Whispers at Witching Hour

Chapter 106

Musical inspiration: In My Veins – Andrew Belle

Lilith played with Vinnie T.'s lop-ear, who was curled up in her lap, brushing over it with her thumb. In the corner by her side, she had the fetish doll that accompanied her wherever she went. Her other hand was entwined with Zelda's, resting where the side of their thighs were touching as they were sitting next to each other on the love seat. Zelda had a pillow on her lap that she was hugging loosely while talking to minion. They seemed to get along very well.

Zelda had insisted she got dressed today and there was no point arguing with her feisty redhead when she had no energy. In return, she had demanded for her to join her in her first session with minion, despite her not wanting to, saying it was she who needed to talk, not her. But Lilith was scared. Utterly frightened.

Their voices – Zelda's raspy low one, minion's rather plain one – merged and slurred in her inability to follow the conversation or pay attention at all. She watched them; Zelda's fiery waterfalls over her shoulder, moving as she was speaking; her confident gestures, her crossed legs. Even in this setting, she looked so fine.

Her gaze fell back on the puppy on her thighs, who had fallen asleep as it seemed, enjoying her affections. She exhaled a long breath and tried to listen to what they were saying – for Zelda's sake.

"And how's your living situation? I understand the Dark Mistress has moved in with you. How does your family feel about that?"

"They're very supportive...Well, only my nephew has his... reservations..."

Lilith scoffed but did not comment on it even if she thought it was a ridiculous understatement. Though, she did not blame Ambrose. He was right to refuse and distrust her after all the horrible things she had done. She felt eyes on her, making her shiver. Zelda's hand closed tighter around hers.

"And you're engaged, as I see?", he gestured to their hands wearing rings, Zelda nodded, "Congratulations", he said, wearing a polite smile as he noted something in his book.

Zelda released the lip she had been chewing on to let the words she had been holding back spill out. "Lucifer's cursed her, she's a mortal. Will it have any effect on this whole... situation?"

"I don't think so... But I assume that's another issue burdening the two of you?"

Zelda nodded again, pursing her lips, but minion noticed Lilith was unmoved by it all.

"Mistress, how do you feel about that?"

Her gaze lifted only slowly, fighting against the force making her eyelids so heavy, but never met minions, only the wall behind him. She shrugged.

"Doesn't matter."

Zelda turned towards her, letting her eyes explore her features worriedly, then pulled their hands further in her lap, laying the pillow flat under them.

"From what you told me, Zelda, the past few days have been challenging, haven't they? Do you want to tell me more about that?"

Lilith knew Zelda was waiting for her to speak, but she did not want to, felt pathetic and patronised. How they were all attending her like a sick child, and she did feel like one, but she hated having them all fussing and acting as if she could not be left on her own. She, a once mighty demoness who was older than all of them together.

"Well, she didn't want to get up yesterday, didn't want to be touched..."

"And how did that make you feel?"

"Helpless", Zelda turned their hands, so Lilith's was palm-up under hers and started tracing it with her fingertips, "I... had to get out at some point, just for a while. Does that make me a bad person?"