DYING LIGHT | James Patrick March [paused]

15

James heard the foreshadow of clicking heels before she ever came into sight. Panic welled in his throat, shining in his eyes as he sat up a little straighter. Confusion muddled Lilith's features as he grabbed his glass and the bottle up, "Forgive me, dearest. I was never here." He disappeared but he didn't move an inch.

Lilith blinked a few times, glancing around as if she could see exactly where he'd gone to no avail. "Nice talking to you." None the wiser, Lilith sunk back into her seat with a dejected sip of her drink. Even invisible, James held his breath when the countess appeared around the corner walking with particular purpose. Lilith couldn't have noticed her less if she tried, settling into the absorption of her thoughts. That didn't save her from the countess noticing her, however.

Like a predator stalking it's prey, the countess said something from the corner of her mouth to the barmaid without taking her eyes off the solitary woman. It was his regret not to inform her. Just as the night prior, he felt as if he had unintentionally thrown her to the wolves. At least Elizabeth wouldn't kill her in the middle of the bar, there was that.

His eyes went back and fourth between them. Silently pleading that she be aware of her surroundings, to just look up, to prepare herself. He could have screamed at the serene obliviousness.

A second glass was placed on the bar and with a self assured smile, the cat greeted the mouse. "You can't look so blue and expect not to be bought a drink." Lilith's head snapped up, an anxious smile rising to her lips.

"Countess." She greeted, swallowing hard as she sat up a bit, "You shouldn't have." As the countess sat down on James' end of the booth, he squished himself over. If she felt the shiver of a sprit pass through her, he'd never hear the end of it.

"It's my pleasure." Elizabeth smiled though it was very much like baring her teeth, "I nearly didn't recognize you looking so.." her eyes looked the woman up and down before she settled, "pedestrian."

Lilith chuckled nervously, "Yes, well. I pulled out all the glitz and glamour for dinner with royalty. You've caught me in my natural state."

"Your natural state is nothing to shake a stick at, darling." The countess assured. There was something in Lilith's face, a moments crack of distaste that left him wondering. Perhaps darling was a term of endearment she felt was reserved. He certainly hoped so. "I must ask— what brings you to the bar this early in the afternoon?"

"I just.." Lilith sighed a little, "needed to get out of my head a little. That's all. I haven't met a problem yet that gin and tonic couldn't fix."

"You never did tell me what brought you to the Cortez. You'd been travelling. Why here?" The countess leaned her face into her cheek, eyes set intently on Lilith. It made James shrink back against the booth, as if her piercing eyes would suss him out. There was no way to remove himself from this precarious place. If he tried to go out the countess' side, she'd know immediately. If he tried to go out Lilith's, there's no way she wouldn't react. He damned himself for being such a busybody. Had he removed himself when the demon approached, he wouldn't be between the mouse and the trap.

"My father died." Lilith said making James grin. It wasn't a lie, it sounded as true as if she'd said the sky was blue. "I grew up nearby and didn't want to stay at home so the city was a safe distance."

"My condolences." Elizabeth hummed earnestly, "were you close?" Lilith shifted a little, her eyes twitching down to her drink.

"Not really." Lilith said, a note of dejection to her tone, "It was complicated."

"It usually is with fathers." The countess agreed sympathetically, "tell me about it."

Lilith straightened up a little, "I don't really.."

"Tell me." The tone was more commanding, James had heard it a number of times. It was like a spell of charm, infecting the brain. If you weren't on your guard, you'd spill your guts in her hands and she'd examine every

"I had a rough childhood." Lilith said quickly, her brows furrowing a little bit. As if the words had clawed their way up their throat without her permission, "M-My father had a really shitty idea of who I should be. He was really hot and cold." James' throat was tight, watching her slowly succumb to the countesses' charm.

"Was he abusive?" The countess leaned her face into her palm, elbow braced on the edge of the table. James turned to look at his dear one's face, her mouth was struggling to find the words, lips trembling. He could see the dew she was trying to blink away from her confused eyes. Before he'd built up a resistance, the countess used to be able to wring information from him like a wet towel.

"Y-Yeah." Her voice was strained, "Very." James slowly moved his hand. Maybe he shouldn't. One wrong glance and he'd be discovered. He just needed her to know. He hadn't abandoned her in this. His hand, invisible as it was, slowly crept across the smooth leather of the booth. He was holding his breath, his hand rested over hers. It was so warm, soft beneath his hand.

James studied her face, her eyes changed slightly. She didn't look at her hand but she did look down, carefully sneaking a glance. He caressed his thumb over her knuckles. She took a breath, "So I'm having mixed feelings." Lilith said with a sardonic chuckle.

"I can imagine." The countess practically purred.
James didn't move his hand, he kept it firmly over hers. All she would feel was a cold pressure. "Do you have any other family?"

"I don't want to get into it." Lilith said with a sniffle, rubbing her face. "It's not very pleasant."

"I understand." The countess frowned lightly. "Well, I'm sorry for your loss but I can't say I wasn't thrilled to meet you." Lilith offered a half hearted smile in return, "I must know what you think of the Cortez now that you've been here a few days. It does take on a life of its own. There are many long time residents."

James held his breath.

"I don't know that I've met any. It hasn't come up with anyone I've run into." Lilith answered, brows furrowing a touch. God, she played confused so well. "I like the ladies who work reception. They've taken good care of me."

The countesses lips flickered upward, a disappointed smile. "Yes, Liz is lovely." The countess responded tactfully. "You haven't met Sally, then? Or James?"
His grip tightened on her hand, a silent plea.

"I think a man named James bought me a drink the other night." Lilith answered after a moment of thought, "A little weird. Haven't met a Sally though."

The countess just hummed, "He is an odd one." Her eyes looked at Lilith the way one would study a chessboard, carefully deciding her next move. "I'll leave you to your mourning, darling."

Author's note: Sorry to leave you all in the ether! My hyperfixation has moved on from AHS but it'll return! When I get Disney+ again, I'm certain to dive headlong back into delusion. Also! I'm working on transferring my work over to AO3 as a back up, so if that's your preferred gig all my work will soon be available there as well!