye. Reaching out to grasp the metal sign hanging from the new branches, Zelda felt her eyes begin to water as her hand covered her mouth.