Edens Dream

Chpt.3

The aroma of bacon and pancakes jolted Adam awake. Disoriented, he remembered the events of the night before. "Good morning, Lilith," he rasped, stretching. "Why are you up so early?"

"Paperwork for the bar," she said curtly. It wasn't entirely true, but nightmares often plagued her nights, especially after breakdowns. Still, she was grateful he'd come.

Lilith set a plate heaped with breakfast in front of him, showcasing her long legs in a casual black shirt and daisy dukes. Adam, still in his pajama bottoms, felt a flicker of self-consciousness. He wasn't bad-looking, but societal standards often gnawed at him. Lilith, however, seemed unfazed.

"Thanks, Lils," he mumbled, "You didn't have to do this. Plus if people found out I was here overnight they might talk. "

"Tell them you were with family," she said, her voice flat, her eyes cold. She regretted the words instantly. "Family," she choked out, the yearning for something more twisting in her gut. But trust, especially after Lucifer, was a fragile thing. Adam, a master of hiding his own pain, masked his hurt with a smile. "Yeah, wouldn't want any crazy rumors," he joked.

They ate in tense silence. Lilith sipped coffee, her gaze fixed on Adam. He fidgeted under her scrutiny. "Thinking hard about something?" he asked, nervous.

Lilith flushed, embarrassed. "Just surprised," she admitted. "For someone who practically lives on booze, you're surprisingly in shape. More like a swimmer than a barfly."

Adam chuckled, realizing she was teasing. "Hey, I swim in Lake Erie all the time. And you, Miss Never-Lifts-a-Finger, don't seem to have an ounce of fat on you either."

Lilith rolled her eyes. Food was a complicated topic thanks to Lucifer. "Actually, I hit the gym on my off days." As proof, she pointed to a photo – Lilith in yoga pants and a sports bra, squatting with impressive strength.

Adam's eyes widened. "Damn, Lilith. You've got secrets." He yearned to know her better, to bridge the emotional chasm. "Why won't you let me in? You say we're practically family, but I knew more about Eve in a week than I do about you in three years."

His accusatory tone struck a nerve. "Eve craves the pain," Lilith spat. "She wants the illusion of caring, just so she can destroy it. And you know who else said they cared? My abusive father, the producer who exploited me, Lucifer…" Her voice hitched. "He was like a demon, manipulating, drugging… I can't trust myself not to hurt you, nor can I trust even you not to hurt me. Not after all that. Now please, finish your breakfast and go. I need to get ready for the bar."

Lilith's voice was a harsh whisper as she retreated to her room, tears stinging her eyes. Adam finished his food, the weight of her words settling heavily on him. He left quietly, the unspoken truth hanging heavy in the air. 

Fury and confusion gnawed at Adam as he drove home. He'd offered Lilith a shoulder, a comfort she desperately needed, yet she remained a closed fortress. He understood her pain. No one deserved the horrors she'd endured. He'd been there, by her side, for three years, a silent guardian against the emotional storms that threatened to drown her.

As Adam rounded a corner, he spotted Eve leaning against a building, a beacon of easy comfort in a neon-lit world. He pulled over, a cynical offer forming on his lips. "Eve," he said, his voice rough. "Looking for trouble?"

Eve's smile was predatory. "Always," she purred, sliding into the passenger seat. "Judging by your pajamas, Lilith didn't exactly welcome you with open arms."

Adam ignored her, eyes fixed on the road. The next few hours were a blur of misplaced desires and Eve's practiced seduction. She even let him call her Lilith, a hollow echo of his true longing.

Meanwhile, at the bar, a strange emptiness settled in Lilith's stomach. Adam's absence was a tangible weight. She drowned it in liquor, each shot a bitter chaser to the fear gnawing at her. Lucifer loomed, a dark cloud on the horizon. The arrival of the dress, a beautiful yet suffocating symbol of his control, confirmed her dread. It was a masterpiece designed to showcase her beauty, a beauty he intended to claim as his own. Memories of past abuse surfaced, fueled by the liquor. The scars on her wrists flared, a stark reminder of her darkest moment.

A car horn pierced the bar's murmur, pulling Lilith from her despair. It was Lucifer, impeccably dressed, a stark contrast to the turmoil within her. She slid into the car, his touch both familiar and repulsive.

"The dress fits perfectly," he purred, his gaze lingering on her exposed skin. "Still hitting the gym, I see? My training did wonders." His lips curled into a cruel smile. "And don't worry, darling. No matter how strong you get, you'll never be stronger than me. Not you, not that worthless musician who spent the night at your place."

Lilith's heart hammered against her ribs. "He didn't stay," she forced out, her voice barely a whisper.

A cruel laugh escaped Lucifer's lips. "Whether he did or didn't is irrelevant. You belong to me, Lilith. Every piece of you. And if I even suspect you've disobeyed me…" His hand snapped out, a vicious slap that sent a jolt of pain through her face.

Tears welled in Lilith's eyes, but fear choked them back. She could only nod, a silent prisoner in his gilded cage. "Good," he said, his voice smooth once more. "Now, let's not have any more scenes, shall we? Tell anyone about the slap and you know the drill – blame it on a drunkard."

Lilith stared out the window, the cityscape blurring into a kaleidoscope of fear and longing. Her thoughts drifted to Adam, the song he'd been working on. A song for her.

Adam strummed his guitar, the melody a bittersweet echo of his love for Lilith. He was ready to pour his heart out, but was she ready to hear him?

Lilith, trapped beside her tormentor, felt a flicker of defiance. She wouldn't let Lucifer break her. Not tonight. Not ever.