The Righteous Path

Broken

Lilith's eyes fluttered open and she found herself laying on a bed, the room warmly lit with the early autumn sun. Her body was so stiff that breathing made her spine ache, her hips and neck tight. She laid still, looking up at the ornate light fixture on the ceiling and as she came back into her body, fear trickled down her ridged, throbbing spine. Her mind began to race, trying to process what was happening but a fog still prevented her from connecting her thoughts together. Instead, they came and went, slipping through her fingers as she tried to grasp for a picture of reality. Closing her eyes again, she forced her mind to clear, for the memories to finally weave together. Though it all seemed real, she was laying in her bed back in Ithaca, New York. It must have been a dream she though and opened her eyes again, forcing her aching body to sit up. Her hips popped and her back threatened to spasm as the muscles tightened.

"Lilith, you're awake!" a voice exclaimed from beside her. Lilith looked over to see Alpha sitting in a chair tucked into the corner of the room near the nightstand. She examined him, relieved to see him though confused as to what he was doing.

"What are you doing? Watching me sleep?" she asked with a slight smile. His brow furrowed as he stood and walked to sit on the edge of bed. His typically neat hair was messy, his eyes tired and his beard longer and scraggly. She had never seen him so unkept or with so much emotion. He was clearly stressed, his lips turned down in a slight frown. "What's going on Alpha?" Lilith finally asked, growing increasingly worried.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, avoiding her question. Lilith's stomach did ache, probably from hunger but all she could focus on was a raising anxiety.

"Alpha, what happened? Was that chamber real?" she pressed, causing his frown to deepen. Hesitantly, she ran her fingers across her neck but felt no mark or scar. Her wrists were without markings too. "Was it a dream?" she muttered, her eyes losing focus as her mind stained to recall how she got to bed. The lack of memory made her throat tight and her mouth dry as the fear began to cool her blood.

"It wasn't a dream dear. I...I don't know how to tell you this so I will just be blunt about it. Asmodeus is gone." Alpha said, searching her face for a reaction. Lilith staired at him for a long moment, then let out a short, clipped laugh.

"Okay, where did he go then?" she asked casually but it was impossible to ignore the fear rushing within her. She had died, she felt her blood run over her chest and soak her dress. The memory of the heat made her stomach clench and her body shutter.

"He has died Lilith." He answered calmly, taking her hand in his. A smile lingered on her face, his words taking time to sink in. As it faded, a tightness in her chest grew, crushing her. The world dropped out from under her, leaving a sickened feeling in its wake.

"You're serious." Her voice broke as the realization of his absence took hold, ripping into her heart. Her throat ached and her eyes burned with the understanding. "Alpha, you're serious." She repeated, tears rolling down her cheeks. It was a crushing pressure, and she didn't have the strength to keep it at bay. Alpha sat with her for hours as she cried, answering her questions and recounted the events that had transpired. Eventually she felt numb, unable to cry anymore, unable to put out the energy to care about her near death nor the death of her betrothed. Her face was stained with her sorrow, her eyes red and puffy and her voice hoarse.

"Would you like me to get you something to drink or eat?" Alpha asked in a soft tone, as if fearful that his voice would cause her to cry again.

"I think I would like to go downstairs." Lilith murmured, the sound of her voice hollow. She pulled the covers back to find herself wearing a powder blue satin nightgown. Alpha helped her to her feet and together they walked down the stairs and into the living room of the house. Omega sat on the couch reading a book, Air across from him in an old, upholstered chair talking on the phone. Lilith stood in the doorway, looking the men over. They were both beautiful but seemed distant and broken. Their eyes were dim now, like a fire that was dying. She teared up, her stomach clenching at the thought of losing them too. Omega glanced up from his book, his eyes widening in surprise.