Lilith

"The two of you are the talk of the town,"

The apathetic green-haired Spriggan had arrived about a half-hour ago, throwing tiny rocks and debris at my window until I was forced to open it and answer her.

She climbed through the window as if it was the most normal thing in the world, beginning our conversation with an inquiry about Natsu, which she refused to drop. No formalities needed.

That was just how things were between us. Ever since my mother died, she hasn't bothered coming in through the front door. Too many people I would have to face, she said. None of them I want to see.

"The talk of the town?" I froze. How did the news get out? Does everyone know? Would father find out? Does he already know?

"I mean in Spriggan. Obviously not the whole town. Also they were just rumors, though the way you reacted..."

I flushed. "Brandish, you-"

"I can't tell anyone, I know," she sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Could've chosen better, to be honest."

I flushed. "What rumors are going around."

Brandish crossed her legs, her Sprigran tattoo bright and almost purple on her right upper thigh. She examined her well manicured nails. "Oh, you know. That you two are fucking. That Noah is playing some sort of game. That Zayn is using Noah to get to you and take down your father and the Alvarez police force with it."

"My father?"

"Everyone in Sprigran hates that man," she explained. "I don't blame them. I loved your mother–my mother loved your mother–but we despite that man. Zayn especially. They are two sides of a magnet, the same, but repelling each other nonetheless. For Zayn to move forward with whatever he wants to do, Jude Heart cannot survive."

I shuddered. "His brother wouldn't do that, would he? Use a relationship to destroy my father?"

"Honestly? It's the most believable theory out of all of 'em. Zayn is a crazy bitch. There's nothing he wouldn't do."

***

Noah's car was a dinky old thing, the leather seats peeling, the red paint faded to a dark rusty pink. The engine had cluncked to a stop as Noah spotted me a few feet from the mansion's gates, a tell-tale sign of its age. Vintage, Noah hadn't failed to tell me when I got in. And still works like a charm. Only has a few miles on it too.

The windows were rolled about half-way down in the front, allowing air in, but not enough air to rid the car's smell of smoke and firewood and ashes. The peeling leather seats were cool from the evening air, which was slightly uncomfortable with the short skirt I wore. The car was relatively clean, but I couldn't imagine what Noah would possibly need to keep in his carr.

Even if Noah wasn't behind the wheel, I could tell it was his car.

I stuck to the passenger door like an adhesive as he drove off, looking at the window as an excuse to not face him. I couldn't stop thinking about what Brandish had said earlier. 'Zayn is a crazy bitch. There's nothing he wouldn't do'

I should be terrified, but I was the opposite. While the idea of a black-haired mob boss coming after my father and I scared me, it also excited me. I was engaged, for crying out loud. My father was speaking with my suitor about the release of such information as I sat here in Noah's car. If there was a chance that Zayn's malice would distract my father long enough to let me free, I would take it.

Alas, I was too prim and proper and Noah was too menacing and devious. My father looked at Noah like he was scum under his feet, and Dimaria looked at me like she would swallow me alive if she could. Even if Zayn wanted us together–which I heavily doubted–it would never work.

It was logical to end things now, before I got in too deep and the damage was irreversible. I would tell Noah that we couldn't keep meeting, and he would have no choice but to comply. It was so easy to break it off, but whenever I got the chance, I hesitated.

What if it is already too late? I thought. What if we're already in too deep?

I looked up at the stars outside my window and asked for their guidance. I asked for mama's guidance as well.

Forgive me, I'm doing something stupid.

Noah kept one hand on the wheel, occasionally sending me a glance every now and then. Eventually, he spoke up. "I don't bite. I thought you would know that by now."

"You do bite," I retorted.

"Is that such a bad thing?" his lip quirked.

I was aghast. "Well, no... But that's not the issue. I'm just... thinking."

"Thinking about it?"

I couldn't tell him I had a fiance, so I settled for the next best thing. "Well, your Zayn's brother, right? I would just assume that as his right hand man, you would get, a better car?"

"Why, is it not as shiny or as expensive as you're used to?" he seemed more amused than offended, which I was grateful for.

I flushed, looking out the window. "Not at all!"

He laughed. "Of course Zayn can afford to buy me a better car. But, this car is different because I paid for it. Saved up for it and everything. When I finally got the amount, I was so happy. I wouldn't shut up about it for months."

The image of a younger Noah running around bragging about a car he bought came to mind, and it was as funny as it was familiar.

"That's why it's such a special car, because I put in the work and earned it. Even if it is a little busted," he chuckled, sparing me a glance.

"It's not busted in a bad way... just different." I turned and leaned away from the door, closer to the driver seat. I put a hand on his forearm. "A good different. Expensive cars are stuffy and only for show anyways."

"Stawpp, I'm blushing." He teased. "But Zayn wouldn't buy me a car regardless."

"No? Not even for his little brother?"

"He makes it a point to treat me like he treats everyone else." Noah gripped the wheel. "The only reason he treats me the way he does is because I had to fight my way up. If I hadn't, I'd probably be no better than those street runts you see robbing corner stores and old ladies."

"Maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing," I offered. "You would certainly look more innocent in the court of law than you are now, doing petty crimes like that."

I don't say it, but we both know what I'm talking about. Spriggan. The elephant in the room. The most violent, feared crime syndicate in all of Alvarez. The one that took hundreds of Alvarez lives every year.

Noah wore his Spriggan mark on his shoulder.

He grew quiet. "I've seen harmless runts get locked up for almost the rest of their life. It doesn't matter to the law, we're all criminals to them. Doesn't matter how big the crime is.

"The bigger criminals are just better at hiding from the law." he looked at me. "Or, in other cases, siding with them. Leading them."

My hands returned to my lap. "I am sorry for my father." Though, to this day, I still wasn't sure what exactly he did. Or what he didn't do.

"Yeah, well, we're lucky you didn't turn out like him, huh?"

"It doesn't seem like that," the honesty came out so quickly and easily, it surprised me. "I... I feel as bad as him sometimes, letting all of this happen, living on the wealth he's accumulated. It feels... wrong."

"It feels wrong," he repeated. "So what are you going to do about it?"

I didn't respond, letting the conversation remain unresolved in the air between us. Eventually, the thick air thinned, sailing out the open window.

Noah rested his free hand on my thigh, rubbing soothing circles that sent flutters straight to my abdomen. "We're almost there."

"Al.. alright." I managed, my mind hyper fixated on the rough calluses of Noah's fingers on my inner thigh.

Noah pulled off the main road into a small, desolate parking lot. The gravel popped under the tires as he parked and switched the car off.

He quickly got out and ran to the passenger door, only to beat me at opening it. I rolled my eyes as Noah extended his hand out to me.

"My lady," he said in his best faux-proper accent.

I gave him my best you're-an-idiot look, before taking his hand pulling myself up. "I thought you weren't the gentleman type."

He shrugged as he led us away from the car. "Trying something new. Besides, I thought you liked all that gentleman shit,"

"I like you,"

Noah nearly choked on his next words, and I giggled.

"Well... don't get too used to it. It was just this once,"

"Mhmm," I grinned tauntingly, giving his hand an extra squeeze.

The absolute darkness of wherever we were made it hard to see anything, but when my eyes finally adjusted

The air smelled of pine trees and soil, and the light breeze made the heat more bearable. The distinct sound of cicadas chirped under our feet. Nature greeted us with open arms

"We're going camping?" I asked. "Never saw you as the camping type."

Noah scowled. "I went camping as a kid. My life wasn't that bad. I did it a lot when Isaac was alive. He forced us to, 'brotherly bonding' he called it,"

He shook his head. "Zayn never really enjoyed it, though. Kept to himself all the time, and eventually stopped coming."

"That sucks."

Noah sighed. "Can't do anything about it now. But no, we're not going camping. I know, thank God you don't have to sleep on the ground for a day."

I shoved him playfully, and he laughed.

"Okay, okay. You'll see in a minute."

As we walked, I took in everything the forest offered; the tall pine trees, the sounds of the night creatures, the soft soil under my sandals. Out of everything, I watched the sky the most. It was gorgeous, not confined to the 3-by-2 window frame of my bedroom, not outshined by lightbulbs, not hidden by smoke and clouds. It was the first time I had seen the sky in its entirety.

Noah noticed. "You like the stars?"

"Yeah. My mother was always into astrology, so we went stargazing sometimes. Of course, we never left the mansion to see them, but the sight in the front yard wasn't that bad."

Noah suddenly stopped.

"Huh? What's wrong?" I tried to walk forward to stand in front of him, but he stopped me from doing so.

"Noah?"

"You can't walk there."

"Why?" I shivered. Was there a snake I was about to step on? Or worse, had we stopped in front of a large cave?

"I mean, you could," he rubbed the back of his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "If you want to get wet."

Ignoring the crude innuendo, I was puzzled. I turned to stare in front of us trying to focus on whatever dark mass Noah had led us to. Then, oddly enough, I saw the stars in the mass on the ground.

"Water," I concluded. Of course, why would it be anything else? "You took us to a lake? Why?"

"To go skinny dipping, of course." Noah wore his signature toothy grin.

My brain short circuited. "S-s-s-skinny dipping?!"

He shrugged. "You said you could handle me. This is just the start."

I blushed furiously. "You mean, as in getting naked?"

"Yeah, that's skinny dipping." I frowned, and Noah switched courses. "I mean, you don't have to do it if you don't wanna of course. We can go back-"

Before he could finish, I crossed my arms over my torso, and yanked my shirt off in one solid motion. Noah stared in shock, but his expression grew amused.

He took off his shirt next, and I found myself gaping at the toned muscles of his abdomen. He winked, and I felt like crawling in a hole to hide for the rest of eternity.

"Like what you see?"

I forced myself to focus on anything but his toned torso, opting for his shoulder, where I saw the mark identical to the one Brandish had on her upper thigh.

"Your... ah..." I brushed my own shoulder. "...mark..."

Noah was confused for a moment, before he noticed where my hand was. "Oh, you mean this," he turned so I could see the full mark, which I could barely see in the car with his tight-fit black tee. It was a large and red three-pointed crown, with small wings growing from each side.

A Spriggan. An ugly fairy. Some consider them guardians. Others thieves.

"All members have to get one. I got this one when I was around six, just after..." Noah trailed off, eyes darkening, but he shook his head.

"Anyways, are we going to get started or what?"

When I hesitated, Noah added, "Are you going to take off the rest or should I do it for you?"

I flushed. "I'll do it, I'll do it. Turn around."

"Why, so you can take off your clothes when we're going to go skinny dipping together? I'm going to see everything anyway."

"Still!"

Noah grumbled and turned around.

I took my time taking my clothes off, folding them neatly in a pile by my side. I wondered if I was really about to do something as silly as show my naked body to another man when I was engaged. A man I had known for two weeks at most. My father would kill me.

But then again, I thought, if I'm going to have to expose myself to a stranger, I might as well pick a stranger I'm comfortable with.

"I'm done." I said, moving my hair to one side on my shoulder. "I'm keeping my... undergarments on, though."

"Better than nothing,"

"So...." I fidgeted awkwardly. "Are you done too? Or should I wait, or..."

The air between us was still with the exception of the chirping cicadas and howling owls; silence. I was contemplating turning around when I felt Noah's warm arms wrap around my middle.

I squealed as he picked me up and jumped straight into the lake.

The cold water was a huge shock. My muscles tensed and my eyes squeezed tight as I adjusted to the water.

I surfaced with a deep breath, brushing my wet hair back. Natsu, who had surfaced awhile ago, laughed at me.

"Jerk! I wasn't ready!"

"My bad," he snickered.

Wanting to wipe that smug look off his face, I used my arm to flick cold lake water on him.

"Agh," he spit out the lake water that made it into his mouth. "You're going to regret that!"

"Not if you can't catch me."

Noah stared at me like a predator hunting their prey. I shrieked, and flailed my arms as I tried to get away. Noah stalked towards me, taking his slow, sweet time as I struggled to get ahead.

It continued like that until I found myself getting too close to the deeper side of the lake.

Attempting to get around Noah and back to shore, I pleaded: "Please! I surrender! Can't we just swim peacefully."

"Hmm," Noah pretended to consider the proposal. "Nah."

"Pleaseee. I'll... I'll take any punishment you give me." I gave him the best pout I could muster.

Noah's aura changed, and he quickly became more focused on something else. "Anything, you say?"

As Noah momentarily visited perv-land, I slowly sank under water. Once I was safely out of Noah's sight, I swam under him in large strokes.

Giggling at how distracted he was, I yanked his foot. He yelled on the surface, and quickly dove down to meet me.

In the darkness of the moon-lit water, I could barely see him, but I could feel the heat of his body next to mine.

Bubbles escaped my mouth as Noah gently wrapped his arms around my waist. He nuzzled his face in my neck, kissing and biting. Distracted, all I could do was play with his hair and hold his head there.

I quickly found myself running out of air. In a rush to finally win the little game we had going on, I kicked my legs.

Noah, caught off guard, let go, giving me enough time to free myself and rush back to the shore.

I broke the surface quickly, taking a huge breath of air. Just as I was about to take a step out of the water, Noah came up behind me. He turned me around and pinned me to the ground, using his arms to hover over me.

His bangs hung over his face, sticking to his forehead and slightly covering his eyes. The water ran down his arms and torso, partially falling on me.

"Caught you," he panted.

We stared, both of us panting, tired, and wet. The brightness of the moon and the stars made Noah an ellipse, his presence blocking everything else out.

He leaned in, and I wanted so desperately for him to close the gap, to block out anything that wasn't him. But then I remembered the ring and contract sitting in my father's office. I remembered Loke's harsh words and Brandish's words.

"Wait," I put my hands on his shoulder, pushing him back. "We can't, I-"

I froze at the way Noah stiffened above me. "Sorry, I should've asked. I get it, that's not what our relationship is."

Noah moved to get up, but my hands on his shoulders kept him where he was.

I shook my head. "It's not that, I do want this, but-"

"Wait... you want this?"

My brows furrowed. "Yes... I wasn't lying earlier. I like you."

"So why did you want us to stop?"

I thought of Loke, urging me to tell him. Then I thought about his outburst. Natsu's outburst would be way worse, wouldn't it? He'd probably never want to see me again, and he had the power to back that up too.

I knew that didn't matter, that he needed to know regardless, but I still had to protect myself, right?

Or were Loke's dehumanizing thoughts about Natsu getting in the way? I knew Natsu, we'd been talking for weeks. Would he really get that angry that he'd never talk to me again?

Or worse. Would he want to kill me?

There was too much I didn't know. Too much at risk.

"I...." I swallowed, somewhat intimidated by his unwavering, passionate stare. "It's complicated..."

"It shouldn't be." Noah leaned closer, his breath fanning over my lips. "Do you want me to go?"

Our noses brushed as Noah leaned closer. He glanced down at my lips, then looked at me with hazy, pleading eyes that made me realize I wanted him just as bad, probably even more so.

"No," I admitted, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I don't want you to go."

Noah closed the gap between us, and the only person I could worry about at the moment, the only person I could think about, the only person I could feel was him.