The Pale Lily

What The-

The boat cut smoothly through the water, a faint hum the only noise against the calm night. The city’s lights were slowly fading into the distance, and the serenity of the scene provided an odd sense of calm after the chaotic escape from the bar. Elara leaned against the side, still deep in thought about everything that had happened. The whirlwind of emotions from the kiss, Lysandra’s playful yet dangerous nature, and the plan they had for Aldor—all of it felt surreal.

But her peace was shattered when she heard the sharp crack of gunfire.

The first bullet whizzed past her ear, startling her. She jerked up, scanning the water. At first, she couldn’t see anything in the dark, but the unmistakable sound of more gunfire echoed across the lake. Then, she spotted the headlights.

A vehicle. No, two. Racing along the shoreline, trailing their boat, and from the windows, the unmistakable muzzle flashes of rifles firing in their direction.

“Shit! They’re shooting at us!” Elara shouted, her voice cracking with panic.

Lysandra, who had been lounging casually with her legs propped up on the boat’s edge, didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. She barely glanced at the approaching vehicles, her expression more amused than concerned.

“Oh, darling,” she purred, a playful glint in her eyes. “Looks like Aldor’s goons are a bit too eager to see us again.”

Elara ducked down, her heart racing as bullets zipped past, splintering wood and splashing into the water. “Lysandra, do something! They’re going to kill us!”

Lysandra yawned dramatically, then stretched her arms as if she’d just woken from a nap. “Relax, Caramella. No need to get all worked up.”

Elara’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No need to—? Are you insane?!”

Lysandra chuckled, reaching under one of the boat’s seats with an almost exaggerated nonchalance. “Sweetie, of course I’m insane. But that’s why this is so much fun.” Her hand grasped something heavy, and Elara’s panic intensified as Lysandra casually pulled out… an RPG.

Yes, a literal rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Out of nowhere.

Elara blinked, her brain struggling to process what she was seeing. “Where the hell did you—? What—?”

Lysandra shot her a wink as she hefted the weapon onto her shoulder with disturbing ease, the smile never leaving her lips. “Told you, Caramella. I’m always prepared for a little fun.”

Elara didn’t have time to question her further. The gunfire from Aldor’s men intensified, and the boat rocked violently as the bullets peppered the side. Water splashed into the boat as more shots tore through the wooden hull, and Elara grabbed onto the edge, her knuckles white.

Lysandra, on the other hand, seemed utterly unfazed by the chaos around her. She aimed the RPG at the lead vehicle, her grin widening as she locked onto her target.

“Time for a little fireworks show,” she said with a giggle, her voice filled with a sickeningly playful excitement. She squeezed the trigger.

The deafening roar of the RPG firing drowned out the sound of gunfire for a moment, and Elara’s heart nearly stopped as she watched the rocket sail through the air. It struck the lead vehicle squarely, and the explosion that followed lit up the night like a burst of fire on the horizon. The car was engulfed in flames, flipping over as it skidded across the shoreline, a trail of smoke spiraling into the air.

Elara stared, wide-eyed and speechless, as the flaming wreck tumbled to a stop.

Lysandra lowered the RPG, blowing an imaginary puff of smoke from her fingers like she’d just taken a shot from a toy gun. “Goodbye, boys. Enjoy the fireworks!”

Elara, still crouched low in the boat, couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed. “You… you just blew up their car,” she muttered, more to herself than to Lysandra.

Lysandra laughed, the sound bright and carefree, as if she hadn’t just caused an explosion that would have made an action movie jealous. “Well, it’s not like they were going to stop for tea.”

More gunfire erupted from the second vehicle still pursuing them, and Elara felt her heart leap back into her throat. “They’re still coming!”

Lysandra gave a lazy shrug, leaning the RPG against the side of the boat like it was an accessory. “One car down, one to go. But I suppose we can let them have their fun for a little while longer.”

Elara was about to protest, but before she could say anything, Lysandra reached out and grabbed her by the arm, yanking her down beside her. “Relax, darling. We’re almost out of range. No need to stress your pretty little head.”

The boat swerved suddenly as Lysandra took control of the wheel with her free hand, guiding them further away from the shoreline and the remaining vehicle. The engine roared as they sped up, putting distance between themselves and their pursuers. The second car fired a few more desperate shots, but they fell short, splashing harmlessly into the water as the boat sped off into the night.

Elara’s heart was still racing, her hands trembling as she tried to process what had just happened. She looked over at Lysandra, who was now lounging again, as if they hadn’t just been shot at and nearly blown to pieces.

“How are you so calm right now?” Elara asked, her voice incredulous.

Lysandra flashed her a wicked grin. “Because, darling, this is what I live for. The thrill, the danger, the chaos—it’s all part of the fun.”

Elara shook her head, half in disbelief and half in frustration. “You’re insane.”

“I know,” Lysandra replied with a wink. “But that’s why you like me, isn’t it?”

Elara didn’t respond. She didn’t have to. She knew Lysandra was right. There was something undeniably intoxicating about her—the danger, the unpredictability, the sheer madness of it all. And no matter how much she wanted to deny it, she was drawn to her.

As the boat continued to speed away into the night, Elara couldn’t help but steal another glance at Lysandra. The woman was leaning back against the side of the boat, her white hair shimmering in the moonlight, her eyes glinting with amusement and something deeper. There was a confidence in her that was impossible to ignore—a confidence that made Elara’s heart race even more than the gunfire had.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she tried to calm herself. “I don’t know how I keep ending up in these situations with you,” she muttered.

Lysandra laughed, the sound light and teasing. “Because you love it, Caramella. Admit it—you’re having fun.”

Elara rolled her eyes, but the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips betrayed her. “I wouldn’t call this fun,” she said, though her tone was more playful than annoyed.

“Oh, but it is,” Lysandra said, her voice dropping to a low, sultry purr. “And you know it.”

Before Elara could respond, Lysandra leaned in close, her breath warm against Elara’s ear. “Now, sweetie, shall we get back to the game?”

Elara felt a shiver run down her spine, her pulse quickening once again. She didn’t know what Lysandra had in store for her next, but she knew one thing for certain—she was in way too deep to back out now.

And a part of her wasn’t sure she even wanted to.