The Righteous Path

The Forces That Be

Lilith stood backstage in heels, stockings, a tight black dress and a black wool coat. Her hair was down as it was too cold to have it up and her make-up was done to accommodate the outfit that Earth had helped her pick out. She was watching the crowd as they waited for Ghost to enter the stage when a ghoul came up behind her, clearing his throat. She turned, looking him over, mindlessly chewing on the end of her pen. He moved out of the shadows, his eyes looking her over without discretion.

"So you're the new clergy priestess?" he said in a Swedish accent. Though he was wearing a suit that was marked with Alpha's sign, it was quite clear that he was not Alpha. He was skinny and tall, making his masked face look more like a bobble head. She gave him a small smile.

"Uh, I'm the tour publicist. Lilith." She said and held out her hand to shake. His eyes widened and he stared silently at her, Lilith dropping her hand to her side after a moment. He then bowed his head and walked away. She frowned, taken back by his awkwardness. That must be what it's like interacting with me, she thought with a chuckle. A hand rested on her shoulder, her gaze landing on Earth who stood beside her. Her body relaxed under his warmth. His bright blue eyes were full of mischievous jubilation. She smiled sweetly at him, returning her pen to her mouth. The way she looked at him, with endearment and joy made him grin.

"Don't worry. Younger eh...members are told not to touch you, given your powers and all." She rolled her eyes at his words and playfully pushed him. He chuckled.

"So why was he wearing Alpha's mark?" she asked.

"Because he is going onto stage to play the cow bell. He needs to have some form of identification." Earth said as he bent down and pulled a pair of drum sticks out of a box, shoving them between his sash and hip. "Young ghouls don't get a designation like we do."

She hummed her acknowledgment, then asked, "but why can you guys touch me if they can't?"

"We are more powerful, more experienced. And it would be impossible to not touch you. You are the temptress, a leader of the dark. How could we spend so much time with you and behave ourselves?" He laughed but she frowned at him, her eyebrows pinched together. She didn't like any of the words he was saying.

"What powers do you have?" she asked, her anxiety raising. This wasn't something she had thought of and now she felt foolish for not. If she had theses powers, of course they would. Earth waved and walked around the back of the stage and out of sight.

She huffed and folded her arms, mulling over the question that he had casually dismissed. Besides possibly seduction, she hadn't seen anything that was abnormal about them. And that their eyes would do that red, mesmerizing stare. Perhaps they can teleport or read minds, she thought. She had already decided that they must have psychic powers or something, hence their sensitivity to her supposed power. Then, derailing her train of thought, her attention was captured.

Lilith saw Papa walking along the darkened backstage, his air filling the darkened space with warmth. He had three people following him, holding papers and dressed in black suits. He was in his flowing robes and miter, looking as looming and ominous as ever. She bit her lower lip, her heart skipping as she sunk back into the shadows, watching him move. His grace was mesmerizing, his movements fluid and elegant. He then stopped and look straight at her, as if she had called his name. Lilith's stomach jumping into her throat, her body tensing. His white eye was glowing in the otherwise dark room, piercing through the darkness. Just as abruptly, he turned away and walked out of sight.

Whenever she saw him, she had this draw to him. An urge to be with him, yet she was unable to keep his company for too long. She felt like a swooning fan girl or a high schooler who had a crush on her older brothers' friend. He was an unobtainable dream, so omnipotent that she withered under his presence. He must see her as a gift to his band mates, and that was why she was kept. Though he showed her affection, he seemed to also be very charismatic by nature. She attributed much of his attention on that. He must lay with the most beautiful of women she though with a small frown. You will never measure up to any of them her thoughts hissed, and her frown deepened.